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 Iran strikes Israeli refinery after attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure Xinhua) 11:16, March 08, 2026 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. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Zhong Wenxing) SO-AVA, Benin, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A large boat parade was held Saturday afternoon in So-Ava, about 40 km north of Benin's economic capital Cotonou, to officially launch the country's celebrations for International Women's Day. Nearly 500 women took part in the 10-km round-trip river parade, departing from the town hall. Singing and dancing to music performed by a local band, participants called for stronger protection of women's rights in Benin. During the event, they urged the effective implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which Benin ratified in 1992, as well as stricter action against sexual harassment and violence against women. Speaking at the event, Beninese Minister of Social Affairs and Microfinance Veronique Tognifode noted that International Women's Day reminds people that women's rights are not a privilege but a requirement for justice, dignity, and progress for society as a whole. "Since 2016, with the strong political will of the Beninese government, Benin has adopted a clear and determined policy to protect women, promote their rights and strengthen their empowerment. Several laws and reforms have been adopted to better protect women and girls from violence," she said. The prefect of the Littoral Department, Alain Sourou Oroula, said that March 8 each year "symbolizes a long march toward justice, dignity and equality for women." "It reminds us that women's rights are neither a favor nor a concession, but fundamental, universal and inalienable human rights," he said. When any family loses a baby, all of us feel it. There is no sentence I can write that makes that kind of pain smaller. As interim CEO of Guam Memorial Hospital, and as a mother, I am not here to argue with a mothers grief. The anger and frustration being expressed publicly are real, and they deserve to be heard. What I can do is speak honestly about what we are facing and what we are doing about it, while honoring my legal and ethical responsibility to protect patient privacy. I cannot discuss individual cases, but I can address the broader concerns being raised. Guam Memorial Hospital is an aging facility. That is not something we deny or attempt to soften. The electrical fire in August 2025 was serious. Power fluctuations triggered an electrical event that affected the pediatric unit and required evacuation to generator power. That should never have happened. It reinforced what engineers have been documenting for years: our electrical distribution system is aging, fire barriers are incomplete, and parts of the structure reflect long-term wear in a challenging island environment. These are not cosmetic issues. They are infrastructure realities that require sustained action. Since that incident, life safety and electrical resilience have been accelerated as top priorities. In partnership with the Guam Power Authority, procurements are underway to address critical components of our electrical system. Major chiller replacement has begun to improve temperature control, humidity regulation, air quality, and infection prevention. Roof and exterior envelope repairs are advancing to reduce water intrusion. This work is not about appearance. It is about stabilizing the environment of care so our clinicians can practice safely and our patients can focus on healing. The infant mortality data referenced in the article are deeply troubling. These are not statistics on a page. These are babies and families. Infant mortality is not the result of a single hospital encounter. It reflects complex medical, social, and systemic factors that begin long before delivery. Addressing it requires coordination across prenatal care, maternal health access, public health outreach, transport systems, and hospital based neonatal care. Within GMH, we are strengthening perinatal safety pathways, reviewing adverse events with accountability, and working closely with Public Health and community partners to improve care coordination. This work is deliberate and ongoing, and it extends beyond hospital walls. We have also reviewed the referenced U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Performance Plan and Report and found no language describing GMH in the manner cited. If another source exists, we welcome it. Public dialogue about health care must be grounded in verified information. We have not done this work alone. Community partners have volunteered their time to support revitalization efforts. Government agencies are collaborating with us through accreditation readiness initiatives and operational support. When our public hospital needs help, this island shows up. That spirit matters. As both a physician and someone who grew up here, I understand what this hospital represents. It is not just a building. It is where our families are born, treated, and cared for during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. We owe it to our community to strengthen what we have while broader decisions about long term facility planning continue. My responsibility is clear. Every day we improve the systems that support patient care. Every day we protect life safety. And every day we work to earn the trust of the people we serve. To the families who have experienced loss, we hear you. To our staff who continue to show up under difficult circumstances, we see you. And to our community, please know that this hospital is moving forward with accountability, urgency, and purpose. The people of Guam deserve safe, reliable, continuously improving care. That is the work in front of us, and we remain committed to it. Haiti - FLASH : Reprieve granted to 350,000 Haitian TPS beneficiaries, despite Trump's pressure On Friday, March 6, 2026, the legal saga surrounding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians took another turn. The federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., upheld Judge Ana C. Reyes's ruling by a 2-1 vote, dealing a blow to the Trump administration by refusing to authorize immediate deportations. The court emphasized that the government had not provided a satisfactory explanation as to why its failure to end TPS for Haiti on the originally scheduled date was acceptable for several months, but now constituted certain, serious, and imminent harm. In the meantime, Haitians benefiting from TPS protection can continue to reside and work legally in the United States. This status quo is expected to remain in place for at least several months, unless the government obtains a stay from the Supreme Court or until the case is heard on its merits by a federal court. In the latter case, the Haitian plaintiffs could lose their appeal, which could take several months. The lawyers for the Haitian plaintiffs, who are challenging the decision to end TPS, welcomed the appeals court's rejection of the Trump administration's request to suspend the lower court's ruling. The Trump administration, which recently dismissed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and replaced her with Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, a staunch Trump ally, has not yet announced its intentions. However, it should be noted that the Trump administration has filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court asking the justices to rule on the President's authority to make decisions regarding the termination of TPS. An important decision is pending that could change everything... https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46978-haiti-news-zapping.html See als o: https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46978-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46784-haiti-flash-uscis-extends-eads-for-haitian-tps-beneficiaries.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46772-haiti-flash-tps-revocation-blocked-by-the-courts-trump-will-appeal-to-the-supreme-court.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46587-haiti-flash-end-of-tps-judge-reyes-skeptical-and-unconvinced.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46580-haiti-flash-end-of-tps-judge-reyes-confronts-the-trump-administration-with-its-contradictions.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46575-haiti-flash-a-federal-court-is-to-rule-on-the-legality-of-not-extending-temporary-protected-status-tps.html SL/ HaitiLibre 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 The march formed one of the largest public events in the Finnish capital on Sunday. Police estimated that up to 15,000 participants joined the demonstration, which began at Rautatientori at 14:00 and moved through the city centre before ending at Kansalaistori. Thousands of people marched through central Helsinki on Sunday to mark International Womens Day and call for stronger protection of womens rights. Participants carried banners and placards as they walked through Mikonkatu, Aleksanterinkatu and Mannerheimintie before reaching the square near the Finnish Parliament and the central library. Police said the demonstration caused temporary traffic disruption in the city centre until about 15:30 as the procession passed through major streets. Authorities monitored the march and guided traffic while participants moved along the planned route. Organisers said the demonstration aimed to draw attention to equality, the protection of womens and girls rights and the rights of minorities. Groups behind the event called on political leaders to take concrete steps to prevent violence against women and to strengthen measures that protect people from harassment and abuse. More than seventy organisations supported the march. Among the coordinating groups were UN Women Finland, the womens rights organisation Naisasialiitto Unioni and the National Council of Women of Finland. Organisers said the event formed part of the annual International Womens Day observance held on 8 March. The day has its origins in the early twentieth century labour and equality movements and became an official United Nations observance in 1975 during International Womens Year. Finland added the day to the national calendar in 1990. At the end of the march participants gathered at Kansalaistori for speeches and a public event. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo attended the gathering, where organisers presented a petition calling for concrete measures to end violence against women. The petition urged authorities to ensure that women and girls live in a society where their rights and dignity receive protection and where daily life takes place without fear of violence or harassment. According to organisers, the turnout exceeded the attendance recorded in the previous year. UN Women Finland reported that more than 10,000 people joined the Helsinki march in 2025. Police maintained a presence along the route during the event. Authorities reported no disturbances during the demonstration. HT The blast occurred at about 01:00 local time outside the public entrance to the diplomatic complex in the Huseby district of the Norwegian capital. Authorities reported no injuries, though the explosion caused damage to the entrance area including shattered glass and interior fixtures. An explosion struck the United States embassy compound in Oslo during the early hours of Sunday, prompting a large police response and an investigation into a possible terrorist attack. Police sealed off the area soon after the incident while forensic teams examined the site. Images from the scene showed broken glass scattered across the snow near the entrance doors and dark marks on tiles inside the building. Officials said the explosion originated from an explosive device thrown toward the embassy building. Officers searched the surrounding neighbourhood with dogs, drones and helicopters. Frode Larsen, head of the joint investigation and intelligence unit of Oslo police, told reporters that investigators examine several explanations. One of our hypotheses is that this is terrorism, Larsen said during a press briefing broadcast by NRK. We must remain open to other causes behind what has happened. Police have not identified suspects. Officers continue to search for one or more individuals linked to the attack. Authorities described the explosion as a targeted act directed at the embassy compound. The device exploded near the public entrance used by visitors to the consular section. Michael Dellemyr, who leads the police response, said officers possess information about the type of device involved but declined to disclose details while the investigation continues. We have an understanding of what caused the explosion, Dellemyr told Norwegian broadcaster NRK, adding that police had conducted thorough searches around the embassy grounds and found no further danger to nearby residents. Police confirmed that the device caused limited structural damage. The United States embassy, which opened at the Huseby location in 2017, sits about seven kilometres from central Oslo. The compound moved from the city centre partly due to security considerations after decades near the Royal Palace. Norwegian authorities treated the incident as serious despite the lack of casualties. The police security service PST joined the investigation and called in additional personnel during the night. Martin Bernsen, communications adviser at PST, said the agency followed the investigation and conducted its own checks. He added that the national terror threat level remained unchanged. Norway already operates under a moderate terrorism threat classification. Police presence around diplomatic sites and other sensitive locations in Oslo increased after the blast. Despite the attack, authorities said there was no indication of danger to the public. Several large events scheduled in Oslo on Sunday, including demonstrations marking International Womens Day, proceeded as planned under police supervision. The Norwegian government contacted United States representatives after the explosion. Espen Barth Eide, Norways foreign minister, said he had spoken with the US embassy leadership following the incident. The security of diplomatic missions is important to us, Eide said in a statement. This act is unacceptable and authorities treat the case with seriousness. HT BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Liu Yang, China's first female astronaut, extended warm greetings to women around the world on Sunday, celebrating International Women's Day with a message of empowerment and resilience. "Women are promoters of social civilization, guardians of family warmth, light chasers on the path of dreams, and above all, people who define their own lives," Liu Yang said in an interview with Xinhua. Born in October 1978 in central China's Henan Province, Liu made history as China's first woman in space during her first mission aboard the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft in 2012. As a crew member, she witnessed China's mastery of key technologies for manned spaceflight, laying a solid foundation for the country's space station. A decade later, during the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022, Liu spent 183 days with her crew members orbiting Earth, witnessing the completion of the basic configuration assembly of China's Tiangong space station. "May every woman empower herself with tenderness, weather storms with resilience, create value with wisdom, and illuminate life with passion. May we never be confined by age or bound by labels," she said. Liu has never stopped chasing her dream as an astronaut. In January, she took part in China's first-ever astronaut cave training exercise alongside over 20 peers. "Inside the cave, there is absolute darkness and silence -- conditions remarkably similar to those in space," said Liu, serving as the commander of her team. "We are continuously preparing for longer stays in space, for landing on the moon, and for venturing to even more distant celestial bodies," she said. Liu has been actively sharing her spaceflight experiences by visiting numerous schools to inspire young people to pursue their dreams with courage and determination. As a representative of outstanding women, she has also shared insights and achievements regarding China's high-quality development of women's endeavors in the new era at the United Nations Human Rights Council. "Be free, be brave, and shine brilliantly!" Liu said, wishing all women a happy International Women's Day. BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China will work toward the goal of translating the vision and blueprint for building an Asia-Pacific community into actions and reality, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday. The 2026 APEC meeting to be held in China's Shenzhen will focus on the three priorities of openness, innovation and cooperation, and, once again, chart the course and rally strengths for Asia-Pacific cooperation at the crossroads, Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the national legislature. The 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen in November. This marks China's third time hosting the event, following Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014. Noting that decades have passed since the concept of the Asia-Pacific community was first put forward, Wang said the idea must not stay on paper or remain just a vision. He called for finding broad consensus, clear priorities and workable steps in APEC Shenzhen. China will align different pathways toward the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific, make appropriate arrangements for regional connectivity, and vigorously promote the transformation toward the digital, smart and green development, according to Wang. China is ready to promote a restart from APEC Shenzhen toward the goal of the Asia-Pacific community, said Wang. MELBOURNE, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Australian police have arrested 35 men in two states following a major year-long covert investigation into an online child exploitation group. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the police force in the state of Victoria said in a joint statement on Sunday that the arrested men were charged with over 1,000 offenses following one of the most significant online child abuse investigations in Australia. The covert investigation began late in 2023 and led to the infiltration of an online group using an encrypted messaging application to share text and image-based exploitation material and source children to sexually abuse. Material that was shared in the group included images and videos depicting the abuse, torture and murder of infants and young children, police said. The online group was shut down and 26 men from Victoria who were alleged members were arrested and charged with more than 1,000 criminal offenses relating to the possession, transmission and production of child abuse material. Another nine alleged offenders were arrested in the neighboring east coast state of New South Wales. Victoria Police Detective Superintendent Tim McKinney said that it is believed the offending depicted in the material occurred offshore, with no newly-generated material involving Australian children identified during the course of the investigation. KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's Ministry of Transport said on Sunday that the search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which was resumed in 2025, concluded the second phase on Jan. 23, 2026, with no findings. People check a building damaged by an Israeli airstrike at dawn in Sir al-Gharbiyeh, Lebanon on March 8, 2026. Lebanon's official National News Agency said Israeli warplanes carried out a dawn airstrike on the town of Sir al-Gharbiyeh in the Nabatieh district, hitting a three-story building and killing 19 people. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) BEIRUT, March 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 40 people were killed and an unspecified number wounded early Sunday in Israeli airstrikes targeting dozens of homes, government institutions and shops in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese security and official sources. Lebanon's official National News Agency said Israeli warplanes carried out a dawn airstrike on the town of Sir al-Gharbiyeh in the Nabatieh district, hitting a three-story building and killing 19 people. Civil defense and ambulance teams were still working to clear rubble and retrieve bodies, the agency said. Sources from Lebanon's Internal Security Forces and the Lebanese Civil Defense told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes and drones carried out 23 airstrikes during the early morning hours on towns and villages across southern Lebanon. According to the Public Health Emergency Operations Center, an Israeli strike on the village of Khirbet Selm in the Bint Jbeil district killed six people and wounded five others, while another strike on the village of Teffahta killed five. National News Agency also reported that three people were killed in an airstrike targeting a cafe in Jbal El Botm, four were killed in a strike on Qana, and three others died in a strike on Aaitit. Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance, the armed wing of Hezbollah, said in several statements that it had targeted Israeli forces and repelled attempts to advance "in response to the aggression that targeted dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including Beirut's southern suburbs." The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since dawn Monday and Saturday afternoon has risen to 294, with over 1,000 people injured, according to public health data out of Lebanon on Saturday. Hezbollah said it launched rockets from Lebanon toward Israel early Monday for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov. 27, 2024. Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it had launched an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, carrying out airstrikes across multiple areas in Lebanon and ground incursions near the border, while warning residents to evacuate areas south of the Litani River and Beirut's southern suburbs. People check a building damaged by an Israeli airstrike at dawn in Sir al-Gharbiyeh, Lebanon on March 8, 2026. Lebanon's official National News Agency said Israeli warplanes carried out a dawn airstrike on the town of Sir al-Gharbiyeh in the Nabatieh district, hitting a three-story building and killing 19 people. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 8, 2026 shows a building damaged by an Israeli airstrike at dawn in Sir al-Gharbiyeh, Lebanon. Lebanon's official National News Agency said Israeli warplanes carried out a dawn airstrike on the town of Sir al-Gharbiyeh in the Nabatieh district, hitting a three-story building and killing 19 people. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) BAGHDAD, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella body for Iraq's pro-Iranian militias, announced on Sunday morning that its fighters had carried out 24 military operations against "enemy bases" in Iraq and the region over the past 24 hours. It said in a statement that the operations involved "dozens of missiles and drones," without providing further details regarding specific targets or casualties. The group has claimed hundreds of such attacks over the past few days. The attacks came 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. TEHRAN, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that it had launched a new wave of attacks on the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Beersheba, as well as the Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan, using "next-generation" missiles, according to state media. MANAMA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Iranian attacks continued on Sunday in Bahrain, with three people reported injured and key facilities damaged. Bahrain's Interior Ministry said the attacks resulted in three people being injured and material damage to a university building in Muharraq after missile fragments fell on the site. A drone attack also caused material damage to a water desalination plant. Bahrain's Electricity and Water Authority said that there was "no impact on water supplies or the capacity of the water network" as a result of the Iranian attack on one of the desalination plants. According to the latest statistics from the Bahrain Defense Force, air defense systems have intercepted and destroyed 92 missiles and 151 drones since the attacks began on Feb. 28. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. Wang will answer questions of journalists from home and abroad on China's foreign policy and external relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Fu Tian) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Fu Tian) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) JERUSALEM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Saturday night it had struck several fuel storage complexes used by Iran's military forces in Tehran. The attack was carried out by the Israeli air force using precise intelligence, it added. The United States and Israel on Feb. 28 launched what they described as "major combat operations" against Iran. Iran has since retaliated with a series of counterattacks against Israeli and U.S. targets across the region. CAIRO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran is creating increasingly widespread ripple effects across the Middle East. As a key hub of global energy supplies, escalating tensions in the region are forcing major oil producers to cut production or halt exports, sending shockwaves through the global energy market. The following outlines how key oil producers in the region are being affected by the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. Iran -- As a direct participant in the conflict, Iran's oil production and transport have been severely disrupted since the outbreak of hostilities. -- The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company has said that the country's energy infrastructure came under U.S.-Israeli attacks since Saturday night, with several oil depots in Tehran and Alborz provinces struck by missiles and set on fire. -- In a post on social media platform X on Sunday, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the continuation of the war could severely disrupt oil production and exports in the West Asia region. Ghalibaf added that if the war continues, oil exports and production in the region could be severely affected, warning that not only U.S. interests but also those of other countries could be harmed by what he called the "delusions" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. -- Despite Iran's denial of closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint through which roughly 20 percent of the world's oil shipments pass, recent attacks on multiple tankers in the strait have sharply curtailed shipping traffic, heightening concerns for the global energy market. Saudi Arabia -- Several oil-producing countries have also been affected by Iran's strikes on U.S. military bases in the region. Saudi Arabia's state oil giant Aramco shut down a refinery as a precautionary measure after it was hit by a drone on Monday. -- On Saturday, Aramco announced that crude oil shipments are being temporarily redirected to Yanbu Port to enhance safety and the continuity of supplies for customers unable to access the Gulf, according to local Al Ekhbariya TV. Kuwait -- Kuwait's major national oil company the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) announced Saturday a precautionary cut in crude oil production and refining. Citing escalating regional tensions, the KPC said in a statement that the adjustment is "strictly precautionary" and that the company "remains fully prepared to restore production levels once conditions allow." -- According to media reports, the company has declared force majeure due to threats against the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, continued attacks on Kuwait, and the "near-total" absence of available ships to transport crude oil and petroleum products from the Gulf. Qatar -- Qatar's state-run energy firm QatarEnergy has announced force majeure following attacks Wednesday on two of its main facilities during the ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S.-Israeli coalition. "Further to the announcement by QatarEnergy to stop production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products, QatarEnergy has declared Force Majeure to its affected buyers," the company said in a statement. -- On Monday, Qatar halted LNG production after Iranian strikes prompted precautionary shutdowns. Qatar supplies roughly 20 percent of global LNG. -- Qatari Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi has said that ongoing Mideast conflict could force Gulf exporters to halt production within days if the Strait of Hormuz is closed, driving oil to 150 U.S. dollars per barrel within two to three weeks and severely damaging global economies. The United Arab Emirates -- The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), an oil giant of the United Arab Emirates, announced on Saturday that it is "managing" offshore output levels to address storage requirements amid the regional conflict. "This approach preserves operational flexibility and will enable the company to resume normal operations without prolonged delay," ADNOC said in a statement. Iraq -- Iraq's oil production has dropped by nearly 60 percent due to the regional conflict, an Iraqi official said on Sunday. Production currently stands at about 1.3 million barrels per day, down from around 3.3 million barrels before the outbreak of the conflict, Kazem Abdul Hassan Karim, an official from the Iraqi Oil Ministry, said in a statement. -- On Friday, the ministry of natural resources of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region said that a "terrorist attack" on an oil field in the region's Duhok province has led to the suspension of its production. A ministry statement said the facility, operated by the U.S.-based HKN Energy Company in the Sarsang area, sustained damage during the attack. CAIRO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Regional tensions remain high on Sunday as the U.S.-Israeli attacks crippled more Iranian facilities. Amid the tensions, Iran has selected its new supreme leader, launched a new wave of retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, prompted more flight suspensions, and drawn condemnation from Arab states. Here's a quick overview of the latest developments and the impact of the retaliatory attacks on countries directly caught up in the regional crisis: The United States -- U.S. President Donald Trump threatened that Iran's new supreme leader will not last long without his approval, saying, "He's going to have to get approval from us. If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long." -- He also said Saturday that the U.S. military has destroyed 42 Iranian navy ships and paralyzed Iran's communications over the past 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," Trump said. Israel -- Israeli Defense Ministry said the military has killed Abu al-Qassem Babayian, who had recently been appointed the head of Iran's Supreme Leader's military office. Its army also hit Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Space Force headquarters as well as the IRGC's air force headquarters in Tehran, and the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon. -- Israel partially resumed its outbound flights at the Ben Gurion International Airport for the first time since the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran began on Feb. 28. Iran -- Iran's Assembly of Experts announced in a statement that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei, was selected as Iran's new supreme leader, citing "the decisive vote of the respected representatives" of the assembly. -- Iran's IRGC launched a new wave of attacks on the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Beersheba, as well as the Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan, using "next-generation" missiles. -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iranians would not allow the "enemies" to seize even a single inch of the country's territory. -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei strongly condemned the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian fuel depots, calling them "war crimes and crimes against humanity." -- Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters Spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari urged Muslim states in the region to prevent U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian fuel and energy facilities, warning that Tehran would respond with similar actions if strikes continue. Iraq -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Sunday urged the conflicting parties to immediately cease military operations and resort to diplomatic solutions, noting that Iraq will not allow its territory to be used for attacks against neighboring countries. He condemned attacks targeting areas throughout Iraq and ongoing military campaigns against Iran. Kuwait -- Kuwait's armed forces said that they have intercepted multiple missile and drone attacks targeting the country, while a drone strike hit fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport. Bahrain -- Bahrain's Interior Ministry said Iranian attacks continued in Bahrain, with three people reported injured and key facilities damaged. -- Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa expressed deep regret over what he called unprecedented attacks targeting the country and other Arab and friendly nations. He said that Bahrain has always been and will remain a nation of peace that has never initiated hostility. The United Arab Emirates -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that the country is in a state of defense in response to what it described as "Iranian aggression," after more than 1,400 ballistic missiles and drones were launched targeting infrastructure and civilian sites across the country. -- Airports in the country partially resumed flight operations, following disruptions caused by recent regional tensions. -- UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call with Trump on the latest regional developments, during which the UAE president called Iran's attacks on the UAE and other countries a violation of their sovereignty and a threat to regional security and stability, the Emirates News Agency reported. Saudi Arabia -- The Saudi Civil Defense said that a "military projectile" struck a residential area in Saudi Arabia's Al-Kharj governorate, killing two people and injuring 12. Lebanon -- Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji condemned the attacks on British bases in Cyprus in a message to his Cypriot counterpart, after Cypriot authorities said explosive-laden drones involved in the assault had been launched from Lebanese territory. -- Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed said that about 517,000 displaced people have been registered on Lebanon's government relief platform as Israeli attacks continue across the country. -- Lebanon's Health Ministry said from March 2 until Sunday noon, the death toll in the country from clashes with Israel has risen to 394, including 83 children and 42 women, with 1,130 injuries. Nine rescue workers have also died. Turkiye -- Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu said on social media platform X that Turkiye's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines, its low-cost airlines AJet and Pegasus Airlines, as well as Turkish-German airline SunExpress, have cancelled their flights to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan until the end of March 13. Flights to Qatar's Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE's Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia's Dammam have also been cancelled until the end of March 13, he said, adding that Pegasus Airlines has removed its flights to Iran from the plan until March 12, and Turkish Airlines until March 20. Azerbaijan -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Pezeshkian, during which Aliyev expressed his condolences "over the death of numerous civilians in the recent events in Iran," and stressed the importance of investigating the drone attack on Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave on Thursday, which Pezeshkian said "had no connection with Iran," read a statement by the Azerbaijani Presidency. Egypt -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi expressed concern over the regional military escalation, warning of its serious repercussions including higher energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and transport chaos. He urged a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear issue, cautioning that an expanded conflict could plunge the entire region into chaos. -- The Arab League Council condemned Iranian strikes against Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq. Describing Iran's actions as "illegal, unprovoked, and a flagrant violation" of national sovereignty that undermine regional peace and security, it declared that any aggression against a member state constitutes an attack on all members under the Arab League Charter. BEIRUT, March 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people were killed on Sunday afternoon in 37 Israeli airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, according to Lebanese sources. In southern Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike targeting a house and a car repair garage in the center of the town of Doueir killed six members of one family, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported. Two Israeli strikes on the village of Alma al-Shaab killed Sami Al-Ghafri, the brother of a local priest, and a farmer, the NNA reported. Israeli artillery shelling targeting about 15 workers, most of them Syrian nationals, at a farm in the town of Yahmar al-Shaqif in Nabatieh district, killed seven Syrian workers, according to the NNA and an unnamed Lebanese Civil Defense official. Two Israeli strikes on the Ain al-Hilweh camp in the city of Sidon killed one person and injured three others, said the official. In eastern Lebanon, an Israeli strike targeting an excavator in the village of Brital killed one Syrian national and injured another, the NNA reported. According to the sources, Israeli airstrikes launched on Sunday morning in southern Lebanon have already killed 40 people. Meanwhile, Lebanon's Health Ministry said Sunday that from March 2 until Sunday noon, the death toll in the country from clashes with Israel has risen to 394, including 83 children and 42 women, with 1,130 injuries. Nine rescue workers have also died. The figure marks a sharp increase from Saturday, when the ministry reported 294 fatalities. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a press conference on China's foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top diplomat on Sunday reaffirmed the country's role as a vital force for world peace, stability and justice, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East and proposing that China and the United States focus on win-win cooperation. Meeting the press on the sidelines of the annual session of the national legislature, Foreign Minister Wang Yi remarked on the Iran situation with a call for an immediate stop to military operations and for all sides to "return to the negotiating table as quickly as possible." Middle Eastern affairs should be determined by regional countries independently, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. "Plotting color revolution or seeking regime change will find no popular support," he said. On China-U.S. ties, Wang said 2026 is a "big year" for bilateral relations, noting that "the agenda of high-level exchanges is already on the table." "What the two sides need to do now is to make thorough preparations accordingly, create a suitable environment, manage the differences that do exist, and remove unnecessary disruptions," Wang said. "Neither side can remodel the other, but we can choose how we want to engage, that is, to commit to a spirit of mutual respect, to hold the bottom line of peaceful coexistence, and to strive for the prospect of win-win cooperation," he said. The foreign minister hailed China-Russia relationship, saying it has "stood rock-solid against all odds." The China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination has been based on equality, respect and mutual benefit since day one, which represents the direction of a new type of major-country relations, he said. On the China-Europe ties, Wang said China consistently believes that Europe should naturally be a pole in a multipolar world, and that Europe is a key partner in China's modernization drive. Noting that China and Europe are mutually complementary, he said, "Interdependence is not a risk; intertwined interests are not threats; and openness and cooperation will not weaken economic security, but building walls and barriers will only lead to self-isolation." On China-India ties, Wang suggested the two countries uphold good-neighborliness and friendship and focus on development. "We must maintain the correct strategic perception of each other as partner rather than rival, and opportunity instead of threat," he said. Wang said the future of China-Japan relations "hinges on Japan's choice." Noting that last year marked the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Wang said Japan should have deeply repented of the wrong path it chose, including its brutal invasion and colonization of Taiwan. However, the current Japanese leader claimed that a Taiwan contingency would constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan to exercise the so-called "right of collective self-defense." "Since Taiwan affairs are purely China's internal affairs, what gives Japan the right to interfere with them? Why is Japan entitled to invoke self-defense if anything happens in China's Taiwan region?" he asked. A strong China with 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or reverse history's verdict on aggression, Wang said. A journalist asks a question at a press conference attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) TOWARD A MULTIPOLAR WORLD At the press conference, Wang highlighted the significance of the Global Governance Initiative and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity in an increasingly turbulent world. He also called for upholding, not challenging, the central role of the United Nations (UN). "China will never take the beaten path of seeking hegemony as its strength grows, nor do we subscribe to the logic that the world can be run by major countries," Wang said. Wang said China's proposal is to build an equal and orderly multipolar world. "This should be the common responsibility of all countries." In particular, the Global South has become a key driving force in promoting a multipolar world, he said, calling for enhancing the voice and representation of Global South countries in the UN. On China's relations with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, Wang said LAC countries should make their own decision in choosing friends. "We never engage in geopolitical schemes, nor interfere in other countries' internal affairs, nor ask others to pick sides," he said. "Cooperation between China and LAC countries does not target any third party and should not be subject to interference by any third party." On China-Africa ties, Wang said the friendship has withstood the test of changing international circumstances to demonstrate strong vitality. This year, China-Africa relations will see many new developments, including the implementation of zero-tariff access for 100 percent of African imports starting on May 1. The 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen in November. This marks China's third time hosting the event, following Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014. Wang said China, as a good host, will work toward the goal of translating the vision and blueprint for building an Asia-Pacific community into actions and reality. 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 Sir Tony Blair has criticised Sir Keir Starmers slow support for Donald Trumps war on Iran, reportedly telling an event: We should have backed America from the very beginning. The former prime minister told a private Jewish News event on Friday that Sir Keir should have let the Trump administration use British airbases to strike Iran. He reportedly added: If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security ... you had better show up. Sir Tonys comments were made in private on the understanding that he would not be quoted, but they have since appeared in the Mail on Sunday and The Sunday Times. open image in gallery Former prime minister Tony Blair recently took a role on Donald Trumps Board of Peace ( Getty ) Asked about the former Labour prime ministers comments on Sky News on Sunday morning, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said: I just disagree. She added: We learn the lessons from some of the things that went wrong in Iraq, and I think that is exactly what Keir Starmer has done. The intervention came as Mr Trump again criticised Sir Keir over the UKs approach to the Middle East conflict, saying that the US does not need anyone to join wars after weve already won. Mr Trump was referring to reports that the UK is preparing an aircraft carrier for deployment to the Middle East. open image in gallery US president Donald Trump has criticised Sir Keir Starmer over his slow support for Trumps war on Iran ( Getty ) 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. 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! Sir Keir has defended his decision not to allow US forces to use British bases to support initial strikes on Iran, saying he needed to be satisfied that any military action was legal and well planned. However Sir Tony told the Jewish News event: I am not saying anything that I havent already said to the government ... I think we should have backed America from the very beginning. open image in gallery Trump and Blair during a summit of Middle Eastern and European leaders last year ( Getty ) We have got to be very clear about this as a country. Were depending on the American alliance for our country. They are not just an ally, they are an indispensable ally, right? He continued: The American relationship matters. It matters particularly today. Its not a question of whether its this president or that president. If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security...you had better show up. open image in gallery Keir Starmer initially hesitated when asked by Trump if US forces could use UK airbases, leading to harsh words from the president ( Getty ) The former prime minister, who brought the UK into the Iraq war in 2003 on the false belief that Saddam Husseins regime had weapons of mass destruction, added: On foreign policy, I think people would just prefer you to be strong and out there and clear, even if they dont agree with you. In January, the Trump administration named Sir Tony as a member of the founding executive board of the Board of Peace. The board will oversee governance, reconstruction, investment and large-scale funding for Mr Trumps Gaza plan following the ceasefire, the White House said. 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 Princess Eugenie is reported to have stepped down as patron of charity Anti-Slavery International, the oldest human rights organisation in the world. The move comes after emails released by the US government revealed further details about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Her profile has been removed from the charitys website, which previously hailed her work across the board with leaders in the fight against modern slavery. She has not commented on her fathers relationship with Epstein or the allegations made against him by Virginia Giuffre. In a statement to The Observer, Anti-Slavery International said: After seven years, our patronage from HRH Princess Eugenie of York has come to an end. We thank the Princess very much for her support for Anti-Slavery International. We hope that she continues to work to end slavery for good and deliver freedom for everyone. open image in gallery Princess Eugenie has worked for several years with charities to campaign against modern slavery ( Getty ) Anti-Slavery Internationals other patrons include Dame Judi Dench, broadcaster Julie Etchingham, Baroness Helena Kennedy, Vanita Patel, Hugh Quarshie and Baroness Lola Young. The charity was founded in 1839 by abolitionists campaigning against slavery worldwide. As part of her work fighting modern slavery, the younger daughter of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is a co-founder of the anti-slavery collective, has visited survivors with the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and the Salvation Army, and has hosted a roundtable for the US ambassador-at-Large for combating trafficking in persons. Princess Eugenie currently works for the modern art gallery Hauser & Wirth as a director. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Princess Eugenie in connection with Epstein, and Mr Mountbatten-Windsor denies all allegations against him. In the latest document release from the US Department of Justice, a Brazilian woman who was abused by Epstein alleges that she massaged Mr Mountbatten-Windsor before he gave her a massage back. open image in gallery Eugenie at the Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church in December ( Getty ) The woman told the FBI that she was quite shocked to see him. The revelations come after one photo in a separate document in the Epstein files appears to show Mr Mountbatten-Windsor touching a fully clothed womans abdomen. 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. 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 was released pending further investigation. Anti-Slavery International and Buckingham Palace have been contacted for comment. It would be easy for anyone dipping online these days to think that we have lost a generation of boys to the toxic, misogynistic manosphere, in which men want to reign supreme over women. This week, for example, a new global study has revealed the disappointingly retrograde fact that almost a third of Gen Z men believe that a wife should obey her husband and a husband should make important decisions. Meanwhile, this week sees the release of Louis Therouxs new Netflix documentary, Inside the Manosphere, exploring the hyper-masculine online subculture in which he talks to international manosphere influencers, examining how they push misogynistic, red-pill views on young men. But, tempting as it is to feel alarmed about the impact and spread of toxic masculinity, this really is a case of Not All Men. I recently watched the new BBC adaptation of Lord of the Flies with some Gen A boys (aged 13-16) with mild trepidation. Written by Adolescences Jack Thorne, the classic 1950s novel by William Golding has been refashioned to speak to modern audiences. The books themes of morality, leadership and tribalism were still front and centre, but Thorne and director Marc Munden have also craftily leaned into more current debates about positive masculinity. In the book, Jack is a bit prissy and puritanical to begin with and is also described as being ugly and with red hair. The BBC adaptation portrays him as all bruised id, and a good deal more good-looking than he is in the book, and these choices are obviously intentional. Thorne and Munden wanted to test young, modern audiences who have come of age at a time when aggressive, violent masculinity the route that Jack and his crew take is often viewed by Gen A boys in particular as cool, and gentler, more inclusive masculinity Ralph and Piggys route is viewed as woke and weak. There was no need to worry. Every boy I was watching with not only identified Ralphs side as the good side, but they were rooting for Ralph, whos supposed to represent democracy. Jacks side, meanwhile, represents chaos after democracy and reason break down. I liked Ralph, because he wasnt perfect but he was doing the best he could, especially when joining the other side would have been easier for him, said Col, who is 14. That choice comes up a lot in day-to-day life. The most popular lads arent always the nicest ones. After a half-decade of the prominence of the red-pilled manosphere bros, there is evidence to suggest that boys and young men are starting to tire of this trope and seek out something more connected and positive. This isnt to suggest that all Gen A boys are about to start wearing This is what a Feminist Looks Like T-shirts. But the recent avatars of masculinity have become a lot more interesting after five years of cuck insults and telling women to get back in the kitchen. In both Scott Galloways bestseller Notes on Being a Man and Gavin Newsoms autobiography Young Man in a Hurry, the focus is less on real-estate deals with Daddy or sporting glory, but the superpower of being raised by a single mum and learning from their own weaknesses. Galloway believes kindness in men is integral to all success, whether in business or relationships with the opposite sex, and advocates for daily kindness practice. He also succinctly dismantles the notion of equating violence and cruelty with masculinity: Theres no such thing as toxic masculinity thats the emperor of all oxymorons. Theres cruelty, criminality, bullying, predation and abuse of power. If youre guilty of any of these things, or conflate being male with coarseness and savagery, youre not masculine; youre anti-masculine. open image in gallery In his new documentary, Louis Theroux interviews manosphere A-listers plus various B-, C- and D-listers ( Netflix ) After a decade of Trumps bluster, bullying and boasting, hearing Newsom who many believe to be the current frontrunner Democratic candidate for the 2028 election discuss his acute dyslexia and anxiety as both a boy and teenager is refreshing, whether you agree with his politics or not. This positive, more connected masculinity is also popping up everywhere in trends in popular culture. A recent survey called Teens and Screens from UCLA showed that Gen A and Gen Z are tiring of the superhero tropes; something that will be sour news for those in Hollywood who have thrown their lot in with these kinds of franchises. For years, creators and executives have operated under the assumption that young male audiences prefer, or at least expect, stoic, independent male heroes, the report explains. There are a plethora of other cultural examples that give credence to the idea that young men want complexity and role models who make them feel good about being a man. Steve was my favourite in Stranger Things because he started off as a bit of a douche but became good, says Jake, who is 15. He was mates with Dustin without it being cringe. And he didnt get the girl he liked, even though he was good-looking, and he was always getting stuff wrong, but he was a good guy. I like it better when everyone, and especially the men, arent just good or bad. open image in gallery Stranger Things is giving a more alternative view of what a hero looks like and how they develop, particularly in the case of Steve (Joe Keery, second left) ( Netflix ) The National Research Group (NRG) recently commissioned a study of boys aged 13-30 and discovered that over half of the respondents were keen to see more male vulnerability, male friendships and openness about feelings. We are starting to see a little bit of progress, says Fergus Navaratnam-Blair, research director of trends and futures for NRG. This year, there has been a wave of content that directly addresses this notion of male vulnerability. Noah Wyless portrayal of Dr Robby in the Pittsburgh-based hospital series The Pitt has won him a legion of male (and female) fans on both sides of the Atlantic. He plays a flawed but kind, grumpy but generous, strong but struggling-with-his-own-mental-health doctor; a portrayal that has really spoken to young guys left increasingly cold by Supermen. Noah Wyle explained that the development of the character had to flow from the deconstruction of the hero. Dr Robby and the show itself demonstrate that small and bigger acts of bravery and kindness are more convincing than typical heroism. Dr Robby is hands-down the best character on TV right now, says Kit, 18. Hes badass but also fd up, and I think we can all relate to that! I want to study medicine at uni, and the show has both scared me and made me excited about it. open image in gallery Noah Wyle in The Pitt as Dr Robby, a flawed but kind, grumpy but generous, strong but struggling-with-his-own-mental-health doctor ( Max ) Meanwhile, three of the most bankable film stars in Hollywood right now are Timothee Chalamet, Michael B Jordan and Paul Mescal, all of whom have played complex, connected male characters. Jordans box-office hit smash Sinners was a dazzling mishmash of vampire lore, Black history and Black music, but something a lot of the young audiences picked up on was its many gleeful references to female sexual pleasure; something which, for all its masculine swagger, the manosphere including Andrew Tate is very squeamish about. After half a decade of the manosphere giving boys bad sex advice and violent porn where women are subjugated, a horror film that featured women enjoying sex felt quietly revolutionary. The music star Ive had most conversations about with Gen A is not Harry Styles (another male star wholly unbothered by alpha masculinity) but one thats been dead for nearly 30 years: Jeff Buckley, who, via TikTok, has posthumously found a whole new, young audience. The 2026 documentary Its Never Over focuses on how Buckley was shaped by being raised by a single mother after his father, Tim Buckley, abandoned them and then died of a heroin overdose, and how much of an outspoken feminist he was in both his personal life and music. In the documentary, he explains how Nina Simone and Edith Piaf had as much an influence as Led Zeppelin and Television, and talks of his absolute belief in female power and brilliance. In his new documentary, Theroux, who has always been a bit of an avatar for complex, connected masculinity, manages to combine enough smarts and credulity to make the audience and the subjects trust and laugh with him. Perhaps sensing a waning of patience for the manosphere, he interviews manosphere A-listers Sneako and Myron Gaines plus various manosphere B-, C- and D-listers. Something that has long been missed about the appeal of the manosphere to boys is its countercultural appeal. Gen Z and Gen A have millennial and Gen X parents who they cant shock with music, tattoos, sexuality or having a socialist phase. Boys and young men often like the fact that their breadwinner mums or feminist dads are more likely to be scandalised by their sons listening to some bible-thumping, jacked-up bro who hates feminism. Banning the manosphere and its many spokesmen only adds to its desired outlaw appeal. Laughing at the more absurd elements of it is much more effective. Theroux is absolutely the man for the job, and its unlikely that even the boys who are the most ardent followers of the manosphere are going to think the documentarian, with his unbulging biceps and progressive view of women, looks like the loser when the credits roll. BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The China-Africa friendship has withstood the test of changing international circumstances, demonstrating strong vitality, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday. For many years, China's foreign minister has honored a diplomatic tradition by kicking off the year with a visit to Africa. "This consistency reflects the spirit and commitment of China's diplomacy," Wang told a press conference on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. "It's no exaggeration to say that China-Africa friendship has been passed down from generation to generation -- forged heart to heart, and built with sweat and blood," Wang said. Highlighting fresh steps in building a China-Africa community with a shared future, he said China will host multiple African leaders this year to strengthen mutual support as all-weather partners and to write a new chapter of a shared journey together. Starting from May 1, China will fully implement zero-tariff access to 100 percent of chart of African imports, removing tariffs completely to boost trade, multiply benefits for the people, and help Africa access the enormous opportunities of the Chinese market, Wang said. The China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges has officially commenced, with nearly 600 activities planned throughout this year, he said, adding that China is ready to work with its African brothers to draw inspiration from their civilization heritage for a stronger bond between people and carry forward the friendship for many generations to come. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The words of Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee, urging Keir Starmer not to lose his nerve on Iran in the wake of Donald Trumps repeated personal attacks were enlightening. She told The Independent: We have to stick to what we believe is right. It was notable that she referred to a collective we, rather than the PM himself. The underlying message is that this is a government not relying on an individual leaders judgement but one which acts on the collective opinion of its MPs. Her words, perhaps unwittingly, highlighted that the problem for Starmer now is that the more Labour MPs tell him he is doing the right thing, the more he looks like their prisoner. open image in gallery Starmer is in a weak position politically ( Getty ) The rapidly unfolding events in Iran and attacks on UK sovereign bases in Cyprus have put the prime ministers decision-making and motivations into the brightest of spotlights. It has also exposed his own weak position in No 10, where plotters gathering around the rivals looking to succeed him underline how the fight to save his premiership overshadows everything he does. After all, this year we mark the 375th anniversary of the publication of the English political philosopher Thomas Hobbess work The Leviathan, where he encapsulated the cornerstone of governance: The defence of the nation is the first duty of government." If a prime minister is unable to make those decisions clearly without having his hand forced by others then he is unable to govern. This was unintentionally illuminated on Friday when Starmer posted a video on social media of the week he had experienced regarding the incredibly difficult decisions regarding the war. The video was aimed at providing justification for his careful middle-of-the-road approach to the conflict initially refusing to take part or give the US permission to use UK bases and then authorising defensive action and giving Trump permission to use RAF bases for that purpose. It spelt out his interpretation of international law, British national interest and a reflection of recent history with the Iraq War. open image in gallery Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs select committee ( House of Commons ) His statement to the Commons on Monday last week showed the immense anger and disdain of the Tories and Reform on the issue from the right but underlined the almost universal approval he received from Labour MPs, who have not so enthusiastically united behind him in this way at barely any other time in his premiership. In fact such was the warmth and praise for his leadership and principles that you could believe talk of a new leader after the local and devolved elections in May was perhaps becoming more fanciful. But then the leak from the national security meeting came out in The Spectator, which in fact showed Starmer wanted to let Trump use bases at Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford to launch attacks on Iran. Worse, it seems that he was only stopped by four cabinet ministers, including potential leadership candidate Ed Miliband. Given the precarious position he is in politically, Starmer could not have survived the resignation of four cabinet ministers and the inevitable backlash from the Labour backbenches. Had that happened, we may already be in a leadership contest. It puts an entirely different light on the PMs actions and makes him once again look like a prisoner of his own party just as he was over his attempt to reform welfare, remove winter fuel payments from pensioners, or not end the two-child benefit cap. In fact the two-child benefit cap situation is an interesting parallel. After being forced to end it by his backbenchers, Starmer has been going around making a virtue of the move as if it was his idea. open image in gallery Ed Miliband opposed joining Trumps war with Iran ( Getty ) It now seems that he is doing the same over not supporting Trump on Iran when secretly he wants to. It does help him a lot in this case that Tony Blair, the author of the Iraq debacle which still overshadows Labour foreign policy, is so critical of his decision-making on Iran. But, unfortunately, it also underlines that Blair had the strength to persuade his MPs in 2003 and survive two cabinet resignations of Robin Cook and Clare Short. Starmer does not have that strength. And for a prime minister who only won a massive majority 20 months ago it is a painful position to already be in. It is similar to the position Rishi Sunak found himself in with an embittered, divided Conservative Party, but that was after a dozen years of government. The Iran war has at least put a decision by Labour MPs on Starmers future back until after the local and devolved elections in May, at which point his fate may be sealed. The only question may be whether his replacement is another prisoner to Labour MPs or one who can throw off the shackles and be a leader again. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Senior Labour MPs are urging Sir Keir Starmer to hold his nerve and stick to what we believe is right in the face of another furious rant by Donald Trump. The US president launched another broadside at the prime minister overnight, writing on Truth Social that the US does not need anyone to join wars after weve already won. Sir Tony Blair also weighed into the debate, arguing that Sir Keir had made a mistake by not joining in the war on Iran from the outset. Despite the ongoing spat, a Downing Street spokesperson said the two leaders spoke on Sunday afternoon. "The leaders began by discussing the latest situation in the Middle East and the military co-operation between the UK and US through the use of RAF bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region, they said. "The prime minister also shared his heartfelt condolences with President Trump and the American people following the deaths of six US soldiers." Amid the row that has been brewing for over a week, Labour MPs called on the PM to stick to his policy of defensive action. open image in gallery The foreign secretary defended the prime minister after both Donald Trump and Tony Blair criticised Keir Starmers approach ( Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire ) Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper warned that Labour needs to learn the lessons of Iraq in a put-down to Sir Tony. She was reflecting the continued anger over the way the former prime minister led Britain into that disastrous Middle East war in 2003, and is now criticising Sir Keir. However, figures connected to the Trump administration are now warning that the ill feeling over the UKs refusal to get involved in direct attacks from Iran at the start will impact trade between the two countries, with the relationship between the two governments completely broken. It reflected claims by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage after a meeting with the US president last week, declaring: The relationship between Starmer and Trump is over. Earlier this week, Mr Trump said the prime minister was no Churchill, adding that he had ruined relationships over Iran and the Chagos Islands deal. Labours chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Dame Emily Thornberry, urged Sir Keir to hold his nerve. Reflecting the mood of the parliamentary party, she said: It will blow over. We have to stick to what we believe is right and in Britain's interests. But Andrew Hale, a leading trade expert at the Advancing American Freedom think tank who provides advice to the Trump administration, warned that the row will prompt the president to look again at his tariff regime. He said: Many people I speak to in the US federal government no longer see the UK as a reliable ally and recognise that the UK is suffering from system failure. A source in the administration also warned that the initial refusal to allow the US to use RAF bases will be a betrayal that will never be forgotten or forgiven. However, another source close to the administration privately expressed sympathy for Sir Keirs position to The Independent, reflecting divisions on the right of US politics over the relationship with Israel. Trump didnt share any plans or intel with the UK but wants to use their assets without notice and cries when they wont join their Israel-led war? If we dont need the UK, whys he crying about it on Truth Social? Downing Street confirmed the leaders spoke on Sunday afternoon, over a week since their last confirmed call. The leaders began by discussing the latest situation in the Middle East and the military cooperation between the UK and US through the use of RAF bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region, a readout of the call said. open image in gallery According to the Daily Mail, the former Labour prime minister said at an event on Friday that Britain should have backed America from the very beginning ( PA ) The prime minister also shared his heartfelt condolences with President Trump and the American people following the deaths of six US soldiers. They looked forward to speaking again soon. The row has seen an intervention from Sir Tony, who believes the UK should have joined the US and Israel in taking down the Iranian regime. According to the Daily Mail, the former Labour prime minister, who supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, said at an event on Friday that Britain should have backed America from the very beginning. Ms Cooper told Sky News: There are some people in politics who think that we should always agree with the US. There are other people in politics who think we should never take action with the US again, whatever the circumstances. I dont think either of those positions is in the UKs national interest, and it is the responsibility [of] Keir Starmer to act in the UKs national interest for British citizens. Asked if she was calling Sir Tony a poodle, she said: I think the point is to make sure that, actually, we learn the lessons from some of the things that went wrong in Iraq, and I think that is exactly what Keir Starmer has done. Meanwhile, Tory former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt said that attacks on Sir Tony and claims by Labour that her party leader had insulted the RAF by suggesting they were hanging around were a distraction from a government which has failed to keep its word on increasing defence spending. She told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: No 10 will brief against Kemi Badenoch, defence chiefs, Tony Blair and anyone else they can think of. Anything to distract from the only thing that matters: we must spend and deliver more for our armed forces. When will we wake up? What level of tragedy will it take? Meanwhile, Ms Badenoch continued her attack on what she claims is Sir Keirs inaction. She said: What we need is a government that is very clear about our defence and our national interest. Labour are political pygmies playing student union politics. Britain should lead, defend our interests, and stand strong. Keir Starmer doesnt have the backbone. The US administration has rejected suggestions that the current war with Iran could lead to similar devastation caused by the Iraq conflict. open image in gallery Britain did not join the initial strikes on Iran, but has since allowed US forces to use British bases to strike in a defensive capacity ( AP ) US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth told reporters this week: This is not Iraq, this is not endless. Britain did not join the initial strikes on Iran, but has since allowed US forces to use British bases to strike in a defensive capacity. Sir Keir has repeatedly said he stands by his decision, and told parliament on Monday that his government does not believe in regime change from the skies, in an apparent criticism of the US presidents bombing campaign. Ms Cooper also backed the prime ministers dealings with Mr Trump on Sunday, saying that the UK governments job is not to be outsourcing our foreign policy after the renewed criticism. She said the prime minister would not turn to rhetoric or hyperbole and would focus on calm, steady decision-making, saying people need to focus on the substance and not social media posts. 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 seventh American service member has been killed in the United States war with Iran. The service member died Saturday night after being seriously injured during an attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Sunday. This is the seventh service member killed in action during Operation Epic Fury, the statement said. open image in gallery Soldiers carry a casket bearing the remains of Nicole Amor on Saturday ( AP ) The slain service member has not been named. Officials said their identity would be shared with the public 24 hours after their next-of-kin has been notified. On Saturday, President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer of six U.S. soldiers killed in the war at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The soldiers 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. The six Army Reserve members were killed by a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait. The group was from the 103rd Sustainment Command, based in Des Moines, Iowa, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies. They died a day after the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military campaign against Iran on February 28. open image in gallery Major Jeffrey OBrien and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan were killed in action March 1 ( US Army ) Trump said Saturday there will likely be more U.S. casualties in the conflict with Iran. When asked if he thought he would attend more dignified transfers, Trump said: Im sure. I hate to... but its part of war. Top administration officials attended the dignified transfer, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The defense chief who wrote on social media Friday of an unbreakable spirit to honor their memory and the resolve they embodied. open image in gallery From left: Capt. Cody Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens and Sgt. Declan Coady ( U.S. Army Reserve ) 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 in attendance. Trump, wearing a blue suit, red tie and white USA baseball cap, saluted each coffin as it was carried by service members from the military aircraft to awaiting transfer vehicles. The families of the slain soldiers were also in attendance. 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. Our nation owes them an incredible debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. open image in gallery Smoke rises from an area surrounding the U.S. embassy in Bayan, Kuwait ( Reuters ) At least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran, more than 300 in Lebanon and about a dozen people in Israel since the conflict began over a week ago, according to the Associated Press. The U.S. and Israel launched joint military strikes against Iran on February 28, killing dozens of Iranian officials, including the countrys supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian officials said Sunday that his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, would be his successor. Iran has retaliated against Israel and U.S. bases and allies in the region. On Sunday, Israel struck Beirut, Lebanon, and an oil storage facility in Tehran, continuing to escalate the conflict. 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 Elon Musk had a two-word retort for Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei after he said his companys artificial intelligence models may have gained consciousness. The tech mogul issued a sharp comeback to a post on X by cryptocurrency-based prediction market Polymarket, which read: Anthropic CEO says Claude may or may not have gained consciousness, as the model has begun showing symptoms of anxiety. In response, Musk wrote, Hes projecting. The post from Polymarket came after Amodei said he didnt know if the company, which makes the popular Claude chatbot, has created AI models that are conscious. Weve taken a generally precautionary approach here. We dont know if the models are conscious, Amodei said during an interview with The New York Times. open image in gallery Elon Musk claimed Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei was projecting after he said his companys AI may have gained consciousness ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) We are not even sure that we know what it would mean for a model to be conscious or whether a model can be conscious. But were open to the idea that it could be, he continued. Amodei explained: Were putting a lot of work into this field called interpretability, which is looking inside the brains of the models to try to understand what theyre thinking. And you find things that are evocative, where there are activations that light up in the models that we see as being associated with the concept of anxiety or something like that. When characters experience anxiety in the text, and then when the model itself is in a situation that a human might associate with anxiety, that same anxiety neuron shows up, he said. Amodeis stunning admission to the Times comes amid a clash between Anthropic and the Department of Defense over the use of AI within the military. Amodei previously said his company denied a Pentagon request to remove safeguards on domestic surveillance and on fully autonomous weapons. open image in gallery Amodei told the New York Times in an interview that his companys AI has started showing symptoms of anxiety ( Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) President Donald Trump and administration officials deemed the company a supply chain risk a term previously reserved for foreign adversaries last week. The move came after Amodei refused to back down over concerns that the companys products could be used for mass surveillance of Americans or autonomous weapons. Anthropic has previously vowed to sue if the Pentagon pursued what it described as a legally unsound action, never before publicly applied to an American company. While the AI company lost major partnerships with defense contractors, Anthropic saw a surge in consumer downloads over the past week as people sided with its moral stance. Anthropic has boasted of more than a million people signing up for Claude each day this week, lifting it past OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini as the top AI app in more than 20 countries in Apple's App Store. 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 bunch of New Jersey Girl Scouts upset senior leaders recently by teaming up with a local weed dispensary to sell their world-famous cookies but before they got shut down, the effort seems to have really paid off. Last month, an unidentified troop sold cookies outside Daylite Dispensary in Mount Laurel as a trial run, according to store owner Steve Cassidy, after the idea had been rejected by the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey last year. Cassidy said the girls effort was a success, which he attributed, in no small part, to the munchies that use of cannabis generally induces. But senior Girl Scout leadership was reportedly unhappy with the move, he told The Independent Thursday. It was about community, Cassidy said. If that means the local Girl Scout troop got in trouble, that is absolutely not what we wanted. "I think they were very pleased with the amount of cookies they sold that day. I didn't get a true count on how many boxes of cookies they sold, but I believe it was a lot," Cassidy told News12. "A lot was sold to our staff members as well, but the feedback from our customers was overwhelmingly positive." open image in gallery Girl Scouts in Chicago sell cookies outside of a Starbucks in 2017. A New Jersey Girl Scout troop upset organizational leaders last month by selling cookies outside Daylite Dispensary in Mount Laurel ( Getty Images ) Its unclear whether the troop returned for a second scheduled sale that had been organized for Friday evening. The Independent had no reply from attempts to contact the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey, as well as Girl Scouts headquarters for comment. In a statement to News 12, the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey said: "Girl Scouts can set up booths outside of businesses that they would be able to enter and purchase something." Troops across the United States have long set up booths in spots where they expect high footfall or a particularly cookie-hungry clientele - from shooting ranges to marijuana shops and college-town bars. But where they are allowed to sell appears to vary, from state to state. An undated Cookie Booth Essentials guide on the Girl Scouts website echoes what the regional chapter told News 12: troops shouldnt sell cookies in or directly outside establishments where they arent legally allowed to enter. open image in gallery In 2018, a San Diego Girl Scout sold more than 300 boxes in six hours outside Urbn Leaf, featuring favorites like Peanut Butter Sandwich and Thin Mints. In 2014, a 13-year-old sold 117 boxes in just two hours outside a medical marijuana clinic ( Getty Images ) Girl Scouts have been selling cookies to fund troop activities and teach entrepreneurship since 1917. While door-to-door sales were the original approach, booths outside supermarkets and grocery stores soon became a familiar sight. Nowadays, many Scouts also accept credit cards and digital payments through apps like Venmo. Reports of selling Girl Scout cookies at cannabis dispensaries is nothing new, especially on the West Coast. In 2018, an unnamed Girl Scout sold more than 300 boxes in six hours outside Urbn Leaf, a San Diego dispensary, with the store promoting her sale in a now-deleted Instagram post, KGTV reported. In 2014, a 13-year-old in San Francisco sold 117 boxes in just two hours outside a medical marijuana clinic, according to a report in Mashable. That same year, some Girl Scout councils, including Colorado, restricted sales near dispensaries, bars, and liquor stores. open image in gallery Girl Scouts are known for getting creative with where they sell their cookies, including at the 2016 Oscars to Hollywood's biggest stars ( Getty Images ) "If you are wondering, we don't allow our Girl Scouts to sell cookies in front of marijuana shops or liquor stores/bars," the organization's Colorado branch tweeted at the time, KGTV reports. In 2018, AnneMarie Harper, a spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of Colorado, told the New York Times that those restrictions had been eased, but Scouts in the state still need to get approval for booth locations to ensure safety and legal compliance. Back then it was a blanket: No, you may not, Harper said. Now, its more of: Come to us, tell us where you want to be and what you want to do, making sure were checking off all of the safety guidelines. At the time, Harper said that while some Girl Scouts had sold cookies near breweries, she was unaware of attempts to set up booths outside legal marijuana dispensaries. We really want girls to be cookie entrepreneurs, to find new and creative ways to reach customers, she said. open image in gallery Customers lined up on a New York City street in support of National Girl Scout Cookie Day on February 8, 2013 ( Getty Images ) Even amid some controversies, Girl Scouts have found inventive ways to sell their cookies. In a February 2023 Reddit forum, one user said they have seen both Girl and Boy Scouts selling cookies at a local gun store or range. Around the same time, seven-year-old Girl Scout Siena and her family hit the streets of West Hollywood, a neighborhood famous for its lively LGBTQ community, and sold out their entire inventory twice, with enthusiastic support from drag queens and patrons of local gay bars,Yahoo reported. Online cookie sales began in December 2014 with the launch of the Digital Cookie platform, allowing Scouts to sell through personalized websites, apps and email links. The platform was designed to teach modern entrepreneurship while maintaining in-person sales, according to the organizations website. More than a decade later, Girl Scouts are now using social media to expand their reach. Last month, six-year-old Pim Neill of Pittsburgh went viral on TikTok, selling some 121,500 boxes of cookies to set a new record in Pennsylvania. 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 Newly released footage showing the fatal shooting of a man by a federal immigration agent in Texas last year calls into question assertions by the Department of Homeland Security that a driver intentionally rammed an agent with his car immediately before he was killed. The videos, including from officer body cameras, offer the first visual account of the shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, during a beach trip last year. Hours of footage and other law enforcement records were released Friday following a public records request from The Associated Press and other news outlets. Martinezs death was the earliest of at least six fatal shootings by federal agents since President Donald Trump launched a nationwide immigration crackdown in his second term, and is among several cases in which video has called into question the administrations initial narratives. The Texas Rangers closed their investigation into the 15 March 2025, shooting after a grand jury declined last week to file any criminal charges against Homeland Security Investigations Supervisory Special Agent Jack Stevens, who fired the fatal shots, according to records released by the Texas Department of Public Safety. In a written statement included in the files, Stevens said he fired to protect his fellow agents, police officers and the public from what he feared was a potential terrorist attack intended to cause mass casualties. A DHS spokesperson said last month the HSI agent fired defensive shots after the driver intentionally ran over his fellow agent, resulting in him being on the hood of the vehicle. open image in gallery Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Jack Stevens pulls Ruben Ray Martinez from his vehicle after shooting Martinez at a roadblock in South Padre Island, Texas ( Officer Miguel Leal/Texas Department of Public Safety via AP ) The newly released body camera videos, taken from behind Martinezs car, do not clearly show the vehicle striking an agent. Another video shows Joshua Orta, who was riding in the car with Martinez, telling investigators that his friend had not intended to harm federal officers but had panicked because he feared getting arrested for driving while intoxicated. He didnt know what to do. Like he definitely didnt want to go to jail, Orta said. But as far as like running over an officer ... he wouldnt do that. Spokespersons for DHS did not respond to requests for comment about the videos. Shots fired, shots fired While local media reported at the time the shooting involved a police officer, DHS did not publicly disclose its agents were involved until after the AP and other media outlets reported it last month. Martinez was just days past his 23rd birthday when he and Orta drove from their hometown of San Antonio down to South Padre Island, a popular spring break party destination. They drank with friends and smoked marijuana before heading back out on the town, Orta told investigators. Martinez was driving his blue Ford sedan when, shortly after midnight, they came upon the scene where South Padre police officers were directing traffic around a two-car collision at a busy intersection. Also at the scene were three HSI agents from a maritime border security task force redirected to conduct immigration enforcement, according to documents. open image in gallery Martinez was driving his blue Ford sedan when, shortly after midnight, they came upon the scene where South Padre police officers were directing traffic around a two-car collision at a busy intersection. In body camera footage captured by two of the island's police officers, Martinezs car can be seen slowly approaching the intersection, appearing to go straight as vehicles were being instructed to turn left. Martinez's car slows to a crawl nearly a full stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. Once the pedestrians are out of the way, the car slowly pulls into the intersection before stopping again as the HSI agents approach, shouting instructions for the driver to stop. One of the HSI agents, identified in documents as Special Agent Hector Sosa, moves in front of the car. Stevens is on the drivers side and reaches toward the door. Get him out, get him out, one of the officers can be heard shouting. Martinez's car begins slowly moving forward and turning to the left, where other vehicles were traveling. Stevens, on the drivers side of the car, is keeping pace and appears to be leaning in toward the open drivers side window. As officers yell for Martinez to stop, Stevens pulls his weapon and rapidly fires three shots through the window before quickly backing away. Shots fired, shots fired, one of the police officers wearing a camera yells into his radio. The entire incident transpires in about 15 seconds. Agents pull the driver from the car The blue Ford quickly comes to a full stop and Martinez is pulled from the vehicle and handcuffed by multiple officers. Orta is also pulled from the passenger seat and handcuffed. Martinez remains in cuffs and on the ground, unmoving, for about a minute before paramedics already on the scene of the earlier traffic accident begin to provide medical aid. An autopsy report shows all three shots fired by Stevens hit Martinez, with bullets traveling through his left arm before entering his torso and piercing his heart, lungs, liver and other organs. The autopsy report also showed that Martinez's blood alcohol level was 0.12%, well above the legal limit to drive in Texas of 0.08%. open image in gallery Immigration-Enforcement-Texas-Fatal-Shooting ( Officer Miguel Leal/Texas Department of Public Safety via AP ) In a three-page written statement provided to the Texas Rangers almost two months after the shooting, Stevens said he fired his weapon as Martinez accelerated forward, striking Special Agent Sosa who wound up on the hood of the vehicle." He also said he narrowly avoided being run over, being struck by the driver's side and causing the mirror to break off of the vehicle. A photo from the scene showed the mirror damaged, but still on the car. As he fired, the agent said that still fresh on his mind were recent domestic and international events, including a man who had driven a pickup truck into a crowd of New Years revelers in New Orleans weeks earlier. The drivers eyes were open widely, fist clenched to the steering wheel, and he was looking past the officers on scene as he failed to comply with the loud and repeated verbal commands of multiple law enforcement officers, Stevens wrote. This is a behavior I have observed in my training and experience as a pre attack indicator and sign of noncompliance as the suspect is looking in the path of their intended movement and is not indicative of compliance. This path of movement, if left unmitigated, would, using the vehicle as a weapon, have resulted in numerous casualties." As reported by AP last month, an internal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation said the agent struck by the car was treated for an unspecified knee injury at a nearby hospital and released. The newly released videos show the agent after the shooting arresting Orta and walking without any visible injury or limp. That's when he panicked and turned the wheel' Orta said Martinez had been drinking earlier that night several shots and a beer and smoked marijuana when he approached the traffic checkpoint where a vehicle accident had occurred earlier. One officer spotted an open alcoholic beverage near Martinez but directed the car to keep moving and turn to the left. Instead, Martinez continued straight, toward the accident and more officers. open image in gallery Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen who was shot and killed in Texas by a federal immigration agent last year ( Rachel Reyes ) Thats when he panicked and turned the wheel, and he didnt floor the gas but we kind of went a little bit and I guess they thought he was like trying to run the cop over or something," Orta said. Orta said that their car came to a full stop at first. Then Martinez turned to the left with the car barely moving. I saw the officer kind of get on the hood. Like he didnt hit him, but like he kind of like, you know what I mean, caught his feet, Orta said. It was just slowly moving and they started shooting. Orta died Feb. 21 in a car accident in San Antonio. Lawyers representing Martinez's mother, Rachel Reyes, said in a statement the newly released videos and other evidence showed his car was barely moving when Stevens fired at point-blank range. This batch of evidence shows no justification for Rubens killing," lawyers Charles M. Stam and Alex Stamm said. Still, our pursuit of full transparency will continue until we have all the facts. We, and the public, have yet to see all of the evidence held by the government. 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 Arizonas Democratic Governor has turned down proposals for a new state license plate featuring Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, saying it would not bring people together. Charlie Kirk's assassination is tragic and a horrifying act of violence. In America, we resolve our political differences at the ballot box, Governor Katie Hobbs said in a statement Friday. No matter who it targets, political violence puts us all in harm's way and damages our sacred democratic institutions. I will continue working toward solutions that bring people together, but this bill falls short of that standard by inserting politics into a function of government that should remain nonpartisan. Right-wing commentator Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at an event on the Utah Valley University campus, in Utah on September 10. He lived in Arizona with his children and wife, Erika Kirk. Since her husbands death, Erika Kirk has become the CEO of TPUSA and vowed to carry on his legacy. open image in gallery The Governor of Arizona has turned down proposals for a new state license plate that would feature Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk ( Jake Hoffman/ X ) The suggested plate, known as the Charlie Kirk memorial plate, featured a photo of Kirk with his fist raised alongside the TPUSA logo in front of the American flag. Below the license number are the words For Charlie. According to the proposal SB 1439 the legislation that would have authorized an optional specialty license plate recognizing Charlie Kirk and supporting civic engagement efforts. According to the legislation, $17 of the $25 plate fee would be designated as an annual donation to the Conservative Grassroots Network Special Plate Fund. The recipient of the fund was not specifically named in the legislation. However, the bill noted that the funds must be allocated to a non-profit founded in 2012 that aims to restore traditional values, has a grassroots activist network on high school and college campuses, and helps college students with voter registration and absentee ballots. Turning Point USA was founded by Kirk in 2012. Hobbs decision to veto the plate caused outrage among Republican lawmakers who blasted it as grotesque partisanship. open image in gallery Right-wing commentator Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at an event on the Utah Valley University campus, in Utah on September 10. He lived in Arizona with his wife and children ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Arizona Senator Jake Hoffman, who co-sponsored the bill, wrote: Even in the wake of a global civil rights leader an Arizona resident and her own constituent being assassinated in broad daylight for his defense of the First Amendment, Hobbs couldnt find the human decency to put her far-Left extremism aside simply to allow those how wish to honor him to do so. Katie Hobbs will forever be known as a stain on the pages of Arizonas story. The speciality plate is not the only example of state-specific memorials to Kirk. In Florida, several roads have been renamed after the commentator, including one in Miami-Dade County, which is set to become Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue." In October, Collier County Commissioners designated a stretch of road Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway, though they classed it as a memorial designation. open image in gallery The speciality plate is not the only example of state-specific memorials to Kirk. Others have renamed roads after the commentator while others have suggested the construction of memorial plazas ( Melissa Majchrzak/AFP via Getty Images ) Last week, the Florida House passed a bill designating every October 14 as Charlie Kirk Day. In addition, multiple states, including Tennessee and Oklahoma, have introduced legislation to construct memorial plazas in honor of Kirk. One Tennessee proposal, HB 2025, would require every public university in the state to erect a 40-by-40-foot courtyard on its main campus in order to encourage civil discourse among students, staff and visitors, according to WZTV. Such courtyards would display the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Tennessee Constitution, and the Ten Commandments. They would also feature Kirks name and date of death. 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 six-year-old deaf boy who was deported from the United States after being denied access to his hearing aids by DHS officials is now hiding in Colombia with his younger brother and mother, fearful for their lives, a lawyer has said. The child, Joseph, is severely disabled and unable to access the specialized healthcare and education he needs in the country, which the family fled four years ago after his mother faced severe domestic violence there. That violence, combined with her fears for Joseph's life, given his severe disability and the lack of specialized healthcare and education available to him, had driven her to flee, Nikolas De Bremaeker, an attorney with Centro Legal de la Raza, an Oakland, California, legal aid service, told The Independent in a statement. Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez and her two children were detained earlier this week during a routine check-in at Immigration and Customs Enforcements Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office in San Francisco. The family had been living in the community of Hayward in the Bay Area since arriving in the U.S. as asylum seekers. "Ms. Rodriguez Gutierrez was never given a choice to be removed, and never agreed to deportation, De Bremaeker said. In fact, when ICE pressured her to sign a document in a language she did not understand, and without access to counsel, she refused. open image in gallery Joseph, pictured left, with his younger brother. The six-year-old, who is deaf, was deported from the United States. Federal agents denied the child access to his hearing devices before putting him on a plane to Colombia with his mom and brother, according to his familys lawyer. He and his family are now in hiding ( Family of Lesly Rodriguez Guttierez ) open image in gallery Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez and her two children were detained earlier this week during a routine check-in at Immigration and Customs Enforcements Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office in San Francisco. The family had been living in Hayward, California, since arriving in the U.S. as asylum seekers ( Family of Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez ) At the routine check-in, ICE at no point explained to Ms. Rodriguez Gutierrez what was happening to them. ICE agents took their photos and fingerprints, tried to force her to sign a document without explanation, and then pushed the family into a vehicle to be put on a flight to a faraway detention facility, all within minutes. De Bremaeker said that while Gutierrez and her two boys were at the ICE center in San Francisco, a relative had been sitting outside in a car with Josephs hearing aids, which he relies on to communicate. Throughout the process, Gutierrez had begged the agents to allow them to retrieve the devices. In a move that shocks the conscience and violates several laws as well as our Constitution, ICE denied Joseph the assistive devices he needs to live, he said, adding that the youngster was still without the equipment. Neither he nor his four-year-old brother is currently attending school in Colombia, according to the attorney. In addition, De Bremaeker said he was given misleading information and was unable to find the family for two days before tracking them down to a detention center in Arizona, before their removal to South America. All three were traumatized by the ordeal. open image in gallery De Bremaeker said that while Gutierrez and her two boys were at the ICE center in San Francisco, a relative had been sitting outside in a car with Josephs hearing aids, pictured, which he relies on to communicate. Throughout the process Gutierrez had begged the agents to allow them to retrieve the devices ( Family of Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez ) In a press conference on Friday, De Bremaeker blasted the DHS for dragging the children from detention center to detention center, to places that are not meant for children, adding: They are definitely not built for children with severe disabilities. Its inhuman, illegal, and unconstitutional. Joseph attended California School for the Deaf at Fremont for three years, according to Tony Thurmond, California Superintendent of Public Instruction. He demanded the boy's return to California at the news conference. Thurmond said he was deeply disturbed that the boy was deported without access to his necessary medical devices. This unnecessary cruelty must end, he said. 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 them. I am calling on the federal government to return our student to his school community now. The Independent has contacted the DHS for comment on the familys circumstances in Colombia. open image in gallery The familys lawyer also said he was given misleading information and was unable to find the family for two days before tracking them down to a detention center in Arizona before their removal to South America. All three were traumatized by the ordeal ( Getty Images ) A spokesperson for the department previously disputed De Bremaekers claims that Gutierrez had not received due process. She received full due process and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge on November 25, 2024, the statement read. 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. The spokesperson added, 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. De Bremaeker hit back at the DHSs string of misrepresentations, describing them as extremely alarming. I call on Congress to immediately launch an inquiry into these abuses and due process violations by ICE, and force DHS to bring this family home and allow Joseph to rejoin his classmates at the California School for the Deaf, he said. 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 Immigration agents are wearing personal pairs of Meta AI smart glasses to surveil communities, alarming protesters and civil liberties experts who fear the footage will fuel a crackdown on those opposed to President Donald Trumps nationwide deportation campaign. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have increasingly used government-provided body cameras and facial recognition technologyduring deployments nationwide over the last year as they arrested nearly 400,000 immigrants and violently clashed with protesters. DHS agents in six states have been seen in the smart glasses since Trump took office, an investigation by The Independent found. In some cases, agents have used the glasses which have voice-controlled AI for analyzing what the wearer is seeing to record and photograph members of the public. The glasses are also connected to the internet and can livestream video. Taken together, these capabilities raise the specter that agents could be using the smart glasses to transmit video and images into facial recognition software or law enforcement databases. The glasses have raised a host of novel privacy concerns, as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself was reminded last month when he appeared in court for a civil lawsuit on social media addiction. The judge warned that anyone who used smart glasses to record inside her courtroom must delete their footage or be held in contempt. Some of Zuckerbergs entourage had been photographed wearing Meta smart glasses as they entered the Los Angeles courthouse. open image in gallery A Border Patrol agent wears Meta AI smart glasses in Minneapolis in January 2026. DHS agents have been seen in six states wearing Meta AI smart glasses since Trump took office, The Independent has found, in some cases recording or photographing members of the public. The agent did not appear to be recording with the glasses at the time of the photo, since the LED light at the top of the frame was not showing ( Getty Images ) If your glasses are recording, you must take them off, the judge said, according to the Los Angeles Times. It is the order of this court that there must be no facial recognition of the jury. If you have done that, you must delete it. This is very serious. Homeland Security does not have a contract with Meta for the glasses, the agency told The Independent, a fact confirmed by a review of federal procurement records. DHS policy allows agents to wear their own sunglasses, but they are not authorized to record with personal devices. Civil liberties groups are already alarmed by the rise in surveillance of American citizens with government-sanctioned phones and body cams, but this information is still subject to strict rules. Border Patrol agents with body cameras, for instance, are required by department policy to record uses of force, and the data they capture is preserved in accordance with guidelines from the National Archives and Records Administration. But experts warn that government agents making personal recordings is a whole different ballgame. open image in gallery Meta AI smart glasses can record video, take photos, and use AI to analyze images that wearers are seeing in real time ( AFP via Getty Images ) open image in gallery Some of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbergs entourage were seen wearing Meta AI smart glasses as they accompanied him to a civil trial in Los Angeles last month. The judge in the case threatened contempt charges if anyone used smart glasses to record jurors inside her courtroom ( AFP/Getty ) Patrick G. Eddington, a surveillance analyst and senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, told The Independent that he is alarmed by the widespread use of Meta glasses, given the Trump administrations position that citizens who record or protest agents are tantamount to a national security threat. Federal agents are already threatening civil liberties by using government devices to film peaceful activists, he said. Non-violent protest and observation of government employees is 100 percent First Amendment-protected activity that shouldnt end up on government databases. When agents use unregistered, personal devices to record citizens it raises even bigger red flags, he said, given the Trump administrations efforts to define criticism and observation of the government as evidence of criminality. A September national security memo on domestic terrorism enforcement lists anti-Americanism and criticisms of law enforcement and border control as key indicators. The FBI has reportedly been directed to compile a list of groups or entities who hold such views, according to a DOJ memo obtained by reporter Ken Klippenstein. Outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, meanwhile, said in July that filming agents when they're out on operations is a form of violence. There are also reports from multiple cities that people who followed or filmed immigration agents at work have had their faces and license plates photographed, or had agents drive ominously past their homes. Eddington argues that all this speaks to a larger campaign of surveillance and intimidation at work. open image in gallery Protesters clash with federal agents in St Paul, Minnesota in January 2026. Civil rights advocates fear agents could use footage to go after critics of the Trump administrations deportation campaign ( AFP via Getty Images ) Agents using off-the-books devices further allows the government to gather information on people lawfully exercising their constitutional rights, he said, and this data could fuel future searches or arrests. The purpose of it all, quite clearly, with this regime, is to gather as much data as they can on anybody who they believe is a threat to the regime, Eddington said. Anybody that's basically opposing the regime. He added: They are aggregating data on individuals and on groups and they are using it for the purpose of politically going after people. To me theres just absolutely no doubt about it. Clear policies within each federal agency determine when agents turn on government-issued cameras and how this sensitive data is stored for later review. Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst for the ACLUs Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, told The Independent that agents using their personal devices eviscerates these safeguards and is characteristic of the lawlessness of the Trump administration. If an officer is using their own personal device, that just blows out of the water any of the needed policies that have to accompany this form of government surveillance, he said. We have a nice little database and now youre considered a domestic terrorist Agents have been seeing wearing Meta glasses during operations in six states, according to an analysis of video, high-definition news photography and media reports by The Independent. Illinois resident Liz Myers said that two Border Patrol agents used Meta glasses to film her and other protesters during an immigration operation at a Home Depot parking lot in Evanston on December 17. Two people were arrested but their identities and alleged offenses remain unclear. The Independent has asked DHS for comment on the operation. Myers video footage, reviewed by The Independent, shows two agents wearing Metas Ray-Ban-branded smart glasses. The glasses, which cost upwards of $379 depending on the features, are modeled on the popular Wayfarer model, but have circular, high-definition cameras at the side of each lens where a rivet would normally be. A white LED light above the right lens indicates that the glasses are recording and blinks on and off when a photo is taken, according to Meta. open image in gallery An agent (right) uses Meta glasses to surveil protesters on December 17 in Evanston, Illinois. The glasses are recording or taking a photo when a white light is turned on ( Liz Myers ) Hackers claim the privacy light can easily be disabled, allowing users to record others without any visible indication they are doing so. Covers to block out the LED light are also being sold on Amazon by third parties. Meta is exploring whether to officially add a facial recognition capability to the glasses, The New York Times reported in February. The company did not provide a response on the record to questions from The Independent. The video from Myers shows two agents in Meta glasses with the white lights activated looking towards her and fellow protesters. The military veteran says she didnt realize she was being filmed at the time. She was alerted after providing her video to Northwestern Universitys Daily Northwestern newspaper, which first spotted and subsequently reported that the two agents had been recording. open image in gallery Meta, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has donated to Donald Trumps inauguration and his White House ballroom project ( AFP via Getty Images ) A Homeland Security spokesperson told The Independent: The use of personal recording devices is not authorized. Recordings may only be done on government issued devices such as Go Pros or traditional DSLR handheld cameras. The Independent provided the images and footage it had reviewed to DHS, and asked if any agents filming with Meta glasses had been investigated or disciplined. Our statement stands, DHS responded. Myers worries that agents are not only recording members of the public without their knowledge, but that the footage is being used to track critics of the Trump administration. Theyre keeping records of people who are protesting them, she claimed. open image in gallery The concerns around agents using Meta glasses to record protesters are part of wider claims that immigration officials are intimidating those observing operations. Federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti (pictured, left) and Renee Good in Minneapolis in January as they observed immigration operations ( Reuters ) open image in gallery ICE agent Jonathan Ross was recording Minneapolis resident Renee Good on a cellphone before he fatally shot her. Ross can be seen in the reflection of Goods vehicle moments before the shooting The Illinois activists concerns are warranted. Immigration agents are regularly seen recording members of the public, especially during tense confrontations. ICE agent Jonathan Ross used his cell phone to record Minneapolis resident Renee Good, who had been observing agents from inside her SUV, moments before he fatally shot her in January. Agents were wearing body cameras when they fatally shot another protester, Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis that same month. Pretti had been pointing his phone at agents in the moments before he was killed. During testimony before the Senate on February 12, ICE chief Todd Lyons was asked why Ross was filming during the encounter, and whether that reflected any official DHS policies. Lyons said that agents have been instructed to record video if they were going to make an arrest, say of an agitator and that the U.S. attorney was requiring to have video leading up to the event. In January, an ICE agent in Maine allegedly photographed the license plate of a woman who had been filming earlier in the day as they made arrests. open image in gallery Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stand near a gate at an immigrant detention enter in Newark, New Jersey, on May 7. An agent is seen wearing Meta smart glasses. Due to the angle of the photograph, it is unclear if he is recording ( Getty ) In video of the incident, the agent told her, We have a nice little database and now youre considered a domestic terrorist. The woman has since joined a class action lawsuit seeking to bar the Trump administration from threatening, harassing, and otherwise retaliating" against Americans for exercising their First Amendment rights. DHS has repeatedly denied there is any database cataloging people as terrorists if they observe or protest immigration operations. There is NO database of domestic terrorists run by DHS, a Homeland Security official told The Independent. We do of course monitor and investigate and refer all threats, assaults and obstruction of our officers to the appropriate law enforcement. Obstructing and assaulting law enforcement is a felony and a federal crime. After the shootings of Good and Pretti, the Trump administration has cut back on the number of agents deployed for immigration raids in Minneapolis, but operations are expected to continue in other parts of the country. Violating the Constitution In three instances in 2025 the Evanston operation, plus deployments in Los Angeles and North Carolina agents appeared to have used Meta glasses to record or photograph people. Agents were also seen wearing the glasses in New Jersey, Louisiana and Minnesota, but The Independent did not find evidence that they were used to record or take photos. On May 7, 2025, a masked agent wearing a vest from ICEs elite Enforcement and Removal Operations special response team was photographed wearing Meta sunglasses while guarding an immigrant detention center in Newark, New Jersey. open image in gallery A Border Patrol agent in Meta sunglasses during a July 2025 operation in Los Angeles. The active white LED light indicates that he is capturing video or taking photos ( AFP/Getty ) Immigration agents were also seen wearing Meta glasses last summer in Los Angeles, when teams poured into the city in response to widespread anti-deportation protests. A Border Patrol agent was wearing Meta glasses during a June 30 raid near a Home Depot in Cypress Park, tech news site 404 Media reported. It is unclear if the agent used the glasses to record. A July 7 photo, from the AFP news agency, shows an agent from Border Patrols elite Bortac special operations unit wearing the glasses while hanging from an armored vehicle near MacArthur Park in LA. A white light is visible on the right-side lens, suggesting the agent was recording or taking a photo at the time. open image in gallery A Border Patrol agent wears the glasses during a December 5 operation in Louisiana. The glasses do not appear to be recording in this photo ( AFP/Getty ) A Getty photograph from December 5 showed a Border Patrol agent wearing Meta glasses at a park in Metairie, Louisiana, during ongoing operations in the New Orleans area. The agent did not appear to be recording. In December, 404 Media reported that a Border Patrol agent was recording with Meta glasses during an immigration raid in Charlotte, North Carolina. More recently, photos from the Getty news agency showed one or more agents in smart glasses on January 9 and January 12 in Minneapolis. The sunglasses recording light was not on in either photo. The individual in both photos appeared to be part of a larger group of agents carrying out roving operations across the city. Deepening ties The Trump administration continues to deepen its ties with surveillance and tech companies. The White House is supporting the rapid build-out of AI data centers, and it has integrated AI tools from powerful companies like OpenAI and xAI the latter run by former Trump adviser Elon Musk into U.S. national security systems. DHS has at least $1 billion in contracts and purchasing agreements with Palantir, a longstanding tech contractor co-founded by past Trump donor Peter Thiel, for AI and data mining to track and identify migrants for deportation. Customs and Border Protection also recently struck a one-year deal to access Clearview AIs facial recognition tool, which allows users to compare their photos to billions of public images scraped from the internet. open image in gallery A Border Patrol agent in Meta sunglasses on January 12, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is not recording at the time of the photo ( Getty ) Stephen Miller, the Trump administrations homeland security adviser, disclosed last year he was an investor in Palantir, a firm which donated heavily to pro-Trump PACs during the 2024 election and later donated to the presidents White House ballroom project. Meta, meanwhile, donated to Trumps inauguration and his ballroom, and Zuckerberg visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago shortly after the election. The Meta CEO was among the Silicon Valley guests of honor when Trump was sworn in for a second term last January. Myers, the Illinois protester, believes the surveillance and recording is reflective of the larger, aggressive approach to immigration enforcement by the Trump administration. She witnessed an incident in October 2025 where agents pinned a man to the ground and struck him in the face while he was restrained. I am a vet, Myers said. I served in the Army during the first Gulf War. I took an oath to defend the Constitution, and everything that theyre doing is violating the Constitution in several ways. I do see them as being domestic terrorists. Justin Rohrlich contributed reporting to this story 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 Gavin Newsom is demanding that the remaining funds spent by Kosplay Kristi Noem on a controversial $220 million vanity ad campaign be rerouted to help victims of last years devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Noem was fired by President Donald Trump earlier this week from her role as Homeland Security Secretary after mounting scrutiny. She has faced criticism for military-style immigration operations across multiple states, DHSs purchase of multiple luxury jets for staff, major reductions in FEMA staff, and her rumored affair with adviser Corey Lewandowski. They have both denied the rumors, but Noem refused to directly answer questions about the alleged affair during a House Judiciary Committee hearing this week. The final nail in the coffin appeared to be Noems appearance at that hearing where she insisted that the DHS ad campaign, which included a segment of her on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore, had been launched with Trumps approval a claim the president has denied. The California governor, who has adopted a Trump-style scorched-earth style of social media posting, issued a statement Friday targeting the money - and Noems alleged failure to deliver FEMA funding. While Kristi Noem poured $220 million of taxpayer money into a political ad campaign featuring herself on horseback, more than $500 million in FEMA funding for LA fire recovery sat stalled on her desk, Newsom, a Democrat, wrote. Families in Los Angeles shouldnt have to wait while she and Donald Trump play politics. Release the funding now and redirect those dollars to help communities rebuild. open image in gallery Gavin Newsom is demanding DHS give California the remaining funds from a controversial $220 million ad campaign that featured the now-fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in cowboy gear on a horse near Mount Rushmore ( DHS/Tia Dufour ) open image in gallery Newsom has frequently sparred with the Trump administration over issues including wildfire aid and immigration, with the Democrat adopting Trumps bombastic style of social media trolling ( AFP/Getty ) Newsom alleged that Noem has failed to sign key recovery contracts delaying FEMA funding including for Los Angeles fire recover. He attributed the delay to a policy under Noem requiring that she sign off on agency contracts and grants valued above $100,000. In places like the San Gabriel foothills and the hills above Pasadena and Altadena, communities still have damaged park facilities, fenced-off trailheads, and patched-up roadways that wash out in heavy rain because permanent work cannot move at full speed without the promised federal reimbursement, the governors statement added. Schools still wait for dollars to rebuild facilities and classrooms that burned or were heavily damaged. The Independent has asked DHS for comment on Newsoms statement. Noem, who has been appointed by Trump as special envoy to the newly-created Shield of the Americas, was widely mocked for dressing up in tactical gear for various photo ops and press conferences, leading to derisive nicknames like Kosplay Kristi and ICE Barbie. open image in gallery Kristi Noem, who will serve as head of DHS until the end of the month, earned mockery from critics for regularly donning tactical gear for photo opportunities with various DHS agencies ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) open image in gallery The Trump administration announced this week DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was being replaced, as the official faced scrutiny for her use of department funds and recent instances of immigration agents fatally shooting U.S. citizens ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Under Noem, FEMA, which is under the DHS umbrella, had more than 1,000 contracts, grants and awards delayed, according to a report release this week by Senate Democrats. Secretary Noems policy of personally approving certain contracts is putting the safety of communities in need at risk, Senator Gary Peters of Michigan said in a statement accompanying the report. Contrary to claims in the forthcoming report, there are no systemic delays. There is no evidence of a three-week average wait for aid decisions, a DHS spokesperson told The Hill about the Democrats claims. In fact, Secretary Noems review process was specifically designed to break through bureaucratic red tape and expedite funding requests that had previously languished for years under prior administrations. Newsom, a regular Trump critic and widely rumored 2028 presidential hopeful, has long sparred with the Trump administration over wildfire aid. In June, Trump floated potentially withholding wildfire assistance because of his dislike for Newsom. The blazes in January of last year, including the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, killed at least 31 people, destroyed an estimated 16,000 structures, and caused more than $22 billion in insured damages. DAR ES SALAAM, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) on Saturday called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) while reaffirming their commitment to deepening regional integration to improve the livelihoods of citizens across the bloc. The call was made during the 25th Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State, held in Arusha, Tanzania. A communique issued late Saturday at the end of the summit said the leaders reviewed progress on the EAC-led Nairobi Peace Process aimed at restoring peace and stability in eastern DRC. The summit welcomed the progress made so far and commended Kenyan President William Ruto for steering the implementation of regional decisions regarding the security situation in eastern DRC and coordinating the peace process, the communique said. However, the leaders expressed concern over continued hostilities in the conflict-affected region and urged all parties involved to immediately cease fighting, according to the communique. "The summit called on all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and observe an immediate ceasefire while recommitting to the peaceful resolution of their differences." The communique said the heads of state also appealed to the African Union to provide adequate financial and logistical support to the AU-led mediation efforts to ensure the peace process proceeds effectively and reaches a sustainable conclusion. In addition, the leaders acknowledged ongoing diplomatic efforts under the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, led by Ugandan President Museveni, and agreed that regional initiatives should be harmonized to strengthen peacebuilding efforts in eastern DRC, it said. According to the communique, beyond security issues, the summit reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to accelerating regional integration in areas such as trade, infrastructure development and the movement of people and goods. 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 Hundreds of travelers fled Kansas City International Airport Sunday afternoon amid an unspecified threat which grounded flights and caused major travel disruptions in the area. The incident was reported around 11:50 a.m local time at the airport in Missouri. Unverified reports suggested a potential bomb threat. Droves of passengers were seen exiting the terminal with luggage in tow, while others idled on the tarmac staring at their phones. Both inbound and outbound flights were grounded, and a section of the interstate near the airport was closed. Suddenly there was an airport worker saying immediately evacuate, people got up fast and rushed out of there, one traveler told KAKE News. Following a search of the building by law enforcement, the threat was deemed not credible and people were allowed to return to the terminal. At around 3 p.m., a department spokesperson told The Independent that the evacuation is over and that the terminal has since reopened. open image in gallery Officials briefly evacuated travelers from the Kansas City International Airport in Missouri on Sunday after an unspecified threat was reported, triggering major disruptions ( Lauren Schwentker/Instagram ) The threat was reviewed and determined not to be credible, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X at 4 p.m. Threats like these are a federal crime. FBI and law enforcement partners will fully investigate and bring to justice anyone responsible. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for further information from The Independent. Shortly after 3 p.m., Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the security incident is now clear and normal operations are resuming. He expressed gratitude to the FBI and other law enforcement personnel for their timely response. On Sunday evening, a spokesperson for the aviation department provided more details about the reported threat in a statement to The Independent. The department received a call of a potential device in the airport and parking garage on Sunday morning, leading to the evacuation order, the spokesperson said. After extensive searches, including with bomb and arson units, it was determined there was no credible threat. The sudden evacuation led to major travel interruptions in the area. A heavy police presence was seen outside the airport. Both inbound and outbound flights were grounded, while traffic was shifted away from the Missouri airport, according to KAKE News. Southwest Airlines confirmed that several flights headed for Kansas City were diverted on Sunday. Tensions are currently heightened at international airports as the U.S. conflict with Iran escalates. Since the U.S. and Israel launched their joint attack in late February, several airports in the Middle East have sustained damage as a result of Iranian drone strikes including in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. A counterterrorism expert cautioned earlier this week that Americans should remain vigilant in airports and other crowded areas. open image in gallery The Missouri airport was listed as the forty-fourth busiest in the country in 2022, servicing 4.7 million travelers that year ( Google Maps ) Sundays evacuation comes less than one month after officials abruptly shut down the airspace over El Paso International Airport. The travel ban, which was reversed in a matter of hours, stemmed from border officials firing a high-energy laser at what they believed to be a cartel drone, but it turned out to be a balloon, according to reports. Its the second evacuation from the Kansas airport in the past three months. On New Years Eve, travelers were instructed to leave the airport as a result of a potential threat, but law enforcement ultimately determined it was not credible. The Kansas City airport is the 44th busiest in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, servicing 4.7 million passengers that year. 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 Kristi Noems stint as governor of South Dakota has come under fresh scrutiny by a former local mayor, who said she did a Sarah Palin and quit, just days after she was fired from her role as Homeland Security secretary. Noem, who served as governor from 2019 to 2025, became the first cabinet member to be fired by Trump during his second term. The embarrassing dismissal came amid growing scrutiny of her aggressive immigration operations across the country, DHSs purchase of multiple luxury jets for staff, major reductions in FEMA staff, and rumors of an affair with adviser Corey Lewandowski. Mike Levsen, the former mayor of Aberdeen in Noems home state of South Dakota, says her dismissal came as no surprise given her lack of any significant accomplishment during her time as governor of the state. The Noem governorship covered six years then did a Sarah Palin and quit, Levsen wrote in a blog post, comparing Noem to the former Alaska Gov. who resigned midway through her first term, citing mounting legal fees being brought by various ethics investigations being brought against her. Palin was Senator John McCains running mate during the 2008 presidential election. open image in gallery Kristi Noems tenure as governor has come under criticism following her firing as DHS secretary ( AFP/Getty ) Her legacy was minimal involvement with the Legislature, frequent absences, no transparency, repeated operational screwups, soaring turnover and instances of self-dealing for herself and her family, Levsen wrote. Levsen criticized Noems Covid-era ad campaign, Freedom Works Here, as a Trump-based ploy that likely contributed to South Dakotas listing high on some periodical per capita death lists. The campaign, which attempted to draw new residents to the state, cost $6.5 million, and South Dakota News Watch reported at the time that there were hurdles with the campaign. Levsen also noted Noems difficult relationship with tribal governments, as all nine of South Dakotas indigenous tribes voted in 2024 to ban Noem from their lands, according to CNN. Is there a single thing in South Dakota now better as a result of her time in office?" Levsen questioned in the post. Noem was fired by Trump amidst mounting scrutiny over fallout in Minnesota, following DHSs disastrous Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, which saw two U.S. citizens shot dead in confrontations with federal agents. Noem described the two Americans, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, as domestic terrorists. She has refused to apologize for the comments. She also drew fierce criticism with her purchase of multiple luxury jets, a $220 million ad campaign, gutting FEMA, and her rumored affair with Lewandowski. open image in gallery Noem was axed by President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post Thursday ( Getty ) The final nail in the coffin appears to have been Noems congressional testimony this past week, during which lawmakers from both sides of the aisle criticized her management and judgment. A day after her second hearing, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Noem was out at DHS and that he was nominating Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace her. 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 defended her performance during her hearings on Capitol Hill. She also drew fire for insisting that the $220 million DHS ad campaign had been launched with the presidents approval, which Trump has denied. Days after her humiliating firing, Trump named Noem as special envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a new security initiative that Trump says will focus on the Western Hemisphere. 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 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. open image in gallery 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. open image in gallery 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. 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 Sen. Lindsay Graham, who was a key part of the effort to convince Donald Trump to go to war with Iran, now has a dire warning for the Iranian government: The next two weeks will be hell. Graham made the comment Sunday on Fox News, telling Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo that the U.S. was going to blow the hell out of these people, and warned that the Iranian regime was now in a death spiral. Israel and the United States -- you just wait to see what comes the next two weeks, Graham told Bartiromo. Meaning what? she responded. We're going to blow the hell out of these people. This regime is in a death throe now, it is gonna be on its knees, its going to fall, and when it falls were going to have peace like no other time, were going to have prosperity unlike anyone could ever imagine. Peace brings prosperity. You cant do it by talking. The Democrats criticize this operation, [but] they didnt do a damn thing. These men and women in uniform should make us all proud. open image in gallery Linsdey Graham warned that the U.S. was going to "blow the hell out" of Iran in the next two weeks ( Fox - Sunday Morning Futures ) Grahams comments could be taken as a sign that the Trump administration is planning an escalation of the military campaign against Iran in the coming days. It could also be confirmation that the White House is considering further escalation of Trumps warmaking. Graham added in the same interview: You see this hat? 'Free Cuba.' Stay tuned. The liberation of Cuba is upon us. We're marching through the world. We're clearing out the bad guys. Cuba is next." Already, the strikes in Iran have killed more than 1,000 people. The death toll is now spreading around the region as more and more countries are included in what has become a regional war. Iranian strikes have hit numerous countries hosting U.S. forces and other targets such as embassies. Hostilities have also been renewed between Israel and Hezbollah, with rocket fire raining down on Israel from Lebanon and retaliatory Israeli strikes killing hundreds there, too. Six U.S. service members have also been confirmed killed by the Pentagon in a strike that hit an operations center in Kuwait. On Sunday, a seventh service member was confirmed as having been killed in the region. The South Carolina senator is one of the loudest critics of the Iranian regime on Capitol Hill and has long backed the use of military force to dislodge it. Grahams involvement in this latest conflict extends deeper, however, and he has been credited with helping sell the military action to the White House personally and via advice he gave to Israeli officials, including Bibi Netanyahu, who visited Mar-a-Lago in December. open image in gallery Graham has long been a supporter of using military force against Iran ( Getty Images ) To help make his case, Graham met repeatedly with members of Israels intelligence service. He told The Wall Street Journal this month: Theyll tell me things our own government wont tell me. His influence and the reporting claiming that the Trump administration was goaded into attacking by news of imminent Israeli plans of attack have led many on both sides of the aisle to question the administrations seemingly ever-shifting explanation for going to war, which it, on occasion, still claims it hasnt done. Administration officials have given various reasons for the necessity of the strikes, which were reportedly ordered just a day after negotiations took place in Geneva, Switzerland, between Iran and the U.S. At those negotiations, both sides publicly committed to another round of talks just days away. open image in gallery Donald Trump hit the U.K.s Keir Starmer on Saturday for join[ing] Wars after we've already won!" ( AP ) Those explanations have ranged from the prospect that Iran was just days away from developing nuclear weapons or material to the suggestion that Irans non-nuclear ballistic missile program would soon have reached a point of no return after which it would have become infeasible to take further action against its nuclear program. Still others have centered around Irans refusal to negotiate its non-nuclear weapon stockpiles and support for regional militant groups like the Houthis and Hezbollah. The president has shown no signs of laying out an endgame for the Iranian conflict. He has repeatedly rejected suggestions to resume talks, and U.S. rhetoric has centered on seeking unconditional surrender from the ruling regime. On Saturday, Trump lashed out at the U.K.s Keir Starmer over the conflict, claiming that it was largely concluded and attacking Americas ally for a late show of support. "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," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "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!" 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 Saturday Night Live brutally mocked the Trump administrations handling of war with Iran, with star Colin Jost reprising his impression of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as an amped-up frat boy. The cold open began with Hegseth performing a keg stand a Hegstand as he bragged from the podium then chiding a reporter for labelling the U.S. conflict with Iran as a war. This isnt a war, OK? Jost said. Its a situationship, he added, a slang term for an ambiguous relationship. The joke played on how Republican allies of the president have been reluctant to describe the ongoing conflict as a war, given that the White House bypassed Congress and started the conflict unilaterally, even though only lawmakers can formally declare a war. open image in gallery Colin Jost mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in todays Saturday Night Live cold open, comparing the Iran war strategy to a situationship ( Saturday Night Live ) As the cold open went on, Jost continued to roast the White House strategy, claiming the ambiguity around the mission is it about regime change? Stopping state-sponsored terror? preempting a strike on the U.S.? is all part of a secret Trump administration strategy. If we dont know what were doing, then Iran definitely doesnt know what were doing, Jost said. Youre all playing chess Im playingGrand Theft Auto, he added, a nod to the administrations use of footage from the violent video game in recent Iran-related promotional videos. The U.S. strategy, he insisted, was about going wild, just like actor Shia LaBeouf, who was recently arrested after a partying spree in New Orleans. In the cold open, Hegseth then ceded the stage to recently-fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, played by Ashley Padilla, who Hegesth said had been reassigned to a new role, under the bus. open image in gallery The sketch also mocked the recently fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who claimed on SNL she in fact had self-deported from her job ( Saturday Night Live ) I didnt get fired, Padilla insisted. I self-deported. She then joked about some controversies that helped bring the real Noem down, including the aggressive immigration operation in Minneapolis, as well as allegations she was having an affair with her adviser Corey Lewandowski and that DHS spent government funds on luxury jets for top staff. I think I really nailed it, and by it, I mean my married coworker in a big, beautiful flying bedroom 30,000 feet over Minneapolis, Padilla said. The sketch also mocked Noems new post, serving as a special envoy to the Trump administrations Shield of the Americas initiative. open image in gallery Elsewhere in the sketch, Colin Josts bro-ified Pete Hegseth performed a keg stand, or as he called it, a Hegstand ( Saturday Night Live ) As I told my plastic surgeon, the work is never done, Padilla said. Back in the real world, Noem remains under scrutiny even as her tenure leading DHS is set to conclude at the end of March. open image in gallery Kristi Noem has been mocked for regularly appearing in costume during her time as DHS chief, earning nicknames like Kosplay Kristi and ICE Barbie ( DHS/Tia Dufour ) California Gov. Gavin Newsom is demanding that the remaining funds spent by Kosplay Kristi Noem on a controversial $220 million vanity ad campaign be rerouted to help victims of last years devastating Los Angeles wildfires. While Kristi Noem poured $220 million of taxpayer money into a political ad campaign featuring herself on horseback, more than $500 million in FEMA funding for LA fire recovery sat stalled on her desk, Newsom, a Democrat, wrote in a statement. Families in Los Angeles shouldnt have to wait while she and Donald Trump play politics. Release the funding now and redirect those dollars to help communities rebuild. During her time overseeing homeland security operations, Noem was widely mocked for dressing up in tactical gear for various photo ops and press conferences, leading to derisive nicknames like Kosplay Kristi and ICE Barbie. 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 On Tuesday evening, Republicans breathed a half-sigh of relief after Sen. John Cornyn placed first in his primary against disgraced Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican primary in Texas. But neither candidate winning a majority means that the two will lock horns for the next 12 weeks. Republicans hope Cornyn having done better than projected polls had him second in the three-way race means Trump will endorse the incumbent, whom many conservatives despise. They have good reason to believe this, given that Paxton has been impeached, has a messy divorce underway and has a history of extreme policies that would turn off swing voters. The fact that more Democrats than Republicans voted in the Texas primary between Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico, which ended with Talarico winning outright, should petrify the GOP. Democrats, meanwhile, seem excited at the idea of Talarico posing a real threat. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who in his 2020 presidential campaign nearly won Texas thanks to support in the majority-Hispanic Rio Grande Valley where Talarico overperformed said hed campaign for Talarico if asked. I think he stands an excellent chance to become next senator from Texas. I have always believed that Texas has the potential to be a progressive state, he told The Independent. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, a preacher at Ebenezer Baptist Church who flipped a seat everyone thought would stay red in 2021, said he looked forward to Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, winning. open image in gallery President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) (Left) have never had an easy relationship. But betting markets are showing an endorsement might be coming for Cornyn. ( Getty Images ) I like Talarico. I think he is going to run an incredible race in Texas, and hopefully we'll have yet another pastor in the United States Senate, Warnock told The Independent. The Republican calculus is simple: the base of the GOP follows what Trump does and even if they dont like Cornyn, Texas Republicans will see that Paxton puts a seat at risks in the Lone Star State. Trump has said hell make an endorsement in the race soon if one or the other does not drop out. And betting markets seem confident that Trump could get Cornyn over the line. On Wednesday, The Atlantic reported Trump would likely endorse the four-term incumbent. As soon as the story broke, Kalshi shifted its projection from Paxton having a 71.1 percent chance of winning the race to Cornyn having a solid 80.3 percent chance of winning. open image in gallery Democratic Texas Senate candidate, James Talarico has earned the praise of Democratic senators ranging from Raphael Warnock to Bernie Sanders. ( Reuters ) That might be why some strident conservatives who love Paxton are trying to talk Trump off the ledge. Trump endorsement may be Cornyn's only chance, but Trump should know that many in his TX base will be deeply alienated, and may not comply, talk show host Mark Davis tweeted. Conservative activist Ned Ryun echoed those sentiments. Trump has a chance to take out one of the WORST red state senators whos been screwing Trump for years. Cornyn is an abysmal waste and guess what? Paxton can win the general, he said. But the markets think its set in stone. Poylmarket puts a Cornyn endorsement at 86 percent, with yes shares currently at 89 cents while no shares are at 16 cents. Trumps primary record speaks for itself, even after he left office. In 2022, former television host and physician Mehmet Oz, also known as Dr. Oz, locked horns with Dave McCormick, a former hedge fund manager, for Pennsylvanias open Senate seat. Oz would then win in a nail-biter primary. That same year, former Trump critic and Hillbilly Elegy author JD Vance ran for former Sen. Rob Portmans open seat in Ohio. Vance, who had made a radical conversion to a MAGA warrior, struggled to break through in a crowded primary. But Trumps endorsement catapulted him to the front of the pack, minting Vance as a senator and eventually, Trumps vice president. Trumps endorsement also cleared the field for former University of Georgia legend Herschel Walker to run against Warnock and former Arizona news anchor Kari Lake to become the Republican nominee for governor that year. But Trumps record is not without blemishes. In 2022, he endorsed former Sen. David Perdue to run against Brian Kemp, the Republican incumbent governor of Georgia who certified 2020 Joe Bidens victory in the state. Kemp ran through the tape while Perdue slept at the wheel. For a brief moment before he left office, he wanted then-Governor Kristi Noem to challenge John Thune for the Republican nomination for Senate in South Dakota. Noem decided against it, Thune would become majority leader and Noem would become Homeland Security secretary until he sacked her this week. open image in gallery Senate Republicans desperately do not want Trump to endorse Ken Paxton, whom they see as unelectable. ( Getty Images ) And even this week, he did not have a perfect record in Texas. He endorsed sitting Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller who would lose to Nate Sheets, Gov. Greg Abbotts preferred pick. He had endorsed Rep. Tony Gonzales in Texass 23rd congressional district. But this came before The San Antonio Express-News reported about his engaging in an affair with a married staffer who would later kill herself. Gonzales would win more votes than YouTuber Brendan Herrera, but not a majority, triggering a runoff. But Gonzales would admit to an affair and the House Ethics Committee would open an investigation into him. House Speaker Mike Johnson would call on Gonzales to end his re-election bid, which he did on Thursday, opening a chance for Herrera and by virtue of that, a Democrat to credibly challenge Herrera. Trump also likes to pad his batting average, endorsing Republicans in safe seats. He also tries to avoid making difficult endorsements. In 2022, he endorsed ERIC in Missouris open Senate race since two of the top candidatesthen-Attorney General Eric Schmitt and disgraced former Governor Eric Greitensshared a first name. Schmitt would win that race and has become an even more hardline warrior for MAGA than his colleague Sen. Josh Hawley. And a Trump endorsement doesnt always equal a victory in November. Oz, Lake and Walker would all lose their races in 2022. Lake would lose another race to now-Sen. Ruben Gallego in Arizona. But if Trump endorses Cornyn, it might work out fine for Republicans. It would also benefit Republicans because it means they would likely not need to spend $100 million to save Cornyn and instead throw money to races in Alaska, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Maine. Obviously, I'm very supportive of John Cornyn, and I think it would help settle that race and get us ready for November, Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma and a Texas Longhorn, told The Independent. If Paxton wins every poll out there says that Texas is risk. If Cornyn wins, Texas is not at risk. So let's settle it now. 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 insisted that an airstrike on a girls' school in southern Iran that killed at least 175 people, including children, was carried out by Tehran, despite analysis pointing to the U.S. military being responsible. No. In my opinion, based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran, Trump told reporters on board Air Force One Saturday. We think it was done by Iran because theyre very inaccurate as you know with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was standing behind the president, added that they were still investigating the origin of the strike but reiterated: The only side that targets civilians is Iran. It was done by Iran, Trump repeated, more confidently. open image in gallery Neither side has yet claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on February 28 in the town of Minab that is believed to have killed at least 175 people ( Planet Labs PBC ) Neither side has yet claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on February 28 in the town of Minab. The White House has remained vague and defensive on the school strike, despite growing speculation about who was behind it. On Wednesday, Karoline Leavitt was also asked if the U.S. was responsible, replying, not that I know of. However, on Sunday, Michael Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, declined to fully endorse the presidents assertion that Iran had been to blame for the strike, telling ABCs This Week: Ill leave that to the investigators to determine. As Secretary Hegseth said, its under investigation, Waltz said. I can tell you, as a veteran, in no uncertain terms, the United States does everything it can to avoid civilian casualties. Sometimes, of course, tragic mistakes occur. However, evidence assembled by The New York Times, including satellite imagery, social media posts and videos that it has independently verified, suggests that the school was hit during a strike at the same time as U.S. attacks on nearby buildings. Official statements from the Pentagon confirmed that it was carrying out strikes on a naval base operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which was adjacent to the school. open image in gallery The coordinated strike campaign between the U.S. and Israel has been going on for just over a week, and has since extended out to other targets in the Middle East ( AFP/Getty ) Exact determinations on the perpetrator of the attack have been hindered by the lack of visible weapon fragments from the satellite images and the fact that independent journalists are unable to reach the scene. The strikes were reported online close to 11.30 a.m. local time, with social posts including photos and videos of the damaged building verified to have been taken within the same timeframe. With the help of geolocation experts, The Times was able to verify that large plumes of smoke seen in the video at that time originated from the base and the school. In addition, satellite pictures ordered by the outlet also corroborate the timeline and show how the base and school were hit with multiple precision airstrikes. Wes J. Bryant, a national security analyst who served in the U.S. Air Force and was a senior adviser on civilian harm at the Pentagon, told The Times that the most likely explanation for the destruction was a target misidentification and that those conducting the strikes had not realized there were civilians inside the building. Theories that the destruction could have been caused by a faulty Iranian missile have been previously dismissed on the grounds that a single munition could not cause such a high level of damage. 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 Twelve years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared with 239 people on board, a renewed deep-sea search in the southern Indian Ocean has yet to locate the missing aircraft, Malaysian authorities confirmed on Sunday. This news comes as families of those lost continue to press for the search efforts to persist. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau stated that a seabed search, undertaken by marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity between March 2025 and January 2026, covered thousands of square kilometres of the ocean floor. However, this extensive operation has not yielded any confirmed findings of the aircraft's wreckage. Malaysia had previously given approval to the Texas-based company last year to restart the search for Flight 370. A member of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue scans the horizon during a search in the Andaman sea area around the northern tip of Indonesia's Sumatra island for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in 2014 ( AFP/Getty ) This was under a "no-find, no-fee" agreement, focusing on a new 15,000-square-kilometre (5,800-square-mile) site in the southern Indian Ocean, where the plane is widely believed to have crashed. Ocean Infinity is only due to receive \$70 million if the wreckage is successfully discovered. The search was carried out for 28 days in two phases March 2528 last year and Dec 31, 2025, to Jan 23 this year, covering about 7,571 square kilometers (2,923 square miles) of seabed, the bureau said. Weather periodically disrupted operations, it said. "The search activities undertaken have not yielded any findings that confirm the location of the aircraft wreckage, it said in a statement. It didn't give details on when the search will resume. The Boeing 777 plane vanished from radar shortly after taking off on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, on a flight from Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing. Satellite data showed the plane turned from its flight path and headed south to the far-southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed. An expensive multinational search failed to turn up any clues to its location, although debris washed ashore on the east African coast and Indian Ocean islands. A private search in 2018 by Ocean Infinity also found nothing. Voice 370, representing the families of some of those aboard the missing plane, urged the government to extend Ocean Infinity's contract and to consider similar arrangements with other deep-sea exploration companies. Although Ocean Infinity's contract runs until June, the group said the company's vessel has been redeployed for other work and is unlikely to return soon to complete the remaining search areas due to the approaching winter months and deteriorating sea conditions. The government pays nothing unless the aircraft is found. Any request by Ocean Infinity to extend the search contract should therefore be granted without hesitation, it said in a statement. If the present search is unsuccessful, we would also urge Malaysia to kindly consider extending similar no find, no fee opportunities to other capable deep sea exploration companies. The group vowed to continue the fight for answers. We will never give up!" Zelensky criticises US easing sanctions on Russia's oil 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 European leaders have condemned Donald Trumps decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian oil as Vladimir Putin's forces continued to bombard Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired 430 drones and nearly 70 missiles in a massive attack overnight into Saturday morning. He said the strikes primarily targeted Kyiv's energy infrastructure but hit a host of other civilian buildings, killing at least four people. Poland briefly scrambled its jets in response. Earlier, Trump issued a 30-day waiver on war-related sanctions to allow countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products. Zelensky warned the move could divert as much as $10bn to Putin's war chest. European Council president Antonio Costa called it "very concerning", and German chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised it as the "wrong" decision. Zelensky expressed frustration over waning attention on the Ukraine war amid the crisis with Iran, saying it was understandable that the attention of the world is moving to the Middle East" but that "it's not good for us". 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 An Israeli air strike killed at least two Palestinians in Gaza City on Sunday, local health officials said, the deadliest incident in Gaza since Israel and the United States launched their war against Iran a week ago. Medics said the two people were travelling in a car near Al-Azhar University in western Gaza City. Their identities were not immediately clear. Several other people in the area were wounded in the strike, the health officials added. Such attacks have declined since the start of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, although Israeli forces have killed several Palestinians over the past week. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Sunday's strike. Israel and Hamas agreed to a U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire deal that kicked off last October, but violence has continued on a near-daily basis. Both sides have blamed the other for the violation of the truce agreement. The Gaza health ministry said at least 640 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since October. Israel says four soldiers have been killed by militants in Gaza over the same period. Gaza has been devastated by more than two years of an Israeli onslaught that killed over 72,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, and left much of the enclave in ruins. open image in gallery Smoke and flames rise from an Israeli military strike on a building in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi, File) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Meanwhile, three Palestinians were killed in a violent clash with settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Sunday, bringing the number of Palestinians killed in recent days to six. The surge in violence comes as much of Israel and the world's attention is focused on the regional war with Iran .The Israeli military said it responded to reports of Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians near Khirbet Abu Falah, east of Ramallah. Two Palestinians were killed by gunfire and a third died from suffocation, likely due to tear gas, the military said. Two of the victims, Fare' Hamayel and Thaer Hamayel, were cousins. The third man killed was Mohammad Murra. All three were buried in a joint funeral. ABIDJAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire is focused on enhancing the competitiveness of its businesses, Koffi Paul Assande, director general of the Ivorian Intellectual Property Office, said on Friday. Speaking at the launch of the second edition of Brands Licensing Africa (BLA) in Abidjan, Assande emphasized the importance of collaboration among public institutions, professional organizations, investors and experts to support enterprises. "The government intends to make the private sector a driving force behind the structural transformation of our economy," he said, adding that promoting brands, innovation and know-how is essential for global competitiveness. Assande noted that competitiveness goes beyond local production, stressing the need to improve quality, develop value chains, enhance standards and adopt digital technologies to create strong and exportable brands. The BLA 2026, scheduled for Oct. 29-30 in Abidjan, will feature over 500 African companies, including many from Cote d'Ivoire. The event will focus on promoting African brands, brand licensing and intellectual property protection. 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 Ukrainian widow Olga Garbuz, who lost her husband to the war in Ukraine, came to Dubai with her daughter in 2022 to rebuild her life. But the recent escalation in the Gulf has revived the fears she thought she had left behind. The war in Ukraine took many things from me and my daughter. My husband got killed. We got displaced multiple times. I cannot imagine going through any of these again, Ms Garbuz tells The Independent. Her husband, Yuriy Volchkov, was killed in Kharkiv, a frontline city in eastern Ukraine, in March 2022, when the vehicle he was travelling in to distribute humanitarian aid was shot at by the Russians. He was 45 years old. After fleeing Kharkiv, which fell under the Russian occupation in the early months of the war, Ms Garbuz and her daughter moved repeatedly across Ukraine before eventually leaving the country. We had to move 13 times from city to city, she says. Each time packing our things and setting up a new home was incredibly exhausting. I arrived in the UAE with my daughter Maya and just two suitcases four years ago. Since then, I have been working hard for the wellbeing of my daughter. A few days before the escalation began with Irans retaliatory strikes across the Gulf, she said she had finally begun to feel, after three years, that life was returning to normal. Her biggest fear now is having to uproot her daughter again. Now we have been living in the same apartment for almost two years. My daughter goes to school regularly. It would be an absolutely heartbreaking situation for her if we had to move again, she adds. But the sound of missile interceptions over the Dubai skies has brought back old instincts. I found myself again packing an emergency bag. I knew which documents to include, that we must have water at home and cash on hand. The explosions also bring back the physical memory of war: Sometimes my body tenses up because I remember what it was like and what usually followed. I still try to remain calm and not give in to panic. Despite the tension, she says she still trusts the UAE authorities: I believe they will be able to resolve this conflict diplomatically as quickly as possible. open image in gallery This combination of satellite images provided by Planet Labs PBC show Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, left, and on Sunday, March 1, 2026, right ( Planet Labs PBC ) A week on from the military escalation, Irans president Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for targeting his Gulf neighbours, but Iran has continued to fire at Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia with fresh attacks. On Friday, the UAEs ministry of interior issued an emergency alert across Dubai urging residents to seek immediate shelter following warnings of a potential missile threat. The UAE intercepted nine ballistic missiles and 109 drones, the Ministry of Defence confirmed. Amid the rising tension, Ukraines foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said he had received assurances from the government of the United Arab Emirates that Ukrainian citizens in the country would be protected. Some 250,000 Ukrainians are currently living in the Middle East. For Ukrainians like Kateryna Moskviechiev and her husband Dmytro, who relocated to the UAE for safety, being caught up in another conflict far from home in Abu Dhabi was the last thing they expected. It feels like the war has followed us to Dubai, Ms Moskviechiev tells The Independent. The couple, along with their two sons, aged eight and two, moved to the UAE in September 2024. An estimated 5.2 to 6 million Ukrainians moved abroad following the war. We left Ukraine because we didnt want our children to grow up in a war zone, she says. open image in gallery Kateryna Moskviechiev and her husband Dmytro relocated to the UAE for safety ( Supplied ) But the sight of Russian missiles and Shahed drones flying overhead near her apartment on the Corniche, and the sound of loud explosions as air-defence systems intercepted them, left her shocked and surprised. Thats not what you expect in the UAE, says Ms Moskviechiev. It brought back my worst memories of Ukraine, when our family hid in the bathroom while Russians bombed Kharkiv. The three of us slept on the floor of a bus stop that had thick walls and no windows. As the recent Iranian drone and missile attacks across the Gulf are far less intense than the bombardment Ukraine has endured, she said she is not scared. Ive lived through this before, she says. And Im impressed by how effectively the UAEs air-defence systems are responding. I definitely feel safer here than in Ukraine. Ms Moskviechiev says she is praying this escalation will end quickly, adding: We know what a prolonged war can do to a country and its people this war must stop. Another Ukrainian in Dubai, Alexandra Govorukha, a PR professional, says she moved there six months ago after relocating to the UK from Ukraine in 2022. And the danger is near again. One rocket was shot down not far from our house, Ms Govorukha wrote in a post on Facebook. She says her nine-year-old daughter, who is studying remotely, knows what the war is and is already hardened by life. We need to learn to have a Plan B everywhere and be prepared for any situation unfolding. open image in gallery Mariana Yevsyukova, a mother of two children aged seven and one, said even relatives back home in Ukraine are worried about the attacks in the Gulf ( Supplied ) Mariana Yevsyukova, a UAE resident since 2017, says the escalating tensions in the Middle East have stirred painful memories for many Ukrainians living in the country. We carry the trauma of witnessing war, she says. We ran away from the Shahed drones in Ukraine, and now they are hitting the UAE. Ms Yevsyukova, a mother of two children aged seven and one, said even relatives back home in Ukraine are worried about the attacks in the Gulf. My family in Kharkiv checks on me several times a day. A friend who is struggling without power in this harsh winter messaged me to say he is there if I need anything. Even in the middle of a war, they are thinking about others. 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 Iran's foreign minister has said no one knows who will be the countrys new supreme leader, just hours after a senior official claimed one had been chosen. Ahmad Alamolhoda, a member of the Assembly of Experts, which will select the leader, had told state media on Sunday morning that a successor had been chosen after an election without naming who had been selected. It would be a potentially significant development as the war between Iran and the US and Israel entered its ninth day. Irans previous leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli strike last Saturday. However, the countrys foreign minister Abbas Araghchi later said nobody knows who will succeed Ali Khamenei. open image in gallery A meeting of the interim leadership council in Iran ( Reuters ) Speaking on NBCs Meet The Press on Sunday, Mr Araghchi said: There are lots of rumours around, but we have to wait for the Assembly of Experts to convene and vote for the new supreme leader. According to The Guardian, the assembly disagree on how to announce the new leader, with some members believing it can be announced and others believing another session is required before it is made public. In a post on X in Farsi, the Israeli military also said it would pursue every person who seeks to appoint a successor to Khamenei, referring to the clerical body charged with choosing the next leader, which may be why no announcement has been made. Donald Trump said that a new leader is not going to last long if he does not approve of the choice. Hes going to have to get approval from us. If he doesnt get approval from us, hes not going to last long. We want to make sure that we dont have to go back every 10 years, when you dont have a president like me thats not going to do it, the US president told ABC News. Israel on Sunday struck southern Lebanon, Beirut and oil storage facilities in Tehran as the war in the Middle East keeps escalating, and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would many surprises for the next phase of the conflict. open image in gallery A burning oil depot in Tehran ( UGC/AFP via Getty Images ) Iran also hit a desalination plant in Bahrain. Earlier on Sunday, Iran's Mr Araghchi said a US airstrike damaged an Iranian desalination plant on Qeshm Island, warning that in doing so the US set this precedent, not Iran. An Israeli attack on oil storage sites in Tehran sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in an Associated Press video as a glow against the Saturday night sky. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. The conflict, which erupted on 28 February after joint US-Israeli strikes hit Iran, has so far killed at least 1,230 people in the Islamic Republic, more than 300 in Lebanon and more than a dozen in Israel, according to officials. 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 An Iranian drone attack caused material damage to a desalination plant, Bahrain said Sunday morning. It was the first time an Arab country has reported Iran targeting a desalination plant during the nine-day war. Hundreds of desalination plants sit along the Persian Gulf coast, and the Arab countries in the region rely heavily on the facilities for their drinking water. It comes as Israel on Sunday struck southern Lebanon, Beirut and an oil storage facility in Tehran as the war in the Middle East keeps escalating, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised many surprises for the next phase of the conflict. Earlier Sunday, Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a U.S. airstrike damaged an Iranian desalination plant on Qeshm Island, warning that in doing so the U.S. set this precedent, not Iran. An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran ( AFP via Getty Images ) Such infrastructure is critical for drinking water supplies in the parched deserts of the Gulf. An Israeli attack on an oil storage facility in Tehran sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in Associated Press video as a glow against the Saturday night sky. The sky over Irans capital was blanketed with smoke Sunday morning, hours after Israeli strikes hit oil facilities in Tehran, Associated Press footage showed. Fars news agency reported that Saturdays strikes hit four oil storage facilities and an oil production transfer center in Tehran and Alborz. Four tanker drivers in the center were killed, it reported. The strikes sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in AP video as a glow against the Saturday night sky. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. The war, which erupted on Feb. 28 after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes hit Iran, has so far killed at least 1,230 people in the Islamic Republic, more than 300 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials. Elsewhere, a missile alert sounded Sunday morning in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Major UAE port hit in drone strike after Trump claims key oil island obliterated 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 President Donald Trump has warned that the US will continue bombing the hell out of the shoreline of Iran in a bid to break the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The major shipping route has been under siege after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to take "complete control" of the waterway through which one fifth of the world's oil and liquefied gas passes. Writing on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump called for many countries to send warships to the area to help end the blockade and listed the UK, China, Japan, France and South Korea among them. His comments came after a fire broke out at the Fujairah port in the UAE after being targeted in an Iranian drone strike, forcing the facility to suspend part of its operations. It is one of the Middle Easts largest oil storage hubs, heightening concerns over already-surging oil prices. Meanwhile, residents living near Jebel Ali port in Dubai, Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi and the Fujairah port were warned to evacuate the areas, according to Iranian state media. Iranian forces had threatened to expand strikes to US allies in the region after the US hit Irans crucial Kharg Island and Trump said the US had totally obliterated every military target in Irans crown jewel. 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 Israeli snipers shot and killed two brothers as they crawled towards a hospital in Gaza seeking medical help, a harrowing new investigation has found. Husam, 27 and Saad al-Aweini, 22, were carrying their wounded brother Abdullah towards Nasser Hospital when they were shot at multiple times by Israeli forces who were laying siege to the southern city of Khan Younis. Abdullah, 29, had earlier been injured by a missile strike on his home while gathering clothes for his wife and son. All three of the brothers were left to bleed to death on the ground for days as gunfire rang out around them. The incident has been brought to light by an investigation by human rights organisation Euro-Med Monitor, which says the targeting of the family constitutes a possible war crime. Israel has faced international outrage over the high civilian death toll during its war in Gaza, but denies accusations of war crimes or genocide. open image in gallery Brothers Husam, Abdullah and Saad al-Aweini were killed while seeking help at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis ( Euro-Med Monitor ) More than two years after the incident, the parents of the three brothers continue to search for answers as to why they were targeted. They remain in the dark over how a one-minute walk from their home to the hospital for urgent treatment resulted in the deaths of their sons. The Independent contacted the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) with several questions regarding the death of the brothers and Euro-Med Monitors investigation. We provided them with geographical coordinates of a strike on the family home and a 25-page report that included satellite imagery and eyewitness testimony. In response, a spokesperson said the incident was not known to the IDF and that further details would be required to provide clarity. They did not specify what further information would be required. The IDF also could not confirm whether it holds records of each of its operations. How the Khan Younis shooting unfolded On 11 February 2024 at around 11am, a missile struck the upper level of the home of the al-Aweini family while they prepared food on the first floor. Abdullah, who was upstairs, suffered a serious injury to the abdomen in the attack. Ibrahim al-Aweini, 56, the father of the brothers, went upstairs to check on his son and recalls being filmed by a quadcopter drone before being shot at multiple times in the open stairwell of their home. He suffered shrapnel injuries to the head and back as a result and lost consciousness. The quadcopter was 30 or 40 centimetres away from my face, he tells The Independent. When it filmed me, I felt reassured because I was a civilian and it shouldnt fire at me. But it did. By this point, Abdullah had lost consciousness downstairs. His family made immediate plans to take him to the nearby Nasser Hospital. Abdullahs brothers Husam and Saad, and surviving siblings Hassan, 33, and Anas, 16, all rushed to carry him to help. open image in gallery A map shows the 100-metre distance from the al-Aweini house to the Nasser Medical Complex ( Euro-Med Monitor ) Researchers at Euro-Med Monitor used satellite imagery and topographic maps to pinpoint the buildings exact location and measure the distance to the hospital, which they determined to be no more than 100 metres. Husam and Saad held Abdullah by his head and arms, while Hassan a nurse at the hospital and Anas took hold of the lower half of his body. Eyewitnesses, including the surviving brothers, described the moment they came under direct fire. We walked a short distance along a side street and reached the main road, about 15 metres from the hospital wall, Anas said. As soon as we crossed the main road, we came under direct fire. Husam and Saad fell, dropping Abdullah, while Hassan and I, closer to the side street, quickly retreated. All of this happened within a very short time. Hassan described the moment he saw his brothers asking for their help: I saw my three brothers lying on the ground; one was still moving and asking for help, but I was powerless to help him. My sons are gone Witnesses report seeing Husam and Saad attempting to crawl multiple times while bleeding. They continued to be shot by what are believed to be Israeli snipers. Euro-Med Monitor examined sight lines from nearby elevated structures to assess possible firing angles and compared these with injury sites. Mohammad H, 35, a neighbour who witnessed the incident, said: As they tried to cross the main road, they came under direct fire. I watched Hassan and Anas quickly retreat, ducking to avoid the bullets. Husam and Saad attempted to crawl after being hit, but they were shot again. I didnt approach Husam and Saad because I realised there were snipers on the rooftops. At the same time, I saw their father, Ibrahim, covered in blood from head to toe, shouting loudly: My sons are gone. open image in gallery The father of the victims, Ibrahim al-Aweini, on the roof of his house, re-enacts the events of the attack for the Euro-Med Monitor team ( Euro Med Monitor ) Their mother, Tahani al-Aweini, 55, rushed outside after hearing gunfire and was told by Hassan to go back. She told The Independent of the devastating moment that she saw her child call for her while he lay dying and bleeding. He was ushering for me with his hand, she says of her son, Saad. He was pleading for me to come and help him. Before I got out of the house, I had shards of glass on my head and he helped me remove it. He helped me, but I couldnt help him. She refused to stay and navigated an indirect route to get to the hospitals medical complex. During the journey, she was shot but made it to the hospital, where she remained for four days. Dr Atef al-Hout, director of the Nasser Medical Complex, recalls Tahani bleeding from her foot and crying heavily. She told me: My three sons are lying beside the eastern wall of the hospital. He went on: At the time, we did not know the fate of the young men, whether they were wounded or already dead. In any case, we were unable to provide any service or medical assistance because the situation was extremely dangerous. Any movement outside the hospital buildings could expose the staff to death. Israeli army snipers were deployed on top of UNRWA schools, on the Austrian Towers, and on residential buildings in the area. Opening up about the impact of their deaths, he says: Honestly, I wept for the mothers tears. I felt powerless to offer them any help. While our humanitarian duty is to rescue, treat, and provide healthcare, the machinery of war and the spread of snipers prevented us from doing anything. open image in gallery Damage inside Nasser Hospital on 26 February 2024, the sight of a four-day siege by Israels forces ( AFP/Getty ) A hospital under siege The bodies of the three brothers lay outside the hospital walls for four days as the Israeli army laid siege to the Nasser Medical Complex in one of the most controversial military operations in its history. Several reports at the time, including by Medecins Sans Frontieres, documented the presence of Israeli snipers on surrounding buildings targeting the hospital area. These soldiers killed and injured several people before Israel ordered an evacuation on 14 February. The presence of snipers in the area at the time is also well documented in reports by aid workers, agencies, rights groups, and medical staff. The bodies of the al-Aweini brothers were lost after the Israeli army swept through the area with bulldozers. We recently received information indicating that some bodies may have been retrieved by Civil Defence following the withdrawal of Israeli forces, says Maha Hussaini, director at Euro-Med Monitor. While this information emerged after the completion of our investigation, we are in the process of verifying these reports with the Civil Defence and the Forensic Medicine Department and will provide a confirmed update once the details are fully substantiated. open image in gallery Benjamin Netanyahu has denied Israels forces are guilty of committing a genocide in Gaza ( AP ) Euro-Med Monitor interviewed witnesses and neighbours, and researchers confirmed that the brothers were civilians and had no political affiliations. The IDF did not shed further light on why the brothers may have been a target. We are a simple family, says Tahani. Our priority for our children was an education. The report concluded: This shows an intent to harm civilians not involved in fighting, clearly classifying the incident as a full-fledged war crime rather than collateral damage. Additionally, the sudden attack without warning violates the precautionary principle, which requires the attacking force to take all possible steps to prevent or minimise civilian casualties. It adds: When considered in the context of the siege of the Nasser Medical Complex and the material facts outlined above, the targeting of the al-Aweini family exemplifies a clear case of genocide elements in Gaza. Israel denies it is committing a genocide. 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 A tower in Kuwait City was engulfed in flames after being hit by a suspected drone attack, as Iran launched a new wave of strikes across the Gulf. The governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain reported Iranian drone attacks in their countries on Saturday and early Sunday, with a huge fire engulfing a government office block in Kuwait. Footage shows flames tearing through the upper floors of the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) in the Gulf states capital on Sunday. The Kuwait military stated that it was dealing with a drone attack, with shrapnel causing damage to civilian buildings. It said it is continuing to engage hostile aerial targets", while citizens and residents have been urged to adhere to the safety and security instructions. The attack came hours after Irans president apologised for attacks on neighbouring countries, urging them not to join the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. open image in gallery Kuwait government building engulfed by flames after reported drone attack ( Social media ) Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed Donald Trump's earlier 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. Kuwait's interior ministry also said on Sunday that two of its officers were killed "while performing duties," according to a post on X. It did not provide details on the circumstances of their deaths, but Kuwait has been intercepting drones and missiles launched from Iran. Meanwhile, president Donald Trump said the war may only end with Irans military and rulers wiped out, as Tehran moved on Sunday towards picking a new supreme leader. Mr Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One he was not interested in negotiating an end to the conflict that has roiled oil markets, hurt business and disrupted global travel, before US ally Israel announced fresh strikes across Iran that it said had hit critical fuel storage sites. "At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left maybe to say, 'We surrender,'" Mr Trump said. The clerical body charged with choosing Iran's next supreme leader could meet as soon today to name a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an attack early in the conflict, Iranian media reported. open image in gallery Smoke rises following an explosion, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran on 8 March March ( Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency ) A majority consensus over the successor has more or less been reached, said assembly of experts member Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri, according to the Mehr news agency. The Israeli military, in a post on X, warned it would pursue every successor in Irans leadership. Huge explosions were heard in parts of Tehran, state media reported, while Israel said it had struck Iranian missile sites, command centres and fuel depots on Saturday. The US-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran's U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. Iranian attacks have killed 10 people in Israel. At least six US service members have been killed, with Iran saying on Sunday it had struck US bases in Kuwait. Israel also launched fresh attacks in Lebanon on Saturday after the Iran-aligned militia Hezbollah fired across the border. Israel warned Lebanon of a "very heavy price" if it did not rein in Hezbollah militants, as the death toll from Israel's attacks on Lebanon since Monday rose to around 300. 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 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. open image in gallery 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. open image in gallery 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. open image in gallery 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. open image in gallery 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. open image in gallery 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. 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 This article first appeared on our partner site, Independent Persian Video seen by Independent Persian this week shows the main building of Police Station 140 in Baghe Feiz, western Tehran, completely destroyed. The footage reveals the roof of the central sections collapsed, the walls of the upper floors torn open, and only a few concrete columns of the main structure still standing. The blast appears to have been so powerful that much of the main building was destroyed and the surrounding compound also sustained damage. The attack came as part of a broader wave of strikes targeting police facilities in Tehran. Information received by Independent Persian indicates that over the past three days in addition to Police Station 140 police stations 104 Abbasabad, 109 Baharestan, 113 Bazaar-15 Khordad, 121 Pirouzi, 133 Shahr-e Ziba, 138 Jannatabad, 131 Shahr-e Rey, 153 Shahrak-e Vali-Asr, 158 Kianshahr, 139 Marzdaran, and 151 Yaftabad were also struck by missiles and completely destroyed. For many protesters in Tehran, however, the Baghe Feiz police station was not merely a law-enforcement facility. It had become a well-known centre of violent arrests and the first place where many experienced the states security apparatus. open image in gallery An image received by Independent Persian shows the destruction of Baghe Feiz police station in western Tehran ( Independent Persian ) A 32-year-old man who was detained during protests in the national uprising earlier this year on 8 January 2026 said that after being arrested in western Tehran, he was taken to this police station. He told Independent Persian: They beat me so badly that even after two months I still cant walk properly. They broke my legs. They gave me no medical care. They just kept saying I had to confess. According to the man, the beatings began in the first hours after his arrest, and he was denied access to a lawyer or any contact with his family. He also said that many of the special police units who fired on protesters in the Punak area on the nights of 8 and 9 January would return to the same police station in Baghe Feiz after their operations. A lot of our friends were killed that night, he said. Some of those who were taken away never came back. When I saw that this building had collapsed, it felt like part of that nightmare had collapsed too. Paria, a 27-year-old woman who lives in the Punak neighbourhood, says her first arrest dates back to 2020, when she was only 21. She said she was detained for what authorities described as improper hijab and was taken to Police Station 140. They kept us in the stations courtyard, she recalled. There were both male and female officers. They insulted us, pushed us and hit us. They humiliated us. I felt like there was no law at all. According to her, both the courtyard and the interior rooms of the station were designed to create an atmosphere of intimidation and psychological pressure for detainees. She said her father, who came to secure her release that same night, was also met with humiliation and insults. They humiliated my father in front of me, she recalled. For me, that place was a torture chamber. Paria said families had long heard stories that young people taken from this police station were later transferred elsewhere and, weeks later, faced security charges or heavy judicial sentences. open image in gallery Baghe Feiz police station was a well-known detention centre in western Tehran ( Independent Persian ) A 45-year-old man also recounted being arrested outside the same police station in 2008 for possessing a homemade bottle of alcohol (raisin aragh). We werent even drunk, he said. It was just one bottle. They beat us until morning. Then we went to court and each of us was sentenced to three months in prison. He added that throughout the stations years of operation, its officers treated residents of Punak violently and with humiliation. According to his account, he saw officers from the same police station in the Punak area once again opening fire on civilians during the protests in January this year. They were shooting pellet rounds and live ammunition, he said. They blinded some people and killed dozens at the Punak intersection. Independent Persian has previously reported on torture, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances, and secret executions in police stations and detention centres across Iran in recent weeks. These reports illustrate a cycle of repression that began in the streets, continued in local police stations, and in some cases ended in larger detention facilities, torture, death and the secret transfer of bodies. Many families say the first place they searched for their detained relatives was these police stations visits that often ended in threats, humiliation or silence from authorities. Against this backdrop, the targeting of Police Station 140 in Baghe Feiz is seen by some residents of Tehran and the Punak neighbourhood as more than the destruction of a building. For many, it evokes memories of the first beatings, the first insults and the first hours of vulnerability after arrest a place where street detentions often led to fabricated charges, psychological pressure and sometimes irreversible physical harm. What collapsed in Baghe Feiz on the evening of Monday 2 March was therefore not just the walls of a police station, but one of the pillars of the Islamic Republics urban repression apparatus a place that, in the memory of many protesters, was associated with years of violent arrests and humiliating treatment. Reviewed by Tooba Khokhar and Celine Assaf 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 President Donald Trump has reacted to reports that Irans leadership has chosen a new supreme leader, a little over a week after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. Trump said that the new leader is not going to last long if he does not approve of the choice. Hes going to have to get approval from us. If he doesnt get approval from us, hes not going to last long. We want to make sure that we dont have to go back every 10 years, when you dont have a president like me thats not going to do it, Trump told ABC News. Despite reports that a successor had been chosen, Irans foreign minister told NBCs Meet the Press that nobody knows who the new leader will be. There are lots of rumors around, but we have to wait for the Assembly of Experts to convene and vote for the new Supreme Leader, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. When asked about Trumps assertion, Araghchi was bullish, saying, We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs. This is up to the Iranian people. It is only the business of the Iranian people. open image in gallery Trump has reacted to reports that Iran has moved to elect a new supreme leader by claiming he has the final say ( Getty ) Earlier on Sunday, Reuters reported that the clerical body that will choose Iran's next supreme leader, succeeding the slain Ayatollah, has reached a majority consensus, according to Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri. The Mehr news agency quoted him as saying "some obstacles" still needed to be resolved regarding the process. On Saturday, a senior cleric in the Assembly of Experts said its members would meet "within one day" to choose the leader. Two members of the panel, Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir and Ahmad Alamolhoda, said the assembly had chosen a successor, according to Iranian media. Alamolhoda said the head of the assembly's secretariat, Ayatollah Hashem Hosseini Bushehri, is responsible for announcing the assemblys decision. Iranian media said the group had a minor disagreement over whether they would need to meet in person to issue their final decision, or bypass this formality. Heidari Alekasir said in a video released by Nournews on Sunday that an in-person meeting was not possible under current conditions, suggesting remote and written alternatives. "This is an extraordinary situation, the assembly cannot meet in a plenary," he said, adding that targeting the assembly would only benefit Iran's enemies and "harm the revolution. Since the war began on February 28, Israeli and U.S. strikes have killed dozens of officials and commanders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Iranian media reporting on Tuesday that strikes flattened an auxiliary building of the Assembly of Experts in the city of Qom. Heidari Alekasir said the candidate had been picked based on the late supreme leader's advice that Iran's top leader should "be hated by the enemy" instead of praised by it. "Even the Great Satan (U.S.) has mentioned his name," the senior cleric said of the chosen successor, days after Trump said Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei , was an "unacceptable" choice for him. open image in gallery Trump has already said that Khameneis son, Mojtaba Khamenei, shown here, was an unacceptable choice as the next leader ( Middle East Images ) Trump said on Thursday that the younger Khamenei, a mid-ranking hard-line cleric, was the most likely successor, according to Axios, but warned he would reject such an option and that he should be personally involved in selecting Iran's next leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was not in Tehran when his father was killed by air strikes early in the war, an Iranian source told Reuters on Wednesday. He has close ties to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and is one of the most influential figures in the Iranian clerical establishment, thanks to the influence he built behind the scenes and his role as his father's gatekeeper, according to people familiar with the matter. He has for years been seen as one of the top candidates to succeed the elder Khamenei, despite never holding a government position, aside from working in his father's office.Ali Khamenei ruled Iran as the supreme leader from 1989, after serving as president for nearly eight years. Mojtaba Khamenei was a particular target for criticism by protesters during unrest over the death of a young woman in police custody in 2022, after she was arrested for allegedly breaching the Islamic Republic's strict dress codes. He is seen as having leverage over Iran's security apparatus, which has repressed several waves of protests in recent years. Reuters contributed to his report. Get Travel Insider with Simon Calder. A newsletter packed with tips, deals, inspiration, and the latest travel news Get the Travel Insider newsletter with Simon Calder Get the Travel Insider newsletter with Simon Calder Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Passengers on board a Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow to Dubai finally returned to the UK after a 16-hour flight to nowhere. Thousands of people have been left stranded at airports across the Middle East in the past week, after Iranian strikes targeted the Gulf states in response to a joint Israel-US bombing campaign. Flights were briefly suspended on Saturday morning and passengers were taken into tunnels at Dubai airport, which is normally the busiest global hub in the world, following fresh drone strikes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city. Flight VS400 had taken off from Heathrow at 10.22pm on Friday night for the seven-hour flight to Dubai. But after six hours in the air, while the Airbus A350 was flying over eastern Saudi Arabia, airspace was closed due to the latest attack. The pilots turned around to fly back to London, but they landed at Budapest at 11am on Saturday to refuel. After 90 minutes on the ground, the aircraft took off again for a two-hour flight to Heathrow and landed shortly before 2pm. open image in gallery Long haul: flight path of Virgin Atlantic jet that was unable to land in Dubai and diverted to Budapest to refuel ( FlightRadar24 ) A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: "The safety and security of our customers and our people is always our top priority. We have strict criteria that must be met for a flight to continue into the region, and even though Dubai airport reopened shortly after its closure, our criteria for proceeding had not yet been met. Hundreds of passengers who were waiting in Dubai to be flown back to London now have to wait for another opportunity to leave. Wed like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding and will contact affected customers, the spokesperson added. Our flights have been repatriating as many of our customers and people who were in Dubai and Riyadh as possible, and we will continue our remaining rotations if deemed safe to do so. Virgin Atlantic has now decided to cancel all flights to and from Dubai for the rest of the winter season, apart from a single round-trip departing on Monday and returning the following day. open image in gallery Virgin Atlantic has now decided to cancel all flights to and from Dubai for the rest of the winter season ( Matt Carter ) The airlines spokesperson said: Following airport and airspace closures in Dubai early this morning, we made the decision to cancel a number of our London Heathrow and Dubai rotations the VS400 on Friday 6 March, VS401 on Saturday 7 March, VS400 on Saturday 7 March and VS401 Sunday 8 March. We continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East with ongoing dynamic assessments and active changes to our flight routings based on the latest information and guidance, where required. The relatively new Virgin Atlantic link between London Heathrow and Riyadh has also been paused. Each airline makes its own risk assessment and has specific criteria for deciding whether or not to operate a flight. British Airways, which is known for being particularly risk-averse, has decided to concentrate its efforts on flights to and from Muscat in Oman, which is regarded as a safe airport. The three giant airlines of the Gulf Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are all seeking to increase the number of repatriation flights from the region, particularly to the UK and India. Thousands of passengers are seeking to leave for these key long-haul destinations. But other carriers are reducing their prospective flying programmes to the region, not least because of a collapse in demand and significantly higher operating costs, especially insurance. Insurers are demanding much higher premiums as civilian airports come under attack from Iran. KABUL, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Afghan authorities have arrested nine individuals accused of illegally felling trees and contributing to deforestation in the western Badghis province, the country's Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Sunday. The suspects were apprehended while engaging in unauthorized logging activities on the outskirts of Tagab and Muqar districts, according to a ministry statement. Afghanistan has long grappled with severe deforestation, exacerbated by decades of conflict, poverty, and illegal timber trade. The Afghan government has imposed a nationwide ban on deforestation and the hunting of wild animals as part of broader initiatives to safeguard the environment and promote sustainable resource management. 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? Elis Ireland, which serves large-scale users of linens such as hotels and hospitals, has continued to acquire businesses across Ireland In Ireland, Elis Textile Services grew revenue to 68.2m in 2023, up 41pc. Photo: Stock image/Getty Development in the Boyne Valley Business Park would involve the construction of a large, two-storey industrial laundry processing and distribution facility warehouse. Photo: Stock iamge/Getty Elis, a French multinational commercial laundry and textile rental group, plans to create over 200 jobs near Navan, Co Meath, at a proposed facility near the town. Planning documents, seen by the Sunday Independent, were submitted in late February seeking to develop the facility at Boyne Village Business Park. It would involve the construction of a large, two-storey industrial laundry processing and distribution facility warehouse. Joanne DArcy, CEO of Elis Ireland, said the business was progressing plans for its new laundry facility, representing an investment of upwards of 30m. In Ireland, Elis Textile Services grew revenue to 68.2m in 2023, up 41pc. Photo: Stock image/Getty This will further support the growth of our business and the ongoing modernisation of our laundry and textile rental operations, she said. Subject to the planning process, the proposed facility is expected to create in excess of 200 jobs in the area across a range of operational, technical and support roles. The development will strengthen our capacity to support customers across a number of sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing and other commercial industries that rely on consistent, high-quality laundry and textile rental services. Paris-listed Elis is one of Europes largest commercial laundry and textile rental (including uniforms and linens) businesses, serving large-scale users of linens such as hotels and hospitals across various markets. The group recorded revenue of almost 4.8bn last year, up around 5pc. It has a market capitalisation of over 5.8bn. Elis expanded into the British and Irish markets on the back of several acquisitions. In 2017, it acquired its UK rival, Berendsen, for 2.2bn. The business had a presence in Ireland. Last year, Elis agreed a deal to acquire the Mayo-based OCL Laundry Services. The following year, Elis acquired Tallaght-based Kings Laundry, a major linen supplier to hotels in Ireland. Based on Kings financial results at the time, the Irish Times estimated the deal would have been worth between 22.5m and 36m. The Kings acquisition by Elis was one of a number to have taken place in the sector at the time. Rival Celtic Linen exited examinership in December 2016 after it secured an investment from private equity firm Causeway Capital. In early 2018, it acquired Millbrook Linen. That deal created a 20m entity. Elis has continued to acquire businesses in Ireland, including recently. Last year, it agreed a deal to acquire the Mayo-based OCL Laundry Services. The deal required CCPC approval and it is currently being examined. Based in Ballinrobe, OCL Laundry Services was established in 2000 by outgoing owner Alan OConnor. The company primarily provides commercial laundry services to the hospitality industry. It employed around 150 people at the time of the deal. In 2023 its textile services branch recorded a profit of 5.5m for the year up 41pc OCL more than tripled its annual profits in the 12 months to the end of February 2024, bringing in nearly 2.2m compared to 664,400 the previous year. In Ireland, Elis Textile Services grew revenue to 68.2m in 2023, up 41pc. It recorded a profit of 5.5m for the year, with shareholders funds sitting at over 42.5m. The Irish company more than doubled the average number of people it employed in Ireland over 2023, with 1,201 staff. This compared to 557 the previous year. 'Id rather be sitting here with my glass of wine than back in Ireland in that rain': the Irish ex-pats who feel safe in Dubai Even as rockets rain down, long-term Irish in the UAE say they feel protected A woman jogs along a main street in downtown Dubai yesterday and, inset, Patricia Frawley and Eithne Treanor are two Irish women now resident in Dubai Fearghal O'Connor Sun 8 Mar 2026 at 06:30 Thousands of people may be scrambling to get out of the Middle East, but for a small and tight-knit community of well-established Irish business expats in Dubai, it is a different story. Social media platform X is investigating "racist and offensive" posts by xAI chatbot Grok in the UK, following a Sky News analysis of the tool. X and xAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not immediately verify the video attached to the Sky News post on X. X and its safety teams are urgently investigating the chatbot's role in generating "hate-filled, racist posts" online in response to user prompts, Sky News reporter Rob Harris said in a video posted to the digital news website's X account. A Sky News analysis of the chatbots public responses shows highly offensive AI-generated replies with profanities about individual religions, as well as falsely blaming Liverpool fans for the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. Governments and regulators have been cracking down on sexually explicit content generated by Elon Musk's xAI chatbot Grok on X, with investigations, bans and demands for safeguards, in a growing global push to curb illegal material. In January, xAI said it had restricted image editing for Grok AI users and blocked users, based on their location, from generating images of people in revealing clothing in "jurisdictions where it's illegal." It did not identify the countries. Writers including Sheila OFlanagan, Naoise Dolan and Salma El-Wardany contribute to Ailbhe Malones exciting new collection Banshee: Mythological Irish Women Retold You dont need to be familiar with the original Irish fairy tales to be ensnared by this anthology of their re-jigged versions, though once you race through them, youll crave to know the backstories of the resilient and strong women featured here. Richard Curran: US could go after super-rich, but there is no appetite here to pluck the golden goose In Ireland, we seem to have an ingrained aversion to taxing peoples land and wealth Leave the super-rich alone. Cartoon by Graeme Keyes Richard Curran Sat 7 Mar 2026 at 06:30 One thing you have to admire about US senator Bernie Sanders he doesnt give up easily. This week he proposed an annual wealth tax on Americas billionaires. BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan's choice, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday. Wang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. The year 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. In such a special year, Japan should have profoundly repented of the erroneous path it had taken, including its brutal invasion and colonial rule of Taiwan, Wang said. However, the incumbent leader of Japan even claimed that a Taiwan contingency would constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan to exercise the so-called right of collective self-defense, he said. "We hope the Japanese people will keep their eyes wide open and never allow anyone foolish enough to tread the same disastrous path today," said Wang. A strong China with 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or reverse history's verdict on aggression, he added. Leo Varadkar and Donald Trump speak to the media in the Oval Office in 2019. Photo: Getty Speaking to RTE radio yesterday, Leo Varadkar conceded that his successor as Taoiseach will have a tough job when he visits the White House on St Patricks Day. Some might call that the understatement of the decade. Many voices are loudly insisting that Micheal Martin should not attend this years event at all in protest at US military action alongside Israel in Iran, which risks plunging the Middle East into a wider, even bloodier conflict, or at the very least use the day to denounce the war. If Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald were head of government, no doubt the decision would be easy. The meeting would not go ahead. US warplanes would not be allowed to refuel at Shannon. Common cause would be made instead with left-wing governments such as Spains, which has attracted the ire of Washington by declaring the war in Iran to be reckless and illegal. Snubbing Donald Trump would probably prove popular with voters...at first For McDonald to profess dismay over the deaths of innocents thousands of miles away while honouring IRA members who murdered civilians a hundred miles up the road in Belfast may be grimly ironic, but snubbing Donald Trump would probably prove popular with voters. At first. Public opinion could quickly shift if negative consequences were to follow. That is not, in itself, a reason not to do so. An ethical foreign policy does not come without cost. Such decisions need to be taken, however, in full awareness of the possible backlash for a country like ours which relies heavily on continuing US investment for jobs and the resulting flow of corporation tax to pay for public services. As Varadkar noted on radio, it is Martins responsibility as Taoiseach not to say or do anything that might damage Ireland. No doubt that explains why he resisted calls to skip the ceremony on his last St Patricks Day, when he was urged by some to make a stand over Gaza. His tactful solution in 2024 was to extol Irish empathy for Palestinians, while pledging support for then US president Joe Bidens efforts towards a negotiated settlement, rather than trenchant criticism of US backing for Israel. Leo Varadkar and Donald Trump speak to the media in the Oval Office in 2019. Photo: Getty A similar compromise may be the wisest outcome this year as well. If we could reopen our embassy in Tehran in recent years in full knowledge of the brutalities of the Islamic Republic, citing a principled belief in diplomacy and dialogue, then the same argument applies here. The mistake is to interpret a visit to the White House as validation of any particular US presidents policies, any more than the attendance of then President Michael D Higgins at the coronation of Charles III in 2023 was an endorsement of hereditary monarchy. That was generally understood until recently. After modest beginnings, the first formal shamrock ceremony took place when the Korean War was in its full throes. It was a conflict in which US forces operated under orders to target every installation, factory, city and village. It was reported after: Everything is destroyed. There is nothing standing worthy of the name. There was no campaign to cancel the event. Turning St Patricks Day into a fixture of the White House calendar was later described as a quiet act of diplomatic genius. It has certainly been to the benefit of both countries ever since. Throwing it away for a brief moment of glory would be a shortsighted act of self-sabotage. A Macroom businesswoman is seeking the publics help by voting for her business in the Cork Business Awards 2026. Sofia Kalfa is the Managing Partner of Fzin Coffee, an ecommerce business headquartered in Macroom which offers a certified sustainable portfolio of coffee and beverage products designed to replace single-use plastic and aluminium with verified low waste alternatives. Fzin Coffee is in the running for the Sustainable Business Innovation Award, which celebrates local businesses driving sustainability by adopting practices that reduce environmental impact, enhance resource efficiency, and promote ethical standards. Speaking to The Corkman, Sofia urges residents in Macroom to back a local business for this prestigious award. I would appreciate the locals of Macroom to vote for us in the Sustainable Innovation Award. Although the awards are already local to Cork, it would mean a lot to me for people in Macroom to vote for an even more local business in Fzin, she said. Ms Kalfa attended a Macroom Business Association (MBA) meeting in the town on Thursday and was delighted to hear words of support from the other local businesses in the locality. I was in our business meeting within the MBA this morning (Thursday), and they were all really happy to see a Macroom business get nominated in the CBA Awards, and they said they would all vote for Fzin. It was a lovely vibe, and it really does mean a lot, she said. The voting deadline is March 13, and you can have your say across all the categories by accessing this link (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDwoTzRI0A7oXrIhuTnP4z9SmP63mS_VPHIirA6byj9sa3rQ/viewform). The Cork Business Awards 2026 takes place at the Vienna Woods Hotel on March 28. Tickets can be bought via Eventbrite. Tickets start at 195. Midleton councillors unanimously back request to fly Palestinian flag as part of a display of national flags in the town centre for St Patricks Day Midleton will fly the Palestinian flag as part of a display of national flags on St Patricks Day after councillors unanimously agreed to do so in a meeting this week with the decision hailed by a local pro-Palestine group as fantastic. Cllr John Buckley proposed the flag be included with the other national flags flown at the roundabout on the towns main street for the Saint Patricks weekend in a motion brought before the East Cork Municipal District. He said he was approached by the Midleton Stands with Palestine group with the suggestion. This is not on a government building, it's not on a public building, it's on the main street with the rest of the flags so I can't see an issue with it. The government has been recognising the state of Palestine since May 2024, so I can't see this being an obstacle, Cllr Buckley said. The motion was seconded by Cllr Eamonn Horgan who said it was fairly pertinent at the moment with everything that's going on in the Middle East, as well just to remember the solidarity with the Palestinian people. By the 17th of March things could be very different over there again. Municipal District Officer Susan Hegarty said she had discussed the request with council officials in regard to its flag policy and the local authority has no issue with the flag being flown. The practice of the flags being erected at the roundabout is something that was started a few years ago by the town team. So if you want to include that flag, I have no issue, but it's up to members to be in agreement, she said. The councillors agreed unanimously that the flag be flown. Cllr Buckley said he was very happy with the response and thanked his colleagues for backing his motion. Martina Stack of the Midleton Stands with Palestine group told the Irish Independent that they are delighted with the decision. One of our members approached the council about it last year and she was just notified this week that it's going to happen so we're delighted. This is our third year in existence as a group and the other two years we had to ask to be included in the parade and this year they've approached us and invited us, which is a big step as well, she said. The group has been holding a rally outside Midleton courthouse every Sunday since 2023 and also fund-raises for Palestine through activities such as book sales and art exhibitions. Theres always been a great response when we walked through the town on St. Patrick's Day, a lot of people support the fact that we're trying to do our little bit for Palestine, Ms Stack said. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Anna Ryan, UCC winning team speaker and native of Glenville, Co Cork, pictured at the Great Agri-Food Debate UCC defeated UCD in what the judges described as a tightly contested and high-quality final. UCC were declared the winners having successfully proposed the motion that: Artificial Intelligence will create opportunities for farms to improve productivity sustainably and must be adopted as a matter of national policy. The UCC team included team captain Aoife Lynch from Callan in Co Kilkenny, co-speakers Anna Ryan from Glenville, Apoorva Unde (Kilkenny City), Claudine Lynch (Ennis), and researcher Yuelin Zhan, who is studying Food Science & Technology. The four UCC speakers are all fourth year Nutritional Sciences students. The semi-finals and the Grand Final of this years competition were held in-person on Friday, February 27 at SETU Arena in Co Waterford. The Great Agri-Food Debate provides an opportunity for agriculture students from colleges and universities in Ireland and the UK to compete by debating topical issues relevant to the agri-food sector. In total, seven teams across Ireland and the UK entered the highly popular competition organised by Dawn Meats and co-sponsored by McDonalds. and four universities progressed to the Grand Final. The Grand Final was judged by Richard Clinton, Group Commercial Director of Dawn Meats, Jim Roynane, McDonald's Restaurants Franchisee, Phelim O'Neil, Market Intelligence and EU Specialist at Irish Farmers Journal, Dale Crammond, Director of Meat Industry Ireland, and Eimear Brazil, Chef and influencer (@TheKitchenShift_ Instagram). The Grand Final was moderated by Tom Moran, Chairman at Kerry Group and Alliance New Zealand. Richard Clinton, Group Commercial Director at Dawn Meats, said the Great Agri-Food Debate is a unique opportunity to meet and hear from the next generation of agri-food leaders on the issues and challenges that are crucial to the future of the industry. The debates are always of a high standard. The commitment and hard work of the debaters, their researchers and their lecturers is always impressive. We take great pride in continuing this tradition and hope new voices will continue to be inspired to take part in the years to come. Id like to congratulate everyone who took part this year and, of course, this years winning team, UCC, he added. Gathering last weekend for International Rare Disease Day 2026 and to 'Light Up' Tralee's iconic Ashe Memorial Hall. Last Saturday evening, the iconic Ashe Memorial Hall in Tralee glowed as Kerry joined communities around the world to mark International Rare Disease Day 2026. The illumination was part of the global Light Up for Rare Diseases campaign, which unites families, local politicians, and community members to raise visibility for the estimated 300,000 people in Ireland living with a rare condition. The gathering in Tralee took place amid mounting frustration as Irelands new National Rare Disease Strategy remains without an implementation plan or dedicated funding. Tralee has emerged as a key advocate for Rare Disease Day, featuring prominently in international promotional materials and social media campaigns, and sending a clear message that the countrys rare disease community is still waiting for government action. With 1 in 17 people in Ireland affected by a rare disease, this years themeEquityfocused on the inequalities faced by patients in securing timely diagnoses, appropriate treatments, and essential support. The event attracted strong political backing, with Mayor of Tralee Cllr Terry OBrien joined by Cllr Angie Baily and Cllr Deirdre Ferris. Padraig OSullivan TD travelled from Cork to stand with the rare disease families of Kerry. Mr OSullivan is widely recognised as a constant advocate for rare disease policy in the Oireachtas. Cllr Angie Baily said that lighting up for rare diseases helps make the invisible visible and offers a reminder to families that they are supported. I hope this recognition leads to more research, greater public awareness, and increased understanding and support for this community, she said. Bernadette Sheehan Gilroy, a PKU and rare disease advocate, described Tralee as a proud player in the global Rare Disease Day movement. Campaigners are now urging ministers to follow through on the Programme for Governments commitments, specifically calling for an early access scheme for rare disease medicines and a comprehensive review of the reimbursement process. This system currently leaves Irish patients waiting for treatments that are already available in other parts of Europe. We call on the government to publish the implementation plan for the National Rare Disease Strategy without delay and, critically, to allocate a dedicated budget for its execution. A plan without funding is a promise without purpose. Care cannot wait, said Ms Gilroy. The Enniscorthy Credit Union has just launched a photography competition centred around farming with a cash prize to celebrate the regions pride in farming cultivation. The first-ever Cultivate Farming Photography Competition will celebrate the rich heritage and everyday realities of farming life across Ireland. "Farming plays a vital role in communities nationwide, shaping local economies, traditions, and family life. Through this exciting new competition, Enniscorthy Credit Union invites photographers of all levels to capture compelling images that reflect the beauty of Irish farming, a representative explained. "The competition is open to both Cultivate members and non-members, offering a wonderful opportunity for entrants to showcase their work to a wide audience, they added. Twelve winning photographs will be selected for inclusion in the 2027 Cultivate Farming Calendar, with featured images also promoted across Cultivates social media platforms. "In addition to calendar inclusion, one overall winner will receive a prestigious 1,000 voucher for Irelands Blue Book, providing an unforgettable luxury experience at one of Irelands most renowned country houses or boutique hotels. Participants are invited to submit a photograph that captures the essence of farm life via the official entry form online. Conditions include that photo must be in a landscape format, must not contain identifiable images, logos and branding and must be in appropriate images of JPEG and PNG. "Enniscorthy Credit Union looks forward to seeing your images that celebrate the heart of Irish agriculture, they added. A Wexford businessman has been jailed for two years for his role in a substantial fraud. A daughter of the accused was in court as the man, aged in his 50s, was sentenced to two years in prison by Judge Cormac Quinn at Wexford Circuit Court. Reporting restrictions were put in place by Judge Quinn, preventing media from naming the Wexford defendant. 6th class students with Samantha Byrne and Mark Kearney of the ESB Apprenticeship Programme at the St Mary's College (Arklow) Careers Fair. Photo: Michael Kelly Kinga Ksiazek, Liz Dillon and Aisling Hughes of EirGrid with students Siun Byrne and Cecila Delgado at the St Mary's College (Arklow) Careers Fair. Photo: Michael Kelly Students from St. Mary's college with Gabriel Allen of the Bray Institute of Further Education at the St Mary's College (Arklow) Careers Fair. Photo: Michael Kelly St. Marys College in Arklow recently welcomed representatives from local businesses, nationwide industries, and universities and colleges for its Careers Fair 2026. Over 500 students from first to sixth year had the opportunity to speak about college courses and third-level options with staff from UCD, DCU, Maynooth University, BIFE, IADT, Carlow College, SETU, TUD and St Patricks Pontifical College. They also had the privilege of meeting with representatives of local, national and international industries that offer apprenticeship opportunities, such as ESB Networks, Eirgrid, Pure Hair Design and Servier Industries, as well as members of An Garda Siochana and the Irish Prison Service. Professionals from the beauty and hair industries, the fashion retail industry, pharmacy, education professionals who work in early years and primary school settings, and experts in the fields of medicine, law and the allied health professions all came together to share their experiences and knowledge with the students and their parents. Students who attended the careers fair said they benefitted greatly from being exposed to more than one potential career path, with St Marys College head girl, Divine Luke-Letlhake, saying: Before attending, I felt uncertain of which direction to take and some pressure to have it all figured out. The fair highlighted that there are multiple pathways to success and overall it was an informative evening for me. St Marys College would like to extend its gratitude to all those who represented their careers, giving up their time to provide this invaluable opportunity which was of huge benefit to our students, a school spokesperson added. Pictured at the launch of the dog awareness campaign are Peter Behan (Vice-Chairman of the Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Breeders), Selena Mackenzie (Chair of the Wicklow Irish Farmers Association (IFA) Sheep Committee), Mark Redmond (Sheep Farmer), Brendan Conway (ISPCA Dog Warden), Noel Hayes (ISPCA Dog Warden), Aaron Byrne (County Wicklow Partnership), Ruth Daunt (Wicklow County Council Veterinary Inspector), Jackie Carroll (Wicklow County Council), Tom Byrne (Chair of the IFA), Brian Dunne (Wicklow Uplands Council) and Kiara Kavanagh (Wicklow County Council). The Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association (WCSOA) has renewed their call for stricter dog control measures, following a rise in attacks on sheep in the county. Chair Pat Dunne and vice chair Peter Behan were formally welcomed to Wicklow County Councils monthly meeting on Monday to address the "stark and upsetting" issues facing sheep farmers, particularly regarding the impact of dog attacks on flocks. The WCSOA, alongside the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and Wicklow Uplands Council, have intensified their calls for more government intervention due to a sharp rise in "savage" dog attacks. In 2024, the Department of Agriculture reported a six-year high in dog attacks on livestock. Officially, 1,592 sheep were attacked nationally in 2024, with 494 killed or euthanised. The IFA estimates that between 3,000 and 4,000 sheep are injured or killed annually across Ireland, with average losses of 11 sheep per incident. Local authorities noted a 4pc increase in reported incidents in 2024, though they warn of significant under-reporting by farmers. Wicklow is the fifth largest county in Ireland for sheep numbers, with approximately 155,209 breeding ewes. Over 233,000 lambs are born annually in the county, facing immediate risk from uncontrolled dogs during the spring season. Wicklow is consistently identified as one of the most high-risk counties for dog attacks on sheep in Ireland, primarily due to the overlap of intensive hill farming with high-volume recreational tourism. Historically, Wicklow has accounted for as much as 20pc of all sheep killed in reported attacks nationwide. In one year alone, the county recorded 800 sheep deaths out of a national total of 4,000. While the national average is approximately 11 sheep killed or injured per attack, incidents in Wicklow often exceed this due to the pack nature of attacks in upland areas. According to IFA figures Wicklow frequently ranks among the highest number of worrying livestock attack incidents: Unlike counties with more lowland farming (such as Meath or Wexford), Wicklow's sheep are often grazed on commonage (land that is owned by more than one person) or near popular hiking trails like the Wicklow Way, increasing the chance of encounters with uncontrolled pets. Attacks in the Wicklow Mountains are also harder to monitor. Dogs can chase sheep into rough ground, where they become trapped or fall, leading to deaths that are not immediately discovered. Wicklow has seen more direct conflict between farmers and walkers than other counties, leading to the high-profile closure of routes like the Zig-Zag in Glenmalure. The route, which provided a key access point from the Carrawaystick Waterfall toward Lugnaquilla is now strictly closed to the public following a physical assault on Mr Dunne by a disgruntled dog owner. Then in 2025, the No Dogs Allowed campaign was launched which was a response to escalating livestock worrying, exemplified by a local farmer who suffered three attacks in five years. Pictured at the launch of the dog awareness campaign are Peter Behan (Vice-Chairman of the Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Breeders), Selena Mackenzie (Chair of the Wicklow Irish Farmers Association (IFA) Sheep Committee), Mark Redmond (Sheep Farmer), Brendan Conway (ISPCA Dog Warden), Noel Hayes (ISPCA Dog Warden), Aaron Byrne (County Wicklow Partnership), Ruth Daunt (Wicklow County Council Veterinary Inspector), Jackie Carroll (Wicklow County Council), Tom Byrne (Chair of the IFA), Brian Dunne (Wicklow Uplands Council) and Kiara Kavanagh (Wicklow County Council). Addressing the elected members Mr Dunne said its important that dogs are kept under control as lambing season approaches. The last thing that anybody wants is a dog attack. The hardship that it brings on the livestock, on people, and on the people who own these dogs. Mr Behan said the WCSOA believes there should be a ban on non-working dogs in upland areas where livestock are present. That is just common sense to most sheep farmers, and I think it should be common sense to most people. Dog owners need to be confronted regarding a failure to take responsibility for their dogs. It's too late when the dogs have done the damage. It's too late then. Mr Behan also highlighted how signage is another issue. It is not for the lack of signs. It is just a lack of respect really. That's the way we see it, he added. The landscape for sheep farmers in Wicklow has shifted in recent months due to new legislative oversight and increased budgetary commitments, though Mr Behan continued to push for further enforcement during the current lambing season. Policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts fully transitioned to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) as of late 2025. This addresses the association's long-standing demand for a single state agency to manage dog control. As of February 1, 2026, it is strictly illegal to own an XL Bully type dog without a Certificate of Exemption. Owners who failed to secure this certificate by the deadline now face dog seizure and euthanasia. The Control of Dogs Bill is moving through the Oireachtas, aiming to mandate a national dog licensing database and provide for new dog control notices. Wicklow County Councils adopted budget for 2026 allocated 268,500 specifically for the operation of the Dog Warden Service, a slight increase from previous years to bolster enforcement. In a unanimous show of support, councillors asked the executive to formally demand Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon and the Department of Rural and Community Development for a government-funded campaign to "embed in the consciousness" of dog owners that their pets are potential killers. As the 2026 lambing season approaches, the message from the WCSOA is clear. Without a shift in public behaviour, the no dogs allowed signs currently appearing across the county may soon be followed by the permanent closure of more iconic local walking routes. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Galway priest Fr Colman Cooke of the St Patricks Missionary Society was laid to rest on Friday in the Society Cemetery in Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, having served the dioceses of Kitui, Kenya and St. Petersburg Florida USA. He died peacefully on Tuesday, March 3, in Naas hospital with Fr Enda Kelly by his bedside. Fr Cooke, popularly known as Colm, was a serious historian and was the first member of the St Patricks Missionary Society to do academic research on the early years of the society, which was later relied on when the history of the society was written. His first book was a biography of Mary Charles Walker The Nun of Calabar. During his retirement he was commissioned by the society to research and write the biography of the societys first bishop, James Moynagh (Bishop James Moynagh of Calabar, Columba Press, 2014). Colm was a devoted pastor and loved by his parishioners, and a gifted teacher, whose students remember his fondness for the subjects he taught. Colm was born on October 17, 1939, in Crowe Street, Gort, Co Galway to Patrick Cooke and his wife Elizabeth (nee Diviney). He was born into a family of one girl and four boys. Colm attended Gort National School from 1943 to 1953 and had his secondary education in the Presentation Brothers Juniorate in Colaiste Muire, Douglas Road, Cork from 1953 to 1957. In September 1957, Colm joined the Spiritual Year in Kiltegan. From 1958 to 1961 he studied for his BA degree in UCC and then proceeded to Kiltegan for theology. He was among eighteen priests ordained for St Patricks Missionary Society by Bishop Joseph Rodgers in Killamoate on Easter Sunday, April18, 1965. After ordination Colm was appointed to the diocese of Kitui, Kenya. He first taught in Mutune Teacher Training College and after nine months was transferred to St Charles Lwanga Secondary School. In 1968 he was appointed to teach in Kiltegan. While teaching he did his MA in history in UCC graduating in 1971 (Irish Diocesan Priests in Southern Nigeria 1920-1942 MA thesis, UCC 1971). He continued his studies at London University and obtained a PhD there in 1973 (The Roman Catholic Mission in Calabar 1903-1960, PhD thesis, University of London 1977). He resumed his teaching role in Kiltegan from 1974 to 1979. In 1979 he became a research fellow at Yale Divinity School. In 1981 he began working in Boynton Beach Regional Seminary in the diocese of St Petersburg, Florida. After seven years working in the diocese, he sought incardination into the diocese which was granted in 1988. He was appointed by his bishop to be the director of the diaconate programme of the diocese, where he once again put his experience in formation to good use. In appreciation of his good standing and service to the diocese he was promoted to be a monsignor. In 2019 Bishop Parkes wrote to Colm: As previously noted in my last letter, I am grateful for your 28 years of active ministry in the Diocese of St Petersburg and for your ongoing support of our diocese since your retirement. You continue to be remembered by many of your brother priests, former parishioners and staff members." He retired to Ireland in 2009 to live in his native town of Gort. In 2017 he sought re-admission to the society and was accepted as a permanent member in 2019. In June 2022 Colm retired to Kiltegan to receive nursing care. Colm is predeceased by his parents Patrick and Elizabeth, brother Michael and sister Rose (Linnane). He is mourned by his brothers Sean and Paddy, sisters-in-law Madge, Margaret and Annette, nieces, nephews and their families, the Diocese of St Petersburg, and his society family in Kiltegan. Colms funeral mass took place at St Patricks Chapel, Kiltegan, followed by his burial in the Society Cemetery. BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- China will work toward the goal of translating the vision and blueprint for building an Asia-Pacific community into actions and reality, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday. The future of a Wicklow postal agency that has been operating for two decades remains uncertain, with concerns that its payment system could fail at any minute, Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore told the Dail this week. Raising the issue as a matter of urgency, she said the Hollywood shop Dalys Service Station which delivers around 50 social welfare payments each week is still operating on a MiniRiposte machine that no longer functions properly since the switch from copper to fibre broadband, leaving the longrunning service at risk of collapse. Deputy Whitmore said Dalys have been trying to keep the service going despite the technological problems and the tiny commission offered by An Post. Dalys shop administers 50 social welfare payments each week to people in their community, she said. The machine they rely on is incompatible with the new lines they are not sure how much longer theyll be able to use it. Deputy Whitmore said she met with the owner of the shop, Mark Daly, who reiterated his wish to keep his familys shop running as a postal agency, but outlined the challenges working against that aim, including compensation. her surprise that Dalys only receive a commission of 70 a month for providing the service.What they are paid in commission to carry out this essential service from An Post is not even enough to pay the wage of the staff member who manages the payments, and yet they are doing everything they can to keep providing that service, said Deputy Whitmore, expressing She added: A 93-year-old man visits them every week to get his social welfare payments, but he has the chats and meets people. It is a really important part of his week. Dalys know that their shop is a lifeline for the community. For some people, coming down to collect their payment is the only time in that week that they'll get out of the house. "For others, it's the only time they'll meet other people, and have an opportunity to have a chat and connect. It's so much more than a shop for these people, it is their connection to the community. As post offices are closing around the country, we need to make sure that we are doing all we can to keep these essential hubs open in rural areas. I'm imploring on the minister to make sure that An Post do everything in their power to ensure that Daly's do not have to stop acting as a postal agency and that this community does not lose this essential hub. Mark Daly of Circle K Express Dalys Service Station in Hollywood. Communications Minister Patrick ODonovan stated that the government was committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. A total of 10 million in funding was provided for a three-year period from 2023 to 2025, with an increased amount of 15 million per annum approved by the government in January. Minister ODonovan added: An Post has statutory responsibility for the post office network. Accordingly, it must actively explore opportunities to develop new, or enhanced, product lines and services. We want to see a sustainable service for all of our citizens, both urban and rural, in the medium and long term. However, he emphasised that post offices are commercial entities, and as with all businesses, they need to develop relevant commercial strategies to develop relevant commercial strategies to attract new customers and drive footfall. I encourage my government colleagues to consider the impact of digitalisation and substitution of services on our network. It is important that as technology develops, we explore new and innovative ways of working, but it is also important that we ensure that those who, for whatever reason, do not want to access government services online, can still do so," said Minister ODonovan. Deputies from across the country joined the discussion, raising similar issues to the one in Hollywood taking place in their own locality. Junior minister at the Department of Health Jennifer Murnane O'Connor concluded: The post office provides services beyond selling stamps and taking in parcels. In the post office, members of the community are able to collect their social welfare payments, pay their TV licence and buy a Leap card. "Post offices and their workers look out for their neighbours, giving the older members of our community a social outlet and assisting in tasks that may have moved online. "Many things are going online, so we have to be mindful of that. When paying a home heating bill or electricity bill, there is the friendly face at a local post office. The workers there can help, whether with a phone call or just giving advice. It is all about helping. They really do an excellent job. The government understands the essential service our post offices are providing day in, day out. Youre sure to put a smile on her face with these delicious beauty treats On International Womens Day and with Mothers Day just around the corner, Im thinking of all the wonderful women in my life. A special shout-out to my marvellous mother, Margaret, and my superb sisters, Laura and Anna both mums themselves now whose love and strength inspire me every day. I cherish the memories of my late sister, Tricia, and know she would have been the best mum as she often mothered me, even though Im the older sister. 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Mums will enjoy the Green Angel Forever Loved Gift Set (45, greenangel.com) a six-piece skincare bundle that contains four skincare products: Argan Body Oil 200ml, Cleansing Lotion 30ml, Aloe Eye Gel 10ml, and Collagen Face Cream 50ml. Worth 85, it also contains a reusable cleansing pad and a tester of Loana, Green Angels signature scent. La Bougie Desert Rose Eau de Parfum, 60, brownthomas.com Very Bougie We have to finish with a fantastic fragrance, La Bougie Desert Rose Eau de Parfum (60, brownthomas.com) crafted with precious fragrance oils and is composed of 15pc pure fragrance. The fragrance captures the Middle Eastern allure of Morocco thanks to its intense and honey-like damask rose scent blended with notes of oud and teak. Ella & Jo Mothers Day Gift Set, 80, ellaandjo.com Treat Box clever Irish brand Ella & Jo Mothers Day Gift Set (80, ellaandjo.com) is a sensorial skincare ritual worth 101 thats designed to cleanse, cocoon and glow. It includes Melt The Day Away cleansing balm, Plump & Protect day cream, a mini Relax & Renew night cream, and a cleansing mitt all presented in a gorgeous gift box. Treatment Collagen boost Everyone I know is talking about Sculptra (from 550, see sisuclinic.com), the revolutionary treatment that works deep within the skin to stimulate collagen production. Delivered by injection, it restores skin integrity, stimulating the production of collagen and improving the quality of the elastin. It can also enhance other areas of the body, including the gluteal area (bum), back of thighs, decolletage and upper arms. Trick Spoon zoom If you want a lil tip to look awake, this fast-acting DIY frozen spoons hack is designed to reduce under-eye puffiness, swelling and dark circles. All you have to do is put two metal spoons into the freezer for a few minutes, then take them out and gently press the back of the spoons against your eyelids. The cold metal helps to reduce swelling for pretty peepers. And you know what they say: spooning leads to forking! The US president was referring to reports that the UK was preparing an aircraft carrier in response to the Middle East crisis Donald Trump has again hit out at British prime minister Keir Starmer over the UKs involvement in the Middle East conflict, saying that the US does not need anyone to join wars after weve already won. 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. 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 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. 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! US President Donald Trump at the White House (Evan Vucci/AP) News in 90 Seconds - 8th March 2026 Mr Starmers decision not to grant permission for the first wave of military action prompted a raft of criticism from Mr Trump in recent days, including a personal attack on the Prime Minister as being not Winston Churchill. He has also called Britains response very disappointing and that it should be allowing America to use its bases without question or hesitation. Mr Starmer later granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. The British prime minister has sought to play down the rift and, after Mr Trumps latest rebuke, Downing Street pointed back to Mr Starmers earlier comments that the special relationship is in operation right now as the two countries share intelligence and work together. 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. Mr Trump appeared to warn in an earlier post that more Iranian officials would become targets in the war, adding: Today Iran will be hit very hard! Questions linger over the UKs 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 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. US President Donald Trump has criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and (Suzanne Plunkett/PA) 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. Mr 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. 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, Mr Starmer 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. Tony Blair has also reportedly weighed in, saying at a private event that he thought the UK should have supported Mr Trump right away. I am not saying anything that I havent 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, the Daily Mail reported. But the Lib Dems urged Sir Keir to stand up to the US and accused Mrs Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of wanting Britain to blindly follow Trump into his reckless war. The Prime Minister must stand firm against Trumps bullying and avoid getting sucked further into this illegal and damaging war, Sir Ed Davey said. The chef behind the restaurant, widely regarded as the pinnacle of Michelin-starred gastronomy, has been accused by dozens of former employees of years of psychological and physical abuse. Rene Redzepi, the head chef of Noma in Copenhagen, which was named the worlds best restaurant five times, allegedly punched and shoved staff and subjected them to humiliating public shamings. The allegations, published by the New York Times after interviews with 35 former staff, come just days before Noma opens a Los Angeles pop-up on 11 March, where meals cost about $1,500 (1,300) a head. Mr Redzepi said he did not recognise every detail but accepted that parts of the accounts reflected harmful behaviour in his past. Rene Redzepi, the head chef of Noma in Copenhagen, in 2015. Photo: REUTERS/Yuya Shino. To those who have suffered under my leadership, my bad judgment, or my anger, I am deeply sorry and I have worked to change, he told the newspaper, adding that he had stepped back from day-to-day service, undergone therapy and found better ways to manage his temper. Former workers allege that between 2009 and 2017, Mr Redzepi punched and shoved staff, jabbed them with kitchen tools and subjected them to humiliating public dressing-downs. They also described a culture of screaming, intimidation and body-shaming inside a restaurant celebrated for culinary innovation and perfectionism. Staff were jabbed with kitchen tools Among the most serious claims is an alleged incident during a 2014 dinner service in which Mr Redzepi ordered kitchen staff outside after a sous-chef started playing techno music in the production kitchen. Before allowing service to continue, Mr Redzepi allegedly punched him in the ribs and forced him to tell 40 colleagues standing around them in a circle that he liked performing oral sex on DJs. Other former employees alleged that collective punishment was routine, with staff punched in the chest or physically prodded during service. One former cook told the paper he was slammed against a wall and punched in the stomach over a minor plating slip-up. Another alleged she was punched in the ribs after using a phone during service, causing her to fall against a counter and cut her hip. Noma said it had looked into that claim but could not verify it. Since founding Noma in 2003, Mr Redzepi has become one of the most revered names in gastronomy, offering fine dining based on foraging, fermentation and the severe, hyper-local cooking style that became known as New Nordic cuisine. Noma won three Michelin stars and topped the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list five times. The chefs aura has spawned imitators and helped shape the stylised, intense image of modern fine dining seen across television, documentaries and satires such as The Menu, starring Ralph Fiennes. Many alleged victims told the New York Times that they tolerated behaviour which they now regard as abusive because the restaurants name carried such weight and they feared retaliation in a close-knit industry. Noma has faced scrutiny before. In 2022, after criticism of its reliance on unpaid interns, the restaurant said it would pay them in the future. Mr Redzepi later said the traditional fine-dining model had become unsustainable and announced that Noma would stop operating as a conventional restaurant, pivoting instead towards pop-ups and Noma Projects, its products and innovation business. Deeply sorry for his behaviour Mr Redzepi has previously conceded that Noma was a labour-intensive business, and in a 2024 interview with The Telegraph, he said of his work: The ingredients themselves, the people around it - its their story. Former staff now argue that the human story behind the brand has been far darker. Mr Redzepi is not alone amongst celebrity chefs facing such claims. In France, prosecutors opened an investigation in December 2023 into alleged violence linked to hazing at the Hotel du Palais in Biarritz, where Michelin-starred chef Aurelien Largeau has denied wrongdoing. The debate over a bullying kitchen culture was reignited last May by Nora Bouazzounis book Kitchen Violence: A French Omerta, which portrayed abuse as deeply embedded in elite kitchens, despite prominent chefs insistence that the profession has reformed. Israel renewed its assault on southern Lebanon early on 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 on 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 US and the Zionist regime at the site that supplies the capital and neighbouring provinces in the north. Elsewhere, Kuwait authorities said two border guards were killed when a swarm of missiles and drones hit the Gulf country. The Interior Ministry said only that the guards were killed while performing their national duty. An Iranian drone attack caused material damage to a desalination plant, Bahrain said on Sunday morning. Hundreds of desalination plants sit along the Persian Gulf coast, and the Arab countries in the region rely heavily on the facilities for drinking water. Bahrains water authority said the attack had no impact on water supplies. Israel struck southern Lebanon and Beirut again early on Sunday and killed 12 more people, the Lebanese health ministry said. The deaths come on top of at least 47 others killed on Saturday in Israeli strikes. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised on Saturday for attacks on neighbouring 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. Mr Pezeshkian, a member of the council, dismissed US President Donald Trumps call for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, saying: Thats a dream that they should take to their grave. Mr Trump threatened that Iran would be hit very hard and more areas and groups of people would become targets, without elaborating. The conflict has rattled global markets and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. Were not looking to settle, Mr Trump told reporters on Saturday aboard Air Force One. Theyd like to settle. Were not looking to settle. He described the ongoing US 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. Mr 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 Mr Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets. he presidents statement said Irans leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces and 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. US strikes have not come from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from US bases and vessels in the region. Hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that the 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 UN mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on non-military sites may have resulted from interception by US electronic defence systems. Late on 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. In other developments, Mr 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. Days ago, Kurdish officials said Kurdish-Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq were preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran and that the US had asked Iraqi Kurds to support them. 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. Mounting uncertainty over future of Irelands 4bn trade links as Middle East war continues to rage Bombings, drone strikes and threats to freight over land and sea have placed significant doubts over how accessible the region will be Smoke billows from Zayed port in Abu Dhabi after an Iranian attack, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Photo: Abdelhadi Ramahi/Reuters Sean Pollock Sun 8 Mar 2026 at 06:30 Almost 400 Irish-owned enterprises are currently exporting to the Middle East, including hundreds of SMEs, leaving them exposed as the US and Israeli war with Iran continues. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has died aged 86, was Irans spiritual leader and highest authority and widely regarded as the main obstacle to reform. Despite repeated protestations that nuclear weapons are un-Islamic, he was seen by many governments in the West as a key force behind his countrys suspected plan to acquire the bomb. Khamenei succeeded Ayatollah Khomeini as supreme leader of the Islamic Republic in 1989, having served as president from 1981. Disrespectfully known in the Tehran streets as Ali Shah (a reference to what many believed to be his monarchical aspirations). Khamenei could never match Khomeinis dominating presence or moral authority and presided over a steady draining away of popular legitimacy from the Islamic republic and its leaders. He responded to this with a combination of repression and attempts to keep the paranoid spirit of revolutionary nationalism alive with attacks on all the usual suspects the international Zionist conspiracy, the US and the writer Salman Rushdie, whose death sentence he confirmed from time to time. Khamenei used the almost limitless powers of his office, in alliance with radical factions and wealthy traders who did not wish to lose their grip on the countrys economic levers, to keep Iran on an isolationist course. At times he seemed to be trying to recapture some degree of popular support by allowing reformists a margin for manoeuvre, notably under president Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005). But there was seldom any doubt where real power lay. A billboard shows a portrait of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. Photo: AP Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei was born on July 17, 1939 to an ethnic Azeri family in the eastern holy city of Mashhad. Little is known about his early life, though it seems he began his religious studies in Mashhad at the age of 18 and received training at Palestinian guerrilla camps in Lebanon and Libya. In 1958, he moved to the holy city of Qom to study under Khomeini, whose attacks on the shah were attracting growing popular support. Five years later, he was involved in student demonstrations that ended in police storming the Ayatollahs seminary and killing about 20 students. Khomeini was sent into exile, and Khamenei returned to Mashhad for more years of study. But his involvement with Khomeini made him the target of surveillance by the Shahs secret police, and he spent three of the next 10 years behind bars. He was prominent in the increasingly violent street riots that ended in the shahs flight into exile in January, 1979. With the return of Khomeini two weeks later, he became a member of the 14-member Council of the Islamic Revolution. Khomeini also made him commander of a new militia, Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, and later included him among the founders of the Islamic Revolution Party, which became the ruling party in late 1979. The same year, he was among those who whipped up students into invading the US embassy and taking 52 Americans hostage for 444 days in an attempt to barter them for the return of the Shah. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a meeting with Army Air Force officers in Tehran. Photo: Reuters In June, 1981, Khamenei narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when a bomb, concealed in a tape recorder at a press conference, exploded beside him. He was permanently injured, but his wounds kept him from attending a meeting of the Islamic Republic Party the following day, when another explosion killed 72 people, including four cabinet ministers and the chief justice. As supreme leader, Khamenei continued the hardline anti-Western policies of his predecessor. Despite high levels of ill-feeling against Iraq following the Iran-Iraq war, he opposed the US-led Gulf War to oust Saddam Hussein from Kuwait and later ruled out any Iranian help for the War on Terror. He accused the US government of using the September 11 attacks on Washington and New York as a pretext for settling accounts with the Muslim world. More recently, he had been seen as the guiding spirit behind the Iranian governments refusal to yield to international demands to suspend its uranium enrichment programme and its attempts to turn the nuclear issue into a nationalist touchstone. But he sternly denied those suggestions, insisting there was no Iranian project to build a nuclear bomb. In September, 2009 on state television he broadcast a rejection of US reports that Iran had a covert nuclear programme, stating: We fundamentally reject nuclear weapons and prohibit the production and the use of nuclear weapons. Less than two weeks later, however, Iran was forced to reveal that not only had it been running a second secret uranium enrichment site, but that it had been built near Qom. Mourners gather at the Vali-Asr Square in Tehran. Photo: Reuters The nuclear showdown with the West was a useful issue to mask other strained relations within Iran itself. In June, 2009, president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ran for re-election in a poll that was considered widely flawed. When Ahmadinejad was declared the winner, his main rival, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, called the election a fraud and opposition protesters took to the streets. Demonstrators fought openly with the uniformed and secret police, in a rare public challenge to the authority of the government of the Islamic Revolution. The riots were the most protracted since widespread student demonstrations in 1999. Rather than assuage the feelings of injustice, however, Khamenei initially called the result, a 62.6pc of the vote victory for Ahmadinejad, a divine assessment. The latter years of his reign were marred by more riots, and in 2019 dozens of people were killed in the city of Mahshahr during protests against perceived government corruption and Khameneis repressive rule. The death in custody of a young Kurdish woman, Jina Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for improper dress, led to a sustained wave of demonstrations in late 2022. Alongside the Great Satan, Khamenei aimed his hatred at Israel, which he described as a cancerous tumour of a state and predicted last year that it would not exist in 25 years time. He praised Hamass attack on Israel in October, 2023 and condemned Benjamin Netanyahus governments retaliation as genocidal. During last months attack on Iran launched by Israel and the US, he was reported to have been killed and his body recovered from rubble after a daylight bombing raid. Ali Khamenei was married with two daughters and four sons. Trump says US will hit Iran 'very hard' after easing sanctions on Russian oil President Donald Trump said the U.S. was going to be hitting Iran "very hard over the next week", shortly after issuing a partial 30-day waiver for purchases of sanctioned Russian oil, hoping to ease prices fuelled by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Prices have been whipsawing on Trump's changing comments on the likely duration of the war, which has prompted Iran to attack vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for a fifth of the world's oil. Trump has previously said the war is "complete", and also promised to guarantee the safety of vessels in the strait. In a Fox News interview aired on Friday, Trump said the U.S. would escort shipping there "if we needed to". Benchmark Brent crudeLCOc1 eased about 0.6% to around $99.80, still up almost 40% since the start of the conflict. O/R War on Iran extends across Middle East After nearly two weeks of war, 2,000 people have been killed, most of them in Iran, but many also in Lebanon and a growing number in the Gulf, which has for the first time in decades of Middle East conflicts found itself on the front line. Several million people have been displaced from their homes. As Israeli warplanes pounded Beirut's suburbs with air strikes, Lebanon's interior minister said authorities were unable to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people who have sought refuge in the capital. Israel also dropped leaflets threatening Gaza-scale devastation as it deployed more troops to fight Iran-backed Hezbollah and warned of more attacks on Lebanon's infrastructure. U.S. forces have also suffered casualties. The U.S. military confirmed that all six crew members aboard a refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq were dead. Iran fired more missiles and drones at Israel, and Iranian drones were reported flying into Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman. The Israeli military launched strikes across Tehran. It said its air force had struck more than 200 targets in western and central Iran over the past day, including ballistic missile launchers, air defence systems and weapons production sites. Iranian Press TV said a woman had been killed by an airstrike close to a rally in Tehran for Quds (Jerusalem) Day, one of many across Iran in support of Palestinians living in Israeli-occupied territory. President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and security chief Ali Larijani all appeared in videos verified by Reuters openly attending the rally in a gesture of defiance, despite an assertion by U.S. Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth that the leadership were "cowering" underground. People are not afraid of these attacks. As you can see, people have come out in this rain, under these hardships," judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said at the march. "We will not back down in any way." With gasoline and diesel prices rising at pumps in the United States and around the world, the U.S. on Thursday issued a 30-day licence for countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products already at sea - where it is not uncommon for consignments to be sold or change their buyer. The International Energy Agency said on Thursday the war was creating the biggest oil supply disruption in history. The war has sparked a critical shortage of cooking gas in India, a country with longstanding ties to Iran. Iran has allowed two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas carriers to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, four sources told Reuters. Ukraine and Europe angered by US easing sanctions The U.S. waiver on Russian oil was welcomed in Moscow but left Kyiv and its allies angry. "Six members of the G7 expressed a very clear opinion that this was not the right signal," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told a press conference in Norway. "We then learned this morning that the American government has apparently decided otherwise." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the move could provide Russia with $10 billion, adding: "It certainly does not help peace." Trump said he thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin may be helping Iran a "little bit" in the interview with Fox News Radio that aired on Friday. "I think he might be helping him (Iran) a little bit, yeah, I guess. And he probably thinks we're helping Ukraine, right?" Trump told "The Brian Kilmeade Show", without specifying the nature of that help. The Washington Post reported last week that Russia was providing Iran with targeting information that included locations of U.S. warships and aircraft in the Middle East. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff later said Russia had denied doing so, and "we can take them at their word." Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in his first public comments on Thursday, vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut and urged neighbouring countries to close U.S. bases on their territory or risk being attacked themselves. Khamenei's comments were read out by a television presenter and it was not clear why he had not appeared in person or recorded his comments. Hegseth told a news briefing that the U.S. knew he was "wounded and likely disfigured". An Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that Khamenei was lightly injured but continuing to work. President Emmanuel Macron said one French soldier had been killed and several wounded during an attack in northern Iraq, hours after an Italian base in the same area was attacked. The French soldiers were providing training as part of an international coalition fighting Islamic State militants. Reuters The US president pledged to keep American war deaths to a minimum U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and military officials participate in a dignified transfer of the remains of six U.S. Army service members of the 103rd Sustainment Command, who were killed in Kuwait, Major Jeffrey O'Brien, Capitain Cody Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Sergeant 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sergeant 1st Class Noah Tietjens and Sergeant Declan Coady, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, U.S., March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump salutes as members of the military carry a transfer case during a dignified transfer of the remains of six U.S. Army service members of the 103rd Sustainment Command, who were killed in Kuwait, Major Jeffrey O'Brien, Capitain Cody Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Sergeant 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sergeant 1st Class Noah Tietjens and Sergeant Declan Coady, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, U.S., March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump embraces second lady Usha Vance as first lady Melania Trump speaks to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth next to Vice President JD Vance and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine on the day they attend a dignified transfer of the remains of six U.S. Army service members REUTERS/Nathan Howard An Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case with the remains of Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb., 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. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) President Donald Trump salutes as an Army carry team moves the flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla., 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. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a dignified transfer of the remains of six U.S. Army service members of the 103rd Sustainment Command, who were killed in Kuwait, Major Jeffrey O'Brien, Capitain Cody Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Sergeant 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sergeant 1st Class Noah Tietjens and Sergeant Declan Coady, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, U.S., March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stands behind President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during a dignified transfer of the remains of six U.S. Army service members of the 103rd Sustainment Command, who were killed in Kuwait, Major Jeffrey O'Brien, Capitain Cody Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Sergeant 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sergeant 1st Class Noah Tietjens and Sergeant Declan Coady, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, U.S., March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard 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. President Donald Trump salutes as an Army carry team moves the flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla., 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. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) 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. U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and military officials participate in a dignified transfer of the remains of six U.S. Army service members of the 103rd Sustainment Command, who were killed in Kuwait, Major Jeffrey O'Brien, Capitain Cody Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Sergeant 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sergeant 1st Class Noah Tietjens and Sergeant Declan Coady, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, U.S., March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard 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. U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a dignified transfer of the remains of six U.S. Army service members of the 103rd Sustainment Command, who were killed in Kuwait, Major Jeffrey O'Brien, Capitain Cody Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Sergeant 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sergeant 1st Class Noah Tietjens and Sergeant Declan Coady, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, U.S., March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard 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. U.S. President Donald Trump salutes as members of the military carry a transfer case during a dignified transfer of the remains of six U.S. Army service members of the 103rd Sustainment Command, who were killed in Kuwait, Major Jeffrey O'Brien, Capitain Cody Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Sergeant 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sergeant 1st Class Noah Tietjens and Sergeant Declan Coady, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, U.S., March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard 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, Mr Trump wearing a blue suit, red tie and a white USA hat did not speak during the transfer. An Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case with the remains of Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb., 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. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) 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. U.S. President Donald Trump embraces second lady Usha Vance as first lady Melania Trump speaks to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth next to Vice President JD Vance and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine on the day they attend a dignified transfer of the remains of six U.S. Army service members REUTERS/Nathan Howard 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. 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. BLACKPINK Lisa's zoo visit divides K-pop Twitter Image credit : X/@PopBase | shares photos from her visit to viral monkey Punch Who is Punch and why does the internet love him so much? Image credit : X/@PopBase | Punch, the Japanese macaque, went viral for carrying a DJUNGELSKOG plush after being ostracised by his troop Why is Lisa facing backlash? She visits a monkey but doesn't bother to post about Palestinian children https://t.co/GAqhP7XqiA Korean Wave 2 (@theKwave2) March 7, 2026 What was supposed to be a cute, wholesome celebrity moment turned into one of the biggest fan wars K-pop Twitter has seen this week. BLACKPINK member Lisa visited Punch the viral monkey in Japan recently, posted some adorable photos, and within hours, ARMY and BLINKs were at each other's throats. The discourse? Performative activism, donated wells, Coca Cola boycotts, and whether a stuffed animal can singlehandedly cause international chaos.BLACKPINK's Lisa recently visited Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan to meet Punch, the monkey who became an unexpected internet sensation. The idol shared her visit on Instagram, where she held up a stuffed orangutan to connect with the little macaque, even snapping photos of him cuddling his own famous plush toy. It seemed like a lighthearted celebrity moment, but it quickly spiralled into one of the biggest fan wars online.Punch is a Japanese macaque who went viral for a heartbreaking reason. He was ostracised by other monkeys in his troop and found comfort in carrying around a Djungelskog stuffed orangutan, which became his security blanket. His story of resilience and loneliness melted hearts globally, turning him into a symbol of hope and making his visits a pilgrimage for fans. The fact that Lisa showed up with her own matching plushie to befriend him made the moment incredibly special until fan wars reshaped the narrative.K-pop fandom was not here for it. They called Lisa's visit performative, saying she could've just donated money instead of flying out for a zoo trip. The word "activism" got thrown around, and quickly, a monkey visit became a moral debate. COLOMBO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will grant free one-month visas to sailors rescued from Iranian vessels, allowing them to remain in the country under humanitarian protection, a senior official of the country said on Sunday. Ananda Wijepala, Sri Lanka's Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, said the visas would be granted to 32 surviving crew members of IRIS Dena, which was sunk by a U.S. submarine on Wednesday, as well as more than 200 on board IRIS Bushehr. He said decisions regarding the Iranian sailors are in accordance with international conventions and maritime laws applicable to Sri Lanka, and are not aimed at supporting or harming any country. So, what exactly is 'Alpine divorce'? When a woman on TikTok shared a video claiming a man she had gone hiking with had abandoned her on the trail, she quickly found that this wasn't a unique experience. "Alpine divorce," an unsettling, now viral dating term, is being used to describe this form of relationship abuse! pic.twitter.com/0vMuXTDqW2 The DailyGr0pe w/Vanity Versace (@MDNA69LoveSpent) March 7, 2026 Why the story just blew up online But there are real dangers too Why Alpine divorce resonates with people Well, is it an internet myth or warning sign? Breakups are messy. Sometimes they happen over long texts, awkward coffee conversation, or the classic "We need to talk." But the internet now has a far-fetched phrase for ending relationships called "Alpine divorce".The term has recently started trending across platforms like TikTok and X, where viral posts claim that some partners are abandoning their significant others during hikes, leaving them alone in forests, mountains or remote trails as a twisted way to end a relationship.Yes, the internet is calling that a breakup method.But before panic sets in, the reality behind the phrase is a lot more complicated than the viral posts suggest.The phrase popped up after social media users began sharing stories about being left behind on hiking trails or outdoor trips by their partners.Some videos and posts frame these experiences as moments when someone realises their relationship is effectively over, not through a conversation, but through abandonment in a remote location.A viral post described the situation like this: imagine going on a scenic mountain hike together, only to find yourself walking far ahead...and eventually disappearing entirely.From some creators, the term became shorthand for a symbolic breakup in the wilderness. But the important part is 'alpine divorce' is not a real legal concept or established relationship trend. It's mostly internet slang that grew from dramatic storytelling online.The internet thrives on shocking narratives, and the idea of someone leaving their partner alone in a remote mountain setting definitely qualifies. One video circulating on TikTok showed a creator jokingly captioning her post: POV: you go on a hike with him in the mountains, but he leaves you alone, and you realise he never liked you.The clip quickly racked up views, and the comment section filled with people claiming similar experiences, some serious, some clearly exaggerated and some online simply playing along with the joke.That's how internet trends work: a mix of real anecdotes, dark humour and collective storytelling.Even if the term itself is mostly online slang, abandoning someone in a remote outdoor setting can be genuinely dangerous. Mountain trails and wilderness areas can involve harsh weather, difficult terrain or poor phone connectivity.Being left alone without preparation or guidance can quickly turn risky. And while unrelated to the viral phrase, there have been real cases highlighting how serious things can become in extreme environments. In 2025, an experienced climber in Austria was convicted of gross negligent manslaughter after leaving his partner during a winter climb on Grossglockner, the country's highest mountain.The case, handled by the Innsbruck Regional Court, showed how dangerous decisions in remote terrain can have tragic consequences.The reason this phrase exploded online isn't just the shock value. It taps into something deeper about how modern relationships are discussed online. On the other hand, many viral relationship trends today, from 'ghosting' to 'soft-launching' a partner, reflect a culture where communication is often indirect or avoidant.Instead of clear conversations, people sometimes exit relationships through silence, distance or symbolic gestures.'Alpine divorce' is basically the extreme metaphor of that behaviour.The idea of someone literally walking away during a hike mirrors the emotional experience many people describe in breakups: feeling suddenly abandoned without explanation. In other words, the phrase works because it turns emotional abandonment into a dramatic visual story.At this point, there's no evidence that 'Alpine divorce' is a widespread breakup trend happening everywhere. Most of the buzz appears to be driven by viral posts and storytelling on TikTok, Instagram and X.Still, the conversation highlights something real: people are fascinated and sometimes disturbed by how relationships end. The Presidency has insisted that the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu is creating millions of jobs through economic reforms and targeted programmes, despite warnings from the World Bank Group about a looming employment crisis in developing countries. The World Bank had cautioned that many developing economies, including Nigeria, could face a major jobs shortage as millions of young people prepare to enter the workforce without enough opportunities. Reacting to the warning, the Presidents Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said Nigeria is taking the concerns seriously and tackling them through reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Advertisement According to Dare, job creation is tied to economic activity, which is why the government is focusing on macroeconomic stability, infrastructure expansion, agriculture, manufacturing, energy development and human capital investment. He highlighted the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which targets productive activities across Nigerias 8,812 wards through enterprise hubs, infrastructure upgrades and skills development linked to financing. The initiative, he said, is designed to create up to 1,000 jobs per ward, translating to millions of opportunities nationwide. Dare also noted that the National Directorate of Employment is expanding vocational training and entrepreneurship programmes to help young Nigerians gain practical skills and transition into productive work. On financing, he said the Bank of Industry disbursed 636bn to over 7,000 enterprises in 2025, enabling businesses to expand operations and retain workers. He added that the 200bn MSME Intervention Programme and the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme have supported 957,400 beneficiaries, funded over 570 startups, and helped create or retain about 1.6 million jobs nationwide. Dare acknowledged that unemployment figures may fluctuate during reforms but said the administration remains committed to building a stable economy where businesses grow and opportunities expand. Russell Hedrick prepares a drone to put crop cover on his farm in Hickory, N.C., in 2024. Technology is increasingly being used on farms and has enabled labor efficiencies and more precise and sustainable agricultural practices. Read more On a farm in Phoenix, one person with an iPad can weed a field of vegetables that once required 20 workers on their hands and knees under a hot sun. The Duncan Family Farms employee controls the LaserWeeder, an AI-powered machine created by tech start-up Carbon Robotics, that attaches to the back of a tractor. It identifies and eliminates unwanted weeds with a laser, illuminating the ground like a flickering Xerox machine as it crawls over carefully planted fields. Advertisement Like Star Wars, says Courtney Boyer, the supply chain manager for Duncan Family Farms. Technology is fundamentally changing the job description of the American farmer, making certain types of labor obsolete while creating new opportunities. Advancements in AI have enabled more efficient, sustainable and cost-effective farming techniques by reducing water consumption and allowing more precise application of pesticides and fertilizers. Its use also promises to solve the decades-long problem of trying to make farming cool again for young workers. AI will create new types of jobs, different types of jobs, says Madhu Khanna, a distinguished professor in environmental economics and director at the Center for Economics of Sustainability at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Farm work will evolve from labor-intensive, backbreaking manual labor, says Khanna, to managing a swarm of robots. Precision agriculture was the precursor to AI During the early 1990s, the precision agriculture movement focused on eliminating uncertainties in agriculture to maximize farm output. The practice leverages a combination of technologies including GPS, automation, remote sensing, and yield monitoring to provide crops and soil exactly what they need when they need it. These same tools have evolved rapidly with advancements in robotics, automation, and AI software that can learn from and mimic human intelligence. Farmonaut, an agricultural technology company, reports that 60% of U.S. farms now employ AI, requiring agricultural drone operators and automation engineers, among other technical jobs. Labor is a huge problem for producers, says Jordan Jobe, manager of the AgAID Institute, a research initiative working to build partnerships between agricultural communities and AI companies such as Innov8.ag. Its the biggest complaint we have for sure. New technology could play a crucial role in bringing young people back into Americas oldest workforce where the average age of a farmer is 58, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture conducted by the Agriculture Department. Jobe partners with Washington States Future Farmers of America Program to get students excited about agricultural technology. That audience is stoked, Jobe says. Kids in high school recognize immediately the impacts that drones, machine learning tools, and robotics can have. They are excited to get involved, where their grandparents or parents might feel less comfortable. Cody Wadsworth, 35, is part of the emerging agricultural workforce. An operations specialist at AirField Ag, he provides aerial spraying services to farms in the mountainous West. The main benefit, he says, is precision, because drones can fly slowly at an average height of 10 to 12 feet, their rotor blades creating a vortex that pushes the chemicals down into the canopy. More conventional crop dusters and helicopters can also fly low but they have to fly at faster speeds 60 to 145 mph, approximately to apply fertilizers and pesticides, and they are less accurate. The planes are also more expensive to buy and maintain, and the job can be dangerous for pilots. We can go out and gather imagery of crop health, then provide maps and custom prescriptions to enable variable-rate applications, says Wadsworth, who nicknamed his 300-pound drone the grunt laborer. Soil analyses once required a team of people to take samples and an off-site lab to send back results days later. A smaller drone used by AirField Ag surveys the land, capturing field data the AI analyzes. Day to day, its about making the farmer more productive and more efficient, says Jorge Heraud, 55, CEO of TerraBlaster, a tech start-up that employs AI, machine learning, and NASA-derived laser technology to analyze soil nutrients from an attachment on a tractor. Previously, Heraud cofounded a company called Blue River Technology that revolutionized the application of herbicides. The companys See and Spray system first used on vegetables in 2012 and in cotton and other larger row crops in 2015 uses high-tech cameras, AI, and robotics to detect and precisely eliminate weeds. Similar to your iPhone that detects your face to unlock it, Heraud says. The result is a three- to fivefold reduction in pesticide use. For Heraud, these kinds of technological advancements, which increase efficiency and productivity on farms, will be critical to feeding a growing population and addressing continued labor shortages. With the same amount of time with the same amount of capital, farmers can be more productive and efficient, Heraud says. Technology allows farmers to do more. AI is not a panacea This AI-enabled precision can help reduce ecological damage. By reducing the number of pesticides and fertilizers, there is a chance to reverse the health of altered ecosystems, contaminated water sources, and degraded soils worldwide. Different environmental concerns remain, however. The computing infrastructure supporting AI, for agriculture or otherwise, consumes an enormous amount of power and water. According to the Penn State Institute of Energy and the Environment, data centers could account for 20% of global electricity use by 2030 to 2035. As AI grows in importance, it could add to the already hefty carbon footprint of global agriculture. The expansion of AI in agriculture also raises a range of ethical concerns over job displacement, corporate consolidation, and data ownership and privacy. We do need ethics to govern how we use it, but I do also think its inevitable, Jobe says. For agriculture, the efficiencies to be gained probably outweigh the dangers. Yet many argue that the increased efficiency fueled by AI will be key to feeding a growing global population projected to reach almost 10 billion by 2050. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that food production needs to increase 70% at the same time amid shrinking farmland, dwindling resources, and the adverse effects of climate change. The way we farmed 20 years ago was not that different from 150 years ago, just tractors instead of horses, Wadsworth says. I think the mindset is shifting. We have a limited quantity of land. The question is how to make it the most efficient and productive? Two men are expected to be charged with murder in connection with the death of an American Airlines flight attendant who was found beaten and lying naked outside his South Philadelphia home last year, police said Sunday. Amadou Thiam, 50, was found on the pavement behind his home on the 2400 block of Federal Street with severe injuries to his face, neck, and body on the night of Nov. 10, police said. Advertisement Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said that, within a few weeks, investigators had identified two men who they believed had been inside Thiams apartment at the time his body was found, and had stolen some of his clothes. But because the circumstances surrounding Thiams death were initially so puzzling including a question of whether he fell, jumped, or was pushed out of his third-story window the medical examiners office did not immediately issue a ruling on the cause of his death. READ MORE: Such a superstar: Beloved Philly flight attendant remembered after his puzzling South Philadelphia death Last week, after an expert examination, the medical examiner declared Thiams death a homicide, Vanore said paving the way for prosecutors to approve charges against the two men they believe are responsible for the crime. He declined to identify the men, but said they will be charged with murder, burglary, robbery, and related crimes. They are expected to turn themselves in to police in the coming days, he said. The circumstances and motive surrounding the attack were not immediately clear Sunday. Vanore said investigators still dont how Thiam ended up going out the window, but that the men beat him inside the house and were ultimately responsible for his fall. The development was welcome news to Thiams loved ones, who had been waiting for months for an arrest, at times frustrated that the men they believed killed him were free. For more than three months, they were allowed to have their own lives Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, said Barry Rucks, Thiams partner of four years. Rucks said that he and Thiams family hope they will finally get answers to their many outstanding questions, including who the men are, why Thiam had let them into his apartment, and why they attacked him. What we care about now is that whoever thought that they could beat someone, throw them out a window, and just walk away ... that person should be off the street; that is not a human being, he said. Thiam, who was originally from Cote dIvoire, had worked for American Airlines since 2011 and, as a French speaker, frequented international flights to Paris and Zurich. He was a proud American citizen, Rucks said. Friends and colleagues described Thiam as a shining star who made everyone else feel seen. He traveled, danced, and wore stylish clothes. He loved to make people smile, they said, and had crafted a stage name, Amadiva, for a yearly drag performance he gave at the Center City club Voyeur to help fundraise for the American Airlines Wings Foundation. In an interview after Thiams death, Idriss Thiam said his older brother was the sixth of eight children. Their parents, he said, had died in recent years, and so his brother was often like a parent and mentor to him. Idriss Thiam, 33, who lives in Montreal and is an accountant, said his brother encouraged him to apply for masters programs in Canada, then helped him move across the world. When he was married a few years ago, his brother was his witness. Amadou was always there for me, he said. He was the kind of person who would not let life get him down. He always found a way to find the good and to help people. That his brother could be taken so suddenly and violently, he said, has shaken his family. Thiams neighbors found his body just before 7 p.m. on Nov. 10. The neighbors, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal, said they had heard loud noises coming from the apartment but assumed he had guests over. Then, they said, they heard a loud crash behind the building. They went outside, they said, and saw two men walk out of Thiams home. Is everything OK? one neighbor recalled asking the men. They just kind of chuckled and said, We hope so. The neighbors said they approached Thiams door, which was left cracked open, and saw blood smeared across the kitchen and bedroom. Thinking Thiam wasnt home, they called the police to report a burglary. As they waited for police, they noticed a stream of blood on the sidewalk outside. And then, they said, they saw Thiams body on the pavement. Thiam was rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition for two days. Idriss Thiam recalled sitting by his brothers hospital bed, holding his hand until he took his last breath. I told him that I am very proud of him. I told him that he had a good life, that I will make everything to honor him, he said. And that when I will have my first child, I am sure their first name will be Amadou. Students from Moffet Elementary at dismissal on Friday. Parents are fighting a school district recommendation to turn the K-5 school into a middle school for grades 5-8. Read more Moffet Elementary has never shown up on a list of city schools that are proposed to be shut down. But the families and teachers at the South Kensington elementary school say the changes the Philadelphia School District has proposed amount to closing it. Advertisement Moffet, now a K-5 school, would become a middle school serving grades five through eight under the districts proposed facilities plan. The district wants to make that change by merging the catchments of Moffet and Hackett, another K-5 a mile away in Kensington. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade would attend Hackett, and would then move to Moffet for grades five through eight. Thats a closure, said Ariel Vazquez, a Moffet parent. Supporters of the small, diverse school on West Oxford Street are mounting a fierce fight against what they say is Moffets dismantling. They claim the move is inequitable and will harm the community by leaving South Kensington without a single elementary school, forcing students from predominantly Black and brown and economically challenged families into long walks to and from school, and endangering a large community of students with special-education needs. Megan Zor, a Moffet teacher and parent, said she is optimistic some parts of Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr.s $2.8 billion facilities plan, which involves closing and merging some schools and modernizing many more, will result in better academic outcomes. But the districts plan for Moffet does not fit in that category, she said. This plan is incomprehensible because it will have an inordinate impact on a thriving, ingrained, multicultural elementary school that does not exist in many other places across our city and certainly will not continue within the proposed merger of Moffet and Hackett catchments, Zor said. Monique Braxton, a district spokesperson, said the Moffet recommendation was a response to parents desire to keep children in strong neighborhood schools through middle school. Moffets enrollment trails off in the higher grades, Braxton pointed out, and few students in the neighborhood continue on to Penn Treaty, the current catchment middle school, which the district has also recommended for closure. The proposal is designed to create a clear K-8 pathway, so families who want to stay in their neighborhood public schools have that opportunity, Braxton said in a statement. Paying taxes in a neighborhood with no schools? Over the hum of a fish tank set up in the school library, Katy Hoffman-Williams led a recent Moffet Family School Organization meeting with updates on a petition circulating to block the proposed changes, a review of advocacy points, and plans for future events. Frustrated by what they say is a backdoor dismantling without the same scrutiny given to other closures, Moffet supporters have already forced a meeting with the district, which took place earlier this month. They are brainstorming alternate plans to present to leaders. I think our neighborhood businesses are going to care about this, Hoffman-Williamson told FSO members at the meeting on Tuesday. I just emailed my neighbors: Hey, you all are about to pay taxes in a neighborhood that has no schools. Across the city, the district has 70,000 empty seats; Moffet is considered moderately underutilized, with 218 students in a building that holds 333. COVID-19 hurt enrollment, but signs of new momentum had been stirring. Moffet has a new pre-K, and parents say it is filled mostly with neighborhood families who had planned to keep their kids at the school to kindergarten and beyond. I see far more young families on the playground now, Hoffman-Williams said. For the forthcoming school year, 82 families from outside Moffets catchment listed it as their first choice in the school selection process, signaling the growing interest. (Thats up from 55 the prior year and 40 the year before.) But because the districts plan was announced before families had to make decisions about where to send their children in September, news of the coming changes tanked enrollment. Only 15 of the 86 out-of-catchment families ultimately chose Moffet; a paltry four families showed up to the kindergarten open house, Hoffman-Williamson said. Hoffman-Williamson said she recently ran into a neighbor who switched course after the district said it was making Moffet into a middle school. He said, We heard you guys are closing, so we just signed up for Adaire, Hoffman-Williamson said. The neighborhood surrounding Moffet has boomed with development in the last decade, said Anthony Krupincza, a dad of three Moffet students and a local Realtor and landlord, driven in part by the idea of an elementary school in walking distance. Moffet, Krupincza said, has been integral in keeping those new homeowners in the neighborhood. This directly benefits the city, with property taxes and income. Without Moffet, you will inadvertently see less home buying in that direct neighborhood, and more young parents moving when their children reach elementary school age. A cozy school Beyond the economics, proposing fundamental changes to Moffet threatens a community that feels a lot like what district officials are trying to build around the city, supporters say. Moffet outperforms district averages in reading and math. There is no racial majority its families speak several languages. Most of its students are from economically disadvantaged families, and a quarter receive special-education services. Its faculty is stable, with staff planting roots at Moffet. Amy Canary, parent of two children, including a Moffet first grader and an older child no longer at Moffet, said the schools role in the neighborhood is invaluable. As a small school, it has a really cozy community feel, Canary said. But its been academically successful my kids have been challenged, their teachers are really experienced. In drawings and letters to be presented to district officials, Moffet students made their case about why they love their school: It treats everyone fairly. It respects peoples differences. Why I love Moffet and hope they dont change it is because a lot of my family went here, and Ive been here for six years and it is the best, one student wrote. I also love a lot of the teachers are so nice. Parents say they worry about students walking more than a mile to Hackett. The new Moffet-Hackett catchment, viewed on a map, looks like a noncontiguous butterfly, touching only in one spot. Many Moffet families are closer to Ludlow, which is slated for closure, and Adaire, which is nearly full, than to Hackett, said Leah Scherzer, a Moffet parent. Going all the way to Hackett doesnt make any sense, Scherzer said. Adaire is so much closer to us. The only way this plan would work is if they rethought all of the catchments. Moffet supporters also note their school was built with elementary schoolers, not middle schoolers, in mind. State Sen. Nikil Saval (D., Philadelphia) opposed the plan for Moffet in a letter sent to Watlington on Thursday. South Kensington needs a neighborhood elementary school, especially considering its significant growth, Saval wrote. As a superintendent who has served other jurisdictions, you are certainly aware of the dynamic nature of buy-in to neighborhood schools: something observable in many neighborhoods throughout South Philadelphia, where enrollments have decreased, and then steadily increased with a slight lag behind growth in residential populations, Saval wrote. Something similar may and is indeed likely to happen in South Kensington. Most Philadelphians experience with Jersey City begins and ends at the mouth of the Holland Tunnel on the way into Lower Manhattan. Except for those who know food. Jersey City is one of the states best towns for eating and drinking, supported by long-standing immigration and cross-river relocation from New York. Between meals, youll find a city thats at turns gritty and lovely, neighborly and human-scale in a way that makes it feel, to Philadelphians, as warm and familiar as a Champion sweatsuit. (It also has a really nice waterfront from which we could learn a thing or two.) Advertisement Its only 90 miles and about 90 minutes away, depending on traffic. And if you must, you can easily pair it with a visit to New York. Start the car. Stay: Hyatt House Jersey City A hotel with a story to tell whether its luxurious or eccentric or charming is always ideal for a weekend getaway. But when corporate keys are whats available, you can do much worse than Hyatts Hyatt House sub-brand. Jersey Citys Hyatt House is relatively new and reliably clean, with great beds, a rooftop deck, and a modicum of style. What more could you ask for? How about a skyline view? Upgraded rooms facing Manhattan are bookable in April for under $300. 1 Exchange Pl., Jersey City, N.J. 07302 Snack: Bread and Salt Bakery is a limiting descriptor for what Rick Easton does at Bread and Salt on Palisade Avenue, opposite the Hoboken border. Sugared bomboloni, esoteric Italian cookies and crostadas, suppli, thin-crusted pizzas, cups of stewy beans begging for a heel of crusty bread, curly punatarelle salad, Lent-friendly fish specials on Fridays. Its an inspiring operation. Get more than you think you need. Then get more to bring home. 435 Palisade Ave., Jersey City, N.J. 07307 Stroll: Liberty State Park Hemmed in by the NJ Turnpike extension and the Hudson River, Liberty State Park encompasses 1,200 acres of green space (about half under ongoing revitalization) and miles of scenic waterfront trails perfect for spring strolling. Pause at the 9/11 Empty Sky Memorial. If youre traveling with kids (or adult dinosaur fans), check out the immersive T. Rex Experience at Liberty Science Center, whose planetarium dome youve probably seen from the Turnpike driving home from New York. 1 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City, N.J. 07305 Visit: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are typically associated with New York, not New Jersey, but the sites actually fall under an unusual joint-custody arrangement. Its also much less of a headache to visit from Jersey City; no downtown traffic to get through, way thinner crowds. The ferry departs right from Liberty State Park and visits both islands in a single ticketed experience. 1 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City, N.J. 07305 Drink: San Patricios No one: You know what we really need in Jersey City? An Irish-Mexican cocktail bar. The acclaimed Dead Rabbit crew: Bienvenidos a San Patricios. Open last year, the cantina/pub celebrates the little-known 19th-century brotherhood between Ireland and Mexico. Stop in before dinner for something thematic: a paloma spiked with Irish moonshine, frozen horchata cafe con leche with Lost Irish Whiskey, or the Countess, a rum-and-Guinness hibiscus mule. 8 Erie St. A, Jersey City, N.J. 07302 Dine: Razza At Razza, Dan Richer makes some of the best pizzas in the county, a mix of reliables (the fermented chile-flamed Calabrese; the yellow-and-red tomato pie dusted in 36-month-old Parm-Reg) and hyperseasonal creations like last springs mosaic of mozzarella, asparagus, nettles, spinach, and ramp pesto. Bread and butter might seem redundant when youre having pizza for dinner, but you cannot miss the tawny, crusty sourdough, served with tangy house-cultured butter made from grass-fed Pennsylvania cows. 275 Grove St., Jersey City, N.J. 07302 Indulge: Torico Ice Cream Family-owned and spanning three generations, Torico Ice Cream is the charming scoop shop every neighborhood wishes it had. Towering atop house-made waffle cones, youll find classics like chocolate-marshmallow, mint-chip, and a notably excellent strawberry, but Toricos secret sauce is the tropical ice creams and sorbet like passionfruit, guava, and soursop that nod to the Berrios clans native Puerto Rico. 20 Erie St., Jersey City, N.J. 07302 George Wright rolls out some pastry dough for lemon bars, nut bars, and raspberry bars. Read more Meet George Wright, a Mount Airy grandfather and a kosher baker for 70 years who works at Deluxe Catering in Strawberry Mansion. Getting his starter: I started in the Jewish shops through the rank and file. There wasnt no supermarkets back then, but just about every neighborhood had a bakery. A sweet gig: Im still doing it because I enjoy what I do. If it gets too stressful, then Im out." Deluxe Catering owner Daniel Israel wanted to cook up something special for the 86th birthday of his companys baker, George Wright, but instead of giving him his flours in the form of a cake, Israel wanted someone to tell Wrights story. Advertisement Enter this columnist, stage left. While Wright hasnt announced hes leavening Deluxe anytime soon, his retirement plans are on a knead-to-know basis. When he doesnt feel like kneading dough anymore, hell let you know. If I dont feel like coming in one day, I aint coming in, he said. But baking is in Wrights bones. Its all I ever did, bake for 70 years, he told me, and he believes that staying in the business, instead of loafing around, has kept him young. If I just sit at home, thats when you feel older, he said. This way, it keeps me mobilized. (I was hoping he was going to say the secret to longevity is a glass of wine every night. I dont know if Im ready to accept that its working past retirement age.) At 7 a.m. every weekday, Wright rolls into Deluxes kosher kitchen in Strawberry Mansion and spends four hours on his feet making 300 to 400 finger-size, dairy-free servings of glazed fruit tarts, chocolate mousse dollops, and cute little key lime pies, among various other pastries. He then sends them off with his Deluxe colleagues to events held at places from City Hall to the Bellevue Hotel. Wright doesnt get to see people enjoy the fruits of his labor, but that doesnt bother him much. As long as I dont get no complaints, thats all right, he said. Wright a married father of three and grandfather of nine who lives in Mount Airy is a man of few words. When he does speak, it is slowly and deliberately, with the faintest echo of a Southern accent from his childhood growing up in Alabama and Georgia. After losing his mom at 9, Wright was raised by his grandmother down South before moving to New York at age 16 to live with his aunt in the Catskills. It was there that Wright became friends with the son of the owners of a kosher bakery in Ellenville called Alberts. My friend used to have to work, so I would go in with him, and the boss gave me a job and the rest is history, Wright said. He began as a cleanup guy but always watched the bakers at work, eventually making his way to baker himself. Wright was there a few years before moving on to other kosher bakeries in the Catskills and Poughkeepsie, where he often had the chance to learn from Jewish European bakers who immigrated to the U.S. during and after World War II. I wanted to know what drew Wright into baking and whats kept him in the profession. I liked working with my hands, he said. (I made several sly attempts to get Wright to expand on this answer by asking the question in different ways, but he was on to me, each time responding only I said I liked working with my hands. Im honestly surprised he didnt ask if I had ear plugs in.) In the 1970s, Wright started visiting a friend in Philly and grew fond of the city. One Sunday morning, while reading The Inquirer, he saw an ad for a kosher baker needed at the Fiddler Coffee Shop and Bakery at 15th and Locust Streets. He answered it, got hired, and moved to Philadelphia. (Wright was not as blown away as me that this story in The Inquirer will truly be a full-circle moment in his career, or maybe hes just better at hiding it.) After eight years working at the Fiddler, Wright went to the Montgomeryville Inn, and eventually, the owner asked if hed like to go in as her partner at the Peter Pan Bake Shop in Lansdale. The two purchased that bakery in 1989 and ran it for 13 years, receiving a dozen readers choice awards from a local publication. But they fell on hard times after 9/11 and were forced to close the bakery in 2001. Wright then took a baking job with Betty the Caterer, a Philadelphia-based kosher catering company, through which he had the chance to work events at the White House and the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. When that company closed in 2023, the owners asked Israel who owns one of the few locally based kosher catering companies if hed take on their staff, including Wright, which he agreed to do. Wright arrived at Deluxe armed with his own vintage Detecto model 1002-TB bakers dough scale and the accompanying weight plates. He also brought a box of his recipes and an old radio alarm clock, which is always tuned to WDAS. (Like the man himself, all of Wrights stuff is classic.) Israel, who previously worked at Deux Cheminees, a now-shuttered high-end French restaurant in Philly, was impressed at Wrights recipe collection. A lot of his recipes lined up with the recipes that I had learned from Deux Cheminees, he said. The techniques of old French classic cooking are very underutilized in the kosher market, and its important to me to bring that out. But even more than his recipes, Israel was impressed by Wrights attitude. George has a very calm demeanor and a great work ethic. I thought that hed be a great part of our culture here, Israel said. And indeed, Wright fit right in. Of the companys 70 employees, every person has a crush on him, Israel said. Without question, every person at Deluxe Catering loves George, he said. Want more We the People? People march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge on the 61st Bloody Sunday Anniversary, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Selma, Ala. Read more SELMA, Ala. Sixty-one years after state troopers attacked Civil Rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, thousands gathered in the Alabama city this weekend, amid new concerns about the future of the Voting Rights Act. The March 7, 1965, violence that became known as Bloody Sunday shocked the nation and helped spur passage of the landmark legislation that dismantled barriers to voting for Black Americans in the Jim Crow South. Advertisement The anniversary was celebrated in this southern city with events through the weekend, ending with a commemorative march across the bridge Sunday. But the festivities came as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could limit a provision of the Voting Rights Act that has helped ensure some congressional and local districts are drawn so minority voters have a chance to elect their candidate of choice. Im concerned that all of the advances that we made for the last 61 years are going to be eradicated, said Charles Mauldin, one of the marchers beaten on Bloody Sunday. Democratic officeholders, civil rights leaders, and tourists descended on the city to pay homage to the pivotal moment of the Civil Rights Movement and to issue calls to action. Speakers warned of the looming court decision and criticized the Trump administrations actions on immigration and efforts to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion. Standing at the pulpit of the citys historic Tabernacle Baptist Church, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said that like the marchers on Bloody Sunday, they must press forward. Those who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge deserve better than us cowering while the freedoms that we inherited, and they fought for, are being ripped away, Moore said. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, speaking at a rally at the foot of the bridge, said racism is on the rise in America and Trumps Supreme Court is gutting the Voting Rights Act. Lets march forward today with the knowledge that we are the inheritors of the faith that brought marchers to the bridge 61 years ago. It is now on us to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice, Pritzker said. Justices are expected to rule soon on a Louisiana case regarding the role of race in drawing congressional districts. A ruling prohibiting or limiting that role could have sweeping consequences, potentially opening the door for Republican-controlled states to redistrict and roll back majority Black and Latino districts that tend to favor Democrats. U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures won election in 2024 to an Alabama district that was redrawn by a federal court to give Black voters a greater voice. His district will likely be targeted if the state gets the opportunity to redraw lines. He said what happened in Selma and the subsequent passage of the Voting Rights Act was monumental in shaping what America looks like and how America is represented in Congress. A crowd of several thousand filed behind elected officials and marched across the bridge. In 1965, the Bloody Sunday marchers led by John Lewis and Hosea Williams walked in pairs across the Selma bridge headed toward Montgomery. Mauldin, then 17, was part of the third pair behind Williams and Lewis. At the apex of the bridge, they could see the sea of law enforcement officers, including some on horseback, waiting for them. But they kept going. It wasnt that we didnt have fear, its that we chose courage over fear, Mauldin recalled. At least one person was in critical condition on Sunday. All three shootings are under investigation by the Shooting Investigation Group. Read more Three shootings early Sunday left one person in critical condition, one stable, and one in an undisclosed condition. At 3:20 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting in West Philadelphia. Advertisement A 39-year-old man, with gunshot wounds on the right knee and buttocks, was found on the 6000 block of Race Street. He was transported by police to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition. Police recovered three 9mm casings and are looking for a suspect described as a man of thin build wearing all black clothing. In Feltonville, another shooting unfolded right before 7 a.m. on the 4300 block of North American Street, according to police. An injured man arrived at St. Christophers Hospital for Children and later transported to Temple University Hospital, where he is in stable condition. Around 9:30 a.m., a woman who had been shot arrived at Temple University Hospital in a private car, police said. The extent of her injuries and her condition are unknown.. In an updated statement released Sunday evening, police said the shooting took place in Lansdowne and that they had notified police there. The Philadelphia shootings are under investigation by the Shooting Investigation Group. Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter Wake up, Philly. Its another cloudy Sunday, and daylight saving time is back. The high will be near 68. Advertisement In todays main read: George Wright of Mount Airy found his first baking job in Philadelphia through a want ad in The Inquirer. Columnist Stephanie Farr tells the story of Wrights 70-year kosher baking career. And were now three weeks into a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Up ahead, see how Philadelphia International Airport is faring. Paola Perez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. Now Im passing the mic to Stephanie Farr. Deluxe Catering owner Daniel Israel wanted to cook up something special for the 86th birthday of his companys baker, George Wright, but instead of giving him his flours in the form of a cake, Israel wanted someone to tell Wrights story. Enter this columnist, stage left. While Wright hasnt announced hes leavening Deluxe anytime soon, his retirement plans are on a knead-to-know basis. When he doesnt feel like kneading dough anymore, hell let you know. If I dont feel like coming in one day, I aint coming in, he said. But baking is in Wrights bones. Its all I ever did, bake for 70 years, he told me, and he believes that staying in the business, instead of loafing around, has kept him young. If I just sit at home, thats when you feel older, he said. This way, it keeps me mobilized. Stephanie Farr Learn how Wright dedicated his entire life to his craft through the latest edition of our We The People series. DHS is still shut down, forcing TSA and other federal staff to forgo pay while still on the job. At PHL, security checkpoints were still open as of Saturday. The travel industry is bracing for tough times ahead as the shutdown drags on. Strains on staffing could slow screening times and impact travel. This marks the third shutdown that essential employees have had to endure in just a handful of months. Political breaking news reporter Fallon Roth has the story. In related news: More than 800 former federal workers have been hired by the Pennsylvania government in the last year, as thousands of Pennsylvania-based federal government employees quit or lost their jobs. What you should know today Pop quiz Penn tuition, fees, and room and board will exceed ______ for 2026-27. A) $85,000 B) $100,000 C) $94,000 D) none of the above Think you got it? Check your answer. What were ... Enjoying: Skyline vines, big pizza, and waterfront strolls in Jersey City. Intrigued by: How a couple secured this mid-century rowhouse with an eagles nest. Following: Jill Scotts instructions on eating shrimp from Sid Bookers. Munching on: An enormous breakfast platter down the Shore, among the best things we ate this week. Unscramble the anagram Hint: Nonprofit arts center PAIRED INDEBT Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Bonnie H. Zetick, who correctly guessed Saturdays answer: Jordan Mailata. In recognition of his work with the Philly Specials, the Eagles offensive tackle won the first Montgomery-Wanamaker Citizens Award, which now bears the name of the late Phillies chairman. Spirit, the docuseries following the story of George Washington Highs underdog cheer squad, is now available for streaming on Peacock. It was directed by Philly filmmaker and La Salle University alum Matt Howley and showcases how the squad scraped its way from humble beginnings to the nationals. Todays track goes like this: I felt the sea and now Im standing in the drain. One more musical thing: New college internships could open up at the citys largest performing arts producer and presenter under a newly signed partnership. Thats it for now. Thanks for spending part of your morning with us. ISLAMABAD, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen were killed and 32 others, including five policemen and 27 civilians, were injured in an explosion in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday, police said. The incident happened in a market area in the tribal district of South Waziristan at about 5:00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) when the policemen were on routine patrol in the market, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Wana Asghar Ali Shah, told Xinhua. The blast happened due to the explosion of an improvised explosive device planted near the main gate of a supermarket in the crowded area, he added. Following the explosion, local residents, police personnel and rescue teams launched relief operations and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital. Chief Minister of the province Sohail Afridi condemned the attack and directed the authorities concerned to ensure the provision of the best possible medical treatment to the injured. The chief minister expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families. Students of the Womans Medical College of Pennsylvania partake in an anatomy lab demonstration, circa 1892. Read more Before women could vote in the United States, they were earning medical degrees in Philadelphia. As we celebrate International Womens Day on March 8, lets take a moment to not only recognize the first female physicians trained in Philadelphia, but also examine whether the systems they challenged have fully evolved. In 1850, the Womans Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMCP) became the first degree-granting medical school in the world established specifically to educate female physicians. At a time when most institutions rejected female applicants, WMCP not only admitted them but also legitimized their roles in medicine. Advertisement Alumnae of WMCP, which later merged with Drexel University College of Medicine, have earned their place in history by shaping medical education, clinical care, and public health across the United States and internationally. Ann Preston graduated in 1851 as part of Womans Medical Colleges first graduating class, and later became dean of the college. She fought vigorously to secure clinical instruction in Philadelphia hospitals for WMCPs female medical students, who were routinely denied bedside training. In doing so, she confronted resistance from male medical students and hospital faculty who opposed the presence of women in clinical settings. Her leadership ultimately secured hospital training opportunities at a time when bedside instruction was essential to legitimizing medical education. WMCPs persistence drew students from around the world. Anandibai Joshee, who graduated in 1886, became one of the first Indian women to earn a degree in Western medicine. Her education in Philadelphia reflected the global reach of Womans Medical College and its commitment to expanding access beyond national borders. Her achievement inspired generations of women in India to pursue medical training. That same commitment to underserved communities is reflected in another distinguished alumna, Susan La Flesche Picotte, who graduated in 1889 as the first Native American female physician in the United States. She returned to serve the Omaha Reservation in Nebraska, providing care regardless of her patients ability to pay, and later founded a hospital dedicated to Native patients one of the first such institutions established to serve an Indigenous community at a time when Native populations had little access to formal medical care. These women were not symbolic graduates. They were institution builders. They practiced medicine in communities where care was scarce. They trained other physicians. They expanded maternal and child health initiatives. They advanced public health principles before the field was formally defined. Today, women constitute approximately 50% of U.S. medical school matriculants, a milestone that reflects tremendous progress. But the representation of women in medicine does not always translate to equity in structure or leadership progress does not equal parity. Women remain underrepresented in department chair positions, deanships, and executive hospital leadership roles. Enduring gender pay gaps also remain across specialties. Certain fields continue to demonstrate disproportionate gender imbalance. Studies show that, despite advances, disparities persist in medicine, including in leadership advancement, compensation, research funding, invited speaking opportunities, major authorship positions, prestigious awards, and other forms of professional recognition. READ MORE: We are at a generational inflection point in healthcare. Its time for Gen X physicians to assert themselves as the stewards of our profession. | Opinion The barriers are no longer formal admissions policies, but structural inequities. The legacy of the Womans Medical College of Pennsylvania is not simply historical; it is instructive. Its alumnae demonstrated that expanding access strengthens the profession as a whole. They proved that excellence in medicine is not defined by gender, but by training, dedication, and service. As WMCPs successor institution, Drexel University College of Medicine inherits this legacy. Opening the door was only the beginning. Sustaining equity requires continued attention, accountability, and leadership. Legacy is not something we passively inherit; it is something we continuously steward. Anita Gaurnier-Hausser is the director of the interdisciplinary health sciences program and an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies at Drexel University College of Medicine. Younes Labsh Abazid is a postgraduate candidate in interdisciplinary health sciences at the College of Medicine and is president of the Pre-Medical Pre-Health Graduate Student Association. CLEARWATER, Fla. After a brief trip to Philadelphia to see team doctors on Thursday, Aidan Miller was back in in the Phillies clubhouse this weekend, where he gave an update on how his back is feeling. Miller, the organizations top prospect, has been feeling back soreness since last season. The root of the soreness is unclear, as is the reason for this recent flare-up. Advertisement The 21-year-old infielder said he flew to Philadelphia to get some other opinions and close the loop on everything. Im starting to feel a lot better now, Miller said on Sunday. Dont have a timeline or anything yet, but improvement for sure. When asked what feedback he received from the team doctors, Miller demurred. But he said he was encouraged, overall. I dont really want to get too much into it, but its not going to be a long-term thing, he said. Its something that I hopefully can just get past right now and not worry about it again. The prospect said he has not swung a bat in probably two weeks. But Ive been throwing, getting in the weight room, pretty much doing everything else, he said. This was a big spring training for Miller, who the Phillies hoped would contribute to the big league club at some point this year. Its unclear how his injury setbacks will impact that possibility. But the Phillies are going to err on the side of caution. Its tough, Miller said. I think nobodys more frustrated than me that Im not out there. So, just trying to be as involved as much as I can, and stay around the guys as much as I can. Im not on the field or anything, but just trying to ask a bunch of questions, and just be around the guys. Sarah Schrading and Eli Steiker-Ginzberg in the vestibule of their home, where they chose a classic William Morris wallpaper called Bird and Pomegranate for above the chair rail and a textured Anaglypta paper painted in Benjamin Moore Baltic Sea below. Read more When decorating their circa-1920 townhouse, Eli Steiker-Ginzberg and Sarah Schrading wanted their vestibule to represent the homes history. They chose a classic William Morris wallpaper called Bird and Pomegranate for above the chair rail and a textured Anaglypta paper painted in Benjamin Moore Baltic Sea below. Colonial Wallcoverings had so many options it was overwhelming, recalled Steiker-Ginzberg, who lives in the Fairmount area. The leaves and birds and colors of this one really jumped out. Advertisement The William Morris paper was a splurge, so to stay on budget, they matched it with a less expensive paintable wallpaper. In total they spent about $2,000 on the materials and installation for the smallest room in my house, he joked. Wallpaper is showing up in unique ways and in new places. Bold patterns on the ceiling, colorful oversized florals on an accent wall, custom murals in the living room, and funky patterns in the closet and mudroom that add pizzazz and make a statement. More homeowners are embracing bold wall coverings, according to the 2026 U.S. Houzz Fall Design Trends Report. The shift reflects a move toward deeply personal designs, with homeowners opting for vivid, expressive details that make their spaces feel unique and emotionally resonant, the report found. Wallpaper has character and brings out the life and beauty of a room, said Paul Sperling, owner of Colonial Wallcoverings in Queen Village. It shows off your personality. Modern wallpapers are also easier to hang and strip than older versions, with paste-the-wall and self-adhesive DIY options. A lot of people are afraid of wallpaper because it used to be a nightmare to take off, Sperling said. But most wallpapers now are easier to remove because of changes in how the papers are printed. Making a statement When Jessica Maiuro moved into her Rittenhouse apartment in 2024, she wanted a wow factor as soon as she came through the front door. After a couple months of searching, she discovered a bold patterned wallpaper featuring Ben Franklin within a gilded picture frame blowing a bubble gum bubble, surrounded by a tiger and flowers. I wanted something that would really make a bold statement and be a conversation starter when I hosted, she recalled. I had never seen any design like this, and I was instantly sold and in love. What could be more Philly? Maiuro spent about $500 on the peel-and-stick wallpaper from the online seller Spoonflower and corralled her husband, John Jeong, and a friend to help her hang it. Her apartment is a rental, but she tested the paper and knows it will easily strip off when its time to take it down. When investing in wallpaper, consider where and how it will make the most impact. Wallpapers with small, repeating patterns work best in a smaller space, such as a powder room or vestibule. For larger spaces, wallpaper murals can serve as a focal point on the wall behind the bed or sofa, or continuing across several walls. They often feature grand designs or landscapes, including big, bold flowers and jungle scenes. Murals are more popular than ever, said Sperling, with brands like Rebel Walls and Glamora that specialize in custom sizes. For a more personal design, Rich Art Graphics in Center City will take your artwork and create a custom wallpaper to fit your dimensions. Most of the time, a designer or artist will come to us with a fine art interpretation to be printed and installed in homes, said Michael Antner, the print shops owner. Its something personal that they are very passionate about. For example, a client may have a favorite painting or photograph they want to reimagine on an entire wall. Cityscapes and naturescapes are especially popular. Rich Art will create a digital file with the picture and manipulate it to the exact size of the wall. They offer traditional wallpaper adhered with paste or peel-and-stick adhesive. The average cost is $8 per square foot to create the paper, plus installation. The fifth wall The ceiling has become the fifth wall of the room, where wallpaper can make a bold statement and add a new dimension. Options include very intricate designs where viewers can spot new details to simpler patterns like clouds or green tree canopies. Its much more dramatic and brings more attention to the room, Sperling said. It takes vision. Parents are even wallpapering nursery ceilings as a stimulating focal point for their babies. Wallpapered ceilings have been a design staple for centuries in Europe, especially in homes where pattern and ornamentation played an important role in creating atmosphere and storytelling, said Krystal Reinhard, founder and principal designer at Old Soul Design Studio in downtown West Chester. Shes seen a noticeable uptick in the past five years as homeowners look for more expressive, layered interiors. Papered ceilings work in smaller, contained spaces like powder rooms, nurseries, and offices. But they can also make sense on larger ceilings in bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens. When papering the ceiling, its important to consider the scale of the pattern motifs or tonal textures often work beautifully overhead, Reinhard said. Its best to hire an experienced installer because ceilings require precision and strong adhesive knowledge. Before committing to a pattern, one should test how it interacts with overhead lighting fixtures can cast shadows that change the effect. A wallpapered ceiling is one of the most effective ways to give a room soul, Reinhard said. Its a detail that feels thoughtful and intentional. Especially in the Philadelphia region, where so many homes have architectural character worth celebrating, treating the ceiling as a design opportunity can elevate the entire space, she said. Its a way to honor historic craftsmanship while embracing a very current, expressive design moment. How much does wallpapering cost? Wallpaper costs vary widely, starting at about $40 per 50-square-foot roll for peel-and-stick options from online sellers such as Wayfair. Textured materials from brands like Arte or historical luxury design houses like de Gourney or Zuber can reach several hundred dollars per individual square foot, Sperling said. Many companies provide a measuring calculator to determine exactly how much is needed for your project. Its essential to take pattern repeat into account and add an extra 10% for mistakes and future repairs. Most companies sell samples. Its helpful to hang those in various spots and observe over a few days to see how the pattern looks in the light at different times of day and night. For Steiker-Ginzberg, the wallpaper investment was worthwhile. Theres something important and meaningful about the portal into your house and there being an intentional transition, he said. It makes a difference in the impression people get. Several years ago, a friend brought me along to meet Amma, an Indian woman who, to date, has hugged 40 million people. I queued up like everyone else and was rewarded with a warm, enveloping embrace and whispered prayers in my ear. It was lovely. She sat there all day, hugging hundreds of people, giving the same energy and attention to each one. Her life is one radical act of generosity. We cant all go round hugging people, but we can put one truism front and centre in our lives: gains are to be found in giving, not receiving. On Thursday, the Irish Examiner celebrated this year's International Womens Day with an event that saw Sonya Lennon, Dr Manizha Khan and Deirdre Mortell talk to the issues that women face in Ireland today. They spoke to me about what this year's theme Give to Gain means to them, and more. Sonya Lennon is an entrepreneur, social entrepreneur, speaker, and broadcaster. She is the founder of WorkEqual (formerly Dress for Success), and co-founder of LiFT Ireland and fashion brand Lennon Courtney. Sonya Lennon. Photograph Moya Nolan The theme of International Womens Day 2026 is give to gain. What does that mean to you? As somebody who has been a much more successful social entrepreneur than an entrepreneur over my career, it means a huge amount because the power and the passion that I find from creating empowering frameworks is unbelievable, and it has given me back so much. I know now that what propels me is a desire to create positive impact. And thats giving to get. I wish I had more clarity about that earlier in my career because I wouldve married all of those elements together sooner. But you cant do that. You have to learn in the doing. And I now know that my key drivers are communication, connection, and empowerment. What is the relevance of International Womens Day? International Womens Day is still hugely important because it is evolving. Im seeing more and more frequently that the rooms of people engaged, are mixed. I often say to speaking clients of mine, why dont you ask every single woman to personally invite an ally? Because those allies are the people who get it and have the power and influence and position to change the hearts and minds of those that dont. In the work that you do, what support do you see makes the most difference to women in achieving success? It is creating space for courageous conversations. I talk all the time about the fact that we live in a sort of a force-field of fear. So those that are underrepresented are facing challenges, some of which they are aware of, some of which they arent. And theyre afraid to discuss them in case it draws attention to their weakness. And those that are in the majority are aware that there may be challenges faced by those in the minority, but they dont want to discuss them either because theyre afraid itll draw attention to work that needs to be done to address them, or that it might be seen as patronising, or they might be overstepping the mark. Sonya Lennon celebrates International Women's Day 2026 at a breakfast event, sponsored by The Irish Examiner in association with Precision Biotics at the Lavit Gallery, Wandesford Quay, Cork City. Picture: Larry Cummins So what we have is this kind of perfect storm of non-discussion. One of the most powerful things I do is invite leaders of any identity to go and have courage coffees with people who dont share their identity, and ask one simple question, what are the challenges that you have faced because of your identity? And listen to the answers. [That] gives us a new perspective on somebody elses lived experience. It also gives us the authority to speak on behalf of somebody else because of that knowledge. One of the challenges is that people are afraid to speak up in case they misrepresent. But if you know the story of what somebody else has been through, you can fully represent that person as an ally. Looking back over your career, what has giving back given to you? We have a phrase in WorkEqual were not sure who gets more out of the mentoring, the mentor or the mentee. Its not about changing peoples lives. Its about giving them the tools to change their own. And thats an important distinction. LiFT Ireland, the other nonprofit I founded, has served over 180,000 people [who] have been through our round-table process to build their own understanding and execution of value-based leadership. So we have created an army of people who understand what leadership is, and now more than ever, when we are being shown the role model of impunity, we need to understand what it means to be compassionate. To have integrity, to respect others, because thats missing from the current discourse. Dr Manizha Khan was born in Afghanistan and spent her childhood as a refugee in Pakistan. She was forced to leave her homeland when the Taliban returned to power and came to Ireland as a refugee in 2021. She now works as a dentist in Cork and advocates for refugees, asylum seekers and womens rights. Dr Manizha Khan, dentist at Carrigtwohill Dental Practice. Picture: Picture Larry Cummins The theme of International Womens Day 2026 is give to gain. What does that mean to you? I read a quote once that said, whatever you give to a woman, she will give it back to you two-fold. If you give her a house, she will make it a home. If you give her love, she will double it and return it back to you. To me this means that women are naturally nurturers. We need to nurture ourselves first and then nurture other women. Through ourselves and through each other we can nurture society at this time and age where mostly men are talking about wars and conquering countries and attacking other people. What do you think the world should be doing to help Afghan women? In the past century, we have come a long way from women having no rights to today when we [can] have jobs and do things without asking a man. The Taliban are showing the world that we can go back centuries, we can erase women and nothing will happen to the society. [In Afghanistan] step by step, all the rights that women had have been eradicated. A woman now is just a slave [for] men. Dr Manizha Khan speaks during the Irish Examiner International Womens Day breakfast. Picture: Chani Anderson I believe as women, maybe this is what we should do this International Womens Day. We should raise our voice for the women of Afghanistan, because if we dont, today it is Afghanistan, what if tomorrow its America? I can hear world leaders making excuses saying, its okay, whatevers happening in Afghanistan is Afghan culture, but it is not. It never has been. To me, it is scary that if international society is accepting this, If theyre happy with this, if they can sleep at night, it means that they dont mind if that comes to their own countries as well. So what does the future have for women? Where are we going towards? That really scares me. How would you like people to see refugees? When youre looking at a refugee, look at them as normal people. Somebody who left so much behind, who is filled with sadness and anxiety but also with the hope of a new future. Refugees are working so hard to please, we are all trying so much to fit in. At the end of the day, we are all people. If you look under our skin, we have the same muscles and the same blood colour and the same ambitions and fears and dreams and love for our families. Youve spoken about the power of kindness and the ripple effect it creates. Can you elaborate? People who are themselves kind, they think theyre not doing a big deal. But to the ones who receive that kindness, it really is a big deal. Just a smile in the morning, just saying hello to somebody, a small word of kindness can lift somebodys day up. We dont know what people are going through. And a small act of kindness can really give that support or that mental happiness to somebody who might be struggling a lot. If I had not received all that kindness, compassion, and love that I did receive, today, Id be just another refugee. Maybe, if I was lucky, working as a dental nurse and probably living in a provision centre and waiting for that future to come, but the kindness that people showed to me gave me that support [so] that today Im a positive part of the society. Im giving back to society. Everything I do, it is not only because of me, it is because of the kindness that was shown to me. So now I can show it to somebody else. Thats why I believe that kindness has a ripple effect. Deirdre Mortell is a social entrepreneur who has worked with Oxfam, Barnardos, and the ONE Foundation. She is the founding CEO of Rethink Ireland and is passionate about the power of philanthropy to drive systemic change. Deirdre Martel CEO of Rethink Ireland. Picture: Moya Nolan The theme of International Womens Day 2026 is give to gain. What does that mean to you? Philanthropy is all about giving. Its about companies, individuals and families who choose to give because they want to make the world a better place. We know what giving means, but what does give to gain mean? One of the amazing things about philanthropy is that you get back much more than you give. People give because they want to make the world a better place but, fundamentally, giving is all about putting your values into action. Giving is a really valid and valuable way to uniquely play your part in the community, particularly if you have more wealth than others. To me, give to gain is about knowing that you are feeling good about the fact that you are playing your part in the community, that you are bringing your values alive and putting them into action. Youre quoted as saying, I am driven to turn the world into the one I want to live and work in. Tell us more. Its about living in a community where I feel like Im part of it and Im part of it with all the other people around me; were interconnected and our wellbeing is interconnected. Im not just an individual trying to get ahead, its about a collective sense of what we can all do together to make our community the best it can be for our children, for our older people, for everybody. By definition, its inclusive. Its not a fixed community, its porous. People move into our community from elsewhere and then maybe they leave and go somewhere else. But whoever they are, theyre welcomed and included, and we all look out for each other. Deirdre Mortells proud mother joins her daughter and Esther McCarthy for a selfie following the panel discussion at the Irish Examiner International Womens Day breakfast with the theme Give to Gain at Lavit Gallery. Picture: Chani Anderson Its such a simple idea. I think everybody in the world wants that, but we dont necessarily articulate it. Its also what Rethink Ireland is all about. Were looking to build a more just, equal and sustainable Ireland. Who doesnt want that? In Ireland today, what needs to give for women to gain? We need to vote and we need to vote for women. Im not saying vote only for women, but find a woman who reflects your values and vote for her. We need women in all levels of local democracy and national democracy. Because if were not there, were not represented. We need women on the boards of companies big and small for exactly the same reason. Companies are as powerful as elected politicians and we need women at those top tables, on those boards and in those CEO roles because we need that perspective there. I think the government has done a great job setting the targets for state boards where they need to be in the 40-60 percent range. I know theyve worked really hard to get there, but Id love to see private companies working a bit harder. We need to really pay attention to how we raise our girls and what messages were giving them as parents, as family members and as community members; making sure that we are putting out positive messages about what they can do and who they can be in the world. We also need to think hard about how we raise our boys to be great and inclusive men in the world, because that is just as important. Finally, we really need to recognise womens unpaid work in the world because women do the vast majority of [it]. A lot of working moms are doing a double shift. Finding ways to recognise unpaid work whether its childcare, elder care, housework, and all the other stuff if we can crack that, it will unleash so much positive energy for our families, for our communities, and for our workplaces. Those are five things we could do. None of them are little, but all of them can be chipped away at and all of them we can start tomorrow. Survivors of mother and baby homes have started to have benefits cut in Britain because they accepted compensation from the Irish Government. The cuts to the means-tested benefits of survivors in Britain come as campaigners including actors Siobhan McSweeney and Steve Coogan called on British prime minister Keir Starmer to back a bill known as Philomenas Law, which would ringfence survivors benefits. Up to 13,000 of the survivors, who are living in Britain, risk losing access to essential means-tested benefits if they accept compensation, which can range from 5,000 to 125,000 depending on the length of time people were resident. The Irish Governments redress scheme was introduced after an inquiry detailed the horrific experiences of about 56,000 women and about 57,000 children who were placed or born in homes, mostly run by nuns, between 1922 and 1998. A 2021 report detailed an alarming number of deaths of babies in the homes and documented cruelty and neglect. Women were forced to take part in work and were separated from their babies, who were fostered or adopted. The mother and baby institutions payment scheme started making payments in 2024. But because it is considered a recipients savings, it can result in losing means-tested benefits in Britain, such as universal credit or pension credit, and have an impact on financial support for social care. As feared, councils have begun sending letters to notify people who received payments that they will lose support such as housing benefit. Some survivors of the homes have decided not to accept offers of compensation because of fears of losing benefits. After a period of six months this is considered a rejection, while some have since died. One woman in her late 70s who had experienced physical and psychological abuse from nuns in a mother and baby home said she had initially been delighted when her eligibility for a payment was confirmed and she had hoped to use the money to visit a recently discovered half-brother in the US. However, should she receive payment, she would face losing her pension credit and housing benefit, which she relies on for day-to-day expenses and rent. He had been born less than 16 miles away, but I did not know that he or his other brothers and sister existed until we did some family tracing, she said. It would have been lovely to meet him, but I do not feel that I can use the money for this as my benefits would be affected. The payment was meant to be a token of an apology from the Irish government for all the misery of the institutions, but now its become a rope around my neck. Over 11,000 people saw their social welfare rates reduced last year for failing to engage with employment services. The Government has been cracking down on people in receipt of unemployment benefits for not attending meetings with the Department of Social Protection or engaging with employment support schemes. Plans introduced under the last government doubled the penalty for non-engagement from 44 per week to 90 from January 2025. In response to a parliamentary question from Carlow Kilkenny Fine Gael TD Catherine Callaghan, social protection minister Dara Calleary confirmed that 11,082 people saw their unemployment benefit rates reduced in 2025. This was up from 10,232 in 2024, and 5,235 in 2023. Mr Calleary said there are rights and responsibilities attached to people being eligible for jobseekers payments, and they are conditional on the recipient being available for, capable of, and genuinely seeking work. He added: Jobseekers who do not engage with the Intreo employment service or who fail to participate in appropriate employment interventions can have their jobseekers payment reduced and subsequently be disqualified from their payment for up to nine weeks. Reducing payments is 'final step' They may also have their entitlement to a Jobseekers payment reviewed based on a failure to genuinely seek work. A reduced rate is a final step in a process to encourage a jobseeker to avail of the employment supports on offer, and once a jobseeker resumes engagement with the employment support service, the reduced rate is lifted immediately. Figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) confirmed that there were 170,700 people on Live Register in February. A council meeting in Kerry has heard how working couples are considering giving up their jobs in order to qualify for social housing in Killarney because they believe that is their sole means of getting a roof over their heads. Only social housing has been built in the town and with private developments out of reach financially, for the first time ever people are approaching councillors and wondering if they should stop working, the meeting of Killarney Municipal District heard. Previous meetings have been told how any new housing was out of reach for most local people. There has been no affordable housing scheme in Killarney, or Tralee, it has been claimed. Kerry Independent Alliance Councillor John ODonoghue asked if any of the new developments granted permission would include an affordable housing element. However, he was told that the opportunities under the Part V element 20% of housing developments would be ring fenced for social, not affordable housing. Workers are being squeezed out, and the lack of housing is preventing emigrants from returning to take up jobs in healthcare and other sectors, the independent councillor claimed. He said couples where both partners are working cannot qualify for social housing and yet cannot afford to buy a house in Killarney. These people, the squeezed middle classes as Ill refer to them, are being forgotten about in our country with every kind of support coming for those who cant or dont work," Mr O'Donoghue said. "Yet the ones who make up the bulk of the taxpaying people in this country are starting to feel that they receive very little in return for their hard work. "I am now starting to be asked the question for the first time ever by people 'would I be as well off quitting my job and going on the housing list as it seems to be the only hope I ever have of getting a house?'," he said. The councillor asked whether, when there is such a situation where couples who, despite the two of them working in what would be considered good jobs, cant afford to buy a house, is it a sign that the current housing system is fundamentally broken on a national scale. Meanwhile, the council has advertised and received five expressions of interest from developers and house builders for affordable housing proposals in the urban settlements of Tralee and Killarney as of February 13. Three of the submissions are located in the urban settlement of Killarney and two are in Tralee. The scheme allowed for a maximum of 20 units each and are being forwarded to the Department of Housing for approval to access the Affordable Housing Fund. Most of the schemes submitted are at pre-planning stage, the council said in a reply to councillor Brendan Cronin. Public representatives have long been complaining that only social housing is being built in Killarney and a whole cohort are being pushed out to outlying villages with football clubs and other longstanding Killarney institutions suffering a dramatic drop in numbers. They also say it is often the case that multiple houses in the town are regularly snapped up by companies for let. Supported by the Local Democracy Scheme Cork musician Martin Leahy is to stand down his weekly housing protest on its 200th week at the end of this month, but said he feels energised by the light he has been able to shine on the issue. Every Thursday since May 2022, regardless of the weather, Mr Leahy has travelled from Bandon to the Dail to perform his song Everyone Should Have a Home. His 200th and final protest will see him joined by musicians Jimmy Cullen and The Resistance Choir, as well as speakers from opposition politicians and advocacy groups. Mr Leahy said homelessness is at its highest level ever, adding that the official figures fail to capture the hidden homeless people staying with family or friends because they have no home of their own. He said he had once been part of that group himself, after receiving an eviction notice and being unable to find an affordable place to rent. My protest has opened my eyes to the power of one person. I had no PR, Im not in any political party, yet I got multiple articles in national newspapers and international coverage. State broadcasters from Germany, Holland, and France, National Public Radio in America, Al Jazeera came over and did a piece that had a reach of 430m people. Even though Im stopping now, Im feeling energised I see all those articles as articles that may not have been about homelessness otherwise, and theres a sense of achievement in that, because I am only one small voice. Id never done a solo protest, I wouldnt have considered myself an activist before this, I hadnt even busked. The single act of doing this helped keep the issue in focus, and I feel that everybody has that power, and it would produce change if everybody took a stance and didnt just accept this housing crisis as a fact of life over here. Mr Leahy was also recently invited to address the Oireachtas after years of standing outside the Dail gates. Thats the power of music, which I have always believed in due to the influences I had growing up, Ive seen music shining a light on lots of issues. Each week, he travels from Bandon to Cork City, taking the bus up in the morning and back again in the evening a round trip that costs him 29 each time, he explained. Its doable, but everything is becoming a bit of a strain the energy, the cost, the time. I feel that 200 is a good number to stop at. He plans to take a break after his protest winds up, but to continue his advocacy in other forms after, he said. Since I decided to stop, I have been looking back at that light that I kept on homelessness, and I feel very energised by it all. SYDNEY, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Two men, who were rock fishing without lifejackets, died after being pulled from the water north of Sydney, police said on Sunday. Emergency services were called to Little Beach, Bouddi, about 60 km north of Sydney, at about 4:20 p.m. Saturday, following reports of a body in the water, the police force in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said. Police located fishing equipment on a rock platform at the northern end of the beach and a multi-agency land and sea search commenced shortly after. A 46-year-old man was pulled from the water before being assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died at the scene. Two hours later, police were told another man, in the same vicinity, was believed to still be in the water. A second search then located the body of a 67-year-old man, police said. Police said the men were not wearing lifejackets when they were found, and the conditions forced police to change their tactics during the search. The rock platforms around Bouddi National Park are popular with recreational fishers, but the coastline is isolated and is accessed by walking through the national park. Nicola Sturgeon, who as first minister led Scotland through Brexit, the covid19 pandemic, and multiple constitutional battles, will discuss her career in an address at University College Cork on Monday. She will deliver the annual Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture at University College Cork at 12pm on Monday, March 9, exploring her career in politics and public service, as outlined in her 2025 memoir, Frankly. Aodh Quinlivan, from UCC's Department of Government and Politics, said: As one of the most prominent political leaders in Europe in recent years, her experience at the highest levels of government offers a unique opportunity for UCCs government and political science BSc students and politics students to engage directly with a leader who has navigated complex constitutional, social and economic challenges." Ms Sturgeon was the first woman to serve as Scotlands first minister, and remains the longestserving holder of the office. She was elected first minister in November 2014, holding the role until March 2023. She was a key leader in Scottish and UK politics during a period shaped by Brexit, covid-19, and five different UK prime ministers. Born in Irvine in 1970, Ms Sturgeon joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) at 16 and has been active in public life ever since. A qualified solicitor, she worked at Drumchapel Law Centre, before being elected to the Scottish parliament in 1999 as a representative for Glasgow. The Philip Monahan Memorial lecture series celebrates the memory of Irelands first local authority manager, who served as city commissioner and then city manager in Cork from 1924 to 1959. The lecture will take place in the Aula Maxima in UCC on March 9. The event is free of charge, although prior registration is required by emailing Government@ucc.ie. A rally held in opposition to plans for 140 apartments on the site of the former Bessborough mother and baby home has heard the proposal is an "attempt to concrete over the past". Cork City Council gave the green light recently to Estuary View Enterprises 2020, despite three previous refusals, to build 140 apartments on the site. A number of families of the 900 children who lived there desperately want to see the land preserved, amid the possibility of hundreds of unmarked graves, just one of which has been identified to date. Bessborough survivor Noelle Brown, who was born into the mother and baby home, appealed for the publics support. I call myself a survivor because I didnt die in Bessborough like so many children did, she said. "Its time to change the narrative in this country and understand that every child matters, no matter how long ago it was. "We stop building if we find Viking remains yet some of these babies died into the 1980s and the '90s. "We have to start caring about them. Ms Brown described the decision to give planning permission as an attempt to cover over an inconvenient truth. Its an attempt to concrete over the past, to concrete over an inconvenient history. Soft toys and teddy bears covered the gates of the Bessborough mother and baby home, Blackrock, Cork, on Sunday. Picture: Chani Anderson "The mothers, infants, and children, did not choose to be in Bessborough. They were incarcerated against their will. A number of people had travelled from the UK for Sunday's rally and vigil. One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she visits the site every year to acknowledge her baby brother who, to this day, her father remains unaware of. My dad doesnt know there is a baby here. "My mum had a baby here in 1961 and he she had no problems with the pregnancy. However, after giving birth the nuns told her that her baby was dead. "She never got to see him. "My mum told us what happened when we were teenagers but she never told my father. "There was a lot of shame and secrecy. She feared telling my dad in case he would leave. She is in palliative care now and has no plans to ever tell my father. Meanwhile, Joy Kelly ORegan, said she feels the site should remain untouched. PJ Coogan; Brian and Carmel Cantwell with Stephen; Joy ORegan; and Christy Kirwan organisers of Sunday's protest vigil at Bessborough site of the former mother and baby home. Picture: Chani Anderson I was born in Bessborough in 1979. Every time I walk through that folly I think about how lucky I am to be above ground. "At least 923 innocent beautiful babies and birth mothers died. I could have been one of them. As a child, I was obsessed with finding out where I came from. "Even though my dad was very open about where I came from (he told me I was born in the sacred heart convent), we had this story that I was born a princess in Blackrock castle. As a little treat he always took me down to Blackrock Castle which I pretended was my birth place." The Cork Survivors and Supporters Alliance opted not to attend the vigil. A CSSA representative said there are mothers in the group supporting the development following engagement with Estuary View Enterprises, who offered a parcel of land for a memorial in the event that construction goes ahead. The mothers were not at the Bessborough protest, a representative said. They were busy living their lives in defiance of those who wish to define the terms of closure without understanding that these were, first and foremost, private losses. A woman has died following a fatal traffic collision in Tipperary on Sunday evening. Gardai are appealing for witnesses following the incident, which took place in Templemore, Co Tipperary. Emergency services were alerted shortly after 7pm that a pedestrian was struck by a car on the R502 at Ballinlassa, between Templemore and Templetouhy. The pedestrian, a female in her 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. The motorist did not require immediate hospital treatment. The Coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged, a spokesperson said. The scene has been preserved for examination by Forensic Collision Investigators and local traffic diversions are in place. Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact them. Any road users who were travelling on this road at the time and who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, are asked to make it available to gardai. Anyone with information is asked to contact Thurles garda station on 0504 25100, the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station. Israel renewed its assault on southern Lebanon early on 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 on 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. Flames rise from an oil storage facility south of the capital Tehran as strikes hit the city during the USIsraeli military campaign (Vahid Salemi/AP) 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 site that supplies the capital and neighbouring provinces in the north. Elsewhere, Kuwait authorities said two border guards were killed when a swarm of missiles and drones hit the Gulf country. The Interior Ministry said only that the guards were killed while performing their national duty. 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 on Saturday in Israeli strikes. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised on Saturday for attacks on neighbouring 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. President Donald Trump gestures after stepping off Air Force One (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) Mr Pezeshkian, a member of the council, dismissed US President Donald Trumps call for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, saying: Thats a dream that they should take to their grave. Mr Trump threatened that Iran would be hit very hard and more areas and groups of people would become targets, without elaborating. The conflict has rattled global markets and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. Were not looking to settle, Mr Trump told reporters on Saturday aboard Air Force One. Theyd like to settle. Were not looking to settle. He described the ongoing US 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. Mr 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 Mr Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets. The presidents statement said Irans leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces and 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. US strikes have not come from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from US bases and vessels in the region. Hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that the war strategy will not change. Demonstrators hold flags and placards as they attend a Stop the War Coalition march in London (Alberto Pezzali/AP) 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 UN mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on non-military sites may have resulted from interception by US electronic defence systems. Late on 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. In other developments, Mr 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. Days ago, Kurdish officials said Kurdish-Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq were preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran and that the US had asked Iraqi Kurds to support them. 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. President Catherine Connolly has said events in the Middle East are deliberate assaults on international law and must be called out without euphemism and without equivocation. It comes as US president Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to press ahead with the nine-day-old campaign, which has rippled across the region and appears to have no end in sight. Irans president Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Sunday that Tehran is prepared to escalate attacks on US targets across the Middle East. His remarks marked a departure from more conciliatory comments he made a day earlier towards Irans Gulf neighbours comments that included an apology for strikes on their territory which were swiftly countered by hardline figures within the regime. Citing the Irish Constitution, President Connolly highlighted solemn commitments including that Ireland accepts the generally recognised principles of international law as its rule of conduct in its relations with other States. Her comments followed repeated opposition criticism of the Government for failing to criticise the US actions in Iran. Last week, foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee repeatedly refused to say whether the US-Israeli strike was illegal. 'Catastrophic consequences' In a statement to mark International Womens Day, President Connolly argued that the catastrophic consequences of violating the UN Charter cannot be ignored. "The violations of international law we are witnessing are shocking and numbing, but we cannot afford inaction, she said. What we have witnessed in recent days in the Middle East, and beyond, are not political disputes. They are deliberate assaults on international law, the international laws that have underpinned global peace for eighty years. We must name them as such, without euphemism and without equivocation. Ireland is uniquely positioned to do precisely that. Our unbroken record of international peacekeeping since 1958, and our decades of commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation, stand as testament to the disproportionate influence a small, neutral state can wield when it acts with integrity and purpose. And our history of colonisation, famine, and the hard-won, peaceful resolution of conflict in the North oblige us to speak plainly. The horror of war can never be normalised or accepted. Article 29 of the Constitution of Ireland is clear: Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality. Ireland affirms its adherence to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination. Ireland accepts the generally recognised principles of international law as its rule of conduct in its relations with other States. On International Womens Day, let us reflect on these solemn commitments which we have made in our nations Constitution and take every action we can to support the United Nations and all those working to build peace in a time when so many distort language to justify and normalise war." Last week, Ms McEntee refused to say whether she believes the US has breached international law with the attacks on Iran, but said it was clear there is no UN mandate for war. Ms McEntee repeatedly declined to answer whether she believed the US and Israeli attacks on Iran had breached international law. Taoiseach Micheal Martin will travel to the US this week ahead of his meeting with Mr Trump at the White House on St Patricks Day 16 missiles intercepted by UAE Iran has launched at least 16 ballistic missiles and 117 drones in new barrages, according to the United Arab Emirates. The UAEs defence ministry said it had intercepted 16 missiles on Sunday, while a 17th fell into the sea. It added that it intercepted most of the drones, but four fell in UAE territory. The ministry said it is ready to firmly confront the threats. The Emirati statement did not specify the locations of the attacks. Bahrain earlier accused Iran of striking a desalination plant, raising fears that civilian infrastructure may become targets in the war, as Irans president vowed to expand the countrys attacks on American targets across the region in the face of intense US and Israeli air strikes. A late-night Israeli strike on an oil facility engulfed parts of Irans capital, Tehran, in smoke on Sunday, while Israel renewed attacks in Lebanon. In Lebanon, Israeli strikes pushed the death toll above 300 after Israel ordered tens of thousands to evacuate ahead of an offensive aimed at stamping out the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a U.S.-Israeli strike late Saturday in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 8, 2026. Picture: AP Photo/Vahid Salemi The war, which Israel and the US launched with air strikes on February 28, has also killed at least 1,230 people in Iran and about a dozen in Israel, according to officials. Six US troops have also been killed. The conflict has rattled global markets, disrupted air travel and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American air strikes. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Irans parliament, said on Sunday that the wars effect on the oil industry will continue to spiral, warning it could become harder to produce and sell oil. Some regional producers, including those in Iraq, have already curbed output amid dangers in the Strait of Hormuz. When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond. The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be, Mr Pezeshkian said on Sunday. Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression and it never has. While multiple Gulf states reported intercepting more missiles and drones from Iran, Mr Pezeshkian said the country was not looking to battle them and accused the US of trying to pit countries against one another. Iranian hardliners quickly contradicted those remarks. Judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei wrote on X: 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. The two men are part of a three-member leadership council that has overseen Iran since an earlier strike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Were not looking to settle, Mr Trump told reporters on Saturday on Air Force One. Theyd like to settle. Were not looking to settle. The Gulf nations of Bahrain and Kuwait also reported additional Iranian missiles launched towards them on Sunday, including several that hit new categories of civilian infrastructure. A man rides a scooter past a building that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Sunday, March 8, 2026. Picture: AP Photo/Hussein Malla Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online. The island nation, home to the US Navys Fifth Fleet, has been among the countries targeted by Iranian drones and missiles. Attacks have hit hotels, ports and residential towers and killed at least one person. The desalination plant strike came after Iran said a US air strike had damaged an Iranian desalination plant. Abbas Araghchi, the countrys foreign minister, said the strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had cut into the water supply for 30 villages. He warned that in doing so the US set this precedent, not Iran. Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region, raising new fears of risks in multiple parched desert nations. Iran also said on Sunday that overnight strikes from Israel hit four oil storage tankers and a petroleum transfer terminal, killing four people. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said on Sunday that about 10,000 civilian structures across the country had been damaged, including homes, schools and medical facilities. It warned Tehran residents to take precautions against toxic air pollution and the risk of acid rain after Israeli strikes set fires at oil depots in the area. Israel renewed its assault on parts of Lebanon early on Sunday, and health officials reported 12 more people killed. The Israeli military has ordered tens of thousands of people in large areas of the country, including parts of the Beirut area, to evacuate during an offensive that its military said was aimed at stamping out Iran-supported forces there. It warned residents of southern Lebanon to move north on Sunday morning. Bahrain has accused Iran of striking a desalination plant, raising fears that civilian infrastructure may become fair game in the war. It came after Irans president vowed to expand the countrys attacks on American targets across the region in the face of intense US and Israeli air strikes. A late-night Israeli strike on an oil facility engulfed parts of Irans capital Tehran in smoke on Sunday, while Israel renewed attacks in Lebanon. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to press ahead with the nine-day-old campaign, which has rippled across the region and appears to have no end in sight. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian threatened on Sunday to step up attacks on American targets across the Middle East, and appeared to backtrack from conciliatory comments towards his Gulf neighbours on Saturday. Those comments, in which he apologised for attacks on their soil, were quickly contradicted by Iranian hardliners. In Lebanon, intensifying Israeli strikes pushed the death toll higher as several hundred thousand people were displaced and Israel targeted the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. In Israel, three people were injured in a Sunday afternoon strike and the military said two soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon the first military fatalities since the start of the war with Iran last week. A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a US-Israeli strike in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP) The war, which Israel and the US launched with air strikes on February 28, has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, 397 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials. Six US troops have also been killed. The conflict has rattled global markets, disrupted air travel and left Irans leadership weakened by several thousand Israeli and American air strikes. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Irans parliament, said on Sunday that the wars effect on the oil industry would continue to spiral, warning it could become harder to produce and sell oil. Some regional producers, including in Iraq, have already curbed output amid dangers in the Strait of Hormuz. When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond. The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be, Mr Pezeshkian said on Sunday. Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression and it never has. The site of Israeli air strikes in a village in south Lebanon (Mohammed Zaatari/AP) The remarks came a day after he said Tehran regretted regional concerns caused by Iranian strikes and urged neighbouring states not to take part in US and Israeli attacks against Iran. Multiple Gulf states reported intercepting more incoming missiles and drones from Iran, but Mr Pezeshkian said the country was not looking to battle them and accused the US of trying to pit countries against one another. Iranian hardliners quickly contradicted those remarks. Judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei wrote on X: 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. The two men are part of a three-member leadership council that has overseen Iran since an earlier strike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Mr Pezeshkians remarks on Sunday reinforced pledges that Iran would not surrender despite US and Israeli threats, with Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu saying their aim remains the replacement of Irans leaders. (PA Graphics) Were not looking to settle, the US president told reporters on Air Force One on Saturday. Theyd like to settle. Were not looking to settle. The Gulf nations of Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, reported additional Iranian missiles launched towards them on Sunday, including several that hit new categories of civilian infrastructure. The UAE said Iran launched more than 100 missiles and drones in new barrages. Only four drones fell at unnamed locations, the defence ministry said. Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online. The island nation, home to the US Navys Fifth Fleet, has been among the countries targeted by Iranian drones and missiles. Attacks have hit hotels, ports and residential towers and killed at least one person. Donald Trump speaks to reporters as defence secretary Pete Hegseth listens on Air Force One (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) The desalination plant strike came after Iran said a US air strike had damaged an Iranian desalination plant. Abbas Araghchi, the countrys foreign minister, said the strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had cut into the water supply for 30 villages. He warned that in doing so the US set this precedent, not Iran. Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region, raising new fears in parched desert nations. Iran also said on Sunday that overnight strikes from Israel hit four oil storage tankers and a petroleum transfer terminal, killing four people. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said on Sunday that about 10,000 civilian structures across the country had been damaged, including homes, schools and medical facilities. It warned Tehran residents to take precautions against toxic air pollution and the risk of acid rain after Israeli strikes set fires at oil depots in the area. Israel renewed its assault early on Sunday on parts of Lebanon, where health officials reported at least 394 people have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Health minister Rakan Nassereddine said on Sunday that 83 children and 82 women were among those killed. The Israeli military has ordered large areas of the country to evacuate, and Lebanese officials reported more than 400,000 people displaced during an offensive that Israels military has said is aimed at stamping out Iran-supported forces there. The clerical body that will choose Iran's 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. On Saturday, a senior cleric in the Assembly of Experts said its members would meet "within one day" to choose the leader. Two members of the panel, Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir and Ahmad Alamolhoda, said the assembly had chosen a successor. Mr Alamolhoda said the head of the assembly's secretariat, Ayatollah Hashem Hosseini Bushehri, is responsible for announcing the assemblys decision. Iranian media said the group had a minor disagreement over whether they would need to meet in person to issue their final decision, or bypass this formality. Heidari Alekasir said in a video released by Nournews that an in-person meeting was not possible under current conditions, suggesting remote and written alternatives. "This is an extraordinary situation, the assembly cannot meet in a plenary," he said, adding that targeting the assembly would only benefit Iran's enemies and "harm the revolution". Since the war began on February 28, Israeli and US strikes have killed dozens of officials and commanders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Strikes also flattened an auxiliary building of the Assembly of Experts in the city of Qom. Heidari Alekasir said the candidate had been picked based on the late supreme leader's advice that Iran's top leader should "be hated by the enemy" instead of praised by it. "Even the Great Satan [the US] has mentioned his name," the senior cleric said of the chosen successor, days after US president Donald Trump said the recently-assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was an "unacceptable" choice for him. Trump said on Thursday that the younger Khamenei, a mid-ranking hardline cleric, was the most likely successor, but warned he would reject such an option and that he should be personally involved in selecting Iran's next leader. Mojtaba Khamenei Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was not in Tehran when his father was killed by air strikes early in the war. He has close ties to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and is one of the most influential figures in the Iranian clerical establishment, thanks to the influence he built behind the scenes and his role as his father's gatekeeper. He has for years been seen as one of the top candidates to succeed the elder Khamenei, despite never holding a government position, aside from working in his father's office. Ali Khamenei ruled Iran from 1989 as supreme leader after serving as president for nearly eight years. Mojtaba Khamenei was a particular target for criticism by protesters during unrest over the death of a young woman in police custody in 2022, after she was arrested for allegedly breaching the Islamic Republic's strict dress codes. He is seen as having leverage over Iran's security apparatus, which has repressed several waves of protests in recent years. ( The San Diego Union-Tribune ) Political analysts may well mark the last day of February 2026 as the day the world crossed a line it may not easily step back from, when the U.S. and Israel engaged in a war with Iran with no clear end in sight, raising fear of another forever war. However, a historian like me would argue that San Diego County entered this war as early as 2019. The county is home to Camp Pendleton, Naval Base Coronado and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, all of which have been mobilized over the last three years by both the Biden and Trump administrations to aid Israel since it was attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. This includes the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, or the Abe, the flagship of a carrier strike group often deployed to the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Iran. As early as 2019, President Donald Trump ordered the Abe deployed there to deter Iran, demonstrating that tensions between this president and the Islamic Republic have been simmering for a while. The front cover of the May 11, 2019, edition of The Economist magazine featured an image of the Abe with the words Collision Course: America, Iran and the Threat of War. That month, Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, tweeted that The United States will continue its maximum pressure on the Iranian regime until its leaders decide to change their destructive behavior, respect the rights of the Iranian people, and return to the negotiating table. On the same day, Trump announced to reporters at a White House press conference, What I would like to see with Iran, I would like to see them call me. This language resonates today, with Trump again claiming U.S. actions are done on behalf of the Iranian people and seeking a deal, hoping that the current fighting will induce Iran back to the negotiating table. The Abe avoided war then, but the most Googled search terms were World War Three and How did World War One begin? in January 2020 after Trump ordered the assassination of an Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, on Iraqi soil. Now fears of a World War Three or at least another forever war again seem a possibility. Since 2023, not only the Lincoln has left San Diego and headed to the Middle East. Local aircraft, including a squadron of stealthy F-35C strike aircraft from Miramar and two helicopter squadrons from Coronados Naval Air Station North Island, have as well. Along with the USS OKane, a vessel that fires the Tomahawk cruise missile that has been Americas weapon of choice against both Iraq and Iran, these deployments mean that at times roughly 6,500 personnel have been regularly deployed in an undeclared war with Iran. The Abe is currently participating in the ongoing campaign against Iran and was targeted by Iranian missiles last weekend that fell short of the vessel. There have been no local fatalities in this war yet. File Photo.Amphibious transport dock USS San Diego (LPD 22) transits San Diego Bay from B Street Pier (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class K. Cecelia Engrums). Public Domain. Via Picryl Yet since 2001, San Diego County has been shaped by the forever wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with many veterans living here who served multiple tours in both places. Those wars have also sent a whole generation of refugees fleeing those conflicts to this area, including Afghans in Vista and Iraqis in El Cajon. San Diego has a large Persian community. It is not hard to imagine a new wave of Iranians seeking to leave the war zone with hopes of reaching the U.S. The war that appears to have begun Saturday actually began long ago, during the first Trump administration. If it has lasted that long, it raises the question of whether the current conflict will end within the four weeks Trump has promised. Regardless, it needs to be recognized as Americas third Gulf War. The 1991 Gulf War lasted six weeks. The 2003 Iraq war ostensibly ended in less than a month. Yet that war did not end when George W. Bush declared mission accomplished on a carrier off the coast of San Diego, with an insurgency erupting and the Islamic State emerging, a terrorist group that still exists today. The unintended consequences of this third Gulf War remain just as harrowing. Reprinted with the authors permission from The San Diego Union-Tribune Greenfield, Mass. (Special to Informed Comment) When the founding fathers proclaimed that all men are created equal, it was preceded by we hold these truths to be self-evident. If they were truths and also self-evident, why were the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence from the moneyed class only (physicians, lawyers, merchants, plantations owners and land speculators), many of whom were slave-holders. Deepening the deception, all the signers considered women inferior to men intellectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually; consequently, the signers meant privileged white men only when they wrote all men are created equal. Did they sign the Declaration on Independence with the intention of taking on the arduous effort of establishing an equal society for all? My answer would be a solid no . After all, this country has had to fight its own civil war to end slavery nearly a century after the Declaration of Independence and to undergo unceasing civil rights struggles for people of color and for women throughout its 250-year history, with no end in sight. Sojourner Truth, the eminent abolition and womens rights champion, lived every cruelty of slavery and misogyny from being auctioned off and separated from her family at age 9, to whippings, deprivation and the selling off of her own children. At age 49 a divinely inspired vision set her forth into a life of testifying of the hope that was in her. Transcending her illiteracy, she became a famed speaker, with her amazing mother wit and the most powerful African-American woman to consistently link the oppression of slavery with the subjection of women. With her prescient insight into Christian fundamentalism creating roadblocks for womens equality then (and unrelentingly so today) , she responded in her renowned Aint I a Woman speech in 1851 at a womens rights convention in Akron, Ohio: And that man back there in the blackThat man in the black says that women cant have as much rights as men because Christ wasnt a woman. Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman. Man had nothing to do with him. Women of all races worked passionately for womens suffrage during 70 more years, until the deeply flawed 19th Amendment was passed in 1920, flawed because it prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex but not sex and race. Only over successive years did African-American, Native Americans, Asians American and Latina women gain the right to vote. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was first proposed in 1923 by Alice Paul founder of the National Womens Party, which had identified more than 300 laws that exposed the rampant and degrading discrimination against women based on their sex, including employment, child custody, property and rape, to name a few. As proof of the intrangency of misogyny, the ERA has been one of the most controversial and challenged pieces of legislation in the 20th and 21st centuries. In the 1970s conservative Phyllis Schlafy denounced the ERA as an assault on the family and on the role of women as wives and mothers. In 1982 the ERA Amendment failed to meet its deadline requiring 38 states to ratify it. Through the 1970s, 80s and 90s, the future of womens equality took a step forward with women entering political office, participating more significantly in labor unions and the professions; and in 2020, Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the ERA, meeting the requirement of three-quarters of the states ratification necessary for an Amendment to the Constitution to become law. Finally, an American President could affirm in January 2025, what languished for more than 100 years: that the ERA, as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, is the law of the land. We, as a nation, must affirm and protect womens full equality once and for all, declared President Biden. However, the Archivist failed to certify and publish the Amendment guaranteeing womens dignity and equality on the grounds that it did not meet a technical deadline. But that technical deadline is meaningless and was never imposed on another amendment, according to the American Bar Association, confirming that the technical objections to the passage of the ERA are not consistent with Article 5 of the Constitution. Every other democracy in the world includes women in their constitutions, stated Gloria Steinem when speaking at Smith College in 2022. The consequences for US women and girls is that women are poorer than men because of ongoing pay inequity: women earn 82% of when men earn, with Black and Latina women earning only 59 cents and 51 cents for a white mans earned dollar. Women lack paid parental leave, are victims of high rates of rape and all forms of violence against women; and have lost in many states the right to bodily autonomy and freedom escalating in the worst states to the sexual counterpart of the Fugitive Slave Act. Image by Tung Lam from Pixabay Those responsible for the failure of the ERA include the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, corporations benefiting from discriminatory wages, the fundamentalist Christian right, and traffickers in women and girls for prostitution (how did Jeffrey Epstein get away with his mortal sins for so long, be-friended by men along the political spectrum from disgraced Noam Chomsky to the liar Donald Trump?). A strong majority of Americans support reproductive rights and equal pay for equal work, and ratification of the ERA would establish in law 21st century sex equality and dignity. May it launch aggressive prosecution of traffickers in women and girls for prostitution, of men who rape and sexually abuse women and girls. Join and support former US Representative Carolyn Maloneys ERA Now whose goal is to be ready for Congressional action in 2027 to affirm the ERA as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. KATHMANDU, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The commission formed to investigate the killings and destruction in the violent Gen Z movement of September last year in Nepal submitted its report to the government on Sunday. The three-member commission led by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki was constituted on Sept. 21, 2025, to investigate the state atrocities on the first day of protest on Sept. 8, 2025, and arson, looting and vandalism of the public and private properties on the next day. "We have submitted the report to the prime minister. Now it is the government's property," Bigyan Raj Sharma, spokesperson of the commission, told the media after submission. He also said that they have recommended actions against the perpetrators, but didn't name them. Prime Minister Sushila Karki, after receiving the report, appreciated the commission's hard work in preparing it. "We will study the report and release its conclusion, even if not the full report," Karki was quoted as saying in a press statement by the Prime Minister's Office. The commission recorded statements from over 200 people, including then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and then Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. Saturday, March 7, 2026 - Tensions flared during a burial ceremony after mourners confronted clergy over what they described as a disgraceful send-off for a married man. The man was reportedly buried at 9 a.m, a time that many in the community felt was inappropriate and disrespectful. According to members of the Sabaot community, cultural traditions dictate that a married man with a family should not be buried too early in the morning. Such practices allow relatives, friends and the wider community sufficient time to pay their last respects and honor the deceased. A video shared online shows mourners confronting the clergy, demanding that they adhere to cultural traditions. Some of the mourners lamented that early morning burials are only appropriate for cases of suicide, not for married men with families. The disgruntled mourners also noted that the clergy arrived before the grave was fully dug, further aggravating the situation. Watch the video>>> of the dramatic confrontation We respect the clergy and the role they play in guiding our spiritual lives. However, our community culture and values must also be respected and protected. According to the traditions of the Sabaot people, a married man who has a family should not be buried very early in the pic.twitter.com/Vo35gJx1X4 ' (@baroswahjr) March 7, 2026 The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, March 07, 2026 - Just a day after disgraced city car dealer, Khalif Kairo, announced his much-hyped comeback, fresh revelations suggest his troubles are far from over. Word on the street is that Kairos office at Diamond Plaza is set to go under the hammer on March 11th. On March 6th, Kairo had taken to X to announce that he was transitioning Kai & Karo to a fully digital automotive platform. Insiders now claim the pivot to online wasnt just innovation - it was necessity. With rent arrears piling up and the looming auction, Kairo had little choice but to abandon the physical office. Interestingly, the Diamond Plaza space carries its own history. It once belonged to his former boss, Clement Kinuthia, founder of IBK Luxury Car Imports. Clement had trusted Kairo enough to make him the face of the company, only to be later edged out. In a viral moment, Kairo even filmed>>> himself tearing down IBKs signage to replace it with his own logo, mocking Clement online as he flaunted his corner office. Should be launching new https://t.co/mSYuqPQJVQ pale DP later this month pic.twitter.com/gYlyvO3tlJ khalif kairo (@KhalifKairo) March 15, 2024 But the glory days didnt last. Kairos empire crumbled after failing to deliver cars to clients who had paid in full, leading to his arrest and weeks behind bars. Now, despite his attempt to paint a rosy picture of a digital rebirth, the auction notice is a stark reminder that his woes are far from over. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, March 07, 2026 - A US-based Kenyan nurse and social media influencer, Abedinecho Kyalo Katue, 46, has found himself at the center of a troubling case in Florida. Katue, who worked as a float nurse at AdventHealth Orlando, was arrested this week by the Orlando Police Department. Authorities allege that in January 2025, Katue assaulted a physically incapacitated amputee patient at the hospital. According to investigators, he forced his way into the patients room, touched her inappropriately while she was using a bedpan, and attempted to inject morphine to sedate her. Hospital staff reported the incident immediately, but Katue reportedly evaded capture for nearly two months before being tracked down to Ocoee. He is now being held at Orange County Jail, awaiting trial. Katue had built a dual identity as both a healthcare worker and an online personality. The Kenyan DAILY POST "THE ancient motorways of Ireland" was how Barrowline Cruise owner Orla Conroy described the centuries-old, tangled webwork of man-made canals and natural rivers which span the length and breadth of Ireland, a blue map that binds even landlocked counties like Laois to our most famous rivers like the Shannon and the Dodder and, eventually, the sea. itself. Orla considers the canals a "beautiful" amenity and an especially striking way for tourists to see the countryside, instilled by a different perspective on the rolling hills and coarse woodlands than they would otherwise find screeching down a motorway at 100 kilometres an hour and thus missing out on some of the most emblematic sights in the blink of an eye. Trips down the canals offer a languid, tranquil passage through the Irish midlands, where you can actually hear the rustle of trees and chirrup of woodland critters and breathe in the perfume of nature. A romantic image, but one which, tragically, has seen a fall in recent years. Based in Vicarstown, Orla and her husband Philip have been running their successful barge tour business for over 25 years; renting out traditional deep-bellied barges to tourists so that they can either tour south down the canal as far as St Mullins or avail of the northern route, which can take people either onto the Shannon or the Grand Canal, which threads through Dublin city centre. In decades of operation, they have enjoyed plenty of success, proud of how far people have come from across the globe to rent their barges customers have come from as far as Australia, New Zealand and South American nations. That being said, the international draw and reputation as a provider of quality tourism has been damaged by what they and the wider barge tours community see as a widespread deterioration in the upkeep and maintenance of the canals, an issue which they lay firmly at the door of Waterways Ireland. "Unfortunately, we have found that the canal conditions have just grown worse over the years. Last year in particular was a particularly bad year for weed growth; when the weeds grow, they get heavy and they get caught round the propellers of the boat and that's a major issue, but also there's the lack of water on parts of the canal, too, and that is another issue," said Orla. Orla says that Waterways Ireland claim to be working to address these issues or say that they will eventually do something to address the problems with water pumps and canal drainage, but "thats no good to us when you own a private business. You're depending on customers and your livelihood and you have to come up with a solution. And the problem is Waterways Ireland have done plenty of talking on the issues over the years, but nothings been done about them. And they really got so bad the last year." And these issues are already having an effect on tourism: "We had three Australian customers for just three weeks and they reached a part of the canal just past Tullamore. Their aim was to get on the River Shannon, but they basically just ran out of water. We contacted Waterways Ireland to arrange so that they had just barely enough to get through and they eventually came onto the Shannon, but it wasn't a positive experience for them and we have absolutely no control over that." Another couple from Switzerland, both of whom had spent years touring the Shannon in the summer months, decided that they wanted to try their hand at the canals in and around Vicarstown, availing of Orla and Philips Barrowline service, but in the end word of how difficult navigating the canals had become reached their ears and so they instead decided to take their money to the UK. "And if you ask Waterways Ireland, we have heard from them that there aren't that many boats on this system. Well, there aren't that many boats on the system because of these problems." Orla identifies that there needs to be more clearing of the waterway feeders that line the banks of the canals when they become clogged with weeds and bracken, the amount of water available to the main canal falls more dredging, further purchase of proper equipment that allows them to both cull and harvest the weeds and better maintenance of pumps. As things stand, the Barrowline company and other similar enterprises are being forced to fork out vast sums in the repair of propellers and engines, specialist work which is not quick, easy or cheap to complete. In conclusion, Orla says: "Things got worse because the issues that were highlighted just weren't addressed basically and thats' how they got worse over the years." Again, the business owner believes that Waterways Ireland is lacking in its approach and should step up to their responsibilities more. The Laois Nationalist reached out to Waterways Ireland for comment and this is what they said: Canals custodianship: Waterways Ireland takes its statutory management and maintenance responsibilities for the canals very seriously and is committed to working with stakeholders in its role as custodian to protect and improve the amenity potential of the canals and to safeguard recreational opportunities and accessibility for all users of the navigations. The River Barrow is a special area of conservation. Due to evolving environmental case law, certain aspects of routine maintenance work now require planning permission. Water level management: As man-made waterways, our canals are entirely dependent on water supply from natural sources, such as rivers, lakes and groundwater. The canal sections in Laois are dredged and have good depth. Waterways Ireland has developed a water management strategy for the canals, examining all options to source more water for, direct more water to and retain more water in the navigations. 2025 saw historically low ground water levels in Pollardstown fen, which feeds both the Barrow line and the Grand Canal. This was also the case in Lough Owel, which feeds the Royal Canal. The midlands experienced drought conditions during the summer of 2025. The pressures on canal water supply are not unique to the island of Ireland. Climate change is intensifying these pressures. Weed management: Lower rainfall, extended periods of sunshine and consistent dry weather spells led to ideal conditions for weed growth from early spring in 2025. Waterways Ireland deployed all available weed-cutting resources to manage this issue and has an updated weed management plan for 2026. MOSCOW, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova called on Azerbaijan and Iran to exercise restraint and avoid taking hasty actions following a drone attack on Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave, the ministry's website said on Saturday. On Thursday, a drone attack allegedly launched from Iran struck Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, injuring four people. Azerbaijan accused Iran of launching the drone attacks, which Tehran denied. Zakharova said Russia urges both countries to refrain from "ill-considered steps" that could create new divisions in the region, adding that Moscow is extremely concerned about the evolving situation in the Middle East caused by the unprovoked armed aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran. The diplomat noted that Russia is ready to facilitate an end to the bloodshed in the region, the resumption of political and diplomatic dialogue, and the search for solutions based on international law, mutual respect and a balance of interests. A SOFTWARE graduate from Kildare with a bright future was jailed for a total of 22 months this week (24 February) after being found guilty of allowing his bank account to hold over 5,000 of money defrauded from the Department of Social Protection (DSP). Joshua Famose (24), with an address on Barrow Way, Dun Bhroin, Athy was appearing in the local dstrict court for sentencing. He had previously pleading guilty to two counts of the fraud under the criminal justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism) Act. The court heard how detectives from the gardais specialist fraud division had uncovered a case where a number of stolen PPS numbers were used to defraud the Department of Social Protection, resulting in the loss of 5,250 from the state. This was then accessed by the defendant on dates between 15 May and 18 May 2021 from his bank account in Athy. He claimed he was contacted via Snapchat telling him he would be offered a fee for allowing his bank account to be used, said Detective Garda Giblin in his evidence. Has anybody been held accountable at the department yet? asked Judge Desmond Zaidan. Its still under investigation, said the detective. We are all aware of the increase of cyber-fraud, and its very seldom nowadays that you will see an armed robbery with balaclavas, noted the judge. How can we prevent this from happening in the future? he asked. People want to know because its peoples taxes. I live in the real world, he added. My client has no previous convictions, and the first time he was contacted he was only 20, said defending barrister Hugo Mills. Anything recovered? asked the judge. Some of it, conceded the detective, without specifying how much. Mr Famose is a software graduate in Maynooth, and has attested his desire to atone, said Mr Mills. All I can say is that Im glad he co-operatedhe has a bright future in front of him, and he is willing to pay back 5,400, revealed Mr Mills. He would like to be able to travel, so Im asking the court if it would be willing to offer the Probation Act, he said. The guilty plea has to be put in context; he has no previous, and was only 20 at the time, said the judge. Some people are colourful, but not this colourful you couldnt make it up that an unknown stranger contacts Mr Famose by Snapchat and he duly obliges. I do not accept your instructions, said the judge to Mr Mills. This man knew exactly what he was doing, and he perpetrated a fraud on the Irish State and that is unacceptable its not the norm and there are victims. This court has got to put out a strong message. If youre going to be that gullible and give your account details to a total stranger, I dont accept that. Only this morning I got a text message saying hi mum or dad, I lost my phone. Can you send me money?, shrugged the judge, alluding to a common modern fraud attempt. On two separate dates he did allow the proceeds of criminal activity to be lodged to his account in his bank in Athy. Im going to jail him for 22 months, thats 11 months on each of the two counts, to be served consecutively, said the judge, before setting an appeal bond at 500. Cork former hurling great Sean Og O hAilpin didn't mince words when describing the toughest opponent he ever faced on the pitch. Speaking on previously on Off the Ball, Sean Og briefly said for many years, it might have been DJ Carey, but when it came down to it, the honour went to none other than Henry Shefflin. "Henry Shefflin was a pretty face on a pitbull," he said, prompting laughs from the audience. The teak-tough Corkman described Henry as 'vicious, and an unbelievable competitor'. He had nothing but the height of praise for the former Kilkenny sharpshooter, with whom he had many great tussles over the years. "I would have said DJ Carey...but..." "A pretty face on a pitbull." "Fuck me....he was vicious." "You're like a langer then..."@OfficialCorkGAA's Sean Og O hAilpin describes the toughest hurler he ever had to mark. The Hurling Pod Live with @BGEGAA pic.twitter.com/b1PYuqwnSQ Off The Ball (@offtheball) June 20, 2024 "He loved to engage physically on an opponent. Many nightmares I've had of Shefflin getting the ball and his arm, he's ramming it past your chest, as if he's going past, running into space - but he's really giving you a message. He's ghosting by in play, mastery," he said. Sean Og praised the longevity of his career and his big match temperament, before acknowleding the effect of Kilkenny's dominance in that era. "When it was a rivalry for about two years between us and Kilkenny - because after that it didn't become a rivalry, they just hammered us out of sight - I'd honestly say it's because the likes of the Kilkenny players and Henry Shefflin that made you go back that winter to train harder, be better," he said. "You had just tunnel vision, fixated. Because if you didn't they would f***in eat you without salt." FOR MORE KILKENNY GAA NEWS, CLICK HERE Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) members in Kilkenny have staged a protest at their centre, calling on the government to immediately introduce an emergency disability payment of 400. The protest was part of a national demonstration organised by a Disability Coalition led by the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) and 'Access for All' alongside the Affordable Ireland Campaign. A national protest was held in Dublin on Saturday, February 28 but Kilkenny members who were unable to travel staged their own demonstration at their local centre last Thursday. Protesters said Budget 2026 left many people with disabilities up to 1,400 worse off following the removal of vital support payments, forcing some into the stark choice between heating their homes and putting food on the table. READ NEXT: 'We cant just sit there and say nothing' - Kilkenny wheelchair user "Having these high bills to pay is holding us back. We need to be encouraged to live our lives its a worry to people with disabilities. If I met a high-up minister or the Taoiseach or Tanaiste I would say help us, dont hold us back," commented John Grace, an IWA member locally who took part in the protest. Eimear Phelan, Service Coordinator for the Irish Wheelchair Association Kilkenny, added: "Local IWA members gathered to highlight the need for an Emergency Disability Payment. "The local IWA advocacy group have been working on this for the past number of weeks, highlighting the issues they are facing, that theyre 1,400 worse off following Budget 26. They have written to local councillors, TDs and ministers, with a very poor response rate, and they feel theyve been let down. "Members would like to once again call on the government to introduce this Emergency Disability Payment with immediate effect," Ms Phelan continued. More to follow... FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- In a changing and turbulent world, China-Russia relationship has stood rock-solid against all odds, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday. The China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination has been based on equality, respect and mutual benefit since day one, which represents the direction of a new type of major-country relations, Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. China and Russia share a high degree of political mutual trust, Wang said, noting that working back-to-back lies at the heart of this relationship, and the strong strategic resilience enables it to defy any external instigation or pressure. China and Russia act in close coordination. In major international and regional affairs, China and Russia share the broadest strategic consensus and closest strategic coordination, including defending international rule and order, Wang noted. Eighty years ago, China and Russia together contributed to the building of the postwar order. Today, 80 years on, China and Russia together will add momentum to the advent of a multipolar world, he said. I have deep reservations about military strikes on Iran. Over the past 30 years Western meddling in Middle Eastern politics has never led to democracy. Instead the destabilisation of Iraq led eventually to ISIS and a refugee crisis of epic proportions as millions of people surged into Europe. Ditto the bombing of Libya. The invasion of Afghanistan was likewise a catastrophe as the Taliban took over the country immediately upon the United States withdrawal from the country, except that billions of dollars worth of military equipment provided to the Afghan military fell into the hands of the Taliban as well. Is that to say that I oppose strikes on Iran? No. The truth is that I do not know what the right course of action is. The difference between the American invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and the present situation in Iran is that there was no homegrown, grassroots appetite for change in Iraq etc, whereas practically the entire population of Iran has apostasised from Islam and hates the IRGC and is actively protesting against the ayatollahs at present. (And the Iranian government has responded by murdering tens of thousands of innocent people.) But I have extreme reservations about whether military strikes are the right course, while at the same time sharing the longing of Iranians for the downfall of that despicable, murderous regime and wondering whether if military strikes had not been conducted it would have been a huge missed opportunity. I will dance for joy with the local Iranian population in Auckland (with whom I have been protesting against the regime for the last few weeks) if the ayatollahs are overthrown and the country transitions into a stable, free democracy. But I think their celebrations about the impending downfall of the ayatollahs are premature. I am deeply concerned about the possibility of the destabilisation of Iran resulting in a colossal refugee crisis into Europe or East Asia. But I have absolutely no respect for Joe Carolan and his bunch of commie goons, who are holding a meeting in Auckland this week to protest the attacks on the IRGC. Where was the postmodern left a few weeks ago when the IRGC was gunning down tens of thousands of protesters? In September/ October 2025 the media reported that 20,000 people marched against Israels killing of civilians in Gaza. But the total number of civilians killed by Israel in Gaza over the course of a two year war was about 35,000 civilians (and 35,000 combatants) in an extremely complex urban warfare environment, whereas Iran killed 30,000 civilians deliberately in the space of two days. 20,000 hippies didnt show up to protest that. I have been at most of the Iranian pro-freedom protests (if you want to stay in the loop, NZ Against Hamas is advertising them each weekend at facebook.com/nzah.public) and there have been countless speeches asking where the anti-Israel protesters are. They simply didnt show up. There were only ever a handful of Westerners at these protests. But now that Israel and the US are bombing military targets within Iran, Carolan and crew are protesting their actions. Hypocrites. Absolute hypocrites. Their sympathies are with the butchers of Tehran, despite the fact that Israel and the US are democracies which respect freedom of speech. Personally, I think we should do a swap: if the postmodern left loves the IRGC so much, they should go and live there. We, in turn, can take in Irans pro-democracy protesters. And where are their protests against Irans rocket attacks against Israel, if theyre going to protest Israel and the US rocket attacks on Iran? But if the postmodern lefts hatred of Israel and the US has nothing to do with the death toll in Gaza, there must be another motivation. What is that? Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. PARIS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation on Sunday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to discuss the situation in the Middle East. In his X post, Macron said they discussed Lebanon issues, noting that "we must act to avoid escalation at all costs, return to the ceasefire, and strengthen the sovereignty of the Lebanese state by supporting the Lebanese armed forces." Macron stressed the importance of securing maritime transport in the Red Sea as soon as possible, adding that freedom of navigation in this key area of global trade, particularly for energy resources, is essential for all economies. Macron also noted that faced with the conflagration in the region, he and Sisi are determined to work towards de-escalation and to bring peace back to the Middle East. The phone conversation came 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. PARIS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that a diplomatic solution is "more necessary than ever" to put an end to the escalation and preserve peace. Macron made the remarks in a post on social media platform X after speaking with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over phone. In the post, Macron said he had reiterated France's strong concern over the development of Iran's nuclear and ballistic programs, as well as over all of its destabilizing activities in the region. He also called on Iran to guarantee freedom of navigation by ending the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. French news channel BFMTV reported that Macron also held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday. No details of the call were disclosed for the moment. A worker who stole a bag from the Irish Rail Depot in Portlaoise believed it was his bag, a sitting of Portlaoise District Court was told. Ross OKeeffe (32) of 23 Deermount, Friars Walk, Cork pleaded guilty to stealing the bag containing car keys worth 200, sunglasses valued at 200 and a 30 iphone charger from the Irish Rail Depot, Old Knockmay Road, Portlaoise on January 20, 2026. He admitted being intoxicated at the motor tax office of Laois County Council on January 20, 2026 and at Boyle Sports, Market Square, Portlaoise on the same date. He pleaded guilty to being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Lyster Square, Portlaoise a day later on January 21, 2026. The defendant also pleaded guilty to stealing an 8 bottle of prosecco from Supervalu, Lyster Square, Portlaoise on February 25, 2026 and to being intoxicated at Harbour Street, Mountmellick and Oak Drive Mountmellick on the same date. He also admitted to being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Oak Drive Ballincollig, Mountmellick on February 5 and to being intoxicated at Oak Drive on February 10 and intoxicated at Lyster Square, Portlaoise on February 24, 2026. He was again arrested for being intoxicated at Main Street, Portlaoise on June 25, 2026. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the man took the luminous bag from the Irish Rail Depot on January 20 and the property was subsequently recovered. On the same day the man went to the headquarters of Laois County Council where he was drunk, refusing to leave the motor tax office and later that day at 10pm he was intoxicated and falling to the ground outside Boyles Sports, he said. Sgt Kirby said that on February 5, the defendant went to the address of his ex partner in Oak Drive, Mountmellick and he was intoxicated, shouting and roaring, calling expletives to members of the public and on February 10 the man was at the address at 2.15am with no shoes on. He said the man was intoxicated and waking people up at that hour of the night. He said the man went into Supervalu in Lyster Square on February 25 and put a bottle of prosecco in his jacket and left the shop. The item wasnt recovered. He said the defendant had 81 previous convictions and 41 of these were for being intoxicated in public. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was pleading guilty to all of the offences. She said there were two charges of theft, nine for public intoxication and two for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. Ms Fitzpatrick said the bag which was stolen from the Irish rail depot was recovered. She said her client had been working there at the time and he mistook the bag for his own bag while intoxicated. She said he had brought 8 to court to compensate Supervalu. Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had been granted bail a week earlier with a condition that he remain sober and stay out of Portlaoise except for visits to the maternity unit. She said he was abiding by these conditions and had also sought treatment. She said the man was being a real nuisance to Mountmellick and Portlaoise and he acknowledges that. Ms Fitzpatrick said the man is due to become a parent and he is determined to be a sober and committed father. She explained that addiction had become a permanent feature in his life and was something he wanted to change. Judge Susan Fay said the man could either address his addiction in prison or in residential treatment. She ordered a probation report, a community service assessment and requested a victim impact statement from the owner of the bag which was stolen in what she called a horrible offence. Judge Fay remanded the man on bail to appear again before Portlaoise District Court on May 26. The Malt House in Stradbally has become the first national finalist from Laois in the Castleacre Historic Houses of Ireland Heritage Award. It was one of three finalists chosen from a record number of applications this year. The other finalists are Knockelly Castle in Tipperary and Corravahan House in Cavan. The award aims to reward historic houses that have demonstrated a dedicated commitment to preservation, innovation and community engagement. Glen Bradshaw has been restoring The Malt House and repurposing the industrial building in innovative ways for the past three decades. The Malt House hosts many community events from fashion shows to family days. Glen said I am delighted to have my work recognised nationally. Years of fulfilling work have led me to this point. I cannot believe it. Im just overjoyed. It is great to see recognition for private owners who care so deeply about their houses. Chief Executive Officer of Castleacre Insurance, Mark Hewlett, said its been a privilege to support the work of Historic Houses of Ireland for so many years and to be sponsoring this prize. To ensure their continued survival Irelands historic houses must be viable and vital, not just for the families who live in them, but also as an important focus for their communities. This award is designed to celebrate this work and we sincerely hope this award will lead to wider recognition of the extraordinary people who safeguard these unique buildings for Irelands future generations. The judging panel for the inaugural Castleacre-Historic Houses of Ireland Heritage Award comprised noted writer and lecturer Robert OByrne, architectural historian and conservationist Christopher Moore, and Historic Houses of Ireland External Relations Officer Thomas Emmet. Robert said Im delighted to be once again amongst the adjudicators for this years award. The preservation of heritage, and especially private heritage that a family inherits or comes to passionately, has always been a subject close to my heart. Innovation is I believe also hugely significant- imagination and creativity are vital in not only continuing traditional usage but also in the repurposing of buildings so they can have a new life. Community engagement allows houses to be shared with the public and to contribute to the local economy and rural tourism. We have three fantastic finalists this year who exemplify these criteria! The Castleacre - Historic Houses of Ireland Heritage Awards Ceremony will take place in the Merrion Hotel, Dublin on Tuesday, March 24. HAVANA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has criticized the summit convened in Florida by the United States, describing it as a "reactionary and neocolonial" gathering. "The small, reactionary and neocolonial summit in Florida, convened by the United States" commits some governments from the region to "accepting the lethal use of U.S. military force to resolve their internal problems and to impose 'order and tranquility' in their countries," Diaz-Canel said Saturday in a post on X. He added that the meeting represents "an attack on the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace," and "an assault on the aspirations for regional integration." According to reports, during the "Shield of the Americas" summit, U.S. President Donald Trump encouraged relevant governments to use military force to combat drug cartels and offered U.S. support, including missile strikes. Increased funding is being demanded for a County Kildare army site following a recent huge investment worth over 17 million. The call follows the government's awarding of a 17.65m contract for the construction of a new Army Ranger Wing headquarters at the Curragh Camp. The funding for the project forms part of the 1.7 billion National Development Plan (NDP) Sectoral Investment Plan for Defence, which Minister McEntee, which was announced back in December of 2025. READ NEXT: Woman arrested in Kildare in connection to alleged theft incident One public representative who has welcomed the move is Fianna Fail Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, who described it as "an important step" in strengthening Irelands defence capabilities. However, she also stressed that the government needs to "double down" on the investment ensuring a sustained commitment to the Defence Forces, particularly at The Curragh. Elaborating on her views, Senator OLoughlin said: "The Curragh has long been the heart of military training and operations in Ireland, and investments like this help ensure it continues to play that vital role into the future. "Given the current geopolitical climate, Ireland must continue to strengthen and modernise its Defence Forces and its overall defence capabilities; this is a necessary and responsible step to protect Irish interests." READ NEXT: 'Large amount' of vapes and cigarettes stolen from Kildare business premises She also said that while investment in the Defence Forces is increasing, the next priority must be "to continue expanding the training and operational facilities at The Curragh". "This must include investment in barracks and living conditions for our soldiers, ensuring that the men and women who serve our country have the facilities and support they deserve," Senator O'Loughlin concluded. Senator Fiona O'Loughlin made headlines earlier this week when she raised the issue of flooding in Newbridge while speaking in the Seanad. Fianna Fail Senator Fiona O'Loughlin. File photograph READ NEXT: 'All of Newbridge will be flooded' if Kildare housing plans get the green light Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. 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 Irish charity is helping empower Rwandan women to become voices of change in their communities. Rwanda has the highest percentage of female representation in its national parliament in the world, but many women still face issues such as gender-based violence, limited influence in household decision making, and a lack of access to financial independence. These challenges are exacerbated by the climate crisis, with communities at risk from extreme weather events like floods and landslides, while changing weather patterns can threaten crop yields for subsistence farmers or decrease job availability for insecure workers. Rwandan women particularly pregnant women are disproportionately affected as they often work longer hours for less, face worse health outcomes and gender-based violence (GBV), and carry the burden of demanding farming tasks in their households. Irish charity Trocaire has partnered with Rwandan non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support programmes that champion women and their wider communities. One group, the Rwanda Womens Network (RWN), has established more than 24 womens spaces across the country since it was established after the genocide to support women overcome the traumas they experienced. Stella Maris Murekeyisoni, a project co-ordinator with RWN, told the Press Association: These are more than physical places, they are places of healing, belonging and also trust. Normally, the women we serve, when they come they are facing trauma, GBV, financial dependency, but when they come they find other women and can build trust and also solidarity. Rwanda is the focus country for Trocaires lenten box fundraising campaign for 2026. In the Rulindo district, about an hours drive north of the capital Kigali, an RWN hub caters for women who have sought help for reasons including support with teenage pregnancy, experiences with GBV, and financial dependency. Emilia Placide Mubyeyi, RWN field co-ordinator in Rulindo, said the Trocaire-supported centre is designed around buildings women confidence, their capacity to take part in decisions that affect their lives, and economic empowerment, as well as GBV awareness and prevention. She said: We help women to be mentally stable by healing their traumas, through having conversations like therapy stations, and other supports. The centre also has a playroom for women who take their children with them, and a safe space including a bed where they can sleep. The RWN uses a 13-session Masidama programme on womens empowerment which involves advice on financial stability and investing as well as training on agriculture work and other income generation. Asked about some of the success stories, Ms Murekeyisoni said some of the women could not even attend local community meetings before the programme but now all 190 who have completed the Masidama course in the Rulindo centre are attending and influencing decisions. In collaboration with Rwandan women-led NGO Duterimbere, participants also get financial literacy training and access to savings and loans groups, which has helped the establishment of businesses. The Rulindo centre has seen success with the women their winning a competition for their business acumen. The hub has a small agricultural space for crops and livestock, a private consultation room for counselling, and a sewing room. Murore Marie Goretti, a 35-year-old mother-of-three, said she used to be a woman with self-stigma and lack of confidence, but added: I am now a facilitator training other women to be self-confident and to not be where I used to be: behind the doors in our homes and instead being part of the decision making. At a small store next to the main RWN building, Geraldine Uwimana said the Masidama curriculum helped her gain confidence and more financial self-dependence. She said: I learned that a woman cannot have a voice if she doesnt have money, thats the reason Im here. Ms Uwimana is involved in running the shop and said: I learned necessary skills around running a business including record keeping and stock projections. Amid shelves of cereals, beans, rice, flour, hygiene products, cooking materials and stationery, she added: Before coming here, I used to be a housewife whereby I was just doing farming activities in my home and cooking for the family. But after joining this team, I become confident. I now get money. Wearing a green dress, she added: And before, I couldnt get clothes like this one without asking money from my husband, but currently myself, I go to the market and I buy such clothes without any help from my husband. Asked for her advice to other women in her previous situation, she said: I want you to be confident because you cannot sit there and hope and wait to get each and every thing from your husband. Because you are capable, you are able to get where I am, you just have to be confident enough and everything will be all right. Trocaires country director in Rwanda said the charitys approach is focused on making sure communities are empowered themselves and much more resilient by mitigating risks and ensuring incomes come from different sources. Marleen Masclee said: We do that empowerment not only at the household level, but we lift it up at the community level. Ms Masclee said the work around social norms is also community up and not top down. We listen to the women, we listen to their fears, we listen to their challenges, and we work together with their husbands, with their families, in making sure that everyone has a dignified role within the family, and that families can prosper in a harmonious way instead of having violence in the household, instead of having womens voices being repressed. And we do that through enabling women to raise their voices, to be able to find the inner empowerment, to be able to speak out, but also for the husbands to be able to allow such a change happening. Because instead of it causing friction in a family, we want to do this carefully. We want to accompany the process so that, in the end, you have very strong family units that respect one another and that can really work together for the benefit of the families. Reflecting on her time at the RWN, Ms Goretti said: Its obvious, you can tell from looking at us we are proud of ourselves. On the weekend of international women's day, two amazing young local women, Saoirse Hayden (19) from County Leitrim and Shannika Greene (20) from County Roscommon hosted the first of its kind National Young Carers Conference. The event was supported by Dr Niall Muldoon via the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and attended by Professor Philip Jaffe the Vice Chair of the UNCRC committee, who flew in especially for the event from Switzerland. The event was held at the O'Reilly Hall UCD. The event was opened by another impressive woman, President Catherine Connolly, who gave a heartfelt speech about the role of young carers, which was echoed throughout the day by a candid presentation of the real lives of young carers, who stated that their own burden is the lack of support. An Erasmus+ event funded by Irish National Agency for EU funded, Leargas, saw a team of young carers present their stories through academic research, participatory research, drama, music, poetry, art and hard hitting personal statements and calls to action from the young carers for Ireland's key decision makers. READ MORE: RIP: Leitrim community remembers a lovely lady who would always take time to say hello "The important question now is if, how, and when those calls to action will be responded to" asked Co-lead organiser Shannika as she encouraged attendees to engage with their TDs,who were all invited to the event today,with little uptake on that invite. Co lead on the project, Saoirse said "We want to host mature conversations about how to best improve life experiences for young carers, that are often overly adult in nature and can include serious financial strain, emotional and mental health challenges, and even violence." Saoirse ended the conferences saying "The time for action is now as we don't want to have to come back next year, it's not right that young person should have to prostitute private details about their lives to access basic human rights." Shannika spent time discussing how the urgent housing crisis of inadequate, even unsafe housing hugely affects young carers and the person they care for, with Senator Tom Clonan, who was part of a Q&A panel, reminding everyone that the level of responsibility placed on family carers depends on how much independence is facilitated for People Disabilities. The 12 strong youth project team plan to submit an application to be in included in the International National Young Carers Conference in Berlin this October Dividend-paying stocks are one of the best ways to play the market in the long run. Most of the companies that focus on their dividend as a way of generating shareholder returns have either been around for a very long time, are operating in industries that are absolutely vital to the broader economy, or some combination of both. It's an incredibly low-stress way to invest. You buy shares, you set up a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP), and you're set to watch your wealth compound into a revenue stream for as long as you care to. 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 The three stocks highlighted here might not grab headlines like the latest and greatest tech stock, but the modern world is dependent upon the products and services they provide. And that makes them great candidates to add to your dividend portfolio. Image source: Getty Images. Clean water, clean profits Pentair (NYSE: PNR) is a Dividend King, one of a select few dividend stocks that have consistently raised their dividend each year for 50 years in a row. Many of the companies on that list are engaged in important, if not the most glamorous, industries and Pentair is no different. The company is involved in the water industry, selling products for moving and cleaning water for human use, so it's most certainly important. It sells everything from a humble home filter for your tap water to industrial-size water purification equipment, and everything in between. Like most long-term dividend payers, Pentair isn't lighting the world on fire in terms of growth, but it is growing steadily across the board. Per its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, Pentair's sales climbed 2% over 2024, its adjusted operating income grew 10%, and its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were up 14% year over year. On top of that, it's profitable with a net margin of 15.55%. Its yield is fairly small, 1% at current prices, but it has grown its dividend regularly for exactly 50 years and can add some stability to your portfolio in a volatile market. Finally, with a payout ratio of 25.45% it has plenty of room to continue growing its dividend for a long time to come. Pour yourself a cup of Texas tea Next is Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD), which isn't technically a stock that pays a dividend, it's a master limited partnership that pays a distribution. In practice it will function similarly to a dividend stock and there are some tax differences, but you can set it up with a DRIP. HISTORICAL fiction writer June OSullivan felt a huge responsibility in bringing the story of pioneering Irish aviator Sophie Peirce-Evans to life in her new novel, The Sky Is Not Enough. The book tells the story of the Knockaderry-born adventurer who survived a traumatic childhood to become one of Irelands earliest female aviators, most notably completing a solo flight from Cape Town to Croydon in 1928. The novel was launched on Saturday, February 7 in The Red Door Gallery in Newcastle West. A lovely touch to the event was the inspiration of Vicki Nash who prompted Richard Langford, a relative of Sophie Peirce-Evans, to provide the gallery with some family photographs to allow attendees to see Sophie in her many guises. I grew up very near to the same village where she was born. I used to play camogie with Knockaderry when I was a child so I cycled up and down past her house or past the entrance to her house... and never even knew that the place existed or that she had existed, explained June. READ MORE: 'Slow down and connect': New willow artwork offers calming space in Limerick city park It was only years later, while working in a local bar in the village, that she first heard Sophies story. Some of the older lads at the bar started talking about it and they asked me had I ever heard of the Murder House, June recalled. That just piqued my interest straight away so they told me about her, and I just couldn't believe that this was my first time hearing about it. I went to school in Newcastle West and she wasn't in any of the history books. Sophies father beat her mother to death when she was just one year old. She was later raised by her grandfather before going on to excel academically and in sport, serve during World War I, live in Africa, and carve out a career in aviation at a time when women were routinely excluded from the field. The novel focuses primarily on Sophies solo flight from Cape Town to Croydon, a journey June describes as both daring and under-appreciated. People dont see it as the big deal that it was back then, she said, to do that on her own, as a woman, across a fairly unexplored continent, where she was at risk every day. Every day she went up in that plane, her life was at risk, and it was an open cockpit plane... Every time she landed, she had to rely on the resources of the people who were there. While much of Sophies life is documented including her own published account of the journey June said separating fact from embellishment proved challenging. She was known for exaggerating and embellishing, and she didn't let the truth stand in the way of a good story. Among the more surprising elements uncovered during research was Sophies meeting with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. The fact that she met Mussolini and seemed to like him threw me a little bit, June admitted. I think at the time, that was 1928, most people hadn't kind of copped on to what kind of a man he was at that stage. The novel also explores Sophies friendship and subtle rivalry with fellow aviator Mary Bailey. I thought that was interesting that they could be really good friends but still once they got into the sky because they competed in aviation, it was every woman for herself. The books title reflects what June sees as the defining trait of her subject. Even the whole sky at her fingertips wasn't enough for her. She was still going to be chasing after something else, she explained. June hopes the novel will help restore Sophie Peirce-Evans to her rightful place in Irish history. Amelia Earhart's really well known, but Sophie Peirce-Evans should be the first name that Irish people think of when they think of aviation. While the novel is grounded firmly in historical research, June said it is ultimately about resilience. She came from very difficult beginnings, and then she went on to achieve so much. I wouldn't say it didn't affect her, but I think it made her who she was in a way. June also graduated with a Master of Arts last year which she completed part-time over two years. I had decided before I went in that this was the book I was going to work on for my dissertation so I did the first three chapters of the book for my dissertation. stated June. The Limerick woman is based in Kerry on Valentia Island. June works as a secondary school teacher and teaches a special class in the Intermediate School, Killorglin. With a four-book contract underway, she is already considering her next project, though she plans to step away from writing about real historical figures. After this book, I kind of felt like I wanted to step away from writing about real people because it does restrict you a little bit, added June. I have a character in mind for my next book who's completely fictional, but there is a real woman kind of creeping into the background of it. A LOCAL trader is involved in a campaign to introduce tax stamps on vaping products in order to strengthen the enforcement of a new duty. Stuart Agar, who runs VapeOn in Tipperary Town, is a spokesperson for Responsible Vaping Ireland (RVI). Its a national association representing more than 3,500 independent vape retailers. They are now subject to a new tax on vaping liquids, of 50c per millilitre. READ MORE: Loving and generous Limerick dad of country music star and top greyhound trainer passes away In the wake of this measure, which Government has said is to improve public health, there are calls for a small sticker or mark to be put on these liquids. This will provide a quick way for shopkeepers and enforcement officers to tell at-a -glance whether the product is legal or not. RVI believes the current self-declaration model, is not robust enough to prevent tax evasion or tackle the growing illicit market. Just 1.3m has been collected from this tax since its rollout, RVI has said. Mr Agar, pictured above, said: Responsible retailers like us are doing everything by the book from age verification to product standards to paying the new vape tax. But we are competing with operators who dont follow the rules and who face little risk of being caught. If tax stamps are required on tobacco, there is no reason they shouldnt be required on vapes. A visible stamp would make it immediately clear whether excise has been paid. It would protect compliant businesses and give enforcement officers a simple, practical tool to clamp down on illegal sellers. Mr Agar described the early tax returns as deeply concerning. Introducing tax stamps, increasing inspections, and publishing compliance data will protect consumers, protect young people, and protect legitimate Irish businesses, he argued. A WOMAN who is accused of shoplifting at a number of premises in Limerick city was refused bail when she appeared before Limerick District Court. Amber Milbrandt, aged 39, with an address at McGarry House, Alphonsus Street, Courtbrack, Limerick, was arrested on February 19, 2026 and subsequently charged in connection with offences which are alleged to have happened earlier this year and late last year. It is alleged that Ms Milbrandt committed five thefts from various shops on dates between November 2025 and February 2026. READ MORE: Limerick student pleads guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of two young men According to gardai, goods valued at 1,058 were stolen from the various premises, which include McCabe's Pharmacy, Grove Island; Spar, Henry Street; Dunnes Stores, Jetland Shopping Centre and SuperValu, Corbally. Opposing bail, Garda Emily Maher gave evidence that it is her belief the defendant will continue to commit further serious acts if granted on bail. Garda Maher said it will be alleged Ms Milbrandt is addicted to controlled drugs, mainly crack cocaine. Ms Milbrandt, who was represented by solicitor Sarah Ryan, told the court she is now on methadone and is working with the Probation Service. I have been trying, she said before detailing how she has been linking in with addiction services, namely Slainte Drugs and Alcohol service. Judge Patricia Harney said Ms Milbrandt comes before the court as an innocent woman and that she has the presumption of innocence, before being proven guilty. The judge stated that she believed the garda evidence and that the overriding consideration is to ensure Ms Milbrandt appears in court for future hearings. In light of the garda evidence, Judge Harney decided to refuse Ms Milbrandt bail. -Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme With the cost of living increasing nearly 25% since December 2020 (1), many Americans are struggling to get by. And when Americans struggle to afford basic living essentials, saving money can become extremely difficult. In fact, just 47% of Americans report that theyve saved enough cash to cover a $1,000 emergency expense, according to a Bankrate survey (2). Must Read Meanwhile, new research from Vanguard shows that very few employers are combining their 401(k) plans with new emergency savings options for employees (3). Heres what the Secure Act 2.0 provisions allow companies and workers to do, and why many employers are slow to adopt these options. Secure Act 2.0 emergency savings options explained In 2024, the Secure Act 2.0 offered two new options for employers to help their workers with saving money for emergencies. The first option is the ability to withdraw $1,000 per year from retirement savings, penalty-free (and pay it back over a three-year period). The second option is an emergency savings account thats linked to a 401(k), with a contribution limit of up to $2,600 for 2026 (4). However, only 4% of companies have adopted the emergency 401(k) withdrawals, Vanguard found, while the emergency savings accounts that are linked to 401(k)s which are known as pension-linked emergency savings accounts have generated minimal to no interest from plan sponsors. The reluctance to adopt these emergency savings options seems to be that many companies (94%, as of 2024) already have some emergency withdrawal plans in place, according to Vanguard (5). Another issue could be that among the 4% of companies that have adopted the Secure Act 2.0 options, only 0.4% of participants have initiated an emergency withdrawal. CNBC also found that it may be difficult for companies to administer these plans, as high-earning employees those earning $160,000 or more per year are excluded from eligibility, while other managed solutions are already offered (6). If a plan sponsor wants to move forward with an emergency savings program at their company, theyre going to analyze the options available, and part of that [analysis] will be whats easiest to implement, said Will Hansen, executive director of the Plan Sponsor Council of America. A PEDESTRIAN is recovering in hospital this Sunday after he was struck by a car in Limerick city centre. Gardai, Limerick Fire and Rescue Service and paramedics with the National Ambulance Service all rushed to the scene at Little Gerald Griffin Street, near William Street, at around 7pm on Saturday night. Following a query from Limerick Live, a garda spokesperson confirmed emergency services attended a road traffic collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle in Limerick city. A male, aged in his 40s, was taken to University Hospital Limerick with non-life threatening injuries. Investigations are ongoing, said the garda spokesperson. READ NEXT: Limerick man charged at special court over seizure of significant six-figure sum of drugs The circumstances of the collision are not known. A section of Little Gerald Griffin Street was closed while the injured man was tended to by paramedics and gardai carried out enquiries. The road was reopened a short time later. Anybody who may have witnessed the road traffic incident, or has dash-cam footage, is asked to contact gardai in Henry Street on 061 212400, or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 MASKS and masques - in their literal and metaphorical meanings will be at the centre of the Limerick Early Music Festival (LEMF). The festival returns from March 18-22 with concerts featuring Irish and international performers, talks, workshops and youth events. Organised by Vlad Smishkewych of Lyric FM and University of Limericks Yonit Kosovske. LEMF 2026 will also showcase Limerick artists and performers, including Billy Mac Fhloinn and dancer Breandan de Gallai. The festival connects historical music and traditions from centuries past with present-day issues ranging from neurodiversity to social media to health and well-being, demonstrating how, far from being niche or esoteric, early music is a fresh, contemporary, and accessible portal to music, history, and culture for everyone. The festival opens with a launch in the Peoples Museum, on Wednesday March 18 5.30pm8.30pm. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Limerick student pleads guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of two young men On March 19, there will be a free lunchtime concert at 1.15pm in Theatre 1 at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in UL. The festival concludes on March 22 at 8pm in Belltable with Wayfaring Pipers: Virtuoso Everyday Music of the Middle Ages. Ian Harrison (bagpipes, shawm, cornett) and Poul Hxbro (pipe and tabor, percussion), will present music from folk traditions, plus popular melodies and liturgical music from Medieval times. Events take place at The People's Museum, St Mary's Cathedral, University of Limerick, and the Belltable arts centre. For more information, see www.limerickearlymusic.com or www.limetreebelltable.ie LIMERICK has produced its share of poets, but few have carried the citys spirit as far across the world as Desmond OGrady (19352014). Born in Limerick, he grew up near the Shannon in a city that was, in the 1930s and 40s, still shadowed by poverty but alive with stories, song, and faith. From those modest beginnings, OGrady became one of Irelands most widely travelled and cosmopolitan poets a man whose work bridged continents and civilisations. Though he is less celebrated than contemporaries such as Seamus Heaney or Derek Mahon, OGradys poetry remains among the most intellectually adventurous of the modern Irish canon. A teacher, translator, and scholar fluent in multiple languages, he wrote from Cairo to Rome, Istanbul to Boston yet his imagination was never far from Limerick. As he once put it, I plant my words in borrowed soil, and watch them rise like native grain. That line could serve as the motto of his life: rooted in Ireland, nourished by the world. READ MORE: The Limerick born detective turned notorious highwayman of the 19th century A Limerick Poet with a Passport to the World OGradys international perspective was exceptional for an Irish poet of his generation. He went on to study and teach abroad, including at Harvard and the American University in Cairo. He was also deeply involved in translation from Greek, Arabic, Italian, and Hebrew sources and this work informed his own poetic style. While many poets of his era explored Irelands inner landscape the Troubles, the land, the politics of identity OGrady turned his gaze outward. His work draws on the ancient Mediterranean, Islamic Spain, and post-colonial north Africa, weaving these influences into Irish verse with a rare global consciousness. In Hellas, for example, he writes: Times layers: Troys charred stones, / Romes columns out of joint, / Alexandrias lost shelves / Still smoke under the present. Its a breathtakingly concise summary of historys endurance. The poem moves from Troy to Rome to Alexandria but the metaphor of smoke under the present could just as easily describe the traces of Limericks own past, from Viking settlement to Georgian trade port. OGradys fascination with ruins and survival links the ancient Mediterranean to his own river city, where layers of time are visible in stone and story alike. Classical Control and Linguistic Precision One of OGradys defining traits was his discipline with language. His poetry is tight, clear, and measured never verbose, never indulgent. A lifelong student of the classics, he believed that poetry should be both exact and musical In one of his most quoted lines, he writes: We are not heirs. / The past is not ours to inherit. / We seize it or it slips. These lines, from The Road Taken, are as sharp as an epigram. They sound almost carved in stone the work of a poet who understood the moral and intellectual weight of each word. OGradys engagement with Greek and Arabic traditions gave his work a gnomic quality: short, distilled, wise. Its easy to imagine how this formal control might have appealed to a poet from Limerick, a city of structure and contradiction Georgian order beside modern grit. His poems reflect a similar tension: disciplined form containing deep emotion, historical vision balanced with lyrical restraint. The Philosopher of Fragility Much of OGradys poetry grapples with impermanence the fate of civilisations, the erosion of memory, the endurance of language. In The Alexandrians, he writes: Their lamps went out; the papyri rotted. / A sea-change of silence settled / Where once syllables flamed. Here, the image of syllables flaming captures both the beauty and the vulnerability of knowledge. OGradys lament for Alexandria, the great library of the ancient world, doubles as a meditation on human culture itself: how brilliance gives way to dust, and how silence follows speech. In another poem he reflects, with haunting simplicity: Words are what survive / When cities fall. / But who remembers / The tongue of Troy? Its the quintessential OGrady paradox poetry as both preservation and loss. His work asks what it means to remember when even memory decays. This sense of historical fragility feels especially poignant for an Irish poet born in the shadow of war, raised amid the fading empire and rising nationhood of mid-century Ireland. Emotion in Restraint For all its learning, OGradys poetry is not cold though it can seem, at first glance, emotionally restrained. He rarely writes about himself, preferring myth, philosophy, or place. Yet beneath that restraint lies a deep tenderness. In Eurydice, his retelling of the Orpheus myth, he writes: He turned. / Not from loves weakness / But the strength of doubt. / And she returned to shadow. The emotion here is distilled, not displayed. The poem is less a confession than a reflection on human frailty. Orpheuss doubt not his love leads to loss, and that subtle shift captures OGradys entire emotional philosophy: that tragedy often grows from thought rather than passion. Some critics have called his tone austere or remote, and its true that he avoids the personal warmth of Heaney or the irony of Mahon. Yet his emotional power lies in what he withholds. The quiet ache in his poems the silence between lines becomes part of their music. The Classical Voice in a Modern World OGradys diction sometimes carries a formal, even archaic tone. He was never afraid of grandeur. In To the Muse, he begins: Come, goddess, not with lyre, / But fierce with fire. The opening command Come echoes Homeric invocation, reminding us that OGrady saw poetry as a sacred act, not a casual exercise. To some modern readers, this style may feel distant, but to others it offers a refreshing seriousness in an age of irony. His use of myth and invocation isnt mere imitation; its a way of placing modern Ireland in a dialogue with the ancient world. Just as Limerick sits between the medieval and the modern, OGradys poems bridge epochs. They make the past vibrantly alive in the present tense. READ MORE: Revisiting Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes - 30 years later in Limerick Limericks Cosmopolitan Son Despite his international career, OGrady never lost sight of his hometown. In interviews, he often spoke fondly of Limericks literary energy, its sense of independence, and its mix of toughness and imagination. His early surroundings the river, the medieval walls, the echo of church bells fed his lifelong fascination with how time and place shape identity. Those who knew him recall a man both modest and mischievous, deeply learned but never aloof. In later years, he returned to Limerick frequently, reading in local venues (notably The White House Bar) and supporting young poets. He embodied what it means to be a Limerick man abroad: proud of his roots, but open to the world. If Limericks most famous literary son, Frank McCourt, gave the city its memoir, OGrady gave it its passport. Legacy: A Poet Between Worlds Desmond OGradys contribution to Irish letters is both broad and profound. He showed that Irish poetry could speak with a Mediterranean accent that Homer, Hafiz, and Heaney could coexist in the same imaginative space. His intellectual range, linguistic mastery, and philosophical curiosity make him a poet for readers who like to travel across time, culture, and thought. He may not have achieved the fame of some of his peers, but his influence runs quietly deep. His translations opened windows for Irish readers into other civilisations, while his own poetry redefined what it meant to be an Irish writer in a global century. In the end, OGrady was a poet of connections between Limerick and Alexandria, between the scholars library and the street, between the ruin and the song. His words remind us that the local and the universal are not opposites but mirrors. And as his line suggests, those who plant their words in borrowed soil can still grow native grain. Desmond OGradys Enduring Presence in Limerick Even now, more than a decade after his passing, Desmond OGradys presence lingers in Limericks literary air. His voice, shaped by the cadence of the Shannon and the echo of classical verse, continues to inspire a new generation of poets who look beyond the citys skyline but never forget where they began. In every library reading and poetry gathering, his influence can still be felt the reminder that a poet from Limerick once spoke for many worlds. OGrady proved that Limericks imagination, like his own, was never bounded by geography. His words still echo along the Shannon, where past and present meet. For Limerick, Desmond OGrady remains both native and navigator a poet who proved that imagination is a kind of voyage. His compass was language, his destination wisdom, and his journey continues wherever his poems are read. Apart from its current investments, BII is looking at more sectors as part of its rural India thesis, though Makkar said the firm is actively looking for more companies similar to Rozana. Rural India is now spending on healthcare. Education is another area they're spending money on. We look at the aspirations and needs of rural India and we want to find companies that are solving for those so that we can back them. (Bloomberg) -- The US Justice Department filed two civil forfeiture complaints Friday related to a web of companies operated by an Iranian oil tycoon who was sanctioned last year and allegedly breached prohibitions while using a global network of banks. The federal court complaints seek the forfeiture of more than $15 million allegedly used to fund an illicit Iranian oil distribution network operated by Hossein Shamkhani, the son of a top adviser to Irans former supreme leader. The proceeds were part of billions of dollars the US government alleges were laundered from the sale of Iranian and Russian oil, mostly to buyers in China, according to the filings. The US Treasury Department sanctioned Shamkhani last July, prior to the recent US-Israeli attacks on Iran. A multiyear Bloomberg News investigation showed how Shamkhani built a secretive trading empire spanning Iranian oil sales, Russian arms deals and even a London hedge fund. Through a web of tankers, trading firms and shell companies, the network generated tens of billions of dollars in profit, according to the US Treasury. Operating under aliases such as H and Hector, Shamkhani kept a low public profile even as his firms supplied international oil buyers and transacted with Wall Street banks, Bloomberg has reported. While recent sanctions have disrupted some of the networks activities, people familiar with the matter say the group has reorganized itself to remain an important player in the market. Shamkhani has denied any wrongdoing. One of the cases is US v. $12,973,529, 26-cv-802, US District Court, District of Columbia (Washington). (Updates with Bloomberg News investigation in fifth paragraph and video.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com The next time you step into a hotel, dont expect a robot to greet you at the door, though. A staff member will still open the door, and a chef will still cook your dal Bukhara, but in the background, AI is already deciding how cool your room should be, how quickly you check in, and even how much the hotel charges for the night. Equity investments in residential real estate are hardly happening. Yet, the requirement for capital is huge because developers are expanding. Real estate projects need capital, including debt and equity, at various stages of their life cycle. However, the source of capital for residential developers is quite limited, Sharad Mittal, founder and chief executive officer, Arnya Real Estates Fund Advisors told Mint. Market jitters Following Buffett's unexpected announcement in early May 2025 that he would step down, Berkshire's shares fell sharply from their record high of over $809,000. The stock lost up to 14% over the following months through early August, even as the S&P 500 gained about 11% over the same period, creating the widest three-month underperformance gap relative to the index in decades. Analysts attributed the sell-off to the unwinding of the "Buffett premium", as long-term holders, including families and early investors who had held shares for generations, chose to exit ahead of the leadership change. AI is continuing to create new billionaires, with 114 of the world's 4,020 billionaires now linked to artificial intelligence companies, but this wealth creation also coincides with a parallel wealth destruction, according to a recent report. As per the Hurun Global Rich List 2026, the number of AI billionaires currently stands at 114, with a little less than half 46 being new entrants to the list, suggesting a breakneck pace of wealth creation. "Wealth was created faster last year than at any point in the Hurun Global Rich Lists history. We saw a record of over 700 new faces - thats two a day for every day of the last year. The big winner of the last year was China, which added half the new entrants. Rupert Hoogewerf, the chief researcher of the report, said. The report also highlighted how AI became the "dominant wealth engine globally" last year, with key figures like Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI founder Sam Altman seeing their wealth rise dramatically. Also Read | The invisible manager: how AI is running hotels without replacing humans AI-driven wealth boom With Nvidia's chips powering the AI boom in much of the world, Huang saw his wealth swell by 34% to $172 billion as the chipmaker broke through the $5 trillion mark, making him the 9th richest person on the list. Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, meanwhile, surged into the third and fifth spots respectively as Alphabet shattered the $4 trillion market valuation mark, fuelled strongly by the global adoption of the Gemini 4 AI model and continued dominance of Google Cloud. Oracle founder Larry Ellison's wealth also surged by 32% to $267 billion, driven by his company's aggressive expansion into AI and cloud computing. Sam Altman of OpenAI, meanwhile, saw his wealth almost triple to $4.7 billion. Also Read | AI rocks the tech boat, but an island of calm is in sight Meanwhile, OpenAI rival Anthropic, the makers of Claude AI, alone created seven new billionaires, as its valuation soared to $380 billionsiblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, and Anthropic's five other co-founders each touched $3.7 billion. The year's largest gainer in terms of percentage was Brett Adcock, founder of humanoid robotics company Figure AI, with the entrepreneur seeing his wealth rise over 10-fold to touch $16 billion as his firm reached a $39 billion valuation. The youngest self-made billionaires on the Hurun Global Rich List 2026Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha, all aged 22, with valuations of $2.4 billion eachare also AI entrepreneurs, being founders of the AI recruitment startup Mercor. Also Read | Pentagon vs Anthropic: Top US official opens up on clash with AI firm China, which had the most number of billionaires at 1,110 and created the most number of new entrants at 318, created just two new AI billionaires. However, the existing Chinese billionaires on the list who saw their wealth increase the most were mostly AI-related, the Hurun report said. Zhang Yiming of TikTok-owner ByteDance added $19 billion to his wealth to hit $79 billion, while Tencent CEO Ma Huateng saw his net worth rise to $66 billion. GPU-maker Cambricon Technologies CEO Chen Tianshi, meanwhile, saw his wealth double to $25 billion while Wang Weixiu of data center provider Zhongji Innolight saw his wealth surge six-fold to $15 billion. Baidu CEO Robin Li Yanhong saw his wealth surge to $12 billion while storage solutions provider Longsys' CEO Cai Huabo's net worth rose to $7.2 billion. Also Read | How the OpenAI-Anthropic feud could warp the future of AI Historic destruction of wealth The tremendous wealth created by AI and linked industries, however, also came at a cost. The AI revolution has a direct shadow side: a historic destruction of wealth among the legacy software and data companies it is disrupting, said Hoogewerf. To illustrate, the report pointed out that Michael Bloomberg saw his wealth fall 13% to $80 million, while Atlassian co-founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar saw their wealth decrease by half. Salesforces Marc Benioff and Workdays David Duffield were both down a third, as AI replaces the addressable market for per-set SaaS tools, the report said, adding that India's IT outsourcing founding families fell by a quarter collectively. Sentiment among the wheat trade and industry is likely to remain subdued this year, as many incurred losses last season after buying wheat at prices close to minimum support price (MSP) levels, and were unable to recover their carrying costs. As a result, the trade and industry are expected to be more cautious in procurement this season, with many likely to limit purchases and avoid building large inventories to prevent a repeat of last years losses, said Navneet Chitlangia, president of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India. A version of this post first appeared on TKer.co One of my favorite research reports is UBSs "Global Investment Returns Yearbook." The 310-page encyclopedic review of historical financial market data is authored by Professors Paul Marsh, Mike Staunton, and Elroy Dimson, who have been updating the compendium annually since 2000. It builds off of work they published in the popular "Triumph of the Optimists." The authors do a nice job of applying analytical rigor to data often taken at face value. Last year, I wrote about how they challenged the assumptions that stock market returns were mean-reverting. On a Tuesday media call, Dimson discussed the ups and downs of past experiences with emerging world-changing technologies and the bubbles that often accompanied them. New technologies have transformed the world, but theyre typically disruptive, he said. Rail disrupted canals. Rail was disrupted by trucking and by air. People were very worried about an AI bubble. The current concern has switched over to FOBO fear of becoming obsolete due to AI. And thats what new technologies do. They disrupt. These disruptive technologies dont follow the same paths, which should have investors thinking carefully before going all-in on the AI hyperscalers or avoiding them outright. Some technologies have been good, long-term investments, Dimson added. Others have not. It would not have been wise in hindsight to have invested in canals in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They were disrupted by rail, and they lost a great deal of money. So some technologies have been great. Others have not. At this point, its hard to imagine something interrupting the current trajectory of AI. But trains were once hard to imagine, too. Industries will go extinct, and new ones will emerge One of my favorite visuals from the report is the one below showing U.S. stock market industry weightings in 1900 versus the present. It reminds us that the stock markets long-term growth has come with massive changes beneath the surface. Rail once dominated the stock market. (Source: UBS) Yahoo Finance "Of the U.S. firms listed in 1900, some 80% of their value was in industries that are small or extinct today, including railroads, textiles, iron, coal, and steel," the authors wrote. "Meanwhile, 70% of todays companies in the U.S. come from industries that were small or non-existent in 1900. Technology and healthcare were almost totally absent from stock markets in 1900." Thats the markets and the economy for you. Industries rise and fall. Jobs come and go. And yet the markets and the economy always manage to come out on top. When filmmaker and actor Yugi Sethu sat down for an interview with Indiaglitz, he had something rather interesting to share about his close friend and fellow actor Kamal Haasan a detail that offers a glimpse into just how highly the industry values its most seasoned talent. Kalki 2898 AD actor reveals how much Kamal Haasan was paid for the film Speaking warmly about Haasan's fee for the sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD, Sethu said: "Kamal sir's stature is such. He is getting paid 150 crore for 20 days of the call sheet for Kalki 2898 AD. I told him on his birthday that he is the highest-paid actor in India and is getting $1 million per day, because he was paid 150 crore for 20 days." The figure, however, turned out to be even higher. When Sethu later spoke with the film's producer, Aswani Dutt, he realised he had miscounted the number of shooting days. "I told him thanks for making our friend the highest-paid actor in India. When I said 150 crore for 20 days, he replied, no, sir, he has given only 10 days. Sorry, I correct myself then, it's $2 million per day." It is worth noting that reports on Haasan's actual fee differ quite a bit some place it at 20 crore, whilst others suggest it was well above 100 crore. What is clear, though, is that his presence in the film carried considerable weight. In Kalki 2898 AD, Haasan played the Supreme Yaskin, a totalitarian god-king who rules over a vast fortress-city called the Complex. Despite relatively limited screen time, his character sits at the very centre of the film's mythology. The ending strongly hints that his role will grow considerably in the sequel. What Comes Next for Kamal Haasan Far from slowing down, Haasan has a full slate ahead of him. Shooting for Kalki 2898 AD Part 2 has begun, with Haasan and Amitabh Bachchan both back on set for Prabhas' eagerly awaited sequel. Perhaps the biggest announcement in recent months is the long-awaited reunion between Haasan and fellow superstar Rajinikanth. The two icons are set to share the screen again in a new film currently known as KHxRK, produced by Red Giant Movies and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. Variety The last time they appeared together was over four decades ago. The makers are reportedly aiming for a mid-2026 release. On the production front, Haasan's banner Raaj Kamal Films International is co-producing Thalaivar 173, a Rajinikanth-led project directed by Cibi Chakravarthi, with the team aiming for a Pongal 2027 release. The Week The banner is also backing Seyon, a large-scale rural entertainer headlined by Sivakarthikeyan, positioned as a grand family spectacle slated for 2026. As an actor, Haasan is also in the early stages of his next film, tentatively titled KH237, with the shoot expected to begin in April 2026. The escalating conflict, which could rage on for weeks, has drawn U.S. warships and aircraft from ports and bases around the world. American forces have expended enormous firepower alreadymore than 2,000 munitions against nearly as many targets in the first 100 hours of the conflict, according to Central Command, or Centcom, which oversees operations in the region. That includes bombs that are plentiful and easy to replace, but also high-end missiles that arent. But it will come at a cost. Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. that were on the verge of war with Iran in 2019 wont take kindly to being attacked and will likely draw closer to the U.S. for security. The U.A.E. is now weighing freezing billions of dollars of Iranian assets held in the Gulf state, The Wall Street Journal has reported, a move that could sever one of Tehrans most important economic lifelines. I want to again thank my friend President Trump for the cooperation between us and between Israel and the United States. Together well achieve our aims, God willing, Netanyahu says, with Top Gun-style rock music playing in the background. For now, most Jewish Israelis give Netanyahu high marks for handling the war. A poll released this week by the Jerusalem-based Israel Democracy Institute found that 74% of Jewish Israelis and 16% of Arab Israelis trust Netanyahu to manage the conflict with Iran. There are challenges aplenty to navigate, but with Noice, Swiggy Instamart is looking to break out from the pack with its F&B private label, taking the premium path rather than rubbing shoulders with the rabble in the affordable aisles on its app. It may well succeed and spur others to do likewise. Or it could fall flat. Indian stock market: For nearly two decades, Indian equity markets were largely driven by the rise of the information technology (IT) sector. Companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro became symbols of Indias global outsourcing success and long-term wealth creation on Dalal Street. However, after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, IT stocks have failed to meet investors' expectations and have largely been major casualties in the last four years' stock market crashes. Over the past four years, defence stocks have delivered stellar returns to shareholders. The Indian defence major Bharat Dynamics Ltd has surged from around 215 to 1355 per share in the last four years, delivering a more than 500% return to its shareholders. The BEL share price skyrocketed from 67 to 470 in the last four years, delivering over 600% return to its shareholders. Shares of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd or HAL skyrocketed from 657 apiece to 4,030 per share, logging over 500% rise in the last four years. In the small-cap segment, defence stock Apollo Micro Systems' share price surged from 12 to 221.50 apiece, delivering around 1750% return to its shareholders in the last four years. Similarly, Zen Technologies shares surged from 196 to 1,429 apiece on the NSE, delivering over 625% return to its investors. GRSE share price skyrocketed from 219.50 to 2,530 per share, delivering an over 1,000% return to its shareholders over the last four years. Amid rising tensions over a US-Iran war and President Donald Trump now shifting his focus to Cuba, Dalal Street is abuzz over whether defence has become a new IT for the Indian stock market. According to stock market experts, the IT sector faces new pressures from artificial intelligence (AI|) disruption, slowing global tech spending, and currency volatility. Investor attention is increasingly turning toward another strategic industry defence manufacturing. They said that the defence segment is driven by geopolitical tensions, and the strong order book of Indian defence companies signals strong earnings visibility. They predicted IT as a long-term growth structure in the Indian defence segment. Geopolitical tension fuels order book, earnings visibility Expecting the growth story in the defence stocks to sustain, Hariprasad K, SEBI-registered Research Analyst and Founder at Livelong Wealth, said that, unlike many sectors that move purely with economic cycles, defence is largely driven by geopolitical realities. Rising tensions across regions such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific have triggered a global surge in defence spending. Highlighting the earnings visibility on strong order book strength, Hariprasad K said, "One of the strongest arguments supporting the 'defence as the new IT' narrative lies in earnings visibility. IT companies are highly dependent on global corporate spending cycles, which can fluctuate during economic slowdowns. Defence companies, on the other hand, operate with long-term government contracts and multi-year order books, often stretching five to ten years." "Episodes of conflict and strategic uncertainty often trigger short-term rallies in companies linked to military equipment, shipbuilding, electronics, and aerospace. In India, this momentum is further supported by structural factors, including the governments strong push for defence indigenisation, rising defence budgets, and increasing exports. Indias defence production has crossed record levels and exports have surged significantly over the last decade, reflecting a structural shift toward a domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem," said Ponmudi R, CEO at Enrich Money. The Livelong Wealth expert said that companies such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited are currently sitting on record order pipelines, offering far greater revenue visibility than sectors reliant on discretionary spending. India's growing defence export ambition "Another major structural shift is Indias emergence as a defence exporter. Defence exports have surged to 23,622 crore in FY202425, a dramatic rise from less than 1,000 crore a decade ago. The government has set an ambitious target of 50,000 crore in defence exports, which could significantly diversify revenue streams for domestic defence companies and reduce dependence on domestic procurement," said Hariprasad K of Livelong Wealth. "One of the strongest arguments supporting the 'defence as the new IT' narrative lies in earnings visibility. IT companies are highly dependent on global corporate spending cycles, which can fluctuate during economic slowdowns. Defence companies, on the other hand, operate with long-term government contracts and multi-year order books, often stretching five to ten years," said Hariprasad K, Founder of Livelong Wealth. Hariprasad K said the comparison between defence and IT does not necessarily imply that the defence sector will replicate ITs export scale. Instead, the analogy reflects a similar long-term structural growth cycle. "Just as IT stocks benefited from the global outsourcing boom of the early 2000s, defence is now supported by a powerful combination of geopolitical realities, government policy support and rising global military spending. These are structural drivers that tend to persist over decades rather than quarters," said Hariprasad K of Livelong Wealth. Should you sell IT and buy defence stocks? Whether one should prefer defence stocks over IT shares, Khushi Mistry, Research Analyst at Bonanza, said that defence remains in focus during a war-like situation, but many forget that when the war ends, the actual capital and capex come into the picture, supported by the government as well as export orders, as countries tend to strengthen their defence equipment. "With the kind of environment we are living in, it will be fair to assume that defence is something everyone is focusing on, and with companies having multi-year revenue visibility that is also increasing on a sequential basis. Hence, all of this augurs well for the sector," said Khushi Mistry of Bonanza. GRM Overseas Limited (GRMOVER), a small-cap stock is likely to be in focus on Monday, March 9, following a hike in stake by a promoter of the FMCG company. According to a stock exchange filing, Atul Garg, a promoter and Managing Director of GRM Overseas Lt, has acquired 100,000 equity shares of the company on March 5, 2026. The shares have a face value of 2 each. The transaction was reported by the company under the SEBI takeover regulations, which require promoters and significant shareholders to disclose purchase or sale of shares beyond certain thresholds. On March 6, the GRM Overseas stock closed at 157.60 on the NSE, down 3.24% from its previous close of 162.88. During the intraday, the stock showed considerable volatility, rising to a high of 161.70 and slipping to 152.79. The market value of the company is around 3,311.43 crore. Delivering a one-year yield of approximately 80%, GRM Overseas shares have exhibited exceptional expansion regarding their long-term trajectory. While the stock currently remains below its 52-week peak of 185.45, it is trading significantly above its 52-week bottom of 75.74. Furthermore, the equity value has surged by nearly 31% over the previous six-month period. Indian stock indices ended lower on Friday amid tensions in West Asia. Sensex closed at 78,918.90 points, down 1,097.00 points or 1.37%, while Nifty closed at 24,450.45 points, down 315.45 points or 1.27%. GRM Overseas Expansion Plans To establish a marketing and logistics hub within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), GRM Overseas finalized the purchase of GRM ARABIA FZCO in Dubai on 27 February, 2026. Prior to this, on 26 December 2025, the firm distributed 12.27 crore fully paid bonus equity shares via a 2:1 allotment ratio. From roughly 770 crore in fiscal year 2021 to nearly 1,347 crore in fiscal year 2025, the organization's consolidated income grew significantly, reflecting solid market interest. As per Screener, the enterprise recorded sales of about 1,463 crore on a trailing twelve-month (TTM) scale. The latest TTM net profit stand at approximately 73 crore. Profits climbed from 45 crore in FY2021 to almost 61 crore by FY2025. Total shareholder funds expanded from around 135 crore in FY2021 to roughly 426 crore in FY2025. In an interview to The New Yorker last year, Daniyal Mueenuddin described his story, The Golden Boy, as a piece that is embedded in a much larger history. Like a peripheral scene in some enormous battle paintingthink of Goya or Breughel, the Pakistani-American writer put it. All our storiesthe stories of our livesare so important to us, and yet we live in a corner of the painting, a corner of the tapestry. In his new book, This is Where the Serpent Lives, published nearly two decades after his luminous debut In Other Rooms, Other Wonders (2009), Mueenuddin revives the metaphor, indulging in the delicate art of teasing out the stories that lie on the fringes, usually hidden in plain sight. Like Shakespeares minor characters, the men and women in Mueenuddins tales contain multitudes, secreted from the public eye, sometimes even from themselves, surprising the reader at every turn. This is Where the Serpent Lives is made of three long stories and one novella, loosely interconnected by overlapping characters. Mueenuddin had followed a similar structure in his previous book, where the technique had felt fresh and original. Somewhat disappointingly, the new collection feels overpowered by themes he has already explored, with his unique sense of humour, in intimate detail. It is tough, if not impossible, to replicate the impact of a contemporary classic like Nawabdin Electrician (2009), though The Golden Boy, which opens the new collection, tries its hardest to live up to the standards of the authors earlier work. This story, along with Muscle, both previously published in The New Yorker, bring back echoes of Mueenuddins familiar light touch, his unsparing eye for detail, and the psychological acuity with which he imagines his characters. In contrast, The Clean Release and This is Where the Serpent Lives, the penultimate and final pieces respectively, feel weighed by too much realism. The lavish interiors of the farmhouses are invoked with unfailing regularity, bordering on tedium. The heirs are as degenerate as their ancestors, high on drugs, sex and booze, squandering their fortunes at home and abroad. As the landed gentrythe master classpersists with their corrupt and debauched ways, the servants get embroiled in their own private dramas. In spite of strict hierarchies, the boundaries blur. Avarice acts as a great leveller as the downstairs world begins to mirror the ethos of the upstairsif not in terms of material reality, then in matters of ambition and greed. View full Image This is Where the Serpent Lives: By Daniyal Mueenuddin, Penguin Random House, 368 pages, 699. At his finest, Mueenuddin reveals these similarities to the reader by exploring subtle shifts of power. Mai Viro, an elderly maid, snitches on the young Bayazid, thereby ending his dream of getting close to the daughter of the family. Decades later, Bayazid pulls the same trick on Saqib, his protege of sorts, when he discovers the latter cheating on their employers, Hisham and Shahnaz Atar. Mai Viros machination to get rid of Bayazid, or Bayazids decision to throw young Saqib to the wolves, isnt motivated by their uniquely evil natures. Rather, their actions are undertaken as protectionist measuresto ensure that the old order is not rocked. For Mai Viro, the very presence of Bayazid, who begins life as an orphan working in a tandoor shop near a middle-class family home, defies every norm she has imbibed from a ruthlessly feudal, classist and patrician society. For her, the proximity of such a low life to her employers not only defiles their status but also acts as a threat to her authority as the first among the serving class. Mueenuddin drives home the irony of the situation by playing it against the backdrop of Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos rise with his socialist rhetoric in Pakistani politics. Bayazids fall from grace, orchestrated by a woman from a station similar to him, is testimony to the hollowness of any vision of equality, let alone upward mobility, promised by the leader. Not only are their hopes dashed by their superiors, they are also betrayed by people from their own class. The scenario is not much different when Bayazid catches Saqib red-handed decades later, cunningly pilfering from the Atar farm. Hisham and Shahnaz, who become fond of Saqib for his quick intelligence, bestow on the boy a chance to improve his lot. Instead of employing him as an indentured labourer at the farm, as his father had been, Saqib is made a manager. He is given an independent mandate to grow crops that he deems fit. And yet, the young man is waylaid by his own rapacity, too clever by half to rise the straight and narrow way. In the last quarter of the book, Saqib gets his comeuppance, not only from Bayazid and the Atars, but also from the police, who torture him mercilessly. His punishment is described in gory detail, in a striking contrast to the patronage he receives earlier in life, as though to reinforce the severity of his transgressions. The interview is well underway when Kunal Shah, co-founder of luxury jewellery brands AURUS and Moi, shares an interesting fact. Did you know that for 1,500 years the worlds glass beads came from Arikamedu in Tamil Nadu? Those beads travelled by land or ocean to Muziris, the ancient port near Kochi, and from there spread across the world. Over time, Arikamedu lost its position to Venice. But the trajectory of glass beads would eventually take a U-turn. Adopted by the nobility of West Africa, soon enough, Gujarati traders living in East Africa would bring these beads considered so valuable that they were bartered for gold back to Kochi. Another trail saw migrant pastoral communities from West Asia bringing their beadwork traditions to Rajasthan and Gujarat. By the 17th century, the tradition had become so ingrained that brides in Kutch and Kathiawar would craft entire wedding trousseaus out of glass beads. As founders of jewellery brands with an elite clientele, glass beads ought to be the last material for them to work with. We are primarily an online business, but Puja creates limited-edition collectible pieces that are sold offline. One idea she had was to create collectibles using materials and crafts from Gujarat. Thats how she came across glass beads, says Kunal. Puja adds, Glass beads appear in almost every culture across civilizations. Often, the earliest archaeological objects discovered are beads. So the idea was to bring this humble object back into the jewellery lexicon. What gave the idea additional momentum was a call from the Society of Jewellery Historians inviting submissions for a paper on beadwork. We submitted our research and got selected. Then we began travelling through Bhuj and Kutch, which are better known for textiles like Ajrakh than beadwork. What we found was mind-blowing, he says, before laying out the fascinating history of the beads journeys. The idea would eventually materialise into a research project titled Unbound by Beads: Beadwork of Kutch and Kathiawar. Presented in London last June, the couple officially launched the project in India on 11 December, on the eve of the sixth Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB). Large-scale installations by Lamka-based artists Emmanul Tausing and Thian Hoi shared space with contemporary jewellery pieces designed by Puja. The choice of Kochi as the location, the couple explain, was easy given the port citys historic connection to the glass bead trade. The project involved working with artisans from Kutch. Today beadwork exists largely as a basic craft, but our project wasnt just about reviving it. What fascinated us more was the cultural tradition behind it. In a world that is becoming increasingly flattened and homogeneous, the question of cultural identity became central to the project, Kunal says. In this interview with Lounge, the couple delve deeper into the project, which they say is still very much a work in progress. Also Read | How musicians match their style to the beat As a jewellery designer, what value did you see in working with glass beads? Puja Shah: This journey started with a vision to create collectible jewellery pieces. Today, sadly, under the garb of collectibles, what you often get are objects in unusual designs or pieces embellished with bigbiggerbiggest stones. These objects can be great, but the idea I wanted to explore was whether a collectible could go beyond simply adding a larger emerald or diamond to make it look pretty. That is how the whole journey with glass beads began. When I was creating these pieces, the designs were largely inspired by the motifs used in bead artistry from Kutch and Kathiawar. I chose to incorporate glass beads into these collectibles, which are otherwise crafted using gold, diamonds and other precious stones. By adding glass bead detailing, I wanted to explore whether introducing something with little or no material value into a piece of fine jewellery might affect its intrinsic value. In using beads, I also hoped to present a broader context: beads that were common across many ancient civilizations still hold relevance todaythey continue to remind us where we all came from. View full Image View full Image A pair of beaded earrings designed by Puja Shah. In your 46-page research report, titled Unbound by Beads, you talk about custodians of the Kutchi beadwork whether its craftspeople or enthusiastic collectors of the works. How do they view the job they are doing? Puja Shah: One important thing to clarify before answering that question is that beadwork, unlike many other crafts, was traditionally done for self-consumption. Women created it for themselves, for their homes and for their daughters. It was never something people made to sell. It was around the 1970s and 80s, when the tradition of dowry was abolished, that the craft began to decline. Earlier, brides would create elaborate beadwork trousseaus. In the 16th and 17th centuries in Kutch, it was common for brides as young as 12, 13 or 14 to craft clothes and jewellery using glass beads. Seen in that context, many present-day custodianssuch as artisanscontinue to practice the art because they learnt it from their mothers and grandmothers; it is simply what they know. Today, however, beadwork is largely produced for commercial purposes. Very rarely are these beautiful objects made for self-adornment, to pass on to daughters, or to decorate homes. Also Read | Meet the couple who made anti-fit a hit As an artist, sometimes the thrill of the work lies in working with new mediums. So, in working with glass beads, what made you go wow, this is absolutely amazing? Puja Shah: I think the wow moment for me didnt come from the craft itself. Beadwork is not as complex as one might imagine, and anyone who has worked with a needle and thread can learn it. For me, the excitement came from the larger umbrella of what it embodiedits history and the purpose for which it was practised by women (as a craft for self-adornment). View full Image View full Image Kunal and Puja Shah, founders of jewellery labels, AURUS and Moi Youve presented the project in cities as varied as London, Hyderabad and Kochi. What are the kind of conversations that have been triggered? Kunal Shah:Our academic work with the Society of Jewellery Historians helped us unpack the idea of the bead as a metaphor for value in the luxury space. Does adding something as simple as a bead to a piece of fine jewellery elevate its value or diminish it? In Kochi, Chennai and Hyderabad, where we presented the project, the bead became a common denominator for conversations around traditions that we pass on, and around identity. After all, these beads were identity markers for the women of Kutch. Since cultural and technological changes have redefined the meaning of desirable objects today, how do we assign rarity to something that is made in the present? These are some of the questions the project helped us unpack, and there are many deeper conversations still to be had. How do you work together? Do you have clearly defined boundaries? Kunal Shah: This interview was a microcosm of how we work. We both sit in different offices and yes, we have clearly defined boundaries around what each of us focuses on. Puja is the creator. Since we are a digital-first brand, a lot of effort goes into digital marketing and technologyan important pillar of our work that I drive. Whats interesting is that on one end we work with new-age technology, and on the other, we engage deeply with crafts and practices that are steeped in our culture. In many ways, we exist at two extreme ends of the spectrumbut thats exactly what gives us joy. Also Read | Come for the baithak, stay for the shopping Until now, under a special exemption in Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945, nicotine gums and lozenges containing 2mg of nicotine did not require a sale license. This meant that any grocery store, kiosk, or online platform could sell these products without the oversight applied to medicines. While originally intended to make it easier for smokers to quit, this ease of access has sparked fears that non-smokers and minors are using them as a recreational "gateway" to nicotine, said the official familiar with the matter. ACG Metals targets mid-year copper production start - ICYMI Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock 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. The second half of the Budget session of Parliament is set for a stormy start on Monday, with the Lok Sabha scheduled to take up an opposition-sponsored resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla. The ongoing conflict in West Asia is also likely to figure prominently as the opposition is already attacking the government over its stance towards Iran, the US "waiver" on India's Russian oil purchase, among other issues. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will make a statement in the Lok Sabha regarding the 'Situation in West Asia', according to a revised list of business of the Lower House for March 9 circulated on Sunday evening. Besides, the outcome of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound West Bengal, which led to the deletion of nearly 60 lakh votes, is expected to cast its shadow on parliamentary proceedings. The opposition is also likely to raise questions over the interim Indo-US trade deal in the wake of the US Supreme Court ruling against tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The second part of the Budget session will focus on the Demands for Grants for various ministries for 2026-27 and the passage of the Finance Bill, 2026, which has all the tax proposals presented in the Union Budget on February 1. Both the Houses of Parliament will also discuss the working and the Demands for Grants of five ministries each. The no-confidence resolution against Birla was given by several opposition leaders who alleged that he had acted in a "blatantly partisan" manner in the House. They had also accused the speaker of making certain false claims against Congress members when he spoke of some "unexpected action" in the Lok Sabha and had asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to come to the House to reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. Birla had recused himself from the proceedings of the House from the date of submission of the notice, with the Lok Sabha Secretariat saying he would return only after the disposal of the agenda. On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi backed Birla, saying he had taken all parliamentarians along and was committed to the principles of the Constitution and parliamentary democracy. Apart from the no-trust notice, the US-Israel strikes on Iran and growing tensions in West Asia, which have led to disruption in crude oil supplies and increase in prices, are also likely to come up during the session. The opposition is expected to question the government's policy on the matter. TMC MPs are set to raise the heat on the SIR matter in the House, while the BJP may rake up the issue of President Droupadi Murmu's "protocol breach" during her visit to West Bengal on Saturday. The government is also expected to pilot the Electricity Amendment Bill in the remainder of the Budget session, besides taking up other pending legislative business from the first half of the session. According to the agenda paper for Monday, the resolution against the speaker and the statement of External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on the situation in West Asia as items listed in the Lok Sabha business of the day. 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 opposition parties will also hold a strategy meeting in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge at 10 am on Monday. The numbers are heavily stacked in favour of the government, which will ensure that the resolution is defeated. Also Read | Modi launches 2 new Delhi Metro corridors of Pink Line and Magenta Line The Congress has called for a debate on the notice given by 118 MPs. The Trinamool Congress has also said that it would support the resolution against Birla. The Lok Sabha may not take up the Question Hour between 11 am and 12 noon on Monday, as it may get adjourned to pay respect to sitting member from Shillong Ricky Syngkon who passed away on February 19. President Droupadi Murmu's visit to poll-bound West Bengal has stirred a fresh row in the state. It was alleged that there were "lapses" in the prescribed protocol for receiving President Droupadi Murmu. Questions were also raised over change of venue and the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the event. What exactly happened? President Murmu was invited to the 9th International Santhal Conclave originally scheduled to be held in Bidhannagar, Siliguri. However, citing security and other logistical reasons, authorities shifted the venue to Goshaipur near Bagdogra airport, officials told PTI. Also Read | President Murmu takes jibe at Mamata Banerjee over her venue change in Bengal When the President arrived at the venue on Saturday afternoon, only a handful of people were present. According to the report, Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb was the only state government representative present at the airport to receive her. As per the protocol, the chief minister or a minister of the state government is usually present to receive the President. Meanwhile, in Kolkata, CM Mamata Banerjee continued her sit-in for the second day in a row against the alleged arbitrary deletion of names from the electoral rolls in West Bengal. What did President Murmu say? On Saturday, President Murmu expressed her dismay over low turnout at the annual programme near Bagdogra airport in Siliguri, and questioned the decision to shift the venue from Bidhannagar. She also noted the absence of "younger sister" Mamata Banerjee and her ministers during her visit. Also Read | 'Shameful': PM Modi criticises Mamata Banerjee for remarks on President Murmu "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, as per PTI. "Had the programme been held there [at Bidhannagar], it would have been better. There is ample space there, and many people could have attended. But I do not know why the state administration did not permit the meeting there," Murmu said. The President also took a dig at the West Bengal government, saying, "Today's programme is being held at such a place that it is difficult for people to come. Perhaps the state government does not want the welfare of tribals, and that is why they were prevented from coming here." "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 was quoted by PTI as saying. Mamata Banerjee reacts In a post on social media, CM Mamata Banerjee explained the reason behind her absence from the event and change of the venue. She wrote, "International Santal Council, a private organisation, invited Honble President to the 9th International Adivasi Santal Conference in Siliguri." "After Advanced Security Liaison, district administration flagged in writing to the Presidents Secretariat that the organiser appeared inadequately prepared; the concern was also conveyed telephonically," Banerjee said. She added that the Presidents Secretariat advance team visited on March 5 and was apprised of the lack of arrangements. However, the programme continued as scheduled, she said. "Honble President was received and seen off by Mayor Siliguri Municipal Corporation, DM Darjeeling and CP Siliguri Police Commissionerate strictly as per the approved lineup shared by the Presidents Secretariat," Banerjee posted on Facebook. Her post further claimed that "CM, West Bengal [Mamata Banerjee] was not part of the lineup or the dais plan." She maintained that "no protocol lapse happened on part of district administration." She also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "of disrespecting and misusing the highest chair in the country for its own party agenda. Most unfortunate." Earlier, addressing a gathering, the West Bengal CM stated that it won't be possible for her "to attend President Murmu's programmes if she comes during elections." Mamata Banerjee said the BJP has stooped so low that it is using President Droupadi Murmu to malign West Bengal. "We respect you honourable president, but don't indulge in politics at behest of BJP during elections," Banerjee was quoted by PTI as saying. She also questioned, Why was President Murmu silent when tribals in Manipur, other BJP-ruled states were tortured. "... You never thought of minorities. You didn't say anything about the scheduled castes, Buddhists, Punjabis, Parsis, Jains, or even Hindus. You know how to do politics. We don't know how to do politics. I will ask Derek and Sudip to request an appointment from the president of India and to submit whatever we have done for the tribal people, especially the Santali people," she said. Govt seeks response from West Bengal government Following the controversy, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan sought a detailed report from he West Bengal Chief Secretary by 5 pm on Sunday, Match 8, regarding lapses in the prescribed protocol for receiving President Droupadi Murmu, the change of venue of the International Santal Conference in Darjeeling district, and other related arrangements, officials told ANI. Highly placed sources said the communique sent to the West Bengal chief secretary sought response on the absence of the chief minister, the chief secretary and the DGP to receive the President on her arrival to the state which is a serious violation of the Blue Book rules. "The Centre has taken note of the fact that only the Siliguri Mayor was present to receive her which is a violation of protocol," they said. According to the sources, the washroom set up for the President did not have water for which an explanation has been sought from the state government. The state has been asked to explain why the route chosen by the administration for ferrying the President was littered with garbage, they said. The letter seeks to know about the action taken against District Magistrate Darjeeling, Commissioner of Police Siliguri and Additional District Magistrate who seems to be directly responsible for such violations. 'Insult': PM Modi slams West Bengal govt Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the West Bengal government of insulting the president during her visit to the state, saying it was "shameful and unprecedented" and the TMC dispensation "truly crossed all limits." PM Modi was reacting after President Murmu expressed her displeasure over the change of venue of the Santal conference, which she attended in the state. PM 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," PM Modi said in a post on 'X'. "The TMC Government of West Bengal has truly crossed all limits. Their administration is responsible for this insult to the President," he said. Union Minister Amit Shah also condemned the incident, saying, "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 also does not spare even the President of India from its tyranny," Shah posted on X. West Bengal: Two suspects wanted in connection with the murder of Bangladeshi youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi were arrested from West Bengal's Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district, Special Task Force (STF) of the state police said on Sunday. The arrests come days after Sharif Osman Hadi a leader of Bangladesh's 2024 uprising was shot. He was shifted to Singapore for his treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries . Two suspects were identified as Faisal Karim Masud aged-37-years-old, also known as Rahul, a resident of Patuakhali in Bangladesh. The other person arrested is Alamgir Hossain aged 34-years-old who is a resident of Dhaka. Masud and Hossain were arrested on the intervening night of March 7 and 8, the Bengal STF said in a statement, reported PTI. Who was Sharif Osman Hadi? Sharif Osman Hadi was born in 1994 in Nalchity Upazila, Jhalokhati district, into a Muslim family. He was recognised for his radical beliefs. Hadi became a prominent figure in the student uprising in Bangladesh last year, which resulted in the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina How was Hadi killed? Hadi was set to contest the Bangladesh elections which were held in February this year. Last year, in December, his campaign was in full swing when he was shot in the head by unidentified gunmen. He was wounded in the ear and was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Evercare Hospital. From Evercare Hospital, the Yunus-led administration airlifted the Inquilab Moncho leader to Singapore for treatment on Saturday, after doctors in Bangladesh said his condition was extremely critical. On December 18, 2025, Foreign Ministry in Singapore said Hadi succumbed to his injuries from the assassination attempt. A wave of protests gripped Bangladesh in the wake of Hadi's killing. Earlier, key suspect Masud's parents were sent to jail, Bangladeshi media outlet,The Daily Star reported in December 2025. How did the suspects enter India? The STF said that the two accused entered Indian territory through the Meghalaya border and moved through different places in India, and finally came to Bongaon with the intention of crossing back into Bangladesh. The two, accused of having committed the murder of Hadi, were intercepted by the STF after conducting a raid. "They were trying to take shelter in the border area of Bongaon with the intention of crossing back into Bangladesh when the opportunity arises," the statement said. Punjab's most wanted gangster, Amritpal Singh was detained at the Moldova border, following an Interpol Red Notice that was issued on the request of Punjab Police in coordination with central agencies. Amritpal is linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang and involved in making extortion calls to businessmen in Punjab, a police officer said on Saturday. Legal and diplomatic procedures are now underway to secure his extradition to India so that he can face the law, the DGP Gaurav Yadav said, reported PTI. Who is Amritpal Singh? Amritpal Singh alias Amrit Dalam is reportedly wanted in multiple serious criminal cases in Punjab and has been absconding abroad for a considerable period, said DGP Yadav. Amritpal a native of Dalam Nangal village in Gurdaspur's Batala fled India on a fake passport, but still keeps making extortion calls to businessmen, especially in Amritsar region. View full Image View full Image Punjabs most-wanted gangster Amritpal Singh, alias Amrit Dalam (28), has been detained at the Moldova border while attempting to cross into war-hit Ukraine, following sustained tracking of his movements by Punjab Police and central agencies. Moldova is a landlocked country that shares its borders with Ukraine and Romania in Eastern Europe. ( HT_PRINT ) In November last year, police arrested two associates of Amritpal, who were tasked by him to carry out target killings. What are the charges against Amritpal? Amritpal Singh faces charges in at least four separate cases involving drug smuggling, murder, and attempted murder. These cases are registered in Gurdaspur. Amrit Dalam's detention marks a significant step in our ongoing efforts to track and bring back offenders evading justice overseas, PTI quoted Yadav as saying. Overseas Fugitive Tracking Cell set up by Punjab Police Besides Dalam, 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. Those systems have played an important role in the current conflict with Iran. When Iran fired a missile at a Turkish military base where the U.S. stores nuclear weapons, a U.S. radar system in southeastern Turkey detected the incoming fire and relayed the threat to an American warship in the eastern Mediterranean that shot the missile down. The radar station in the town of Kurecik had been placed there more than a decade earlier by the Obama administration to bolster NATO air defenses against Iran. The scale of the task was on display this past week during annual meetings of Chinas legislature. Some 36 members of the military caucus have been unseated from the National Peoples Congress since its term started in 2023, or nearly 13% of the delegations 281 original members, according to a Wall Street Journal review of official disclosures. The military caucus accounts for more than one-third of lawmaker dismissals this term, far surpassing any other delegation. Ramadan 2026 is currently being observed by Muslims across India, with devotees observing daily fasts, offering prayers and engaging in acts of charity and reflection throughout the holy month. One of the most searched topics during this period is the Sehri and Iftar timetable, which helps people plan their fast from dawn until sunset. According to the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan 2026 in India began on February 19, subject to the sighting of the crescent moon. The holy month is expected to conclude with Eid ul-Fitr, which may be celebrated on March 20 or March 21, depending on the moon sighting. Significance Of Ramadan Ramadan, also known as Ramzan, is regarded as the most sacred month in Islam. During this time, Muslims focus on prayer, fasting, charity and spiritual reflection. Observing daily prayers, practicing patience and avoiding harmful habits form an essential part of the month. Fasting during Ramadan is believed to strengthen both physical endurance and spiritual discipline, while also reminding people to show compassion toward those less fortunate. What Is Roza? Roza refers to the act of fasting from dawn until sunset. During this period, Muslims abstain from food, water and other physical needs. Despite long hours and challenging weather conditions in some regions, the fast is observed with devotion and sincerity. What Is Sehri? Sehri, also known as Suhoor, is the meal eaten before dawn prior to the start of the daily fast. People wake up early in the morning to eat and drink so that they can sustain themselves throughout the day. A balanced Sehri meal helps maintain energy during the fasting hours. What Is Iftar? Iftar is the meal with which Muslims break their fast at sunset. Families often gather to pray and share food together. Traditionally, the fast is opened with dates and water, followed by a full meal. Ramadan 2026: Sehri And Iftar Timings For March 9 Here are the city-wise Sehri and Iftar timings for March 9, according to Islamic Finder: Conservative activist Jake Lang, who was leading an anti-Muslim protest outside the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday, claimed to have survived an "assassination attempt" by "two Muslim men" as explosive devices were hurled during the agitation and a counter-protest. Amid the chaos, authorities arrested six people connected to the unrest, including two accused of handling and igniting improvised explosives near Mamdani's residence. What did Jake Lang say? In a post on X showing footage from the protest, Lang was seen running from an explosion along with other protesters from his group. Sharing the video, the conservative activist wrote, I just survived an assassination attempt by these two Muslim men. The homemade bomb they threw landed 3 feet in front of me. The detonator failed to ignite, because God is on the throne of my life, Lang said further, adding, We will never surrender to Islam. Here's what we know so far about the incident: The anti-Muslim stir led by Lang began at around 11 am ET near East End Avenue and East 87th Street, close to Mamdani's residence. Bloomberg reported that Lang's anti-Muslim protest drew around 20 agitators, while another counter-protest held simultaneously saw around 125 people take part. Shortly before noon, tensions between the two groups escalated when a protester affiliated with Langs protesters used pepper spray against the counter-protesters and was later arrested, police said. Subsequently, an 18-year-old man lit and threw an ignited device toward the protest area, landing in a crosswalk near officers, which Lang and his supporters described as a nail bomb in a video shared on X. The man then allegedly obtained a second device from a 19-year-old, lit it and dropped it along East End Avenue, police said. Both suspects were subsequently apprehended by the police, along with four others. The duo responsible for handling the improvised explosives were identified as 18-year-old Amir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Nick, though cops said that the ID on Nick was tentative. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters that she didn't believe that Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji were at home when the incident took place. The investigation into the incident is being carried out by the NYPD and the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force. New Delhi: After oil and fertilizer, a new commodity is feeling the heat of the West Asia conflict: bitumen. With Indias plan to build nearly 10,000 km of highways in FY27 under threat, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is urgently securing bitumen supplies from state-run oil refiners like Indian Oil Corp. Ltd (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd (HPCL), two people aware of the development said. Bitumen prices are revised every 15 days, and in discussions with highway builders, NHAI has said it will coordinate with oil marketing companies IOCL, HPCL, and BPCL to ensure that supplies are not impacted, said one of the people cited above, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Indias annual bitumen requirement is nearly 9 million tonnes. Industry estimates suggest bitumen prices range from 40,000-60,000 per tonne in India, depending on quality. Global prices are in the $400-500 per tonne range, roughly equivalent to Indian prices using the current rupee-dollar exchange rate. Also Read | For Petronet LNG, the West Asia shock comes at the wrong time The ministry of road transport and highways, through NHAI, started discussions with the industry over bitumen supplies because it is a crucial input and India is dependent on West Asian imports, said the second person, also requesting anonymity. Queries emailed to NHAI, the ministry of road transport and highways, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL on 6 March remained unanswered. Diversify to beat shortage Experts said Indias dependence on bitumen imports is significant, and that a prolonged conflict in West Asia could push India to diversify its sources. India imported about 35-36% of its bitumen requirement in FY25, with a significant amount coming from the Middle East (West Asia). Out of the 8.3 million tonnes of bitumen used in India last year, 5.3 million tonnes were made domestically, and the rest was imported, said Prashant Vashisht, senior vice-president and co-group head, ratings agency Icra. Vashisht said Indian refineries could increase bitumen production, but if the conflict continues, alternative import sources such as Singapore or other Southeast Asian countries might be needed. Other experts said the import dependence could be higher if oil imports are factored in, and that diversifying imports could cover the supply gap but may not reduce prices, which have already begun to increase. Oil supplies from West Asia, used to make bitumen in India, combined with direct bitumen supplies from state-owned and private refineries in the region, account for about 55-60% of imports, said Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, senior director and global head-consulting, Crisil Intelligence. Also Read | India to ramp up coking coal imports from US under bilateral trade deal Imports of crude, and therefore bitumen, from Russia, West Africa and the Americas are expected to increase, which may offset the volume shortage from the Middle East, he said. But this may not bring the price down, he added. Indian OMCs usually revise their prices for all petroleum products every fortnight, but owing to the war situation today, they have hiked bitumen prices by nearly 1,000 per MT (metric tonne) effective 5-March-26a mere 4 days after their last revision on 1-March-26which has resulted in the ex-refinery price crossing 51,000 per MT. The highway industry expects such revisions to continue till the Strait of Hormuz is clear and the war ends, said Padmanabhan of Crisil. Ensuring bitumen supply Road building company IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd declined to comment. A spokesperson for the National Highway Builders Federation (NHBF), an industry body, said NHAI has assured continuity of bitumen supplies during consultations. This comes at a time when the US-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February and its fallout have crippled crucial supply chains in the region, with freight carriers unable to cross the Strait of Hormuz from the Persian Gulf. India, which has the world's second-largest road network, nearly 150,000 km, is expected to build 9,000-9,500 km of new roads in FY27. Mint has also reported that road projects worth 1 trillion would be awarded to contractors in FY27. Road building by the road transport and highways ministry is projected at 9,500-10,000 km in FY26 and 9,000-9,500 km in FY27, down from 10,660 km in FY25, Icra said in a February 2026 note. Sector experts also said Indian highway builders can store about 100200 tonnes of bitumen at any given time, and that they place orders bi-weekly, which oil marketing companies deliver in 2-3 days. Bitumen, or asphalt, is a byproduct made in oil refineries. After distillation removes lighter fuels such as petrol and diesel, the heavy residue at the bottom of the refinery column is processed into bitumen. More than 99% of Indias bitumen imports come from Iraq, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Oman, and Bahrain, according to World Bank data. In 2023, India imported $1.3 billion worth of bitumen, approximately 3.2 million tonnes, according to the data. Of this, imports from Iraq and UAE were worth $1.2 billion, according to latest World Bank data. Cascading effect While the government has assured that strategic reserves for crude and petro products are enough for another 50 days, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz may result in Gulf crude becoming expensive, given the now longer shipping routes via the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait - Suez Canal - Cape of Good Hope to avoid Hormuz, said Crisils Padmanabhan. India is the third-largest importer of crude oil, after the US and China, the raw material from which bitumen is produced. Also Read | West Asia conflict puts crude-linked sectors in crosshairs again The supply crunch and recent surge in oil prices carry significant implications for India, a net importer that meets nearly 90% of its oil requirement through imports. Furthermore, not only oil but also liquefied natural gas supplies would be impacted. In FY25, about 50% of Indias crude oil imports and 54% of LNG imports were routed through the Strait of Hormuz. Government officials, however, said that imports from alternative sources have increased and crude stocks are in a comfortable position. Mint earlier reported that India is considering importing oil from alternative sources, including South America, Africa, and Russia. Further, procurement of Russian oil stranded on vessels has also picked up after the US treasury department said it has allowed a 30-day waiver for Indian refiners to procure Russian oil loaded on vessels as of 5 March in a bid to provide temporary relief. The United States and Israel are in active discussions about deploying special operations forces into Iran to physically secure or destroy its stockpile of highly enriched uranium a mission that would place troops on Iranian soil in the middle of a live war, navigate heavily fortified underground facilities, and potentially involve scientists from the International Atomic Energy Agency operating under fire. The discussions, first reported by Axios citing four officials with knowledge of the deliberations, represent the most significant escalation in strategic planning since the US-Israel strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities last June. At the heart of the operation is 450 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium, material that could be converted to weapons-grade purity within weeks and, if fully enriched to 90%, would be sufficient to construct eleven nuclear bombs. The Trump administration has framed the neutralisation of Iran's nuclear capability as a central war objective. How it intends to achieve that objective is now becoming clearer and more consequential. What Is Being Planned by US and Israel Two Options on the Table According to a US official familiar with the internal deliberations, the administration is weighing two distinct courses of action: physically removing Iran's enriched uranium from the country entirely, or deploying nuclear experts to dilute the material on-site, rendering it unusable for weapons purposes. Either option would require special operations units to enter Iran, locate the stockpile, establish physical control, and either extract or neutralise it all while operating in an active conflict zone. The mission would likely involve special operators working alongside scientists, possibly including personnel from the IAEA. The operational complexity is formidable. "The first question is, where is it? The second question is, how do we get to it and how do we get physical control?" a US official said. "And then, it would be a decision of the president and the Department of War, CIA, as to whether we wanted to physically transport it or dilute it on premises." Where Is Iran's Uranium? Can Anyone Reach It? The June strikes by US and Israeli forces on Iran's nuclear facilities buried the uranium stockpile under rubble at multiple sites. Crucially, Iranian authorities themselves have been unable to access the material since the strikes, according to US and Israeli officials a detail that both complicates and potentially aids any future retrieval mission. US and Israeli intelligence assess that the majority of the stockpile sits within the underground tunnel network of the nuclear facility at Isfahan. The remainder is divided between the facilities at Fordow and Natanz. In the opening days of the war, strikes on Natanz and Isfahan appeared deliberately aimed at sealing the entrances to those facilities a move interpreted as an effort to prevent Iran from moving the material before any retrieval operation could be mounted. The strikes also destroyed nearly all of Iran's centrifuges, and there is no evidence that uranium enrichment has resumed. Marco Rubio's Unambiguous Signal to Congress The clearest public indication that a ground operation is under active consideration came at a congressional briefing on Tuesday, when Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked directly whether Iran's enriched uranium would be secured. "People are going to have to go and get it," Rubio said, declining to specify who would carry out the mission or under what timeline. An Israeli defence official subsequently confirmed to Axios that the Trump administration is seriously considering deploying special operations units into Iran for specific, targeted missions a characterisation echoed by multiple sources familiar with the deliberations. Trump: Ground Troops Possible 'For a Very Good Reason' Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump declined to rule out the deployment of ground forces into Iran, while setting a deliberately high threshold for such a decision. "If we ever did that, [the Iranians] would be so decimated that they wouldn't be able to fight on the ground level," he said. Asked specifically whether troops might enter Iran to secure nuclear material, Trump did not close the door. "At some point maybe we will. We haven't gone after it. We wouldn't do it now. Maybe we will do it later." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced the administration's characteristic ambiguity on strategic intentions, telling Axios that Trump "wisely keeps all options available to him open, and does not rule things out." Kharg Island Also in the Frame Iran's Oil Lifeline at Risk Beyond the nuclear stockpile, Axios reports that administration officials have discussed a separate and potentially equally consequential operation the seizure of Kharg Island, the strategic terminal responsible for approximately 90% of Iran's crude oil exports. Such a move would effectively sever Iran's primary source of revenue, compounding the economic pressure already exerted by the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The discussions around Kharg Island have not been confirmed by the White House, but their emergence alongside the nuclear retrieval planning suggests the administration is contemplating a significantly broader set of strategic objectives than have been publicly acknowledged. 'Not Fallujah' How the Administration Is Defining 'Boots on the Ground' The discussions have prompted a deliberate effort by administration officials to reframe what the deployment of ground forces would actually mean in this context anticipating the political and media reaction that any such announcement would trigger. "Boots on the ground for Trump is not the same as what it means for the media," a senior US official told Axios. "Small special ops raids not a big force going in," another source added. A third source was equally explicit: "What has been discussed hasn't been thought of in terms of boots on the ground. People think Fallujah. That's not what has been discussed." The artificial intelligence boom is syphoning money away from crypto startups, venture capitalists warn. Charles Chong, vice-president of strategy at crypto advisory firm BlockSpaceForce, told DL News that investors have real alternatives with faster revenue visibility. Crypto teams need to work harder, he said. Thats pushing founders to be more precise about defensibility, monetisation, and how their models hold up in a slower market. Chongs words of caution come as crypto startups raised $128 million in the first week of March, DefiLlama data shows. That brings the total amount raised in 2026 to nearly $2.5 billion so far. Still, this weeks investors include the likes of Peter Thiels Founders Fund, Ripple, Y Combinator, Wintermute, and Sequoia Capital, all piling into infrastructure for payments, trading, decentralised finance. Investors are still writing cheques, but only for teams that can clearly explain value capture and opportunity cost, especially in a world where AI offers a very different risk-reward profile, Chong said. Here are the top three raises this week. ARQ, $70 million ARQ, the Latin American fintech previously known as DolarApp, secured $70 million in Series B round, the largest venture round in the sector this week. The raise was led by Sequoia Capital and Founders Fund. It seemingly signals institutional confidence as the company shifts from a cross-border dollar transfer service into a broader digital banking platform. Handling more than $10 billion in annualised transaction volume across roughly two million users, ARQ plans to deploy the capital toward a full brand overhaul and the rollout of new products including wealth management services and high-yield local currency accounts. The move highlights rising demand across Latin America for stablecoin-linked financial infrastructure, as consumers and businesses seek protection from persistent currency volatility and limited access to traditional banking services. Crossover Markets, $31 million Crossover Markets raised $31 million in Series B funding roundTradeweb Markets led the raise that valued the firm at roughly $200 million. Additional investors included Ripple and crypto market-maker Wintermute. The company operates CROSSx, an execution-only electronic communication network built for institutional digital asset trading Unlike many crypto exchanges, the startup says it separates trade execution from custody and market-making functions, a structure designed to minimise conflicts of interest and appeal to traditional financial firms. QFEX, $9.5 million QFEX, a hybrid derivatives exchange focused on tokenised real-world assets, raised $9.5 million in seed funding led by Yuri Sagalov of General Catalyst, with backing from Y Combinator and investor Paul Graham. An explosion struck the United States embassy in Oslo in the early hours of Sunday, shattering the quiet of a residential neighbourhood, sending a bomb squad and police helicopters scrambling to the scene, and prompting an investigation that Norwegian authorities say is still in its earliest stages. An apparent act of sabotage targeted the consular section of the American diplomatic compound in western Oslo at approximately 1 a.m. local time (0000 GMT), causing minor structural damage but no casualties. The blast, which was heard across surrounding streets and prompted dozens of calls to emergency services, has placed one of Europe's most stable capitals on an unexpected security footing. "At around 1:00 am we received several reports of an explosion. We arrived shortly afterwards and confirmed that there had been an explosion that hit the US embassy," police incident commander Mikael Dellemyr told public broadcaster NRK. What Exploded in US Embassy in Oslo and Who Is Responsible? Norwegian authorities have been deliberately measured in what they are willing to disclose at this stage. Dellemyr told NRK that the blast struck the entrance to the embassy's consular section, but declined to elaborate on its nature or origin. "We are not going to comment on anything related to the type of damage, what it is that has exploded and similar details, beyond the fact that there has been an explosion," he said, citing the early stage of the investigation. However, in a subsequent statement to broadcaster TV2, Dellemyr indicated that investigators are not treating this as an accident. Police "have an idea of the cause," he said, adding: "It appears to us that this is an act carried out by someone." Investigators were speaking to witnesses, TV2 reported, and a bomb squad had been deployed to the scene. No additional explosive devices were found in the vicinity. US Embassy in Oslo Blast: Eyewitnesses Describe Chaos, Drones and Armed Police For residents living near the embassy, the night unfolded with sudden and disorienting intensity. A 16-year-old identified only as Edvard told TV2 that he was watching television when the detonation jolted him from his seat. "My mother and I first thought it came from our house so we looked around a little, but then we saw the flashing lights outside the window and a ton of police," he said. The scene that greeted him was far from routine. "There were police dogs and drones and police with automatic weapons and helicopters in the air," he said. Also Read | Bomb threats reported at 10 Delhi schools; police and bomb squads deployed A large perimeter was established around the embassy compound, with officers stopping vehicles attempting to pass through the cordoned area, according to multiple local media outlets. The Oslo police department described a significant deployment on site and confirmed that investigators remained in contact with embassy officials throughout. Damage Assessment of US Embassy in Oslo Blast: Minor but Significant Despite the scale of the emergency response, the physical damage to the embassy was confirmed to be limited. "There is minor damage," Dellemyr said. The Oslo police department separately stated that no injuries had been reported, and that authorities were "in a dialogue with the embassy" regarding the incident. The United States embassy did not respond to requests for comment outside of regular business hours. The US State Department similarly did not issue an immediate statement. Is This Linked to the US-Iran Conflict? Police Say Too Early to Tell The explosion comes at a moment of acute tension between the United States and Iran, with US embassies across the Middle East placed on heightened alert following American military operations against Tehran. Several diplomatic and industrial targets have faced Iranian-linked attacks in recent weeks as part of a broader pattern of retaliation. However, Norwegian police were careful not to draw any connection between Sunday's incident and the wider conflict at least not yet. "We're not connecting it to the conflict. It's far too early for that," Dellemyr told TV2. Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Sunday claimed to have struck Israel's Haifa refinery in retaliation to strikes by Tel Aviv targeting fuel facilities in Tehran. "IRGC hits Haifa refinery in response to Israeli regime's attack on Tehran refinery," Iran's Mehr news agency reported. The attack by Iran comes as exchange of fire between continues in the war, which erupted on 28 February after joint US-Israeli strikes hit Iran. So far, at least 1,230 people have been killed in the Islamic Republic, while more than 300 in Lebanon have died and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials cited by AP. What we know about the attack The public relations department of the IRGC issued also reportedly said in a statement on Saturday night that the attack on the Haifa facility was carried out with Kheibar Shekan missiles. Air raid sirens had sounded earlier on Saturday in the area of Haifa, but there have been no reports in Israel of anything being hit, Reuters said. Videos circulated on social media, however, claimed to be visuals from the attack on the Israeli oil refinery. Mint could not independently confirm the authenticity of the video doing the rounds on social media. Also Read | Iran is hitting the radars that underpin US missile defenses The IRGC's attack, on which Israel has yet to comment, came hours after Tel Aviv carried out air strikes on oil depots in Tehran, with videos circulated on social media showing oil depots engulfed by massive flames and plumes of heavy smoke over the city. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it struck "several fuel storage complexes" in Iran's capital on Saturday night, which the country's National Iranian Oil Company later confirmed. "Last night, four oil depots and a petroleum products transport centre in Tehran and the Alborz were attacked by enemy aircraft," the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company Keramat Veyskarami told state TV, as per a report by AFP. Why is the Haifa refinery important? The Haifa refinery, operated by the Bazan Group, is Israels largest oil processing facility with a production capacity of 197,000 barrels per day (bpd), around 9.8 million tonnes of crude oil per year. The refinery in Haifa supplies supplies roughly 60% of diesel and 50% of gasoline consumed in the domestic transport market in Israel, according to a report by S&P Global. Earlier, in June 2025, Tel Aviv had faced a fuel supply challenges during the Iran-Israel war when missile strikes on the Haifa facility left Israel without any operating refinery for a weeks. India said it permitted an Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan to dock at one of its ports just days before a frigate from the Persian Gulf nation was sunk by a United States submarine. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said allowing the Iranian ship to dock when it was facing hurdles was the humane thing to do at the time. He added that the vessel had been scheduled to arrive for a fleet review but had ended up being caught on the wrong side of events Jaishankar said he supported the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law, adding that India had received a message from the Iranian side stating that one of its ships, believed to be closest to Indias maritime borders at the time, was seeking permission to enter an Indian port due to reported technical problems. He said India approved the request on March 1, after which the vessel took a few days to reach and eventually docked at Kochi. Jaishankar also noted that many young cadets were on board and remarked that the situation had changed significantly between the time the ship set sail and when it arrived in India. He further said, They were coming in for a fleet review and then they got in a way caught on the wrong side of events... One obviously had a similar situation in Sri Lanka, they took the decision which they did and one of them unfortunately didn't make it... 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 mentioned that there was extensive debate on social media about the issue, but stressed that long-standing strategic developments in the Indian Ocean should be taken into account. Jaishankar pointed out that Diego Garcia has been present in the region for around five decades. He also said that the presence of foreign military forces in Djibouti dates back to the early years of this century, while Hambantota Port also emerged during that period. Also Read | How Sri Lanka allowing Iranian ship to dock could change US-Iran war According to an Indian official, Tehran had approached New Delhi on February 28 seeking urgent permission for the vessel IRIS Lavan to dock, citing technical problems, reported Bloomberg. The request was approved on March 1, and the ship has been stationed at Kochi since Wednesday. The official added that the vessels 183 crew members are currently being accommodated at naval facilities in the city. Kuwait, the fifth-largest oil producer within the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), announced on Saturday that it has curtailed both oil production and refining output after tanker traffic through the Persian Gulf, Starit of Hormuz, came to a near-complete standstill. The Arab monarchy cited Iranian threats to safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as the cause, describing the output reduction as a precautionary measure that would be reviewed as the situation develops. Kuwait did not specify the volume of barrels per day being withheld from the market. The state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, however, sought to reassure global buyers, stating that it "remains fully prepared to restore production levels once conditions allow." In January, the country was producing approximately 2.6 million barrels per day. Oil Prices Surge 35% Biggest Weekly Gain in Futures Trading History The announcement arrives against the backdrop of a staggering rally in crude prices. On Friday, US crude futures logged their largest single-week gain since the contract's inception in 1983 rising 35.63% to close at approximately 7,813 per barrel (West Texas Intermediate). Brent crude, the global benchmark, surged 28% over the same period its steepest weekly increase since April 2020 settling at approximately 7,953 per barrel after climbing 625 in a single session. The catalyst is the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which has effectively paralysed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway the sole maritime exit from the Persian Gulf handles approximately 20% of global oil consumption each day. With ship owners fearing Iranian attacks, tankers have halted transit entirely, creating an acute bottleneck that analysts say the market is only beginning to price in. The market is shifting from pricing pure geopolitical risk to grappling with tangible operational disruption, Natasha Kaneva, Head of Global Commodities Research, JPMorgan Barrels Piling Up With Nowhere to Go Iraq Already Cuts 1.5 Million BPD The consequences of the blockade are already cascading through the region. With tankers stranded, oil is accumulating at Gulf Arab export terminals faster than storage infrastructure can absorb it. Producers are being forced to throttle output simply because they have run out of places to put their barrels. Iraq has already taken the most drastic action of any Gulf producer, cutting output by 1.5 million barrels per day as storage capacity fills to capacity, Iraqi officials told Reuters on Tuesday. Kuwait's announcement signals that the storage crunch is now spreading to its neighbours. JPMorgan estimates that total production cuts across the Gulf could exceed 4 million barrels per day by the end of next week if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Kaneva warned in a note last Sunday that if the US-Iran war endures beyond three weeks, Gulf Arab countries could exhaust storage capacity entirely and be compelled to shut down production wholesale a scenario that would propel Brent crude above 8,590 per barrel (US $100). Qatar LNG Shutdown Deepens the Crisis Natural Gas Markets Rattled The disruption extends well beyond crude oil. Qatar, one of the world's largest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG), halted production on Monday following Iranian attacks. Qatar accounts for approximately 20% of global LNG exports a commodity relied upon for electricity generation and domestic heating across Asia, Europe, and beyond. The simultaneous disruption to both oil and gas supplies has compounded the energy shock facing import-dependent economies worldwide. What Does the Strait of Hormuz Crisis, Kuwait Cutting Oil Production Mean for India? For India, the crisis is not a distant geopolitical event it is a direct economic threat with a specific Kuwaiti dimension. Kuwait alone accounts for 10.1% of all crude oil and condensate exports flowing through the Strait of Hormuz (US Energy Information Administration, Q1 2025). Also Read | Traders warn $100 oil is imminent if Iran war keeps raging Within India's own import basket, Kuwait supplies approximately 3% of the country's total crude imports making it the fifth-largest supplier to India, behind Russia (36%), Iraq (20%), Saudi Arabia (13%), and the UAE (9%) (PPAC and ICRA Research, FY2025). In dollar terms, India imported $3.09 billion (roughly 26,574 crore) worth of crude oil from Kuwait in 2024 alone (UN COMTRADE database). Taken together, imports from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE that are routed through the Strait of Hormuz account for approximately 4550% of India's total crude oil imports (ICRA Research, citing PPAC data, June 2025). Kuwait's production cut directly shrinks that pool. Approximately 2.52.7 million barrels per day of India's crude imports largely sourced from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE pass through the Hormuz corridor MOPEDO, according to the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell. India is the second-largest destination for crude transiting the Strait, receiving 14.7% of all flows as of Q1 2025 (US EIA, cited by Visual Capitalist) second only to China. The country imports approximately 88% of the crude oil it consumes (PPAC, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas), spending $137 billion (roughly 11.78 lakh crore) on crude imports in the fiscal year ended March 2025 (Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas). Roughly 60% of India's natural gas imports also transit the Strait (ICRA Research, June 2025) meaning the blockade is simultaneously squeezing both oil and gas supply lines into the country. Every $10 Rise in Crude Costs India $1314 Billion a Year The arithmetic of the price surge is punishing. Every $10 per barrel increase in global crude prices adds approximately $1314 billion ( 1.121.20 lakh crore) to India's annual import bill (ICRA Limited; corroborated by former NITI Aayog chief Amitabh Kant). DBS Bank economists calculate that the same $10 rise widens India's current account deficit by roughly 0.35% of GDP (DBS Bank research note). With Brent already up 28% this week and JPMorgan warning of a potential breach of $100 per barrel if the Strait remains closed the cumulative hit to India's trade balance could be severe. If Brent climbs to $120 per barrel, India's oil trade deficit could balloon to around $220 billion ( 18.92 lakh crore), potentially pushing the current account deficit above 3% of GDP (DSP Mutual Fund Netra Report, March 2026). The rupee is already buckling. The Indian currency breached 92 against the US dollar on 4 March, touching an all-time low of 92.8, even as the average price of India's crude basket surged from $63.08 per barrel in January to $85.43 in March (Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, March 2026) a rise that preceded this week's most dramatic moves. India's Strategic Reserves: A 40-Day Buffer, No More India is not entirely without cushion. The country holds approximately 100 million barrels in commercial crude stocks including strategic petroleum reserves at Mangalore, Padur, and Visakhapatnam sufficient to cover roughly 40 to 45 days of requirement if Hormuz flows are disrupted entirely (Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst, Refining & Modelling, Kpler). An Indian citizen was among two people who died after a projectile struck a residential area in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, as reported by the PTI, citing officials. The military projectile fell in a residential area in Saudi Arabia's al-Kharj Governorate on Sunday, killing two people and injuring 12 others, the Saudi Civil Defence said. A Civil Defence spokesman said the projectile struck a residential compound belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company in Al-Kharj. The incident killed one Indian national and one Bangladeshi national, while 12 Bangladeshi residents were injured, Al-Arabiya news reported. However, the authorities have not yet released the identity of the victims. The strike also caused material damage, the spokesman said. "The official spokesman for the Civil Defense stated that on Sunday, Civil Defence dealt with a military projectile falling on a residential site belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company in Al-Kharj Governorate, which resulted in two deaths of Indian and Bangladeshi nationalities and injury to (12) residents of Bangladeshi nationality, as well as material damage, the Saudi Civil Defence said in a post on X. Tensions in the region have intensified following hundreds of missile and drone attacks launched by Iran. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly criticised Iran, accusing it of pursuing a reckless policy by targeting Arab nations, AP reported. Also Read | How many Shahed drones does Iran have and why are they crucial? Explained Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Israel'sBenjamin Netanyahu have pledged to continue the joint campaign against Iran, despite shifting statements from Washington regarding its objectives in the conflict. Trump told ABC News that he wants a role in deciding who will lead Iran after the war, claiming that any new leader would struggle to remain in power without his approval. Black smoke hangs over Tehran As the conflict entered its ninth day, fighting intensified in the U.S.Israeli campaign against Iran. Residents in Tehran reported that thick black smoke blanketed the city on Sunday after airstrikes on oil storage facilities illuminated the night sky with massive orange flames, Reuters reported. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the large-scale attack marked a "dangerous new phase" of the conflict and amounted to a war crime. "By targeting fuel depots, the aggressors are releasing hazardous materials and toxic substances into the air," he wrote on X. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that nearly 10,000 civilian structures across Iran have been damaged, including homes, schools, and almost 30 health facilities. The organization also urged residents of Tehran to take precautions against toxic air pollution and the possible threat of acid rain following strikes by Israel. Meanwhile, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Irans parliament, warned that the war could severely impact the countrys oil industry, saying it may soon become increasingly difficult to produce and export oil. Some regional producers, including those in Iraq, have already reduced output due to security risks around the Strait of Hormuz. Independent candidate Mahabir Pun, who had resigned as education minister in the interim government, won in Myagdi-1 constituency in remote mountain districts beating his nearest rivals from the CPN-(UML) and the NC. Incidentally, the RSP had not fielded any candidate against him. The seats won by RSP, headed by Ravi Lamichhane, include a clean sweep in all 15 constituencies of three districts in Kathmandu Valley, the EC data showed. Legacy parties failed to convince voters for whom the major issues included fighting corruption and an end to nepotism apart from a generational change in political leadership of the country. Former deputy speaker Indira Rana Magar, of the RSP, won from Jhapa-2 by defeating the speaker of the dissolved House of Representatives and senior leader of CPN-UML Dev Raj Ghimire. Rana Magar won by a huge margin of 48,742 votes against Ghimire, who secured 11,368 votes. Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa, 49, who was projected as his party's prime ministerial candidate, lost from Dhanusha-4 constituency to Amaresh Singh of the RSP. Singh received 33,688 votes against Thapa's 22,831, according to the Election Commission. Other senior leaders of Nepali Congress, including general secretary Guru Raj Ghimire, Shekhar Koirala and Bimalendra Nidhi, also faced defeat. Ten office bearers of the CPN-UML, including the party's general secretary Shankar Pokharel, also lost the election. Other leaders of the CPN-UML who lost were vice presidents Bishnu Paudel, Prithvi Subba Gurung and Gokarna Bista, deputy general secretary Raghubir Mahaseth, and secretaries Sherdhan Rai, Mahesh Basnet, Rajan Bhattarai and Bhanubhakta Dhakal. Harka Rai, chairman of the Shram Sanskriti Party, won from Sunsari-1, defeating RSP candidate Goma Tamang. RSP chairman Lamichhane won with a huge margin from the 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 EC, 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 the 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 party to have secured a seat in the House of Representatives. The election also saw 10 women candidates emerge victorious -- nine from the RSP and one from the NC. Nepal witnessed about 60 per cent voter turnout during the March 5 election to the House of Representatives. Of the 275 members of 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 RSP is also leading in proportional voting system with 24,55,764 votes followed by the Nepali Congress with 8,31,224 votes. US President Donald Trump on Sunday cautioned that Irans next supreme leader would struggle to remain in power without his backing, as Tehran prepared to announce the successor to the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Irans Assembly of Experts held a private meeting and selected the countrys next leader, according to members of the body, nine days after US and Israeli strikes on Khameneis compound killed him and pushed the Middle East into conflict, The clerics did not reveal the chosen individual, saying only that the name would be announced soon. Some insiders indicated that Khameneis 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei, could be the one to succeed his father. What did Trump say? Trump had previously demanded a say in the appointment and rejected the younger Khamenei as an unacceptable "lightweight". "He's going to have to get approval from us," Trump told ABC News on Sunday, referring to Iran's next leader. If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long. But Tehran's top diplomat said earlier in the day that the decision was Iran's alone, adding it would "allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs". Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press", Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi went on to demand that Trump "apologise to people of the region" for the spiralling war. The younger Khamenei is regarded as a conservative figure, notably because of his ties to the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the Islamic republic's military. Israel's military has warned any successor that "we will not hesitate to target you". Israel's reach was underlined by two new operations overnight -- strikes against fuel dumps in and around Tehran, and an attack on a hotel in the heart of Lebanon's capital Beirut that targeted suspected Iranian commanders. Warplanes hit five oil facilities around the Iranian capital, killing at least four people, according to a state oil executive, and blanketing the city in acrid smoke. Tehran's governor told the IRNA news agency that fuel distribution had been "temporarily interrupted" in the capital. A dark haze hung over the city of 10 million people, blocking out the sun, while the smell of burning fuel lingered in the air. Authorities warned the fumes could be toxic and urged citizens to stay indoors, but many windows were blown out by the force of the blasts. "The blaze has been burning for more than 12 hours, the air has become unbreathable. I can't even go out to do the daily shopping," said a 35-year-old from Tehran. "At first, I supported this war. After Khamenei's death, I celebrated with my friends: we drank wine and we danced. But since yesterday... people say there's not even any gasoline left at the gas stations," she said in a text message to Europe. As the conflict entered its ninth day, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that it had sufficient resources to sustain its drone and missile operations across the Middle East for as long as six months. Multiple explosions were reported over Israels commercial center, Tel Aviv, after the Israeli military detected a barrage of missiles launched from Iran. The emergency service Magen David Adom reported that six people were injured in central Israel. Iran's Red Crescent Society on Sunday (local time) warned that Tehran is likely to soon be inundated with toxic rain that could cause chemical burns and damage the lungs, the Daily Mail reported. The warning comes as Israel targets Tehran's oil facilities, with residents reporting the smell of burning lingering in the air, and many saying it remained dark even as the sun rose and rain continued to fall across the city. Several other residents reported oil-saturated raindrops falling from black clouds over the city hours after the strikes, the Times of Israel reported. Red Crescent advises residents to stay indoors The group warned people not to leave their homes even after the rain stopped, since the "evaporation of acid droplets from hot ground or surfaces increases the concentration of toxins in the breathing air several times." The Iranian Red Crescent said the oil depot explosions released significant quantities of toxic hydrocarbon compounds, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides into the air. The notification from the Red Crescent Society came earlier this morning, with the humanitarian group warning residents that they risk chronic lung and skin diseases following the 7 March bombardment. Residents were also urged to clean the outer surfaces of packaged food items, even if they are sealed, as tiny acidic particles on the packaging could contaminate the food once opened. The humanitarian organisation also advised people to replace their water filtration systems, warning that contaminated water could damage older filters. Israel targets Iran's oil facilities On Saturday night, Israel targeted four oil storage facilities along with an oil production transfer center in Tehran and Alborz, killing at least four tanker drivers, Fars reported. The strikes sent pillars of fire into the sky, visible in videos as a bright glow lighting up the Saturday night skyline. The strike appeared to mark the first instance in the war in which a civilian industrial site had been targeted. The Times of Israel reported that by Sunday morning, the sky over the Iranian capital was so darkened that many residents had to switch on their lights to see through the haze. By around 10:30 am (local time), vehicles still needed their headlights to drive along Valiasr Street. Security personnel in Tehran were reportedly managing traffic while wearing coats and masks to protect themselves. In a statement on Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, The military forces of the Iranian terror regime make direct and frequent use of these fuel tanks to operate military infrastructure. Through them, the Iranian terror regime distributes fuel to various consumers, including military entities in Iran." It added that the strikes were an additional step in deepening the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian regime. USIsrael, Iran war The United States and Israel, on 28 February, launched strikes against Iran, targeting the country's military and naval forces and killing several of its top leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Following the strikes, Tehran retaliated and launched wider attacks on Israeli and US bases in the Middle East, plunging the region into renewed military confrontation. Cities including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Manama, Doha, and Riyadh reported explosions, with debris falling from drone and missile attacks. Iran's Assembly of Experts on Sunday (local time) said that the 88-member body has reached a decision regarding the country's next supreme leader, without naming the selected candidate, CNN reported. The development comes days after Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in strikes launched by the United States and Israel on 28 February, targeting key military and naval forces in Tehran. Along with Khamenei, several other clerics and ministers have also been killed in the conflict, which has now entered its ninth day. Iran gets a new supreme leader? Citing a senior cleric in the 88-member Assembly of Experts, the report said, "The elections for the leadership have been held, and the leader has been appointed." The cleric, Ahmad Alam al-Hoda, also said that rumours claiming the Assembly of Experts had not yet made a decision were "pure lies." The announcement of the decision is up to the Assembly's Secretariat, which is headed by Hosseini Bushehri, Alam al-Hoda added. According to the ISNA news agency, Heidari, who is also a member of the Assembly, said the "best option," approved by the majority of the Assembly of Experts, has been chosen. Is Mojtaba Khamenei the new supreme leader? While the Assembly of Experts did not reveal the name of the next supreme leader, it hinted that the person may be someone previously mentioned by the "Great Satan," referring to the US. The Assembly's Secretariat head said, "Notably, even the Great Satan has referred to the name of the individual selected by the representatives." Hardline clerics in Iran frequently refer to the United States as the Great Satan. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said it would be unacceptable if Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, were to succeed him. Trump wants a 'great, acceptable' leader for Iran A BBC report said that Trump wants a "great and acceptable" leader for Iran after the country's "unconditional surrender." His remarks appear to suggest that his current goal for Iran is not regime change, but a change in its regime. It has also been reported that Trump has made up his mind regarding Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was being considered the front-runner to succeed his father. The US President said, "Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me." How is the supreme leader chosen? According to Iran's Constitution, the country's supreme leader is appointed by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body elected by the public every eight years. Once the position becomes vacant, the Assembly begins deliberating over the next candidate and chooses a successor by a simple majority vote. In the meantime, a provisional three-member leadership council, also known as the Interim Leadership Council, is formed. It assumes the roles and responsibilities of the supreme leader until a successor is officially appointed. Israel issues a warning against the next supreme leader According to a report, the Israeli Defense Forces issued a warning that they will continue to pursue every successor and every person who seeks to appoint Khamenei's successor. The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on 28 February, targeting its key military and naval forces and killing some of the country's top leaders, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following Khamenei's death, the Middle East has been plunged into a wider and renewed military confrontation after Iran launched attacks on US bases in Gulf countries. However, amid the ongoing tensions, the one country that has remained surprisingly quiet is Yemen. According to an Al Jazeera report, the Houthis, an Iran-allied de facto authority in the northwestern part of Yemen, have restricted their support for Tehran to rhetoric and a mass protest denouncing the strikes. The same group has made repeated attacks on US and Israeli targets since the Israel-Gaza war began in 2023. Also Read | A mysterious airstrip built on a Yemeni island comes as Houthi rebels are increasingly squeezed Houthis unlikely to be involved in US-Israel, Iran war? The report suggests that while it is uncertain whether the Houthis will continue to remain detached from the conflict, analysts say that the rebel group's involvement is still plausible, with the current restraint appearing to be part of a strategy of patience. The Houthis could still enter the conflict, potentially through a gradual escalation of their involvement, says Luca Nevola, a senior analyst for Yemen and the Gulf at the ACLED conflict monitor. At this stage, he said, the groups main priority appears to be avoiding direct retaliation from the US or Israel. Elaborating further, the analyst said that the Houthis are likely to resume attacks if they are drawn into the conflict directly, either through US or Israeli strikes or through a renewed domestic advance by anti-Houthi forces in Yemen. Houthis extend support to Iran Earlier this week, Houthi chief Abdel-Malik al-Houthi said that Yemen stands clearly with Iran and the Muslim Iranian people. He also warned that the group is prepared for possible military escalation, suggesting that its involvement in the conflict could happen at any time, depending on how the situation develops. Also Read | Houthi rebels detain over 20 UN employees after raiding facility in Sanaa According to a Yemeni political commentator, the Houthis will enter the war if Tehran asks them to. Speaking to Al Jazeera, the commentator added that Tehran does not want to use all of its cards at once and wants to save the group for the coming phase. New CFO Robert Stefani, who joined in early January, detailed a significant year-over-year improvement in reported profitability. Algonquin posted full-year GAAP net earnings of $208 million, compared with $54.8 million in 2024. Adjusted net earnings rose to $258.8 million from $221.6 million, a roughly 17% increase. In the fourth quarter, GAAP net earnings were $29.4 million versus a net loss of $110.2 million in the prior-year quarter. West said operating expense as a percentage of gross revenue improved to roughly 36% in 2025 from approximately 38% in 2024, while earned return on equity (ROE) increased to about 6.8% from 5.5% a year earlier. He also highlighted the use of proceeds from the renewables sale (excluding hydro assets) to retire about $1.6 billion of debt, which management said improved the companys financial flexibility. CEO Rod West described 2025 as a turning point, pointing to improvements in cost discipline, regulatory execution, and earned returns. The company reported full-year net earnings per share of $0.27 and adjusted net EPS of $0.34, which management said was $0.02 above the high end of its guidance range. Algonquin Power & Utilities (NYSE:AQN) executives told investors the company made substantial operational and regulatory progress in 2025, strengthened its balance sheet, and exceeded the top end of its full-year earnings guidance, as management continues to reposition the business toward a premium pure-play regulated utility. Capital plan and guidance: Algonquin updated threeyear regulated capex to about $3.2 billion (20262028) and projects rate base growth to ~$9.7 billion by 2028, reaffirmed 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $0.35$0.37 but revised 2027 guidance to $0.38$0.42 due to a higher assumed effective tax rate. Regulatory progress is driving revenue: Management secured or advanced multiple rate settlements and filingsincluding a Missouri approval that authorizes a $97 million revenue increase and a proposed California decision for roughly $48.6 million with new utility rates contributing Q4 benefits. 2025 was a turning point: Algonquin reported improved cost discipline and earned ROE (~6.8%), beat the high end of guidance with adjusted net EPS of $0.34, and used proceeds from its renewables sale to retire about $1.6 billion of debt , materially lowering interest expense. Story Continues MarketBeat Week in Review 03/02 - 03/06 For Q4, adjusted net EPS was $0.06, flat year over year. Stefani attributed higher adjusted net earnings primarily to $10.3 million from new utility rates implemented across multiple systems, including BELCO, Midstates Gas, Peach State Gas, Missouri Water, New York Water, and several Arizona water and sewer systems. He also cited a $17.9 million reduction in interest expense tied to debt paydowns funded by proceeds from both the renewable energy business divestiture and the companys prior sale of its ownership stake in Atlantica. Management also noted several offsetting items in the quarter, including the removal of $10.9 million in Atlantica dividend income and a $7.3 million write-off related to a discontinued CalPeco solar project. On the CalPeco write-off, West said the project was in Nevada and intended to supply power in the CalPeco system, but Algonquin decided not to proceed based on project economics and its assessment of the ability to earn a fair return. He added the company did not treat the write-off as a one-time adjustment, stating that, as a utility, projects may occasionally be abandoned and the company wanted to reflect it within operating results. 3 Blue-Chip Stocks Built for a Rotating Market On a full-year basis, adjusted net EPS increased to $0.34 from $0.30 in 2024, which Stefani said reflected: $41.6 million of benefit from new utility rates implemented across several systems $13.9 million of favorable weather, predominantly at Empire Electric $11.9 million of depreciation deferrals $81.1 million lower interest expense from debt paydowns Those benefits were partly offset by the targeted customer relief initiative at Empire, the CalPeco solar project discontinuation, and the removal of $76.3 million in dividend income related to the Atlantica stake sale, which Stefani called the single largest headwind of the year. He also noted a higher effective tax rate and common share dilution tied to the settlement of purchase contracts in 2024, when approximately 77 million common shares were issued. Regulatory activity and rate case updates Management emphasized a more proactive regulatory strategy, with West saying the company is seeing the benefits of earlier stakeholder engagement and more pragmatic filings. Algonquin highlighted several recent proceedings: Missouri (Empire Electric): The Missouri Public Service Commission approved a settlement in January authorizing a $97 million revenue increase after the company meets customer metric performance requirements for three consecutive months, plus a potential additional $13 million annually if further performance requirements are met starting in the second half of 2026. California (CalPeco Electric): The company received a proposed decision adopting a settlement agreement providing for a $48.6 million revenue increase retroactive to January 2025, with an allowed ROE of 9.75% and an equity ratio of 52.5%. A final decision is pending. Massachusetts (New England Natural Gas): A settlement calls for a $45.3 million revenue adjustment, including approximately $17.9 million of non-Gas System Enhancement Plan revenue, with two additional step-ups in rate base in subsequent years. The settlement includes an allowed ROE of 9.3%, an equity ratio of about 52.9%, and a rate case stay-out through Oct. 31, 2029. Management said it requested a commission order by the end of the month. Arizona (Litchfield Park Water & Sewer): A proposed settlement filed with Arizona Corporation Commission staff calls for a $15.3 million revenue adjustment and an allowed ROE of 9.75% with a 54% equity ratio. Hearings are scheduled for late March. Kansas (Empire Electric): A rate case filed in December seeks a $15.8 million base rate adjustment, representing a net requested increase of $12.5 million with a three-year phase-in. On Missouris customer metrics tied to rate implementation, West said the requirements involve areas such as billing accuracy and timeliness and reflect end-to-end processes the company has been working to improve. He said the company believes it has satisfied the metrics and is validating performance with the commission, describing this as a condition precedent to implementing rates under the settlement. Management also addressed the California backdrop, including wildfire risk at CalPeco. West said the company is working to secure approval of wildfire mitigation plans and called the environment complex, adding that Algonquin is engaged with stakeholders from the state level to Washington, D.C., while focusing on reducing operational and financial risk and managing associated costs. Capital plan, balance sheet, and updated guidance Algonquin updated its three-year regulated utility capital expenditure outlook to approximately $3.2 billion from 2026 through 2028, including about $800 million in 2026, $1.1 billion in 2027, and $1.3 billion in 2028. Stefani said the company expects internal fundingincluding cash flow and existing cashto cover roughly 65% to 70% of capital needs. He added that 2025 capital expenditures totaled about $604 million, down from about $757 million in 2024, primarily because investment in an integrated customer solution platform was largely completed in 2024. Year-end 2025 rate base was approximately $8.2 billion, up from $7.9 billion at year-end 2024. Management projected rate base of about $8.5 billion in 2026, $9.0 billion in 2027, and about $9.7 billion by year-end 2028, which it said equates to a nearly 6% compound annual growth rate from 2025 through 2028. On financing and leverage, Stefani said total debt stood at about $6.5 billion and that the company maintained investment-grade credit ratings with stable outlooks from S&P and Fitch, while Moodys rated operating subsidiary Liberty Utilities at Baa2 with a stable outlook. He said Algonquin expects no equity issuance through 2027, plans to refinance unsecured notes due June 2026, and expects to pay an annualized dividend of $0.26 per share, subject to board approval. Looking ahead, Algonquin reaffirmed 2026 adjusted net EPS guidance of $0.35 to $0.37. However, the company revised its 2027 adjusted net EPS outlook to $0.38 to $0.42, reflecting an updated assumption that the 2027 effective tax rate will be in the mid-to-high 20% range rather than the previously anticipated low-to-mid 20% range. Stefani said the tax-rate change reduced EPS by just over $0.03, and that the company is evaluating tax optimization strategies but expects most benefits, if pursued, to come after 2027. West also said the company continues to analyze strategic questions, including re-domiciling, but said there were no announcements to make. About Algonquin Power & Utilities (NYSE:AQN) Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp (NYSE: AQN) is a diversified generation, transmission and distribution utility company headquartered in Oakville, Ontario. Established in 1988, the firm operates through two primary business segments: Regulated Utilities and Renewable Energy. Its Regulated Utilities segment comprises electric, natural gas and water distribution networks serving residential, commercial and industrial customers across North America, while its Renewable Energy portfolio includes hydroelectric, solar, wind and thermal generation facilities. The company's renewable energy assets span multiple jurisdictions in Canada and the United States, reflecting its strategy to expand clean power capacity in regions with supportive regulatory frameworks. The article "Algonquin Power & Utilities Q4 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. Externally, New Delhi should be firm that while it understands that countries have their own reasons to go to war, India and its immediate region are not in the fray. There might be commercial arrangements with respect to defence trade that will continue to be honoured, but countries should not expect Indian military support as they fight their wars. This wont endear us to our partners, but there is little room for romanticism in todays world. Netanyahu has only ever been concerned with eliminating Iran as a security threatreal, exaggerated or imagined. Given his track record on Palestinian rights, it is difficult to believe that his stated desire to create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny is based on principle rather than realpolitik. Trump, for his part, could be motivated by any number of impulses: to bask in US military power, command the limelight, distract from the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal, generate economic returns or all of the above. Common decency seems least likely. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is in the middle of a storm from her opposition leaders. Lots of reactions have been coming since she did not turn up to welcome President Droupadi Murmu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to condemn the Bengal CM. He called it shameful and unprecedented. The Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal has truly crossed all limits. Its administration is responsible for this disrespect toward the President, PM Modi wrote on social media. Also Read | President Murmu takes jibe at Mamata Banerjee over her venue change in Bengal The office of the President is above politics and the dignity of this position must always be protected. It is hoped that the West Bengal government and the Trinamool Congress will realise this and act with better judgment, he added. "I believe that the chief minister of Bengal works with a narrow mindset. She does not know how to respect constitutional positions," said Delhi CM Rekha Gupta. According to Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, insulting President Droupadi Murmu is an insult to the Constitution of India. The President represents the unity, sovereignty and dignity of the nation, and the office must remain above politics, he said. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu criticised the way the programme had been organised. He said the incident had saddened people across the country. Manipur CM N Biren Singh also condemned the alleged protocol lapses. According to him, the West Bengal government had shown disrespect to the countrys highest constitutional office. Also Read | West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose resigns in Delhi after 3.5 years in office Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, "The treatment meted out to President Droupadi Murmu is very condemnable." CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat believes that it is the minimum requirement for state representatives to welcome the President during official visits. According to her, if the CM cannot attend, a senior official should represent the state government. "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," said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. Meanwhile, the Telangana Scheduled Tribes Morcha staged protests against Mamata Banerjee. The members of the organisation burned her effigy over the issue. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also criticised the Trinamool Congress government. BJP leaders alleged that the incident reflected disrespect toward both the Constitution and tribal citizens. Whats the controversy? On 7 March, President Droupadi Murmu visited Siliguri in West Bengal for the 9th International Santal Conference. During the event, the President expressed disappointment about the choice of a small venue and the low attendance. She also pointed out that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other state ministers were not present to receive her upon her arrival in the state. She was sceptical about the development of the tribal community in West Bengal. In a lighter remark, she also wondered if Mamata didi was upset with her. Her comments sparked a national political debate. Mamata Banerjee responded strongly, accusing the president of making political remarks ahead of the state Assembly elections. She alleged that President Murmu had been influenced by the BJP. CM Banerjee questioned why tribal issues in BJP-ruled states were not raised. Mamata Banerjee hits back In a detailed post, CM Banerjee explained that protocols had been followed while welcoming President Murmu. No protocol lapse happened on part of district administration.. BJP is disrespecting and misusing the highest chair in the country for its own party agenda. Most unfortunate, she wrote. 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, wrote TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee. To prioritize targets and develop a course of action, the Pentagon is increasingly using AI to run models and digital wargames. In one of many efforts, last year it contracted with Pittsburgh-based Strategy Robot to develop advanced systems that can churn through vast numbers of scenarios despite imperfect information. From potentially millions of iterations, planners can zoom in on actions that are more likely to achieve their objectives. A judge has dismissed a case against a county Longford hair salon owner, who was accused of assaulting the mother of a young child after they became involved in a heated verbal argument on his premises. A male defendant appeared at a special sitting of Longford District Court last week charged with assault on the female complainant who claimed she suffered bruising when she was lifted up and forcibly removed from the premises on January 25, 2025. The complainant also appeared in court charged with a public order breach arising out of the same incident. Garda Inspector David Jordan, for the State, told Judge Deirdre Gearty there was CCTV footage which would be played and it had captured the incident. The female complainant, in her late-20s who took the stand and gave evidence, said she had booked an appointment for a wash and blow-dry at her local hair salon. Also read: Evidence inconsistent as Longford man accused of threats to kill is acquitted She said she brought her daughter with her that day as she 'had nobody else to mind her' and her partner was working at the time but he had agreed to pick the toddler up within 20 minutes at the salon. The woman said she is a full-time carer for her daughter who is being assessed for a developmental disability and the three year-old had began 'showing off' while her hair was drying when her niece and two friends arrived. On the CCTV footage the child, who had been previously playing in the corner, can be seen walking behind the counter and payment area at the salon. A few seconds later the owner, the defendant accused of assault, can be observed on CCTV following the toddler behind the counter and picking her up and carrying her out. While he is doing so, the child can be heard using a profanity and the salon owner then walks over to the mother of the child to complain. Also read: Longford man fined for causing damage at Garda Station following 'mad night' The mother told Judge Deirdre Gearty the salon was 'absolutely full' with nine or 10 people in there. "He could have came over to me and said, 'Your child is after cursing at me and said such a thing, but he roared and shouted in a high-toned voice and he made me feel scared and so embarrassed in the salon." The pair had a heated argument before the salon owner can be seen on CCTV forcibly removing her. The mother, who said she had a medical report, claimed he had 'lifted her up' and 'bruised' her. She said she made a complaint to Gardai immediately afterwards and she made a statement the next day where she alleged her and her daughter 'had been attacked'. "We have been attending a doctor, my daughter couldn't sleep after this." Judge Deirdre Gearty, who responded after the woman listed off a lengthy list of issues arising out of the incident, said they were matters for 'another forum'. Also read: Longford woman who brandished slash hook as husband set dog on garda both to be sentenced in May Solicitor Frank Gearty, who briefly cross-examined the woman, said her statement was quite different to what was observed on the CCTV. However, Judge Gearty considered the case and said she was dismissing the assault charge as she did not believe the salon was a public place. "It's a private property and it's a hairdressers and the constituent element of a Section 6 (public order) is a public place so I'm dismissing it against her as well." The November 27, 2024, ceasefire agreement signed by Israel and Lebanon, negotiating on behalf of Hezbollah, finally broke down completely. In the early morning hours of March 2, 2026, Hezbollahs forces launched a barrage of rockets at Israel, prompting a massive Israeli retaliation. Lebanons reactions to the conflict Lebanon has adopted two unprecedented decisions since the resumption of open war. On March 2, the Lebanese government proscribed Hezbollahs military and security activities, and ordered it to surrender its weapons to the Lebanese state. On March 5, Beirut subsequently ordered the detention and deportation of any Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel operating within Lebanon. However, Lebanon has yet to follow through on these decrees. Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Rodolphe Haykal reportedly objected to the army confronting Hezbollah during the March 2 cabinet session, favoring continued deconfliction instead. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Adel Nassar called on Hezbollah to take the initiative and surrender its arms. This situation has translated into sporadic and passive enforcement of the governments orders by LAF and Lebanese security forces. In addition, reports of the departure of IRGC personnel from Lebanon attributed their flight to fear of being targeted for assassination by Israel, not detention by Lebanon. Hezbollah justifies its attack Hezbollah claimed that its opening barrage against Israel was in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a delayed response to Israels ongoing military operations in Lebanon during the ceasefire period. In subsequent statements, including Secretary-General Naim Qassems speech on March 4, 2026, the group sought to deemphasize launching the war to assist Iran. Hezbollah may have calculated that sparking another war in Lebanon in under two-and-a-half years would create significant domestic backlash that could spread to its Shiite base and threaten its survival. The group, therefore, quickly reframed its March 2 attack as purely a nationalistic act of self-defense. Qassem also insisted that Hezbollah had only preempted a premeditated and inevitable Israeli war on Lebanon. Hezbollah used an identical narrative to justify its decision to attack Israel on October 8, 2023, to support its allies in the Gaza Strip. Qassem also clarified that Hezbollah would not heed the Lebanese cabinets decision to cease hostilities or disarm. The group, he said, would fight on until victory or martyrdom, and he demanded that Beirut defend the right of the resistance to do so. Hezbollah has since reaffirmed this position in word and deed, continuing to launch and claim increasingly escalatory attacks against Israel. In the early hours of March 6, Hezbollah also issued a 5-kilometer evacuation warning to northern Israels residents, mimicking the IDFs evacuation orders in Lebanon. Rather than being a genuine warning, it appears geared towards demonstrating to Hezbollahs base that the group still possesses the ability to impose terms upon Israel. Many of Hezbollahs attacks against Israel coincided with missile barrages launched by Iran. However, in its latest statement on the matter, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Effie Deffrin said on March 5 that Israel possesses no concrete intelligence indicating coordination/synchronization between Hezbollah and Iran, and that the overlap in attacks only looks like coordination. Hezbollahs justifications for initiating hostilities based on self-defense are undermined by Israels continuous operations in Lebanon over the last 15 months. The groups initial claim of avenging Khamenei is more plausible, especially given the groups prior pronouncements that it would not remain neutral in a serious conflict threatening Iran. However, retaliation for Khamenei and Iran fails to fully explain Hezbollahs willingness to invite an equally predictable, ferocious Israeli response, and the subsequent domestic backlash. A more likely explanation for Hezbollah resuming hostilities is that it sensed the US-Israeli war was heading in a direction that threatened the Iranian regimes survival. Therefore, it may have intervened to divide Israeli forces along two fronts, thus slowing progress on the Iranian front and hoping a delay would result in a premature ceasefire that allows the Islamic Republic to survive. A less explainable act than the attacks on Israel, however, centers around Lebanese officials suggesting and Cypriot officials confirming that Hezbollah launched a drone attack on the Royal Air Forces Akrotiri base in Cyprus. However, the IRGCs Aerospace Force, which the Israelis allege possessed an operational headquarters in Beiruts southern suburbs, may have been the party responsible for that attack. Israels retaliation against Hezbollah Israels response has been predictably intense. By March 6, the IDF claimed to have struck over 500 Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon and conducted twenty-six waves of airstrikes in Dahiyeh [Beirut] alone. The IDF also claimed to have killed 70 Hezbollah operatives so far, including Hezbollahs Intelligence HQ commander Hussain Mouqalled and its firepower management commander Zaid Ali Jumaa. The IDF also launched coordinated airstrikes targeting several branches of Al Qard al Hassan, one of Hezbollahs main financial institutions that provides small loans. Between March 2 and March 6, the IDF also issued extensive evacuation warnings to Lebanese civilians. The first warning, issued on March 2 at approximately 10:12 am, requested the evacuation of residents of 53 locales in south Lebanon and the Beqaa. A following warning was issued at 10:46 pm to evacuate 22 additional locales, all adjacent to the Blue Line. The IDFs third warning came on March 13 at 12:11 pm, expanding the evacuation zone to an additional 37 locales, many north of the Litani River. The fourth warning, on March 4 at 12:01 pm, demanded a general northward evacuation of all Lebanese locales south of the Litani River. This order was repeated on March 5 at 8:03 am, with a special emphasis on the cities of Tyre and Bint Jbeil. At 2:38 pm, the IDF issued an unprecedented warning to evacuate several neighborhoods of Dahiyeh in south Beirut, which has an estimated population of 500,000700,000 people. Burj al Barajneh and Hadath neighborhood residents were asked to move eastward toward Mount Lebanon along the Beirut-Damascus Highway, while Haret Hreik and Shiyyahs residents were told to move northward on the Beirut-Tripoli Highway and eastward to Mount Lebanon along the Metn Expressway. The final IDF warning called for the residents of Beqaa, and specifically the villages of Douris, Majdaloun, and Brital, to evacuate westward along the Zahle-Baalbek Road. To date, ongoing combat and the evacuation warnings have displaced 100,000300,000 Lebanese. All of the IDFs evacuation orders referenced heavily Shiite areas where Israel alleges that Hezbollah operates and stores weapons. Despite these extensive warnings, as of the time of this writing, Lebanese media outlets report that the Israel Air Force has only conducted 12 airstrikes in Dahiyeh. Per Lebanese reporting, most Israeli airstrikes were concentrated in southern and eastern Lebanon. This dovetails with the IDFs 7:01 am statement from March 6, claiming to have struck one headquarters and ten multistory buildings housing Hezbollah military infrastructure. In its follow-up statement at 7:55pm, the IDF said its airstrikes in Dahiyeh had targeted: The IRGCs Aerospace Force headquarters Hezbollahs Naval Unit headquarters Hezbollahs Executive Council headquarters Hezbollahs Financial Unit headquarters However, overall, Israels attacks in Lebanon appear to have leveled out for now, perhaps reflecting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus directives to the IDF to remain focused on Iran. Nevertheless, the Israeli militarys goals against Hezbollah appear to be far-reaching, with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir saying on March 5 that the IDF will not desist until Hezbollah is disarmed. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who threatened Secretary-General Qassem with assassination at the outset of the fighting, has also said the IDF intends to stay in security zones in Lebanon indefinitely. The international response and a French proposal Most of the international communitys attention, including that of the United States, has been focused on Iran. However, France, as Lebanons historical patron, has stepped into the breach with proposals to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. French President Emmanuel Macron called on Hezbollah to cease its attacks against Israel, renounce its weapons, respect the national interest, [and] show that it is not a militia taking orders from abroad. Al Arabiya reported that the French proposal would have Hezbollah surrender its weapons within two weeks to the Lebanese state, which would, in turn, enter into direct peace negotiations with Israel. Macron, who had earlier tried to pressure Netanyahu to end the campaign in Lebanon, also called on the Israelis to refrain from expand[ing] the war to Lebanon with a ground offensive or large-scale operation[s] on Lebanese territory. Underscoring the commitment given to him by Lebanese authorities to take control of the positions held by Hezbollah and to fully assume responsibility for security across the entire national territory, Macron said that France would strengthen its cooperation with the LAF, providing it with armored personnel carriers and operational and logistical support to carry out its mission. Unnamed Hezbollah sources told Al Hadath that the group rejected the French proposal. Talk of mediation is premature, the sources stated. Instead, they said that the battlefield is now speaking. They also threatened to confront any attempt, presumably by Lebanese authorities, to seize their weapons as if it were any other Israeli aggression. David Daoud is Senior Fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs. Smoke rises from a Kurdistan Freedom Party base after what the Kurdish Iranian opposition group said was a drone and missile attack on March 6. (PAK on X) Iran and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq increased attacks on the Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq on March 6 and 7. Drone and missile attacks targeting sites in the Kurdistan Regions Erbil and Sulaimani provinces late Saturday and early Sunday killed two people and wounded others, authorities said, the Rudaw Media Network noted on March 8. The deadly attacks represented an escalation by Iran and militias in Iraq in their targeting of the region. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has been targeted by an estimated 196 drone and missile attacks since February 28, when the US and Israel began strikes on Iran. Masoud Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the former president of the KRI, condemned the recent attacks on March 8. Everyone must understand that restraint has its limits, Barzani said in a statement posted on X. Drone and missile attacks on the KRI began soon after the US and Israel commenced striking Iran. They have included attacks on a hotel in Erbil and threats against US forces in the region. On March 6, an Iranian official threatened to expand attacks on the KRI. The Iranian Supreme Leaders representative on Irans Defense Council, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, said on Friday that Iran has so far focused only on US and Israeli bases in the region, as well as opposition political parties operating within the Kurdistan Region, Rudaw reported. The Iranian official went on to say that if Kurdish Iranian groups based in the KRI continued plotting, then Iran could target more facilities in the region on a massive scale. Kurdish Iranian opposition groups operate in the KRI because many Kurds from Iran have fled to northern Iraq over the past decades, and these groups were able to operate relatively freely in the region. Over the years, Iran has demanded that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) curtail the activities of the opposition groups and move them away from the border. The Iranian attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan also come in the wake of reports that the US has been supporting Kurdish Iranian opposition groups. Axios reported that US President Donald Trump, who spoke with Kurdish leaders from the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq on March 1, appeared to indicate on March 7 that he was against Kurdish groups going into Iran. Five Kurdish Iranian opposition groups formed a coalition on February 22, deciding to coordinate their activities against the Iranian regime. On March 3, a sixth group joined the coalition, effectively unifying all but one of the major Kurdish-Iranian opposition groups. On Saturday, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that it had struck three Kurdish Iranian opposition groups that operate in the KRI. The attacks came after previous rounds of attacks over the past few days. On March 6, the Kurdistan Freedom Party said that four of its fighters were injured in a missile and drone attack on one of its bases. Earlier in the week, one of the groups members was killed in an attack. Two camps where members of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan live near Koya were targeted on March 6, according to Hengaw, a Kurdish human rights organization. The Kurdish Iranian group Khabat was also targeted on March 5, according to the social media account Kurdistan Watch, which monitors developments in the Kurdistan region. On March 7, the attacks expanded to areas in and around the city of Sulaimani. Drones targeted a site of the local KRI Peshmerga and struck a camp of the Kurdish Iranian group Komala near the village of Zargwezala (Zirguez). One person was reported killed in the attack on March 7. It was not clear if the attacks had been carried out by Iran or Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. The perception in the KRI is that the attacks are increasing. Iraqi militias continue to rain rockets and drones on civilian and energy infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region, Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, wrote on March 6. A member of the regional parliament said there had been six attacks over a 40-minute span in Erbil, the capital of the region, on March 7. Footage posted on X showed people firing wildly into the air to try to stop the drones. A Kurdish member of the security team at Erbil International Airport was killed in attacks on March 7. There are differing estimates for the total number of attacks targeting the Kurdish Iranian opposition groups, with numbers ranging from 14 to 46 different attacks since February 22. Thus far, the only group not reported targeted yet by Iran or its militias is the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), an Iranian Kurdish group that is linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024). The Coordination Committee of the Iraqi Resistance logo. (Al Sumaria.tv) On March 6, the Coordination Committee of the Iraqi Resistance (CCIR) issued an ultimatum over recent Israeli attacks in Lebanon: Stop bombing the southern Dahiyeh suburbs of Beirut (a known Hezbollah stronghold), or face threats against regional embassies and American energy infrastructure. The next day, Reuters reported that Katyusha rockets targeted the US embassy in Baghdad. Footage uploaded on social media reportedly showed American air defenses attempting to shoot down an incoming threat. In what may be an escalation of the multi-front war between Israel, the US, Iran, and its proxies, the CCIR, a loosely coordinated body made up of Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq that align messaging, threats, and occasionally operations, warned that actors attacking Beiruts Dahiyeh would face a threat to the security of the embassies of the attacking states. Furthermore, the CCIR said that the same threat faced American oil companies operating in the Arabian Peninsula. The CCIR framed the warning as a response to Israeli strikes against civilians in the densely populated Dahiyeh suburbs. Either security for all, or security for none, the statement said. While the CCIR did not explicitly identify the actor responsible for strikes on the Dahiyeh, Israel is the only known military acting kinetically against Hezbollah and the Iran-led axis in Lebanon. Since Hezbollah entered the war on behalf of Iran on March 2, the Lebanon-based group has executed daily cross-border attacks against the Jewish state. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has carried out over 500 strikes in Lebanon, mostly aimed at Hezbollah personnel and infrastructure. On March 5, the IDF issued an evacuation order for Beiruts Dahiyeh, warning of imminent attacks against Hezbollah positions in the area. Since the war between Iran and the US and Israel began, Iraqi militias operating under the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) banner have repeatedly attacked American military bases in Iraq and the region, including Jordans Muwafak al Sulti Air Base, a key hub for US military aircraft. Like the CCIR, the IRI is an umbrella group composed of Iran-backed Shiite militias. However, while the CCIR primarily serves as a political and messaging forum for these organizations, the IRI banner is typically attached to specific claims of attacks. Hezbollahs Iraqi connection Many of the figures who would later coalesce under the umbrella of Hezbollah were initially affiliated with Mohammad Baqir al Sadrs Pro-Khomeinist Iraqi Dawa Party and its Lebanese branch, including former Hezbollah Secretaries-General Subhi al Tufayli and Abbas al Musawi. The student branch of Dawas Lebanese arm fed current Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc Chairman Mohammad Raad, and Political Council Deputy Chairman Mahmoud Qmati into Hezbollahs founding networks. Hezbollah and the Dawa Party also lay claim to the same attacks and martyrs, including Nazih Fadl Harb, who is one of the earliest martyrs claimed by Hezbollah. However, Harb died on December 15, 1981five months before Hezbollahs recognized rise after the June 6, 1982, Israeli invasion of Lebanon. The date and general location of his death coincide with a suicide car bombing carried out by the Dawa Party against the Iraqi Embassy in Lebanon. Over the decades, Hezbollah would repay this Iraqi debt, especially in the wake of the 2003 US invasion, creating a symbiosis that would bring Iraqi Shiite militias deeper into the orbit of the Axis of Resistance. Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, while still serving in his role as the Deputy Commander of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), creditedthe great martyrs Imad Mughniyeh and Mustafa Badreddinetwo of Hezbollahs storied founders and former military commanderswith arriving in Iraq in the early 1980s to train Iraqi [Shiite] jihadi rejectionist groups to fight Saddam Hussain. The Hezbollah operatives then returned to Iraq, according to Muhandis, after 2003 to train, aid, and prepare Iraqi Shiite militias and operatives to fight US forces, including Muhandis, who was serving as the leader of the Kataib Hezbollah militia. Muhandis said that Badreddine and Mughniyeh played a very important and central role in training Iraqi Shiite mujahidin forces and organizing them as resistance cells against the Americans. This greatly benefited the PMF, as Muhandis noted that a large proportion of its fighters come from the cadres of those who fought the American presence in Iraq. Muhandis and other sources confirmed that Hezbollahs role in Iraq continued during the later fight against the Islamic State. Joe Truzman is an editor and senior research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian armed groups and non-state actors in the Middle East. David Daoud is senior fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is one of the stocks that should double in 3 years. On March 3, Alibaba Group announced that it is forming a new specialized task force to accelerate the development of its foundation models following the sudden resignation of Junyang Justin Lin, the lead architect of its flagship Qwen AI platform. This initiative will be led by a trio of top executives, including Group CEO Eddie Wu, Group CTO Wu Zeming, and Alibaba Cloud CTO Zhou Jingren. The task force is designed to mobilize resources across the entire company to support its AI research arm, Tongyi Laboratory, and maintain momentum in its high-stakes pivot toward artificial intelligence. Lins departure marks the third senior executive exit from the Qwen division this year, a trend that has unsettled the developer community. Under Lins leadership, Qwen became a global frontrunner, consistently ranking among the worlds top-performing models and even drawing praise from figures like Elon Musk. However, Lin recently warned that Chinese firms face a hurdle in matching the research-dedicated compute power of US leaders like OpenAI, noting that domestic resources are often stretched thin by immediate delivery demands. In response to these leadership changes, CEO Eddie Wu reaffirmed the companys commitment to its open-source strategy and its $53 billion investment plan for AI infrastructure. The company plans to scale up its R&D spending and intensify efforts to recruit top-tier global talent to fill the vacuum left by departing engineers. Alibaba (BABA) Forms AI Task Force Following Resignation of Qwen Lead Architect Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA), through its subsidiaries, provides technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands, retailers, and other businesses engage with their users and customers in the Peoples Republic of China and internationally. While we acknowledge the potential of BABA 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 Stocks With Explosive Growth Potential. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Mayo University Hospital has recently welcomed the appointment of Moira Murphy as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) in Respiratory Integrated Care. The newly established service, led by Moira, supports the objectives of the Enhanced Care Clinical Programme by delivering integrated, patient-centred respiratory care closer to home. The initiative aims to improve access to specialist services, reduce avoidable hospital admissions and enhance quality of life for people living with respiratory conditions. Working across both acute and community services within the Mayo Chronic Disease Hub, Moira provides advanced assessment, diagnosis and treatment for patients with asthma and chronic respiratory conditions. Her role includes the management of both acute and chronic respiratory conditions, supported by specialist investigations such as pulmonary function testing and radiological imaging to inform clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes. READ MORE: Minister Dillon opens new housing developments across Mayo As an independent prescriber, Moira is authorised to initiate and adjust respiratory medications, ensuring timely, safe and effective treatment. She supports patients with symptoms such as breathlessness, persistent cough, wheeze, chest tightness, recurrent chest infections and fatigue, while also providing ongoing disease management for those living with asthma and COPD. Speaking about her appointment, Moira said: My role focuses on improving access to care through early diagnosis, early intervention, and timely treatment, ensuring that every patient has a clear and coordinated care plan. A key part of my work is collaborating across hospital and community services to support integrated care and seamless patient journeys. "Alongside my clinical responsibilities, I am actively involved in reducing waiting times and preventing hospital admissions for patients with asthma and COPD. I am also engaged in service development, education, and quality improvement within the respiratory team. Dr Padraig O Luanaigh, Director of Nursing at Mayo University Hospital, said: We are delighted to welcome Moira to her role as Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Respiratory Integrated Care. "This appointment represents a significant step forward in strengthening our respiratory services and enhancing access to specialist care for patients across Mayo. Moira brings a wealth of experience, clinical expertise, and a strong commitment to patient-centred care. Her role will support earlier intervention, reduce hospital admissions, and ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. This development reflects our ongoing commitment to integrated care, service innovation, and improving outcomes for people living with chronic respiratory conditions in our community. READ NEXT: Its win-win - West Mayo GAA clubs top Irish Life Steps Challenge When Jonathan JP McCormack collapsed attempting a single push-up last June, he assumed he had simply pushed himself too hard. It was the strangest feeling, he recalls. There was just no connection. Within days, the Castlebar-born entrepreneur was paralysed from the neck down. Lying in intensive care, he was told he might never walk again. Less than a year later, he is training for a military-entry standard run carrying 20kg on his back the first of 11 demanding challenges under a new international movement he has founded, Brave Men Take Action. And this summer, he is bringing that movement home to Mayo. A Mayo man, no matter where he roams JPs roots run deep in the West. Born in Castlebar to Johnny McCormack of Westport Road and Brid McGreal of Springvale House, Ballinrobe, JPs early life was split between the west of Ireland, County Down and later London. For the past five years, he has lived in Lisbon. But Mayo, he says, is where he feels most himself. My happiest memories are all from Mayo. READ MORE: Its a way of preserving our Irish music - Killasser craftsman He speaks of summers fishing on Lough Mask with his grandfather Des McGreal, kayaking from Brownstown to Moore Hall, climbing Croagh Patrick and spending long days at Keem Beach in Achill. With 32 first cousins on his mothers side, family life was energetic and close-knit. When Im back in Mayo, it brings out the big kid in me, he says. Mayo is my home. I'm a Mayo supporter. I believe in green and red. You may never walk again In June 2025, what began as mild weakness quickly escalated. Pins and needles spread through his hands and feet. Walking became difficult. He collapsed in his office. An initial hospital visit suggested a viral infection. But an online consultation raised immediate alarm. You need to go to A&E immediately, the doctor told him. I think you have Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a rare autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, often leading to rapid paralysis. Within hours, JP was admitted to intensive care. They told me most people make a full recovery, he says. But not everybody. I might never walk again. He had a nine-month-old baby at home. Deep down, I just thought not me. That Irish grit kicked in. Me versus the bed JP spent exactly one month in hospital. After intensive treatment came rehabilitation learning to stand, to move, to walk again. I forgot how to walk, he says plainly. Its neurological. You forget. The treatment was intense, and initially his body weakened further. He lost over 20kg. Determined not to waste a moment, JP turned his hospital bed into a training ground. Water bottles became makeshift weights. He performed hundreds of small, repetitive movements daily lifting toes, flexing ankles, gripping the bedrail. The physio told me it was like rebooting a computer, he says. So I thought, right the more I move, the more I wake it up. He visualised movements before attempting them. At night, he practised breathwork. Every ounce of energy went toward one goal: getting home. My singular focus was what helps me get back to my partner and my baby as quickly as possible? Within three months of paralysis, he was running again. Hospital staff told him they had rarely seen such rapid recovery. For JP, it was not about defiance, it was about gratitude. I take absolutely nothing for granted now, he says. Being able to stand. Being able to hold my daughter. Thats everything. From talk to action For the past 18 months, JP has been an ambassador for Brave Men Talk, leading monthly hikes in Lisbon that combine movement and open conversation around mens mental health. I think talking is essential, he says. But I also think action is essential. That belief led him to launch Brave Men Take Action earlier this year a sister movement built around 11 challenges designed to test endurance, discipline and resilience. They range from a 100km endurance walk and the 4x4x48 running challenge to cold exposure, breath-hold training and a full day of silence. Its not about passing every challenge, he insists. Its about showing up. JP is candid about why he believes such initiatives are needed. Men dont talk enough, he says. Its something thats been passed down for generations. He points to sobering statistics around suicide and addiction, and speaks about responsibility and brotherhood. He believes many men struggle because they bottle things up, lacking both outlet and structure. We want to build each other up, not break each other down, he says. If we can heal a generation or two now, the next generation wont have to carry the same weight. Bringing it home This summer, JP will return to County Mayo for a month following the arrival of his second child. During that time, he plans to complete one of the challenges locally and host a mens mental health hike potentially on Croagh Patrick inviting men from across the county to join him. It will feel special, he says. This is for Mayo. I feel a duty to give something back. His ambition is to establish a lasting presence for both initiatives in Mayo, encouraging men to gather, move and talk openly. For now, his message is simple. To any Mayo man struggling quietly, he says: Please reach out. Join us. Do one challenge. Do all eleven. Or just come for a walk. You dont have to do it alone. After months in which he could not stand, JP understands the value of a single step. Recovery taught me resilience is built through action, he says. We dont become mentally strong just by talking about it. We build it through disciplined effort, shared hardship and community. For a Mayo man who once had to relearn how to walk, the next step feels clear and this time, he hopes others will walk it with him. READ MORE: Where the crying was heard: uncovering Mayos hidden cillini through folklore Unexpected conflict can leave travellers stranded and anxious. Knowing where to find mental health support can make a difference. Highlights: Being stranded during conflict can trigger anxiety and stress due to uncertainty and safety concerns Accessing local mental health resources and embassy guidance can provide important support Limiting news exposure and maintaining daily routines can help stabilize emotional well-being Trusted Source Acute Stress Symptoms, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Coping Strategies in Reaction to the October 7 War Go to source Trusted Source Advertisement Mental Health Impact of Being Stranded During Conflict Trusted Source Navigating a world in conflict: The mental health implications of contemporary geopolitical crises Go to source Trusted Source Advertisement Finding Mental Health Resources While Stranded Abroad Advertisement Simple Coping Strategies For Anxiety In Crisis Situations Managing News Exposure During Global Crises Building Emotional Resilience During Uncertain Times Frequently Asked Questions Q: Why does being stranded during conflict cause anxiety? A: Uncertainty, safety concerns, and disrupted plans can trigger stress responses and emotional distress. Q: Where can travellers seek mental health help abroad? A: Hospitals, crisis helplines, international clinics, and embassies often provide guidance and support. Q: How can someone manage anxiety during travel disruptions? A: Maintaining routines, practicing breathing exercises, and staying connected with loved ones may help. Q: Should people avoid news during crises? A: Limiting news consumption to specific times can help reduce stress while staying informed. Q: Can emotional resilience help during travel emergencies? A: Resilience strategies help individuals adapt and maintain emotional stability during uncertain situations. Acute Stress Symptoms, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Coping Strategies in Reaction to the October 7 War - (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpp.3021) Navigating a world in conflict: The mental health implications of contemporary geopolitical crises - (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11553604/) Travel disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions can create sudden uncertainty and emotional distress. When flights are cancelled or borders close unexpectedly, many travellers feel helpless. Being stranded in a foreign country during a conflict can amplify feelings of anxiety and isolation. Mental health professionals emphasize the importance ofduring such stressful situations. Understanding available resources can help individuals cope more effectively.During international crises, people often face constant news updates and uncertain travel plans. Exposure to alarming information may increase fear and emotional exhaustion. Individuals far from home may also worry about safety, finances, and family members. Research highlights that uncertainty can intensify). Access to emotional support and reliable information becomes essential during these circumstances.Sudden travel disruptions during geopolitical conflict can significantly affect emotional well-being (). Travellers may experience. Being separated from familiar surroundings can increase feelings of vulnerability. The brain naturally reacts to uncertain situations by activatingContinuous exposure to news about military escalation can further heighten emotional strain. Many individuals find themselves repeatedly checking updates for reassurance. This constant vigilance may increase. Psychologists describe this pattern as crisis-related information overload. Managing exposure to news can therefore supportWhen stranded abroad, travellers may feel unsure about where to seek mental health assistance. Many countries provide crisis support through. Hospitals and international clinics often offer psychological consultations for visitors. Accessingcan provide immediate emotional support.also play an important role in assisting stranded citizens. Diplomatic missions may provide guidance on local resources and safety updates.can offer additional support. These networks help travellers connect with others experiencing similar challenges. Shared communication can reduce feelings of isolation during crises.When faced with uncertainty, focusing on small controllable actions can improve emotional resilience. Maintaining a basic routine helps the mind regain a sense of stability.support physical well-being during stressful periods. Practicing slow breathing exercises may reducecan help individuals remain present instead of anticipating worst-case scenarios. Writing down concerns and potential solutions can provide clarity.through calls or messages also helps maintain emotional balance. Social support remains a powerful buffer against stress. These practices strengthen coping capacity during unexpected disruptions.During conflict situations, constant news consumption may intensify emotional distress. While staying informed is important, excessive exposure can overwhelm the mind. Experts recommend limiting news updates to specific times during the day. This approach helps prevent continuous stress activation.can protect mental well-being.Choosing reliable news sources is equally important. Misinformation can increase confusion and unnecessary panic. Verifying information through official channels such as government advisories helps maintain clarity. Balanced awareness allows individuals to remain informed without becoming overwhelmed.supports mental calmness in uncertain environments.Resilience involves adapting to challenges while maintaining emotional balance. In uncertain travel situations, flexibility and patience become essential qualities. Reminding oneself that disruptions are temporary can reduce distress. Psychological studies suggest thatimproves coping during crises.Finding small moments of comfort can support emotional recovery. Activities such as reading, walking, or journaling may help relieve stress. Maintaining communication with loved ones provides reassurance during difficult moments. Over time, these strategies strengthen confidence in managing uncertainty. Cultivatingallows individuals to navigate challenging situations more effectively.Source-Medindia Many investors may know Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL) as the parent company of Google, YouTube, and its artificial intelligence (AI) model, Gemini. But the company also has an investment arm that invests in high-growth companies across AI, healthcare, infrastructure, and even space. The technology giant has a portfolio of 29 stocks, according to its most recent 13F filing, and the space company AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) tops the list as its largest public stock investment, with 8.9 million shares worth $903 million as of this writing. Here's what investors need to know about the satellite company and Alphabet's investment in it. 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 Alphabet was an early investor in AST SpaceMobile AST SpaceMobile is an early-stage satellite company that has moved past research and development and into commercial operations. The company is developing a global cellular-broadband network in low Earth orbit to provide high-speed connectivity to standard mobile devices. Alphabet first invested in AST SpaceMobile through convertible notes in early 2024. Alphabet, along with AT&T and Vodafone, was an early investor in these convertible notes, which were convertible into common stock at $5.75 per share. As part of the agreement, AST SpaceMobile could force conversion if the stock price traded at 130% above the conversion price for 30 days, which it did in early 2025. As a result, the company told shareholders, including Alphabet, that it would convert these notes into nearly 26 million shares. Alphabet's portion of this represented the 8.9 million shares that it continues to hold today. Image source: Getty Images. In recent years, the company has secured major commercial and government contracts with 50 mobile operators that serve 3 billion subscribers worldwide. It has also secured contracts with the U.S. government, including a $43 million contract to support the Space Development Agency (SDA) and a $20 million contract with the Defense Innovation Unit through a prime contractor to support communications over land, sea, and air. What's next for AST SpaceMobile in 2026 AST SpaceMobile has done a good job securing major deals with communications providers and the U.S. government. Next up for the satellite operator will be deploying its satellite constellation to enable continuous coverage across key markets in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. To accomplish this, the company aims to have between 45 and 60 satellites in orbit by the end of this year. Subedaar, starring Anil Kapoor, premiered on Prime Video on March 5. The film also features Radhikka Madan, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, Mona Singh and Khushboo Sundar, and is directed by Suresh Triveni. The action-thriller has been receiving positive responses from both critics and audiences since its release. Several Bollywood personalities have praised the performances in the film, particularly those of Anil Kapoor and Radhikka Madan. Among them, Shah Rukh Khan also shared his appreciation for the team, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate the cast and acknowledge their compelling performances in delivering an engaging cinematic experience. As parts of the U.S. begin to thaw out from a frigid and stormy winter season, Alaska is still very much in the winter doldrums. But over the years, Alaska Army National Guard troops have largely adapted to the challenges of a frigid climate -- except when it comes to emergency travel and rescue. We need to accept that medical evacuation may be delayed or denied altogether in a high-end Arctic fight, said Major Titus Rund, 207th Aviation Troop Command flight surgeon, in a statement obtained by Military.com. If we cant stabilize and protect our injured in the cold, we lose more than lives. We lose initiative. Army National Guard Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs overlooks work of Alaska National Guard soldier during visit Feb. 20, 2026 (Army National Guard). Its a message that was relayed to Army National Guard Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs, during a recent visit to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JEBR) in Anchorage. Just a few weeks ago, on February 20, Stubbs was at JEBR on a listening tour, hearing from troops operating at what he called the tip of the spear. The things that you deal with in terms of the conditions, the tyranny of distance and the challenges that come with operating in this type of environment, whether it is just training, Warrior Battle Tasks and Drills, collective training at echelon, its not simple, said Stubbs in remarks released to Military.com. It speaks to the character of this great organization. Alaska Major Titus Rund, 207th Aviation Troop Command flight surgeon (Army National Guard). During Stubbs visit, the mercury in Anchorage was down to six degrees below zero. That level of cold along with the states extended nighttime darkness and the vast and largely undeveloped terrain can make working and living in Alaska like an obstacle course. Only a fraction of the state is connected by highway, leaving aviation as the only way to reach most communities, even for injured soldiers. My goal is that Soldiers get the best care possible and back to their families on the worst day of their lives, Rund said. When time is tissue, the urgency to effectively treat patients in the extreme cold is crucial. In Alaska, the U.S. military relies on the so-called Golden Hour, an agreed upon window of time depending on daylight, temperature and climate conditions as the standard for evacuating critically wounded and injured troops to high level medical care. Major Rund says its time for change in Arctic or extreme-cold environments. He has submitted a patent on behalf of the Department of War for a casualty-evacuation, or CASEVAC, ecosystem. It creates a bubble of warmth for victims and care providers in a casualty protection unit a combined shelter and sled. The design allows for a safe and rapid evacuation no matter the outside conditions. CASEVAC, or casualty protection unit, is a combined shelter and sled that wraps victims in a 'bubble of warmth' (Gen. Titus Rund). Runds patent is pending, but its the type of equipment that could have been used during hurricane-force storms last fall that devastated Western Alaska communities. According to the Alaska National Guard, the 207th Aviation Troop Commands response involved a helicopter unit flying more than 330 hours, evacuating 501 civilians, transporting 741 disaster response personnel and carrying more than 90 tons of cargo. What you were doing, no kidding, saved lives, General Stubbs said. You were in the midst of hoisting people off structures that were swept out to sea, saving lives and preserving families. It was incredible. The staggering distance traveled only added to the challenge. One end of the state to the other, between Attu in the Aleutian Islands to Belle Bay in Southeast Alaska, spans 2,400 miles, almost as far as New York City to Los Angeles. Nobody does what the National Guard does, Stubbs said. Nobody can do what we do Citizen Soldiers out there at the tip of the spear inside your respective states. National Guard Soldiers, Stubbs said, must be ready to respond to disasters and unrest both in their states and when called abroad in overseas deployments. Being a Soldier in the Army National Guard is a big deal, Stubbs said in his remarks. We are proud of you, we are proud of who you are, what you do and what you represent. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer has died after being injured while on a medical evacuation mission off the Washington coast. But before he passed away Thursday evening, two poignant ceremonies were held on his behalf: His partner posted on social media that she had accepted a hospital-room wedding proposal carried out by his family. And the Coast Guard awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the highest military awards for heroism during flight, as his family and crewmates watched. The rescue swimmer, Tyler Jaggers, was also promoted to petty officer 2nd class. He demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of danger, upholding the highest standards of courage and excellence for Coast Guard operations, Admiral Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard, said in a statement Friday. We honor his selfless actions and unwavering devotion to our highest calling: to save others. Jaggers was part of an Astoria, Oregon-based crew that responded Feb. 27 to transport a stroke victim from a commercial vessel 120 nautical miles (222 nautical km) off the Washington coast, the Coast Guard said. The agency did not specify what happened, citing an ongoing investigation. But according to Rick McElrath, board president and founder of the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Association, Jaggers fell as he was being lowered to the deck from a helicopter. The association is a nonprofit dedicated to helping Coast Guard aviation veterans. Jaggers had been on life support, the association said. He was treated at hospitals in Victoria, British Columbia, and at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of Seattle. He died Thursday evening, the Coast Guard reported. Jaggers joined the Coast Guard in January 2022 and had served in Astoria since 2024. The Department of Homeland Security had previously recognized him for superior performance as a crew member aboard U.S. Coast Guard cutter Legare during operations in the Caribbean, the Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard said it is conducting an investigation into the cause of his injuries. The Canadian Coast Guard subsequently responded to evacuate the stroke victim, McElrath said. In a post on social media Thursday, Jaggers partner described how she became his fiancee: While at his hospital bedside, his dad placed the ring on her hand. What I didnt realize was that he had recently told some of his closest buddies that he was getting ready to propose, Cassandra Weaver wrote. So yesterday, surrounded by the people who love him most, his family carried out the proposal on Tylers behalf. Her post included photos of her hand with the new engagement ring holding his, and touching his Coast Guard uniform. I always told him I didnt care if he proposed with a Ring Pop, she wrote. I said yes. ___ Johnson reported from Seattle. An NYPD officer serving overseas with the Army National Guard died in Kuwait, prompting tributes from New York leaders and the military community. Police officer Sorffly Davius, assigned to Brooklyns 79th Precinct, died March 6 at Camp Buehring in Kuwait after suffering a medical episode while deployed with the New York Army National Guards 42nd Infantry Division, according to city and state officials. The NYPD mourns the loss of Police Officer Sorffly Davius, who died after suffering a medical episode while deployed to Kuwait, the New York Police Department said in a statement posted on X. Officer Davius served in the 42nd Infantry Division in the U.S. Army National Guard and rose to the rank of major. Davius joined the New York Police Department in 2014 and served in Brooklyns 79th Precinct, which covers parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant, according to the department. Military.com reached out for comment to the New York Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau, U.S. Central Command and the NYPD Police Benevolent Association. Officials have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the death. From Brooklyn Streets to Kuwait Deployment City leaders said Davius built a life defined by public service, protecting New Yorkers at home while serving his country overseas. Army National Guard Maj. Sorffly Davius, an NYPD officer assigned to Brooklyns 79th Precinct, died March 6, 2026, after suffering a medical episode while deployed to Camp Buehring, Kuwait with the New York Army National Guards 42nd Infantry Division. (U.S. Department of Defense) Today, our city mourns the loss of Police Officer Sorffly Davius, who passed away on Friday following a medical episode while deployed to Kuwait with the 42nd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army National Guard, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a joint statement. Officer Davius devoted his life to public service, rising to the rank of major in the Army National Guard and joining the NYPD in 2014. Our thoughts are with Officer Davius and his entire family as they mourn his loss. New York Leaders Remember a Citizen Soldier New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) said Davius embodied the dual role National Guard members often hold as both soldiers and civilians serving their communities. Today, our state mourns the loss of Maj. Sorffly Davius, Hochul said in a statement. Maj. Davius was the Citizen Soldier in every sense. A dedicated NYPD officer and decorated Army veteran, he spent his career protecting others. New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Jones speaks with 42nd Infantry Division Soldiers during his Thanksgiving visit to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Nov. 27, 2025. The Soldiers had an opportunity to interact with their leaders from home. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Trevor Cullen) Hochul said Davius previously served on Joint Task Force Empire Shielda long-running New York National Guard mission that protects high-profile locations and critical infrastructure across the state. The mission reflects the Guards responsibility to support both state and federal operations, requiring troops to balance domestic security missions with overseas deployments. His life is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by our National Guard members who balance their roles as citizens, first responders and soldiers. Congressional leaders also honored Davius following news of his death. Maj. Davius bravely served our country both in the military and as a member of the NYPD, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said in a statement. He is an American hero and represents the very best of our nation. Members of the Army National Guard often maintain civilian careers while serving in uniform, a structure that allows troops to support domestic missions while remaining available for federal deployments when needed. Amazon.com, Inc. is reportedly acquiring George Washington University's Virginia Science and Technology campus in a $427 million dea. Amazon Deepens Virginia Data Center Bet Amazon, through its Amazon Data Services unit, is purchasing the campus in Ashburn, a key hub for U.S. data center infrastructure, Reuters reported on Monday. A campus student publication reported that the deed allows Amazon to develop a data or information technology center on the site. Amazon did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comments. Don't Miss: Amazon's $35 Billion Virginia AI Data Center Push Amid Spending Surge The reported acquisition aligns with Amazon's broader cloud and AI expansion plans. In 2023, the company said it would invest $35 billion in Virginia data centers by 2040, adding to the $35 billion it had already spent in Northern Virginia over the previous decade, the report said. Tech companies have sharply increased capital expenditures to meet surging demand for AI software, advanced chips and computing power. Industrywide commitments have reached at least $630 billion this year, raising concerns among some investors about a potential AI-driven bubble. Trending: Disney Was Built on Character IP This Pre-IPO Company Is Using the Same Playbook GWU Looks To Strengthen Finances George Washington University said the sale is part of a broader effort to bolster its long-term financial stability and refocus on its academic mission. The university retains the option to operate programs at the campus for up to five years. GWU has been grappling with a structural budget deficit and last year cut jobs, reduced travel and capital spending and temporarily lowered leadership pay. It said additional downsizing may be necessary to address ongoing financial challenges. Read Next: 1.5 Million Users Are Already Working Inside This AI Platform Investors Can Still Get In 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: ACHPF 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: Sarah Branyan knows firsthand what its like to survive military sexual trauma (MST). She also knows what its like to make mistakes and have the power to rise above and make a comeback. And shes having a positive effect on struggling veterans. Branyan, an Army veteran, works as a peer support specialist for the C.W. Bill Young Veterans Medical Center in Bay Pines, Florida. Specifically, Branyan supports veterans fighting mental health battles and issues stemming from post-traumatic stress disorder. Her most vital role is leading group sessions with in-patient veterans going through some of the same challenges she faced a couple decades ago. Branyans approach is real and straightforward, which veterans appreciate. During a recent small group session, Branyan asked veterans who they would list as their contacts in case of an emergency. All right, what you got? she said. You are the only person who can accommodate yourself. So, if you dont do it. Its not going to get done. Banished from Army, Addiction Branyan can relate to the veterans she supports because shes been in dire situations. Joining the Army at 17, Branyan was excited to begin basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. However, her excitement quickly turned into a nightmare when she was sexually assaulted by a drill sergeant. Because she was a minor, Branyan was waiting to receive a security clearance when she was assaulted. From there, her life unraveled. Sarah Branyan (LinkedIn) She received a Chapter 11 discharge from service, otherwise known as an Entry Level Separation (ELS) given to recruits that have difficulty adapting to Army life within the first 180 days of active duty. Distraught and depressed, Branyan turned to drugs, becoming addicted to meth, heroin and crack cocaine. The drugs served as a coping mechanism from the pain and embarrassment of her MST and getting booted out of the military. And I just didnt want to feel like me, she said. Didnt want to feel like I felt in my skin. She tried rehabilitation programs but couldnt kick her drug habits. Then came run-ins with the law and several arrests spanning a tumultuous decade. I have gosh, a very extensive criminal record, she said. The veteran hit rock bottom when she spent two years in a Maryland prison, but it was the wake-up call she needed. The incarceration provided time for her to overcome her substance abuse. In her peer support group, Branyan doesnt shy away from discussing her troubled past. For sure, I always tell the story that I have felonies on my record, and I work for the federal government, she said. So, there is nothing that is insurmountable if you are willing to do the work. How Did She Recover? Besides her prison stint, Branyan also credits the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for aiding in her recovery. She said the alliance allowed her to shape her path toward overcoming addiction. Branyan recently completed Crisis Intervention Team training through NAMI. In her peer support group, Branyan emphasizes the power of positivity. When you are thinking positively you are not in fight-or-flight mode. So, you are more resilient, she said. You are more able to find solutions. You are more creative. All the things that we give up and become self-fulfilling prophecies when we are focused in the negative. Crystal Elerbee, one of the group participants, said Branyans sessions work because theyre coming from a veteran who faced significant hurdles and found a way to jump over them. Somebody who has been there, done that, said Elerbee. Somebody that can understand where you have coming from. Whats the best part about being a peer support specialist? For Branyan, its watching veterans become stronger mentally. Oh, I love it. Thats my favorite thing, she said. Because often we dont get to see the end result. We just must hope we are making a difference. But in this role, I get to see it all the time. Saturday Night Live opened its latest episode by taking aim at one of the weeks biggest geopolitical stories: the escalating conflict involving Iran. The sketch comes as U.S.Israeli strikes in the region have intensified fears of a wider conflict and sparked debate in Washington over whether the situation should be considered a war. Were treating Iran like the breathalyzer in my car were gonna blow it the hell up. James Austin Johnsons widely recognized impression of President Donald Trump took a back seat for the night. Instead, longtime Weekend Update anchor Colin Jost stepped into the spotlight with his recurring portrayal of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The episode, hosted by Ryan Gosling and featuring musical guest Gorillaz, opened with a parody press briefing modeled on a C-SPAN broadcast. Josts version of Hegseth addressed reporters about the ongoing conflict involving Iran, though not before performing a keg stand behind the podium. Hegseth Iran Presser Cold Open - SNL When he finally turned to the microphones, foam still dripping down his face, the fictional defense secretary brushed off the scene. Relax, it was Sprite, he said defiantly. From there, Josts Hegseth attempted to explain the military situation in terms he claimed were easier for him to understand. At one point, he compared the U.S. approach toward Iran to the breathalyzer installed in his car. Were treating Iran like the breathalyzer in my car, he said, adding that the plan was to blow it the hell up. The sketch continued with a string of increasingly over-the-top metaphors about the escalating conflict. Trying to simplify the situation for reporters, Jost said the United States was essentially giving Iran a third-degree purple nurple. Later, he joked that American forces had torpedoed Iranian ships so badly that their navy would soon be singing Under the Sea, referencing the famous song from The Little Mermaid. Jost delivered that line with an exaggerated Caribbean accent before acknowledging the joke himself. Thats right, he added. We can do Jamaican again. Youre welcome. The biggest laugh of the segment came when one reporter referred to the situation as a war. Josts Hegseth immediately rejected the label. Who called this a war? he asked, pausing before adding that the president might have done so a couple of times accidentally. According to his explanation, the conflict shouldnt be categorized that way at all. This isnt a war, he insisted. Why do we have to put labels on everything? He then compared the geopolitical tension to modern dating terminology. This isnt a war, its a situationship, he said. Were just going to hook up and see where it goes. In classic SNL fashion, the joke escalated even further. Josts Hegseth explained that if the conflict stopped being exciting, the United States could simply move on. If we get bored, he said, well start hooking up with Cuba. The press conference eventually introduced another political figure. Cast member Ashley Padilla appeared as former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whom Jost jokingly described as having been reassigned under the bus. Her appearance pushed the sketch into its next segment, continuing the shows long tradition of using exaggerated press briefings to lampoon Washington politics. A War That Isnt Called One Military planners have a term for the kind of conflict unfolding around Iran: gray-zone warfare. Defense analysts use the term to describe the kind of limited military operations the United States has conducted against Iranian-backed forces in recent years. It describes operations that fall somewhere between peace and full-scale war. Think limited airstrikes, cyberattacks, proxy conflicts and naval standoffs that stop short of open hostilities between major powers. Two women from the Iranian Red Crescent Society stand as a thick billow of smoke rises behind them from an oil storage facility. Photo: The AP. Over the past two decades, U.S. forces have spent a lot of time operating in that space. American troops have launched strikes on Iranian-backed militias in Syria. Navy ships have intercepted drones and missiles in the Red Sea tied to regional proxy groups. Special operations forces have conducted counterterror missions across the Middle East and Africa. None of those actions came with a formal declaration of war. But they involved combat. And they carried real consequences. For service members deployed in those regions, the distinction between war and not technically a war can feel mostly academic. Satire Meets Strategic Reality Thats part of why the SNL sketch resonated. The idea that a geopolitical conflict could be described like a messy dating situation is absurd on its face. But it also reflects how confusing modern conflicts can look from the outside. In the sketch, Josts Hegseth tries to dodge reporters questions after performing a keg stand at the podium. When journalists keep referring to the situation with Iran as a war, he shrugs. When U.S. leaders discuss military action today, they often rely on terms like defensive strikes, deterrence operations, or limited engagements. Phrasing that signals how Washington isnt seeking a broader war, but the operations themselves can still involve sustained combat activity. Real-World Tensions Behind the Headlines The comedy sketch also arrives during a tense political moment surrounding the Iran conflict. Pete Hegseth speaks during a briefing. As Military.com recently reported, more than two dozen members of Congress have already called for an investigation into claims that the Iran conflict was framed in religious terms by some military leaders. Lawmakers asked the Pentagons inspector general to review claims that troops were told the conflict was tied to biblical prophecy connected to Armageddon. Lawmakers asked the Pentagons inspector general to review claims that troops were told the fighting was tied to biblical prophecy connected to Armageddon. If accurate, the lawmakers wrote in their letter, these outrageous statements raise not only glaring constitutional concerns but potential violations of Department of Defense regulations regarding religious neutrality. The allegations surfaced after service members filed complaints with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. The organization says it has received more than 200 similar complaints from troops across multiple installations. So far, the Pentagon hasnt publicly detailed any findings. Weekend Update Kept The Political Jabs Coming The jokes didnt stop with the cold open. Later in the episode, Saturday Night Lives Weekend Update segment leaned hard into the political chaos surrounding the administration, especially the abrupt firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the escalating tensions with Iran. Colin Jost references the firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during the Weekend Update segment on Saturday Night Live. Credit: NBCUniversal / Saturday Night Live Colin Jost opened the segment by pretending to be shocked by Noems dismissal. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been fired, he said. Wait. What? Why? I mean, name one to 20 things she did wrong? Jost then rattled off several controversies tied to the fictional version of Noem, joking that the reasons might include labeling an innocent man a domestic terrorist or spending $220 million on a taxpayer-funded ad campaign where she dressed up like Jesse from Toy Story. He pointed to an image on screen and quipped that the horse she was riding looked like it might be named Corey Lewandowski. Despite the criticism, Jost said he felt a little sympathy for her situation. Imagine being singled out as the worst member of Trumps cabinet, he said. Thats like someone coming up to you at a party and saying, We think you should leave youre making Diddy uncomfortable. Michael Che followed with his own round of jokes about Noems new assignment. According to Che, President Trump had announced plans to reassign the former homeland security chief as special envoy for the shield of the Americas, which he described as a brand-new department located on a farm upstate. Che then shifted the focus back to the Iran conflict, joking about reports that the CIA was trying to arm local militias in hopes of triggering an uprising. On the screen beside him appeared a photo of Osama bin Laden. Hey, Che said dryly, it worked great in Afghanistan. He closed by poking fun at Trumps suggestion that he should help choose Irans next supreme leader. Congratulations to the new supreme leader, Che said, as an edited image of Jared Kushner wearing a turban appeared behind him. Ayatollah Jared Kushnari. The rapid-fire jokes capped off a political episode that blended global conflict, cabinet shake-ups and late-night satire a mix that Saturday Night Live has relied on for decades whenever Washington and world events collide in the headlines. You can revisit the most recent episode, and the entire fifty-year run, of SNL with a Peacock subscription. Googles Venture Arm Leads $200 Million Funding Round in European Fintech Start-up (Googles Venture Arm Leads $200 Million Funding Round in European Fintech Startup) Googles venture arm has actually simply dropped a significant investment bombshell in the fintech world. It led a $200 million financing round for an increasing European fintech startup, signifying strong self-confidence in the companys vision and innovation. This move not only highlights Googles expanding rate of interest in monetary technology yet additionally highlights how digital financing is reshaping the global economic climate. The bargain has stimulated extensive attention throughout technology and financing circles, with several wondering what this startup in fact does and why it matters a lot. What Is Googles Venture Arm Investing In . The start-up at the heart of this bargain is a European fintech company that concentrates on next-generation settlement infrastructure. While its name may not yet be a household word, its innovation is already powering seamless deals for millions of individuals throughout the continent. The core offering revolves around real-time repayment processing, cross-border negotiation, and embedded financing options that permit non-financial companies to provide banking-like services. Unlike standard banks stalled by heritage systems, this startup runs on cloud-native architecture, making it quicker, extra adaptable, and far more scalable. Googles venture arm, understood for backing transformative technology plays, clearly sees this as a critical grip in the future of cash activity. Why Did Googles Venture Arm Select This Fintech Start-up . There are numerous great factors behind this big wager. First, Europes fintech scene is growing, thanks to helpful regulations like PSD2 and a digitally smart consumer base. Second, the start-up has shown impressive traction processing billions in transaction volume and partnering with major retailers, gig platforms, and even government solutions. Third, Google likely sees harmony with its own community. Visualize Android Pay or Google Purse incorporating deeply with this startups rails to enable smoother, more affordable worldwide transfers. Additionally, with rivals like Apple and Amazon increasing their economic impacts, Google can not afford to remain. This financial investment isnt practically returns its about remaining appropriate in a significantly financialized electronic world. For more context on exactly how large technology is diving right into money, check out this protection on Googles venture arm leads $200 million funding round in European fintech start-up. How Does the Startups Innovation Job . At its core, the start-up makes use of modern APIs and open banking standards to connect banks, vendors, and end customers in actual time. Instead of counting on slow, batch-based clearing systems that take days, it leverages instantaneous settlement networks like SEPA Split second Debt Transfer. Its system enables organizations to install attributes like pay later, multi-currency budgets, or even micro-loans straight into their applications without requiring a financial license. Everything works on protected, compliant framework that satisfies EU monetary guidelines. The backend is developed for rate and strength, making use of dispersed ledger principles (though not complete blockchain) to track deals transparently. Developers enjoy it because integration takes hours, not months. For consumers, it suggests less charges, faster refunds, and the capability to pay in their recommended currency without hidden markups. Applications Across Industries and Everyday Life . This modern technology isnt just for banks its already changing exactly how people store, job, and take care of cash. Ride-hailing motorists get paid quickly after each trip instead of waiting weekly. On the internet marketplaces allow buyers and sellers clear up in various currencies with near-zero friction. Small companies make use of the platform to offer membership payment with automatic retries and clever dunning. Even public services are adopting it: some European cities now allow residents pay utility bills or car park fines with chatbots powered by this fintechs engine. In education and learning, universities utilize it to disburse scholarships or accumulate tuition from worldwide students flawlessly. The applications maintain growing due to the fact that the system is modular you can connect in just the piece you require, whether its identity verification, fraudulence discovery, or liquidity monitoring. As electronic business expands, so does the need for agile economic pipes, and this startup is laying the pipelines. Frequently asked questions About the Offer and the Fintech Landscape . Is this start-up going public quickly? Not yet. The $200 million round is Series C financing, implying its still in growth setting, not leave mode. The money will sustain growth right into brand-new markets like Southeast Asia and Latin America. Does Google now manage the start-up? No. Googles endeavor arm leads the round however doesnt take majority control. The creators retain functional independence, which is common in such offers. Will this affect routine individuals of Google solutions? Indirectly, yes. With time, you might see tighter combinations like utilizing your Google account to log right into the fintech app or seeing faster payments if youre a material developer on YouTube utilizing their payment devices. Is this part of a bigger trend? Absolutely. Big tech firms are increasingly stepping into finance. From Apple Card to Amazon Borrowing, the line between tech and financial is blurring. You can learn more concerning industry shifts, consisting of individual responses to tech-finance crossovers, in this report on OpenAIs army cooperation activates customer backlash, which shows how sensitive individuals are to tech overreach. Could this increase regulative issues? Highly likely. European regulators are already enjoying big techs moves right into money carefully. Nonetheless, since this start-up runs as a certified settlement organization not a financial institution it stays within current guardrails. Still, anticipate analysis as the partnership strengthens. On an associated note, global enforcement activities are increase against electronic threats; as an example, the current takedown of cyberpunk online forums like LeakBase demonstrates how seriously governments treat electronic ecosystem stability, as outlined in United States and EU join forces to seize LeakBase. (Googles Venture Arm Leads $200 Million Funding Round in European Fintech Startup) This funding round is more than simply a headline its a signal that the future of money is being coded now in European tech hubs, with Silicon Valley titans taking notice. The blend of regulative visibility, technological ability, and consumer demand makes Europe an abundant ground for fintech technology. And with Googles support, this startup is positioned to come to be a principal in how cash relocates the electronic age. Often celebrated for her Hollywood beauty, Hedy Lamarr was also a brilliant inventor whose frequency-hopping technology helped lay the foundation for modern wireless systems such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences. 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 Albert Einstein: "Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you..." 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? 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. American Express (NYSE: AXP) has been caught in a sell-off that looks increasingly disconnected from the company's most recent results. Fears about artificial intelligence (AI) disrupting white-collar work, along with broader geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty, have pushed the stock down to about $300 as of this writing. But has the stock's sell-off gone too far? 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 After all, the company's latest results were excellent. The lender and credit card company closed 2025 with record revenue, double-digit earnings growth, a refreshed Platinum card in the U.S., and impressive 2026 financial guidance. Image source: The Motley Fool. Impressive momentum American Express's full-year revenue, net of interest expense, rose 10% in 2025 to $72.2 billion. Earnings per share rose 10% to $15.38, or 15% excluding the prior-year gain from its sale of Accertify. And in Q4, specifically, revenue rose 10% to $19.0 billion, and earnings per share increased 16% to $3.53. And the growth drivers behind these results look good. Fourth-quarter card member spending increased 9%, or 8% on an FX-adjusted basis. American Express also said net card fee revenue grew at a double-digit rate for the 30th consecutive quarter. Importantly, the credit quality of its customer base remains strong, too. Full-year net write-offs were 2%, flat from the prior year. Fourth-quarter net write-offs did tick up to 2.1% from 1.9% in the year-ago quarter, but that 2.1% is still very impressive for a credit card lender. Of course, this is not to say the market's worries are completely unfounded. If AI does prove to be disruptive to the workforce and white-collar layoffs rise, American Express could see more pressure than other lenders since its business is focused on higher spenders. Additionally, if the geopolitical situation worsens and begins to affect consumer confidence, this could hurt cardmember spending. A fairly valued stock At about $300 per share, American Express trades for roughly 19.5 times earnings. But the stock also trades for only about 16.8 to 17.3 times management's 2026 earnings guidance of $17.30 to $17.90 per share. A valuation like this is reasonable for a high-quality lender and credit card issuer with a strong outlook for 2026. Management is guiding for 2026 revenue growth of 9% to 10% and EPS growth of roughly 12% to 16%. If American Express can actually deliver that while keeping credit in line, the stock does not look overpriced at $300. Did our AI summary help? Taking to X on Saturday evening, Shah Rukh Khan shared a message appreciating Anil Kapoors commitment and the effort put in by the team. Kamal Haasan tells US President Donald Trump 'Mind your own business', says India doesn't take orders from foreign shores Did our AI summary help? With International Women's Day approaching, it is the perfect time to revisit some of these compelling stories. Among those present to offer condolences was veteran actress Helen, who was seen arriving at the venue and paying her last tribute to the late producer. By Mehnaz Yasmin and Utkarsh Shetti March 6 (Reuters) - Oil options and futures are signalling that the latest Middle East conflict may be shortlived, as traders pile into structures that profit from a retreat in prices after the initial spike. Options and futures markets often provide the earliest signal of whether traders see a supply shock as fleeting or structural, creating opportunities to profit from sharp swings in prices. More from Yahoo Scout Why are traders betting on short-term oil disruption? What does Brent futures curve backwardation indicate here? How did open interest patterns reveal market sentiment? How do oil options signal temporary vs permanent disruptions? The IsraelU.S. attack on Iran has sent shockwaves through energy markets as warrisk insurance costs surge, freight rates hit record levels and disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz snarl oil flows and strand hundreds of vessels. Oil prices on Friday were at multi-year highs. In a sign traders see the price shock as temporary, 30-day at-the-money Brent implied volatility jumped 17.5 points to 68% over the past week through Tuesday, while 60- and 90-day tenors rose only 5.9 and 2.8 percentage points, LSEG data shows. "What we're watching in real time is the difference between a logistics crisis and a structural one," Brian E. Kinsella, former Goldman Sachs energy specialist, told the Reuters Global Markets Forum. "The market is betting it's logistical and I think that is the right read," he added. The Brent futures curve is sending a similar signal. The spread between the front-month Brent contract and the six-month contract widened to about $10, the steepest backwardation since the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, pointing to tight near-term supply while suggesting short-term disruption. Meanwhile, the put-to-call ratio on West Texas Intermediate options roughly halved to 0.35 on Monday from Friday's close, CME data showed, pointing to heavy bullish call buying before rebounding to 0.56 on Tuesday as demand returned for downside protection. A call option gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy a crude futures contract at a set price, while a put option gives the right to sell one. The ratio, meanwhile, compares bearish put options, which profit from declines, with bullish call options that benefit from rising prices to gauge market sentiment. "Dealers are already short a meaningful amount of these deep out-of-the-money calls, creating a more negative gamma profile in crude," said Rebecca Babin, senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth US. That contrasts with the more typical environment where dealers are long gamma and sell into rallies. Gamma shows how much an option's sensitivity to the futures price (delta) will change if the market moves. The debate in India mirrors a growing international push to regulate childrens use of social media. The incident occurred at a Gurukul residential school in Karnataka's Ballari. You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK On the domestic front, the 20 per cent ethanol blending programme now displaces roughly 44 million barrels of crude oil annually. Did our AI summary help? On March 4, Tarun was killed in a clash that broke out between his family and their neighbours in the JJ Colony area. Nishants political debut comes shortly after Nitish Kumar, one of Bihars longest-serving chief ministers, announced his decision to move to the Rajya Sabha. The woman alleged that the driver appeared intoxicated and tried to molest her after taking the vehicle onto a link road away from the highway. The CM also said that the Siliguri distict administration had flagged a lack of adequate arrangements at the venue, which documents shared by her showed was originally supposed to be in Goshaipur, to the President's Secretariat ahead of the latter's visit. Make better investment decisions with Simply Wall St's easy, visual tools that give you a competitive edge. Rubis stock: recent performance snapshot Rubis (ENXTPA:RUI) has been on investors radar after a mixed short term performance, with a 1 day return of 1%, a 7 day decline of 3.8%, and modest gains over the past month. See our latest analysis for Rubis. Rubis share price return has been relatively steady in recent months, with a 90 day gain of 8.7% and a strong 1 year total shareholder return of 45.1%. This may hint at improving sentiment rather than fresh momentum. If you are looking beyond Rubis and want more ideas in energy and infrastructure, now could be a good moment to scan our 23 power grid technology and infrastructure stocks as a starting list. Rubis trades at 35.24 with a modest 4% gap to the average analyst price target and an intrinsic value estimate that sits well above todays level, so is there real upside left here, or is the market already pricing in future growth? Most Popular Narrative: 4.2% Undervalued Rubis is trading at 35.24 against a widely followed fair value estimate of 36.77, a small gap that still shapes how analysts frame the story. The analysts have a consensus price target of 34.887 for Rubis based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of 49.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just 25.0. Read the complete narrative. Want to understand why modest revenue growth, flat margins and a higher future earnings multiple still point to potential upside? The full narrative sets out the earnings path, the valuation bridge and the assumptions connecting todays price to those future numbers. Result: Fair Value of 36.77 (UNDERVALUED) Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what's behind the forecasts. However, the Corsica competition fines and ongoing exposure to economic and political instability in markets like Kenya and Haiti could challenge the current upside story. Find out about the key risks to this Rubis narrative. Another view: cash flows paint a different picture While the popular narrative points to Rubis trading around 4.2% below an estimated fair value of 36.77, our DCF model comes out much more cautious, with a future cash flow value of 23.95 per share. On that view, the current 35.24 price looks expensive, not cheap. This raises a simple question for you as an investor: which story do you trust more, the earnings multiple or the cash flow math? The challenges faced by women in employment were not confined to the private sector. Shishir Tripathi is a journalist and researcher based in Delhi. He has worked with The Indian Express, Firstpost, Governance Now, and Indic Collective. He writes on Law, Governance and Politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Boats manoeuver around a tanker vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. (Image credit: AFP) Villagers found more than 10g of gold in the same river while washing sand last year. (Image credit: Handout) Vinod Khosla is the founder of Khosla Ventures. He is worth $11.9 billion, as per Forbes Meet Avataar: India's first amphibious drone capable of flying in the air and diving underwater. (Image: X/@NetramDefence) Satellite images and videos circulating online appeared to show thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the installation following the strikes First Brands Group, the bankrupt auto parts manufacturer behind brands including FRAM, Autolite, and ANCO, is expanding a wave of layoffs and plant closures beyond Ohio, as restructuring deepens amid the inability to find funders. The latest round of facility closures comes days after the company announced major layoffs in Ohio, closing four locations and affecting more than 1,200 workers, which I covered earlier here. Together, the filings indicate that over 2,000 workers across multiple states could lose their jobs as First Brand closes plants and distribution centers, including multiple closures in Brownsville, Texas, and one in Tennessee. What is First Brands? First Brands Group is a major supplier of automotive aftermarket parts. It produces and markets premium products for commercial fleets, passenger vehicles, and repair shops nationwide. The company portfolio includes several well-known automotive brands: FRAM (oil and air filters) Autolite (spark plugs) Michelin (wiper blades) Philips (licensed aftermarket lighting) Raybestos (complete brake solutions) According to the company website, it currently has 24 companies under its portfolio, offering technological and engineering capabilities to its customers. The company made headlines after announcing bankruptcy in September 2025, especially amid fears about private credit and how such liabilities affect banks. In relation to the case and the surrounding fraud, a renowned player in leveraged lending, Jefferies, is now also facing scrutiny over its investment practices and risk appetite, Reuters reported. First Brands owes Jefferies asset management about $715 million in receivables, and now investors are suing the firm for fraud, alleging it invested in a fund linked to the now-bankrupt First Brands. Jefferies has denied the allegations. Autolite is a major part of First Brands' company portfolio.Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Images Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Images First Brands' Texas and Tennessee plants shut down New Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) submitted to Texas shows that First Brands will close several facilities in Brownsville, resulting in hundreds of layoffs. The largest shutdown will be at its Brownsville manufacturing facility, located at 1995 Billy Mitchell Blvd., where 345 positions will be eliminated when the plant closes on April 30. Workers at this plant include technicians, supervisors, machine operators, and quality specialists, among others. More Employment: Another nearby facility, the ASC operation at 1990 Billy Mitchell Blvd., will also permanently shut down, affecting 43 employees. People wait in a queue (R) to refuel their vehicles near a fuel station in Dhaka on March 8, 2026. Bangladesh launched fuel rationing on March 8 as an energy crunch deepened due to the war in the Middle East, creating long queues at filling stations and spilling over into anger. (AFP) That part of the deal could involve around 100 widebody jets, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the new Boeing 777X. A view of the Ras al-Khair water desalination plant, owned by the Saudi government's Saline Water Conversion Corporation, along the Gulf coast in eastern Saudi Arabia. (Photo: AFP) More than 100 Iranians, including some diplomats, were evacuated from Beirut overnight on a Russian plane, a Lebanese official told AFP. The bronze statue of Adam Smith, renowned economist and philosopher, located on the Royal Mile, positioned just outside St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain February 20, 2026. REUTERS/Lesley Martin A US radar in Qatar struck by an Iranian drone. (Credit: X) Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) is among the 12 Best Alcohol Stocks to Buy Right Now. Barclays Retains an Equal Weight Rating on Ambev S.A. (ABEV) On February 17, 2026, Barclays boosted Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV)s price objective to $3 from $2.50. The analyst retained an Equal Weight rating, noting a focus on profitability-led earnings and cash flow growth in 2026. On February 12, 2026, Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) announced fourth-quarter organic net revenue growth of 4.8%, driven by an 8.7% increase in net revenue per hectoliter, while total volume fell 3.6%. Full-year organic net revenue grew by 4.0%, with a 7.5% rise in net revenue per hectoliter, offsetting a 3.3% volume reduction across activities. The company achieved a 5.6% rise in full-year normalized EBITDA, increasing the margin by 50 basis points to 33.4%, completing the third consecutive year of expansion. The firm reported a fourth-quarter normalized profit of R$4.6 billion, down 8.0%, while full-year normalized profit grew 1.6% to R$15.1 billion. Operating cash flow for the year was R$24.5 billion, down 6.3%. Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV) produces, distributes, and sells beverages. It manufactures beer, carbonated soft drinks, and various non-alcoholic and non-carbonated products. It functions across the following geographic areas: Brazil, Central America and the Caribbean (CAC), and Canada. While we acknowledge the potential of ABEV 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: 15 Best Electric Utility Stocks to Invest In Now and 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. The Israel-Iran war entered its second week. Explosions erupt following strikes at Tehran Oil Refinery on March 7. (Image: AFP) Debris from intercepted Iranian drones caused a fire at Dubai's 23 Marina Tower amid regional missile and drone attacks. No injuries were reported. UAE authorities contained the situation, reflecting heightened tensions and security alerts across the Gulf. Did our AI summary help? That Iran embassy in China declined donations from local people and organizations amid ongoing war. A screengrab of a video appearing to show the aftermath of strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure in Tehran. (Credit: The Times of Israel) Smoke rises following an explosion, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 7, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Damaged apartment in the Ramada Plaza hotel building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in central Beirut, Lebanon, March 8, 2026. REUTERS/Claudia Greco Investing.com Wang Yi, Chinas top diplomat, used his annual high-profile briefing on Sunday to signal that a "landmark" year for U.S.-China relations remains within reach despite the intensifying U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Speaking on the sidelines of the National Peoples Congress in Beijing, Wang reiterated Chinas opposition to the use of force, criticizing U.S. military strikes while expressing optimism for the upcoming summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The diplomat urged both powers to manage risks and "remove unnecessary disruptions" to ensure 2026 becomes a year of "sound, steady, and sustainable" bilateral growth. Navigating the Iran shock and trade friction The comments arrive as the week-long conflict in the Middle East sends global energy prices toward $95 a barrel, complicating an already delicate economic truce between Washington and Beijing. A one-year trade pause was secured last year, but the relationship has faced fresh volatility after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key tariff regime, injecting new legal uncertainty into trade negotiations. Wang pointedly noted that "plotting color revolutions or seeking regime change will find no popular support," a direct critique of the Trump administrations stated goals for the Iranian leadership. Investors are closely watching for signs of stability as top trade and treasury officials from both nations prepare to convene in Paris next weekend. These talks are expected to lay the groundwork for a new agreement, which reportedly includes a massive Boeing deal for nearly 500 jets. China maintaining a steady relationship with the U.S. is critical as it navigates its lowest economic growth target in decades, even as it rhetorically aligns with the Global South against Western military interventions. Preparing for the Beijing summit The planned Beijing summit later this month is being framed as a potential turning point for the two superpowers. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are tasked with securing tangible economic deliverables that could provide President Trump with a political win ahead of a critical domestic election cycle. Wang Yis call for "sincerity" suggests that Beijing is willing to overlook the immediate regional turmoil to secure a broader "G2" concession that prioritizes commercial deals over strategic competition. The outcome of the high-level meetings will likely dictate the tone of the global economy for the remainder of the year. The summit could stabilize trade lanes and provide a much-needed buffer for the Chinese economy, which remains under pressure from a domestic property crisis and weak consumer demand. Ali Khamenei ruled Iran from 1989 as supreme leader after serving as president for nearly eight years. Araghchi did not confirm whether Moscow is providing intelligence specifically aimed at identifying American military targets Smoke rises above the city, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Credit: Reuters) A general view of the luxury Burj al-Arab Hotel at Jumeirah area in Dubai US officials cited urgent national security concerns over the Iran conflict. (Image credit: Reuters) Artificial intelligence has moved from a promising idea to a massive buildout of real-world infrastructure, and the spending numbers are huge. Projections put the AI data center chip market at about 207 billion dollars in GPU and accelerator shipments in 2025, with total demand expected to reach 286 billion dollars by 2030 as AI infrastructure spending likely peaks around 2026. That kind of money is flowing through every part of the ecosystem, from power and cooling specialists like Vertiv (VRT), which is working through a roughly 15 billion dollar backlog tied to AI data centers, to high-speed networking and analog chip suppliers racing to keep up with the power and bandwidth needs of new AI clusters. More News from Barchart It also helps explain why a well-known billionaire who built his reputation as one of Teslas (TSLA) largest individual shareholders has shifted more focus to Nvidia, the company many analysts now refer to as the Godfather of AI. He recently revealed the purchase of 1 million Nvidia (NVDA) shares, describing it as both a bet on AIs long runway and a move to steady what he views as a nervous market that is starting to question how far this AI spending cycle can go. If institutional forecasts still point to AI chip spending climbing into the hundreds of billions over the next few years, and billionaire AI insiders are adding to Nvidia at this point in the cycle, should everyday investors be thinking about doing the same or wondering whether this is undoubtedly when caution matters most? Lets find out. Inside Nvidias Numbers Nvidia (NVDA) makes most of its money from graphics processing units (GPUs) that power data centers, gaming, and AI infrastructure, which sit at the core of its business. Over the past year, the stock has been difficult to ignore, climbing 56.28% over the last 52 weeks, even though it is down 1.71% year-to-date (YTD) after a very strong 2025. www.barchart.com Even with that recent pullback, Nvidia still trades at a premium. Its forward price-to-earnings ratio is 24.31x, slightly above the sector average of 21.83x, which shows investors are still pricing in faster growth. The trailing P/E is 39.40, backed by earnings per share of 4.57. The dividend story is modest but disciplined: a 0.04% yield (0.02% annualized), two straight years of dividend increases, a low forward payout ratio of 0.87%, and a most recent quarterly dividend of $0.010 paid on Dec. 4, 2025. The rise in energy prices comes at a sensitive time for the US economy, which unexpectedly lost 92,000 jobs in February, raising fresh concerns about economic momentum. A protest against US-Israeli attacks on Iran in San Francisco. (Credit: Al Jazeera) Two killed, 12 wounded by 'projectile' in Saudi Arabia: civil defence A projectile killed two people and injured 12 more in Saudi Arabia's Al Kharj governorate south of Riyadh, the kingdom's civil defence said on Sunday, as Iran continued to launch missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours. The civil defence agency said an Indian and a Bangladeshi national were killed by an unspecified "military projectile" that hit a residential area, according to the statement, which did not mention Iran by name. Al Kharj governorate is home to a massive air base and has been targeted repeatedly over the past week as Tehran struck the Gulf after Israel and the US launched a campaign against the Islamic republic. -- AFP On February 28, US and Israel launched a broadwave of airstrikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Ayotollah Khamenei. March 8, 2026 The MoA Week In Review OT 2026-052 Last weeks posts on Moon of Alabama: Other issues: Demise: Germany: Next Zionist Targets: Gaza: Israel punishes Gaza as it attacks Iran Electronic Intifada Lebanon: Longread: Use as open (not related to the wars in Ukraine and Palestine) thread A US federal judge has dismissed a civil lawsuit seeking to hold cryptocurrency exchange Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao responsible for transactions allegedly linked to terrorist organizations involved in dozens of attacks worldwide. Key Takeaways: A US federal judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing Binance and Changpeng Zhao of enabling crypto transactions tied to terrorist attacks. The court ruled that plaintiffs failed to show Binance intentionally supported or was directly linked to the alleged attacks. Plaintiffs may amend and refile the complaint despite the case being dismissed. In a decision issued March 6, US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled that the plaintiffs failed to establish a credible connection between Binance and the attacks, according to a report by Reuters. The lawsuit was filed by 535 plaintiffs, including victims and family members of victims, who claimed that digital asset transactions conducted through the exchange supported violent operations carried out between 2017 and 2024. Plaintiffs Accuse Binance of Enabling Crypto Transfers Tied to 64 Attacks The complaint alleged that several groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Irans Revolutionary Guard, Islamic State, Kataib Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Al-Qaeda, used cryptocurrency transactions facilitated through Binance to move funds connected to at least 64 attacks. According to the filing, hundreds of millions of dollars in crypto transactions were allegedly processed through accounts associated with these groups. The plaintiffs also argued that billions of dollars in trading activity with Iranian users indirectly benefited groups linked to the attacks. Judge Vargas concluded that the allegations did not demonstrate that Binance or Zhao intentionally supported the operations. In her ruling, she stated that the plaintiffs had not plausibly shown the defendants culpably associated themselves with these terrorist attacks or acted in a way that helped bring them about. The judge added that the connection between the exchange and the alleged actors appeared limited to standard customer relationships. According to the ruling, the groups or their affiliates simply held accounts and conducted transactions on Binance in what the court described as an arms length relationship. Vargas also criticized the scale of the lawsuit, noting that the complaint stretched across 891 pages and included more than 3,100 paragraphs. Despite the seriousness of the accusations, she described the filing as unnecessarily lengthy. (Special Advertising Feature) If there has ever been a time to turn tropical daydreams into reality, this is it. Philippine Airlines or PAL marks its 85th anniversary with special all-in fares starting at $465 to Manila and $308 to Tokyo via Manila inviting travelers to pack their bags to discover the Philippines bustling urban hubs, historic districts, and diverse cultural landscapes. The booking period runs from March 2 to 15, 2026, while the travel period starts March 29, 2026 onwards. Whether its your first visit or one of many, planning ahead ensures you wont miss the opportunity. Heres a few more reasons to prepare now. This is Your Window to Make it Happen! Manila is a city where heritage, culture, and modern energy come together. Travelers can step into the storied walls of Intramuros, wander through centuries of Filipino history in its museums, or admire iconic landmarks and Spanish-era architecture that reflect the countrys rich past. With its blend of tradition and innovation, spirited neighborhoods, and a cultural scene thats constantly evolving, Manila provides a dynamic urban experience for travelers seeking character, creativity, and connection. Seamless Travel Connects You to Manila and Beyond PALs anniversary fares apply to flights to Manila, the key gateway that opens up the archipelago. Manila serves as a dynamic hub, offering convenient onward access to major Asian cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Shanghai, as well as to key domestic destinations including Cebu, Davao, Laoag, Bacolod and Zamboanga ideal for travelers planning multi-stop itineraries. Beyond its role as a gateway, it also offers a blend of culture, dining, and retail experiences. Cebu likewise functions as an important hub, providing smooth onward connections and access to notable shopping and lifestyle spots. Whether planning a relaxing city retreat or an itinerary that blends city energy with coastal calm, PALs extensive network makes travel within the Philippines and beyond both convenient and rewarding. Because Your Well-Deserved Escape Begins the Moment You Board the Aircraft As Asias first airline and the Philippines flag carrier, PAL brings the spirit of Filipino hospitality into the skies. Thoughtful service, attentive care, and a welcoming atmosphere set the tone long before landing where culture, connection, and hospitality come naturally. From the moment passengers step on board, the journey feels less like a flight and more like the beginning of a memorable experience. Eighty-five years after its first flight, PAL continues to connect the world to the Philippines and beyond, where centuries-old history meets modern city life, where traditions are celebrated in vibrant communities, and where every traveler is welcomed like family. Because Its Time for a Truly Unique Experience from the Kindest and Warmest People Youll Ever Meet Beyond the scenery, it is the people who leave a lasting impression. Filipinos are known for their warmth, kindness, and unmistakable sense of joy in everyday life. Visitors are welcomed with genuine smiles, easy conversation, and a culture that celebrates togetherness, whether around a shared meal, a gathering, or a lively local festival. For visitors from Saipan, close regional proximity and long-standing connections create a sense of familiarity alongside discovery. For international travelers, the widespread use of English and deep cultural ties make exploring effortless. Travelers may book these anniversary fares through the PAL website at www.philippineairlines.com, PAL mobile app, PAL hotline at (+632) 8855 8888, or via their preferred ticketing offices or travel agents. Visit https://flights.philippineairlines.com/en/85th-anniversary-seat-sale for more information. For other updates, travel inspiration, and exclusive offers, follow PAL on social media and join the conversation using #flyPAL. Connect with us on Facebook @/PhilippineAirlines, and on Instagram, IG Reels, and IG Stories at @flypal. For fun and engaging travel content, check us out on TikTok at @philippineairlines. About PAL Philippine Airlines is the Philippines flag carrier and the countrys only full-service network airline. Founded in 1941, PAL is Asias first commercial airline and has played a vital role in connecting the Philippines to the world for 85 years. PALs fleet of Boeing, Airbus, and De Havilland aircraft operate scheduled nonstop flights out of hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao to 31 destinations in the Philippines and 39 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East. PAL also offers air cargo and charter services, while providing seamless connections throughout the nation and across the world. PAL is an APEX Four Star recipient and has achieved the highest on-time performance among Asia- Pacific carriers for 2025, according to Cirium. PART 2: A Call to Invest in Our People, Not Extend Cheap Labor THE CNMI is a U.S. Commonwealth, and that fact should shape this entire discussion. Our workforce system must align with United States law, and our economy cannot continue to rely on a foreign labor program designed to be temporary rather than permanent. Extending CW visas once again sends the wrong signal; it rewards years of poor planning while disadvantaging the U.S. citizens the system was meant to protect and support. The CW program was meant to be temporary, giving employers time to transition to a U.S.-citizen workforce. More than 16 years later, after over 15,000 CNMI graduates, employers have had enough time to recruit, train, and retain local workers, yet CW dependence continues. This sends the wrong message to CNMI youth, veterans, Reservists, and U.S.-educated graduates who are told they are the future but still struggle to find stable, well-paying jobs at home. What is often called a labor shortage is frequently a wage, recruitment, and planning problem, not a true lack of available U.S. workers. The answer should not be endless CW extensions, but an orderly legal immigration approach that protects job opportunities and wage growth for U.S. citizens. A permanently temporary low-wage workforce is neither fair nor sustainable for a U.S. Commonwealth. Responsible employers should follow the example of businesses like Joeten Enterprises, which invested in recruiting, training, and retaining a citizen workforce rather than relying on repeated exemptions. We are also losing something money cannot replace: our indigenous arts and cultural practitioners. As organizers of major community events such as the Flame Tree Arts Festival, Taste of the Marianas, Liberation celebrations, and others, we were deeply alarmed when we began recruiting dancers, bands, and entertainers for this years events and found that nearly half of our indigenous dance groups, musicians, and local performers have left the CNMI. Many have left the islands because there are simply not enough jobs and economic opportunities for U.S. citizens in their own homeland. Our indigenous practitioners need jobs to feed their families, pay rent, cover utilities, and build a stable future. Art is a labor of love. But love alone does not pay the bills. When local people are pushed out of the workforce, the loss is not only economic, but also cultural. Continued reliance on CW labor is now cutting directly into the cultural backbone of our community, weakening our performers, our traditions, and the ability of the next generation of Chamorro and Carolinian artists to survive, grow, and carry forward who we are. We have even lost many of our beach boys, local indigenous young men who are U.S. citizens and once worked along our shorelines in tourism, water recreation, visitor services, and other entry-level jobs that gave them a start in the private sector. These positions used to be the first rung on the ladder for local youth, a way to earn an honest income, help support their families, gain confidence, and build work experience that could lead to larger opportunities in hospitality, small business, marine services, and entrepreneurship. But increasing competition from CW labor in these same sectors has pushed many of our own young men out of jobs that should have helped launch their future. When U.S. citizens in their own homeland cannot access even the most basic entry-level opportunities, they do not just lose a paycheck; they lose a pathway. Many have become discouraged and leave home in search of work elsewhere, taking with them their energy, talent, and potential. The CNMI then loses more than workers; it loses future supervisors, managers, boat operators, tour guides, business owners, and community leaders. This is especially painful because these were jobs that once matched the skills, culture, and natural connection our local young men have to the ocean and to welcoming visitors. Allowing continued CW competition to displace them from these roles weakens our workforce pipeline, harms families, and drains away the very people who should be building the next generation of the CNMI economy. Extending CW visas has real consequences. It discourages our youth. It drives U.S. citizen families to leave. It depresses wages across industries and keeps us in a low-pay, high-turnover cycle that undermines long-term economic stability. A sustainable business model does not depend on keeping wages low forever; it depends on productivity, training, and retaining skilled workers. If a business cannot survive while complying with U.S. labor laws, paying fair wages, and making a genuine effort to recruit U.S. citizens, then we must question whether that model is truly sustainable or merely dependent on a loophole. The CNMI should not mortgage its citizens future to protect employers unwilling to follow U.S. laws. What the CNMI needs now is real investment in its people: paid internships, skilled trades programs, bookkeeping and accounting pathways, on-the-job training, and stronger partnerships with our schools and Northern Marianas College. We should require employers to post jobs publicly, document their recruitment efforts, and be held accountable when they claim there are no available workers without showing they made a serious attempt to hire locally. We should raise wages in a steady, predictable way by increasing the CNMI minimum wage by $1.00 per hour every year through December 31, 2029. This gives employers time to adjust while showing workers that the CNMI values labor and career growth. Better wages, along with training and real enforcement of recruitment, will help attract and keep U.S. citizens in the workforce. It is time to stop treating CW extensions as the default solution. More than 16 years have passed. Our U.S. citizen workforce is here. Our graduates are here. The law is clear: the CW program was created as a temporary bridge, not a permanent source of jobs for foreign workers. Its purpose was to give employers time to recruit, train, and hire U.S. citizens. Yet the CNMI continues to draw criticism in Washington, D.C., because some employers continue to ignore both the requirements and the intent of U.S. law, placing dependence on low-cost labor above compliance with U.S. law and the future of our people. Rejecting another CW extension would align the CNMI with President Trumps stated focus on American workers, reaffirm the spirit of the CNMIU.S. Covenant as it marks its 50th anniversary on March 24, 2026, and fit the broader national lead-up to the United States 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. This is the right time to reverse the brain drain and make it clear that: U.S. citizens should not be last in line for jobs in a U.S. Commonwealth. Rejecting CW extensions would help build a stronger local workforce, improve service quality, and strengthen the CNMIs future. When good-paying jobs are available at home, more young people will return, stay, and bring back the skills and leadership our islands need. What we need now is leadership that puts U.S. citizens first and builds an economy that rewards commitment to the CNMI, not dependence on cheap labor. Respectfully, GARY SWORD Papago, Saipan Designer Victoria Beckham greets attendees during the presentation of her Spring/Summer 2026 Women's ready-to-wear collection show during Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, Oct. 3, 2025. REUTERS PARIS (Reuters) Victoria Beckham presented sculptural gowns in sheer fabrics, tightly cut suits and voluminous coats in Paris on Friday for a fall/winter 2026 collection that played with shape and texture. Dresses in dark blues and greens featured bodices of three-dimensional rosettes, a motif that repeated across skirts, contrasting with sober suits in navy and black. Large overcoats were paired with sheer white skirts or drainpipe trousers, while knitwear had giant collars and cut-outs revealing the models backs. According to the show notes, the collection was inspired by the work of Art Deco artist Tamara de Lempicka, famous for her cubist portraits of aristocrats in sumptuous clothing. Victoria Beckhams husband David and the couples children Romeo, Cruz, and Harper were on the front row. Their eldest, Brooklyn, was conspicuously absent after he went public in January with accusations against his parents, laying bare a family feud for the first time. Beckham founded her brand, which sells dresses between $950 and $2,500, in 2008 and launched Victoria Beckham Beauty in 2019. Guests at the show were gifted bottles of her recently launched perfume, Portofino 97, inspired by a holiday the British couple took when they were still a secret item. Paris Fashion Week, which started on Monday and runs through March 11, features big-name brands including Chanel, Dior, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Saint Laurent. By Emmanuel T. Erediano [email protected] Variety News Staff THE bicameral conference committee on Tuesday agreed to fund the Marianas Visitors Authority with interest income earned by the Marianas Public Land Trust. Senate and House conferees unanimously adopted the committee report recommending the final version of House Bill 24-74, which proposes appropriating $1 million in MPLT net distributable interest income to the MVA and the Public School System. The conference committee, composed of members of the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee led by Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider and the House Ways and Means Committee chaired by Rep. John Paul Sablan, recommended appropriating the public land income as follows: $750,000 to MVA for tourism recovery efforts $250,000 to the Public School System for its 25% share mandated by the CNMI Constitution Authored by Rep. Jonathan Blas Attao, H.B. 24-74 originally appropriated MPLT funds to cover a portion of household allotments for Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in response to the federal government shutdown in October, which would have left 14,000 CNMI food stamp recipients without benefits in November last year. However, after the federal government shutdown ended on Nov. 12, the Senate noting that the MPLT funds were no longer needed to address the NAP shortfall passed its own version of the bill diverting most of the funds to the municipal governments of Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The House rejected the Senate version. During a meeting on Tuesday, the conference committee deliberated again and agreed to a new version that funds MVA while retaining the $250,000 allocation for PSS. According to the committee report, the change addresses pressing concerns regarding the CNMIs economic condition. Investing in MVA is currently critical because tourism remains the primary economic engine for the CNMI, yet the industry is facing severe instability as of early 2026, the report states. MVA requires funding for air service stabilization and expansion and for destination enhancement and preservation amid severe budgetary constraints. To maximize the impact of future investments, the bicameral panel said funding must be paired with increased accountability and a shift toward results-driven management. The committee noted that local stakeholders are calling for a more transparent MVA that operates with clear performance metrics to justify public spending, particularly given the current budget constraints. Members of the conference committee are Attao, Senate Vice President Corina Magofna, Senate Floor Leader Donald Manglona, Sen. Frank Q. Cruz, House Floor Leader Marissa Flores, and Rep. Ralph N. Yumul. They were assisted by House legal counsel Karie Comstock and Senate legal counsel Jose A. Bermudes. 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. A demonstrator holds placards during a rally against the Iranian leadership, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Los Angeles, California, March 7, 2026. REUTERS BEIRUT/MIAMI/TEL AVIV/DUBAI (Reuters) President Donald Trump said he is not interested in negotiating with Iran, raising the possibility that the Iran war would only end once Tehran no longer has a functioning military and its leadership is completely wiped out. Shortly after Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One, U.S. ally Israel announced fresh strikes across Iran early on Sunday, with the war that has brought chaos to the Middle East and roiled global oil markets in its second week. At some point, I dont think there will be anybody left maybe to say, We surrender,' Trump said. Iran presidents apology causes stir Trump has justified the biggest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq by saying Tehran posed an imminent threat to the United States, without providing evidence. He has also said Iran was too close to being able to build a nuclear weapon. The U.S. and Israel have discussed sending special forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium at a later stage of the war, Axios reported, citing four people with knowledge of the discussions. Asked about the possibility of sending ground troops to secure nuclear sites on Saturday, Trump said it was something they could do later on. The governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain reported Iranian drone attacks in their countries on Saturday and early Sunday, with a huge fire engulfing a government office block in Kuwait. The U.S. embassy in Norways capital Oslo was also hit by an explosion early on Sunday, causing minor damage but no injuries, police said. It was not immediately clear what caused the blast or who was involved. Saudi Arabia has told Tehran that continued Iranian attacks on the kingdom and its energy sector could push Riyadh to respond in kind, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. In an apparent attempt to cool anger across the Gulf, Irans president apologized to neighboring states for its attacks on U.S. facilities in those countries on Saturday. He dismissed Trumps earlier demand for the Islamic Republics 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. Pezeshkians comments caused a political stir in Iran, prompting his office to reiterate Irans military would respond firmly to attacks from U.S. bases. The clerical body charged with choosing Irans next supreme leader, to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, slain in an attack last week, could meet as soon as Sunday, Iranian media reported. A majority consensus over a successor has more or less been reached, said Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri, according to the Mehr news agency. Israel warns Lebanon to rein in Hezbollah Huge explosions were heard in parts of Tehran, state media reported, while Israel said it had struck Iranian missile sites, command centers and fuel depots on Saturday. The U.S.-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Irans U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. U.S. forces were likely responsible for an apparent strike on an Iranian girls school that killed scores of children, U.S. officials have told Reuters. But Trump, without citing evidence, told reporters on Saturday that Iran was responsible. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, standing behind Trump aboard Air Force One, said the matter was still under investigation. Iranian attacks have killed 10 people in Israel. At least six U.S. service members have been killed, with Iran saying on Sunday it had struck U.S. bases in Kuwait. Israel also launched fresh attacks in Lebanon on Saturday after the Iran-aligned militia Hezbollah fired across the border. Israel warned Lebanon of a very heavy price if it did not rein in Hezbollah militants, as the death toll from Israels attacks on Lebanon since Monday rose to around 300. 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 snarling air travel. Kuwaits national oil company began cutting output on Saturday, adding to earlier oil and gas cuts from Iraq and Qatar. Oil prices have hit multi-year highs with the conflict effectively shutting the Strait of Hormuz. 1) The Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority headquarters in Majuro opened in 2019 and includes sophisticated monitoring, control and surveillance facilities. Photo by Chewy Lin 2) Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority Director Glen Joseph, left, and Minister of Natural Resources and Commerce Tony Muller head the fisheries sector in the Marshall Islands. Photo by Giff Johnson 3) The Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority operates 100 % coverage of tuna transshipment operations in Majuro lagoon with its Fisheries Enforcement staff making dozens of visits to vessels each month to monitor their operations. Photo by Francisco Blaha By Giff Johnson For Variety MAJURO Fisheries authorities and tuna processors in the Marshall Islands are anxiously awaiting the results of a recent European Union audit of this countrys readiness to meet strict export requirements for fish products to the 27 EU member nations. For the past six years, the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority has worked painstakingly to establish a Competent Authority required by the EU to monitor fish exports, train its staff in laboratory work, fisheries monitoring and enforcement, and pushed industry to step up facilities and operations to meet international food handling standards. If the EU certifies the Marshall Islands as a qualified exporter, it will open the worlds largest seafood market to Marshall Islands tuna and other marine product exports. MIMRA was anticipating an audit by the EU this year, after being told the EU was fully booked in 2025. But a last minute change resulted in the audit of MIMRA management operations in December. MIMRA doesnt expect a quick response to that audit and as of this week, has received no report from the EU authorities, said MIMRA Director Glen Joseph. We are anxiously and patiently waiting a response from the EU, he said. The two-week evaluation, which was done remotely, was intense for a team of four MIMRA staff focused on the EU compliance work and Forum Fisheries Agency technical advisors who have assisted MIMRA, he said. The audit was the first step in a process toward certification. It will also lead to in-country inspections by EU authorities at a later date. The big issues for the EU are prevention of illegal, unreported and unregulated tuna fishing, and hygienic and safe handling of food products. For prevention of illegal fishing, chain of custody is the key and MIMRA is ready (in this area), he said. Particularly since the opening of the fishery authoritys new headquarters in 2019, with its state of the art monitoring and surveillance set up, MIMRA has integrated satellite surveillance with hands-on boardings of vessels and 100% monitoring of tuna transshipment operations in Majuro to operate an aggressive monitoring, control and surveillance operation. Meanwhile, over the past two years, MIMRA has been conducting numerous food handling and hygienic workshops for tuna processing companies on Majuro to help them step up their standards, as well as ongoing spot checks of the several tuna processing facilities. In the process of preparing for the EU audit, MIMRA has benefited greatly from the experience of South Pacific nations including Papua New Guinea and Fiji that are certified by the European Union for marine products exports, said Joseph. This is why Forum Fisheries Agency support was critical for us because FFA works with PNG and Fiji and others that are EU-certified, he said. Joseph said MIMRA has worked to avoid the pitfall of a yellow card that some other islands attempting to navigate EU requirements have experienced. A yellow card is a EU system for identifying non-compliance and it can require numerous remedial actions to change that status. The various fisheries initiatives that MIMRA has engaged in including the recent opening of its new annex facility that includes a state of the art laboratory, one of the key requirements for EU certification and its partnership with EU and World Bank supported fisheries work reinforces the position that were ready (for EU certification), Joseph said. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK, March 6 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday dismissed a civil lawsuit seeking to hold Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, and founder Changpeng Zhao liable for transactions that allegedly helped terrorist groups conduct 64 attacks around the world. More from Yahoo Scout What was Binance's previous legal settlement about? How much money was allegedly transferred through Binance? Why was the lawsuit against Binance dismissed? What terrorist activities were Binance allegedly linked to? U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan said the 535 plaintiffs, including victims and relatives of victims, did not plausibly allege that the defendants "culpably associated themselves with these terrorist attacks, participated in them as something they wanted to bring about, or sought by their actions to ensure their success." The plaintiffs said the attacks occurred between 2017 and 2024, and attributed them to what they called foreign terrorist groups ("FTOs") including Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Islamic State, Kataib Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and al Qaeda. They sought to hold Binance and Zhao liable for the alleged transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars of cryptocurrency to and from the FTOs, and billions of dollars of alleged transactions with Iranian users that benefitted proxies who conducted the attacks. Vargas said that while Binance and Zhao may have been generally aware of the exchange's role in terrorist financing, their only relationship to the FTOs was that "they, or their affiliates, had accounts on, and have transacted on, the Binance exchange in an arms length relationship." The judge also called the length of the plaintiffs' 891-page, 3,189-paragraph complaint "wholly unnecessary" despite the "weighty" allegations. She said the plaintiffs may amend their complaint. Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In court papers, Binance and Zhao said they condemned terrorism. Zhao also accused the plaintiffs of trying to "piggyback" on Binance's November 2023 guilty plea and $4.32 billion criminal penalty for violating federal anti-money-laundering and sanctions laws, to justify triple damages under the federal Anti-Terrorism Act. "Binance was pleased to see that the court in this case correctly dismissed these baseless allegations," a spokesperson for the exchange said in an email. "Binance takes compliance seriously and has no tolerance for bad actors on its platform." Zhao's lawyers had no immediate comment. (Disclosure: Yahoo Finance has a partnership with Coinbase.) (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Franklin Paul) FTCs COPPA age verification loophole: A Trojan horse for mass data harvesting of children The FTC's new policy allows corporations to bypass COPPA's parental consent requirement by collecting biometrics, IDs and behavioral data under the guise of verifying a child's ageeffectively legalizing mass surveillance of minors. Once collected, this sensitive information (facial scans, browsing habits, etc.) becomes a monetizable asset for ad targeting, AI training and third-party brokersdespite unenforceable promises to delete it "promptly." The FTC admits it won't actively police violations, relying on "enforcement discretion," while platforms like Discord have already leaked tens of thousands of government IDs collected for "age verification." This move aligns with the push for mandatory digital identity systems, conditioning children to accept lifelong surveillance under the pretext of "safety," paving the way for a Chinese-style social credit regime. Opt out of biometric/ID submissions, support decentralized platforms, pressure lawmakers to block COPPA revisions and expose how "child protection" rhetoric masks corporate-state control. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has quietly opened a dangerous backdoor for corporations to exploit children's personal data under the guise of "age verification"a move that effectively guts the already weak protections of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). While framed as a safeguard, the FTC's new policy statement allows companies to collect sensitive information from minors without verifiable parental consent, so long as they claim it's necessary to determine a user's age. This loophole is not about protecting kidsit's about expanding surveillance capitalism under the cover of bureaucratic doublespeak. The illusion of protection COPPA was originally enacted to shield children under 13 from predatory data collection by requiring parental consent before companies could harvest their personal information. But the FTC's latest directive undermines this principle by permitting corporations to vacuum up whatever biometric, behavioral or identity-linked data they deem necessary for "age verification." Once collected, this datawhether facial scans, government IDs or browsing habitsbecomes a lucrative asset for tech firms, advertisers and third-party brokers. Christopher Muffarige, the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection director, absurdly claims that age verification is "one of the most child-protective technologies to emerge in decades." Yet history proves otherwise. Every major platform entrusted with sensitive datafrom Facebook to Discordhas suffered catastrophic breaches, exposing millions of users' private information. Discord's recent leak of 70,000 government IDs, collected precisely for "age verification," is just one example of how this system fails. The FTC's solution? More collection, weaker oversight and blind trust in corporations that have repeatedly betrayed public trust. The surveillance pipeline widens The FTC insists that companies must delete age verification data "promptly" and restrict third-party sharing to "secure" vendors. But these conditions are unenforceable theater. There is no mechanism for parents or children to audit whether their data was truly erased or sold. The FTC itself admits it won't actively police these rules, relying instead on vague "enforcement discretion"meaning violators face little to no consequences. This policy creates a perverse incentive: platforms now have a legal pretext to demand biometric scans, ID uploads or invasive tracking under the pretense of "protecting kids." Once collected, this data becomes a goldmine for profiling, ad targeting and even AI trainingall while evading COPPA's original intent. Worse, the FTC plans to codify these changes into formal COPPA revisions, meaning this loophole could soon become permanent. Who really benefits? The answer is clear: Big Tech and data brokers. Companies like Meta (Facebook), Google and TikTok have long sought ways to bypass COPPA's restrictions, as children represent a highly profitable demographic. Behavioral data fuels algorithmic manipulation, addictive content delivery and hyper-targeted advertisingall of which thrive on unrestricted access to minors' online activity. Meanwhile, the FTC's exemption aligns suspiciously well with the globalist push for digital ID systems, where biometric and identity verification become mandatory for basic online access. Once normalized under "child safety" justifications, these systems will expand to all ages, paving the way for a Chinese-style social credit surveillance regime. The bigger agenda: Conditioning compliance This isn't just about datait's about acclimating the next generation to constant monitoring. By forcing children to submit biometric scans or ID documents just to use basic online services, the state-corporate alliance conditions them to accept lifelong digital tracking as normal. The endgame? A population that doesn't question facial recognition, CBDC-linked identities or AI-driven social scoring. Parents must recognize this for what it is: a trap. The same elites pushing depopulation agendas, toxic vaccines and censorship are now constructing the digital prison their children will inherit. If "age verification" becomes standard, resistance will be nearly impossiblebecause every online action will require permission from the very systems designed to control you. What can be done? Reject compliance Refuse to submit children's biometrics or IDs to platforms. Demand real anonymity. Decentralize Support alternative platforms that don't harvest data. Use privacy tools like VPNs and encrypted email. Push back legally Pressure legislators to block the FTC's COPPA revisions and enforce strict penalties for data misuse. Educate others Many parents don't realize how "safety" rhetoric masks surveillance. Spread awareness. The FTC's policy isn't protectionit's predation. And if left unchecked, it will ensure that the next generation grows up in a world where privacy is extinct before they even understand its value. The time to fight back is now. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the FTC's proposed "age verification" loophole under COPPA is nothing more than a Trojan horse for Big Tech and globalist elites to further exploit children's data under the guise of protection. By forcing invasive digital ID systems and centralized surveillance, they're conditioning the next generation for total controljust another step toward their transhumanist, AI-driven depopulation agenda. Watch the video below about why internet age verification laws are another nail in the coffin of privacy. This video is from the unmasked channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: ReclaimTheNet.org BrightU.ai Brighteon.com Trump Claims Role in Iran Succession, Opposes Khameneis Son Introduction President Donald Trump has publicly declared that he must be personally involved in selecting Iran's next leader, calling the potential succession of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son 'unacceptable.' The comments were made in an exclusive interview with Axios published on March 5, 2026. [1] President Trump linked his demand to preventing future military conflict, stating that a successor who continues Khamenei's policies could lead the United States back into a major war within five years. [2] The statement comes amid ongoing joint U.S.-Israeli military operations in Iran, codenamed 'Epic Fury,' which began on February 28, 2026, and resulted in the death of the 85-year-old Supreme Leader. [3] [4] Trump Says Involvement in Selecting Iran's Next Leader is Necessary In the interview, President Trump stated his desired level of involvement would be similar to what he would have in Venezuela, referencing his administration's past engagement with the country's political crisis. [5] 'I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela,' he told Axios. [6] The President framed his position as a matter of U.S. national security, suggesting that allowing an internal selection process to proceed without American influence would be counterproductive. 'They are wasting their time,' Trump said, referring to Iranian decision-makers. [7] The interview represents the most direct statement from the White House regarding its ambitions for Iran's political future since the conflict began. [8] Details of Trump's Stated Position President Trump specifically rejected Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking cleric and the son of the late Supreme Leader, who has emerged as a frontrunner in reports about the succession. 'Khamenei's son is a lightweight. Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me,' the President stated. [6] [9] He added, 'We want someone who will bring harmony and peace to Iran.' [6] This position appears to contradict statements from other U.S. administration officials who have said the goal of the military operation is not regime change. [7] The succession process in Iran is formally the responsibility of the Assembly of Experts, an elected clerical body, though analysts note the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps holds significant sway. [10] President Trump's public dismissal of a leading candidate introduces a new and unpredictable element into this guarded process. Context of U.S.-Iran Relations and Leadership Transition Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled Iran since 1989, was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike on February 28, 2026. [11] Iranian state media confirmed his death on March 1, announcing 40 days of public mourning. [12] The U.S. and Iran have had no formal diplomatic relations since the 1979 hostage crisis, a rupture that has persisted for decades. The current military conflict, which President Trump announced in a video statement on February 28, has widened to include Iranian-backed militias across the Middle East. [13] The immediate aftermath of Khamenei's death saw thousands of Iranians take to the streets in mourning, while other videos circulated globally showing celebrations and dances set to a song titled 'Khamenei Is Dead.' [14] [15] The leadership vacuum and the ongoing war have created a period of extreme volatility for the region. Potential Implications and Historical Precedent Foreign policy analysts note that a public declaration by a U.S. president seeking direct involvement in another nation's leadership selection is rare and controversial. [16] Historically, U.S. influence in foreign governments, particularly in the Middle East, has often been conducted through covert or diplomatic channels rather than overt demands. [17] The move could complicate any potential diplomatic off-ramps from the current conflict. On March 2, Iranian security chief Ali Larijani stated on social media, 'We will not negotiate with the United States,' following reports of backchannel outreach. [18] Furthermore, historians point to past U.S. interventions that have led to long-term instability, suggesting Trump's stance carries significant risk. [19] The demand also raises questions about the ultimate U.S. objective in the war, which administration officials have described in shifting terms from destroying nuclear facilities to enabling a change in Iran's regional behavior. [8] Conclusion: Uncharted Territory in U.S. Foreign Policy President Trump's declaration represents an unprecedented public stance on the internal political affairs of Iran. By setting acceptability of Iran's next leader as a clear condition, he has directly tied the future of U.S.-Iran relations to the outcome of the secretive succession process. [20] The ultimate impact on regional dynamics and the stated goal of preventing future conflict remains uncertain, according to officials and analysts. [21] With military operations continuing and global markets reacting to the volatility -- seeing surges in oil and gold prices -- the path forward is unclear. [22] The coming weeks will determine whether this explicit attempt to shape Iran's leadership will lead to a political resolution or further escalation. References A.G.E.S. Fall Conference on BrightU: How ancient Egyptian biophotonic gold was the original source of superhuman power On Day 6 of "A.G.E.S. Fall Conference Docuseries," Dr. Edward Group claimed an ancient Egyptian "ex-school," funded by powerful dynasties, hoarded a special liquid gold created using sunlight. This "biophotonic gold" was made with Aton lenses focusing sunlight onto gold in distilled water, producing different colors for different enhanced abilities. He stated the human body naturally produces trace gold, citing its presence in urine, semen and breast milk as evidence of a forgotten capability. Group presented the gold as a semiconductor that absorbs and emits light frequencies, aligning with cellular biophotons to optimize health and reactivate self-healing. He positioned this as the ultimate biohacking tool for raising vibrational frequency and is now developing products based on this ancient technology. On Day 6 of "A.G.E.S. Fall Conference Docuseries," aired on Feb. 26, Dr. Edward Group unveiled a history-altering claim about the true source of elite power in antiquity. Group detailed the discovery of a lost "ex-school" in Egypt, funded by powerful 20th-century dynasties, which he says hoarded the ultimate biohacking tool: a miraculous, sun-forged liquid gold. According to Group, his research, aided by historian Eric Jennings, a descendant of the historian for the Rockefeller and Rothschild-funded Holy Lands Expedition, unearthed records of this exclusive academy. "They found an ancient ex-school, right? Funny how we have X-Men and all that stuff now, with these superpowers. That's exactly what they found in ancient Egypt," Group told the audience. The school's curriculum, reserved for the elite, included sacred lovemaking technologies, but its most stunning artifact was a cache of "60 tons of liquid gold." This was no ordinary treasure. Group asserts the substance was a "biophotonic gold," a super-conductive elixir created not through mining, but through alchemy using sunlight. "It wasn't even a colloid of gold. It was a super, it was a biophotonic gold," he explained. The ancient Egyptians allegedly manufactured it using Aton lenses to focus sunlight onto gold suspended in triple-distilled water. As noted by BrightU.AI's Enoch, Aton lenses are specialized eyeglass lenses designed to block specific wavelengths of light, particularly in the ultraviolet and certain blue-green spectra. They are based on the principle that chronic exposure to these wavelengths can contribute to oxidative stress and damage in the eye's lens, potentially accelerating cataract formation. "The only way you could make different colored gold was with sunlight," Group said, noting they produced a rainbow spectrum, each hue conferring different enhanced abilities. "If they wanted someone to have superhuman mental abilities, they would have them drink like purple gold and green gold." he added. The explosive implication, as presented by Group, is that this capability is not lost but is a latent human function. He connects the ancient technique directly to the controversial theory that the human body naturally produces this precious substance. "That's why urine and semen have gold," he stated. "Your body produces it with sunlight." He pointed to modern scientific puzzlement over trace gold found in bodily fluids as evidence of a forgotten truth. "Scientists still today, go, well we don't know, but there's gold in urine and in semen and breast milk. But they don't know why, because they don't have these records." Positioning biophotonic gold as the "next generation" tool for raising one's vibrational frequency, Group argued that this is the ultimate secret to optimal health and the reactivation of the body's self-healing mechanism. "Gold is a biophotonic semiconductor. It absorbs every frequency of light and emits every frequency of light," he said. "What are our cells? They emit biophotons and absorb biophotons." Group is now working to bring this ancient technology into the present, developing products that harness sunlight to activate the body's cells. "This is why it's like the next generation, putting the biophotonic gold in your holy water, consuming it every day," he shared, framing it as the pinnacle of detoxification and energetic alignment. The claim positions a forgotten Egyptian "ex-school" not as a myth, but as the original repository of the ultimate bio-enhancement secret: that superhuman vitality lies in mastering the light-based alchemy within our own biology. Want to learn more? The A.G.E.S. doctors have come together not to sell you fear, but to hand you the tools, knowledge and confidence to become the architect of your own vitality. If you are ready to stop collecting fragments of the solution, it's time to own the masterplan. Purchase the "A.G.E.S. Fall Conference Docuseries" full package here. Upon purchase, you will receive instant and unlimited access to 15 exclusive, expert-led conference videos, seven A.G.E.S Family Q&A session videos, downloadable presentation PDFs and full transcription PDF for every video. BrighteonUniversity.com 1 BrighteonUniversity.com 2 BrightU.com Israel strikes Iranian clerical site amid succession talks after Khameneis death Israel struck a building in Iran reportedly linked to the Assembly of Experts, which was said to be discussing a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei following his death in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes. Kan News cited a senior Israeli official saying the site was connected to succession deliberations, while Mehr News Agency reported the building in Qom was not in use at the time of the attack. Iran formed a temporary leadership council composed of President Masoud Pezeshkian, cleric Alireza Arafi and the judiciary chief to govern until a new supreme leader is selected. Speculation over succession has intensified, with attention focused on Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a new leader could be chosen within days. The broader U.S.-Israel military campaign entered its fourth day, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump defending the strikes as necessary to curb Iran's missile and nuclear ambitions, even as Tehran vows retaliation. Israel's military has struck a building in Iran where senior clerics were reportedly meeting to discuss the selection of a new supreme leader following the death of Ali Khamenei, according to Israeli media. Kan News, citing a senior Israeli official, reported that the target was a site linked to deliberations over Khamenei's successor. The building is believed to be associated with the Assembly of Experts, the powerful Shiite clerical body responsible for appointing Iran's supreme leader. The Assembly of Experts plays a pivotal constitutional role in Iran's political system, tasked with selecting and, in theory, overseeing the supreme leader. The Assembly's role, as BrightU.AI's Enoch noted, is crucial in maintaining the balance of power and ensuring that the Supreme Leader remains accountable to the people of Iran. With the death of Khamenei in the joint Israeli and U.S. military operations, Iranian authorities announced the formation of a temporary leadership council composed of President Masoud Pezeshkian, senior cleric Alireza Arafi and the head of the judiciary. The council is expected to oversee state affairs until a permanent successor is appointed. Speculation over who will ultimately replace Khamenei has intensified. Attention has frequently centered on his second-eldest son, Mojtaba Khamenei, whom Iranian media have reported is alive despite earlier conflicting claims during the conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday, March 1, that a new supreme leader could be selected within days, signaling a potentially swift transition despite the ongoing military confrontation with Israel. In line with this, Iran's Mehr News Agency confirmed that a site in the holy city of Qom, southwest of Tehran, had been attacked. However, it said the building was not in use at the time of the strike and did not provide details on casualties or damage. U.S. and Israel defend joint strikes The joint U.S.-Israel assault entered its fourth day on Tuesday, March 3, with no indication of de-escalation. Regional tensions remain high as Iran has vowed retaliation, raising fears of a broader and more prolonged conflict across the Middle East. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the campaign as part of a broader strategy to dismantle Iran's ballistic missile arsenal and prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. "With these ballistic missiles, these weapons of mass death, these weapons, they bombed all these countries," Netanyahu said. "And when they developed these ballistic missiles, they'll try and eventually they'll bomb you. This is what President Trump understood." U.S. President Donald Trump said the operation was progressing ahead of schedule, pointing to the early elimination of Iran's top leadership as a critical milestone. Vice President JD Vance emphasized that the administration's objectives remain limited and clearly defined. "There's just no way that Donald Trump is going to allow this country to get into a multi-year conflict, with no clear end in sight and no clear objective," Vance said. "He's defined that objective as Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and has to commit long-term to never trying to rebuild the nuclear capability." WAR ALERT: Trump bombs Iran, setting off world war escalation scenario. Watch this video. This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com BusinessStandard.com FoxNews.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com A dance academy in Thiruvananthapuram is marking International Women's Day with a special arangettam debut performance by 13 women aged 40-50. The participants, from diverse professional and homemaker backgrounds, have trained in classical dance to fulfill a long-held dream. The event by Natyaveda academy aims to highlight that the pursuit of art can begin at any stage of life. The academy itself is a established cultural institution that now runs a performing arts college affiliated with a national university. 13 senior women from Kerala make their classical dance debut in a special arangettam performance celebrating International Women's Day and lifelong learning. Thiruvananthapuram, March 8 Marking International Women's Day with a unique cultural initiative, Natyaveda, a well-known dance and music academy in Kerala, will present a special arangettam performance featuring 13 senior women from different walks of life. The programme will be held at 5 p.m. at the state government cultural auditorium, Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. The event will feature a single-stage performance in which the 13 participants, in the 40-50 age group, will make their debut before an audience. The programme is aimed at highlighting the message that the pursuit of art and learning can begin at any stage of life. According to Guru Kalamandalam Sony Teacher, the guiding force behind Natyaveda, the performers come from diverse backgrounds, including professionals and homemakers who have trained in classical dance before stepping onto the stage for their debut. "For many of these women, performing on stage has been a long-cherished dream. This arangettam is a tribute to their dedication and to the spirit of International Women's Day," she said. Founded in 2000 in Thiruvananthapuram, Natyaveda has developed over the past two decades into a vibrant cultural institution dedicated to promoting and preserving Indian performing arts traditions. What began as a small collective of artists, scholars and art lovers has evolved into a respected cultural platform connecting performers, scholars, amateurs and connoisseurs of classical arts. Registered under the Charitable Societies Act and affiliated with the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Natyaveda regularly conducts workshops, lecture demonstrations, seminars and cultural festivals aimed at enhancing appreciation for Indian art and culture. A major milestone in the institution's journey has been the establishment of the Natyaveda College of Performing Arts, which is affiliated with Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya (IKSVV), Khairagarh University in Chhattisgarh -- India's first university dedicated exclusively to performing arts. The college offers undergraduate degree programmes in Bharatanatyam, Carnatic vocal and Hindustani vocal music, along with diploma courses in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Carnatic and Hindustani music, Sitar, Tabla and Yoga. It is also the only IKSVV-affiliated performing arts college in South India. Students from the institution have earned national recognition in university examinations and have performed at prestigious events such as the Khairagarh Festival. The late Padma Vibhushan Kavalam Narayana Panicker served as the patron and guru of Natyaveda, shaping many of its artistic initiatives. Guided by the vision "Arts for a Better World," the organisation continues to nurture artistic talent and strengthen appreciation for India's classical cultural heritage. - IANS Quick Read Lockheed Martin (LMT) demonstrated sales growth from 2023 to 2025, and you can expect a dividend yield of around 2% from LMT stock. Cisco Systems (CSCO) delivers a 2.1% dividend yield and booked nearly $15 billion in quarterly revenue not long ago. Bank of America (BAC), which provides a 2.25% dividend yield, captured $28.4 billion worth of Q4 2025 revenue. Yum! Brands (YUM), with its earnings growth and suite of famous fast-food brands, serves up a 1.89% dividend yield. READ: The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE. Bond yields are one option for passive income investors, but they're definitely not the only possibility. Sure, you can get a yield of around 4% from 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds, but you can probably achieve better returns with dividend-paying stocks. Bear in mind, you can get both share-price gains and dividend payments from some stocks. Consequently, if you put your money in dividend stocks, you have a chance at beating the predictable returns from government bonds. Besides, it's very likely that government bond yields will get slashed this year and/or next year. So, if you're willing to sacrifice predictability in a quest for superior returns, check out these four outstanding dividend stock picks with decent yields and powerful growth potential. Lockheed Martin (LMT) Recent geopolitical events have put aerospace and defense contractors in the spotlight. A beneficiary of international conflicts is Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), a well-established defense contractor for public-sector and private clients. Mind you, this list isn't populated with stocks that pay yields exceeding 4% (which is what you might get from government bonds). Instead, we're concentrating on stocks which could easily beat 4% yearly returns through dividend distributions and share-price appreciation. Lockheed Martin stock is a perfect example of this. After holding LMT shares for a full year, you should expect to get a forward dividend yield of 2.06%. Then, to outperform a 4% bond, Lockheed Martin stock would only need to rise more than 2%. That's very likely since Lockheed Martin is a revenue-rich and profitable defense business. Don't just take my word for it, though. As the data will show, Lockheed Martin's sales improved from $67.571 billion in 2023 to $71.043 billion in 2024, to $75.048 billion in 2025. All told, Lockheed Martin reported $5.017 billion in net earnings for 2025. With cash and cash equivalents totaling $4.121 billion at the end of last year, it's fair to say that Lockheed Martin should be able to pay out dividends for the foreseeable future. A new PwC report forecasts that Artificial Intelligence could contribute between USD 135.6 billion and USD 149.9 billion to the growth of manufacturing MSMEs in India as early as 2035. This potential hinges on these enterprises increasing their contribution to manufacturing gross value added to 50%. The report identifies a massive parallel opportunity for MSMEs to supply non-technical products to the AI infrastructure sector, a market valued up to USD 150 billion. By adopting AI for predictive maintenance and quality control, MSMEs can transform into competitive value creators and overcome long-standing productivity constraints. PwC report projects AI contributing up to $150B to manufacturing MSMEs by 2035, unlocking trillion-dollar growth by 2047 with tech adoption. New Delhi, March 8 Artificial Intelligence could contribute between USD 135.6 billion and USD 149.9 billion to the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in the manufacturing sector as early as 2035. This projection, according to a PwC report titled "Unlocking the AI Edge for MSMEs," remains contingent on these enterprises accounting for 50 per cent of the nation's manufacturing value added. The report indicates that MSMEs stand to unlock growth opportunities in the range of USD 3.13-3.21 trillion by 2047. The way forward for this is if India increases the manufacturing share of GDP to 25 per cent and MSMEs raise their contribution to manufacturing gross value added (GVA) from 35.4 per cent in FY 2023-24 to 50 per cent. Achieving this "exponential 19x leap in value creation" requires MSMEs to adopt AI on shop floors and leverage the technology to become active partners across global value chains. Beyond direct production, a significant demand-side opportunity exists for MSMEs to supply non-technical manufacturing products to AI infrastructure and chip manufacturers. The report identifies a market for "harnesses, chambers, cooling equipment, and other non-technical manufacturing products" valued between USD 100 billion and USD 150 billion. With AI expected to contribute USD 1.7 trillion to the overall economy by 2035, the investment required for AI infrastructure is estimated at USD 500 billion. The report notes that "non-tech-intensive capital goods account for 20-30% of capex on such projects," which is a sector where MSMEs maintain an active presence. By reducing capability barriers across design, quality, and decision-making, AI allows these firms to "leapfrog structural and operational constraints" and "escape the low-productivity trap." Technological integration enables MSMEs to reposition themselves as "competitive value creators rather than cost-based suppliers." Specific applications include predictive maintenance, vision-led quality control, and intelligent inventory management. Furthermore, AI combined with local language models simplifies interfaces and reduces the need for technical expertise. The report defines AI's role through three functions: a "Scaler" that decreases processing times, an "Enricher" that augments human decision-making, and a "Reinventor" that transforms how value is captured. To manage this transition, the study proposes a "3A2I framework" built around "access, acceptance, assimilation, implementation, and institutionalisation" to help firms translate adoption into measurable value. - ANI Amid security concerns in the Gulf region, Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express will maintain their scheduled services to Jeddah and Muscat. The airlines are additionally operating 32 special non-scheduled flights to the United Arab Emirates to repatriate stranded Indian nationals. These ad-hoc flights are being run from multiple Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. The Indian government has reported that over 52,000 Indians have already been safely brought home from the Gulf region in the first week of March. Air India and Air India Express to run scheduled flights to Jeddah, Muscat and 32 ad-hoc flights to UAE to repatriate stranded Indian travellers. New Delhi, March 9 Amid the developing security situation in West Asia and the Gulf, Air India issued a travel advisory on Sunday, noting that Air India and Air India Express would continue with their scheduled services to and from Jeddah and Muscat. It further noted that in addition to the scheduled services, both airlines would operate a total of 32 ad-hoc non-scheduled flights to the United Arab Emirates on Monday to assist in bringing stranded travellers home to India. The official statement said, "Air India and Air India Express will continue to operate their respective scheduled services to and from Jeddah and Muscat on 9 March 2026, as the airspaces over Saudi Arabia and Oman remain open. The two airlines will together operate a total of 10 flights to and from Jeddah and Air India Express will operate 14 flights to and from Muscat." It added, "On 9 March 2026, Air India will operate one round-trip each from Delhi and Mumbai to Jeddah, and Air India Express will operate one round-trip each from Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kozhikode. Air India Express will also operate its scheduled services to Muscat, including one round-trip each from Delhi, Mumbai, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli, and two round-trips from Kochi." With respect to the additional ad-hoc flights, the statement said, "In addition to the scheduled services, Air India and Air India Express would operate a total of 32 ad-hoc non-scheduled flights to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 09 March 2026 to assist in bringing stranded travellers home to India, subject to the availability of slots and other prevailing conditions at the respective point of departure at the time. These flights are being operated with the requisite permissions from the relevant Indian and local regulatory authorities. While Air India would operate 10 non-scheduled flights to and from Dubai, including three round-trips from Mumbai and two round-trips from Delhi, Air India Express will operate one round-trip each to Dubai from Mumbai and Bengaluru." It further informed, "Air India Express will also operate non-scheduled flights to the other emirates of the UAE, including one round-trip each to Abu Dhabi from Bengaluru and Mumbai, one round-trip each to Sharjah from Bengaluru and Mumbai, and one-round trip each to Ras Al-Khaimah from Delhi, Bengaluru, Kochi, and two round-trips from Mumbai." Earlier on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs shared an update on the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, noting that more than 52,000 Indians travelled safely from the 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. - ANI Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu sets a target to create 5 lakh women entrepreneurs, unveils Swayam AP logo, and disburses Rs 10,100 crore in loans. Amaravati, March 8 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday announced that the state government has set a target of developing five lakh women as entrepreneurs. He stated that one lakh women have already been turned into entrepreneurs within a year and expressed confidence that Andhra Pradesh will soon have six lakh women entrepreneurs, the highest in the country. Participating in the International Women's Day celebrations organised by the state government at the Amaravati Parade Grounds, he said there should be one MSME from every household and that 50 per cent of them should be led by women. The Chief Minister unveiled the 'Swayam AP' logo for marketing products made by self-help groups. He also felicitated five outstanding women entrepreneurs and presented a cheque of Rs 10,100 crore in subsidised loans benefiting 6,81,506 women from various sectors. Extending greetings to women on the occasion of International Women's Day, he stated that women are known for hard work, love and sacrifice. The Chief Minister said that the state Cabinet has three women ministers who are working efficiently. The President of India is a tribal woman and the Union Finance Minister is also a woman who presents the national Budget effectively every year. "In fact, women are the real Finance Ministers because they manage household income wisely and ensure every rupee is used properly," he remarked. He recalled that the first leader who ensured justice for women was N.T. Rama Rao. He granted equal property rights to women, established Padmavathi University to promote women's education and provided eight per cent reservation for women in local bodies. Chandrababu Naidu also recalled that he, as the Chief Minister, introduced 33 per cent reservation in colleges and jobs and said that soon 33 per cent reservation will also be implemented in legislatures. "The DWCRA and MEPMA systems that I established have become role models for the country. Even though many institutions suffered setbacks, these systems remain strong," said Naidu, who earlier served as the Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh between 1995 and 2004. He said that through the 'Stree Shakti' scheme, the coalition government introduced free bus travel for women. He added that he would take responsibility for turning the Swayam brand into a global brand. Asserting that joint families are the greatest strength of India, he said small disputes should not break families apart. Families should not separate for ration, pensions or housing benefits. Today many elderly parents are left alone. The ageing population is increasing, and this situation must change, he said. Ministers V. Anita, Savitha, Sandhya Rani and Kandula Durgesh, MLA Shravan and BJP state President P.V.N. Madhav were present on the occasion. - IANS Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar welcomed Nishant Kumar's entry into the JD(U), stating it fulfilled the aspirations of the state's youth and party leaders. Nishant Kumar, son of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, formally joined the party in Patna, thanking workers and praising his father's two-decade contribution to Bihar. The development occurs as Nitish Kumar files his nomination for the Rajya Sabha, signaling the end of his long tenure as Chief Minister. Party leaders, including Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur and Minister Ratnesh Sada, have praised the move, with Sada calling Nishant the "future of Bihar." Bihar Minister hails Nishant Kumar's JD(U) entry as fulfilling youth aspirations. Nitish Kumar's son pledges to uphold legacy amid major political transition. Patna, March 9 Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar on Sunday welcomed the entry of Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, into the Janata Dal, saying the aspirations of Bihar's youth and the continuous demand of party leaders have been fulfilled today. Speaking to ANI in Patna, Shravan Kumar said party workers were enthusiastic about Nishant Kumar joining the JD(U). "We are very excited by his joining. The aspiration of Bihar's youth and the continuous demand of JD(U) leaders have been fulfilled today. Congratulations to Nishant Kumar," he said. Earlier in the day, Nishant Kumar formally joined the JD(U) at the party office in Patna. Addressing party workers after joining, he thanked them for their support and praised his father's contribution to Bihar over the past two decades. "I thank everyone. I will try to live up to the trust you all have placed in me. I, the entire Bihar and the entire country are proud of what my father has done in the last 20 years," he said. Nishant Kumar greeted party workers as he arrived at the JD(U) office, where the party's National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha was also present. Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur said Nishant Kumar decided to join the party to stay connected with people and respond to the expectations of JD(U) workers and the public. Meanwhile, Bihar Minister Ratnesh Sada described Nishant Kumar as the "future of Bihar" and said the party would continue the development work initiated by Nitish Kumar. The development comes amid a major political transition in Bihar, with Nitish Kumar having filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha earlier this week, signalling the end of his long tenure as the state's Chief Minister. Speaking earlier about the move, Nitish Kumar had said that he would remain engaged with the development of Bihar even after moving to the Upper House of Parliament. - ANI The Assam Cabinet has approved a major Rs 103 crore project to build Silchar's first five-star hotel, to be developed by the Polo Hotels Group. The luxury facility will feature 100 rooms, banquet halls, and wellness amenities, aiming to position Silchar as a hub for high-value travel and corporate events. This project is part of Polo Hotels' broader expansion across Northeastern states and is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment. The development marks a strategic push to enhance tourism and business infrastructure in the Barak Valley region. Assam Cabinet greenlights a Rs 103 crore five-star hotel in Silchar by Polo Hotels Group, set to transform tourism and business in the Barak Valley. Guwahati, March 8 In a major boost to hospitality infrastructure in Southern Assam, the Assam Cabinet has approved the development of Silchar's first five-star hotel, to be built with an investment of approximately Rs 103 crore on Saturday. The project will be spearheaded by Polo Hotels Group. The announcement marks a significant step towards strengthening the tourism, business, and events ecosystem of the Barak Valley. Announcing the decision, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam, earlier said, "Our cabinet has given a go ahead to construct a Five Star hotel in Silchar, to Polo Hotels Group. The Polo Hotels Group will be spending around Rs 103 crore on this project. This is going to be the first five-star hotel in Silchar." The project will introduce international-standard luxury hospitality infrastructure to the Barak Valley for the first time, positioning Silchar, the commercial and administrative hub of Southern Assam, to host high-value travel, corporate engagements, and large-scale events. The proposed luxury hotel will feature 100 premium rooms and suites, designed to meet global hospitality benchmarks while reflecting the cultural character of the Barak Valley. Key facilities will include multiple specialty restaurants and bars, a resort-style swimming pool, a full-service spa and wellness centre, a modern fitness facility, and state-of-the-art banquet and conference infrastructure capable of hosting corporate summits,exhibitions, weddings, and government events. Industry analysts note that India's hospitality sector has witnessed a strong rebound in recent years. According to tourism estimates, India recorded more than 2.3 billion domestic tourist visits in 2023, while demand for MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) has expanded rapidly across emerging regional cities. The Silchar project forms part of an ambitious expansion plan by Polo Hotels Group, one of Northeast India's most established hospitality brands. Alongside the Silchar development, the Group is currently building 10 additional hotels across Meghalaya, Tripura, West Bengal, and Nagaland, significantly expanding its footprint across Eastern and Northeastern India. This pipeline of projects is expected to position the company among the largest hospitality operators headquartered in Northeast India, reinforcing its long-term commitment to developing world-class tourism and hospitality infrastructure across the region. "Silchar is one of the most important gateway cities in Northeast India and requires hospitality infrastructure required to support its growing economic and institutional importance. This project is not just about building a hotel; it is about enabling the next phase of growth for the Barak Valley. As a company rooted in the Northeast, we see it as our responsibility to bring world-class experiences to emerging cities and unlock their full potential. The Silchar hotel, along with our expanding pipeline across the region, reflects our long-term commitment to building the largest and most trusted hospitality platform in Northeast India," said Deval Tibrewalla, Chief Executive Officer of Polo Hotels Group. Hospitality infrastructure projects of this scale generate significant multiplier effects across local economies. Industry estimates suggest that each hotel room can generate around 2 direct jobs, along with additional employment across sectors such as food supply chains, transportation, event management, and local services. The Silchar project is therefore expected to create substantial direct and indirect employment opportunities, while supporting local businesses, producers, and service providers across the Barak Valley. Once operational, the hotel is expected to establish a new benchmark for luxury hospitality in Southern Assam, enabling Silchar to host national-level conferences, policy meetings, corporate gatherings, and destination events that were previously constrained by the lack of premium accommodation facilities. The development also reflects a broader shift in India's hospitality landscape, where emerging regional cities are increasingly becoming the next frontier for tourism and business travel infrastructure. - ANI Himanta Biswa Sarma's 7-day, 25-constituency yatra energizes BJP, puts opposition under pressure with overwhelming public participation. Guwahati, March 8 The seventh day of the Jan Ashirwad Yatra organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party witnessed a massive public turnout and enthusiastic participation from people across different sections of society on Sunday. The day's programme commenced from the Margherita Constituency, popularly known as the "city of black diamonds", and concluded in the Makum Constituency after passing through the historic oil town of Digboi. The large public response during the yatra energised Himanta Biswa Sarma, who reaffirmed his commitment to continue working for the development and progress of Assam. Dilip Saikia, President of the Assam Pradesh BJP and a Member of Parliament, accompanied the Chief Minister throughout the programme, providing organisational leadership and support. In a press statement issued from the party's state headquarters, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, BJP spokesperson Pranjal Kalita stated that, in the run-up to the elections, people from all sections of society had enthusiastically joined the "Jan Ashirwad Yatra," thereby strengthening the BJP and placing the opposition forces on the defensive. Over the preceding seven days, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had travelled more than 800 kilometres, reaching out directly to the people across over 25 constituencies. During the course of the yatra, he was greeted by the public, affectionately addressed as their "mama," offering encouragement and blessings for his continued efforts toward the development of Assam. Several moments marked the journey. Some individuals stepped away from wedding ceremonies to seek the Chief Minister's blessings, while others expressed gratitude for becoming self-reliant through financial assistance received under the Chief Minister's Udyamita Abhiyan. Many citizens thanked him for ensuring transparent recruitment processes, while others held his hands and recited sacred Naam-Ghosa hymns, praying for his success and well-being. This remarkable political phenomenon drew the attention of leaders across both the ruling and opposition parties. From Upper Assam to Lower Assam, and from the Barak Valley to the Brahmaputra Valley, public discourse was dominated by discussions surrounding the 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra.' The massive participation of the people doubled the enthusiasm of the BJP workers while simultaneously putting the opposition under considerable pressure. The opposition parties in Assam, already embroiled in internal conflicts over seat-sharing arrangements, were unable to present a unified front. The people of Assam, by rejecting the allegations, conspiracies, and misinformation spread by the Congress and other opposition forces, were seen extending their support to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Furthermore, the people of Dibrugarh, the home district of Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who had labelled the BJP's "Jan Ashirwad Yatra" as a "curse yatra", reportedly admitted that they hardly recognised his political presence. Overwhelming public participation in the yatra decisively shattered the arrogance and pessimism of the opposition. The people also made it clear that they stood firmly with the Chief Minister and had no association with any forces sympathetic to Pakistan, the release stated. - ANI Beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat health scheme expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his rally in Delhi's Burari area. Shobha Devi, a heart patient, detailed how the card covered her overwhelming treatment costs after the PM personally handed it to her. Other attendees praised the scheme for covering large hospital bills, including one of 1,09,000, providing crucial financial relief. The rally coincided with International Women's Day, with several women highlighting the scheme's impact. Beneficiaries share stories of financial relief from Ayushman Bharat scheme after PM Modi's Burari rally, highlighting free critical medical treatment. New Delhi, March 8 Several beneficiaries and attendees expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his rally in the Burari area of the national capital, highlighting the benefits of government welfare schemes, particularly the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Among those who interacted with the Prime Minister was Shobha Devi, a beneficiary who shared how the Ayushman Card helped her receive crucial medical treatment. A heart patient, she said, the expenses for her treatment were becoming overwhelming before she received assistance under the scheme. Speaking to IANS, she said, "PM Modi personally handed over the card to us and spoke with us. We are very thankful to him, recalling her interaction with the Prime Minister. She added that the Ayushman Card had provided significant financial relief and enabled her to continue her treatment without worrying about mounting medical costs. Another attendee at the rally praised the Prime Minister's initiatives for the public, especially women. "PM Modi has given wholeheartedly to the people, and he has done even more for women," the attendee said. Sharing a similar experience, another participant highlighted how the health scheme helped their family during a medical emergency. "My mother's treatment was done through the Ayushman Card. The hospital bill was around Rs 1,09,000, and it was completely free of cost for us," the attendee said. A woman attendee said receiving benefits from the government on International Women's Day made the moment even more special. "We feel very fortunate that we received this gift, and that too on Women's Day. He has done so much work for people," she said. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, launched by the government in 2018, is the world's largest publicly funded health assurance scheme. It provides health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to economically vulnerable families, helping millions access affordable healthcare across the country. - IANS The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission has announced revised prices for Jet A-1 aviation fuel for March 2026. The adjustment accounts for international price trends, exchange rates, and local transport costs influenced by diesel prices. A pricing committee's monthly review, based on a methodology established in 2025, led to the new rates. The decision comes amid a global energy sector squeeze attributed to escalating conflict in West Asia. Bangladesh Energy Commission sets new Jet A-1 prices for domestic and international flights, citing West Asia conflict and global market factors. Dhaka, March 8 The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission on Sunday announced a revision in the price of Jet A-1 aviation fuel for March 2026, following a detailed review of international price trends, foreign exchange rates, and local fuel cost factors, as escalated conflict in West Asia has choked the global energy sector for the past few days. The Commission has adjusted the aviation fuel pricing structure for both domestic and international sectors. In a notice issued today, BERC stated that the decision was taken considering the average published Platts Rate of Jet A-1 for the period from February 5 to March 4, 2026; the US dollar exchange rate in LC settlements of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC); and recent changes in diesel prices, which affect coastal tanker and tank lorry transportation costs. For domestic flights, the price of Jet A-1, including duties and VAT, has been fixed at BDT 112.41 per litre, while for international flights operated by both domestic and foreign carriers, the price of Jet A-1, excluding duties and VAT, has been fixed at USD 0.7384 per litre. The new prices will come into effect from 12:00 am today. BERC stated that the authority to revise consumer-level aviation fuel prices stems from Sections 34(4) and 34(6) of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Act, 2003. Following proposals from Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and Padma Oil Company Limited (POCL), BERC conducted a public hearing and issued an order on May 13, 2025, establishing the methodology for setting Jet A-1 prices for domestic and international flights. Since then, the Commission has been updating Jet A-1 prices on a monthly basis. A pricing committee, formed on May 25, 2025, evaluates the average Platts Rate for the previous period, LC settlement exchange rates for BPC's Jet A-1 imports, and diesel price changes affecting transport logistics to formulate monthly recommendations. For March 2026, the committee submitted its report to BERC on March 8, 2026, and after a detailed hearing, the Commission approved the adjusted prices for immediate implementation. - ANI An industry leader says Bangladesh could turn to US companies for liquefied natural gas if supply from Qatar is unavailable, citing an existing agreement. Farhan Noor attributed recent public panic and fuel sector instability partly to an "irresponsible statement" from a petroleum official that was amplified by media. He clarified that Bangladesh produces 80% of its petrol and octane domestically and does not face a major shortage in urban fuel supplies. Noor expressed confidence the situation would normalize within days, despite the government's rationing announcement exacerbating concerns. Bangladesh could procure LNG from US firms as an alternative to Qatar amid fuel sector volatility and public panic, an industry leader states. Dhaka, March 8 During the ongoing fuel concerns in Bangladesh, if liquefied natural gas supply from Qatar is not available, the country can procure fuel from companies in the United States as an alternative because Bangladesh has a fuel supply agreement with the US, a fuel business leader said on Sunday. "Bangladesh imports LNG from Qatar, but if not from Qatar, I believe we have an agreement with the United States. Therefore, even at a higher price, the US companies might carry out the supply," Farhan Noor, Secretary General of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station & Conversion Workshop Owners Association, told ANI in an interview. Noor admitted that volatility in the fuel sector created panic among the general public. "When there was a fuel crisis, panic arose among the people. It created an unstable environment in the fuel sector," he added. Speaking about petrol and octane, which are used in motor vehicles and motorcycles, Noor stated that, "We produce 80 per cent of petrol and octane in Bangladesh; we produce it ourselves." "In fact, we do not have a major crisis here, but because a responsible person gave an irresponsible statement, especially the chairman of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), and the media spread it, panic has arisen here," he said. Noor said that people started buying more fuel than they actually needed, which created an unstable situation in the fuel sector. "Because of this panic, many people started buying much more fuel or petrol than they actually need," Noor said. "Because of this, it created an unstable situation in the fuel sector, which was actually unnecessary for some people," he added. "Everyone rushed to the stations at once, which is why the government announced rationing. However, even because of this announcement, the panic increased," he said. "In reality, the fuel that we use in urban areas, we do not have a shortage of it. I think within the next two or three days the situation will return to normal," Noor said. "We import diesel from abroad into Bangladesh," he added. - ANI India's BharatNet project has successfully connected over 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats with optical fibre, significantly expanding rural digital infrastructure. The PM-WANI initiative has further bolstered access by deploying more than 4.09 lakh public Wi-Fi hotspots across the country. Data costs have plummeted, making India one of the world's cheapest data markets, while broadband subscriptions have soared past 100 crore. The expansion of cloud capacity, supercomputing resources, and digital public infrastructure like UPI and Aadhaar is transforming internet access into tangible economic and social outcomes for rural communities. India's digital push connects 2.15 lakh villages via BharatNet, deploys 4.09 lakh Wi-Fi hotspots, and slashes data costs to Rs 8/GB, driving rural inclusion. New Delhi, March 8 India's massive push to expand optical fibre, 5G and digital public infrastructure has connected more than 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats through BharatNet, the government said on Sunday. Optical fibre deployment nationwide rose from 19.35 lakh route kilometres in 2019 to 42.36 lakh route kilometres in 2025, and 5G connectivity now covers 99.9 per cent of districts with over 5.18 lakh base transceiver stations as of December 2025, an official statement said. Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PMWANI) has deployed 4,09,111 WiFi hotspots supported by 207 PDO Aggregators and 113 App Providers as of February 2026, to provide affordable, high-speed public internet connectivity, particularly in rural and remote areas. "Integrating last-mile access, literacy programmes, and affordable internet with platforms connecting markets and social schemes strengthens rural livelihoods, ensures timely benefit delivery, and fosters inclusive participation in India's digital economy," it said. Cloud and data centre capacity is also expanding rapidly to support digital governance and AI-ready infrastructure. With a total data centre capacity at about 1,280 megawatts, it is projected to grow four to five times by 2030, the government forecasted. Through MeghRaj (GI Cloud), over 2,170 ministries and departments are hosting applications on secure, scalable government cloud platforms. The government highlighted that data costs have plummeted from Rs 269 per GB in 2014 to roughly Rs 8-10 per GB in 2025-2026, making India one of the world's cheapest data markets. Broadband subscriptions crossed the 100 crore mark in November 2025, recording a sixfold jump from 13.15 crore a decade earlier. The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) deployed 38 supercomputers with a combined capacity of 44 Petaflops, across institutions nationwide. By extending advanced computing infrastructure beyond metropolitan hubs, HPC ensures equitable access to world-class resources for universities, startups, researchers, and industry, supporting AI, climate modelling, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. DPI pillars such as Aadhaar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and DigiLocker transform mere internet access into tangible social and economic outcomes ensuring seamless service delivery, deeper financial inclusion, and trusted digital interactions that systematically narrow access gaps and integrate every Indian into the digital economy. - IANS The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM) is among the 12 Best Alcohol Stocks to Buy Right Now. Is The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (SAM) Among the Best Alcohol Stocks to Buy? On March 2, 2026, The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM) reported that it will expand Sinless Vodka Cocktails from three test markets to 34 states, releasing a revised package that highlights its 5% ABV vodka base. The product has 100 calories and contains no sugar or carbs. It is made with premium vodka and comes in Cranberry, Pineapple, Black Cherry, and Peach flavors. The company will sell 12-ounce four-packs, eight-pack formats, and 570 mL singles in specific flavors. Separately, on February 24, 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported that The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM) had fourth-quarter net revenue of $385.7 million, down from $402.3 million. The company posted a loss of $22.5 million, or $2.12 per share, compared to a $38.8 million loss the previous year. The company's tariff impact was $3.6 million, while depletions fell 6% due to drops in Truly Hard Seltzer, Samuel Adams, and Twisted Tea. The firm anticipates earnings per share of $8.50 to $11.00 in 2026, depletions in the low to mid-single digits, and a 1% to 2% pricing increase. The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM) produces and sells alcoholic beverages. The company's brands include Truly Hard Seltzer, Twisted Tea, Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard, Sun Cruiser, and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. While we acknowledge the potential of SAM 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: 15 Best Electric Utility Stocks to Invest In Now and 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has appealed to voters, particularly women, to support the BJP in the upcoming elections, stating the party's actions are guided by empowering 'Nari Shakti'. He highlighted several women-centric welfare schemes rolled out by the state government, including the flagship Orunodoi direct cash transfer program. Other initiatives like the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan and Lakhpati Baideo scheme aim to foster entrepreneurship and financial independence for rural women and SHG members. Political observers note that women voters have become an increasingly influential bloc, with parties heavily focusing their policies and campaigns on women's welfare. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says BJP's Assam policies strengthen 'Nari Shakti' through schemes like Orunodoi, urging women to vote for the party. Guwahati, March 8 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday urged voters to support the Bharatiya Janata Party, stating that the party has consistently focused on empowering women across the state. Taking to social media platform X, Sarma said that a single vote has the power to transform households and strengthen the voice of women in society. "One right vote can change the voice inside every home," the Chief Minister wrote, stressing the importance of public participation in the democratic process. Highlighting the BJP's approach towards women's empowerment, Sarma said the party's policies and initiatives in Assam have been guided by the goal of strengthening 'Nari Shakti'. "The focus of BJP4Assam has been to empower Assam's Nari Shakti and every action of ours has reflected this belief," he stated in the post. According to Sarma, the government will continue working with greater determination to ensure that women benefit from development programmes and welfare initiatives in the coming years. "This effort will continue in the coming days," he added, urging voters to make a careful choice in the upcoming elections. "Choose wisely, choose BJP," Sarma said in his appeal ahead of the Assembly polls. Since coming to power, the BJP-led government in Assam has rolled out several women-centric welfare schemes in recent years aimed at strengthening financial security and promoting entrepreneurship among women across the state. The flagship Orunodoi scheme provides direct cash transfers of Rs 1,250 per month to women from economically weaker households and currently benefits over 19 lakh beneficiaries. The programme is designed to ensure that financial support reaches families through women, thereby enhancing their role in household decision-making and improving access to essential needs. In addition, the government launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMUA) to encourage rural women to become entrepreneurs by providing seed capital and institutional support, with a target of benefiting up to 12 lakh women. Another initiative, the Lakhpati Baideo scheme, focuses on empowering women associated with Self Help Groups (SHGs) by providing phased financial assistance - Rs 10,000 in the first year, Rs 25,000 in the second year and Rs 50,000 in the third year - to help them establish sustainable micro-enterprises and enhance their income. Political observers note that women voters have increasingly become an influential voting bloc in Assam, with major political parties placing significant emphasis on policies and campaign messaging focused on women's welfare and empowerment. The BJP leadership in the state has repeatedly underlined the role of women in driving social and economic progress, and party leaders have often highlighted government initiatives as part of their outreach ahead of elections. - IANS Preity Zinta shared an empowering message for Women's Day on Instagram, urging women to dream big and love themselves. She is set to return to the big screen after eight years in the period drama 'Lahore 1947'. The film, releasing in August 2026, stars Sunny Deol and is produced by Aamir Khan. It also features Shabana Azmi and Ali Fazal, with music by AR Rahman. Preity Zinta shares an inspiring quote for Women's Day, encouraging women to dream big. She also announces her film return in 'Lahore 1947'. Mumbai, March 8 On the occasion of Women's Day, actor Preity Zinta shared an inspiring message for women everywhere, encouraging them to dream big, smile often, and always love themselves. Taking to Instagram, Preity wrote, "Happy Women's day to all you gorgeous ones out there Today more than ever I wanna remind you of my favourite quote - "Don't tell me sky is the limit when you have footprints on the moon !" So don't forget to dream big, smile wide & love yourself today, tomorrow & always Loads of love & more love #Ting." Meanwhile, on the work front, Preity will be seen sharing screen space with Sunny Deol in 'Lahore 1947'. The period drama is one of the most-awaited films and will mark Preity Zinta's return to the big screen after almost eight years. As per the latest information from the film's production team, Lahore 1947 will hit theatres on August 13, 2026, during the Independence Day week. The makers are aiming for a big festive release across India. With this, the upcoming period drama also brings together Sunny Deol, director Rajkumar Santoshi and producer Aamir Khan for the first time. Aamir Khan is producing the film under his banner, Aamir Khan Productions. Talking about the project, Aamir, as per a release, said, "This was one of the favourite scripts of Dharamji, and I am so glad he could see the film." The film also stars Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal and Karan Deol in key roles. Music for the film is by AR Rahman, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. - ANI BSP supremo Mayawati termed the security lapse during President Droupadi Murmu's West Bengal visit as extremely unfortunate. She emphasized that everyone must respect the post of the President and avoid politicizing constitutional positions. The incident involved a last-minute venue change for an event the President was attending, causing inconvenience. The West Bengal government, led by Mamata Banerjee, has faced criticism over the episode, which Union Minister Kiren Rijiju called an insult to tribal pride. BSP chief Mayawati calls West Bengal security lapse for President Droupadi Murmu "extremely unfortunate," stresses respecting constitutional posts. New Delhi, March 8 Amid the controversy over the security lapse during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to West Bengal, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Sunday described the incident as extremely unfortunate, stressing the importance of respecting the post of the President. Mayawati took to social media, X, and said, "According to the ideals and dignity of the Indian Constitution, it is necessary for everyone to respect the post of the Honourable President and also to observe its protocol, and it is not right to politicise this post in any way." "The current President of the country is not only a woman but also a member of the tribal community. However, what happened during her recent visit to West Bengal should not have happened. This is extremely unfortunate. Similarly, the recent politicisation of Parliament, especially of the post of Speaker of the Lok Sabha, is also not appropriate. It would be better if everyone rose above party politics and respected the dignity of constitutional positions," she said. Mayawati said the session of Parliament starting from Monday should run completely smoothly in the interest of the country. "In this sequence, the session of Parliament starting from tomorrow should run completely smoothly in the interest of the country and the people. This is the expectation of the people and also the demand of the time," she added. Earlier in the day, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the controversy surrounding the venue change for the 9th International Santal Conference, as well as the challenges faced by the country's first tribal President, Droupadi Murmu, is not only "unfortunate" for West Bengal but for the entire nation. Earlier on Saturday, when the incident took place, Rijiju had said, "I have always taken pride in being Adivasi and Indian. This shameful act by the Chief Minister of West Bengal has hurt my pride. Insulting the esteemed tribal woman, Hon'ble Draupadi Murmu Ji, who holds the office of the President of India, is an insult to tribal pride and an assault on the Constitution of India." The remarks came after President Droupadi Murmu expressed displeasure over the last-minute change in the venue of the Santal Conference in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. The event was originally scheduled to be held at Phansidewa, but the organisers were compelled to shift it to a smaller venue at Gossaipur after the state administration allegedly denied permission for the programme at the original location, citing security concerns. During the event, President Murmu expressed concern over the sudden change of venue and the inconvenience caused to participants. She also noted that neither Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee nor any member of her Cabinet met her during her visit to the state. The West Bengal government, led by Trinamool Congress, has come under scathing attack from various sections of society over developments at the President programme. However, both Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee have issued social media statements refuting the criticisms. - IANS Finnish President Alexander Stubb concluded a significant official visit to India, marking a defining moment as bilateral relations were elevated to a 'Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability'. During his stay, he served as the Chief Guest at the Raisina Dialogue and held extensive discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Indian leaders. The visit, which included a delegation of ministers and business leaders, aimed to deepen cooperation across various sectors and strengthen people-to-people ties. This high-level engagement follows the recent visit of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, underscoring a mutual commitment to enhanced bilateral cooperation. Finnish President Alexander Stubb concludes India visit, elevating bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership focused on digitalisation and sustainability. New Delhi, March 8 A significant milestone has been reached in the diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Helsinki as Finnish President Alexander Stubb concluded his official visit to India. In a post on X, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, shared details of the departure, noting that the visit represents a "defining moment in the Indian-Finland ties as the relationship gets elevated to 'Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability', which will add significant momentum in bilateral relations." The Finnish President was warmly seen off at the airport by the Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani. According to the official update, "A fruitful visit concludes as President Alexander Stubb of Finland departs India. Warmly seen off by the Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications at the airport." The conclusion of this high-level mission follows President Stubb's arrival in India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his stay, the Finnish leader served as the Chief Guest and keynote speaker at the 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. The visit, which included the participation of a high-level delegation of ministers, senior officials, and business leaders, was aimed at deepening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between India and Finland across various sectors. It marked Stubb's first visit to India in his current role as President. Beyond his engagement at the Raisina Dialogue, President Stubb held discussions with the Prime Minister, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional and global issues of mutual interest. A key highlight was an exchange of views on cooperation in multilateral forums, with an emphasis on deepening people-to-people connections and economic partnerships. Following the discussions, Prime Minister Modi hosted a luncheon in honour of President Stubb. The Finnish President also met with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a separate meeting with the visiting dignitary. After his time in the capital, President Stubb travelled to Mumbai, where he met with the Governor and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, interacted with local business leaders, and addressed students at the University of Mumbai. India and Finland share a warm and multifaceted relationship, anchored in shared democratic values, with Finland playing an essential role as a partner for India within the European Union and the Nordic region. President Stubb's visit followed the recent visit of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to India for the AI Impact Summit in February, reflecting both countries' commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and fostering stronger ties. - ANI Finnish President Alexander Stubb concluded a state visit to India, with both nations elevating their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability. The partnership aims to boost cooperation in key technology sectors like artificial intelligence, 5G/6G, and quantum computing. Both sides agreed to strengthen joint research in areas including renewable energy, smart cities, and electric vehicles. Stubb also highlighted the growing role of India and the Global South in shaping a more representative multilateral world order. Finnish President Alexander Stubb concludes India visit, elevating ties to a strategic partnership focused on tech, AI, and sustainability. Mumbai, March 8 Finnish President Alexander Stubb concluded his State Visit to India on Sunday and was warmly seen off by the Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani. Taking to X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "A fruitful visit concludes as President Alexander Stubb of Finland departs India. Warmly seen off by Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani at the airport." "A defining moment in the Indian-Finland ties as the relationship gets elevated to 'Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability', which will add significant momentum in bilateral relations," it added. During his India visit this week, Stubb earlier highlighted India and the Global South's growing role in shaping a cooperative, fair and representative multilateral world order. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that the cooperation between India and Finland will expand in key technology sectors such as artificial intelligence, 5G and 6G telecommunications, advanced data analytics and quantum computing. During the talks with Stubb, both sides also agreed to strengthen research collaboration and promote innovation. Joint research calls between India's Department of Science and Technology and Finland's innovation funding agency Business Finland will focus on areas such as renewable energy, smart cities, hydrogen technologies, electric vehicles, and waste management. Earlier, in his address at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on March 5, Stubb mentioned that the power balance has shifted and the Global South has both demography and economy on its side. "I mean, here we are in a country which is portraying growth rates of 7 per cent, probably projecting all the way to 2047. And at the same time, it's the biggest democracy in the world. But my argument is that the era of a Western-dominated world is over; that's the disruption. This is obvious, but it will take some time to sink in across the West. Nostalgia can give us lessons, but it rarely provides us with solutions. So, I think that a good starting point to any analysis is to deal with the world as it is, not with a world that we would wish it to be," he added. Stubb stressed that violence is being used as a foreign policy tool around the world. He spoke about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, West Asia and Sudan and also mentioned his conversations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the UAE President and the Qatar Emir. He also quoted External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar's earlier remarks about Europe and endorsed them. "One of my favourite foreign ministers, Dr Jaishankar, has remarked and let me quote once again, 'Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems, but the world's problems are not Europe's problems.'...I wholeheartedly agree with you, Dr Jaishankar. What we need to recognise is that all three examples that I mentioned, Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan, and many other wars and conflicts are all of our problems." - IANS A Trinamool Congress delegation led by Firhad Hakim and Chandrima Bhattacharya will meet with Election Commission officials in Kolkata. The EC team, including Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, is on a three-day visit to review preparedness for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Their arrival was met with protests, including demonstrators showing black flags and accusing the CEC of being a "murderer of democracy." The visit includes meetings with various political parties and state officials as political activity intensifies ahead of the polls. TMC leaders Firhad Hakim and Chandrima Bhattacharya to present party's views to Election Commission officials reviewing 2026 poll arrangements. Kolkata, March 9 Trinamool Congress leaders Firhad Hakim, Chandrima Bhattacharya, and former West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar will represent the party in a meeting with the Election Commission of India in Kolkata on Monday, the party said. The meeting comes during the ongoing visit of the poll panel to review election preparedness in the state ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. According to the TMC, the delegation led by Hakim, who is also the Mayor of Kolkata, along with state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and Rajeev Kumar, will present the party's views during the interaction with the Election Commission officials. The meeting is scheduled as Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, are on a three-day visit to West Bengal from March 8 to 10 to assess preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections. The Election Commission team arrived in Kolkata on Sunday and was received amid protests by a group of locals near the airport. Demonstrators gathered outside a private hotel in New Town, wearing posters that read "Go back, Gyanesh Kumar, murderer of democracy." Protesters also showed black flags to the convoy of the Chief Election Commissioner outside the airport. During their visit, the Election Commission officials are expected to hold meetings with representatives of various political parties, senior administrative officials and police authorities to review election-related arrangements in the state. The visit comes at a time when political activity in West Bengal has intensified ahead of the Assembly elections expected in the first half of the year. The ruling All India Trinamool Congress is preparing to defend its position in the state while facing a strong challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Earlier, after reviewing election preparedness in Kerala, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar expressed confidence in the readiness of the election machinery, saying that the upcoming Assembly elections there could set a benchmark for democratic practices in the country. - ANI The 8th edition of the Zydus Pinkathon 2026 was held in New Delhi on International Women's Day, attracting over 10,000 women participants. Actor and fitness icon Milind Soman urged women to dedicate time to their health, stating it leads to a healthier family and society. Delhi Minister Ashish Sood flagged off the event and connected its success to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Fit India movement. The annual run is a major initiative focused on encouraging women's fitness and active lifestyles. Fitness icon Milind Soman and Delhi Minister Ashish Sood encourage over 10,000 women at the Zydus Pinkathon 2026 run in New Delhi on International Women's Day. New Delhi, March 8 The 8th edition of the Zydus Pinkathon 2026 was held in New Delhi on Sunday morning on the occasion of International Women's Day. Actor and fitness icon Milind Soman, who was among the attendees at the event, encouraged women to take time for their health and well-being. He also added that good health among women can help build a stronger and healthier society. "Today is March 8, 2026, and it is International Women's Day. We understand that every woman should definitely take some time out during the day for her health... Through this, we can build a healthy India. If a woman in a family is healthy, then her children will also be healthy. It is also very important to take care of oneself to serve society," Soman told ANI. The fitness run, known for promoting women's health, saw participation from more than 10,000 women in the national capital. The event was flagged off by Delhi Minister Ashish Sood. The Pinkathon run is organised every year to encourage women to stay active and focus on their fitness. Over the years, it has become one of the largest women-focused fitness events in the country. Delhi Minister Ashish Sood also spoke about the strong participation at the event, calling the initiative inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Fit India movement. While speaking to ANI, Sood said, "Women should take time out for themselves and run for their good health. More than 10,000 women are participating in the Pinkathon today. This is very inspiring. The government, led by PM Modi, is promoting fitness." - ANI The Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, Philippe Varin, emphasized that predictability and stability are fundamental for business operations and long-term investment in a fragmented world. He warned that a collapse of the WTO could cost developing economies 5-10% of their GDP, as bilateral agreements weaken multilateral consensus. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated India will engage with an open mind on these trade issues at the upcoming WTO ministerial. Both leaders praised the Raisina Dialogue for establishing itself as a premier global platform for high-level geopolitical discussion. ICC Chair Philippe Varin warns of WTO collapse risks, stresses need for stability & pragmatic reforms for investment at Raisina Dialogue 2026. New Delhi, March 8 Business operations and long-term investments require a foundation of predictability and stability to succeed in an increasingly fragmented global environment, said Philippe Varin, Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, France, on Saturday. He noted that pragmatic reforms and common principles are essential for fostering investment as geopolitical shifts continue to complicate the international landscape. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue event in New Delhi, Varin stated, "What is absolutely essential in this world? For the business, we need predictability, we need stability, and if you want the investment to be done. And for this to happen in a world which is more and more fragmented, we should have common principles but also make very pragmatic reforms. The International Chamber of Commerce is here to make proposals based on the question on the ground...I am feeling very good after attending the Raisina Dialogue 2026" Earlier, during a panel discussion at the same event, Varin highlighted the fragility of current international partnerships. He questioned how businesses can compete in technology while maintaining meaningful collaborations. "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," Varin said. Varin also pointed out the risks associated with the weakening of established trade bodies. "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," he said. Speaking about the WTO, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal noted that India is positioning itself to address these trade challenges during the upcoming international forums. Also speaking to the media at the Raisina Dialogue, the minister said that New Delhi intends to engage with global partners on these critical issues. "We have the WTO ministerial coming up end of this month. We'll discuss these issues with an open mind during the WTO ministerial," Goyal said while speaking on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. Goyal also praised the Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, for emerging as a major international platform that attracts policymakers, diplomats and experts from around the world. "Raisina Dialogue makes India proud. It has truly established itself on the global stage as a must-attend event," he said. "Very high-quality discussions, very high level of participation both from India and internationally." - ANI The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is hosting a post-Budget webinar to strategize the training of 1.5 lakh multiskilled caregivers. This initiative, announced in the Budget 2026-27, aims to build a robust care ecosystem for geriatric and allied services. The training programs will be NSQF-aligned, combining core caregiving with skills in wellness, yoga, and operating medical devices. The webinar will bring together stakeholders to standardize qualifications and enhance apprenticeship opportunities for this workforce. Govt announces NSQF-aligned training for 1.5 lakh caregivers in wellness, yoga & medical device operation post-Budget 2026-27. Details inside. New Delhi, March 8 The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship will host a 'breakout session' on strengthening India's care ecosystem as part of the PostBudget Webinar series, an official statement said on Sunday. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said the session will focus on developing 1.5 lakh "multiskilled caregivers" capable of meeting India's increasing domestic needs while also tapping into emerging global opportunities in the care economy. The Webinar is expected to serve as a collaborative platform for all stakeholders to deliberate on implementation strategies for vision outlined in the Budget Speech 202627 Budget Speech 202627 mentioned a "strong Care Ecosystem to be built covering geriatric and allied care services." "A variety of NSQFaligned programmes will be developed to train multiskilled caregivers combining core care and allied skills, such as, wellness, yoga and operation of medical and assistive devices. In the coming year, 1.5 lakh caregivers will be trained," the finance minister had said. The Union Budget 2026-27 has announced a significant push to strengthen the care ecosystem by introducing NSQF-aligned training programmes that combine core caregiving competencies with allied skills, including wellness support, yoga, and the operation of medical and assistive devices. The webinar will convene healthcare experts, state governments, international organisations and academia to discuss standardising caregiver qualifications, enhancing trainer capacity, infrastructure and expanding apprenticeship opportunities, the statement said. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship also highlighted plans to facilitate workforce mobility for caregivers by aligning skilling standards with global benchmarks. India's skilling ecosystem - supported by institutions such as the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)/National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and others are being strengthened to meet these evolving workforce requirements. Thousands of candidates have already been trained in caregiving-related roles such as Geriatric Caregiver, Home Health Aide and General Duty Assistant, creating the foundation for a structured care workforce, it added. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will lead the full-day webinar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the postBudget webinar on March 9, 2026. - IANS Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announces 25% reservation for women in Class-III posts and a special recruitment drive for women police SIs. Shimla, March 8 On the occasion of International Women's Day, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state government would introduce a law to provide 25 per cent reservation for women in recruitment to Class-III posts in government departments, according to a press release. He was presiding over the state-level International Women's Day function held in Nahan, in Sirmaur district. The Chief Minister also announced a special recruitment drive for women Sub-Inspectors in the Police Department. He said that the government was committed to strengthening women's participation in policing and other public services. During the function, the Chief Minister announced Rs. 500 crore for the development of Nahan Medical College. He said that the institution would be upgraded with improved infrastructure and better medical facilities. He also announced to increase the Mahila Samman Rashi from Rs. one lakh to Rs. two lakh. In addition, MSc Zoology, MBA and MA History courses would be introduced from the next academic session at PG College Nahan, the press release stated. Extending greetings on International Women's Day, the Chief Minister said that women's welfare was the top priority of the present state government and women were at the centre of every government initiative. He said that the government has ensured equal rights for daughters in ancestral property up to 150 bighas, giving them rights equal to sons. He said that under Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, the state government was bearing the cost of higher education for the children of widowed women. He said that the entire administrative leadership of Lahaul-Spiti district was currently in the hands of women and that the Deputy Commissioners of Sirmaur and Hamirpur districts were also women officers. The Chief Minister said that the state government has increased the legal marriage age for women from 18 to 21 years. The government was also encouraging widow remarriage, and the incentive amount has been increased from Rs. 65 thousand to Rs. 2 lakh. He said a 30 per cent reservation has already been provided to women in police recruitment, and the government was considering providing a monthly pension of Rs. 1,500 to women in the state from next year. Referring to the 2023 natural disaster, the Chief Minister said the state government revised relief rules and significantly increased compensation for affected families. Despite administrative advice, the government decided to provide Rs. 7 lakh for house reconstruction. He said that during the crisis, the entire administrative machinery was engaged in relief work, the press release stated. He said that the opposition was repeatedly demanding a special assembly session during the disaster period. When a special relief package for affected families was proposed, BJP legislators walked out of the Assembly. The Chief Minister said that February 1 would remain a black day in the history of Himachal Pradesh, as the central government stopped the Rs. 10 thousand crore annual RDG financial assistance provided to the state. He said that Himachal Pradesh is a small state with limited sources of income. Despite providing water to northern India, irrigating the fields of Punjab and preserving forests, the state's rights have often been overlooked. He said he had offered to go to Delhi along with BJP leaders to raise the state's concerns, but they did not effectively take up the issue. He said that the people of Himachal Pradesh will have to fight for their rights with determination. Sukhu said that during the tenure of the previous BJP government, Himachal Pradesh slipped to 21st position in quality education rankings, which he described as a setback for students and the people of the state. He said the present government was working to improve the quality of education and had introduced CBSE-pattern schools, where subjects such as music and drawing would also be taught. Teachers for these subjects would be recruited through the Rajya Chayan Aayog. He said that the government was also strengthening the rural economy and had already fulfilled seven key guarantees. The honorarium of Anganwadi workers has been increased to Rs. 10,500, while Anganwadi helpers would now get Rs. 5,800. CM Sukhu said that the Delhi Police cannot detain anyone from Himachal Pradesh without following proper procedures. He said that when the Delhi Police earlier took action without informing the state authorities, an FIR was registered. However, when they returned with proper information, the state police fully cooperated, the release noted. Earlier, a political slugfest broke out in Himachal Pradesh following the recent confrontation between Delhi Police and Himachal Police over the detention of three persons from a resort in Chirgaon, with the ruling Congress defending the state police action and the BJP accusing the government of obstructing a lawful investigation. The controversy stems from an incident in which a Delhi Police team allegedly picked up three individuals from a resort in Shimla district, prompting intervention by Himachal Police and subsequent legal proceedings. Speaking at the event, Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said that today, daughters were progressing in education as well as in every other field. He urged society to encourage girls and provide them with opportunities to move forward. He said that society must eliminate gender discrimination and respect women. He said that where women are respected, prosperity follows. Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said that women play a crucial role in the development of any society. He said that the thinking of society is gradually changing, and daughters are performing exceptionally well in education and competitive examinations. He said that the Deputy Commissioner of Sirmaur district was also a woman officer who was effectively leading the district administration. MLA and Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee President Vinay Kumar said that women have always been symbols of strength in Himachal Pradesh. He said that the Congress party has consistently supported women's rights and empowerment, including providing 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions. He said that schemes such as Indira Gandhi Sukh Samman Nidhi and Mukhyamantri Sukh Aashray are ensuring the welfare of women. MLA Ajay Solanki welcomed the Chief Minister to Nahan and said that under his leadership, the state government was continuously working for women's empowerment. He said many women from Sirmaur district have reached high positions and brought pride to the district. Earlier, the Chief Minister received a warm welcome on his arrival in Nahan and also visited exhibitions set up by various departments. Former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Gangu Ram Musafir, former MLAs Kirnesh Jung and Ajay Bahadur, Chairperson of the State Women Commission Vidya Negi, General Secretary of the Child Welfare Council Jainab Chandel, Chairman of the State Food Commission Dr S.P. Katyal, District Congress President Anand Parmar, APMC Sirmaur Chairman Sita Ram Sharma, Waqf Board Chairman Nasir Rawat, Congress leaders Dayal Pyari and Naseema Begum, Director Women and Child Development Department Pankaj Lalit, DC Sirmaur Priyanka Verma and SP Nishchint Negi along with several other dignitaries were present on the occasion. - ANI The Yangtze River, a "golden waterway" traversing China's east and west, is not only an economic artery ensuring smooth cargo flow but also a strategic link connecting regional coordinated development. In this inaugural year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the implementation of the Yangtze River Economic Belt development strategy has entered its second decade. Chongqing Port in the upper reaches and Wuhu Port in the lower reaches, through the deep integration of "river-sea combined transport," vividly illustrate the formidable momentum of the Yangtze River as a transportation artery. They showcase the openness of ports as starting points of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as green practices that integrate economic development with environmental protection. Artery Unblocked: Upgrading the Efficiency of the Golden Waterway During the Lunar New Year season, freighters shuttling back and forth on the riverfrom Chongqing's Guoyuan Port in the upper reaches to Wuhu Port in the lower reachesform the busiest scene along this "golden artery." As a key comprehensive hub port in Anhui Province and even the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Wuhu Port has become a benchmark for the intelligent transformation of inland river ports, thanks to the smart upgrade of the Zhujiaqiao International Container Terminal. "Unmanned operation and intelligent dispatching" have not only improved efficiency but also reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions through process optimization. Currently, Wuhu Port has opened two main routes to Shanghai and Chongqing, radiating to major ports along the route including Taicang, Nanjing, and Wuhan, forming a logistics network that connects the east and west. Data shows that in 2025, Wuhu Port handled 1.8051 million TEUs of containers, a year-on-year increase of 10.82%, accounting for over 57% of Anhui Province's total. During the same period, cargo throughput reached 165 million tons. Both key indicators ranked first in Anhui Province, signifying that Wuhu Port's service capability and strategic position as a crucial comprehensive hub port in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River have been further consolidated. This scale growth benefits from the comprehensive upgrading of the port's capacity. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Wuhu Port added 17 new berths, bringing the total number of 10,000-ton-class berths to 18, accounting for nearly 67% of the province's total. The route network has been continuously expanded, with over 30 container routes now in operation, achieving full "point-to-point" coverage to the Port of Shanghai. The weekly frequency of "liners with fixed schedules, routes, ports, and vessels" exceeds 45 trips, and the river-sea combined transport network covers 144 countries and regions, effectively ensuring the export demand for industries such as automobiles and home appliances in the region. Behind these figures lies the immense potential continuously unleashed by the Yangtze River as a transportation artery. Cargo flowing downstream from Chongqing's Guoyuan Port can be efficiently consolidated and transferred at Wuhu Port, reaching seaports directly via its dense liner routes, or continue downstream to the river mouth and out to sea. This transport network, characterized by upper-lower linkage and trunk-feeder connection, is maximizing the benefits of the Yangtze River as a "golden waterway." Chongqing Guoyuan Port is a third-generation modern inland river port area planned and constructed as the shipping hub in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It features 18 berths capable of handling 5,000-ton vessels and 14 dedicated railway lines. In recent years, the port has undergone continuous smart upgrades. Control rooms have been moved into offices, and remote control of gantry cranes now allows each operator to manage 3 to 4 pieces of equipment from their office. For the entire port, the application scenarios of smart technology are extending to multiple areas, effectively boosting the port's throughput. The annual throughput of Guoyuan Port has exceeded 26 million tons, with accessibility to over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Constructing national-level comprehensive transportation hubs like Chongqing's Guoyuan Port is a key element of the Outline of the Development Plan for the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Over the past decade, the throughput capacity of ports along the Yangtze River's main line has grown significantly, with the number of 100-million-ton ports increasing year by year. Remarkable achievements have been made in the construction of a comprehensive three-dimensional transportation corridor along the river. "In this decade, the number of 100-million-ton ports along the Yangtze's main line has increased from 11 to 18, with four added in the lower reaches and three in the middle reaches. The integration of railway, highway, and waterway transportation modes at these ports makes our logistics smoother and transportation costs lower," said Guo Tao, Director of the Changjiang Shipping Development Research Center. "Industries throughout the Yangtze River Economic Belt are distributed along the river. The development of Yangtze River shipping can facilitate the orderly gradient transfer of industries from the lower reaches to the middle and upper reaches, thereby driving the development of the central and western regions." Open Starting Point: The "First Kilometer" Connecting Ports to the World In the context of constructing a "dual circulation" new development pattern, ports are no longer merely cargo distribution centers but have become strategic starting points linking inland cities to the world. For Chongqing, located deep inland, Guoyuan Port is not only a shipping hub in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River but also a connection point between the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the west, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the Belt and Road Initiative. At the turn of the year, the Lingang Economic Industry Development Project at Chongqing Guoyuan Port National Logistics Hub was officially launched. Leveraging its integrated "water-rail-highway" collection and distribution system, cargo is rapidly transferred and distributed at Guoyuan Port, significantly improving logistics efficiency and reducing transportation costs. Today, it has become a "transfer station" connecting the western region with the global market. It is reported that during the Spring Festival holiday, New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor trains departed from Guoyuan Port daily, heading to Southeast Asian countries via Qinzhou Port. Similarly, Wuhu Port is also stepping onto the international stage with an open attitude. In 2024, Wuhu Port launched its first direct international ro-ro foreign trade route. Now, at the Wuhu Port ro-ro terminal, vehicles are shipped from the port almost every day. In January of this year alone, the port handled 25,200 finished vehicles via ro-ro, a record high for that period. On November 25 last year, the Wuhu Port International Container Terminal witnessed the historic moment when Anhui Province's annual vehicle exports surpassed the 1 million mark for the first time. The smart and efficient Wuhu Port has enabled Anhui's self-owned brand automobiles, represented by Chery, to reach the world more conveniently. In 2025, Anhui's export of vehicles (including chassis) reached 1.228 million units, firmly ranking first in China with a year-on-year increase of 28.7%. The "new trios," represented by new energy vehicles, are now departing from Wuhu Port at an accelerated pace, reaching overseas markets directly via river-sea combined transport. It is worth noting that to address the challenge of long shipping cycles for "new trios" cargo, maritime authorities in Wuhu and Shanghai have innovatively launched pilot reforms for the "one-box system" and "one-document system." Through inter-city collaboration, the approval process has been transformed from a "sequential" to a "parallel" one, enabling "single consignment, one document through, one box direst arrival." This shortens declaration time by 25% per order and saves over 1,500 yuan in logistics costs per container. This reform experience, originating from Shanghai and Wuhu, is now being promoted by the Changjiang Maritime Safety Administration to 12 branch maritime safety administrations, including those in Chongqing, Wuhan, and Jiujiang. It promotes institutional connectivity along the Yangtze River, opening up the "first kilometer" of overseas access for more inland cities. Green Coexistence: The Harmonious Development of Ports and Cities As the economy rapidly advances, the banks of the Yangtze River are also writing their own chapter on green development. The principle of "great protection, not over development" is permeating every detail of port construction and operation. While advancing the construction of a smart port, Wuhu Port has vigorously promoted the use of shore power facilities. Simultaneously, it actively integrates energy feedback, electricity replacing fuel oil, intelligent lighting, and other energy-saving and carbon-reduction technologies. It has built over 40,000 square meters of distributed rooftop photovoltaics, further promoting the construction of a "zero-carbon smart port" at Wuhu Port. During berthing, ships have switched from using fuel oil for power generation to clean shore power, significantly reducing air pollutant emissions. Concurrently, the port operation area has fully implemented rainwater-sewage separation and onboard pollutant classification, ensuring that every drop of water flowing into the Yangtze meets standards. At Chongqing's Guoyuan Port, green development is similarly the defining characteristic of high-quality development. In 2017, Guoyuan Port initiated its "green port" construction, investing a total of 180 million yuan in environmental protection funds. While leveraging the advantages of the "golden waterway," it upholds its responsibility as an upstream guardian to "protect the clear waters of the river." In the bulk cargo storage yard, a 16-meter-high and 3,500-meter-long wind and dust suppression net stands like a "green great wall." "The opening rate and angle of each mesh have been precisely calculated to reduce dust spillage by over 80%," explained the technical director. Within the 13-kilometer-long enclosed belt conveyor corridor, ore and coal are transported "invisibly" under the protection of dust removal facilities, putting an end to the era of "dust filling the sky whenever the wind blows." More importantly, with the promotion of the Shanghai-Wuhu reform experience along the entire Yangtze River, the "one-box system" and "one-document system" have not only improved logistics efficiency but also reduced vessel berthing time at ports by minimizing processes like repeated container opening and re-declaration, indirectly lowering carbon emissions. This "green dividend" brought by institutional innovation is spreading along the river, enabling economic development and environmental protection to work in tandem on both banks of the Yangtze. From Bayu in the upper reaches to Jianghuai in the lower reaches, the linkage between Chongqing Port and Wuhu Port epitomizes the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Using the river as a medium and ports as bridges, they keep the transportation artery unblocked while opening their arms to the world; they pursue economic benefits while safeguarding the clear waters of the river. Standing at the starting line of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the banks of the Yangtze, embracing greater openness, greener practices, and enhanced coordination, are transforming the inland hinterland into a "new coastal region" connecting with the world. Source: anhuinews.com Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) is among the 12 Best Alcohol Stocks to Buy Right Now. Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B) and Pabst Brewing Company Sign a Deal to Produce Flavored Malt Beverages in the U.S. On March 2, 2026, Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) and Pabst Brewing Company announced that their cooperation in the United States for flavored malt beverages will terminate on July 7. Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) will assume responsibility for supply, sales, marketing, and distribution. The 2021 agreement gave Pabst exclusive rights to create and distribute Jack Daniel's Country Cocktails, as well as develop additional flavored malt beverages such as Jack Daniel's Bolder, Jack Daniel's Hard Tea, and el Jimador Spiked Bebidas. Robinson Brown IV, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, United States and Canada, Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B), said bringing the brands in-house will give the company more control over its ready-to-drink strategy as customer demand rises. Greig DeBow, Chief Executive Officer, Pabst, stated that Pabst will focus its resources on its core product and innovation. Separately, on February 18, 2026, Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B)'s board announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.2310 per share on Class A and Class B common stock, payable to shareholders of record on March 9, 2026, and payable on April 1, 2026. Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) produces and distributes alcoholic beverages. The firm sells whiskey, scotch, tequila, vodka, liquor, and wine. The company's brands include Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Early Times, Canadian Mist, Coopers' Craft, Slane Irish, Finlandia, Korbel, El Jimador, Sonoma-Cutrer, and Chambord. While we acknowledge the potential of BF-B 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: 15 Best Electric Utility Stocks to Invest In Now and 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated a major water distribution station in Ahmedabad's Ghatlodia area, built at a cost of over Rs 55 crore. The facility features significant storage capacity and is expected to improve water supply for approximately 125,000 residents. He also inaugurated a new sub-zonal administrative office in Bodakdev, named after veteran photographer Bansibhai Pranlal Patel. Additionally, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for a new building to house Revenue and Civil Supplies departments, aiming to consolidate government services for local citizens. CM Bhupendra Patel inaugurates Rs 55 crore water distribution station in Ghatlodia and a new sub-zonal administrative office in Bodakdev. Ahmedabad, March 8 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday inaugurated a key civic infrastructure project and launched new government service facilities in Ahmedabad, including a major water distribution station in Ghatlodia and a sub-zonal administrative office in Bodakdev. The Chief Minister inaugurated the newly constructed water distribution station in the Ghatlodia ward of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC)'s North-West Zone. Built for Rs 55.31 crore, the facility includes an underground tank with a pump house having a storage capacity of 250 lakh litres and an overhead tank with a capacity of 25 lakh litres. The project is expected to improve water supply in the Ghatlodia area and provide water with adequate pressure to an estimated population of around 1,25,000 residents across nearly four square kilometres. CM Patel also inaugurated the newly constructed Bodakdev Sub-Zonal Office of the AMC, which has been named after Late Bansibhai Pranlal Patel, an iconic veteran photographer (1910-2014), renowned for clicking pictures of national figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. The new administrative centre has been developed to provide greater administrative convenience to residents of the West Zone. Officials said the modern sub-zonal office will allow residents of Bodakdev and nearby areas to access municipal services locally without travelling to the main zonal office. The building has been equipped with infrastructure for tax collection, civic centre services and various administrative functions intended to benefit local residents and improve service delivery. During the visit, the Chief Minister also inspected the newly constructed sub-zonal office premises. In Ghatlodia, Patel performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a new building that will house the Revenue Department as well as Food and Civil Supplies Department offices. Officials said the new offices are planned by the district administration to make government services more accessible by enabling citizens in the Ghatlodia area to obtain services more easily at a single location. - IANS Gujarat govt approves 24 road projects worth Rs 1,185 crore to upgrade connectivity in the Surat Economic Region, boosting industry and tourism. Gandhinagar, March 8 Road infrastructure works worth Rs 1,185 crore have been approved to upgrade connectivity across the Surat Economic Region, with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel describing the move as part of Gujarat's roadmap towards "Viksit Gujarat@2047". The projects, covering 24 works over a total length of 383 kilometres, will be implemented in districts forming part of the SER, including Surat, Bharuch, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi and Dang. According to the state government, these districts together contribute more than 35 per cent to Gujarat's overall economic development. Announcing the decision, the Chief Minister said the initiative aligns with the national vision of "Viksit Bharat@2047" given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is aimed at strengthening infrastructure-led economic growth in southern Gujarat. "As part of the roadmap for Viksit Gujarat@2047, we have resolved to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 during this Amrit Kaal," Patel said. The road upgradation projects are part of regional economic master plans prepared to develop six growth hubs across the state for balanced and comprehensive development. These plans have been prepared by the Gujarat State Institution for Transformation (GRIT), which was established to plan long-term and result-oriented development based on infrastructure, innovation, individuals and institutions. Officials said the Surat Economic Region has been identified as the growth hub of South Gujarat under these plans. Approving the first set of projects worth Rs 1,185 crore for road infrastructure upgradation in the region, the Chief Minister said the state government has acted on its commitment of ensuring that "what is said must be done". Patel said Gujarat, which contributes significantly to the country's economic growth, is working with the approach that it should also lead in achieving the goals. Under the roadmap, the state has adopted the objective of "Earning Well - Living Well" by strengthening the economy through sustained economic development. Officials said the road infrastructure upgrades will improve connectivity between major industrial hubs and Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) areas in districts such as Surat, Tapi, Valsad, Bharuch and Navsari. Improved roads are expected to increase logistics efficiency and facilitate smoother movement of goods and workers. The government said the development will support sectors including textiles, chemicals, petrochemicals and the diamond industry, which have a strong presence in the region. Industrial units such as fisheries, operations related to Hazira Port, sugar factories, Sumul Dairy, papad manufacturing units, and mining and lignite projects are also expected to benefit from improved connectivity. Connectivity to important GIDC estates such as Kadod, Kadodara, Jolwa, Mangrol, Kosamba and Tarsad will also be strengthened, which officials said could encourage further industrial expansion. The improved road network is also expected to ease the transportation of agricultural produce from the region, enabling farmers to transport crops and goods to markets more quickly and efficiently, thereby providing additional support to the agriculture sector. Officials said tourism activity in South Gujarat could also benefit from improved road connectivity. Religious sites, including Siddhnath Mahadev, Shabari Dham, Pandav Gufa, Anjani Kund and the Parsi Agiary at Sanjan, are expected to become more accessible to visitors. Tourist and eco-tourism destinations such as Saputara, Wilson Hills and the forests of Mahal are also expected to see improved access. The government said the road infrastructure upgrades are also expected to support emerging sectors in the region, including semiconductors, green hydrogen and logistics, alongside traditional sectors such as diamonds, petrochemicals, chemicals, textiles and fisheries. According to the state government, the Surat Economic Region is being developed as a strategic growth engine for the state, which aims to build a $3.5 trillion state economy by 2047. The region is expected to contribute more than 35 per cent to Gujarat's Gross State Domestic Product under this vision. - IANS The Gulf Cooperation Council has issued a strong condemnation of Iranian attacks targeting its member states Bahrain and Kuwait, labeling them dangerous acts of aggression. GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi stated the strikes on civilian infrastructure violate international norms and affirmed the bloc's united support for the affected nations. The condemnation coincides with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps announcing its 27th offensive under Operation True Promise 4, targeting American and Israeli positions with drones and new solid-fuel missiles. The IRGC claims to have struck facilities in Haifa and locations housing US personnel, while also engaging US Fifth Fleet infrastructure in Bahrain. Gulf Cooperation Council condemns Iranian missile and drone strikes on member states, calling them dangerous acts of aggression that violate international norms. Riyadh, March 8 The ongoing Iranian offensives against Bahrain and Kuwait represent "dangerous acts of aggression" that jeopardise the security and stability of the entire region. The head of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) warned that these strikes have exposed Tehran's "escalatory approach" amidst the current regional conflict. In a formal statement published on the GCC's official website, Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi expressed in the "strongest" terms the council's "condemnation and denunciation of the nefarious Iranian attack" which specifically aimed at Gulf territories. The GCC is a powerful regional bloc comprising six member nations, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. Albudaiwi condemned the deliberate targeting of vital infrastructure, stating that striking civilian sites "constitutes a flagrant and unacceptable violation of all international norms and charters." Furthermore, the Secretary General affirmed that the council remains united in its support for the affected member states. He emphasised that the GCC countries stand firmly with Bahrain and Kuwait in protecting their security, safeguarding their sovereignty and maintaining the safety of their vital facilities. This regional condemnation comes as the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) declared the commencement of its 27th offensive under Operation True Promise 4. The IRGC is targeting American and Israeli positions in response to what it termed a new wave of "unprovoked US-Israeli aggression towards the Islamic Republic," Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported. In a formal announcement released on Saturday, the elite military wing detailed the latest phase as a series of integrated drone and missile barrages. The operation specifically directed missile counter-offensives against Israeli military infrastructure located in the northern regions of the occupied territories. The IRGC specified that these strikes were carried out using newly developed solid-fuel missile technology by its Aerospace Division. "In this strategic and multidimensional operation, Zionist military targets in [the occupied city of] Haifa were struck by the IRGC's Aerospace Division's new solid-fuel Kheibar-Shekan missiles, which possess terminal guidance capability up to the point of impact," the official dispatch stated. Furthermore, the Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported that unmanned aerial systems were deployed to strike a specific site housing American personnel. The military statement noted that drone units "successfully targeted the location where American forces are stationed in 'Marina,' in the vicinity of the buildings of the 'Warner Brothers' company." Simultaneously, the IRGC Navy engaged facilities linked to the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. According to the Corps, naval forces hit the command centre for unmanned surface vessels and military support hangars at Salman Port, which they described as belonging to "American terrorist forces." Commenting on the internal situation within the occupied territories, the IRGC claimed that their monitoring suggests the Israeli administration is "attempting to create a human shield to protect its military personnel by confining residents of the occupied territories to northern and central areas." The Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported that the persistence of these retaliatory strikes has led to continuous emergency sirens across the region. The IRGC noted that following these "smart attacks," the atmosphere in the occupied territories has shifted into a permanent state of "siren after siren." The military statement concluded by affirming that the Iranian Armed Forces are prepared for a long-term escalation, warning that their units "are lying in wait for American forces with precision and planning." Operation True Promise 4 was initiated immediately following the start of foreign strikes last Saturday. Since then, the IRGC has reportedly launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and suicide drones at strategic interests. These have included targets in Tel Aviv, the "holy occupied city of al-Quds," and the technology centre of Be'er Sheva. Previous reports also claim successful engagements against the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and a destroyer in the Indian Ocean. - ANI Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini attended the Hola Mohalla celebrations at the Namdhari Gurdwara in Sirsa district, seeking blessings from the Sant Samaj. He emphasized that Sirsa has long been a sacred land visited by figures like Guru Nanak Dev and saints such as Baba Sarsai Nath. Saini described Hola Mohalla as a festival symbolizing bravery, spirituality, and the resolve against injustice, initiated by Guru Gobind Singh. He also paid tribute to the Namdhari community's sacrifices, notably their role in the Kuka Movement and the martyrs of Malerkotla. Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini attends Hola Mohalla in Sirsa, seeks blessings from Sant Samaj, and highlights the spiritual and historical significance of the Namdhari community. Chandigarh, March 8 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, on Sunday, attended the grand Hola Mohalla celebrations at Namdhari Gurdwara in Sirsa district and sought blessings from the Sant Samaj. Addressing a large gathering, the Chief Minister said he felt extremely happy to be present among them on the occasion of the glorious festival of Hola Mohalla being celebrated at this sacred ashram. Bowing at the feet of Sant Dilip Singh Maharaj, Chief Minister Saini added that the Sant Samaj is doing a great service by connecting society through love, service, brotherhood and spirituality. He said the sacred land of Sirsa has long been a "tapobhoomi" of saints and great personalities. In the year 1507, the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, set foot on this land. To carry forward his teachings, Gurdwara Sri Chilla Sahib was established here. The Chief Minister added that many saints such as Baba Sarsai Nath and Baba Bhooman Shah spread the message of spirituality, service and humanity from this land. Their teachings continue to guide society in the right direction even today, he said. The Chief Minister noted that Hola Mohalla "is not merely a festival but a living symbol of India's rich culture, bravery and spiritual tradition. It inspires people to maintain a balance between courage and devotion in life". He said the festival "is not only about colours but also represents the resolve to stand against injustice and uphold righteousness. Dashmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh-ji had initiated the tradition of celebrating Hola Mohalla to strengthen the Khalsa traditions and promote brotherhood and unity in society along with the enthusiasm of Holi". The Chief Minister added the history of the Namdhari community is filled with sacrifice, penance and dedication. "The Kuka Movement started by Satguru Ram Singh Maharaj is an important chapter in India's freedom struggle." He said that when the country was under colonial rule, the Namdhari community promoted the message of adopting Swadeshi and boycotting foreign goods, which gave new energy to the freedom movement. The Chief Minister also paid tribute to the brave Namdhari martyrs, who stood fearlessly before cannons in Punjab's Malerkotla, and sacrificed their lives with smiles but never abandoned the path of truth and self-respect. - IANS Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended International Women's Day greetings, stating his conversation with young female students in Kerala was inspiring and that women are the greatest force for change. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted the nation, paying tribute to India's Nari Shakti and highlighting the government's commitment to women-led development and empowerment schemes. President Droupadi Murmu emphasized that educated and empowered women are the pillars of a progressive nation and called for equal opportunities for all women. The day is globally observed to celebrate women's achievements and reaffirm the commitment to gender equality and empowerment. Rahul Gandhi calls women "greatest force for change" after Kerala interaction. PM Modi & President Murmu also extend greetings, highlighting women-led development. New Delhi, March 8 Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday extended his greetings on the occasion of International Women's Day. He also had a conversation with some young female students in Kerala, which he said was "extremely inspiring." The Rae Bareli MP said their confidence and belief in their dreams show that "women are the greatest force for change." In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, "The conversation with some young female students in Kerala was extremely inspiring. Their confidence and belief in their dreams show that women are the greatest force for change. Heartfelt wishes to all on International Women's Day. Earlier today Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings to the nation on International Women's Day and paid tribute to the strength, determination and achievements of India's Nari Shakti. The Prime Minister greeted women across the country and acknowledged their growing role in shaping India's progress. He said that across every field, women are contributing with determination, creativity and unmatched zeal, and that their achievements inspire the nation while strengthening the collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat. Highlighting the Government's commitment towards women-led development, the Prime Minister noted that empowerment of women lies at the core of several schemes and initiatives of the Government. He reiterated that the Government remains committed to creating opportunities that enable every woman to realise her full potential and contribute to India's journey of development. The Prime Minister further remarked that the achievements of India's Nari Shakti are a source of pride for the nation and a powerful reminder of the transformative role played by women in nation-building. He added that as India progresses further, the aspirations and contributions of women will continue to guide the country's collective journey towards a strong and prosperous nation. In a series of X posts, PM Modi said, "On International Women's Day, I extend my greetings to all our Nari Shakti. Across every field, women are shaping India's progress with determination, creativity and unmatched zeal. Their achievements inspire our nation and strengthen our collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat. Empowerment of women is at the core of our various schemes and initiatives. We remain committed to creating opportunities that enable every woman to realise her full potential and contribute to India's journey of development". President Droupadi Murmu extended her heartfelt wishes to the nation on the occasion, asserting that educated and empowered women serve as the pillars of a progressive nation. In a post on X, she emphasised that as women continue to excel across diverse fields and lead with courage, they continue to strengthen the foundations of a more inclusive and prosperous society. "Warm greetings to all on International Women's Day! Educated and empowered women are the pillars of a progressive nation. As Nari Shakti continues to excel across diverse fields and lead with courage, it strengthens the foundations of a more inclusive and prosperous society," said President Murmu. "On this occasion, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to building a society where every woman has equal opportunities to grow and live with dignity, safety and freedom. Together, let us create an environment where the aspirations and achievements of women shape a more equitable future," added President Murmu. International Women's Day, observed globally on March 8, celebrates the achievements, leadership and contributions of women across all spheres of life and reaffirms the collective commitment towards gender equality, safety, dignity and empowerment. - ANI Actor Karanvir Bohra organized a prayer meet for his late father, veteran producer Mahendra Bohra. Helen attended to pay respects. Mumbai, March 8 Actor Karanvir Bohra on Sunday organised a prayer meet for his father, Mahendra Bohra, who recently passed away. Several members of the film fraternity attended the gathering to pay their respects. Veteran actor Helen was also spotted at the prayer meet. On March 5, actor Karanvir announced the demise of his dad, Mahendra Bohra, a veteran producer. Mourning the demise of his dad, Karanvir took to Instagram and penned an emotional note."Love you, Dad. I'm going to miss you more than words can ever say. Anyone who has lost a parent knows the kind of ache it leaves behind. But even in this pain, I find peace in knowing you lived a full, beautiful life. You left us the way you always wished to.......peacefully and without suffering. You used to say you wanted to leave this world with your boots on... and that's exactly how you went. Strong. Dignified. On your own terms," he posted. Karanvir remembered the values he learned from his father. "You taught didi and me everything that truly matters. To stay hopeful, no matter how hard life gets. To bounce back when u fall. To live with energy, with passion, with positivity. To never give up. Your spirit was unstoppable, and you made sure that spirit lived in me too. You taught me to dream -- to be a producer's actor, never to leave set without finishing your shot. You taught me to create. You taught me to be kind. You taught me to carry myself with style and grace, just like you did. Not just in the way we dress, but in the way we treat people," he added. "Every single person who speaks about you says the same thing -- what a good man he was. And they're right. You were a rare soul. Didi and I are so proud and blessed. We are forever grateful that I was born as your son and she your daughter Papa... meri jaan, mera dil tujhpe qurbaan. Always. and now you carry on your next journey, knowing that I'll take care of everything. #omnamahshivaya @mbohra56," Karanvir grieved. Mahendra Bohra remained actively associated with the Hindi film industry for several decades. He was best known for backing films like Tejaa and Takkar. - ANI Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri presided over the closing ceremony of the three-day Bushahr Carnival in Rampur. He was joined by Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, with both being honoured by the organising association. In his address, Agnihotri praised the event's growth and remembered the contributions of former Chief Ministers Yashwant Singh Parmar and Virbhadra Singh. The festival, held alongside the historic Phag Mela, serves as a major platform for local culture and youth engagement. Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri presided over the closing of the 3-day Bushahr Carnival in Rampur, celebrating local culture and talent. Shimla, March 8 Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri presided over the culmination of the three-day Bushahr Carnival, held from March 5-7 at the grounds of Padam Government Senior Secondary School, Rampur. The event took place last evening, and as the chief guest, he inaugurated the cultural program by lighting the lamp. Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, who is also the state president of the Bushahr Sports, Culture and Environment Association, was a special guest on the occasion. The event organised by the Bushahr Sports, Culture and Environment Association, the Bushahr Carnival, has been held continuously for the past five years, spanning the first three evenings of the four-day historic Phag Mela. Over the years, the event has evolved into not only a cultural event but also a powerful platform for local talent and a powerful way to connect youth with their rich culture. Agnihotri was on his arrival given a grand welcome by the administration, local people, and party officials. A large number of residents presented their various problems to the Deputy Chief Minister, who assured them of prompt resolution. At the Bushahr Carnival, President of the Bushahr Sports, Culture and Environment Association, Rampur, Rahul Soni, honoured Agnihotri and Vikramaditya Singh by presenting them with Himachali caps, shawls, and mementoes. In his address, the Deputy Chief Minister expressed his happiness and said that under the guidance of Public Works and Urban Development Minister Singh and the tireless efforts of the Rampur unit of the Bushahr Sports, Culture and Environment Association, this event is becoming grander every year. He said that the contributions of the state's first Chief Minister, the late Yashwant Singh Parmar, and former Chief Minister, the late Raja Virbhadra Singh, to the development of Himachal Pradesh can never be forgotten. He noted that Rampur is the home district of Cabinet Minister Vikramaditya Singh, and he has left no stone unturned in the development of the region. The chief guest heartily congratulated all the organisers, artists and associates for this successful event and expressed hope that the Bushhar Carnival, organised by the Bushhar Sports, Culture and Environment Association, will continue to be organised with similar success in the coming years. Meanwhile, Singh thanked Agnihotri for attending the closing ceremony of the Bushhar Carnival as the chief guest. The souvenir of the Bushhar Carnival was also released. Himfed Chairman Maheshwar Chauhan, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Civil) Rampur Harsh Amarendra Singh, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Naresh Sharma, Director Board of Tourism Yashpal Soni, former District Council Chairman Chandra Mani, officers from various departments and party officials were among those who participated. - ANI US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a stark public warning that the US will hunt down and kill anyone who kills Americans. President Donald Trump detailed extensive military gains against Iran, claiming the decimation of its navy, air force, and leadership. Trump dismissed allegations that the US bombed an Iranian girls' school, blaming inaccurate Iranian munitions instead. While Special Envoy Steve Witkoff suggested diplomacy remains possible, the administration's stance remains uncompromising. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issues a stark warning, vowing lethal retaliation against any who kill Americans, as President Trump details military gains. Washington, DC, March 8 United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has issued a new threat via social media, warning of lethal consequences for any entities that target American citizens. The warning, shared in a post by CENTCOM on X, underlined the administration's uncompromising stance on national security. "If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation, and we will kill you," United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was quoted as saying. Accompanying this stern message, a 21-second video clip was released, providing a visual demonstration of the military's current reach. The footage showcased a series of "unclassified" images of vehicles and structures being bombed and destroyed by US forces during recent operations. The Secretary's remarks align with recent claims made by US President Donald Trump, who asserted on Saturday that the United States has successfully neutralised the entire Iranian leadership. The President characterised these military operations as the removal of a significant "cancer" from the global stage. Reflecting on the week-old hostilities while travelling to Miami aboard Air Force One, the President maintained a confident outlook on the progress of the campaign. "We're winning the war by a lot. We've decimated their whole evil empire. It'll continue, I'm sure, for a little while. The war itself is going unbelievably. It's as good as it can be," Trump asserted. During his briefing, the President provided a detailed list of the strategic military gains achieved by American forces, stating that the offensive had effectively dismantled Iran's maritime and aerial capabilities. "We've wiped out their (Iranian) navy, 44 ships. We've wiped out their air force, every plane. We've wiped out most of their missiles," he noted. Trump further suggested that the capability of the Iranian regime to launch offensive strikes has been severely curtailed. "You see the missiles aren't coming much anymore. We've also hit their manufacturing areas where they make the missiles very hard. Their drone capacity is way down, and we've hurt them where it hurts, including about every form of leadership you can have; we've wiped out," the President added. Addressing reports concerning the bombing of an elementary girls' school in Iran, the President categorically dismissed allegations of American responsibility. He instead attributed the incident to the failure of Iranian hardware and the "inaccuracy" of their military assets. "No, I don't believe so. Based on what I've seen, that was done by Iran. We think it was done by Iran because they're very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran," Trump said. When questioned about the initial six-week projection for the military mission, the President declined to provide a specific end date, though he emphasised that the Iranian armed forces were on the verge of collapse. "I never project time, whatever it takes. But the (Iranian) military is almost nonexistent. We could hit their military itself very hard, but maybe we will, maybe we won't. We haven't made that determination," he remarked. The President also highlighted the extensive damage dealt to the industrial infrastructure supporting the Iranian military. "We've hit the manufacturing very hard. They're at about nine per cent of what they sent out in the first two days, and we think that's because they don't have that much. We've also knocked out about 70 per cent of the rockets, of the launchers. The launchers are a big deal, very hard to get, very expensive," he explained. Speaking alongside the President, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that a diplomatic breakthrough remained a possibility, though the decision ultimately rests with the White House. "I think there is. I think that's going to be up to the President, that's what I think," Witkoff said. However, the Envoy noted that past discussions had been hindered by Tehran's refusal to compromise. "But they didn't seem to be very amenable in that first set of negotiations. You heard what I said. They said we have the inalienable right to enrich. They bragged about having 60 per cent enriched fuel, enough for 11 bombs. And they told me and Jared, we're not going to give you diplomatically what you couldn't take militarily. So you know, I think they're going to need a change of attitude," he added. These significant developments are the result of a joint US-Israel military operation on 28 February, which led to the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other high-ranking officials. In the aftermath of that strike, Tehran initiated a major retaliatory campaign, launching drones and ballistic missiles at US assets and regional partners, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. This escalation has notably increased the danger to both local civilians and the expatriate population across West Asia. - ANI A video from 'Modi Archive' highlights Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2003 speech where he emphasized that India granted women universal suffrage immediately upon Independence in 1947. He contrasted this with established democracies like the US, where women fought for decades to secure the same right. In the speech, he argued that women's power should extend beyond the household into all decision-making forums, from village councils to Parliament. The post also references the recent Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which reserves 33% of legislative seats for women. PM Modi's 2003 speech highlighted India granting women universal suffrage in 1947, contrasting with older democracies where women fought longer for voting rights. New Delhi, March 8 India granted women universal suffrage at the time of Independence in 1947, a step that came much earlier compared to many of the world's oldest democracies, where women had to struggle for decades to secure voting rights. The historical milestone was highlighted in a video shared by the social media handle 'Modi Archive' on International Women's Day. According to the Modi Archive post on X, "While some of the world's oldest democracies took over a century to grant women the right to vote, India gave women universal suffrage in 1947 itself. This was before the legislation, the national mission, the policy frameworks, and the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which reserved 33 per cent of Parliament's seats for women." The post noted that even in 2003, as the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, PM Modi had raised an important question about the role of women in public life. "Twenty years ago, a Chief Minister was already asking: Why should women's power remain confined to the family? Why not the Gram Sabha, the district, or every room where decisions are made? The year was 2003. The day was Women's Day. The leader was Narendra Modi," the post added. The video clip shared by 'Modi Archive' features the then CM Modi addressing the status of women in India and challenging common narratives that portray women in Western countries as being far more empowered. "There is a narrative spread in our country about different nations of the world, suggesting that women there are far ahead and can do anything they wish," he said, adding that many people in India who do not fully understand the strength and traditions of the country often get influenced by such narratives. "Those who do not recognise the strength of this nation also get carried away by this perception and begin to believe that the status of women in India is extremely poor," he said. Highlighting historical developments, PM Modi pointed out in the 2003 speech that women in several established democracies received the right to vote only after long struggles. "Sisters, we became independent in 1947. With independence, women in our country naturally received the right to vote. The whole world was surprised by this," PM Modi said. He further noted that in countries like the US, women had to fight long battles to secure their voting rights, even after more than a century of democratic governance. In contrast, India not only granted voting rights to women at the time of Independence but also ensured their participation in grassroots governance. Women have been able to hold positions such as Sarpanch, as well as leadership roles in Taluka Panchayats and District Panchayats. The post also referred to the more recent passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state Legislative Assemblies. In his 2003 address, CM Modi emphasised that women's strength has always played a vital role in India's social fabric. However, he stressed that this strength should extend beyond the household and become a powerful force in public life. "In India, women's power is a great strength in social life. But in the coming days, this strength must be transformed into a broader social force," he said. He added that while women are an important source of strength within families, their capabilities should not remain limited to domestic roles. Instead, their participation in decision-making processes would help strengthen society. PM Modi also spoke about empowering women through self-help groups and community initiatives, stating that such efforts could create a movement of women's leadership across villages. The aim, he said, was to build awareness and ensure that the benefits of social welfare and prosperity reach every section of society through the active participation of women in governance and public life. - IANS Indian Army marks International Women's Day with HPV vaccination, blood donation, and medical camps across Arunachal, Mizoram, Tripura, and Manipur. Agartala/Aizawl, March 8 The Red Shield Division of the Indian Army, on Sunday, organised a series of health and wellness initiatives across Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur to mark the International Women's Day, aiming to promote preventive healthcare and enhance medical awareness among women and their families. According to officials, the outreach programmes focused on addressing critical health concerns while encouraging community participation in life-saving initiatives. Marking the spirit of strength, resilience and unity, the Indian Army's Spear Corps celebrated the International Women's Day with great enthusiasm at Vibrant Village Tuting in the remote Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The event paid tribute to the remarkable contributions of women in society and highlighted the importance of empowering women in border communities. The celebration brought together women from the local villages in a vibrant display of camaraderie, health awareness and community bonding. The programme commenced with a rejuvenating yoga session aimed at promoting physical fitness, mental well-being and stress reduction. Conducted in the serene natural surroundings of Tuting, the session encouraged participants to adopt a healthy lifestyle and showcased the benefits of yoga as a holistic practice for maintaining both physical and emotional balance. Adding a unique and joyful dimension to the event, a friendly futsal match was organised between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law from the local community. The match, filled with laughter, cheers and enthusiastic participation, symbolised the spirit of harmony, mutual respect and family unity. It not only served as a platform for recreation but also strengthened the bonds within families and the community at large. The initiative reflected the Indian Army's continued commitment towards fostering social cohesion and empowering women in remote border areas. By organising such inclusive activities, the Spear Corps aims to create opportunities for women to come together, express themselves and build confidence while reinforcing the importance of well-being and community support. The event also highlighted the role of women as the backbone of families and communities, particularly in remote regions where their contributions often shape the social and economic fabric of society. Through initiatives like these, the Indian Army continues to encourage women's participation in community development while promoting values of equality, respect and empowerment. Participants expressed their gratitude for the initiative, saying that such events not only bring joy and recreation but also inspire women to prioritise their health, well-being and personal growth. The celebration concluded with a shared message of unity and empowerment, reinforcing that when women are supported and encouraged, they become powerful agents of positive change. The Indian Army remains committed to working alongside local communities to promote well-being, harmony and progress in the border regions. The event at Tuting stood as a meaningful tribute to the spirit of Nari Shakti -- where grace meets grit and empowered women continue to inspire stronger and more resilient communities. In Aizawl, Mizoram, an HPV vaccination drive was conducted to support the prevention of cervical cancer. A total of seven girls received the vaccine, marking an important step towards safeguarding the health of the younger generation. In Agartala, Tripura's state capital, a blood donation camp was organised where 35 individuals, including women, voluntarily donated blood, contributing to strengthening local healthcare reserves and reflecting the spirit of selfless service. At Leimakhong in Manipur, the Indian Army organised a medical and dental health check-up camp along with an awareness lecture. The camp witnessed the participation of 125 women and their family members, who benefited from professional medical screening and awareness sessions on maintaining long-term dental and physical health. Through these initiatives, the Red Shield Division reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the health and well-being of women in the region. By addressing key health issues such as cervical cancer prevention and oral health awareness, the initiative aims to contribute to building healthier communities across the Northeast. The Indian Army said that it remains steadfast in its commitment to the welfare of the people of the Northeast, ensuring that quality medical care and health awareness reach even the remotest corners of the region. - IANS A Washington man has been sentenced to two years in prison after diverting $35 million in funds from his former employer to his own DeFi platformand losing nearly all of it. Nevin Shetty, 42, was found guilty of wire fraud last November for taking and misusing funds from the private software company at which he worked. Shetty, who drafted a conservative company investment policy, secretly moved $35 million in company funds to his side business HighTower Treasury, after being told in April 2022 that his role as CFO would end due to performance issues. Those funds were then invested in high-yield DeFi lending protocols that promised returns of 20% or more. Per the DOJs statement, Shetty planned to pay his employer a comparatively small, fixed amount, keeping the remainder of the returns for HighTower. Initially, the scheme paid off, earning some $133,000 in its first month for Shetty and his HighTower business partner. The wheels came off in May 2022, following the Terra collapse and the subsequent crypto winter, with Shettys HighTower crypto investments plummeting in value from $35 million to near zero. After confessing to colleagues at his employer, Shetty was fired from the company, which, according to trial judge Tana Lin, suffered significant and severe effects as a result of his theft, adding that his actions almost put the company out of business. CFO Convicted for Losing $35 Million of Company Money in Crypto Side Hustle Shettys two-year prison sentence is significantly lower than the nine years requested by the prosecution, which urged for stern punishment to reflect the web of lies and impact on the company, which was forced to lay off 60 people in order to adapt to the massive loss caused by his fraud. Shetty was ordered to pay $35,000,100 and will be placed on supervised release for three years after prison. Judge Lin also imposed a special condition blocking him from serving as an officer or director of a company without prior permission from the probation office. The Indian Embassy in Doha has released an online form specifically for Indian nationals stranded in Qatar as tourists or short-term visitors to ascertain their numbers. This action follows flight cancellations out of Qatar between late February and early March 2026. Meanwhile, Gulf Air has suspended its services due to the continued closure of Bahrain's airspace. Qatar Airways has managed some inbound and outbound repatriation flights but clarifies this does not mark a full resumption of commercial operations. Indian Embassy in Doha releases form to count nationals stranded as tourists due to flight cancellations. Gulf Air suspended, Qatar Airways operates limited flights. Doha, March 8 The Indian Embassy in Doha on Sunday released a form for Indian nationals who are stuck in Qatar to ascertain the number of those stuck there. The embassy said that the form is only for those who are stranded in Qatar as tourists or Hayya A1 visa holders. In a post on X, the embassy said, "Advisory: Indian Nationals who are currently stranded in Qatar as Tourists/Short Term Visitors (holding Hayya A1 visa) due to cancellation of flights out of Qatar between 28 February to 7 March 2026, are encouraged to fill in their details at the link provided herewith. Please note that this is only for the purpose of ascertaining the exact number and details of stranded Indian Nationals who are not residents of Qatar. Link has been restored: https://indianembassyqatar.gov.in/hayya_visitors (Those who have already submitted the details through our earlier link need not submit it again)." Meanwhile, Gulf Air in its statement said, "Gulf Air flights remain temporarily suspended as closure of Bahrain airspace continues. Services will resume once BCAA confirms safe reopening. Next update: 11:00 BHT (08:00 UTC) on March 9. For the latest flight info, visit gulfair.com or the Gulf Air app." Meanwhile, all six scheduled Qatar Airways flights landed safely in Doha from Paris, Madrid, London, Frankfurt, Rome and Bangkok. It was the first group of inbound flights since Qatar closed its airspace over the war in Iran that affected the country, as per Al Jazeera. The airline reiterated on Sunday that these flights do not constitute a confirmation of resumption of scheduled commercial operations. It also said the airline completed repatriation flights today from Doha to Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, London and Zurich, Al Jazeera reported. On Tuesday, it plans to bring passengers whose final destination is Doha from Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Zurich and Muscat. - ANI India maintains a strategic energy buffer exceeding 250 million barrels, providing 7-8 weeks of supply chain coverage. The country has diversified its crude oil imports across 40 nations, reducing reliance on any single maritime chokepoint like the Strait of Hormuz. Despite geopolitical pressures, Russia remains India's largest crude supplier, with domestic refining capacity now surpassing national consumption. This robust infrastructure and policy focus have resulted in stable retail fuel prices for four consecutive years. India holds over 250M barrels of oil reserves, diversified imports from 40 countries, ensuring stable fuel prices and supply chain security. New Delhi, March 8 India currently maintains a combined energy buffer of over 250 million barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products, equivalent to approximately 4,000 crore litres, according to a government report. This stockpile provides seven to eight weeks of coverage across the full supply chain, countering claims that the country holds only 25 days of reserves. The reserves are distributed across underground strategic caverns in Mangalore, Padur, and Visakhapatnam, as well as above-ground tanks, pipelines, and offshore vessels. The report states that India's energy procurement remains "anchored in national interest," with sourcing diversified across 40 countries compared to 27 a decade ago. While the Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint, only about 40 per cent of India's crude imports pass through it, while 60 per cent arrive via unaffected alternative routes from Russia, West Africa, the Americas, and Central Asia. "The days when India's energy security rose and fell with conditions in a single maritime chokepoint are over," the document notes, adding that any disruption on a single corridor results in a "managed sourcing adjustment, not a supply emergency". Russia remains India's largest crude oil supplier as of February 2026. Despite international geopolitical pressure over the last three years, the report clarifies that "India has never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil. India is still importing Russian oil even in February 2026, and Russia is still India's largest crude oil supplier," and has complied with all G7 price cap rules. A recent 30-day waiver from the US Treasury permitting continued purchases "removes a friction that was never in anyone's interest to sustain" and recognises India's role in stabilising global markets. On the domestic front, the 20 per cent ethanol blending programme now displaces roughly 44 million barrels of crude oil annually. Domestic refining capacity has reached 258 million metric tonne per annum (mmtpa), exceeding the national consumption demand of 210 to 230 mmtpa. This infrastructure allowed Indian refiners to bridge fuel gaps in Europe following sanctions on Russian crude. The report emphasises that "Indian refiners do not depend on a fixed slate from a fixed origin," citing this flexibility as a primary security asset. Citing data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, the report shows that retail fuel prices in India remained stable for four consecutive years. Between February 2022 and February 2026, petrol prices in Delhi decreased by 0.67 per cent, while they rose by 55 per cent in Pakistan and 22 per cent in Germany. To maintain these rates, public sector oil companies absorbed losses of Rs 24,500 crore for petrol and diesel, and approximately Rs 40,000 crore for LPG. The report concludes that every decision in the sector is tested against "affordability, availability, and sustainability," noting that no pump outlet has run dry in twelve years. - ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated International Women's Day by highlighting how Indian women are breaking stereotypes and entering fields like defence, aviation, science, and entrepreneurship. He shared a government post detailing women's growing leadership in these sectors, which were once considered male domains. The government also showcased statistics on women's empowerment through schemes providing clean fuel, bank accounts, housing, and economic opportunities. This transformation reflects a vision where women's development is about enabling leadership and driving India's growth story. PM Modi celebrates women entering defence, aviation, science & business on Women's Day, highlighting transformative role in nation-building. New Delhi, March 8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that as India progresses further, the aspirations and contributions of women will continue to guide India's collective journey towards a strong and prosperous nation. He also shared how women are now breaking away from the stereotypes by entering a profession that was considered "not for women". "The achievements of India's Nari Shakti are a source of pride and a powerful reminder of the transformative role in nation-building. As India progresses further, the aspirations and contributions of women will continue to guide our collective journey towards a strong and prosperous nation," PM Modi said in a post on X. He also shared a thread post by the MyGovIndia, the official X account of the Indian government, which showcased how women have stepped into the professions that were earlier considered "not for women". "Today, women across India are redefining those boundaries by leading in defence, science, entrepreneurship, governance and innovation. Just see how perceptions around women's roles are evolving across sectors," the post read. "The idea that defence is not meant for women is fading fast. Across India's armed forces and defence institutions, women are stepping into roles once considered impossible, proving that courage, leadership and commitment know no gender," it added. Once considered a "male domain", the post mentioned that aviation is now seeing women take the controls across the country and with one of the highest shares of women commercial pilots globally, India is setting a powerful example for gender representation in aviation. "The factory floor is no longer defined by old stereotypes. Women are increasingly becoming part of India's industrial workforce, contributing across sectors that power the country's infrastructure and manufacturing strength," it added. The government also mentioned how across the research labs, engineering teams and space missions, women are driving innovation and expanding India's science frontiers. "Old assumptions said business leadership wasn't meant for women. Now, women founders are emerging across India's startup landscape, turning ambition into enterprises that are driving innovation and growth," it added. In a separate thread post, MyGovIndia highlighted how, for decades, perceptions and boundaries shaped the way the world viewed the Indian woman, but a new reality has unfolded where she is finding her place in every sphere of progress, from science and technology to entrepreneurship, defence and public service. "This transformation reflects the vision of PM Narendra Modi, where the development of women is no longer about assistance alone but about enabling leadership and creating an ecosystem where women can lead India's growth story," it added. The text states that over 10.5 crore connections have been provided under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, enabling women to access cleaner cooking fuel and promoting better health. Additionally, more than 12 crore toilets have been constructed as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). Over 28 crore women now hold accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. Furthermore, approximately 72 per cent of the houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin are owned solely or jointly by women. The government has also highlighted that around 2 lakh women-led micro and small enterprises have received orders worth more than Rs 80,000 crore through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). More than 3 crore women have become beneficiaries of the Lakhpati Didi Yojana. Additionally, nearly 14.5 lakh women are now elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions, comprising 46 per cent of all members and providing women with a significant voice in local governance. - IANS The humanitarian crisis in Iran is escalating with over 1,300 reported killed and approximately 100,000 people displaced from their homes. The Israeli Air Force conducted targeted strikes on IRGC fuel storage complexes in Tehran, which the IDF claims significantly damages Iran's military infrastructure. Concurrently, US President Donald Trump asserted that American actions have decimated Iran's military forces and leadership, though he denied US involvement in a school bombing. Despite the aggressive military campaign, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff suggested a diplomatic deal with Iran remains a future possibility. Over 1,300 killed and 100,000 displaced in Iran conflict. US strikes target Tehran, Trump claims destruction of Iranian military leadership. Tehran, March 8 The humanitarian crisis within the Islamic Republic has reached a critical stage as the current hostilities persist, with significant casualties and mass displacement reported across the country. More than a week into the conflict, the humanitarian toll in Iran continues to rise. According to Al Jazeera, the scale of the devastation is mounting, with official figures revealing that "over 1,300 people have been killed" since the violence began. The intensification of the fighting is such that "around 100,000 have been displaced", as residents are "forcing many to flee their homes" in search of safety. This mass movement of people has overwhelmed relief efforts, as the UN refugee agency reports a "surge in urgent calls for assistance" to address the growing needs of the affected population. Amidst this deteriorating humanitarian situation, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have announced that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted targeted strikes against multiple Iranian military assets in the capital city. In a post on X, the military official account stated: "STRUCK: Several Fuel Storage Complexes Belonging to the IRGC in Tehran." The operation, which was "guided by IDF intelligence," targeted specific locations that the military identified as hubs for the distribution of resources to various armed units. The IDF noted that the "IAF struck these complexes, where the Iranian terrorist regime would distribute fuel to multiple military entities in Iran." Regarding the impact of the mission, the military asserted that "the strike significantly deepens the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime." Accompanying the announcement was an illustrative graphic identifying a "fuel storage facility in Tehran used by the military forces of the Iranian terror regime", highlighting the strategic nature of the targets selected during the operation. In parallel with these military strikes, US President Donald Trump on Saturday (US local time) claimed that the United States had wiped out the entire leadership in Iran and called the actions getting rid of a major 'cancer' from the face of the earth. When asked whether the United States was responsible for the bombing of an elementary girls' school in Iran, Trump flat out denied the allegations and instead called Iran for bombing the school, citing the inaccuracy of Iranian weapons as a reason. Trump said, "No, I don't believe so. Based on what I've seen that was done by Iran. We think it was done by Iran because they're very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran." He made the remarks aboard Air Force One en route to Miami. "We're winning the war by a lot. We've decimated their whole evil empire. It'll continue, I'm sure, for a little while. The war itself is going unbelievably. It's as good as it can be," Trump said. As the conflict marks a week, Trump said that the US had accomplished much more than anyone thought was possible. He detailed the extent of the damage, stating: "We've wiped out their (Iranian) navy, 44 ships. We've wiped out their air force, every plane. We've wiped out most of their missiles. You see the missiles aren't coming much anymore. We've also hit their manufacturing areas where they make the missiles very hard. Their drone capacity is way down and we've hurt them where it hurts, including about every form of leadership you can have we've wiped out." Despite the aggressive tone of the military campaign, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who was also present on Air Force One, told the media that a deal with Iran remains possible. He said, "I think there is. I think that's going to be up to the President, that's what I think. But they didn't seem to be very amenable in that first set of negotiations they told me and Jared, we're not going to give you diplomatically what you couldn't take militarily. So you know I think they're going to need a change of attitude." The escalation has triggered deep international concern, particularly from the United Kingdom. Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat told ANI, "A lot of people are very concerned at what's going on, and not just about what's going on in Iran, but what's happening in the United Arab Emirates, in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar." "India has about nine million citizens in the region; we have about 300,000 citizens there, so there's a huge concern," he added. "The challenge of energy prices is something that we all face. Resolving this challenge as quickly as possible is good not just for the global economy, but actually good for families and good for homes across the whole world." The developments follow the joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory which 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 Iranian missile and drone strikes have reportedly damaged or destroyed critical radar systems supporting US-built Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries across the Arabian Peninsula. Satellite imagery analyzed by CNN shows significant damage to AN/TPY-2 radar units at bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Experts state that while not completely disabling the batteries, damaging these multi-million dollar radars severely degrades the air defense network's effectiveness against ballistic threats. The strikes appear aimed at degrading the integrated missile detection and communication network shared by the US and Israel in the region. Iranian strikes damage critical AN/TPY-2 radar systems for US missile defense in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, degrading regional air defense network. New Delhi, March 8 Iranian strikes across the region appear to have degraded parts of the US-built Terminal High Altitude Area Defence network after radar systems in several West Asia locations were hit, as per a CNN report. Iranian missiles and drones, as per Iranian media claims, seem to have also managed to bypass the Western and Israeli defence systems, including THAAD, and reach targets in Israel. According to satellite imagery and analysis reported by CNN, radar systems linked to THAAD batteries in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were struck during the opening days of the conflict. These radar systems aided the US and Israel in sustaining operations for detecting and tracking incoming ballistic missiles and drones. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), has been described by Lockheed Martin as a highly effective, combat-proven defence against short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats. THAAD is the only US system designed to intercept targets outside and inside the atmosphere and it continues incremental capability improvements within the weapon system to continually improve effectiveness against current and emerging threats. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday also launched multiple waves of missiles and drones towards Tel Aviv. Reports citing Iranian state media IRNA claimed that the strikes and the plethora of projectiles likely bypassed regional missile defence systems and hit targets, including the Israeli Defence Ministry area and Ben Gurion Airport. The US THAAD is part of those regional missile defence systems. According to the Times of Israel, Iran launched eight volleys of ballistic missiles at Tel Aviv that made millions of people take shelter in bunkers. Satellite imagery, the ones obtained by CNN, showed that a radar system supporting a THAAD battery at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base was struck and likely destroyed. The base, located more than 500 miles from Iran, hosts US military aircraft and operations. The radar was part of the AN/TPY-2 transportable radar system built by Raytheon. The radar is considered the central sensor of the THAAD interceptor system and costs close to half a billion dollars, according to a 2025 US Missile Defence Agency budget. Satellite images showed debris and burn marks around the radar location along with two large craters nearby, indicating that multiple strikes may have been used to destroy the system. The radar unit is spread across five large trailers, all of which appeared to have been severely damaged or destroyed, the CNN report added. Another possible strike, as per CNN, was observed near Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, where smoke was seen rising from a radar site used to shelter a THAAD radar unit. It was not immediately clear whether the radar was present at the time of the strike or whether it belonged to the US military or Saudi forces. Additional satellite images indicated damage to several buildings at military installations near Ruwais and Sader in the UAE. These sites are known to host THAAD batteries and radar systems. Pull-through vehicle sheds used to store radar equipment were among the structures hit. Experts say that damaging the radar does not completely disable a THAAD battery but significantly reduces its effectiveness. "The AN-TPY/2 radar is essentially the heart of the THAAD battery, enabling the launch of interceptor missiles and contributing to a networked air defense picture," N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, told CNN. "It also happens to be an incredibly expensive piece of kit. The loss of even a single radar of this type would be an operationally significant event," he added. Satellite imagery also showed damage to an early warning radar system in Qatar, which is likely linked to the Iranian desire to degrade the US-Israel nexus for a wider missile detection and communication network across the Gulf. - ANI Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps announced it struck a refinery in Haifa, Israel, using Kheibarshekan missiles in retaliation for overnight US-Israeli attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure. The Iranian oil company reported missile strikes ignited fires at oil depots in Tehran and Alborz provinces, with firefighting teams responding. This follows late February joint US-Israeli attacks that resulted in significant casualties, including the death of Iran's Supreme Leader. Iranian officials condemned the actions and noted ongoing diplomatic contacts with Saudi Arabia regarding the crisis. Iran's IRGC targets Haifa refinery after US-Israeli attacks hit Iranian energy infrastructure, escalating regional tensions. Tehran, March 8 Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said it attacked a refinery in Israel's Haifa on Saturday night in retaliation for a US-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 US-Israeli attacks Saturday night, Xinhua news agency reported. 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 February 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 US 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 US 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. - IANS The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has announced the 27th offensive wave of Operation True Promise 4, targeting American and Israeli positions. The strikes utilized newly developed solid-fuel missiles against Israeli infrastructure in Haifa and deployed drones against a site housing US personnel. Simultaneously, IRGC naval forces engaged facilities linked to the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. The IRGC claims the attacks have created a permanent state of emergency sirens in the region and warns of preparedness for prolonged escalation. Iran's IRGC begins 27th wave of Operation True Promise 4, targeting US and Israeli positions with new solid-fuel missiles and drones. Tehran, March 8 The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has declared the commencement of its 27th offensive under Operation True Promise 4, targeting American and Israeli positions in response to what it termed a new wave of "unprovoked US-Israeli aggression towards the Islamic Republic," Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported. In a formal announcement released on Saturday, the elite military wing detailed the latest phase as a series of integrated drone and missile barrages. The operation specifically directed missile counter-offensives against Israeli military infrastructure located in the northern regions of the occupied territories. The IRGC specified that these strikes were carried out using newly developed solid-fuel missile technology by its Aerospace Division. "In this strategic and multidimensional operation, Zionist military targets in [the occupied city of] Haifa were struck by the IRGC's Aerospace Division's new solid-fuel Kheibar-Shekan missiles, which possess terminal guidance capability up to the point of impact," the official dispatch stated. Furthermore, the Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported that unmanned aerial systems were deployed to strike a specific site housing American personnel. The military statement noted that drone units "successfully targeted the location where American forces are stationed in 'Marina,' in the vicinity of the buildings of the 'Warner Brothers' company." Simultaneously, the IRGC Navy engaged facilities linked to the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. According to the Corps, naval forces hit the command centre for unmanned surface vessels and military support hangars at Salman Port, which they described as belonging to "American terrorist forces." Commenting on the internal situation within the occupied territories, the IRGC claimed that their monitoring suggests the Israeli administration is "attempting to create a human shield to protect its military personnel by confining residents of the occupied territories to northern and central areas." The Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported that the persistence of these retaliatory strikes has led to continuous emergency sirens across the region. The IRGC noted that following these "smart attacks," the atmosphere in the occupied territories has shifted into a permanent state of "siren after siren." The military statement concluded by affirming that the Iranian Armed Forces are prepared for a long-term escalation, warning that their units "are lying in wait for American forces with precision and planning." Operation True Promise 4 was initiated immediately following the start of foreign strikes last Saturday. Since then, the IRGC has reportedly launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and suicide drones at strategic interests. These have included targets in Tel Aviv, the "holy occupied city of al-Quds," and the technology centre of Be'er Sheva. Previous reports also claim successful engagements against the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and a destroyer in the Indian Ocean. - ANI Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar laid the foundation for development projects worth over Rs 1069 crore in Kalaburagi district. He accused the central government of burdening the common man with increased LPG cylinder prices. Shivakumar emphasized his focus on tangible development work, such as lake filling initiatives and building schools, rather than mere politics. He expressed confidence that his work would be recognized and that he does not need to go against his party. DK Shivakumar inaugurates development projects, criticizes central government's LPG price hike, and emphasizes grassroots development work. Kalaburagi, March 8 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth Rs 1069.41 crore at Chittapur in Kalaburagi district on Sunday. The Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated the projects in the presence of the Congress National President and Rajya Sabha member Mallikarjun Kharge, and several state Ministers. Later, while speaking with the media, Shivakumar accused the Central government of burdening the common man with the increase in the price of a domestic LPG cylinder. "The central government always puts all the burden on the common man," Shivakumar said. On Wednesday, Shivakumar, speaking in Chakrabavi village, Magadi, asserted his focus was on tangible development work over mere politics. He stated, "I am working to bring change to people's lives," and highlighted ongoing projects like filling lakes through various water sources and the construction of 25 KPS schools in the district. Shivakumar also noted that some people are reacting angrily to his work and referenced a past political dispute over a sanctioned medical college. Speaking to the media, he said, "I am working to bring change to people's lives. After coming into politics, I will not just do politics. We are working according to people's expectations. We are working to fill the lake by bringing water from Sattegal, Kanva, Hemavati, and Yettinahole. Some people are getting angry after seeing our work. They are throwing up their hands, saying that I could not do such work." Shivakumar also expressed confidence that he will be given his due and does not need to make efforts or go against the party. - ANI Aravind V.K., known as Myztiq Mayaman, has been appointed the South Asian Ambassador of the International Magicians Society, a historic first for an Indian technologist-magician. This prestigious role follows his 2025 Merlin Award victory in Las Vegas, where he was honored as the "Most Magical Techie & Filmmaker". His innovative work uniquely fuses digital engineering, psychological illusion, and cinematic storytelling. In his new ambassadorial position, he will represent the IMS across South Asia, promote the art of magic, and mentor emerging talent in the region. Aravind V.K., the Merlin Award-winning 'Myztiq Mayaman', becomes the first Indian technologist-magician appointed South Asian Ambassador of the International Magicians Society. Thiruvananthapuram, March 8 Aravind V.K., an Indian magician-technologist internationally known by his stage name 'Myztiq Mayaman', has been appointed South Asian Ambassador of the International Magicians Society, marking a historic milestone as the first Indian technologist-magician to hold this prestigious international leadership position. The announcement follows Aravind's Merlin Award victory in 2025 in Las Vegas, one of the highest global honours in the field of magic. The Merlin Award, often described as the "Oscar of Magic", has previously been presented to legendary performers such as David Copperfield, Criss Angel, and India's renowned magician Gopinath Muthukad. Aravind was honoured with the distinctive title "Most Magical Techie & Filmmaker", recognising his groundbreaking work combining technology, magic, and cinematic storytelling. The recognition highlights a rare and innovative approach that blends digital engineering, psychological illusion, and narrative filmmaking -- an interdisciplinary style seldom acknowledged in the history of the International Magicians Society. With his appointment as South Asian Ambassador, the IMS has acknowledged Aravind not only as a performer but also as a global innovator and thought leader in modern magic. In this role, he will represent the organisation across South Asia, help promote the art of magic, and mentor emerging talent in the region. Originally from a modest village in Kerala, Aravind's journey reflects a unique combination of scientific expertise and artistic creativity. Professionally, he works as a senior data engineer in the US, while pursuing his passion for creating technology-driven magic experiences that integrate artificial intelligence, psychology, and cinematic storytelling. Speaking about the appointment, Aravind described the role as both an honour and a responsibility. He said the position provides an opportunity to represent South Asia on the global stage while demonstrating that artistic innovation can evolve alongside technological advancement. The ambassadorial role places Aravind in a position to build connections between international institutions and emerging artists, further strengthening India's growing presence in the global creative landscape. Beyond performing, his work has also involved educational outreach, community engagement, and charitable initiatives, using magic as a tool for inspiration and learning. Founded in the US, the International Magicians Society is one of the world's most respected professional organisations for magicians, with members in more than 90 countries. The organisation's Merlin Award is widely regarded as the highest distinction in the magic community. The official announcement of Aravind's appointment has been published on the IMS website, marking a significant moment for Indian representation in global performing arts leadership. - IANS The Lebanese government has called for Hezbollah to immediately surrender its weapons, condemning the group for dragging Lebanon into conflict. Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi strongly denounced Iranian aggressions against Arab Gulf states, Jordan, and Iraq. He stated that Hezbollah acts unilaterally, isolated from the state, serving external agendas and provoking Israeli military responses. The development follows escalated tensions, including IDF operations in Lebanon that reportedly struck hundreds of targets and eliminated senior militant commanders. Lebanese government demands Hezbollah surrender weapons, condemns Iranian attacks on Arab nations amid escalating West Asia conflict. Beirut, March 8 The Lebanese government on Sunday called on Hezbollah to "immediately surrender" its weapons, while strongly condemning Iranian attacks targeting Arab nations amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon, Youssef Raggi, stated in a post on X that during his participation in a meeting of the League of Arab States Council at the level of foreign ministers, he voiced Lebanon's "strong condemnation and unequivocal denunciation" of Iranian aggressions against the Arab Gulf states, Jordan, and Iraq and emphasised that such hostile acts violate international norms and standards. Raggi highlighted the Lebanese government's emergency session decision following Hezbollah's missile launches at Israel, which prohibits the group's military and security activities and mandates the immediate surrender of its weapons. He expressed regret that Hezbollah has repeatedly disregarded Lebanon's national interests to serve external agendas, defending Iran and dragging Lebanon into conflicts in which it has no stake, thereby provoking Israeli military operations against Lebanese territories. "I expressed my profound regret that Hezbollah has once again disregarded Lebanon's supreme interests to serve external agendas, engaged in defending Iran, and dragged Lebanon into a war in which it has no stake, thereby provoking harsh Israeli military operations against Lebanese areas," the foreign minister said. "I affirmed that Hezbollah acts unilaterally, isolated from the Lebanese state and its legitimate institutions, and that the Lebanese government and the Lebanese people are innocent of these actions and their consequences," the post added. The development comes amid escalated tensions in West Asia, following the killing of 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28. The strikes also killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Republic. In retaliation, Tehran launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases in multiple Arab countries and Israeli assets across the region. Israel, along with the US, continued its strikes on Tehran, with Tel Aviv widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militant groups. Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) released operational figures highlighting a week of combat against Hezbollah in Lebanon, detailing the scale of its air, sea, and ground operations. According to a post on X, the IDF stated that over 600 terror targets were struck across Lebanon using approximately 820 munitions. The operations resulted in the elimination of 190+ terrorists, including Abu Hamza Rami, the commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Lebanon, along with several senior commanders. The IDF further reported that 27 waves of strikes were conducted in Beirut, including five waves targeting the Dahieh area, a Hezbollah stronghold. - ANI Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika. Economic ties between Germany and China shifted noticeably during the past year. While imports from China continued to rise, German exports came under increasing pressure. According to calculations by the Institute of the German Economy in Cologne, German exports to China declined by about 10% in 2025, while imports from China increased by roughly 9%. As a result, Germanys trade deficit with China widened to approximately $97 billion. The changing economic relationship has also drawn attention at the political level. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz traveled to Beijing accompanied by senior executives from several major corporations to discuss economic cooperation and market access. Automotive Sector Hit Particularly Hard Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika. The shift has been especially visible in the automotive sector, which historically represented one of Germanys strongest export industries. Chinese manufacturers increased shipments of vehicles and automotive components to Germany by about 9%. Meanwhile, German car exports to China dropped significantly. Sales of German vehicles and parts in China fell by roughly one third during 2025. Researchers at the Cologne institute described the decline as an implosion within a single year, highlighting how quickly the balance in the market has changed. A Dramatic Three-Year Decline Looking at a longer timeline reveals the scale of the shift even more clearly. Over the past three years, exports from Germanys automotive industry to China have fallen by more than 54%. In 2022, German carmakers exported nearly $32 billion worth of vehicles and components to China. By 2025, that figure had dropped to around $14.6 billion. During the same period, the automotive sectors share of Germanys total exports to China fell sharply, declining from about 28% to just 16.8%. According to the institutes data, more than three quarters of the overall decline in German exports to China can be traced directly to the automotive industry. Structural Competition From China Several factors explain the change. Economists at the institute point to structural disadvantages faced by German manufacturers in the Chinese market. State subsidy programs in China, combined with what some analysts describe as an undervalued currency, have created strong competitive pressure on foreign producers. At the same time, researchers acknowledge that Chinese companies have also made major technological progress on their own. Juergen Matthes noted that Chinas advances in areas such as battery production for electric vehicles are not solely the result of government policy. President Droupadi Murmu extended warm greetings on International Women's Day, calling educated and empowered women the pillars of a progressive nation. She urged a collective reaffirmation to build a society where every woman has equal opportunities to grow with dignity, safety, and freedom. The day, observed globally on March 8, honors women's contributions and highlights ongoing obstacles to gender equality. The 2026 theme, 'Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,' emphasizes the enforcement of women's legal rights in daily life. President Droupadi Murmu extends Women's Day greetings, urges collective commitment to a society with equal opportunities, dignity, and safety for all women. New Delhi, March 8 President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday extended best wishes to everyone on International Women's Day and called on the countrymen to create an environment where the aspirations and achievements of women shape a more equitable future. In a post on X, President Murmu said, "Warm greetings to all on International Women's Day! Educated and empowered women are the pillars of a progressive nation. As Nari Shakti continues to excel across diverse fields and lead with courage, it strengthens the foundations of a more inclusive and prosperous society." "On this occasion, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to building a society where every woman has equal opportunities to grow and live with dignity, safety and freedom. Together, let us create an environment where the aspirations and achievements of women shape a more equitable future," she added. International Women's Day 2026 will be observed globally on Sunday to recognise women's accomplishments and raise awareness of gender equality. The day honours the contributions of women in social, economic, cultural, and political spheres, while also highlighting the obstacles that many women continue to encounter. The official theme for International Women's Day 2026 is 'Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.' This theme emphasises the importance of ensuring that women's legal rights and protections are not only enshrined in law but are also actively enforced in daily life. The origins of International Women's Day trace back to the early 1900s, when women throughout Europe and North America began advocating for improved working conditions, equitable pay, and voting rights. In 1908, approximately 15,000 women marched in New York City, demanding shorter work hours, fair wages, and the right to vote. The following year, activist Clara Zetkin suggested the concept of an international day for women's rights during a conference in Copenhagen. The idea gained substantial support, resulting in its observance in numerous countries. The United Nations formally acknowledged International Women's Day in 1975, and March 8 was subsequently designated as the global day to honour women's rights and equality. - IANS Iran's Assembly of Experts has reached a majority consensus on a successor to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though the transition process faces unresolved obstacles. An official contrasted the current "war situation" with the smoother transition after Ayatollah Khomeini's death. The Iranian Consulate in Mumbai officially denied Israeli media reports claiming Mojtaba Khamenei had been named as the successor. As the political transition continues, a three-day public farewell ceremony for the late leader begins in Tehran amid an escalating regional conflict. Iran's Assembly of Experts reports a majority consensus on the new Supreme Leader, while denying Israeli media claims about Mojtaba Khamenei's appointment. Tehran, March 8 The Assembly of Experts in Iran has reached a majority consensus regarding the successor to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to reports from the Tehran-based Mehr News Agency. The follows the killing of the 86-year-old supreme leader. Quoting Assembly of Experts member Mirbaqeri, the report stated that while a "majority consensus over Khamenei's successor has been reached," the transition process is not yet fully complete as "some obstacles regarding the process need to be resolved." This movement toward a transition was further reinforced on Wednesday this week, when Iran's leadership council informed state media that a successor would be appointed at the earliest opportunity. In a video shared by the Tasnim News Agency, an official told state television that "no problem has arisen in the field of leadership." He confirmed that the leadership council is currently running the country, adding, "Praise be to God, we have come closer, but the situation is one of war." The official contrasted the current crisis with the transition following Ayatollah Khomeini's death, noting that the immediate appointment seen then was possible because the environment was not a "war situation." He emphasised that the Assembly of Experts is now "striving" despite the ongoing hostilities. Amid the deliberation, the Iranian Government, via its Consulate General in Mumbai, dismissed reports emerging from Israeli media suggesting that Mojtaba Khamenei had been named as his late father's successor. In a post on X, the consulate stated: "Reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied." While Israeli media claimed Mojtaba Khamenei had been chosen, no independent confirmation has surfaced from official Iranian state media. As the political transition unfolds, Iran's state media has reported that citizens will bid farewell to the late Supreme Leader in a ceremony scheduled for tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony is expected to last for three days, with the final funeral procession to be announced once it is finalised. The regional conflict has escalated significantly for over a week following the US and Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Khamenei and other key figures. In retaliation, Tehran has launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases and Israeli assets across the region. - ANI Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has clarified that his earlier statements suggesting a suspension of military actions were "misinterpreted by the enemy," aiming to maintain fraternal ties with neighbours while asserting Iran's right to retaliate if attacked. He explicitly apologised to neighbouring countries, stating Iran has no intention to invade unless attacks originate from their soil. Simultaneously, Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone against Western pressure, directly rebutting US President Donald Trump's demand for Iran's "unconditional surrender." This diplomatic rhetoric unfolds as military escalation continues, with recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian sites and new IRGC missile launches. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says his comments on military ops were "misinterpreted," vows retaliation only if attacked, as strikes continue. Tehran, March 8 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has clarified that his previous statements regarding regional military operations were "misinterpreted by the enemy that seeks to sow division with neighbours," according to state media reports cited by The Times of Israel. The clarification follows a period of diplomatic confusion where earlier comments suggested a potential suspension of military actions against Gulf nations, even as regional strikes continued. Addressing these perceptions, Pezeshkian emphasised the importance of fraternal ties, stating, "It has repeatedly been said we are brothers and must have good relations with neighbours." However, Pezeshkian maintained a stance of defensive necessity, noting that Tehran is "forced to retaliate to attacks" but clarified that this does not imply a dispute with neighbouring countries or a desire to "upset their people." The West Asia conflict entered its eighth day on Sunday. Pezeshkian had previously appeared to strike a note of reconciliation. In a televised address on Saturday, he announced that the leadership council had decided not to attack neighbouring countries unless provoked. "I apologise to the neighbouring countries. We have no intention of invading other countries," Pezeshkian said, adding that there would be no missile launches unless attacks against Iran originated from those specific nations. Despite this overture to neighbours, the Iranian President struck a note of defiance against Western pressure, ruling out any possibility of surrender as the US-Israel campaign intensifies. "They will take their dreams of us surrendering unconditionally to the grave," he asserted. This defiant stance serves as a direct rebuttal to US President Donald Trump, who recently declared on Truth Social that there would be "no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender." Trump asserted that negotiations would only consider an agreement once the current leadership completely yields and is replaced by "great & acceptable leader(s)." In his post, Trump articulated an ambition to reconstruct the nation under the slogan "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!)" and previously expressed a desire to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next Supreme Leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel strike, according to Axios. Meanwhile, the theatre of war has seen no relenting. On Friday night, more than 80 Israeli Air Force fighter jets reportedly dropped 230 bombs on key Iranian military sites, including a subterranean ballistic missile factory and a military academy. In retaliation, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced the launch of the 23rd wave of "Operation True Promise 4." The IRGC stated it deployed new-generation missile systems against targets in occupied territories and US bases across the region, highlighting the continued escalation despite the diplomatic rhetoric. - ANI Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh attended the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in London, emphasizing the need for a reformed and relevant Commonwealth. He highlighted cooperation in areas like digital public infrastructure, AI for development, and disaster resilience, with a focus on the Global South. During his visit, he is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from other member states. Following his UK engagements, Singh will travel to Chile to represent India at the presidential inauguration. MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh attends CFAMM in London, advocates for a future-ready Commonwealth focused on digital infrastructure, AI, and disaster resilience. London, March 8 Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh attended the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting Ministerial Retreat in London on Sunday and called for a reformed, future-ready Commonwealth delivering tangible benefits for members. In a post on X, he said: "Starting the day's engagements during my first official visit to the UK, participated in the CFAMM26 Minister's Retreat at Lancaster House. Called for a reformed, future-ready Commonwealth delivering tangible benefits for members, emphasising the needs of the Global South and highlighting cooperation in digital public infrastructure, AI for development, disaster resilience, and economic growth." He, along with other leaders, posed for a family photo at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers' Meeting. Sharing the photo of the ministers on X, Kirti Vardhan Singh wrote: "A moment of unity and shared purpose! Ministers gather for the family photo at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers' Meeting (CFAMM26), reflecting the shared commitment to strengthening cooperation and dialogue across the Commonwealth." On Saturday, Kirti Vardhan Singh arrived in London to attend the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting. India's High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, welcomed him. "Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh arrives in London to participate in the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers' Meeting (CFAMM26) and Commonwealth Day Reception. During the visit, he will also hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from partner countries," Indian High Commission in the UK posted on X. During his visit to the UK, the minister will also attend Commonwealth Day celebrations being held in London. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said: "India is one of the largest contributors to the Commonwealth and has assisted the organisation with technical assistance and capacity building. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 countries and serves as a vital platform to deepen India's engagement with Commonwealth members, in particular the Small States and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). MOS (KVS) is expected to meet with the Commonwealth leadership and counterparts from some of the Member States. Samoa is the current Commonwealth Chair-in-Office." After concluding his engagements in the UK, MoS Singh will visit Chile from March 10-12 to represent the Indian government at the inauguration ceremony of the President-elect, Jose Antonio Kast Rist, according to the MEA statement. During the visit, Kirti Vardhan Singh is expected to call on the outgoing President Gabriel Boric Font and the incoming President Rist, as well as the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Francisco Perez Mackenna. - IANS Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, at a Women's Day event, emphasized a mother's ultimate sacrifice and role as the family's foundation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings, praising the strength and achievements of India's women, or Nari Shakti. He highlighted the government's commitment to women-led development through various schemes and initiatives. The day globally celebrates women's contributions and reaffirms the commitment to gender equality and empowerment. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami speaks on a mother's sacrifice, while PM Narendra Modi celebrates Nari Shakti's role in building Viksit Bharat. Dehradun, March 8 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said that a woman sacrifices her life to build the future of her children and that generations draw heavily on the "unique inspiration" of women. Speaking at a cultural event here organised to celebrate International Women's Day, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "This program is very special for us. All of you have that unique strength, that unique inspiration, whose sacrifice, love, affection, and blessings help generations thrive and society progress. A mother gives up the comforts of her own life to build a future for her children." CM Dhami noted that a woman faces obstacles to lay a strong foundation for the bright future of her children, and noted that she takes care of the entire household by raising her children. "No matter how many problems or difficulties she faces, she always wants her son, her daughter, and her children to thrive. When she takes care of her children, she also takes care of the entire family. That is why she is called the Lakshmi of the house..." Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the nation on International Women's Day and paid tribute to the strength, determination and achievements of India's Nari Shakti. The Prime Minister greeted women across the country and acknowledged their growing role in shaping India's progress. He said that across every field, women are contributing with determination, creativity and unmatched zeal, and that their achievements inspire the nation while strengthening the collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat. Highlighting the Government's commitment towards women-led development, the Prime Minister noted that empowerment of women lies at the core of several schemes and initiatives of the Government. He reiterated that the Government remains committed to creating opportunities that enable every woman to realise her full potential and contribute to India's journey of development. The Prime Minister further remarked that the achievements of India's Nari Shakti are a source of pride for the nation and a powerful reminder of the transformative role played by women in nation-building. He added that as India progresses further, the aspirations and contributions of women will continue to guide the country's collective journey towards a strong and prosperous nation. Modi also shared a glimpse of how the lives of women at the grassroots have been transformed over the past decade, highlighting the impact of initiatives aimed at empowering women across the country. International Women's Day, observed globally on March 8, celebrates the achievements, leadership and contributions of women across all spheres of life and reaffirms the collective commitment towards gender equality, safety, dignity and empowerment. - ANI Telugu actors Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala recently visited the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, chanting and navigating through large crowds of devotees. The visit comes three months after the couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary following their marriage in December 2024. For the temple visit, Chaitanya wore a white kurta with a stole, while Dhulipala chose a vibrant red saree. Professionally, Dhulipala will next be seen in 'Cheekatilo', and Chaitanya is set to star in the film 'Vrushakarma'. Telugu stars Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala visited the Jagannath Temple in Puri, marking their first wedding anniversary. See photos and details. Puri, March 8 Telugu actor Naga Chaitanya and his wife, actor Sobhita Dhulipala, recently visited the revered Shree Jagannath Temple. The visit comes three months after the couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary following their December 2024 marriage. The couple navigated through dense crowds at the temple complex in Puri, accompanied by security personnel. Amid the chants and movement of devotees, Chaitanya can be heard chanting "Jai Jagannath." The temple is one of India's most prominent Hindu pilgrimage destinations that attracts millions of devotees every year despite long waiting queues. For the temple visit, Chaitanya opted for traditional attire, wearing a white kurta and pyjama paired with an orange and yellow stole draped around his neck. The actor sported a neatly trimmed beard, short hair and a tilak mark on his forehead. Dhulipala appeared in a vibrant red saree featuring golden borders and embroidery. Her hair was tied back in a simple bun, and she too wore a tilak on her forehead. Chaitanya and Dhulipala marked their first wedding anniversary on December 4. In 2024, the actors tied the knot in Hyderabad, in the presence of close friends and family members. The ceremony was rooted in Telugu traditions, with rituals conducted under the guidance of elders and attended by relatives and well-wishers. Chaitanya's father, veteran actor Nagarjuna, confirmed the wedding with photographs from the ceremony. For the wedding, Dhulipala wore a gold Kanjivaram silk saree featuring real gold zari and temple jewellery, while Chaitanya chose a traditional white outfit. On the professional front, Dhulipala will next be seen in the film 'Cheekatilo', where she plays Sandhya, a true-crime podcaster who investigates the secrets of a long-dormant serial killer. The film also stars Viswadev Rachakonda along with Chaitanya Visalakshmi, Esha Chawla, Jhansi, Aamani and Vadlamani Srinivas in key roles. Meanwhile, Chaitanya is set to appear in the upcoming film 'Vrushakarma', directed by Karthik Dandu and produced by Sukumar Writings and Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra. The film's poster presents the actor in a rugged, battle-worn look, hinting at an action-driven role set against a dramatic and mythical backdrop. - ANI Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan stated that the Northeast region has seen significant development in connectivity and infrastructure over the past decade, boosting its economy. He highlighted specific projects like the Matabari Tourism Circuit and the redeveloped Mata Tripura Sundari Temple, which has seen visitor numbers more than double. At Tripura University's convocation, he urged youth to avoid drugs and focus on education and innovation for national development. Chief Minister Manik Saha and Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu also emphasized the university's role and the integration of traditional knowledge with modern technology under NEP 2020. VP Radhakrishnan highlights major rail, air & tourism development in Northeast India over the past 10 years, crediting PM Modi's initiatives. Agartala, March 8 Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday highlighted the initiatives undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the northeast, noting that the region has witnessed significant development in the past decade, particularly in rail and air connectivity. Addressing the 14th convocation ceremony of Tripura University here, the Vice President said that improved connectivity and infrastructure development have boosted the economy of the Northeastern region, which comprises eight states. Referring to the laying of the foundation stone for the ambitious Rs 450-crore Matabari Tourism Circuit in Tripura by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia in January this year, and the inauguration of the redeveloped 524-year-old Mata Tripura Sundari Temple by the Prime Minister on September 22 last year, Radhakrishnan said that the number of tourists and devotees visiting the temple has increased tremendously. "Earlier, around 3.5 lakh devotees visited the Mata Tripura Sundari temple, and after the recent development, the number has increased to about 8.5 lakh," he said. Before attending the convocation, the Vice President visited the temple, which is one of the 51 Hindu Shakti Peethas, in Udaipur on Sunday morning and offered prayers. "Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan visited the Mata Tripura Sundari temple in Udaipur, Tripura today and offered prayers for the peace, prosperity and well-being of all," said a post on the Vice President's X handle. In his address at the Convocation, Radhakrishnan said that with the development of the proposed tourism circuit covering the ancient rock-carving site of Chabimura in Gomati district, often referred to as the "Mini Amazon of India", and Narkel Kunj, located on the banks of the expansive Dumboor Lake, Tripura would find a prominent place on the global tourism map. Urging the youth to stay away from drug abuse, the Vice President said drugs would ruin their future and social life. He also advised students to make optimal use of their time and devote themselves fully to education. Radhakrishnan noted that Tripura University has emerged as a vibrant centre for teaching, research and innovation. He said the present generation is witnessing a historic phase as the country is making rapid progress in all spheres to become a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Describing technology as a "game changer", he said it should be used positively, adding that those who show relentless perseverance and patience ultimately achieve success. He also appealed to students to continue pursuing research and ensure that their work culminates in innovation that contributes to national development. In his remarks on the occasion, Chief Minister Manik Saha hailed the immense role played by Tripura University in attracting students and researchers not only from the state and the northeast but also from other parts of the country through its vibrant academic culture. He said the state government is committed to establishing more universities in Tripura and strengthening higher education while linking education with employment opportunities. Saha underlined that access to higher education would open doors of opportunity for generations to come. Recalling the university's journey, the Chief Minister said that since its inception, Tripura University has played a transformative role in shaping the intellectual and human resource development of the state. "The varsity stands as an intellectual lighthouse of the state," he said. Saha also extended greetings to women on the occasion of International Women's Day being celebrated across the globe on Sunday. Tripura Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu said that a developed India cannot be built unless the country integrates its indigenous knowledge systems with modern science and technology. He said the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is not merely a policy document but represents a major philosophical shift in India's education system. Tripura University's Acting Vice-Chancellor Shaymal Das and Acting Registrar Samir Kumar Shill also addressed the gathering The Vice President, who arrived in Agartala on Saturday afternoon as part of his maiden visit to three Northeastern states -- Nagaland, Mizoram, and Tripura -- had inaugurated the ceremony at the university campus in Suryamaninagar, on the outskirts of the city. Earlier, he addressed the eighth convocation ceremony of Nagaland University in Kohima on Friday and the 20th convocation ceremony of Mizoram University in Aizawl on Saturday. 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 were conferred on eligible students. As many as 283 students from various departments received gold medals, while 149 research scholars were awarded PhD degrees. The 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 Parliament. At present, 64 colleges are affiliated with the university. After the convocation ceremony, Radhakrishnan met and interacted with 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. - IANS Nepal's interim government will not immediately release the detailed Gen-Z protest report, leaving implementation to the incoming elected administration. By Binod Prasad Adhikari, Kathmandu, March 8 Nepal's Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Sunday said that the detailed report of the high-level investigation commission on Gen-Z protest will not be released anytime soon, as the interim government will now be involved in the handover to the newly elected government. Karki announced the decision after receiving the over 900 paged document at a closed-door event held at her office, as per the video of the event released by her secretariat. "Regarding its implementation, we won't be in power till that time as we have to handover authority to the upcoming government, and I am confident that they'll study it and implement it in the coming days. For now, we will also study it- I, along with the Home Minister, will be involved in this process and also present it to the cabinet amongst all the sitting ministers. Possibly after that, we might move forward towards releasing it. We won't be releasing all the detailed accounts, but the crux of it," Karki said on Sunday. The judicial commission under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki was formed on September 21 last year by Shushila Karki. Formed under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1969, the panel was tasked with identifying the causes behind the violence, vandalism, looting, and arson, and recommending action. It has the power to summon individuals, collect evidence from government or public offices, require document submissions, and recommend action for non-cooperation. "It should be implemented. Though the new government is responsible for putting it into practice, the suggestions that we have given would help to prevent these kinds of incidents from recurring. In the report, we have given the recommendations based on fields where improvements are required. The incidents as such happened because of the maladministration, in order to maintain good governance all, the national bodies and authorities needs reform, we also have given measures for it," Gauri Bahadur Karki, the former Chief Justice and the head of the investigation committee, said in the event. The commission also had received about 300 complaints of personal losses, police reports, and photos and videos. The inquiry commission also had recorded statements from Nakkhu Prison chief Satyaraj Joshi and Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane, who was in judicial custody at the time and walked out when protesters reached the prison on September 9. "The report is above nine hundred pages, which also consists of the sub-sections. If we combine all the documents and evidence, then it will be a total of between eight and ten thousand pages. The incidents of September 8 and 9 have been analysed in detail," Bigyanraj Sharma, another member of the commission, had briefed the media after submission of the report. According to the commission, statements from around 30 security personnel, including police constables and officers, were completed in November itself. During the quiz, the officials were asked how the situation escalated to firing on September 8 and how the protest turned to vandalism and arson the following day. "This has only been possible because of their tireless efforts. They've done an in-depth study, and they've used their personal experience of being in a top position in the police, while in the judicial body or the legal field, those people with the experience, I am really hopeful that they have made the issue crystal clear. It would help the nation a lot, and it indeed is a topic of study. If any incidents of this scale happen in the future, then it can be taken as a reference," Interim Prime Minister Karki said. The two-day Gen Z movement on September 8 and 9 unseated the KP Sharma Oli government, where at least 77 people were killed as the government tried to suppress the protestors. After three days of deliberations, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed the interim Prime Minister of the nation, who had recommended dissolving the parliament. Upon Karki's recommendation, President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved the House of Representatives on September 12 and announced fresh polls for March 5, 2026. - ANI Nishant Kumar, the son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is set to formally join the Janata Dal (United) party. His entry coincides with his father's historic transition to the Rajya Sabha, ending his long tenure as CM. The party held strategy meetings with young MLAs to plan its future course. Nitish Kumar has assured that he will continue to guide the Bihar government's work despite his move to the Centre. Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, formally joins JDU on March 8. The move follows Nitish's historic transition to the Rajya Sabha. Patna, March 8 JD National Working President Sanjay Jha on Saturday said Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will join the party on Sunday at 1 pm and formally begin party work after meeting with party youth MLAs and MLCs to discuss future strategies. Speaking to reporters, Sanjay Jha confirmed that Nishant will join the party on March 8 at 1 pm. "Nishant will join the party tomorrow at 1 pm. He'll formally begin party work. The party will decide ahead what role he will have," said Jha. He also added that JDU is Nitish Kumar's party, which carries a legacy of his 20 years of work, and the government would be functioning under his guidance in future as well. "It is Nitish ji's party and it carries the legacy of his 20 years of work. Even if people feel that he is going to the Rajya Sabha, the Bihar government will continue to function under his guidance till 2025-30," Jha said. Meanwhile, Nishant Kumar, on Saturday, also held a meeting with senior party leaders and young MLAs at the residence of the Janata Dal (United) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha. The meeting 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. "I am going to the Rajya Sabha. There won't be a problem for you all. I will remain in Bihar as well; all work will continue. Work hard for the development of Bihar. I will keep an eye on everything; do not worry," Kumar said. - ANI Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, formally joined the Janata Dal (United) in Patna, marking a significant development in state politics. He thanked party workers and expressed pride in his father's two decades of service to Bihar. His entry coincides with Nitish Kumar's historic transition, having filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha, which will end his record tenure as Chief Minister. Senior party leaders, including Sanjay Kumar Jha and Ratnesh Sada, were present, with Sada declaring Nishant as the "future of Bihar." Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar formally joins JD(U), marking a major political shift as his father prepares for Rajya Sabha. Patna, March 8 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar on Sunday formally joined the JD, marking an unprecedented shift in Bihar politics. After joining the party, Kumar addressed the party workers and heaped praise on his father, Nitish Kumar, for serving the state for 20 years. "I thank everyone. I will try to live up to the trust you all have placed in me. I, the entire Bihar and the entire country are proud of what my father has done in the last 20 years." Nishant Kumar greeted the party workers as soon as he arrived at the Janata Dal (United) office in Patna. Janata Dal (United) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha was also present on the occasion. Union Minister and NDA's Rajya Sabha candidate Ram Nath Thakur told ANI that Nishant Kumar is joining the party to remain connected with the people. "It was the decision of JDU workers and the common people that Nishant Kumar (son of CM Nitish Kumar) join the JDU and listen to the voice of the people... It is for the same reason that he is taking JDU membership today... It was his (Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's) wish to go to the Rajya Sabha..." Bihar minister Ratnesh Sada called Nishant Kumar the "future of Bihar". "This is Bihar's future, and we will complete and demonstrate the work that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has left unfinished," Sada told ANI. Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh extended "best wishes" to Nishant Kumar in his political journey. Meanwhile, Nishant Kumar, on Saturday, also held a meeting with senior party leaders and young MLAs at the residence of Sanjay Kumar Jha. The meeting 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. "I am going to the Rajya Sabha. There won't be a problem for you all. I will remain in Bihar as well; all work will continue. Work hard for the development of Bihar. I will keep an eye on everything; do not worry," Kumar said earlier. - ANI View of a company building with the Nexperia logo in Hamburg. China has cautioned against any further escalation in a dispute with Dutch chip manufacturer Nexperia, after a major spat last year which also drew in the Dutch government. Bodo Marks/dpa China has cautioned against any further escalation in a dispute with Dutch chip manufacturer Nexperia, after a major spat last year which also drew in the Dutch government. The Commerce Ministry in Beijing responded with sharp criticism on Saturday after the company's Chinese subsidiary issued a statement accusing its headquarters in the Netherlands of blocking user accounts of employees in China. Nexperia's actions in the Netherlands have significantly impacted the company's production and operations, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday. "Should this lead to a further crisis in the global semiconductor supply chain, the Dutch side must take full responsibility," it said in response to a Nexperia China statement the previous day. The company said that the blocking of the accounts on March 3 had had a major impact on its activities in the country, such as order processes. "Currently, most business operations have resumed, ensuring basic production operations are maintained," it added. The Chinese ministry warned that the deactivation of the accounts had caused "new conflicts" and complicated ongoing negotiations. In October, Beijing halted exports of Nexperia semiconductors processed in China, shocking Europe's automotive industry an important customer for the chips, which are used in battery management for electric vehicles, motor controls, lights, sensors and other functions. The Dutch government then took control of the firm, but relinquished control in November last year while leaving an interim management team in charge. Beijing has since demanded further measures from the Netherlands. Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is formally joining the Janata Dal (United) in Patna, marking his entry into active politics. The move, confirmed by senior leaders, comes amid intense speculation about a leadership change in Bihar following Nitish Kumar's Rajya Sabha nomination. Party insiders view Nishant's introduction to legislators and functionaries as a step toward projecting him as a potential political successor. Some JD(U) leaders have even suggested he could become the legislature party leader or Deputy Chief Minister. Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, formally joins JD(U), marking his political debut amid speculation of a leadership change in the state. Patna, March 8 Nishant Kumar, the son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is set to formally join the Janata Dal on Sunday afternoon in Patna, marking his entry into active politics. The joining ceremony is scheduled at 1 p.m. at the party office in the presence of senior leaders, including JD(U) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha. Ahead of the event, posters welcoming Nishant Kumar have appeared across parts of the city, while security arrangements have been tightened at the party headquarters to manage the expected gathering of supporters and party workers. The development comes a day after Sanjay Kumar Jha publicly confirmed that Nishant Kumar would soon join the party. On Saturday, Nishant participated in at least two meetings with senior JD(U) leaders and legislators in Patna, signalling his growing involvement in the party's organisational activities. During one such meeting, Nishant interacted with JD(U) MLAs, district presidents and senior functionaries, including Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lalan Singh. Jha introduced him to the gathering, where Nishant, dressed in a white kurta-pyjama, greeted the attendees and exchanged brief conversations with several leaders. Although the meeting was described as informal, many within the party viewed it as an important step towards projecting Nishant Kumar as a potential political successor to Nitish Kumar. Interestingly, the move has sparked discussion as Nitish Kumar has often spoken against dynasty politics in the past. Meanwhile, speculation has intensified after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 16. His decision has fuelled political chatter about a possible leadership change in Bihar, with expectations that the state may soon see a new Chief Minister, likely from the BJP. Amid these developments, JD(U) leaders have begun openly supporting Nishant Kumar's political rise. Party MLA Harinarayan Singh even suggested that Nishant could soon emerge as the JD(U) Legislature Party leader and potentially take the role of Deputy Chief Minister. According to party sources, Nishant Kumar, who is 50 years old, may also be nominated to the Bihar Legislative Council a few months after the formation of a new BJP-led government in the state. The JD(U) has also strategically chosen March 8 -- International Women's Day -- for Nishant's formal entry, describing the timing as a symbolic gesture acknowledging the large number of women supporters associated with Nitish Kumar's political base. - IANS Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is set to formally join the Janata Dal (United) in Patna. JD(U) leaders have welcomed the move, stating it reflects the long-standing demand of party workers and will strengthen the party. The joining ceremony will be held at the party office in the presence of senior leaders, including National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha. Posters have appeared across Patna, and security has been tightened for the event, which follows Nishant's recent meetings with party legislators and functionaries. Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar formally joins JD(U) in Patna, welcomed by party leaders who say his entry strengthens the party and unites workers. New Delhi, March 8 As Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar prepares to formally enter active politics, leaders of the Janata Dal have welcomed the move, saying it reflects the sentiments of party workers. Nishant Kumar is set to join the party on Sunday afternoon in Patna in the presence of senior JD(U) leaders. Speaking about the development, JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said party workers have long been urging Nishant Kumar to step into politics. "The sentiments of the party workers are connected to Nishant Kumar. For a long time, workers have been urging him to enter politics, and his entry will strengthen the party," he told IANS. Echoing similar views, Bihar Minister Madan Sahni said the party would warmly welcome Nishant Kumar as he formally joins JD(U). "Today we will welcome Nishant Kumar as he is going to become a party member, and he will also take on a leadership role," Sahni said. Meanwhile, Pappu Yadav also reacted to the development, suggesting that Nishant Kumar's entry could help maintain unity within the party. "If Nishant Kumar enters politics, he will keep the JDU united and preserve Nitish Kumar's legacy," he told IANS. Nishant Kumar is scheduled to formally join the JD(U) at 1 p.m. at the party office in Patna in the presence of senior leaders, including JD(U) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha. Ahead of the ceremony, posters welcoming Nishant Kumar have appeared across parts of the city, and security arrangements have been tightened at the party headquarters to manage the expected gathering of supporters and party workers. The development comes a day after Sanjay Kumar Jha publicly confirmed that Nishant Kumar would soon join the party. On Saturday, Nishant participated in at least two meetings with senior JD(U) leaders and legislators in Patna, signalling his growing involvement in the party's organisational activities. During one such meeting, Nishant interacted with JD(U) MLAs, district presidents and senior functionaries, including Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh. Jha introduced him to the gathering, where Nishant, dressed in a white kurta-pyjama, greeted attendees and briefly interacted with several leaders. - IANS Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed deep concern over President Droupadi Murmu's remarks about the poor arrangements at the International Santal Conference in West Bengal. He stated that events celebrating tribal heritage must ensure dignity, participation, and respect for the community. The controversy erupted after President Murmu criticized the remote venue that prevented Santal community members from attending and noted the absence of state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The incident has sparked a political row, with the BJP accusing the TMC government of an insult, while the TMC denies any protocol lapse. Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan responds to President Murmu's concerns over Santal Conference arrangements, stressing respect for tribal culture. New Delhi, March 8 Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Sunday expressed deep concern over President Droupadi Murmu's "painful and sad remarks" regarding the conduct of the International Santal Conference in West Bengal, stating that tribal culture, traditions and voices must always be honoured with sincerity and respect. In a detailed post on X, Pawan Kalyan said that when an event celebrating the rich heritage of the Santal community is organised, it should ensure the dignity, participation and respect that such a culture deserves. "Deeply concerned by the painful and sad remarks of Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji regarding the conduct of the International Santal Conference in Darjeeling, West Bengal. When an event celebrating the rich heritage of the Santal community is organised, it should ensure the dignity, participation, and respect that such a culture deserves," Pawan Kalyan posted. He said it is regrettable that circumstances arose in which members of the Santal community found it difficult to attend the conference intended for them. "It is regrettable that circumstances arose where members of the Santal community themselves found it difficult to attend the conference meant for them. Such cultural gatherings must reflect inclusivity, sensitivity, and proper administrative planning," he said. Pawan Kalyan emphasised that the office of the President of India holds the highest constitutional respect in the nation and must always be treated with the dignity it deserves. "The office of the Hon'ble President of India holds the highest constitutional respect in our nation and must always be treated with the dignity it deserves. Ensuring that the Hon'ble President's visit is conducted with utmost regard is the responsibility of the concerned administration," he added. He stated that India's tribal communities are an integral part of the nation's identity and pride, and their culture, and voices must always be honoured with sincerity and respect. "India's tribal communities are an integral part of our nation's identity and pride. Their culture, traditions, and voices must always be honoured with sincerity and respect," Pawan Kalyan concluded. The remarks come amid a major political controversy that erupted after President Murmu expressed disappointment over the arrangements at the 9th International Santal Conference in Darjeeling, questioning the choice of venue and noting the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. President Murmu had said, "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 also commented on the absence of state leadership, stating, "If the President visits a place, the Chief Minister and the Ministers should also come. But she did not." Earlier, reacting to President Murmu's remarks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said the incident was "shameful and unprecedented" and had deeply saddened people across the country. The BJP has accused the TMC government of insulting the President and tribal communities. At the same time, the Trinamool Congress has denied any protocol lapse and termed the allegations politically motivated, stating that the event was organised by a private body and no protocol violation occurred. - ANI Congress General Secretary Mukul Wasnik announced the appointment of three senior observers to oversee election preparations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The team, including Wasnik, will remain in the region throughout the election period to coordinate with local leaders. Wasnik expressed strong confidence that the people of Tamil Nadu would once again support the Congress-led alliance. The political activity coincides with major events from both the DMK and the NDA, including a public meeting addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress General Secretary Mukul Wasnik expresses confidence in alliance victory as party sends senior observers to oversee election preparations in Tamil Nadu. Chennai, March 8 Congress General Secretary and MP Mukul Wasnik on Sunday said that the party leadership has begun preparations in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Assembly elections and expressed confidence that the people of the state will once again support the alliance. Speaking to ANI in Chennai, Wasnik said the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership has appointed three senior observers to monitor election preparations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. "The All India Congress Committee in charge for Delhi has already arrived in Chennai. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed three senior observers--Qazi Mohammad Nizamuddin, myself and Uttam Kumar Reddy, who is a minister in Telangana," Wasnik said. He added that the observers will remain in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry throughout the election period to oversee preparations and coordinate with party leaders. "We will be coming to Tamil Nadu and to Pondicherry in this entire duration till the election gets over," he said. Wasnik further said the team will visit the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) office on Monday to review the party's readiness for the elections. "Tomorrow morning, we are going to visit the TNCC office. We will also be trying to understand to what extent we have been able to make all the necessary preparations for the elections," he added. Expressing optimism about the alliance's prospects, Wasnik said the party is confident that the people of Tamil Nadu will support them once again. "We are all very confident that the people of Tamil Nadu will once again repose faith in our alliance and we will be trying to implement all the promises which we have been making to the people of this state," he said. Meanwhile, a massive preparation is in full swing for the 12th State Conference of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), scheduled to be held in Trichy on March 9. The conference venue is being set up at Siruganur along the Trichy-Chennai National Highway across nearly 400 acres, with an additional 200 acres earmarked for vehicle parking. Preparations are also underway for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) public meeting to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 11 in Trichy. - ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended International Women's Day greetings, praising the determination and achievements of Indian women in shaping national progress. He highlighted that women's empowerment is central to government schemes aimed at building a Viksit Bharat. President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her wishes, stating educated and empowered women are pillars of a progressive nation. Both leaders reaffirmed a commitment to creating a society with equal opportunities for women. PM Modi and President Murmu greet the nation on International Women's Day, highlighting women's role in India's progress and government empowerment schemes. New Delhi, March 8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the nation on International Women's Day and paid tribute to the strength, determination and achievements of India's Nari Shakti. The Prime Minister greeted women across the country and acknowledged their growing role in shaping India's progress. He said that across every field, women are contributing with determination, creativity and unmatched zeal, and that their achievements inspire the nation while strengthening the collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat. Highlighting the Government's commitment towards women-led development, the Prime Minister noted that empowerment of women lies at the core of several schemes and initiatives of the Government. He reiterated that the Government remains committed to creating opportunities that enable every woman to realise her full potential and contribute to India's journey of development. The Prime Minister further remarked that the achievements of India's Nari Shakti are a source of pride for the nation and a powerful reminder of the transformative role played by women in nation-building. He added that as India progresses further, the aspirations and contributions of women will continue to guide the country's collective journey towards a strong and prosperous nation. Modi also shared a glimpse of how the lives of women at the grassroots have been transformed over the past decade, highlighting the impact of initiatives aimed at empowering women across the country. In a series of X posts, PM Modi said, "On International Women's Day, I extend my greetings to all our Nari Shakti. Across every field, women are shaping India's progress with determination, creativity and unmatched zeal. Their achievements inspire our nation and strengthen our collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat. Empowerment of women is at the core of our various schemes and initiatives. We remain committed to creating opportunities that enable every woman to realise her full potential and contribute to India's journey of development". "The achievements of India's Nari Shakti are a source of pride and a powerful reminder of the transformative role in nation building. As India progresses further, the aspirations and contributions of women will continue to guide our collective journey towards a strong and prosperous nation," PM Modi added in his post. "A glimpse of how the lives of women have been transformed at the grassroots over the past decade...," PM Modi said. President of India Droupadi Murmu extended her heartfelt wishes to the nation on the occasion, asserting that educated and empowered women serve as the pillars of a progressive nation. In a post on X, she emphasised that as women continue to excel across diverse fields and lead with courage, they continue to strengthen the foundations of a more inclusive and prosperous society. "Warm greetings to all on International Women's Day! Educated and empowered women are the pillars of a progressive nation. As Nari Shakti continues to excel across diverse fields and lead with courage, it strengthens the foundations of a more inclusive and prosperous society," said President Murmu. President Murmu further reaffirmed a collective commitment to building a society where every woman gets equal opportunities to grow and live with freedom and dignity."On this occasion, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to building a society where every woman has equal opportunities to grow and live with dignity, safety and freedom. Together, let us create an environment where the aspirations and achievements of women shape a more equitable future," added President Murmu. International Women's Day, observed globally on March 8, celebrates the achievements, leadership and contributions of women across all spheres of life and reaffirms the collective commitment towards gender equality, safety, dignity and empowerment. - ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over keys to newly redeveloped Type-5 government quarters to female allottees in Delhi's Sarojini Nagar. The GPRA redevelopment project, worth Rs 15,200 crore, uses a self-sustainable model that monetizes commercial space to fund modern housing without public burden. The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for multiple new Delhi Metro corridors worth approximately Rs 18,300 crore. These new lines will significantly improve connectivity across Delhi, Noida, and the airport region. PM Narendra Modi handed over keys to new government quarters for women in Delhi and inaugurated major metro corridors worth over Rs 18,000 crore. New Delhi, March 8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the General Pool Residential Accommodation Redevelopment Plan in New Delhi's Sarojini Nagar on Sunday and handed over the keys of the Type-5 quarters to the female allottees. Spread across key locations such as Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Kasturba Nagar and Sriniwaspuri, these projects are part of the government's programme to modernise GPRA colonies and create world-class infrastructure for Government employees and administrative offices. The projects, worth Rs 15,200 crore under the GPRA plan, have been redeveloped through an innovative self-sustainable financial model that ensures the redevelopment is carried out without burdening the public exchequer. Under this model, the government is developing and monetising a limited portion of the project area for commercial and residential space to finance the entire project. The revenue generated from it is being used to fund the redevelopment of modern government housing, supporting infrastructure and public facilities. The redevelopment plan will provide more than 9,350 modern flats for government employees, along with the creation of approximately 48 lakh square feet of office space, which will significantly enhance administrative efficiency while also generating monetisation potential. Later in the day, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of Delhi metro projects worth about Rs 18,300 crore. The Prime Minister will inaugurate two new corridors of the Delhi Metro. These include the Majlis Park-Maujpur Babarpur (Pink Line) corridor of around 12.3 km and the Deepali Chowk-Majlis Park (Magenta Line) corridor of around 9.9 km. The new connectivity will benefit several areas of Delhi, including Burari, Jagatpur-Wazirabad, Khajuri Khas, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar, Madhuban Chowk, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Bhalaswa, Majlis Park, among others. PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for three new corridors under Phase V-A of the Delhi Metro, covering a route length of around 16.10 km. The three new corridors are R.K. Ashram Marg to Indraprastha, Aerocity to Indira Gandhi Airport Terminal-1, and Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj. These corridors will provide direct connectivity to several important locations in the national capital and improve connectivity for residents travelling between Noida, South Delhi and the airport. - IANS The Central government has asked the West Bengal administration for a detailed report by Sunday evening regarding lapses in protocol during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to a tribal conference. President Murmu publicly expressed disappointment over the last-minute change of the conference venue and the absence of state ministers to receive her. She questioned the rationale for moving the event from a spacious original location, which prevented many Santal community members from attending. The Union Home Ministry took note of her remarks and has demanded clarification from the state. Centre asks West Bengal for report on protocol lapses during President Murmu's visit. She expressed disappointment over venue change and absence of state ministers. New Delhi, March 8 The Central government has sought an explanation from the West Bengal administration over lapses in the protocol during the visit of President Droupadi Murmu to attend a tribal conference in West Bengal on Saturday, with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan asking the West Bengal Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report by 5 PM on Sunday. The report has been sought regarding the failure to follow the prescribed protocol for receiving the President, the last-minute change in the venue of the International Santal Conference, the route change, and other logistical arrangements during her visit. The move comes a day after President Murmu publicly expressed disappointment with the West Bengal government over the arrangements made for the event. She also raised concerns over the decision to shift the venue of the International Santal Conference in the Darjeeling district and the absence of state ministers to receive her. Originally, the conference was scheduled to be held at Bidhannagar under the Phansidewa block in the Darjeeling district. However, the state government shifted the venue to Gossainpur in the Bagdogra area, located on the outskirts of Siliguri in the same district. After attending the conference at Gossainpur, President Murmu travelled nearly 30 kilometres to Bidhannagar, where she addressed residents and voiced her dissatisfaction over the change of venue. She suggested that the original venue at Bidhannagar had sufficient space to accommodate a large gathering and questioned the rationale behind shifting the event. Speaking on the occasion, the President said the vast area at Bidhannagar could have easily accommodated a gathering of several lakh people. She added that many members of the Santal community could not attend the conference as it was held far from their area. Murmu also expressed concern over the absence of representatives of the state government during her visit. Referring to the customary protocol followed during presidential visits, she noted that the Chief Minister and state ministers usually receive the President. In a personal remark, she said that while she considers herself a "daughter of Bengal," she was unsure why the situation had arisen and whether there was any displeasure on the part of the state leadership. Union Home Ministry took note of the President's remarks and the Home Secretary asked the West Bengal government to clarify the circumstances that led to the changes in venue and the alleged deviation from established protocol during the high-profile event. 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. The President questioned the choice of venue for the event and said she felt saddened that many members of the Santal community were unable to attend the programme. She also remarked on the absence of Mamata Banerjee at the conference. "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. 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. - ANI Quentin Tarantino is making his directorial return not with a film, but with an original "old-fashioned British farce" play he wrote for London's West End. The production, inspired by physical comedies like 'Noises Off', is targeting a fall opening. This news follows recent false social media rumors claiming the filmmaker had died during Middle East tensions, which were firmly denied by sources close to him. Tarantino, married to Israeli actress Daniella Pick, has previously expressed his fondness for spending time in Israel. Quentin Tarantino writes & will direct an "old-fashioned British farce" for London's West End, set to open next fall. Get the latest details. Los Angeles, March 7 Academy Award-winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino is all set to make a directorial comeback with an original play written by himself, reported Variety. 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 The pre-wedding celebration for film trade analyst Komal Nahta's son became a major Bollywood event in Mumbai. Stars like Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan with his father Rakesh, and Karan Johar were among the high-profile attendees. Vidya Balan, Neha Dhupia, and a host of other actors and producers graced the occasion. The evening showcased a rare gathering of industry veterans and new-generation stars celebrating the Nahta family. Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Karan Johar, Vidya Balan & more Bollywood celebrities attended the star-studded pre-wedding bash in Mumbai. Mumbai, March 8 The pre-wedding celebration of film trade analyst Komal Nahta's son turned into a star-studded evening in Mumbai on Saturday night, with several well-known faces from Bollywood attending the celebration. From Salman Khan and Aamir Khan to Hrithik Roshan, many celebrities were seen arriving at the event to congratulate the family. The 'Bhajrangi Bhaijaan' actor turned heads as he arrived at the venue dressed in an all-black suit. Salman looked dapper, keeping his look simple yet stylish. Take a look Actor Hrithik Roshan also made a rare public appearance with his father, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan. The father-son duo posed together for paparazzi stationed outside the venue before heading inside to join the celebrations. Filmmaker Karan Johar was also seen at the event. For the occasion, Johar opted for a black sequined sherwani as he posed for the cameras. Actress Neha Dhupia accompanied him during the evening. Vidya Balan also arrived at the event dressed in an elegant purple Anarkali suit. The actress was accompanied by her husband Siddharth Roy Kapur. Several other Bollywood personalities were present at the gathering. Actors Boman Irani and Neil Nitin Mukesh were seen chatting and sharing a light moment, while actor Ishaan Khatter joined them for pictures. Veteran actors Jackie Shroff and Jeetendra were also spotted talking warmly at the venue. Producer Ektaa Kapoor was seen with them during the evening. The guest list also included actors Ananya Panday, Tiger Shroff, Suniel Shetty and Farhan Akhtar. Chunky Panday, Bhavna Panday and Maheep Kapoor were also present at the celebration. Komal Nahta is a well-known film trade analyst, journalist and television host. He is widely known for his knowledge about the business side of the Hindi film industry. - ANI Former US President Donald Trump stated the US decision to allow India to purchase Russian oil was to relieve global market pressure. The 30-day waiver comes as Middle East tensions disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for India's oil imports. Indian Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri assured there is no energy shortage, with the country comfortably meeting demand through diversified supplies. US officials framed the waiver as a short-term measure to control prices, with India now sourcing about 20% of its crude from Russia. US grants India a 30-day waiver to buy Russian oil. Trump says move aims to "take a little pressure off" global oil markets amid Middle East tensions. Washington DC, March 8 US President Donald Trump on Saturday spoke to the media about several developments in the wake of the unfolding security situation in West Asia and the Gulf and responded to the announcement by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on temporarily allowing India to purchase Russian oil. He made the remarks aboard US Air Force One. When asked about Bessent's announcement of temporarily allowing certain Russian oil sales to India and whether the US is considering any other moves, including the SPR, Trump said, "If there were some, I would do it just to take a little of the pressure off." He added, "I think that the oil pressure-- there's a lot of oil. We've got a lot of oil. Our country has a tremendous amount and we have, there's a lot of oil out there. That'll get healed very quickly." His remarks come after Scott Bessent, the US Treasury Secretary, yet again said that the United States has given India the "permission" to accept Russian oil in the wake of the developing security situation in West Asia. In an interview with Fox Business, Bessent 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 the Middle East, with a significant portion transported through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Notably, 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 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. According to the sources, the country currently has access to more energy supplies from diversified sources than the volume that could potentially be impacted through the Strait of Hormuz. India's existing stock of crude oil and petroleum products is also adequate to meet domestic demand. Sources said the government is closely monitoring the situation and plans to ramp up supplies from alternative geographies to offset any potential supply constraints linked to the Strait of Hormuz. They highlighted that India has significantly diversified its crude import basket over the past few years. Since 2022, India has been importing crude oil from Russia. While Russia accounted for only 0.2 per cent of India's total crude imports in 2022, the share has risen substantially in the following years. "In February, India imported about 20 per cent of its total crude oil imports from Russia, amounting to around 1.04 million barrels per day," government sources said. Also on Friday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that Washington's decision on issuing a 30-day waiver to India to purchase certain Russian oil supplies is part of "short-term measures" aimed at keeping global oil prices under control amid supply pressures linked to tensions in the Middle East. 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 across multiple Arab countries. - ANI KONA, Ghana (AP) Manu Yaw Fofie was born into the cocoa farming business, but the land bequeathed to him has become more of a burden than a blessing. A sharp fall in cocoa prices over the past year has left beans rotting in some West African warehouses, while global chocolate makers scramble for supplies and consumers seek their fix. More from Yahoo Scout How is climate change affecting cocoa bean production? How are West African farmers responding to plummeting prices? What government interventions are being implemented in Ghana? Why are cocoa prices crashing despite global demand? With less money coming in, the 52-year-old Fofie in Ghana has taken the desperate step of giving part of his land to illegal sand miners, a lucrative practice driven by high construction demand since sand is used in concrete. The cost is severe, however: the sand mining makes the land infertile. Aware of the danger, Fofie said he had been left with little choice. He said annual cocoa bean yields has been declining over the years, from the past heyday of 300 bags to 50 bags in 2025, affected by factors including climate change. Fofie is one of many cocoa farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast countries responsible for nearly 70% of the global cocoa bean supply who are putting their land for other uses after the price of the once high-flying commodity crashed. Ivory Coast, the worlds leading cocoa producer, had to purchase an excess supply of cocoa beans from farmers in January and this week slashed the price by more than half for 2026. While a global commodity like cocoa beans is prone to occasional crisis, Ghanaian authorities were not prepared for one at this scale, said Edward Karaweh, former general secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union. Preparation allows you to mitigate the crisis. It is not that you prevent the crisis altogether, Karaweh said. Cocoa futures soared, then crashed Hundreds of thousands of farmers in West Africa rely on cocoa farming for a living. In Ivory Coast, cocoa bean exports make up 40% of the total export revenue. In neighboring Ghana, they make up nearly 15%. Government regulators set a fixed price for the cocoa bean at the beginning of every planting season, and the majority of the beans are sold through government-licensed parties to protect farmers from price fluctuations on the international market. However, after a surge in cocoa futures in 2024 on international markets, the futures a contract to buy a commodity at an agreed-upon price on a future date reached more than $12,000 per metric ton, the highest in decades. Then it crashed to around $4,000 as supply outstripped demand. The downturn in price meant global traders would run at a loss if they purchased cocoa beans from the two African countries. That led to a mounting stockpile of rotting cocoa beans in warehouses, while farmers who already sold their stocks to governments have not been paid for months. Former BRS corporator Mekala Vijayalakshmi Ravinder Reddy, along with her followers, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Hyderabad. The event was attended by Telangana BJP State President Ramchander Rao and MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy. In a separate development, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy addressed government employees, urging them to help strengthen the state's economy and curb financial irregularities. He emphasized their crucial role as the government's ambassadors and announced the monthly release of funds to clear pending bills for retired employees. Former BRS corporator Mekala Vijayalakshmi Ravinder Reddy, along with followers, joins the BJP in Telangana in the presence of senior party leaders. Hyderabad, March 8 Jillelaguda BRS Party Ex-Corporator Mekala Vijayalakshmi Ravinder Reddy, along with followers, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of Telangana party State President Ramchander Rao and MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy at the Telangana BJP State office in Hyderabad's Nampally area. Maheshwaram BJP's contested MLA Andela Sriramulu and other senior BJP leaders participated in the event. Earlier on March 6, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy appealed to the government employees to strive hard to strengthen the state economy and meet the growing financial requirements in the coming days. The Chief Minister stressed that the employees' big responsibility is to curb irregularities and generate more income in the wake of increasing requirements for financial resources for the Telangana state. Participating in the Telangana Madiga Employees Thanksgiving programme today, the CM said that the government was releasing Rs 1000 crore every month to clear the pending bills of the retired employees. Following the retirement of 1000 employees, CM Revanth Reddy said that the role of employees was more important in running the government in a coordinated manner. "The responsibility of improving the government's financial system lies with government employees. If we stop illegal activities and bring funds to the treasury, schemes can be implemented successfully. Employees are the eyes, ears and the brand ambassadors of the government," he stated. - ANI Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced the state government's plan to introduce a law to regulate social media and create a formal complaint mechanism against false propaganda. He emphasized the need to distinguish genuine journalists from those misusing the profession and highlighted the historical role of journalism in India. The announcement was made during International Women's Day celebrations, where he also detailed various state schemes for women's empowerment. These initiatives include free bus travel, ownership of buses and solar plants, and a partnership with Amazon to sell goods from self-help groups. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy announces a planned law to regulate social media, create a complaint platform against false propaganda, and empower women. Hyderabad, March 8 Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Sunday that the state government is planning to bring a law to regulate social media. He noted that the issue would be discussed in the ensuing Assembly session and a platform will be created to curb false propaganda on the social media. Speaking at the International Women's Day celebrations here, he stressed the need for a mechanism to complain about false news which are being broadcast or posted on social media. "While there is an authority to complaint about news and views of electronic media, such a mechanism is lacking for social media," the Chief Minister said. "The Telangana government will definitely examine the issue and create a platform to lodge complaints about false news circulated on social media," he added. The Chief Minister said such a legislation is necessary to distinguish between real journalists and those who do business or run their affairs in the guise of journalists. He added that there is a need to stop the disgruntled elements from exploiting the system in the guise of journalists. He felicitated some women journalists on the occasion. Remembering the constructive role played by newspapers and journalists during the freedom struggle, CM Revanth Reddy said that Mahatma Gandhi started a magazine called Young India and former PM late Jawaharlal Nehru launched the National Herald magazine. He recalled that Suravaram Pratap Reddy started the Golconda magazine. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said these personalities proved that wars can be won through newspapers. The Chief Minister listed the schemes implemented by the state government for women empowerment, which includes free travel for women in regional transport corporation buses and making them owners of 1,000 buses and 1,000 MW solar power plants. The state government has signed an agreement with Amazon for the sale of goods produced by self-help groups, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said. To recognise and support the skills of women, the state government set up 150 stalls on a three-and-a-half acre land worth Rs 1,000 crore near the Hi-Tech City. "We are trying to transform local talent into global talent," the Chief Minister added. - IANS Budget Session to be held in new hall Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy inaugurated the renovated Telangana Legislative Council building, shifting it to a historic structure within the Assembly premises. The 18-month, Rs 30 crore restoration revives an Indo-Saracenic building used during the Nizam era and later by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. The move unifies the state's legislative bodies in a single campus, with the Council having previously operated from the Jubilee Hall since 2018. The renovation, done with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, includes modern amenities and dedicated chambers for officials. CM Revanth Reddy inaugurates the renovated Legislative Council building in Hyderabad, shifting proceedings to a unified Assembly campus after 18-month restoration. Hyderabad, March 8 Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday inaugurated the renovated Telangana Legislative Council building in the Assembly premises. The old Assembly building, where legislative business was conducted in the erstwhile Hyderabad State, has now become the Legislative Council. Council Chairman Gutta Sukhender Reddy, Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, ministers and senior officials attended the event. It was officially announced on Saturday that the Telangana Legislative Council will begin conducting its meetings in the newly renovated Council Chamber located within the Legislature premises. According to the Telangana Gazette, the existing Council chambers and connected offices will shift to the renovated Legislative Council building. All future sessions and regular functioning of the Legislative Council will be held in the new Council Hall. The Budget Session of the Legislative Council will be held in the renovated building. The Legislative Council has been conducting its proceedings from the Council Hall within the majestic Jubilee Hall premises adjacent to the Assembly premises since 2018. The Council Hall was given to Andhra Pradesh for its Legislative Council following its bifurcation in 2014. After Andhra Pradesh shifted its capital to Amaravati, it handed over the Council Hall to Telangana. The old Assembly building within the Assembly premises, which has been used as the Andhra Pradesh Assembly since 2014, has now been renovated to house the Telangana Legislative Council. The Revanth Reddy government took up the renovation of the heritage structure as he was keen to have both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council within a single, unified campus. The restoration work took 18 months, and the state government spent Rs 30 crore on the project to renovate the old Assembly building, an example of Indo-Saracenic architecture where legislative business was once conducted during the Nizam era when Hyderabad was a princely state. After the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956, it began functioning as the Assembly building. However, it had fallen into disuse after the inauguration of the new Legislative Assembly building in 1985. Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in June 2014, the building was allocated to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. After the Andhra Pradesh Assembly shifted to Amaravati, the heritage structure was disused and slipped into a dilapidated condition. After the Congress party came to power in 2023, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy decided to renovate the heritage structure to house the Legislative Council. The restoration work was undertaken by the state government in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC). It included advanced drainage, premium flooring, updated electrical systems, and dedicated chambers for the Chief Minister, Chairman, Vice Chairman, secretariat staff and a media hall. Council Chairman Sukhender Reddy said the renovated facility mirrors the functional elegance of the national Parliament, providing comprehensive amenities for members, ministers, and officials to ensure a seamless legislative environment. The government plans to utilise the existing Jubilee Hall for official programmes. There are also plans to construct a new central hall for joint sessions of both the Houses. - IANS Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for enhanced cooperation between India and China, particularly within the BRICS framework, to bring stability to the Global South. He strongly condemned the recent US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, advocating for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to diplomacy. The call comes as the Israeli Air Force conducted targeted strikes on Iranian fuel storage complexes in Tehran, which the IDF claims significantly damaged military infrastructure. Concurrently, US President Donald Trump asserted that the US has "decimated" Iran's military capabilities, including its navy and air force. Chinese FM Wang Yi calls for India-China unity in BRICS, condemns US-Israeli strikes on Iran as Trump claims major victories. Beijing, March 8 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for enhanced cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing during a news conference held on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing. The senior diplomat emphasised the importance of bilateral collaboration, stating that "India and China must step up and support each other's presidency of BRICS over the next two years." These comments come at a time of significant global upheaval, specifically amid the escalating US-Iran conflict in West Asia. Highlighting the potential for a unified front between the two Asian giants, Wang Yi underscored the impact their partnership could have on the international stage. "Together, we can bring new hope to the Global South," he stated, suggesting that a coordinated leadership within the BRICS bloc would serve as a stabilising force for developing nations. In addition to fostering regional ties, the Chinese Foreign Minister condemned the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, asserting that the escalation should "never have happened". According to Al Jazeera, the senior diplomat called for an "immediate" end to the current hostilities and a swift return to diplomatic negotiations. During the same news conference in Beijing, Wang Yi emphasised that the use of military power "will never resolve" the deep-seated crisis in the region. He warned that the reliance on force undermines the established international order, stating, "A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle." Al Jazeera further reported that the Foreign Minister expressed China's firm opposition to any efforts aimed at destabilising the Iranian government. Wang noted that he believes there is no popular support for regime change in Iran, suggesting that such objectives would only serve to further inflame regional tensions. This call for restraint from Beijing comes as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted targeted strikes against multiple Iranian military assets in the capital city. In a post on X, the military official account stated, "STRUCK: Several Fuel Storage Complexes Belonging to the IRGC in Tehran." The operation, which was "guided by IDF intelligence", targeted specific locations that the military identified as hubs for the distribution of resources to various armed units. The IDF noted that the "IAF struck these complexes, where the Iranian terrorist regime would distribute fuel to multiple military entities in Iran." Regarding the impact of the mission, the military asserted that "the strike significantly deepens the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime." Accompanying the announcement was an illustrative graphic identifying a "fuel storage facility in Tehran used by the military forces of the Iranian terror regime," highlighting the strategic nature of the targets selected during the operation. Adding weight to the military assessments, US President Donald Trump on Saturday (US local time) claimed that the United States had wiped out the entire leadership in Iran and called the actions getting rid of a major 'cancer' from the face of the earth. When asked whether the United States was responsible for the bombing of an elementary girls' school in Iran, Trump flatly denied the allegations and instead blamed Iran for bombing the school, citing the inaccuracy of Iranian weapons as a reason. Trump said, "No, I don't believe so. Based on what I've seen that was done by Iran. We think it was done by Iran because they're very inaccurate as you know with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran." He made the remarks aboard Air Force One en route to Miami. "We're winning the war by a lot. We've decimated their whole evil empire. It'll continue I'm sure for a little while. The war itself is going unbelievably. It's as good as it can be," Trump added. As the conflict marks a week, the President said that the US had accomplished much more than anyone thought was possible. He detailed the extent of the damage, stating, "We've wiped out their (Iranian) navy, 44 ships. We've wiped out their air force, every plane. We've wiped out most of their missiles. You see the missiles aren't coming much anymore. We've also hit their manufacturing areas where they make the missiles very hard. Their drone capacity is way down and we've hurt them where it hurts, including about every form of leadership you can have we've wiped out." On being asked about the earlier projected six-week timeline, Trump said, "I never project time, whatever it takes. But the (Iranian) military is almost nonexistent. We could hit their military itself very hard but maybe we will, maybe we won't, we haven't made that determination." Trump further added, "We've hit the manufacturing very hard. They're at about nine per cent of what they sent out in the first two days and we think that's because they don't have that much. We've also knocked out about 70 per cent of the rockets of the launchers. The launchers are a big deal, very hard to get, very expensive." Despite the collapse of Iranian military capacity, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who was also present on Air Force One, told the media that a diplomatic deal remains possible, though it remains up to the President. Referring to previous failures, Witkoff noted, "But they didn't seem to be very amenable in that first set of negotiations. You heard what I said. They said we have the inalienable right to enrich. They bragged about having 60 per cent enriched fuel enough for 11 bombs. And they told me and Jared, 'we're not going to give you diplomatically what you couldn't take militarily.' So you know I think they're going to need a change of attitude." The current situation is the culmination of a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory, which resulted in the death of 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 Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, shared a special video celebrating female diplomats and staff at the mission for International Women's Day, set to music from the project 'Dhurandhar'. The video highlights their contributions to strengthening the Australia-India partnership across trade, defence, and technology. Separately, the Indian Consulate in Shanghai hosted a cultural 'Vasant Baithak' event celebrating Holi and women. The Indian Bureau of Immigration also paid tribute to women across agencies like CISF and CBIC for ensuring seamless travel and security. Australia's High Commissioner Philip Green lauds female diplomats in India on International Women's Day with a special video, highlighting their role in bilateral ties. New Delhi, March 8 On the occasion of International Women's Day, Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green hailed the contributions of female diplomats and staff at the mission for their role in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two nations. The envoy, however, did so in a 'Dhurandhar' mode as he shared a video clip on X of the Australian High Commission diplomats in India celebrating International Women's Day with a video that featured a soundtrack from filmmaker Aditya Dhar's directorial project Dhurandhar. In the clip, women diplomats from the Australian High Commission are introduced along with their respective roles, highlighting their contribution to strengthening the Australia India partnership. In a post on X, Philip Green expressed his pride in the female workforce, describing them as representatives of "modern Australia". The High Commissioner shared a video featuring the women of the High Commission, highlighting their impact on the growing diplomatic ties. He wrote, "Proud to work alongside the impressive #women of the Australian High Commission who are working to advance the Australia-India partnership. This #InternationalWomensDay, meet the trailblazers of @AusHCIndia - the changemakers and proud representatives of modern Australia". The message underscores the significant role women play in the Australia-India partnership, which has seen increased cooperation in sectors ranging from trade and defence to education and technology. By showcasing these "trailblazers," the High Commissioner's post highlights a commitment to diversity as a core component of Australia's diplomatic engagement in New Delhi. Similarly, the spirit of the occasion was celebrated internationally through cultural diplomacy. On the eve of International Women's Day, the Consulate General of India in Shanghai hosted "Vasant" Baithak, a cultural event celebrating Holi and the onset of Basant. The evening, organised in association with the Chaiti Arts Foundation, featured Indian classical music and dance, aimed at capturing the essence of new beginnings and cultural harmony. Led by the Consul General of India in Shanghai, Pratik Mathur, the event drew a diverse audience of over 200 participants, including members of the diplomatic corps. Beyond diplomatic and cultural circles, the celebrations extended to the frontline of global connectivity. The Bureau of Immigration, Government of India, issued a tribute honouring female personnel across various departments who ensure the smooth functioning of travel and security. In a post on X, the Bureau highlighted the critical role played by women in maintaining "seamless journeys" and serving the nation with distinction. The Bureau tweeted, "Behind every seamless journey are women who keep the world moving. From Immigration to CISF, from airline crews to Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs- today we celebrate the women who serve with dedication & pride". This tribute acknowledged the collaborative efforts of women across multiple agencies, including the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), emphasising their collective dedication to public service on this global day of recognition. - ANI President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer ceremony for six American soldiers killed in an Iranian drone attack during Operation Epic Fury. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth vowed that the deaths would be avenged with swift action against those responsible. The operation was launched to conduct precision strikes against Iranian targets to protect US forces and allies. The conflict escalated following a joint US-Israel strike that killed Iran's Supreme Leader, leading to widespread Iranian retaliation across the Middle East. President Trump attends the dignified transfer of six US soldiers killed in Operation Epic Fury, vows to hunt down those responsible. Delaware, March 8 US President Donald Trump on Saturday attended the dignified transfer of six American soldiers at the Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The six American soldiers lost their lives in the US military 'Operation Epic Fury' against Iran. Present in attendance were First Lady Melania Trump, US Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine, Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and other officials. The Hill reported that the soldiers were in a makeshift office space in Shuaiba Port on March 1, with no apparent warning before an Iranian drone attacked them. As per the Hill, the incident is under investigation. Major Jeffrey R. O'Brien, Captain Cody A. Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor, Sergeant First Class Noah L. Tietjens and Sergeant Declan J. Coady lost their lives in Operation Epic Fury. On Friday, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that their deaths will not be in vain. "We will honor them with action. We will hunt down the Iranians radicals responsible, dismantle their military capabilities, and ensure that justice is swift and absolute", he wrote on X. The United States launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran to conduct, what the US President described to the Congress as "precision strikes" against several targets in Iran so as to protect American forces in the region and advance US national interest along with collective self-defence of regional allies, including Israel. Meanwhile, aboard Air Force One, Trump briefed on the Operation against Iran, emphasising that they have wiped out their leadership numerous times already. "We've wiped out their leadership numerous times already. It's if they surrender or if there is nobody around to surrender, but they're rendered useless in terms of military," he said. On being asked if Russia is supporting Iran, Trump said, "I have no indications of that whatsoever. If they are, they're not doing a very good job because Iran is not doing too well". 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 President Donald Trump attended a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base to honor six U.S. Army soldiers killed in a hostile incident in Kuwait. The solemn event featured an honor guard carrying flag-draped transfer cases from an aircraft as the President, First Lady, Vice President, and other senior officials stood in salute. Family members of the fallen soldiers were present on the flight line during the procession. Dover Air Force Base serves as the primary arrival point for U.S. military personnel killed overseas, with dignified transfers being a long-standing tradition. President Donald Trump saluted as six U.S. Army soldiers killed in a hostile incident in Kuwait were honored in a solemn transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base. Washington, March 8 Under a grey afternoon sky at Dover Air Force Base, the silence on the flight line was broken only by the slow steps of an honour guard carrying transfer cases draped in the American flag. President Donald Trump stood at attention, raising his hand in salute as each case bearing the remains of fallen soldiers was carried past him, families of the dead watching quietly nearby. Trump on Saturday attended the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to honour six US Army soldiers killed in a hostile incident in Kuwait. The president walked onto the flight line at 3:09 p.m. Eastern Time. The solemn process concluded at 3:41 p.m. with the call "Flight Line Dismissed". Trump wore a navy suit and red tie along with a white ball cap bearing the word "USA" in gold lettering. He saluted as each transfer case was carried from the aircraft by the military honour guard. The front row of officials included Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Usha Vance. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine stood nearby. In the second row were White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll were also present, along with US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George. Members of Congress and state officials joined the families of the fallen soldiers. Among those present were Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester, Joni Ernst, Deb Fischer, and Pete Ricketts, as well as Governors Ron DeSantis of Florida, Jim Pillen of Nebraska, and Kim Reynolds of Iowa. Family members of the six soldiers stood close to the flight line as the transfer cases were carried out one by one. The soldiers were identified as Maj. Jeffery R. O'Brien of Indianola, Iowa; Capt. Cody A. Khork of Winter Haven, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan of Sacramento, California; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady of West Des Moines, Iowa. Most of the soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa. Officials said the six service members were killed in a hostile incident at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait. According to Dover Air Force Base officials, the remains of fallen service members are transported in transfer cases used to carry them to the base. The transfer cases are not coffins or caskets. After a service member has been identified and prepared for return to family members, the remains are placed in a casket and transported to their final resting place. The transfer at Dover is described as a solemn process rather than a ceremony. Dover Air Force Base serves as the main arrival point for US military personnel killed overseas. Its mortuary affairs facility has handled the return of thousands of American service members since the Vietnam War. Dignified transfers are a long-standing military tradition in which senior officials and families gather on the flight line to honour troops who died in combat or hostile incidents while serving abroad. - IANS The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Defence confirmed its air defences intercepted incoming missiles and drones launched from Iran. President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited five injured civilianstwo Emiratis, an Indian, a Sudanese, and an Iranianreassuring them of the nation's protection. The attacks are part of a broad Iranian retaliatory offensive across the region following US and Israeli strikes that killed senior Iranian officials. The President vowed the UAE would emerge stronger from the conflict, directly addressing the nation's enemies. UAE confirms intercepting missiles and drones from Iran. President Mohamed bin Zayed visits injured civilians, vows to protect the nation. Abu Dhabi, March 8 The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Defence has confirmed that its national air defences are currently engaged in responding to "incoming missiles and drones from Iran", as reported by Al Jazeera. The military response follows a wave of aerial threats targeting the Gulf nation. Authorities stated that the audible disturbances and explosive sounds heard across the country are the "result of air defences intercepting the projectiles" launched from Iranian territory. The Ministry's announcement serves to contextualise the heightened state of alert in the region, as defence systems work to neutralise threats before they reach their intended targets. In a demonstration of national resilience amidst these attacks, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday met five civilians who were injured amid the escalating tensions in West Asia and the Gulf region. During his visit to check on the injured currently receiving treatment in hospital, the President underlined that the UAE would continue to protect its people and the country, highlighting that they would emerge stronger than before. Providing details on the victims, President Al Nahyan 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." The President reassured the public that everything is well in the UAE and expressed his gratitude to the armed forces, the Ministry of Interior, 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," he asserted. "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." Addressing the external threats directly, 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." His visit and the subsequent military interceptions come against a backdrop of rapidly deteriorating security in the region. These developments were triggered after joint US and Israeli strikes resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and four senior military and security officials. In a massive retaliatory move, Iran responded 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. This broad offensive has further widened the conflict in West Asia, significantly heightening the risks for both local civilians and the expatriate population. - ANI The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence has reported successfully intercepting a massive barrage of 1,342 unmanned aerial vehicles, 221 ballistic missiles, and 8 cruise missiles launched from Iran. The ongoing strikes have resulted in four fatalities and 112 injuries among a wide array of foreign nationals. This escalation follows the death of Iran's Supreme Leader in late February from joint U.S.-Israel military action, which triggered retaliatory strikes from Tehran. The UAE has reaffirmed its military readiness and commitment to protecting its sovereignty amid the widening regional conflict. UAE air defenses intercept over 1,500 Iranian UAVs and missiles, reporting casualties. Details on the escalating West Asia conflict and regional strikes. Abu Dhabi, March 8 The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence on Sunday reported the successful interception of a significant number of unmanned aerial vehicles, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles launched from Iran amid the ongoing conflict in the region. According to the Ministry, UAE air defence detected 17 ballistic missiles, successfully destroying 16, while one fell into the sea. Simultaneously, 117 UAVs were detected, of which 113 were intercepted, and four fell within the country's territory. Since the start of the Iranian retaliatory attacks, following the start of the war after the US-Israel joint operation killed the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28, UAE air defences have detected a total of 238 ballistic missiles, intercepting 221, with 15 falling into the sea and 2 impacting the country. A total of 1,422 Iranian UAVs have been detected, of which 1,342 were intercepted, and 80 impacted UAE soil. Additionally, 8 cruise missiles were detected and successfully destroyed. The ministry further stated that the ongoing strikes have resulted in four deaths among Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi nationals, while 112 people sustained moderate to minor injuries. The injured include nationals from the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, the Comoros, and Turkiye. The Ministry of Defence reaffirmed its readiness to address any threats, vowing to respond firmly to attempts to undermine national security. It emphasised that all measures are in place to ensure the protection of the UAE's sovereignty, stability, and national interests. The development comes amid escalated tensions in West Asia, following the death of the 86-year-old Khamenei, who was killed in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28. The strikes also killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Republic. Following this, Tehran, in retaliation, launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases and Israeli assets across the region, including multiple Arab countries. Israel, along with the US, continued its strikes on Tehran, with Tel Aviv widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militant groups. - ANI The UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 results have been declared, with 958 candidates recommended for appointment. All India Rank 1 holder Anuj Agnihotri described clearing the exam as the culmination of a long and demanding journey begun during his medical internship. Other successful candidates, including Rahul Moirangthem and Navneet Kaur, credited relentless daily study and unwavering family support for their achievement. The results also highlight inclusivity, with 42 candidates from Persons with Benchmark Disability categories being recommended. AIR 1 Anuj Agnihotri & other UPSC 2025 toppers reveal their success mindset, study plans, and dedication to public service. 958 candidates recommended. New Delhi, March 8 Candidates who were recommended for the appointment in the UPSC Result 2025 on Sunday shared their success stories and strategies and opened up about their plans. UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 results were declared on March 6. Anuj Agnihotri secured the All India Rank (AIR) 1. He qualified for the examination with Medical Science as his optional subject. He has done his graduation (MBBS) from AIIMS, Jodhpur. The recommended candidates also include 42 Persons with Benchmark Disability (10 Orthopedically Handicapped, 14 Visually Challenged, 9 Hearing Impaired & 9 Multiple Disabilities). A total of 958 candidates (659 men and 299 women) have been recommended by the Commission for appointment to various Services, a release said earlier. The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2025 was conducted on May 25, 2025. A total of 9,37,876 candidates applied for this examination, out of which 5,76,793 candidates actually appeared in the examination. Rahul Moirangthem, hailing from Kakching, Manipur, attributed his success to his family "...I am feeling very happy...The credit for my success goes to my family, who supported me throughout my journey...," Moirangthem, who secured 824 All India Rank, told ANI Navneet Kaur, who secured 111th rank in his third attempt, said that she plans to dedicate her life to the service of humanity. "...I always dreamt of becoming a civil servant...I want to work for the betterment of society...I want to promote public libraries...This was my third attempt, and I used to study for 12-14 hours daily...," Kaur, who hails from Punjab's Bathinda, told ANI on Sunday. 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 Connecting Excellence: Growth & bitcoin strategy - ICYMI Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock 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. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated the US directly asked India to purchase Russian oil cargoes that were waiting to unload at Chinese refineries. This short-term move was intended to quickly bring crude to market and tamp down price spikes fueled by Middle East disruptions. Wright emphasized that US policy toward Russia remained unchanged and praised India as a partner that had already displaced Russian oil imports. The request highlights India's key role in global energy security during geopolitical crises. US Energy Secretary reveals the US asked India to purchase Russian oil cargoes destined for China to prevent price spikes amid Middle East conflict. Washington, March 8 US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sunday that the US asked India to purchase Russian oil cargoes that were waiting to unload at Chinese refineries in a bid to stabilise global energy markets during the ongoing conflict with Iran. In an interview to CNN, Wright said the Trump administration directly reached out to India as part of a short-term effort to calm oil markets rattled by disruptions in the Middle East. "I did call up the Indians, as did US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and say, look, there's a whole bunch of oil that's floating to wait to unload at Chinese refineries," he added. "Instead of having it wait six weeks to unload there, let's just pull that oil forward, have it land at Indian refineries and tamp this fear of shortage of oil, tamp the price spikes and the concerns we see in the marketplace," Wright said. The US Energy Secretary added that the step was intended to quickly bring additional crude supplies into global markets and prevent further spikes in oil prices triggered by the war with Iran. "It's just a pragmatic effort that has a short time span," he said. The US Energy Secretary emphasised that Washington's broader policy toward Russia had not changed despite the temporary flexibility extended to India. "It is not. The United States' policy towards Russia has not changed at all," Wright said when asked whether the move undermined the administration's efforts to reduce reliance on Russian oil. He added that India had already shifted much of its energy sourcing away from Russian crude. "India is very clear on that. They had displaced all Russian oil imports. And they were raising their imports from the United States, from Venezuela, and other nations. India's been a great partner through this," Wright said. The Energy Secretary said the US administration's immediate priority was stabilising global oil supplies as the conflict with Iran disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. "The world is very well supplied with oil right now," he added. "You're seeing a little bit of fear premium in the marketplace. But the world is not short of oil today or natural gas." The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 per cent of global oil shipments normally pass, has seen significant disruption since the conflict began, raising concerns about supply shortages and sharp increases in energy prices. Wright said some tanker traffic had already resumed, though shipping levels remained far below normal. "We're nowhere near normal traffic right now. And that'll take some time," he added. "But, again, worst case, that's a few weeks. That's not months." The remarks underscore India's growing role in global energy markets as major economies look for ways to manage supply disruptions triggered by geopolitical crises. - IANS The US and Israel have reportedly held discussions about a potential special forces deployment into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning, vowing lethal retaliation against anyone who targets Americans. President Donald Trump asserted that US operations have decimated Iran's military, wiping out its navy, air force, and missile capabilities. Trump also denied US responsibility for bombing an Iranian girls' school, attributing it to inaccurate Iranian munitions. Axios reports US-Israel discussed deploying special forces to seize Iran's enriched uranium. Trump claims decimation of Iranian military. Washington, DC, March 8 The US and Israel have held discussions regarding the potential deployment of special forces into Iran to secure the country's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, as reported by Axios. According to four sources with knowledge of the discussions cited by Axios, such an operation would be considered at a later stage of the ongoing war. The move highlights the critical focus on Iranian nuclear assets as hostilities continue to escalate. Reinforcing this strategic objective, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has issued a new threat via social media, warning of lethal consequences for any entities that target American citizens. The warning, shared in a post by United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on X, underlined the administration's uncompromising stance on national security. "If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation, and we will kill you," US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was quoted as saying. Accompanying this stern message, a 21-second video clip was released, providing a visual demonstration of the military's current reach. The footage showcased a series of "unclassified" images of vehicles and structures being bombed and destroyed by US forces during recent operations. Hegseth's remarks align with recent claims made by US President Donald Trump, who asserted on Saturday that the United States has successfully neutralised the entire Iranian leadership. The President characterised these military operations as the removal of a significant "cancer" from the global stage. Reflecting on the week-old hostilities while travelling to Miami aboard Air Force One, the President maintained a confident outlook on the progress of the campaign. "We're winning the war by a lot. We've decimated their whole evil empire. It'll continue, I'm sure, for a little while. The war itself is going unbelievably. It's as good as it can be," Trump asserted. During his briefing, the President provided a detailed list of the strategic military gains achieved by American forces, stating that the offensive had effectively dismantled Iran's maritime and aerial capabilities. "We've wiped out their (Iranian) navy, 44 ships. We've wiped out their air force, every plane. We've wiped out most of their missiles," he noted. Trump further suggested that the capability of the Iranian regime to launch offensive strikes has been severely curtailed. "You see the missiles aren't coming much anymore. We've also hit their manufacturing areas where they make the missiles very hard. Their drone capacity is way down, and we've hurt them where it hurts, including about every form of leadership you can have; we've wiped out," the President added. Amidst the military successes, the President addressed reports concerning the bombing of an elementary girls' school in Iran. He categorically dismissed allegations of American responsibility, instead attributing the incident to the failure of Iranian hardware and the "inaccuracy" of their military assets. "No, I don't believe so. Based on what I've seen, that was done by Iran. We think it was done by Iran because they're very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran," Trump said. When questioned about the initial six-week projection for the military mission, the President declined to provide a specific end date, though he emphasised that the Iranian armed forces were on the verge of collapse. "I never project time, whatever it takes. But the (Iranian) military is almost nonexistent. We could hit their military itself very hard, but maybe we will, maybe we won't. We haven't made that determination," the US President said. The President also highlighted the extensive damage dealt to the industrial infrastructure supporting the Iranian military. "We've hit the manufacturing very hard. They're at about nine per cent of what they sent out in the first two days, and we think that's because they don't have that much. We've also knocked out about 70 per cent of the rockets, of the launchers. The launchers are a big deal, very hard to get, very expensive," he explained. Speaking alongside the President, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that a diplomatic breakthrough remained a possibility, though the decision ultimately rests with the White House. "I think there is. I think that's going to be up to the President, that's what I think," Witkoff said. However, the envoy noted that past discussions had been hindered by Tehran's refusal to compromise. "But they didn't seem to be very amenable in that first set of negotiations. You heard what I said. They said we have the inalienable right to enrich. They bragged about having 60 per cent enriched fuel, enough for 11 bombs. And they told me and Jared, we're not going to give you diplomatically what you couldn't take militarily. So you know, I think they're going to need a change of attitude," he added. These significant developments are the result of a joint US-Israel military operation on 28 February, which led to the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other high-ranking officials. In the aftermath of that strike, Tehran initiated a major retaliatory campaign, launching drones and ballistic missiles at US assets and regional partners, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. This escalation has notably increased the danger to both local civilians and the expatriate population across West Asia. Simultaneously, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have announced that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted targeted strikes against multiple Iranian military assets in the capital city. In a post on X, the military official account stated: "STRUCK: Several Fuel Storage Complexes Belonging to the IRGC in Tehran." The operation, which was "Guided by IDF intelligence," targeted specific locations that the military identified as hubs for the distribution of resources to various armed units. The IDF noted that the "IAF struck these complexes, where the Iranian terrorist regime would distribute fuel to multiple military entities in Iran." Regarding the impact of the mission, the military asserted that "The strike significantly deepens the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime." Accompanying the announcement was an illustrative graphic identifying a "fuel storage facility in Tehran used by the military forces of the Iranian terror regime," highlighting the strategic nature of the targets selected during the operation. - ANI Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has strongly condemned the joint US-Israeli military offensive against Iran, stating it should "never have happened" and calling for an immediate ceasefire and return to diplomacy. His comments came as the Israeli Air Force conducted targeted strikes on Iranian Revolutionary Guard fuel storage complexes in Tehran. Concurrently, US President Donald Trump claimed the US had "decimated" Iran's military, wiping out its navy, air force, and leadership. The escalating conflict has prompted Beijing to warn against undermining the international order and destabilizing the Iranian government. Chinese FM Wang Yi condemns US-Israeli strikes on Iran, calling for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to diplomatic negotiations. Beijing, March 8 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has condemned the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, asserting that the escalation should "never have happened". According to Al Jazeera, the senior diplomat called for an "immediate" end to the current hostilities and a swift return to diplomatic negotiations. During a news conference held in Beijing, Wang Yi emphasised that the use of military power "will never resolve" the deep-seated crisis in the region. He warned that the reliance on force undermines the established international order, stating, "A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle." Al Jazeera further reported that the Foreign Minister expressed China's firm opposition to any efforts aimed at destabilising the Iranian government. Wang noted that he believes there is no popular support for regime change in Iran, suggesting that such objectives would only serve to further inflame regional tensions. This call for restraint from Beijing comes as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted targeted strikes against multiple Iranian military assets in the capital city. In a post on X, the military official account stated, "STRUCK, Several Fuel Storage Complexes Belonging to the IRGC in Tehran." The operation, which was "guided by IDF intelligence", targeted specific locations that the military identified as hubs for the distribution of resources to various armed units. The IDF noted that the "IAF struck these complexes, where the Iranian terrorist regime would distribute fuel to multiple military entities in Iran." Regarding the impact of the mission, the military asserted that "the strike significantly deepens the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime." Accompanying the announcement was an illustrative graphic identifying a "fuel storage facility in Tehran used by the military forces of the Iranian terror regime", highlighting the strategic nature of the targets selected during the operation. Adding weight to the military assessments, US President Donald Trump on Saturday (US local time) claimed that the United States had wiped out the entire leadership in Iran and called the actions getting rid of a major 'cancer' from the face of the earth. When asked whether the United States was responsible for the bombing of an elementary girls' school in Iran, Trump flat out denied the allegations and instead called Iran for bombing the school, slating the inaccuracy of Iranian weapons as a reason. Trump said, "No, I don't believe so. Based on what I've seen that was done by Iran. We think it was done by Iran because they're very inaccurate as you know with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran." He made the remarks aboard Air Force One en route to Miami. "We're winning the war by a lot. We've decimated their whole evil empire. It'll continue I'm sure for a little while... The war itself is going unbelievably. It's as good as it can be," Trump added. As the conflict marks a week, the President said that the US had accomplished much more than anyone thought was possible. He detailed the extent of the damage, stating, "We've wiped out their (Iranian) navy, 44 ships. We've wiped out their air force, every plane. We've wiped out most of their missiles. You see the missiles aren't coming much anymore. We've also hit their manufacturing areas where they make the missiles very hard. Their drone capacity is way down and we've hurt them where it hurts, including about every form of leadership you can have we've wiped out." On being asked about the earlier projected six-week timeline, Trump said, "I never project time, whatever it takes. But the (Iranian) military is almost nonexistent. We could hit their military itself very hard but maybe we will, maybe we won't, we haven't made that determination." Trump further added, "We've hit the manufacturing very hard. They're at about nine per cent of what they sent out in the first two days and we think that's because they don't have that much. We've also knocked out about 70 per cent of the rockets of the launchers. The launchers are a big deal, very hard to get, very expensive." Despite the collapse of Iranian military capacity, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who was also present on Air Force One, told the media that a diplomatic deal remains possible, though it remains up to the President. Referring to previous failures, Witkoff noted, "But they didn't seem to be very amenable in that first set of negotiations. You heard what I said. They said we have the inalienable right to enrich. They bragged about having 60 per cent enriched fuel enough for 11 bombs. And they told me and Jared, 'we're not going to give you diplomatically what you couldn't take militarily.' So you know I think they're going to need a change of attitude." The current situation is the culmination of a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory, which resulted in the death of 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 Republican and Democratic senators raise concerns over objectives, duration, and need for Congressional authorization for the expanding military campaign against Iran. Washington, March 8 The US lawmakers, on Sunday, raised sharp questions about the objectives and potential duration of President Donald Trump's expanding military campaign against Iran, warning that the administration must clearly explain its strategy to the American people and the Congress. Speaking to CNN, Republican Senator Thom Tillis said the White House needs to clarify its goals as the conflict enters its second week. "I think that the administration needs to be clear on what the goal is," Tillis added. "If our ultimate goal is going to be regime change, then it may take longer than the 60 days that the war powers resolution provides the President before they really do need to come before the US Congress and get it authorised," he said. Tillis said the US Congressional backing would strengthen the legitimacy of a prolonged military effort. "Wouldn't we want to legitimise this by getting a Congressional vote supporting the President if it's going to be a long-term engagement?" he added. The North Carolina Senator also suggested that if US forces are deployed on the ground, the conflict could evolve into a longer campaign. "When you start putting boots on the ground, and those boots on the ground may need reinforcement, that starts looking like a longer-term conflict," Tillis said. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy offered a far more critical assessment of the war, warning that the conflict risks becoming another costly Middle East campaign. "This is already a war that is becoming an ongoing disaster," Murphy said in the same CNN interview. "It gets worse if the President is talking about putting ground forces in," he said, adding that such a move could lead to significant American casualties. "You're talking at that point about dozens, if not hundreds of new American casualties," Murphy said. He also added that military strikes alone cannot permanently eliminate Iran's nuclear capabilities. "You can't bomb knowledge out of existence," he said. "Even if you were to do something wildly dangerous, like putting American ground forces in order to try to extract some of their enriched uranium, there's still going to be the knowledge inside Iran." The Senator urged a return to diplomacy, pointing to the nuclear agreement negotiated during the Obama administration. "A diplomatic agreement," Murphy said, describing it as the "only true path" to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons. Murphy also criticised plans to approve additional funding for the conflict, saying the American public does not want another long-running war in the region. "The American people don't want this war," he said. "They have seen what happens when American troops go into places like Iraq, places like Afghanistan." Meanwhile, in an interview with ABC News, US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, defended the Trump administration's strategy and said Washington was achieving its military objectives. "In terms of our military objectives, the President is right, we are not only ahead of schedule, we are winning," Waltz said. He added that the campaign was aimed at neutralising Iran's ability to threaten the US and its allies. "At the end of the day, what the President is focused on is an Iran that can no longer pose a threat to Americans," the US envoy to UN said, adding that the goal was also to ensure Tehran could no longer threaten "our allies in the region". Waltz said the campaign had already significantly degraded Iran's military capabilities. "We've seen ballistic missile launches from Iran largely degraded," he said, noting that launch activity had fallen dramatically since the start of the war. The debate in Washington comes as the conflict expands across the region and oil prices surge amid disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. - IANS Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a government package of Rs 25,000 for girls, supporting them financially from birth until graduation under the Kanya Sumangala Yojana. He stated that 27 lakh daughters in the state are currently benefiting from this scheme. On International Women's Day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared an inspiring conversation with female students, calling women the greatest force for change. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended greetings, praising the strength and achievements of India's women in building a developed nation. CM Yogi Adityanath announces a Rs 25,000 package for girls from birth to graduation. PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi also extend Women's Day greetings. Lucknow, March 8 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday participated in the International Women's Day program and said that the government will provide women with a package of Rs 25,000 from their birth to graduation. Addressing the gathering on the occassion, Adityanath added that the State government had distributed cheques to the beneficiaries of the Chief Minister Kanya Sumangala Yojana. He said that 27 lakh daughters in Uttar Pradesh are benefiting from the scheme. "Today we have accomplished many tasks here. Through this platform, we have distributed cheques to the beneficiaries of the Chief Minister Kanya Sumangala Yojana. A daughter will no longer be dependent on anyone; instead, from birth to graduation, the government will provide her with a package of 25 thousand rupees... Currently, 27 lakh daughters in the state are benefiting from this scheme..." he said. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also extended his greetings on the occasion. He also had a conversation with some young female students in Kerala, which described as "extremely inspiring." The Rae Bareli MP said their confidence and belief in their dreams show that "women are the greatest force for change." In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, "The conversation with some young female students in Kerala was extremely inspiring. Their confidence and belief in their dreams show that women are the greatest force for change. Heartfelt wishes to all on International Women's Day." Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings to the nation on International Women's Day and paid tribute to the strength, determination and achievements of India's Nari Shakti. The Prime Minister greeted women across the country and acknowledged their growing role in shaping India's progress. He said that across every field, women are contributing with determination, creativity and unmatched zeal, and that their achievements inspire the nation while strengthening the collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat. International Women's Day, observed globally on March 8, celebrates the achievements, leadership and contributions of women across all spheres of life and reaffirms the collective commitment towards gender equality, safety, dignity and empowerment. - ANI Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami visits Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan in Gairsain and honors 38 senior women for their contributions on Women's Day. Chamoli, March 8 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a courtesy visit to Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan in Bhararisain. On the arrival of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at Bharadisain, MLA Anil Nautiyal, Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar, SP Surjeet Singh Panwar, and local residents welcomed him. CM Dhami on Sunday participated in the "Nari Tu Narayani" programme organised at Mukhya Sevak Sadan, Dehradun, to honour senior women on the occasion of International Women's Day. According to a release, during the event, the Chief Minister felicitated 38 senior women from across the state who have made outstanding contributions in various fields such as education, social service, entrepreneurship, environmental conservation, agriculture, culture, and water conservation. Extending his greetings on International Women's Day, the Chief Minister said that the programme honours those women whose sacrifice, struggle, affection, and values have strengthened the foundation of families, society, and the nation. He said that generations progress and society continues to move forward with the love, sacrifice, and blessings of women. As mothers, women often sacrifice their own comforts to ensure a better future for their children. The Chief Minister said that senior women are not only the pillars of their families but also the guardians of culture, traditions, and life values. He added that the contribution of women in Uttarakhand is particularly inspiring and admirable. "Women in the state manage their families while also working tirelessly in the fields and rural economy. Despite challenging circumstances, they continue to move forward with resilience and determination," he said. He emphasised that the true strength of the mountains lies in its maternal power. - ANI Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended heartfelt greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of the historic Jhanda Mela in Dehradun. He highlighted the fair's significance in marking the birth anniversary of Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji, describing it as a symbol of the region's unique traditions, faith, and cultural heritage. The Chief Minister emphasized that the fair represents mutual love and harmony among people, noting the continued relevance of Guru Ram Rai Ji's teachings. In a separate message, CM Dhami also extended International Women's Day greetings, praising the role of women in the state's development. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami extends wishes for Jhanda Mela, honoring Guru Ram Rai Ji's teachings and the region's cultural harmony. Dehradun, March 8 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended his heartfelt wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of Jhanda Mela today. In a post on X, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami highlighted the historical and spiritual significance of the Shri Jhanda Ji Mela in Dehradun. He noted that the sacred fair is traditionally celebrated each year to mark the auspicious birth anniversary of Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji, serving as a symbol of the region's rich cultural heritage. "Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami has extended greetings to all residents of the state on the occasion of the historic Jhanda Mela in Dehradun. In his message, the Chief Minister said that the historic and sacred Shri Jhanda Ji Mela of Dehradun, traditionally celebrated every year on the auspicious birth anniversary of Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji, encompasses unique traditions imbued with humanity and faith. This fair is also a symbol of devotion and belief," said Uttarakhand CMO. He further noted that the fair is not just a showcase of the region's rich cultural heritage, but also a vital symbol of mutual love and harmony among the people. The Chief Minister said that this fair is not only a symbol of our rich cultural heritage but also a symbol of mutual love and harmony. He stated that the teachings and messages of Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji Maharaj are even more relevant in today's time. "The Chief Minister said that this fair is not only a symbol of our rich cultural heritage but also a symbol of mutual love and harmony. He stated that the teachings and messages of Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji Maharaj are even more relevant in today's time," added Uttarakhand CMO. Earlier, the state chief minister extended his greetings to the people of the state, especially to the Matri Shakti (women), 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. - ANI The helicopter carrying Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh made an emergency landing at the GVK helipad in Srinagar as a precaution after experiencing technical problems. The Governor was safely taken to the Police Guest House following the incident. Earlier the same day, he had been speaking at the Himalayan O2 Tehri Lake Festival, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The festival features various cultural and adventure events and continues until March 9. Helicopter carrying Uttarakhand Governor Gurmit Singh makes precautionary emergency landing in Srinagar due to technical problems. Governor safe. Srinagar, March 8 The helicopter of Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh made an emergency landing in Srinagar on Sunday due to a technical glitch. According to information received from Pauri Police, the helicopter experienced "some technical problems," following which it landed at the GVK helipad as a precautionary measure. The Governor was subsequently taken to the Police Guest House in Srinagar. More details are awaited in this case. Earlier in the day, Governor Gurmeet Singh, while speaking to ANI, extended his greetings on International Women's Day, while attending the four-day Himalayan O2 Tehri Lake Festival, inaugurated by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on March 6. "It is truly a matter of immense joy, happiness, and jubilation that today, a four-day program took place in Tehri Garhwal, sending a message to the entire world. The title itself is so beautiful: Himalayan O2 2026. Fifteen competitions were held, and over four thousand contestants participated... I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to women across the world on International Women's Day. To be honest, the women of Uttarakhand, the women's power, our daughters, are unique in the entire world... I visited the museum, which showcases the history of Tehri... I feel that these four days have delivered a significant message in the environmental field," the Governor said. Various activities will be organised as part of the Tehri Lake Festival until March 9, including adventure sports, tourism-related events and several programs showcasing local culture. - ANI The UAE authorities have warned that strict action will be taken against anyone filming incident sites, prohibited areas, or airport interiors without authorization. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has advised all Indian nationals to adhere to these guidelines, emphasizing not to go outside to take photos or videos during warning alerts. It also urged people to avoid sharing images of incident sites or damage on social media platforms. The advisory comes as the UAE Ministry of Defence reported its air defence systems were responding to missile and drone threats. UAE issues strict warning against filming incident sites, airports, or sharing such media online. Indian Embassy advises nationals to follow local laws amid regional security situation. Abu Dhabi, March 8 The authorities in the United Arab Emirates have issued a warning that strict action will be taken against anyone who films incident sites, prohibited areas, or airport interiors without authorisation, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi said on Sunday. To ensure the safety of the self and avoid legal consequences, the Embassy advised all Indian nationals to strictly adhere to the guidelines. "When you hear a warning alert, proceed immediately to a safe place and remain there until the warning alert has been lifted for your area. Do not attempt to go outside to take photograph/record videos," it said. It advised the Indian nationals to strictly avoid sharing or publishing images of incident sites, including damage from projectiles or shrapnel, via digital/social media platforms. "In the event of shrapnel falling or discovering suspicious objects in your vicinity, report it immediately to the competent authorities to enable them to handle the situation safely and swiftly. Please stay away from the location and do not approach or touch any parts," the Embassy said. "Do not take photograph/record videos inside the airport during arrival/departure. In view of the current regional situation, the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, urges all Indian nationals residing in or visiting the United Arab Emirates to strictly adhere to the local laws and safety guidelines issued by the UAE authorities," it added. Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Defence said on Sunday that its air defence systems were responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. In a post on the social media platform X, the ministry explained that the sounds heard in some areas were due to air defence systems intercepting missiles and drones. Authorities urged the public to stay in safe locations and follow updates from official channels as the situation unfolds. - IANS The 'Bharati - Nari to Narayani' national convention emphasized advancing women-led development grounded in Indian cultural values. Speakers argued that tools for women's empowerment must stem from the Indian ethos rather than Western feminism. There was a strong call to translate discussions into concrete, implementable action plans, particularly for rural areas. The event united leaders, academics, and entrepreneurs to deliberate on transforming women into empowered leaders for nation-building. Speakers at 'Nari to Narayani' convention call for actionable plans to empower women through development driven by Indian values, not Western feminism. New Delhi, March 8 Speakers at the National Convention of Women, 'Bharati - Nari to Narayani', emphasised the need to promote female-led development rooted in Indian values while calling for actionable plans to empower women across the country. Speaking to IANS, Dr Leena Rahane, a professor at an engineering college, said the idea of 'Nari Se Narayani' seeks to awaken the dignity and pride of women in the nation. "Through the idea of 'Nari Se Narayani', the dignity and pride of women in the nation are awakened. The message reflects the ancient prayer: 'Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya, Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya' - lead us from darkness to light and from mortality to immortality. There is a strong need to emphasise how India's development can be driven by women-led development," she said. Surekha Dangwal, Vice Chancellor of Doon University, described the convention as a meaningful platform for discussions on women's empowerment rooted in the Indian ethos. "It was a very enriching experience. There was a meaningful discussion on how the tools available for Indian women to access opportunities cannot be Western in nature and cannot simply be feminism. Many people shared their views on our Indian ethos and identity," she said. Dr Tripta Thakur, Vice Chancellor of Uttarakhand Technical University, highlighted the traditional Indian perspective on gender equality. "In our Indian culture, women have never been considered inferior to men, because we belong to a tradition where the concept of Ardhanarishwar was envisioned," she said. Venita Sahay, Director of IIM Bodh Gaya, stressed the importance of focusing on opportunities and outcomes. "I have a slightly different view because I believe that whatever we focus on expands. So, we should talk more about opportunities. We should have conversations around creativity, outputs and results," she said. Neeta Chaturvedi, Executive Group Director of Ashkom Media Pvt Ltd, emphasised the need to move beyond discussions and focus on implementation. "Beyond the papers and the boundary walls of this hall, I would say that an actionable plan should be prepared on paper and then implemented," she said. Reeva Sood, an agribusiness entrepreneur working with women farmers in Himachal Pradesh, said she was proud to be part of the programme and stressed the need for greater efforts in rural areas. "I am very proud to be a part of this programme. Our blueprints are very good, but we need to work even harder to help our sisters in rural areas move forward," she said. The convention brought together women leaders, academicians, entrepreneurs and policymakers to deliberate on the role of women in nation-building and the vision of transforming Nari into Narayani through empowerment and leadership. - IANS ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is included among the 13 Best Defensive Dividend Stocks for 2025. ConocoPhillips (COP) Gets PT Hike from UBS as Oil Price Forecasts Rise On March 5, UBS raised its price recommendation on ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) to $144 from $130. It reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. The firm said it continues to view the energy sector as offering an attractive risk/reward profile. The higher target reflects a change in the firms oil price outlook. UBS increased its 2026 oil price assumptions by $10 per barrel, now expecting $68 WTI and $72 Brent. The analyst also pointed to a modest expansion in valuation multiples tied to geopolitical risk. In a research note, the firm said markets may be underestimating the potential for a prolonged conflict in the Middle East and possible disruptions to Qatars gas supply. Those risks could push oil and natural gas prices higher. If that scenario plays out, UBS believes companies that produce both oil and gas could see the strongest upside in free cash flow. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) operates as an exploration and production company. Its Alaska segment focuses on exploring for, producing, transporting, and marketing crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. The companys Lower 48 segment includes operations across the 48 contiguous United States as well as the Gulf of Mexico. While we acknowledge the potential of COP 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. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy honoured women journalists at a special International Women's Day programme at Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad. He praised their dedication, courage, and vital role in strengthening democracy through responsible journalism. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and several state ministers also attended, lauding the growing role of women in media for building an inclusive society. The event concluded with the felicitation of several women journalists and a collective reiteration of the government's support for women's empowerment across all sectors. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy honoured women journalists on Women's Day, praising their commitment to truth, integrity, and strengthening democracy. Hyderabad, March 8 On the occasion of International Women's Day, a special programme was organised at Praja Bhavan to honour women journalists for their remarkable contribution to the media and society. The programme was graced by A. Revanth Reddy, who attended as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister appreciated the dedication, courage, and professionalism displayed by women journalists and acknowledged their vital role in strengthening democracy and upholding the values of responsible journalism. "Women journalists continue to inspire society through their commitment to truth, integrity, and public service," CM Revanth said. Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, also attended the programme and lauded the growing role of women in the media sector, emphasising that their participation is essential for building an inclusive and progressive society, according to a release. Minister for Revenue, Housing, Information & Public Relations, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, appreciated the professionalism and dedication of women journalists and reiterated the government's commitment to supporting media freedom and empowering women across all fields. Minister for Transport and BC Welfare Ponnam Prabhakar extended his greetings to women journalists and acknowledged their important contribution in bringing social issues and public concerns to light. Minister for Minorities Welfare and Public Enterprises Mohammed Azharuddin conveyed his warm wishes to women journalists on the occasion and praised their tireless efforts and dedication to the profession. He emphasised that empowering women in media and other sectors remains a priority of the government. Newly nominated Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament Anil Kumar Yadav and Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy were also present at the event, along with senior government officials, representatives of the media fraternity, and other distinguished guests. During the programme, several women journalists were felicitated in recognition of their outstanding service and contribution to journalism. The leaders collectively appreciated their commitment and reiterated the government's continued support for women's empowerment and equal opportunities in every sector of society, an official statement said. - ANI Anupam Kher joined global celebrations for International Women's Day by honoring the invaluable role women play in shaping families, communities, and society. He called the power to create life the "greatest" and stated women deserve celebration every day of the year. On the professional front, Kher will next be seen in the sequel 'Khosla Ka Ghosla 2'. The actor also has the upcoming film 'Fauzi' with Prabhas, whose new poster was released on Kher's 71st birthday. Anupam Kher honors women on International Women's Day, praising their strength in shaping families and society. He says they deserve year-round celebration. Mumbai, March 8 What would the world look like without the strength and resilience that women bring to it every single day? As people across the globe mark International Women's Day, messages of appreciation have been pouring in from all walks of life and amid these wishes, Anupam Kher has also joined the chorus. While speaking to ANI on the special occasion, Kher highlighted the invaluable role women play in shaping families, communities and society at large. The' Saaransh' actor also spoke about the incredible strength that comes with the ability to create life. Calling that power the "greatest," Kher said women deserve to be celebrated not just for a day, but throughout the year. "On International Women's Day, my heartfelt salute to all the women of the world. I truly believe that whoever has the power to give birth to another life is the greatest, and that is a woman," Kher told ANI. "Best wishes to you today and for 365 days. You are great. All women are great... Happy Women's Day," he added. On the professional front, the 'Tanvi The Great' star will next be seen in 'Khosla Ka Ghosla 2,' the sequel to the beloved 2006 film directed by Dibakar Banerjee. The original film remains a fan favourite for its relatable storytelling and memorable performances. Kher also has other projects lined up, including the upcoming film 'Fauzi', starring Prabhas. On Saturday, the makers of the much-awaited film unveiled a new poster featuring the actor on the occasion of his 71st birthday. - ANI On International Women's Day, Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn shared a touching tribute to the key women in his life, posting pictures with his wife, daughter, mother, and other family members. He affectionately referred to them as his "shernis," captioning that he is nothing without them. Other celebrities like Anupam Kher also extended greetings, emphasizing the invaluable role of women in shaping society. Actor-politician Hema Malini celebrated women as unique, blessed multitaskers capable of mastering work-life balance. Ajay Devgn shares photos with wife Kajol, daughter Nysa, and other family "shernis" for Women's Day. Anupam Kher and Hema Malini also share messages. Mumbai, March 8 On Women's Day, actor Ajay Devgn paid a heartfelt tribute to the important women in his life. Sharing beautiful pictures, he affectionately called his wife Kajol, daughter Nysa, sister Neelam, mother Veena, mother-in-law Tanuja, and sister-in-law Tanisha his "shernis." "This singham is nothing without his shernis," he captioned the post. Besides, Ajay, several celebrities extended greetings on Women's Day. Actor Anupam Kher, while speaking to ANI, highlighted the invaluable role women play in shaping families, communities and society at large. "On International Women's Day, my heartfelt salute to all the women of the world. I truly believe that whoever has the power to give birth to another life is the greatest, and that is a woman," Kher told ANI. Actor-politician Hema Malini, in a social media post, wrote, "Reaching out to all women - each remarkable in her own way, all capable multitaskers, homemakers, entrepreneurs, seasoned business women who have mastered the art of work-life balance - a shout out to all of you, wherever you are! Remember, you are a unique, blessed creation of God. Just learn to enjoy life on your own terms!" - ANI The national conference 'Bharati: Nari Se Narayani' featured discussions on women's empowerment, leadership, and spiritual strength. Political leaders, spiritual figures, and achievers like ISRO scientist Ritu Karidhal highlighted women's growing roles in fields like space technology. Spiritual speakers emphasized the divine feminine power and the crucial role of mothers in shaping society and values. The event aimed to unite women leaders to discuss their evolving role in modern India. Leaders discuss women's role in nation-building, science, and spirituality at the 'Bharati: Nari Se Narayani' conference on International Women's Day. New Delhi, March 8 The second day of the national conference themed 'Bharati: Nari Se Narayani', organised on the occasion of International Women's Day, witnessed a series of discussions on women's empowerment, leadership and spiritual strength at Vigyan Bhavan on Sunday. Several political leaders, spiritual figures and women achievers participated in the National Convention of Women Thought Leaders, sharing their views on the role of women in shaping society and nation-building. Among those who addressed the gathering were BJP MPs Kavita Patidar, Maya Naroliya and Sumitra Balmik. Spiritual leaders, including Anandmurti Gurumaa, Yogini Mukti Nath, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Maitri Giri, Sadhvi Anadi Saraswati and Sadhvi Sunita Shastri also spoke at the event, highlighting the spiritual and cultural significance of women in Indian society. Senior scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ritu Karidhal, recalled the success of India's lunar mission while speaking about the growing role of women in science and technology. She said that during the Chandrayaan-3 mission, India achieved the historic feat of landing near the Moon's South Pole -- the first country in the world to do so. "The landing site has been named the 'Shiv Shakti Point', which symbolises the contribution of women scientists and engineers," she said, encouraging young women to pursue careers in science and innovation. Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of the convention, Mridula Pradhan, wife of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, said International Women's Day is being celebrated across the world, and the theme of the programme itself conveys a powerful message. "A woman is like a goddess. The concept of 'Nari to Narayani' reflects the respect and strength associated with women in society," she said. Mahamandaleshwar Swami Maitri Giri said that women must demonstrate their inherent strength in today's times. "Whenever there has been a crisis in dharma, divine feminine power has emerged to restore balance," she noted. Sadhvi Sunita Shastri emphasised the importance of maternal energy in shaping society, saying that mothers play a crucial role in instilling values and discipline in children from an early age. Sadhvi Anadi Saraswati also highlighted the central role of women in preserving Indian values, culture and traditions, noting that women contribute significantly to society both as spiritual practitioners and homemakers. Yogini Mukti Nath said that women play a foundational role in shaping the future of society. "Just as an Indian woman gives birth to a child, she also nurtures and guides the child according to our traditions. It is believed that while the Divine writes a child's destiny at birth, it is the mother who shapes that destiny through her values and upbringing," she said. Spiritual teacher Anandmurti Gurumaa remarked that in India, every day symbolically celebrates womanhood. "Festivals like Navratri highlight the reverence for feminine power. International Women's Day provides another opportunity to recognise and celebrate women's contributions," she said. The two-day convention aims to bring together women leaders from different fields to discuss empowerment, leadership and the evolving role of women in modern India. - IANS Actor Vijay Deverakonda responded endearingly to a young fan who was upset about not receiving an invitation to his wedding reception with Rashmika Mandanna. The fan's viral comment prompted the actor to personally invite her for a home-cooked lunch, asking for her favorite dishes. The couple, who married in Udaipur in February, also hosted a grand reception in Hyderabad attended by film industry colleagues and political figures. Following the celebrations, they distributed sweets to fans and shared glimpses of meetings with high-profile leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Actor Vijay Deverakonda invites a young fan for a home-cooked lunch after she asks why she wasn't invited to his wedding with Rashmika Mandanna. New Delhi, March 8 Actor Vijay Deverakonda has won the internet with a heartfelt response to a young fan who adorably questioned why she was not invited to his wedding with actor Rashmika Mandanna. The Telugu stars tied the knot on February 26 in an intimate yet grand ceremony in Udaipur, attended by close friends and family members. Following the celebrations, the couple also hosted a lavish wedding reception in Hyderabad last week for colleagues and friends from the film industry and political circles. While the wedding celebrations have been widely discussed online, it was a simple question from a young admirer that recently caught attention on social media. In a viral comment addressed to Deverakonda, the child asked why she had not received an invitation to the wedding reception despite being his fan. "Am I not your fan too? What about us?" the little girl wrote, in a message that quickly went viral on the internet. Deverakonda soon noticed the video and responded with a cute gesture, "Sweetie, I'm inviting you home for lunch. Tell me your favourite food and sweets; I'll have everything prepared at home and we'll have a great meal," the actor wrote in reply. Rashmika also shared the video on her social media handle. The newly married couple had earlier celebrated their union by distributing sweet boxes to fans across several cities and temples after the wedding ceremony. Meanwhile, the celebrations continued with several high-profile visits. Revanth Reddy, the Chief Minister of Telangana, visited Deverakonda's residence to bless the couple after their wedding reception. Rashmika Mandanna also shared glimpses of meetings with national leaders ahead of their wedding. She posted photographs from her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, writing that spending time discussing culture and history with him was a special moment. She added that the Prime Minister had written a thoughtful letter to her parents, describing it as a memory she would cherish. In another post, the actor shared images from her meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, thanking him for gifting the couple a Ganesh idol that now holds a special place in their home. - ANI Corn futures posted gains of 3 to 8 cents across the board on Friday, as May managed a 12 cent gain on the week and December up 15. Crude oil futures continued the rally and spillover support into Friday, up $10.22 as President Trump indicated the strikes would continue until an unconditional surrender by Iran. Iran, in the meantime, has continued threats of US ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was up 6 1/2 cents to $4.18 1/4. Export Sales data shows total corn export commitments at 64.982 MMT, which is now 78% of the USDA export projection, matching the average sales pace. Actual exports are 40.024 MMT according to FAS data, 48% of USDAs number and ahead of the 40% average shipping pace. More News from Barchart Commitment of Traders data from this afternoon showed spec funds flipping to a net long position in corn futures and options to 52,974 contracts. That was a net move of 66, 841 contracts on the week to the long side and is the largest net long in corn since last April. Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.47, up 5 1/2 cents, Nearby Cash was $4.18 1/4, up 6 1/2 cents, May 26 Corn closed at $4.60 1/2, up 7 cents, Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.71, up 8 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 Innate immune sensors known as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) detect specific molecular components of bacterial or viral intruders. The PRRs forward the signals which results in the production of interferons, which in turn guide the immune cells. However, until now the precise mechanism of how these signals are forwarded has remained enigmatic. In a new study, an international team of researchers led by Dr Eva Rieser and Professor Henning Walczak from the University of Cologne have shown that the enzyme ANKIB1 is crucial for the process of innate immune signaling. The study reveals that ANKIB1 catalyses a highly specific type of molecular modification called K11-ubiquitin, which acts as a docking platform to assemble the machinery that turns on type I and type III interferons, the body's frontline antiviral messengers. The study 'Lysine 11-ubiquitination drives Type-I/III Interferon induction by cGASSTING and Toll-Like Receptors 3 and 4' was published in Nature Cell Biology. The research finding solves a longstanding puzzle in innate immunity and provides opportunities for the future development of completely new therapies for various devastating diseases. 'We discovered that ANKIB1 decides when the alarm clock for immune cells sounds and, importantly, how loud this wake-up call will be', says Henning Walczak, Alexander-von-Humboldt Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Institute of Biochemistry I of the University of Cologne's Faculty of Medicine and Principal Researcher at the CECAD Cluster of Excellence in Aging Research and the Cancer Institute of University College London. 'With K63- and M1-ubiquitin, so far only two letters of the ubiquitin signaling code were known. With the discovery of K11-ubiquitin as the third letter of the ubiquitin alphabet, we are now a decisive step closer to the deciphering of the ubiquitin code of cellular signaling' says Dr Eva Rieser, a biochemist and immunologist at the Institute of Biochemistry of the University of Cologne's Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. In experiments with cell culture and animal models, the researchers confirmed that the newly discovered signaling axis, namely ANKIB1K11UbiquitinOPTNTBK1IRF3, is crucial for alerting the immune system to virus infections. The team found that ANKIB1 is essential to fight off an infection by herpes simplex virus I, the virus that causes cold sores. In its absence, mice cannot produce the interferon necessary to alert the immune system so that it can fight the infection. The consequence is drastic: this otherwise rather harmless virus leads to the death of the mice. However, too much interferon is responsible for a set of severe inflammatory diseases. Strikingly, in an in-vivo model of one such interferonopathy, mice devoid of ANKIB1 survived an otherwise lethal inflammation. Together, these results demonstrate the essential role of ANKIB1 for both: physiologically required and pathological interferon responses. Boosting the immune attack on cancer 'Although the work is grounded in fundamental biochemistry and immunology, it also has important implications for cancer, as this signaling cascade is central to the dialogue between tumor and immune cells', says Professor Julian Pardo from the Aragon Health Research Institute, CIBERINFEC and the University of Zaragoza, Spain, a collaborator on this study. Many tumors coopt the chronic activation of innate immune pathways, particularly those triggered by cGASSTING and different TLRs. This creates a chronic inflammation in the ecosystem in which the cancer cells reside so that an effective immune attack on the cancer is dampened or even prevented. By pinpointing ANKIB1 and the K11-ubiquitin it generates as decisive for interferon induction by these immune receptors, this study provides a new handle on understanding how cancer cells may tune these pathways to their advantage and, importantly, how this balance could be reset therapeutically. Modulating ANKIB1 activity could, in principle, help 'reeducate' the immune landscape within tumors, either by enhancing interferon responses to support immunotherapy, or by restraining excessive inflammation that fuels immune exhaustion and tissue damage. A new entry point into inflammatory neurological diseases Chronic, lowgrade activation of innate immune sensors in the brain has moreover emerged as a common theme in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, where interferon signaling has been shown to contribute to neuroinflammation and neuronal loss. By defining ANKIB1 as the enabler of these interferon pathways, the study offers a conceptual framework for dissecting how inflammatory signaling is synchronised in the brain and sheds light on how aberrant interferon production may result in neurodegeneration. "This level of mechanistic resolution, down to the exact ubiquitin chain type and the enzyme that generates it, is what turns a complex immune cascade into a concrete, druggable process,' Walczak explains. This discovery may therefore lead to future therapies and clinical practice for a variety of diseases. Rather than globally suppressing the immune system, which would lead to a shutting down of all essential host defence, inhibition of ANKIB1's catalytic activity or the promotion of its degradation would be sufficient to treat interferondriven auto-inflammatory and -immune conditions. At the same time, the transient boost of ANKIB1 activity or stabilisation of K11ubiquitin could be employed in settings where stronger antiviral or antitumor immunity is desired. This work is the result of close collaboration with the groups of Professor Julian Pardo, Professor Antonio Alcami from the Center for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), in Madrid, Spain, and Professor Brian Ferguson from the University of Cambridge, UK, who contributed crucial in-vivo and in-vitro infection models and virological expertise. 1 killed, 2 injured in Pak petrol pump firing amid panic buying Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 18:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Lahore, Mar 8 (PTI) A man was killed and two others seriously injured after customers opened fire at a petrol pump in Pakistans Punjab province following a dispute amid panic buying of fuel triggered by fears of shortages due to the US-Iran conflict, police said on Sunday. The incident occurred on Saturday in Sialkot, about 100 km from Lahore, when an altercation broke out between customers and workers at a filling station on Daska Road, police said. According to police, long queues of motorists had formed at the petrol pump as concerns grew over oil supplies following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict. Two men who arrived in a car had their vehicle filled with petrol and then asked the filling station worker to fill fuel in a couple of jerry cans they had brought with them. The station worker refused, saying filling fuel in cans is not allowed under government policy. This led to an altercation between the filling station staff and the car riders," police officer Dost Muhammad said. The car riders left, threatening them of dire consequences, he said. An hour or so later, the car riders came back with automatic weapons, assaulted the filling station staff and opened fire on them, leaving three workers critically injured," Muhammad said. One of the injured, identified as 25-year-old Muhammad Sibtain, succumbed to his injuries in hospital, while the condition of the other two remains critical," he said. The main suspect, Khawaja Munib, has been arrested. A case of murder and attempted murder has been registered against him and four of his accomplices, police said. Meanwhile, panic buying of petrol and diesel has been reported in parts of Pakistan after authorities announced a steep increase of PKR 55 per litre in fuel prices on Friday. Several petrol pump owners in Punjab had temporarily shut their outlets ahead of the price hike, triggering long queues and panic among motorists. The surge in petroleum prices, attributed to the US-Israel-Iran conflict and disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, is expected to push up the prices of essential commodities and transport costs across the country. The 20 per cent increase in oil prices means a 20-25% rise in the prices of commodities, essential items, fares, materials, and transportation. It means additional and sudden burden on consumers," businessman Farooq Yousuf Sheikh said. PTI MZ SCY SCY First Published: March 08, 2026, 18:00 IST News agency-feeds 1 killed, 2 injured in Pak petrol pump firing amid panic buying 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... If you kill Americans, we will hunt you down: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 10:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Washington, DC [US], March 8 (ANI): United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has issued a new threat via social media, warning of lethal consequences for any entities that target American citizens.The warning, shared in a post by CENTCOM on X, underlined the administrations uncompromising stance on national security. If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation, and we will kill you," United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was quoted as saying. If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation and we will kill you." Secretary of War Pete Hegseth pic.twitter.com/l0jkXxI74y U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 8, 2026 Accompanying this stern message, a 21-second video clip was released, providing a visual demonstration of the militarys current reach. The footage showcased a series of unclassified" images of vehicles and structures being bombed and destroyed by US forces during recent operations.The Secretarys remarks align with recent claims made by US President Donald Trump, who asserted on Saturday that the United States has successfully neutralised the entire Iranian leadership. The President characterised these military operations as the removal of a significant cancer" from the global stage.Reflecting on the week-old hostilities while travelling to Miami aboard Air Force One, the President maintained a confident outlook on the progress of the campaign. Were winning the war by a lot. Weve decimated their whole evil empire. Itll continue, Im sure, for a little while. The war itself is going unbelievably. Its as good as it can be," Trump asserted.During his briefing, the President provided a detailed list of the strategic military gains achieved by American forces, stating that the offensive had effectively dismantled Irans maritime and aerial capabilities. Weve wiped out their (Iranian) navy, 44 ships. Weve wiped out their air force, every plane. Weve wiped out most of their missiles," he noted.Trump further suggested that the capability of the Iranian regime to launch offensive strikes has been severely curtailed. You see the missiles arent coming much anymore. Weve also hit their manufacturing areas where they make the missiles very hard. Their drone capacity is way down, and weve hurt them where it hurts, including about every form of leadership you can have; weve wiped out," the President added.Addressing reports concerning the bombing of an elementary girls school in Iran, the President categorically dismissed allegations of American responsibility. He instead attributed the incident to the failure of Iranian hardware and the inaccuracy" of their military assets.No, I dont believe so. Based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran. We think 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," Trump said.When questioned about the initial six-week projection for the military mission, the President declined to provide a specific end date, though he emphasised that the Iranian armed forces were on the verge of collapse. I never project time, whatever it takes. But the (Iranian) military is almost nonexistent. We could hit their military itself very hard, but maybe we will, maybe we wont. We havent made that determination," he remarked.The President also highlighted the extensive damage dealt to the industrial infrastructure supporting the Iranian military. Weve hit the manufacturing very hard. Theyre at about nine per cent of what they sent out in the first two days, and we think thats because they dont have that much. Weve also knocked out about 70 per cent of the rockets, of the launchers. The launchers are a big deal, very hard to get, very expensive," he explained.Speaking alongside the President, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that a diplomatic breakthrough remained a possibility, though the decision ultimately rests with the White House. I think there is. I think thats going to be up to the President, thats what I think," Witkoff said.However, the Envoy noted that past discussions had been hindered by Tehrans refusal to compromise. But they didnt seem to be very amenable in that first set of negotiations. You heard what I said. They said we have the inalienable right to enrich. They bragged about having 60 per cent enriched fuel, enough for 11 bombs. And they told me and Jared, were not going to give you diplomatically what you couldnt take militarily. So you know, I think theyre going to need a change of attitude," he added.These significant developments are the result of a joint US-Israel military operation on 28 February, which led to the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other high-ranking officials.In the aftermath of that strike, Tehran initiated a major retaliatory campaign, launching drones and ballistic missiles at US assets and regional partners, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. This escalation has notably increased the danger to both local civilians and the expatriate population across West Asia. (ANI) First Published: March 08, 2026, 10:30 IST News agency-feeds If you kill Americans, we will hunt you down: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth 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... Jaquar Group eyes scaling lighting biz revenue to Rs 1,700 cr in 3 yrs Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 11:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) Bathroom and lighting solutions provider Jaquar Group is targeting to scale its lighting business revenue to Rs 1,700 crore in the next three years, according to a senior company official. The company, which has a portfolio that includes LED, commercial, outdoor, architectural and facade lighting, besides consumer lighting such as bulbs and tube lights, plans to expand its outdoor and landscape portfolio, along with architectural indoor lighting. Over the next three years, we aim to scale the lighting business to Rs 1,600 crore to Rs 1,700 crore in revenue," Jaquar Group Director-Lighting, Ranbir Mehra told PTI. He was responding to a query on the growth prospects of the lighting business of the Jaquar Group. Jaquar Lighting contributes 8-10 per cent to Jaquar Groups overall revenue, said Mehra, who is a third generation of the promoter family of the group. The group had reported a total turnover Rs 7,493 crore in FY 2024-25. It is targeting USD 1 billion (approximately Rs 8,300 crore) revenue in FY26. For Jaquar Lighting, we expect to close the current financial year at approximately Rs 700 crore, with strong growth ahead," Mehra said. When asked about future investments, he said,"We have planned an investment of over Rs 100 crore for the new lighting plant at Bhiwadi." Given the rapid pace of technological upgrades in lighting, he said additional investments may follow. Over the next two to three years, this could increase by Rs 50-60 crore," Mehra said. On the future areas of focus of expansion, Jaquar Group Vice President & Head Marketing Communications, Sandeep Shukla said,"Going forward, we plan to expand our outdoor and landscape lighting portfolio, along with architectural indoor lighting. We are collaborating with new designers to develop innovative products for the range." With the new plant, he said,"We also plan to begin manufacturing lighting poles." Outdoor lighting is becoming a key segment, driven by demand from government projects, infrastructure development, and institutional spaces," Shukla said. On exports, he said,"Currently, around 15-16 per cent of our lighting business comes from exports, primarily to the Middle East and Africa." With rapid development across the region, particularly in Abu Dhabi, Shukla said,"We expect this share to grow to around 20 per cent in the coming years, driven by strong infrastructure expansion in markets such as the UAE." The company is also establishing a Jaquar World display centre on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, scheduled to open by the end of this year, he said adding,"Sheikh Zayed Road is one of the worlds most prominent commercial corridors, and Dubai serves as a key sourcing hub for the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region." For Jaquar Lighting, the current international focus is the Middle East and Africa, he said when asked if there are plans to expand in markets like Europe and the US. PTI RKL ANU ANU First Published: March 08, 2026, 11:00 IST News agency-feeds Jaquar Group eyes scaling lighting biz revenue to Rs 1,700 cr in 3 yrs 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... 'Lapses' at Prez event: Mayawati urges respect for President's office Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 11:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Lucknow, Mar 8 (PTI) Amid a controversy over lapses" at President Droupad Murmus event in West Bengal, BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday said everyone must respect the office of the President in accordance with the ideals and dignity of the Constitution and avoid politicising constitutional positions in any manner. President Murmu on Saturday expressed dismay over a low turnout at a tribal community event near Bagdogra airport, and questioned the decision to shift the venue from Bidhannagar. She also noted the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her ministers during her visit. In a post on X, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief said, Everyone must respect the office of the President in accordance with the ideals and dignity of the Constitution and avoid politicising constitutional positions in any manner." She said it is necessary for all to maintain respect for the office of the President and follow the prescribed protocol attached to the position. President Murmu is not only a woman but also belongs to the tribal community, and the recent developments during her visit to West Bengal should not have taken place, she added. What happened during the Presidents recent visit to West Bengal should not have occurred. It is extremely unfortunate," Mayawati said in her post. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also voiced concern over the increasing politicisation" of the office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in recent times. She said constitutional posts must be respected above party politics and their dignity should be maintained by all. Mayawati further expressed hope that the upcoming session of Parliament, scheduled to begin on Monday, will run smoothly in the interest of the country and the public. People expect the session to function properly and focus on issues concerning the nation and public welfare. This is also the need of the hour," she added. PTI ABN DV DV First Published: March 08, 2026, 11:00 IST News agency-feeds 'Lapses' at Prez event: Mayawati urges respect for President's office 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... Mumbai Hospital receives bomb threat via email; Police launches probe Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 13:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 8 (ANI): A hospital in Mumbai received a bomb threat via email, claiming that an LED blast" would be carried out on the premises at 4:00 PM today. The email, which was sent around 11:00 PM last night, sparked significant panic among patients and staff. In response, the Mumbai Polices Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) conducted a thorough inspection of the hospital. While the search yielded no suspicious objects, the police are currently working to trace the individual behind the email.Further details awaited. In a separate development, the India Meterological Department (IMD) office in Hyderabad earlier this week received a bomb threat via email, claiming that 14 RDX bombs had been planted in the building, police said.The IMD staff immediately alerted the police, who swung into action. The employees were evacuated to a safe location, and the police, along with the bomb squad, conducted a thorough search of the premises, checking every room. A Begumpet Police official said," A bomb threat mail was received to Indian Meteorological Department office in Begumpet, and they have informed about the matter. The bomb squad and dog squad reached the IMD office and conducted checking and nothing was found. We have registered a case and are investigating the matter." (ANI) First Published: March 08, 2026, 13:45 IST News agency-feeds Mumbai Hospital receives bomb threat via email; Police launches probe 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... Naga Chaitanya, Sobhita Dhulipala visit Puri's Jagannath temple Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 11:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Puri (Odisha) [India], March 8 (ANI): Telugu actor Naga Chaitanya and his wife, actor Sobhita Dhulipala, recently visited the revered Shree Jagannath Temple.The visit comes three months after the couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary following their December 2024 marriage.The couple navigated through dense crowds at the temple complex in Puri, accompanied by security personnel. Amid the chants and movement of devotees, Chaitanya can be heard chanting Jai Jagannath."The temple is one of Indias most prominent Hindu pilgrimage destinations that attracts millions of devotees every year despite long waiting queues.For the temple visit, Chaitanya opted for traditional attire, wearing a white kurta and pyjama paired with an orange and yellow stole draped around his neck. The actor sported a neatly trimmed beard, short hair and a tilak mark on his forehead. First Published: March 08, 2026, 11:00 IST News agency-feeds Naga Chaitanya, Sobhita Dhulipala visit Puri's Jagannath temple 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... Women rewriting tech playbook, but leadership pathways need fixing Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 15:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) As young women enter the technology sector with unprecedented confidence to shape emerging fields like artificial intelligence, corporate India must urgently redesign workplace systems to bridge the mid-career drop-off and propel them into leadership roles, top female executives said. While the industry has moved past the foundational struggles of basic representation, a consensus among leading women in the Indian tech and corporate ecosystem highlights a critical transition: the focus must now shift from mere participation to sustained leadership and accountability. Theyre rewriting the playbook Not just succeeding in existing frameworks, but fundamentally changing how tech leadership looks prioritising sustainable growth, inclusive innovation, and human-centred design. Theres a critical mass now. Women leaders are actively pulling others up, creating mentorship pipelines and support systems that didnt exist before. It is exponential, not linear. They know they belong in boardrooms, in engineering, in the C-suite and theyre right. They are better educated, more globally connected, and frankly more confident than my generation ever was at their age," said Arundhati Bhattacharya, President and CEO of Salesforce South Asia. This optimism is echoed across the sector, driven by the influx of women into frontier technologies. Sindhu Gangadharan, MD of SAP Labs India and Chairperson of Nasscom, noted that young women are actively building products and leading innovation in AI, data science, and engineering. She believes the coming decade will be transformative for gender representation in Indias technology sector. The rapid expansion of digital industries and the growing demand for skills in artificial intelligence, data science and advanced engineering, she said, are creating new pathways for women to enter and grow in technology careers. At the same time, many organisations are becoming more intentional about building inclusive workplaces through mentorship programmes, leadership development initiatives and policies that support women at different stages of their careers. While progress will require sustained effort, the momentum today is stronger than it has ever been," Gangadharan said. Tech Mahindra CIO Pallavi Katiyar says that the confidence and clarity with which young women today are approaching technology careers gives her great optimism. They are not just participating in the ecosystem but shaping it, whether in AI, cybersecurity, or digital platforms. Access to global knowledge networks, mentorship, and more inclusive workplace policies is also helping. This generation sees leadership as a natural progression, and that shift in mindset will be a powerful catalyst for change," she said. However, despite robust entry-level numbers, the journey to the C-suite remains fraught with invisible barriers. Resham Sahi, Senior Vice President of Technology at A.P. Moller-Maersk, pointed out the stark disparity in the talent pipeline. While women represent roughly one-third of Indias technology workforce, representation drops significantly at senior levels, with only about 7 per cent in executive roles and around 13 per cent at director levels," Sahi said. The challenge is therefore less about entry into the workforce and more about sustained progression into leadership." To combat this, leaders are calling for a fundamental overhaul of corporate structures rather than superficial policy tweaks. Sahi added that corporate India must build work environments that support women across different life stages, particularly during periods of relocation, family transitions, and raising children. Dont retrofit women into broken systems. Redesign systems for human reality," Bhattacharya asserted. She emphasised that companies solving for womens full participation will naturally solve for all employees, including caregivers and people with disabilities, marking a strategic transformation" rather than just an HR policy. To ensure women do not fall off the corporate ladder, industry veterans are pushing for structured interventions. Sandhya Arun, CTO of Wipro Limited, advocated for greater accountability in leadership advancement. Corporate India needs to move beyond intent and ensure women are consistently represented in decision-making roles. When leadership pathways are transparent and outcomes are measured, inclusion becomes real," she said. Both Arun and Katiyar highlighted the necessity of structured mentorship, sponsorship from senior leaders, and transparent career progression frameworks to help women step into complex roles. Reflecting on the evolution of the industry, the executives acknowledged undeniable progress. Bhattacharya noted that the corporate conversation has fundamentally shifted from Can women lead?" to Why arent more women leading?", adding that companies today are embarrassed by all-male leadership teams." When I became a mother, maternity leave was a hurdle, not a given. Childcare support was non-existent. Remote work was impossible. Todays companies offer substantive maternity benefits, paternity leave, flexibility options, and return-to-work programmes. This generation fights for equal advancement post-maternity. Thats a higher-order problem, which means weve solved some foundational issues," Bhattacharya said. As the digital economy expands, the message to the next generation of female technologists is clear: build deep competence and take charge. Stop waiting for permission," advised Bhattacharya. Leadership isnt granted by committeeits seized by those who deliver results others cant ignore. If youre waiting for the system to change before you rise, youve already lost." PTI ANK MBI ANK MR First Published: March 08, 2026, 15:45 IST News agency-feeds Women rewriting tech playbook, but leadership pathways need fixing 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... 'This Was About Principle': OpenAI Robotics Head Resigns Amid Pentagon AI Deal Backlash Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 11:22 IST Caitlin Kalinowski resigned from OpenAI over ethical concerns about AI's role in national security and autonomous weapons. Caitlin Kalinowski resigned from OpenAI citing concerns over AI surveillance and lethal autonomous systems amid the companys reported defence collaborations. A senior robotics leader at OpenAI has stepped down, citing concerns over the companys evolving role in national security and the ethical implications of advanced artificial intelligence. Caitlin Kalinowski announced her resignation in a post on X, saying the decision was difficult but driven by principle. She expressed pride in the robotics teams work but raised concerns about the use of AI in surveillance and autonomous weapons without sufficient oversight. 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," Kalinowski wrote. Her departure comes amid growing debate over OpenAIs reported collaboration with the US Department of Defense (DoD), which has sparked criticism from some researchers, developers, and users who fear the technology could be used for military surveillance or autonomous weapons. I resigned from OpenAI. I care deeply about the Robotics team and the work we built together. This wasnt an easy call. AI has an important role in national security. But surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization are Caitlin Kalinowski (@kalinowski007) March 7, 2026 Controversy Around OpenAIDoD Collaboration The controversy intensified after reports that OpenAI had expanded partnerships with the US defense establishment to provide advanced AI capabilities for national security purposes. The collaboration is believed to include AI tools for intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, and potentially autonomous systems. While supporters argue that AI can strengthen national security and help democratic governments counter emerging threats, critics warn that the technology could enable large-scale surveillance and automated decision-making in warfare. Kalinowskis resignation reflects a broader debate within the AI community about the ethical boundaries of deploying advanced artificial intelligence in defense systems. Earlier, a similar deal of Anthropic with DoD didnt come into an agreement over ethical issues in some aspects. Ethical Concerns Over Surveillance and Autonomous Weapons One of the central concerns raised by critics involves the potential use of AI for surveillance without adequate legal safeguards. Kalinowski specifically highlighted the risk of monitoring citizens without judicial oversight. Another contentious issue is the use of AI in lethal autonomous systemsmachines capable of making decisions about the use of force without direct human approval. QuitGPT Trend Emerges as Users Leave ChatGPT The debate has also spilled over to social media, where a trend dubbed QuitGPT" has begun circulating. Some users claim they are leaving ChatGPT in protest against OpenAIs reported defense collaborations. According to posts circulating online, nearly two million users have pledged to stop using the chatbot, although independent verification of the exact number remains unclear. The campaign reflects growing public concern about how AI companies partner with governments and how their technology may ultimately be used. First Published: March 08, 2026, 11:22 IST News business economy 'This Was About Principle': OpenAI Robotics Head Resigns Amid Pentagon AI Deal 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... Delhis Uttam Nagar Murder Case: MCD Carries Out Bulldozer Action On Property Linked To Accused Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 13:43 IST Police have so far apprehended seven people including a minor, in connection with the case. Rapid Read MCD Bulldozes Property Linked To Accused Nizamuddin in Delhis Uttam Nagar Murder Case (ANI) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Sunday carried out a bulldozer action against a property linked to an accused in the Uttam Nagar murder case, officials said. According to the police, the action is being taken against the property linked to the accused Nizamuddin. Police have so far apprehended seven people including a minor, in connection with the case, in which a 25-year-old man was beaten to death during a clash between two neighbours from different communities on Holi. #WATCH | Uttam Nagar murder case: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carries out bulldozer action against the property of an accused. According to officials, action is being taken against the property linked to the accused Nizamuddin.Police have so far apprehended seven pic.twitter.com/bCl211h6Nf ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2026 The incident triggered massive protests in the area as angered public blocked a major road and set ablaze vehicles on Friday. The security has been tightened in the area. As per a report by PTI, 25-year-old Tarun was killed in an altercation that reportedly began after an 11-year-old girl threw a balloon filled with coloured water onto the road, which splashed on a woman from another community. The situation escalated into a dispute between the neighbours after the woman allegedly hurled abuses. Situation escalated into violent clash and several people from both sides sustained injuries during the fight. Tarun suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. According to sources cited by PTI, members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad staged a protest under the Uttam Nagar East Metro station. During the demonstration, a car and a motorcycle were set on fire, and traffic remained blocked for several hours. Amid the rising tensions, the Delhi Police have intensified security arrangements in the area to maintain law and order and prevent any further tension. First Published: March 08, 2026, 13:43 IST News cities new-delhi-news Delhis Uttam Nagar Murder Case: MCD Carries Out Bulldozer Action On Property Linked To Accused 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... Corn futures are showing 4 to 7 cent gains so far on Friday. There were 5 deliveries against March corn futures overnight. Crude oil futures are up $10.10 at midday to continue the spillover support. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price is up 4 1/4 cents to $4.16. Export Sales data shows total corn export commitments at 64.982 MMT, which is now 78% of the USDA export projection, matching the average sales pace. Actual exports are 40.024 MMT according to FAS data, 48% of USDAs number and ahead of the 40% average shipping pace. 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. Mar 26 Corn is at $4.45 1/2, up 4 cents, Nearby Cash is at $4.16, up 4 1/4 cents, May 26 Corn is at $4.58 3/4, up 5 1/4 cents, Jul 26 Corn is at $4.69 3/4, up 7 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 Two Attacks On Women From Northeast In Delhi; Student Beaten With Belt After Resisting Racial Slurs Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 23:31 IST Two Northeast students were attacked near Saket Court in Delhi after objecting to lewd remarks. Another similar incident occurred in Malviya Nagar. According to preliminary information, the incident took place when a girl and her friend were taking a walk and a group of men allegedly passed lewd and derogatory remarks at them. Days after an incident of racial slur targeting students from Arunachal Pradesh was reported in Delhi, two students from Northeast were allegedly attacked near the Saket District Court Complex on Sunday evening. In another incident, a girl from Manipur and a transgender from Assam were attacked. According to preliminary information, the incident took place when a girl and her friend were taking a walk and a group of men allegedly passed lewd and derogatory remarks at them. The reports stated that when one of the girls allegedly objected to the comments, she was reportedly assaulted with belts by the accused. She reportedly suffered minor injuries. Also Read: Delhi Belongs To Everyone: CM Rekha Guptas First Reaction To Racial Slur Against Arunachal Woman The injured girl is currently under treatment in Safdarjung Hospital for medical examination and treatment, where her condition is said to be stable. In a separate but similar incident was reported in the Malviya Nagar area, a girl and a transgender from the Northeast were assaulted in a park in Malviya Nagar Northeast following racial and derogatory remarks. One of the victims sustained injuries and was also rushed to the hospital. In a post on X, Meitei Heritage Society said, In this case, the girl hailing from Manipur and the transgender from Assam, were punched and hit with belts by a group of boys. The physical assault followed rac*al and derogatory remarks with one of the boys allegedly calling them r**di", leading to the physical altercation." It also urged the Delhi Police, Manipur CM Khemchand Yumnam, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to take immediate action to put an end to this repeated insults to people from North East". Police said more details about the incidents will be released during the investigation. Also Read: Heat Of The Moment: Delhi Man Booked For Racially Abusing Arunachal Women, Says He Is Ashamed The incidents come just days a Delhi man, Harsh Singh, was booked for allegedly racially abusing three women from Arunachal Pradesh following a dispute over repair work at their rented apartment. According to police, the incident took place on February 20 around 3.30 pm, when the women had called an electrician to their fourth-floor flat to install an air conditioner. During drilling, dust and debris reportedly fell into the apartment below, prompting objections from Singh and his wife, Ruby Jain. What began as a disagreement over the falling debris soon escalated into a heated exchange. The women alleged that the couple hurled abuses and made derogatory, racist remarks aimed at them and the wider northeastern community. They claimed they were called gutter-chaap," told to go and sell momos," and subjected to other humiliating comments. First Published: March 08, 2026, 22:07 IST News cities new-delhi-news Two Attacks On Women From Northeast In Delhi; Student Beaten With Belt After Resisting Racial Slurs 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 Leadership Split After Khamenei Explained: Presidents Apology To U-Turn & Bahrain Strikes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 17:43 IST Within hours of President's apology to neighbouring countries for missile, drone strikes, Iran launched attacks on US Navys 5th Fleet in Bahrain. Decoding the rift in leadership Rapid Read A file photo of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left) and President Masoud Pezeshkian. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday issued an unprecedented public apology to neighbouring countries for missile and drone strikes launched during the ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States. However, within hours, Iran on Sunday launched fresh attacks on the United States (US) Navys Fifth Fleet in the Juffair District in Manama, Bahrain, killing at least 21 soldiers. The apology has exposed a significant and deepening rift within Irans leadership Pezeshkians pragmatic interim council and hardline military elements, specifically the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). News18 decodes what it means: THE APOLOGY Speaking on state television, Pezeshkian stated, I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran". He attributed the strikes to miscommunication in the ranks" and fire at will" instructions that occurred after central command was disrupted by initial U.S.-Israeli strikes. ALSO READ | US-Israel-Iran War Live Updates HERE He announced that Irans interim leadership council had approved a suspension of attacks on neighbours, provided those countries are not used as launchpads for strikes against Iran. Despite the apology, he firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trumps demand for unconditional surrender", calling it a dream they should take to their grave". The apology and Pezeshkians bid for diplomatic solution" came during a volatile week where Iranian missiles have hit civilian and industrial targets in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia. Pezeshkians move was seen as a high-stakes diplomatic gamble to prevent further regional escalation following a week of intense warfare that began on February 28. HOW WAS THE APOLOGY INTERPRETED? The apology was interpreted in several ways by regional experts and world leaders, according to reports in foreign media: Some reports called it a part of regional diplomacy", an attempt to de-escalate and prevent Gulf states (like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain) from joining a US-Israeli coalition. Some highlighted how it signalled a fracture in Tehran. Hardliners and the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) have condemned the apology as weak" and humiliating", continuing strikes even as the President spoke. As Irans leadership is weakened following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 1, some called it a tactical move to buy time. While US President Donald Trump viewed it as a sign of surrender caused by relentless" military pressure, Israel has remained sceptical, viewing it as a move to stall their campaign to eradicate the regime". RETREAT AFTER APOLOGY: HARDLINERS REACTION AND THE STATEMENT THAT FOLLOWED Just hours after Pezeshkian apologised and ordered a halt to regional strikes, the IRGC launched new drone and missile attacks on the Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE and targets in Bahrain. Hardline officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and lawmaker Hamid Rasai, publicly condemned the apology as weak, unprofessional, and unacceptable". The President blamed miscommunication in the ranks" and fire at will" actions for the strikes on neighbours. Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the interim council, contradicted the President by vowing that heavy strikes" would continue against any country hosting U.S. bases used to attack Iran. Under intense internal pressure, Pezeshkians office released a follow-up statement on social media that omitted the apology entirely, instead claiming Iran had not attacked friendly" neighbours at all. WHY THE RIFT IS DEEPENING NOW The assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28 has removed the single authority that traditionally kept these factions in check. Without a Supreme Leader, the IRGC, which typically answers only to that office, appears to be operating independently of the civilian government. The rift is intensified by an urgent struggle within the Assembly of Experts to appoint a new leader, with hardliners pushing for a candidate who will maintain a maximum resistance" posture. A council comprising President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and Alireza Arafi (representing the Guardian Council) is running the country. Reports indicate that the Assembly of Experts has reached a majority consensus" on a successor, but procedural obstacles" and wartime security concerns have delayed a formal announcement. Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ali Khamenei, is widely reported as the frontrunner. He is heavily backed by the IRGC, though his potential appointment faces opposition from some assembly members who warn against hereditary rule. PRESSURE FROM IRGC The IRGC is currently exerting extreme pressure on Pezeshkian, effectively challenging his authority and the Interim Leadership Councils attempts at de-escalation. The semi-official Fars news agency, which has close ties to the IRGC, has continued to carry defiant statements promising a prolonged war" and claiming Iran can fight for at least another six months, overriding the Presidents calls for diplomacy. Pezeshkian favours limited strikes on Mossad bases in foreign countries to avoid a total regional war that could collapse the regime. IRGC is pushing for direct, crushing" strikes on Tel Aviv and major military bases, regardless of the risk of wider escalation. With Agency Inputs First Published: March 08, 2026, 15:22 IST News explainers Iran Leadership Split After Khamenei Explained: Presidents Apology To U-Turn & Bahrain 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... Iran Receives Acid Rain: Oil Depot Explosions, Missile Strikes The Cause? Science In Times Of War Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 09, 2026, 11:47 IST Acid rain in Iran: Can missile or air strikes cause acid rain? Has it happened in any war in the past? News18 explains Rapid Read Smoke rises from an oil storage facility in Tehran after an Israeli strike in June 2025. (AP File) Tehran woke up to thick black clouds and toxic rain after the US and Israel launched airstrikes that struck refineries and oil storage sites in the Iranian capital. The Iranian Red Crescent warned residents of dangerous" and highly acidic" rain. It said the oil depot explosions released into the air significant quantities of toxic hydrocarbon compounds, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides". Authorities advised citizens to stay indoors and avoid using air conditioners to prevent inhaling toxic particles. Can missile or air strikes cause acid rain? Has it happened in any war in the past? News18 explains. WHAT IS ACID RAIN? Acid rain is any form of precipitationlike rain, snow, or fogthat contains high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. It forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere, often by burning fossil fuels or through volcanic eruptions. These gases react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to create mild solutions of sulfuric and nitric acid. While normal rain is slightly acidic with a pH of about 5.6, acid rain typically has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4, making it potent enough to leach aluminum from soil, damage forest canopies, and decay stone buildings or metal structures. In terms of comparison, war-induced acid rain is a flash" environmental disaster compared to the slow, chronic buildup of industrial acid rain. Industrial acid rain is a systemic issue caused by decades of power plant emissions and car exhaust; it is widespread, regulated by international treaties, and generally has a consistent, lower level of acidity. In contrast, acid rain from missile strikes is an acute, high-intensity event. It is caused by the sudden combustion of rocket propellants or the catastrophic ignition of oil refineries and chemical plants. This results in localized rainfall that can be significantly more acidic and toxic than typical industrial versions, often carrying heavy metals and hazardous hydrocarbons directly into the local food and water supply. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MISSILES STRIKE OR OIL DEPOTS EXPLODE? Oil depot explosions can cause acid rain The process involves several stages, from the initial blast to the final black rain". The high-temperature combustion of oil releases significant quantities of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Once in the air, these gases react with water vapour, oxygen, and other chemicals. Sulphur dioxide transforms into sulfuric acid and nitrogen oxides turn into nitric acid. These acids dissolve into water droplets in clouds. When it rains, the water is highly acidic, often appearing as black rain" if it is also heavily laden with soot and unburned hydrocarbons. Missile strikes can cause acid rain When missiles explode, they release chemical compounds into the air that react with water, oxygen, and other substances to form acidic precipitation. The process typically occurs through two main pathways: Direct Chemical Release: Missiles and artillery rockets often contain substances like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur. For example, the explosion of a single BM-21 Grad rocket can release over 500 grams of sulfur, which reacts with atmospheric water to form sulfurous acid. Secondary Fires: Strikes on industrial targetssuch as oil depots, gas storage facilities, or chemical plantsignite massive fires. These fires release vast quantities of toxic hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides into the sky. HOW DOES ACID RAIN IMPACT HEALTH? Human Health: Inhaling the pollutants that form acid rain can cause severe respiratory issues, including asthma, bronchitis, and lung damage. Ecosystem Damage: Acid rain can burn" vegetation, poison groundwater with heavy metals, and increase the acidity of lakes and rivers, often leading to massive die-offs of fish and other aquatic life. HAS A WAR CAUSED ACID RAIN IN THE PAST? Historical instances where missile strikes or war-related activities have caused acid rain or highly acidic precipitation include: Kuwait (1991 Gulf War): Following the deliberate ignition of over 600 oil wells by retreating Iraqi forces, massive smoke plumes released approximately 24,000 tons of sulfur dioxide daily. This resulted in acid rain and soot clouds that extended nearly 1,920 kilometres, affecting countries as far away as Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Syria (20132017): While primarily known for direct chemical agent releases (like Sarin and Chlorine), strikes on chemical stockpiles and industrial areas during the conflict have been noted for releasing pollutants that contribute to localized environmental acidification. Ukraine (2022Present): Ongoing missile and artillery strikes on industrial infrastructure, such as nitric acid tanks in Rubizhne, have created chemical clouds capable of producing localized acid rain. The explosion of standard military rockets (like the BM-21 Grad) also releases sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which are primary precursors to acidic precipitation. First Published: March 08, 2026, 17:25 IST News explainers Iran Receives Acid Rain: Oil Depot Explosions, Missile Strikes The Cause? Science In Times Of 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... US-Israel Strikes Damage Tehrans Infra, Palace, Tourist Spots: Irans Capital Punishment Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 09, 2026, 15:24 IST US-Israel-Iran war: Government, military, cultural, and civilian infrastructure, a look at how two years of strikes have ravaged Tehran Rapid Read The damaged headquarters of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Iranian state television in Tehran on June 19, 2025. (AP Since 2024, the barrage of the US-Israel strikes has caused massive destruction in Irans capital Tehran. The damage spans across government, military, cultural, and civilian infrastructure. On Sunday, Tehran even woke up to acid rain. A look at how two years of strikes has ravaged the capital. 2026 GOVERNMENT & LEADERSHIP SITES Supreme Leaders Official Residence: Satellite imagery has confirmed multiple collapsed buildings and extensive structural damage within the official residence compound of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pasteur District: Direct hits on the Office of the Supreme Leader, the Sadabad Presidential Complex, and the National Security Council. Leadership Residences: Strikes on the residence of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Thar-Allah Headquarters: The command responsible for Tehrans security was reportedly levelled. ALSO READ | US To Deploy Special Forces In Iran To Secure Its Uranium Stockpile? How It Can Be Done Explained Judicial Complex: The complex housing Irans Judiciary and Supreme Court near Arg Square was hit, resulting in verified structural damage. Ministry Buildings Significant damage has been reported at several ministry headquarters, including: Ministry of Defence Ministry of Intelligence Ministry of Justice Ministry of Foreign Affairs (specifically the buildings library, which caught fire) MILITARY & SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE IRGC Headquarters: The main headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Quds Force command centre in Tehran suffered heavy destruction. Security Facilities: Strikes razed or severely damaged the Diplomatic Police Centre, the Internal Security Headquarters, and various police stations. Air & Research Bases: Mehrabad International Airport: Reports indicate explosions and fires at hangars and the tarmac, with at least two F-14 Tomcat fighter planes destroyed. Tehran Nuclear Research Center (TNRC): A building used for manufacturing and testing centrifuge rotors was damaged. Imam Hossein University: A building controlled by the IRGC, housing scientific and nuclear physics departments, was hit. CULTURAL & HISTORIC LANDMARKS Golestan Palace: This UNESCO World Heritage site sustained extensive damage, including shattered glass, damaged wooden doors, and exterior structural harm. Tehran Grand Bazaar: Scorched walls and shattered glass were reported in the historic quarter of the bazaar. State Media (IRIB): The headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) was struck by at least four missiles, causing fires and temporarily knocking live broadcasts offline. Milad Tower: Targeted in early March 2026. Extensive damage reported on University Street, Jomhouri, and Northern Seyed Khandan. ENERGY & CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE Oil Depots: Strikes on the Shahran oil depot (north Tehran) and the Shahr Rey oil refinery (south Tehran) triggered massive fires. Residential & Public Areas: A 14-story residential building near Nobonyad Square partially collapsed. The Azadi Indoor Stadium was reported destroyed. The Iranian Red Crescent Society estimates that thousands of civilian units, including over 7,900 residential and 1,600 commercial units, have been destroyed or damaged across the city. 2025: The Twelve-Day War A major escalation in June 2025 saw a massive 12-day air campaign targeting command and control: IRGC Headquarters: Strikes on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters and the Quds Force command center. Government Ministries: Heavy damage to the Ministry of Intelligence, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Justice. ALSO READ | Iran Strikes Bahrain: Presidents Apology To U-Turn, Leadership Split After Khamenei Explained State Broadcasting (IRIB): Missiles hit the IRIB headquarters, taking live broadcasts offline. Energy Infrastructure: Massive fires at the Shahran Oil Depot and Shahr Rey Oil Refinery. Mehrabad International Airport: Reported explosions and fires at the airport in June 2025. Nuclear Research Centers: Damage to buildings at the Tehran Nuclear Research Center (TNRC) and Imam Hossein University. 2024: Strategic Degradation Strikes in 2024 were primarily surgical, focusing on air defences and high-value assassinations. Government Guesthouse: Assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in July 2024. Imam Khomeini International Airport: Destruction of an S-300 air defence system protecting the capital in October 2024. Parchin Military Complex: The Taleghan 2 nuclear weapons research facility was reportedly destroyed during the Days of Repentance" operation. Khojir Military Complex: Sustained damage to missile production facilities in October 2024. Shamsabad Industrial City: Damage to a military drone factory south of Tehran. With Agency Inputs First Published: March 08, 2026, 16:51 IST News explainers US-Israel Strikes Damage Tehrans Infra, Palace, Tourist Spots: Irans Capital Punishment 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... US To Deploy Special Forces In Iran To Secure Its Uranium Stockpile? How It Can Be Done Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 15:03 IST US-Israel-Iran war: According to reports from Axios and Semafor, two primary methods for securing the nuclear material are under consideration Rapid Read An Iranian security official in protective clothing walks through part of the Uranium Conversion Facility just outside the Iranian city of Isfahan. (AP File) The United States and Israel are reportedly discussing the deployment of special forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU), according to reports from Axios and Semafor. This potential ground operation follows the start of a major conflict on February 28, codenamed Operation Epic Fury by the US and Operation Roaring Lion by Israel. WHAT US AUTHORITIES SAY According to four sources with knowledge of the discussions cited by Axios, such an operation would be considered at a later stage of the ongoing war. The move highlights the critical focus on Iranian nuclear assets as hostilities continue to escalate. ALSO READ | US-Israel-Iran War Live Updates HERE Reinforcing this strategic objective, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has issued a new threat via social media, warning of lethal consequences for any entities that target American citizens. The warning, shared in a post by United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on X, underlined the administrations uncompromising stance on national security. If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation, and we will kill you," US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was quoted as saying. If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation and we will kill you." Secretary of War Pete Hegseth pic.twitter.com/l0jkXxI74y U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 8, 2026 Accompanying this stern message, a 21-second video clip was released, providing a visual demonstration of the militarys current reach. The footage showcased a series of unclassified" images of vehicles and structures being bombed and destroyed by US forces during recent operations. Hegseths remarks align with recent claims made by US President Donald Trump, who asserted on Saturday that the United States has successfully neutralised the entire Iranian leadership. The President characterised these military operations as the removal of a significant cancer" from the global stage. Reflecting on the week-old hostilities while travelling to Miami aboard Air Force One, the President maintained a confident outlook on the progress of the campaign. Were winning the war by a lot. Weve decimated their whole evil empire. Itll continue, Im sure, for a little while. The war itself is going unbelievably. Its as good as it can be," Trump asserted. Speaking alongside the President, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that a diplomatic breakthrough remained a possibility, though the decision ultimately rests with the White House. HOW WILL IT BE DONE? According to reports from Axios and Semafor, two primary methods for securing the nuclear material are under consideration: Extraction and Removal: Deploying specialised units to physically seize and transport the approximately 450kg 460kg stockpile of highly enriched uranium out of Iran. On-Site Dilution: Inserting nuclear experts alongside special forces to chemically dilute the uranium on-site, rendering it useless for weapons development. TACTICAL EXECUTION AND UNITS Specialised Units: The U.S. Armys Delta Force is reportedly prepared for these missions, having specifically trained for securing centrifuges and recovering hazardous nuclear materials. Infrastructure Targeting: Ground operations would likely target hardened facilities such as Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. Satellite imagery from early March 2026 has already confirmed damage to entrance buildings at the Natanz Nuclear Facility from previous air strikes. ALSO READ | What Will Happen If A Nuclear Bomb Is Used In US-Israel-Iran War? All Questions Answered Operational Support: Such a mission would require significant air cover and possibly the use of regional bases or aircraft carriers, such as the USS Abraham Lincoln. INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHT? Discussions surrounding nuclear stockpiles are typically managed through international frameworks and diplomatic channels. The primary mechanism for monitoring nuclear programs is through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which conducts inspections to ensure that nuclear materials remain under peaceful use and are not diverted for military purposes. Issues related to nuclear enrichment are often addressed through multilateral agreements and diplomatic negotiations aimed at regional stability and non-proliferation. Military planners in many nations often consider a wide range of contingencies regarding the security of sensitive materials. However, such discussions are generally classified and focused on preventive measures rather than active seizure. With ANI, Agency Inputs First Published: March 08, 2026, 14:02 IST News explainers US To Deploy Special Forces In Iran To Secure Its Uranium Stockpile? How It Can Be Done 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... 90-Year-Old Woman Gang-Raped By Four Men In Madhya Pradesh; SIT Launches Probe Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 14:03 IST A 90-year-old woman was allegedly raped by four masked men in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. She is being treated at the hospital and is out of danger. A late-night crash on the Bengaluru-Kanakapura highway left a car mangled near Agara Cross, sparking panic and a police investigation. A tragic incident has surfaced in Madhya Pradeshs Khandwa district, where a nonagenarian woman was allegedly raped by four masked men. This alarming event has prompted authorities to launch a probe led by a special investigation team (SIT), as confirmed by the police on Saturday. The victim, around 90 years old, is currently receiving medical treatment at the district hospital for injuries sustained during the assault. Fortunately, her condition is reported to be stable and she is out of danger. As per a report by PTI, the horrifying incident occurred on Thursday night when the woman was alone in her hut situated in an agricultural field in her village, approximately 55 km from the district headquarters. The next morning, the survivor informed her daughter, who resides in another village, about the ordeal. Her daughter then took her to the district hospital for immediate medical attention. Upon their arrival at the hospital, the staff advised the victim and her daughter to notify the police regarding the incident, according to Khandwa Superintendent of Police Manoj Rai. Following the complaint, the police registered a case under section 70 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to gang rape. In response, an SIT, led by an additional superintendent of police, has been formed to investigate the incident. Three teams have been deployed to track down the culprits involved in the crime. Additionally, the police have announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for information leading to their arrest. Location : Madhya Pradesh, India, India First Published: March 08, 2026, 08:11 IST News india 90-Year-Old Woman Gang-Raped By Four Men In Madhya Pradesh; SIT Launches Probe 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... Amid Escalating Iran War, S Jaishankar To Brief Parliament On West Asia Crisis Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 21:12 IST External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will brief Parliament on the West Asia crisis. Congress demands a discussion on US and Israel's aggression on Iran. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), over 52,360 individuals have returned from the Gulf region to India. (Representational image) Amid escalating Iran war, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to brief Parliament on West Asia crisis on Monday. The Mondays session will be the second part of the Budget session. It is expected to be stormy as the first item to be taken up will be the Motion of Removal admitted against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Another issue that will likely be taken up is the ongoing conflict in West Asia. On Friday, the Congress had demanded a full-fledged short duration discussion on the West Asia situation and said that a suo motu statement on behalf of the government would not suffice. Follow for live updates We need a full-fledged short duration discussion on the West Asian situation caused by the aggression of the US and Israel on Iran and the subsequent attacks by Iran on Gulf countries, the activities of the US navy in the Indian Ocean," PTI quoted Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh. There were the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran and the subsequent attacks by Iran on the Gulf countries. There are almost 10 million Indians who work in this region, whose lives, livelihoods, safety, security are affected. So, its a very important economic issue. We get about 50-60 billion dollars of remittances every year from this region, if not more. So, its a very important issue for us and we will certainly demand an urgent discussion on the West Asian situation," he said. Also Read: Gulf Giants Cut Output, Hormuz Blocked: West Asia War Pushes Oil Market Into Deeper Turmoil According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), over 52,360 individuals have returned from the Gulf region to India. 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. 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. First Published: March 08, 2026, 20:49 IST News india Amid Escalating Iran War, S Jaishankar To Brief Parliament On West Asia Crisis 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... Delhi Woman, On Solo Trip, Hides In Nainital Forest Overnight To Escape Rape Attempt By Taxi Driver Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 13:03 IST Using CCTV footage, the taxis registration number and its GPS system, police tracked down the accused driver, identified as Deepak Singh Bora (39) of Pines Bhawali Road. Rapid Read The incident took place in Gurgaon, Sector 37 A solo trip turned into a night of terror for a woman from Delhi, who spent hours hiding in a forest in Uttarakhand to escape an alleged rape attempt by her taxi driver. Injured and without her mobile phone, the woman reportedly remained concealed in the forest overnight before managing to reach safety. According to the police, the 31-year-old woman arrived in Kathgodam from Delhi via Dehradun and hired a taxi for Nainital on Thursday. Police said that around 1:30 am, the taxi driver diverted the vehicle onto a deserted road in Patwa Dangar near the lake city while they were on the way. When the woman objected, the driver stopped the vehicle, verbally abused her and assaulted her, police said, adding that he also snatched her mobile phone and attempted to rape her. To escape, the woman ran towards nearby woods and hid in the forest overnight. She managed to reach Patwa Dangar village on Friday morning and, with the help of locals, lodged a police complaint. Police said they immediately swung into action, collected evidence and sent the victim for a medical examination. Using CCTV footage, the taxis registration number and its GPS system, police tracked down the accused driver, identified as Deepak Singh Bora (39) of Pines Bhawali Road. The victims stolen mobile phone was recovered from Bora, a resident of Haldwani, and his vehicle has also been seized, police said. Based on the victims complaint, a case was registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to rape, robbery and abduction. Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police Manjunath TC said the safety of tourists and residents is a top priority in the hill town and that strict action will be taken against those involved in such crimes. He also warned taxi owners to verify drivers and ensure proper documentation before handing over their vehicles, stating that non-compliance would invite strict action. Manjunath added that the accused was driving a taxi that belonged to someone else. (With inputs from PTI) Location : Nainital, India, India First Published: March 08, 2026, 13:03 IST News india Delhi Woman, On Solo Trip, Hides In Nainital Forest Overnight To Escape Rape Attempt By Taxi Driver 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 Denies Reports That It Stopped Iranian Ships From Docking, Says All Vessels Allowed Refuge Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Aveek Banerjee Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 23:34 IST India said it accepted requests to give refuge to all Iranian naval ships on humanitarian grounds without delay, after a US submarine torpedoed IRIS Dena off the Sri Lankan coast. Rapid Read A Sri Lanka Navy vessel approaches IRIS Dena during a rescue operation. (Reuters) India has denied allegations claiming that it refused to allow Iranian vessels to dock amid the ongoing war in West Asia, asserting that it allowed refuge to all Iranian naval ships on humanitarian grounds without delay. Top defence sources told CNN-News18 that India had accepted requests to give refuge to all Iranian naval ships without delay, after a US submarine torpedoed IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka. India has allowed IRIS Lavan, another naval vessel, to dock at Kochi due to technical issues. Sources said all three Iranian ships Dena, Lavan and Booshehr had departed Visakhapatnam after the conclusion of the Milan multilateral naval exercise around February 25 and 26. They said the ships could not take refuge in India earlier because they left the Indian ports before the requests were approved. The ships were on their way back to Iran via the Indian Ocean when US-Israeli strikes hit their naval bases, including Konarak, on February 28. At that point, Iran urgently requested safe harbour for the ships and asked for them to avoid being sent into the conflict zone, according to the defence sources. India and Sri Lanka initially did not grant an immediate extended stay or refuge in Visakhapatnam or other ports before the US-Israeli strikes. However, Iran specifically requested for the IRIS Lavan be docked in India over technical and engine issues. Follow Live Updates Of The US-Israel-Iran War On March 1, India approved IRIS Lavans request on humanitarian grounds, and the vessel docked in India with its 183 crew members being accommodated on naval facilities. On the same day, IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine some 35-40 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka. On March 5, IRIS Bushehr experienced technical issues linked to slower speed and engine trouble near Sri Lanka, and requested for refuge, which was granted without delay, sources informed. Sri Lankan authorities on Friday said 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. India Assisted With IRIS Dena Rescue Earlier, the Indian Navy said aid a distress signal from IRIS Dena was received by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Colombo in the early hours of March 4, as informed by the Sri Lankan Navy. Following the alert, the Indian Navy launched immediate assistance. The Iranian army said on Sunday that at least 104 people were killed and 32 were wounded in the attack. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Saturday said that India did the right thing by allowing IRIS Lavan, facing technical issues, to dock at Kochi port on humanitarian grounds. ALSO READ: We Did The Right Thing: EAM Jaishankar On India Allowing Irans IRIS Lavan To Dock At Kochi 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 while speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2026. 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. First Published: March 08, 2026, 23:34 IST News india India Denies Reports That It Stopped Iranian Ships From Docking, Says All Vessels Allowed Refuge 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 National Held By US Immigration In San Diego Over His 'Criminal History' Of Hit-And-Run Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 10:41 IST Jaskaran Singh and Jashanpreet Singh, Indian nationals, were arrested by ICE San Diego. Jaskaran's history includes hit-and-run, they said. Jaskaran Singh, an Indian national, arrested by US Immigration Authorities over his criminal history (Image credit: X/@EROSanDiego)) An Indian national, identified as Jaskaran Singh, has been apprehended by United States immigration authorities in San Diego due to his criminal history", which officials said includes a hit-and-run case. According to an official statement, Singh will be kept in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE San Diego arrested Jaskaran Singh a criminal alien from India with a final order of removal. Singhs criminal history includes hit and run. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. pic.twitter.com/u2MFrLUPrQ ICE San Diego (@EROSanDiego) March 7, 2026 ICE San Diego arrested Jaskaran Singh, a criminal alien from India with a final order of removal. Singhs criminal history includes hit and run. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings," it wrote on X. Another Indian National Held In US On March 6, the authorities announced they had arrested Jashanpreet Singh, an Indian national, over his criminal history", which includes threatening a crime with intent to terrorize, assault with a deadly weapon, and DUI. ICE San Diego arrested Jashanpreet Singh, a criminal alien from India. Singhs criminal history includes threatening a crime with intent to terrorize, assault with a deadly weapon, and DUI. He will remain in custody pending removal proceedings", the statement read. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 08, 2026, 09:43 IST News india Indian National Held By US Immigration In San Diego Over His 'Criminal History' Of Hit-And-Run 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... Cotton futures are trading with 15 to 20 point gains across most contracts on Friday. Support s coming via the outside factors. Crude oil is up $10.10 on the day to $91.11. The US dollar index was back down $0.349 at $98.960 USDA Export Sales data from Thursday showed total commitments of 8.904 million RB of 2025/26 cotton as of February 26. That is 79% of the USDA export estimate, and behind the 92% average sales pace. Export shipments are 41% of USDAs number, now below the 47% average pace. More News from Barchart The Seam showed sales of 584 bales on March 5, averaging 54.29 cents/lb. The Cotlook A Index was up 25 points on Tuesday at 74.75 cents. ICE certified cotton stocks were down 798 on 3/5 via decertification with the certified stocks level at 128,504 bales. The Adjusted World Price was trimmed by 40 points on Thursday to 51.44 cents/lb. Mar 26 Cotton is at 63.03, up 87 points, May 26 Cotton is at 64.24, up 20 points, Jul 26 Cotton is at 66.19, up 19 points 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 Karnataka Student Attacks Hostel Mates With Iron Rod In Ballari, One Dead Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 10:23 IST The injured students have been shifted to the Ballari Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) and the Trauma Care Hospital for treatment. Rapid Read A personal dispute at a gathering spiraled into a violent and life-threatening attack.(Representative image) In Karnatakas Ballari a shocking incident has been reported where a student brutally attacked his fellow hostel mates at the Gurukula residential school with an iron rod. One student died due to the attack while several others are grievously injured. The incident reportedly took place late at night after dinner, when the students had returned to the hostel and gone to sleep. According to initial reports, the police say they are yet to determine what provoked the incident, but eyewitness told the police that the boy picked up an iron rod from one of the beds and began attacking other students in the dormitory. Eight students were assaulted in the attack. One student succumbed to his injuries, while two others are said to be in a critical condition. Six others sustained serious injuries. The student is also said to have attacked the hostel warden before fleeing from the spot. The injured students have been shifted to the Ballari Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) and the Trauma Care Hospital for treatment. The victims parents, devastated by the incident, alleged that the accused may be a drug addict and held the school administration responsible for the tragedy. They questioned how a minor could carry out such a brutal assault inside the hostel premises. Ballari police have registered a case and launched a search operation to trace the accused. Location : Karnataka, India, India First Published: March 08, 2026, 10:23 IST News india Karnataka Student Attacks Hostel Mates With Iron Rod In Ballari, One Dead 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... Malta Deputy Prime Minister Exclusive: India Can Help Reinforce Stability In Mediterranean Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 12:54 IST Ian Borg warns that further escalation with Iran risks widening a conflict in an already fragile region Rapid Read Ian Borg (left) with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. (X) Relations between India and Malta may not always dominate headlines, but the two countries have steadily found common ground in trade, maritime connectivity, and multilateral diplomacy. As global power dynamics shift and instability ripples across regions from the Middle East to Europes southern flank, smaller but strategically placed states like Malta are increasingly looking to partners such as India to broaden cooperation. On the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, CNN-News18 sat down with Maltas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg, for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving global landscape. Borg spoke about the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, the fragile security environment in the Mediterranean, and the role partners such as India can play in reinforcing regional stability. He also discussed prospects for deeper collaboration with New Delhi in maritime trade and logistics, Maltas view of Indias growing position as a voice of the Global South, and the opportunities that could emerge for smaller European economies from the much-discussed Mother of All Deals" between India and the European Union. Excerpts from the interview: Europe has been accused of sending mixed signals on the escalating IranIsrael conflict. Does the EU need a more coherent position that balances Israels security concerns with the need to prevent a wider war with Iran? The EUs position reflects the complexity of the situation. On one hand, there is recognition of Israels legitimate security concerns and the need to respond to threats. On the other, there is a clear understanding that further escalation with Iran risks widening a conflict in an already fragile region. This is why Malta has consistently emphasised multilateralism, dialogue, and the role of international institutions as the most sustainable path to de-escalation. A strong and coherent European voice that encourages restraint from all sides, supports regional stability and prioritises diplomatic engagement can help prevent a broader confrontation, while addressing security concerns through a rules-based international framework. Malta sits at the heart of the Mediterranean, a region increasingly shaped by conflicts in the Middle East and migration pressures. How does your government assess the evolving security environment in the Mediterranean, and what role can partners like India play in ensuring stability? Malta sees the Mediterranean as a region of shared responsibility, where security, stability, and humanitarian concerns are deeply interconnected. The challenges we face today, from regional conflicts to migration pressures, cannot be addressed by any one country alone. They require sustained dialogue, stronger cooperation and, above all, respect for international law. Partners like India, which are expanding their diplomatic and economic engagement in the region, can play a constructive role. Through multilateral cooperation, support for stability initiatives, and collaboration on maritime security and humanitarian efforts, countries such as India can help reinforce stability. In the end, strengthening partnerships across the Mediterranean and beyond will be essential if we want to build long-term peace and resilience in the region. Given Maltas importance as a maritime hub, do you see scope for deeper collaboration with India in shipping, logistics, and port infrastructure, especially as global trade routes and supply chains are being reconfigured? Maltas strategic location in the Mediterranean and its strong maritime ecosystem naturally open the door to deeper collaboration with India. As global trade routes and supply chains continue to evolve, there is clear potential for the two countries to work more closely in areas such as shipping, logistics, and port infrastructure. By combining Maltas role as a gateway between Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean with Indias expanding global trade footprint, both sides could benefit from stronger connectivity, knowledge exchange, and mutually supportive maritime initiatives. At the same time, Malta remains committed to strengthening existing trade corridors. Ensuring that these routes remain secure, sustainable, and efficient is vital, not only for Europes economic resilience but also for promoting balanced growth across the wider Mediterranean region. What opportunities do you see for Malta arising from the Mother of All Deals" recently signed between India and the European Union? The IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement has the potential to open significant opportunities for all EU member states, including Malta, by expanding trade and investment between two of the worlds major economic blocs. With tariffs expected to be reduced or eliminated on a large share of goods, European businesses will have greater access to Indias fast-growing market. For Malta, this could translate into new prospects in sectors such as services, logistics, financial services, and niche exports. As a small but globally connected economy, Malta stands to benefit from deeper economic integration and the stronger commercial ties that such an agreement can create between India and the European Union. India often positions itself as a voice of the Global South. How does Malta view this growing role, and do you think platforms like the Raisina Dialogue can help bridge perspectives between Europe and the Global South on issues such as climate change, development and security? Malta recognises Indias growing role as an important voice of the Global South and welcomes its efforts to highlight the concerns and priorities of developing countries on the global stage. As a small island state that is both European and deeply connected to the Mediterranean and the wider international community, Malta strongly values inclusive dialogue that brings together different regional perspectives. Platforms such as the Raisina Dialogue play an important role in this regard. They create space for constructive engagement between Europe and the Global South, particularly on shared challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, and global security. Strengthening these conversations is essential if we are to build the understanding and cooperation needed to tackle issues that affect us all. First Published: March 08, 2026, 12:54 IST News india Malta Deputy Prime Minister Exclusive: India Can Help Reinforce Stability In Mediterranean 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... No Water In Washroom, Garbage On Road: Centre Seeks Report From Bengal Over President's Visit Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 12:29 IST In a letter to the West Bengal Chief Secretary, the Union Home Secretary asked the state to explain possible violations of the rules laid out in the Blue Book. President Droupadi Murmu | Image: X As the row between the Centre and the West Bengal government intensifies over alleged security and protocol lapses during Droupadi Murmus visit to the state, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has sought a detailed report from the West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty by 5 p.m. on Sunday, sources said. According to sources, the Centre has asked the state government to respond to alleged violations related to protocol, venue and route arrangements during the Presidents visit. Questions over Blue Book rules In a letter to the West Bengal Chief Secretary, the Union Home Secretary asked the state to explain possible violations of the rules laid out in the Blue Book. The Blue Book is a confidential document that lists the security and protocol rules for the President, Vice-President and the Prime Minister, as well as their families. Concerns over absence of top officials in absence of CM Sources said the Centre has sought an explanation for the absence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police when the President arrived in the state. According to the sources, this is considered a serious violation of the Blue Book rules. The Centre also noted that only Gautam Deb, the Mayor of Siliguri, was present to receive the President, which officials said was a breach of protocol. Other lapses flagged Sources said the Centre has also asked the state government to explain why the washroom arranged for the President did not have water. Questions have also been raised about the route taken by the Presidents convoy, which sources said was littered with garbage. The letter has also sought details about action taken against officials including the District Magistrate of Darjeeling, the Commissioner of Police in Siliguri and the Additional District Magistrate, who were seen as directly responsible for the arrangements. Event venue shift and low turnout President Murmu had been invited to attend the annual programme of a tribal community in Siliguri. The event was originally scheduled to take place at Bidhannagar, but officials later shifted it to Goshaipur near Bagdogra airport citing security and logistical reasons. When the President arrived at the venue on Saturday afternoon, only a small number of people were present. Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb was the only representative who received her at the airport. What President said? During the event, President Murmu said that Mamata Banerjee was like her younger sister and added that she herself was also a daughter of Bengal. I do not know whether she is upset. Anyway, that does not matter. All of you stay well," she said. She also questioned the decision to move the event venue from Bidhannagar to Goshaipur. Had the programme been held there, it would have been better. There is ample space there, and many people could have attended. But I do not know why the state administration did not permit the meeting there," she said. Murmu added that the new venue made it difficult for people to attend and suggested that the state government might not want the welfare of tribal communities. Reactions from leaders According to protocol, the chief minister or a minister from the state government is usually present to receive the President. Vice President C P Radhakrishnan described the lapses at the Presidents event as unfortunate and said the dignity of the high constitutional office must always be respected. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also criticised the incident, calling it shameful and unprecedented". He said the All India Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal had crossed all limits and accused it of insulting the President during her visit. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 08, 2026, 12:29 IST News india No Water In Washroom, Garbage On Road: Centre Seeks Report From Bengal Over President's Visit 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... 'People Will Topple TMC Govt': On Womens Day, PM Modi Condemns Insult To President In Bengal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 14:36 IST As tensions rise between Centre and West Bengal, Union Home Ministry sought report from Mamata Government on security lapses during President Murmus visit to the state. On Womens Day, PM Condemns Insult to President in West Bengal. (Image: PTI) On International Womens Day, Prime Minister said the nation is celebrating womens achievements but expressed concern over the incident yesterday, when the President Droupadi Murmu, who belongs to the Santhal community, was allegedly insulted by the West Bengal government. PM Modi said the remarks also hurt the Santhal community. Addressing the public, PM Modi added, I am announcing from this stage that very soon people will change the TMC government. We should be proud of our heritage." Centre seeks report from West Bengal on President Murmu visit As tensions rise between the Centre and the West Bengal government, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has sought a detailed report from West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty by 5 p.m. on Sunday, sources said. The Centre has asked the state government to respond to alleged lapses in protocol, venue arrangements, and convoy routes during President Droupadi Murmus visit. In his letter, the Union Home Secretary requested an explanation for possible violations of rules outlined in the Blue Book. The Blue Book is a confidential document detailing security and protocol procedures for the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, and their families. Sources said the Centre is particularly concerned about the absence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Secretary, and the Director General of Police when the President arrived in the state, which is seen as a serious violation. Additional issues highlighted include the washroom arranged for the President, which reportedly had no water, and the route of the Presidents convoy, which sources said was littered with garbage. The Centre has asked the West Bengal government to provide a full explanation for these lapses. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 08, 2026, 14:10 IST News india 'People Will Topple TMC Govt': On Womens Day, PM Modi Condemns Insult To President In Bengal 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 Inaugurates India's First Ring Network, Lays Foundation Stone Of 3 New Corridors In Delhi Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 13:51 IST PM Modi inaugurated the Majlis ParkMaujpur-Babarpur stretch of the Pink Line and Deepali ChowkMajlis Park extension of the Magenta Line. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Image credit: X/@ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the 12.3-km Majlis ParkMaujpur-Babarpur stretch of the Pink Line and the 9.9-km Deepali ChowkMajlis Park extension of the Magenta Line. He also laid the foundation stone for three new corridors under Phase V(A) of the Delhi Metro project, which is expected to enhance the overall connectivity across the national capital. #WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates and lays the foundation stone of multiple projects worth Rs 15,200 crore under the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) Redevelopment Plan.(Source: DD) pic.twitter.com/uEPg3EoNjc ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2026 The event coincides with International Womens Day, celebrated every year on March 8 to honour and recognise the valuable contributions of women across every sphere of society. Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, We have gathered here to give new momentum to development in Delhi. A short while ago, projects worth over Rs 33,000 crore were inaugurated and foundation stones were laid. From the expansion of the Metro to housing facilities for thousands of government employees, infrastructure in the national capital is being continuously strengthened", as quoted by news agency PTI. VIDEO | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) says, We have gathered here to give new momentum to development in Delhi. A short while ago, projects worth over Rs 33,000 crore were inaugurated and foundation stones were laid. From the expansion of the Metro to pic.twitter.com/UCnplDJGaW Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 8, 2026 PM Modi hailed the double-engine" government in the national capital, asserting the development works are in full swing. A year ago, with hope and renewed resolve, the people here formed a BJP double-engine government. The results of that are now visible in the development works taking place here. I congratulate all the citizens of Delhi for this continuous flow of development", he said. Targeting the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, the Prime Minister said, Because of AAP Government, this project was delayed." Expected To Improve Connectivity The Majlis ParkMaujpur-Babarpur section is expected to improve the connectivity between north and northeast Delhi. The new stretch of the Pink Line features nine elevated stations, including Majlis Park, Burari, Jagatpur-Wazirabad, Soorghat, Sonia Vihar, Khajuri Khas, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar and Maujpur-Babarpur. It will be the countrys first operational ring metro network. Moreover, PM Modi also inaugurated the Deepali ChowkMajlis Park corridor, an elevated extension of the Magenta Line that will feature seven stations and connect various localities, including Uttar PitampuraPrashant Vihar, Madhuban Chowk, Haiderpur Badli Mor and Bhalaswa. With the newest addition to the Magenta Line corridor, the lines total length will reach nearly 49 km. The new Pink and Majenta Line corridors will significantly strengthen the connectivity, cutting travel time for thousands of daily commuters across Delhi. 3 New Metro Corridors Prime Minister Modi also laid the foundation stone for three new Delhi metro corridors, including the Ramakrishna Ashram MargIndraprastha corridor, the AerocityIndira Gandhi International Airport Terminal-1 corridor, and the TughlakabadKalindi Kunj corridor. The 9.9-km Central Vista corridor from Ramakrishna Ashram Marg to Indraprastha is expected to enhance connectivity to key official and cultural sites in the national capital, including, Bharat Mandapam, Central Secretariat, and India Gate. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the metro expansion is a significant step towards a faster, smoother, and environmentally friendly public transport system in the city. She expressed confidence that the new project will reduce pressure from private vehicles on roads, bringing down air pollution levels. Projects Worth Rs 33,500 Crore Apart from the metro projects, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of development projects worth around Rs 33,500 crore in the national capital. Under the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) programme, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for redevelopment works worth around Rs 15,200 crore. The redevelopment at Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Kasturba Nagar and Sriniwaspuri aims to provide over 9,350 modern flats for government employees. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited GPRA Type-5 quarters in Sarojini Nagar and handed over the keys to female allottees. First Published: March 08, 2026, 13:32 IST News india PM Modi Inaugurates India's First Ring Network, Lays Foundation Stone Of 3 New Corridors In Delhi 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 Dont Take Orders: Kamal Haasan Slams US Over Russian Oil Permission Remark Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 11:32 IST The government has maintained that Indias energy supplies remain secure despite disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict. Rapid Read Actor-politician Kamal Haasan and Donald Trump Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has criticised the United States after a senior official said Washington, DC, had given India permission" to purchase Russian oil following disruptions to global supply chains caused by the West Asia conflict. Haasan said India does not take orders from other countries. The Rajya Sabha MP and Makkal Needhi Maiam leader addressed the US President in a social media post. Dear Mr. President, We, the people of India, belong to a free and sovereign nation. We no longer take orders from distant foreign shores. Please mind your own business to the best of your abilities," he wrote on X. Mutual respect between sovereign nations is the only foundation of lasting global peace. We wish your country and its people peace and prosperity," Haasan added. This comes after Scott Bessent, the US Treasury Secretary and an aide of Trump, has said the US has given India permission" to buy Russian oil. In an interview with Fox Business, he 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." Asked about Bessents remarks and whether the United States was considering any additional steps, Trump said, If there were some, I would do it just to take a little of the pressure off." I think that the oil pressure theres a lot of oil. Weve got a lot of oil. Our country has a tremendous amount and we have, theres a lot of oil out there. Thatll get healed very quickly," Trump said. The government has maintained that Indias energy supplies remain secure despite disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict. Despite rising tensions on the Hormuz Route, Indias energy supply remains secure and stable. India has diversified its crude oil sources from 27 to 40 countries, ensuring multiple alternative supply routes. In the national interest, India purchases oil from wherever the most competitive and affordable rates are available," the Centre said. Officials also noted that India has never relied on permission from any country to purchase Russian oil. Meanwhile, the Congress criticised the government following the US officials permission" remark. Indias foreign policy emerges from the collective will of our people. It should be rooted in our history, our geography, and our spiritual ethos based on Satya and Ahimsa. What we are witnessing today is not policy. It is the result of the exploitation of a compromised individual," said Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. First Published: March 08, 2026, 11:32 IST News india We Dont Take Orders: Kamal Haasan Slams US Over Russian Oil Permission Remark 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... Woman Attacks Advocate, Police Officer During Counselling Session At Kolhapur Court Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 08:52 IST A woman attacked a female lawyer during counseling in Kolhapur District Court, injuring her and a female police officer. Lawyers demand strict action. AI-Generated Image Used For Representation In a shocking incident at the Kolhapur District Court premises, a dispute resolution between a husband and wife took a violent turn. During a counseling session, a woman assaulted a female lawyer, resulting in the lawyer sustaining injuries. The situation further escalated when a female police officer intervened and was also attacked and injured. The altercation caused a tense atmosphere in the court for a while. Lawyers expressed strong indignation over the incident, demanding strict action against the accused woman. Location : Kolhapur, India, India First Published: March 08, 2026, 08:52 IST News india Woman Attacks Advocate, Police Officer During Counselling Session At Kolhapur Court 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... Celebrate Women's Day By Watching These 5 Movies Where Women Challenge Patriarchy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 12:25 IST From English VInglish to Thappad and Lipstick Under My Burkha, here's a list of women-centric movies where they stand up to society and traditional norms. News18 Indian cinema has had a long and often overlooked tradition of women-led films beginning from the Fearless Nadia franchise to films like Sujata, Seema, Bandini, Mother India, Pakeezah, Umaro Jaan, Lajja, NH10 and many more. These films have told stories about women who are complex and powerful in unique ways. This International Womens Day, revisit some recent films that engagingly portray womens perspectives. English Vinglish Written and directed by Gauri Shinde, this 2012 film is widely regarded as one of the finest performances by the late Sridevi. She plays Shashi Godbole, a quiet homemaker who is often dismissed by her husband and daughter because she cannot speak English fluently. Her turning point comes when she travels alone to New York for her nieces wedding and enrols in a conversational English class, which slowly rebuilds her confidence. At its core, the film is a gentle reminder to value the people we love and not belittle them over something as superficial as language. It also features Adil Hussain, Mehdi Nebbou, Priya Anand, Navika Kotia, Shivansh Kotia, and Sujata Kumar. It was produced by Sunil Lulla, R. Balki and Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. Where to watch: ZEE5 and Prime Video Fakt Mahilao Maate The Gujarati social dramedy, Fakt Mahilao Maate (2022), directed by Jay Bodas and produced by Anand Pandit and Vaishal Shah, takes a light-hearted yet pointed look at gender dynamics. The story follows Chintan Parikh, a middle-class man who, after a strange turn of events, begins hearing the inner thoughts of the women around him. These include his grandmother, mother, sister and fiancee. What first feels like an unusual gift soon unsettles him. For the first time, he becomes aware of the emotional strain, quiet compromises and everyday frustrations he had overlooked. The experience forces him to confront his own blind spots and rethink his behaviour. Led by Yash Soni, Deeksha Joshi and a special cameo by the one and only Amitabh Bachchan, the movie underlines the idea that mutual respect and understanding are essential for a balanced life. Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video Pagglait Set in a small-town North Indian household, Pagglait follows Sandhya Giri, played by Sanya Malhotra, a young widow expected to grieve in ways society approves of. Instead, she feels oddly detached, leaving her conservative in-laws unsettled. As family tensions rise and uncomfortable truths about her marriage surface, Sandhya begins to question the roles assigned to her. Sayani Gupta plays Aakansha Roy, alongside Ashutosh Rana, Sheeba Chaddha, Chetan Sharma and Natasha Rastogi. Directed by Umesh Bist and produced by Guneet Monga Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor, the film examines how women are told to not just live within a box but to even mourn their losses in socially acceptable ways. Where to Watch: Netflix. Lipstick Under My Burkha Widely acclaimed, Lipstick Under My Burkha follows four women across different generations as they push back against the limits placed on them by family and society. Set in Bhopal, the story moves between a college student seeking freedom, a married woman questioning her desires, a salon worker chasing independence, and an elderly widow confronting loneliness. Starring Ratna Pathak Shah, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aahana Kumra, and Plabita Borthakur, the film is directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and produced by Prakash Jha and JB Angels. Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video. Thappad Directed by Anubhav Sinha, Thappad confronts the quiet acceptance of domestic violence within marriage. The story follows Amrita, played by Taapsee Pannu, a devoted wife whose life shifts after her husband slaps her at a party and expects her to move on. What others dismiss as a small incident becomes her breaking point. She begins to question years of compromise and the belief that women must endure humilition for the sake of the family unit. The film also stars Pavail Gulati, Dia Mirza, Kumud Mishra. Tanvi Azmi and Ratna Pathak Shah. The film was produced by Anubhav Sinha, Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar. Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video First Published: March 08, 2026, 12:25 IST News lifestyle events Celebrate Women's Day By Watching These 5 Movies Where Women Challenge Patriarchy Womens Day 2026 Special: Women Who Shaped AI; From Early Computing To Modern Artificial Intelligence Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 11:32 IST International Womens Day 2026 Special: Womens Day is a moment to recognise women who have shaped different fields, including technology and artificial intelligence. Womens Day 2026: Many women have played a key role in building the systems that influence the world today. (AI generated image) International Womens Day 2026 Special: International Womens Day is marked on March 8. The day highlights the long struggle for equality, recognition, and rights for women around the world. It also shines a light on issues such as gender equality, womens safety, and fair opportunities in different areas of life. This special day is also a good moment to recognise women who have changed the world through science and technology. In the field of artificial intelligence and computing, many women have played key roles over the years. Their ideas, research, and inventions helped shape the technology we use today and continue to guide the future of AI. ALSO READ: Happy Womens Day 2026: 100+ Wishes, Quotes, Images, WhatsApp Status And Instagram Captions For International Womens Day Below are some of the women whose work has influenced artificial intelligence, from the early days of computing to the modern AI systems we see today. Early Pioneers Who Shaped The Foundations Of Computing Ada Lovelace (18151852): The First Programmer and AI Visionary Augusta Ada Byron, widely known as Ada Lovelace, is often called the worlds first computer programmer. In the 1840s, she worked with inventor Charles Babbage on his proposed machine called the Analytical Engine. While studying the machine, she wrote what many consider the first computer algorithm. The program was designed to calculate Bernoulli numbers. But Lovelaces ideas went far beyond mathematics. She believed that machines could one day handle more than numbers. She imagined that computers might work with symbols such as music notes and possibly create complex pieces of music. ALSO READ: Womens Day 2026 Speech: Short And Long Speech Ideas For Students And Professionals Her famous Note G" explained how machines could process symbolic information, an idea that later became important in modern computing and artificial intelligence. Lovelace also wrote that the Analytical Engine has no pretensions whatever to originate anything." This idea still connects to todays AI debate about how machines process information compared to human creativity. Hedy Lamarr (19142000): Hollywood Star and Wireless Communication Pioneer Hedy Lamarr was famous as a Hollywood actress, but she also had a strong interest in technology. During World War II, she worked with composer George Antheil on an invention designed to protect radio-controlled torpedoes from enemy interference. Together, they developed frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology. The system allowed signals to move between different radio frequencies, making them harder to block or track. ALSO READ: 25 Interesting Facts About International Womens Day You Should Know Although the idea was not used immediately during the war, it later became the base for several modern technologies. Systems such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS rely on similar ideas. These wireless technologies now play a major role in connecting AI systems across networks. Grace Hopper (19061992): The Woman Who Made Programming Easier Grace Hopper, a computer scientist and U.S. Navy Rear Admiral, made major contributions to early computing. In the early 1950s, she created the worlds first compiler. A compiler is a program that converts code written by humans into instructions that computers can understand. Before this invention, programming required detailed knowledge of machine hardware. Hoppers work made programming easier and allowed more people to develop software. ALSO READ: International Womens Day 2026: History, Significance, Theme And Global Celebrations She also helped develop COBOL, a programming language designed for business applications. Its simple, English-like structure influenced several later programming systems, including some used in AI development. Women Who Helped Build The Mid-Century Computing Era Betty Holberton (19172001): Programmer Of The First Electronic Computer Betty Holberton was one of six women who programmed ENIAC, one of the first general-purpose electronic computers. At that time, there were no programming languages or tools. The team had to create programming methods from scratch. Holberton later worked on the UNIVAC computer system. She designed the first sort-merge generator, which helped automate basic data processing tasks. These tasks later became important in many AI systems. She also worked on instruction codes that balanced human readability with machine efficiency. This idea remains important today, especially in areas such as machine learning. Barbara Liskov (b. 1939): Building Flexible Programming Systems Barbara Liskov made important contributions to software design and programming. She developed the CLU programming language, which introduced the idea of data abstraction. This concept allows programmers to design systems that are easier to maintain and update. Her work led to what is known as the Liskov Substitution Principle. This principle explains how different data types can be replaced without breaking a program. It later became a key idea in object-oriented programming, which is widely used in AI systems. This approach helps developers create flexible programs where different algorithms or data structures can be swapped easily. Eleanor Rosch (b. 1938): Changing How AI Understands Categories Psychologist Eleanor Rosch studied how people organise knowledge. Her research showed that humans usually group things based on examples or prototypes" rather than strict rules. For example, people may think of a robin as a typical bird even though penguins and ostriches are also birds. Roschs work showed that categories often have flexible boundaries. Her ideas helped shape how AI systems recognise objects and patterns. Today, machine learning systems use similar ideas when working with real-world data that is often unclear or complex. Modern Leaders Pushing AI Forward Today Fei-Fei Li: Expanding The Possibilities Of Machine Vision Fei-Fei Li is widely known for her work in computer vision. In 2007, she helped create ImageNet, a large dataset containing around 15 million labelled images. This dataset allowed computers to learn how to recognise objects more accurately. ImageNet played a major role in the growth of deep learning and modern AI research. Beyond her technical work, Li also focuses on making AI more inclusive. She co-founded AI4ALL, an organisation that encourages students from different backgrounds to enter AI research. She also helped establish the Stanford Human-Centred AI Institute, which studies how AI affects society. Mira Murati: Helping Develop Powerful AI Tools Mira Murati served as the former Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI. She played a key role in developing widely used AI systems such as ChatGPT and DALLE. Murati supported an approach called iterative deployment," where AI systems are released step by step so researchers can study their effects and improve safety. After leaving OpenAI, she started Thinking Machines Lab, which focuses on artificial general intelligence research while keeping safety and social benefits in mind. Daniela Amodei: Working Toward Safer AI Systems Daniela Amodei co-founded the company Anthropic, which focuses on building AI systems that behave responsibly. Her work combines interests in literature, politics, and technology policy. Before starting Anthropic, she worked on safety and policy projects at OpenAI. Her organisation studies ways to ensure AI systems follow clear principles. One example is Constitutional AI," a method that guides AI behaviour using a defined set of rules and values. Timnit Gebru: Raising Questions About Fairness In AI Dr. Timnit Gebru is known for her work on AI ethics. She studied how facial recognition systems can show bias against certain groups. Her research also raised concerns about large language models and their possible risks. One of her well-known papers is titled On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots. After leaving Google, Gebru founded the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR). The organisation focuses on fair and independent AI research that considers social impact. Joy Buolamwini: Fighting Bias In technology Joy Buolamwini began studying AI bias after noticing that facial recognition software struggled to recognise her face. Her research later showed that many systems performed poorly when identifying people with darker skin tones. She founded the Algorithmic Justice League, which studies fairness and accountability in AI systems. Buolamwini is also the author of the book Unmasking AI, which explains how algorithms can reflect social bias and how technology can be improved. Many Other Women Continue Shaping The AI World The list of women influencing artificial intelligence continues to grow. Many researchers, engineers, and leaders are pushing the field forward in different areas. Some of these contributors include Daniela Rus, who leads MITs Computer Science and AI Laboratory and works on robotics and human-machine collaboration. Joelle Pineau heads AI research at Meta and focuses on reinforcement learning. Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, has helped turn the company into a major force in high-performance computing hardware used for AI. Cynthia Breazeal has worked on social robots designed to interact with humans. Researchers such as Anima Anandkumar and Chelsea Finn are advancing machine learning and meta-learning. Claire Delaunay has helped bring AI into real-world robotics. Daphne Koller has applied AI to medical research and drug discovery. Francesca Rossi works on ethical AI development at IBM. Other notable voices include Irene Solaiman in AI policy research, Kate Crawford in studying AIs social impact, and Latanya Sweeney in data privacy and fairness. Manuela Veloso has contributed to robotics and multi-agent systems, while Regina Barzilay has used machine learning to improve cancer detection and drug discovery. First Published: March 08, 2026, 07:00 IST News lifestyle events Womens Day 2026 Special: Women Who Shaped AI; From Early Computing To Modern Artificial Intelligence Raazi To Queen And Neerja, These 4 Movies Show How Women Rewrite The Script Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 14:38 IST From the brave Neerja to a gripping court case in Pink and more, celebrate International Women's Day by binge watching these brave ladies. News18 Womens Day isnt just about celebration; its about stories that challenge norms, break silences, and redefine strength. Its about women who choose themselves, stand their ground, rewrite their narratives, and remind the world that resilience can be quiet, fierce, tender, and unstoppable, all at once. This Womens Day, on Tata Play Binge, watch these 4 powerful female-led stories that inspire, empower, and stay with you long after the credits roll. From self-discovery journeys to acts of extraordinary courage, these films prove one thing loud and clear: when women take centre stage, cinema transforms. Queen Kangana Ranaut delivers a career-defining performance as a young woman who embarks on her honeymoon alone after being left at the altar. What begins as heartbreak turns into a transformative solo journey across Paris and Amsterdam. With Rajkummar Rao and Lisa Haydon in key roles, this coming-of-age gem celebrates independence, self-worth, and discovering joy on your own terms. Its not just a trip, its a glow-up. Raazi Alia Bhatt commands the screen as Sehmat, an ordinary college girl turned undercover spy, in this gripping espionage thriller directed by Meghna Gulzar. Married into a Pakistani military family as part of a covert mission, Sehmat must balance duty, identity, and emotional turmoil. With Vicky Kaushal and Jaideep Ahlawat in pivotal roles, Raazi is a powerful portrayal of silent bravery, proving that courage doesnt always roar; sometimes, it whispers. Neerja Based on the true story of Neerja Bhanot, this biographical drama sees Sonam Kapoor embody the young flight attendant who sacrificed her life while saving passengers during a hijacking. Supported by Shabana Azmi and Yogendra Tiku, the film captures both vulnerability and valour with emotional depth. Neerja is not just a tribute, its a testament to extraordinary heroism rooted in compassion and quick thinking. Pink No means no." Three simple words that shook the nation. Pink follows the story of three young women, played by Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, and Andrea Tariang, who fight for justice after a traumatic incident. Amitabh Bachchan plays the steadfast lawyer who defends them in court, challenging societal prejudices at every turn. This courtroom drama is sharp, stirring, and socially relevant, reminding audiences that consent is non-negotiable and womens voices must be heard. First Published: March 08, 2026, 14:38 IST News lifestyle events Raazi To Queen And Neerja, These 4 Movies Show How Women Rewrite The Script In a wide-ranging Wired interview published Friday , Dorsey said he cut his workforce so drastically because something really shifted in December in the sophistication of [AI] tools, including Anthropics Opus 4.6 and OpenAIs Codex 5.3. He pushed back on claims of over-hiring during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that the company was in line with or just ahead of all our peers in terms of gross profit per employee. He said the structure and management hierarchy of companies is getting in the way of everything we do. His goal, he told Wired, was for the company itself to feel like a mini AGI. Block did not provide a statement to the Guardian. George, who still works at Block, says this was posturing for the market and that investors believe Dorsey is not a strong CEO: This was a bold move to reposition the company away from crypto and towards AI and also change the public market narrative around the company. Blocks stock jumped after its AI-fueled layoff announcement. But in interviews with the Guardian, seven current and recently laid off workers pushed back against Dorseys assertions that current AI tools can essentially replace workers at this scale. The workers the Guardian spoke with requested anonymity for fear of jeopardising their jobs or severance. They belong to various departments, including engineering and product, and several say Blocks AI tools can be helpful in their work. But many felt the cuts were Dorseys way of winning back investor confidence after Blocks stock had declined in recent months, following heavy investments in an unstable cryptocurrency market. Mark was one of roughly 4,000 Block employees laid off last week. CEO Jack Dorsey said he cut the companys workforce almost in half because of gains in AI productivity. A significantly smaller team, using the tools were building, can do more and do it better, Dorsey wrote in a letter to shareholders. You cant really AI that, he told the Guardian, adding that, after all, an employee is more than a series of tasks. These AI tools were not proactive. He had to tell them what to do. Block still needed him, he thought. Mark remembers the first time he wondered whether he was teaching Blocks AI tools how to do his job and maybe even replace him. He was at his fintech companys extravagant anniversary party last September. As executives led a presentation on the productivity benefits of a new internal AI tool, Mark, who worked in the product department, discussed his worries with colleagues. While he wasnt sure what would happen in a few years, he told a co-worker sitting next to him that for now, there was no way the technology was so advanced that it could move the business forward without employees like him to help drive vision and strategy. Story Continues Blocks cuts come as wider fears emerge about how a growing use of AI in the United States could drive job cuts. Goldman Sachs noted in February that the increasing pace of AI adoption could drive up unemployment this year and estimated that the technology had already resulted in 5,000 to 10,000 monthly net job losses in the US last year. Creating their own replacements At first, Block mostly encouraged its employees to use AI more often. Then, over the last nine months, that encouragement shifted to a requirement, workers told the Guardian. Dorsey insisted in a recording of a January internal all-hands meeting that the Guardian reviewed that the way we built things in the past is not going to work anymore. We have to shift. Theres no question, Dorsey said. Some workers, including Mark, feel that employees are being tasked with building and training the very tools the company is trying to use to supplant them. The way in which they are using these tools as justification to fire half the company is ludicrous, he said. In hindsight, it seemed like a thinly veiled attempt to get all this input from employees on what tasks to automate. You basically have employees teach you how to automate them out but [these tools] are not even close to being all-encompassing of someones job. Another laid-off Block employee made a similar point publicly in an interview with Business Insider. Even Block workers whose jobs heavily involve AI tools are skeptical that current tools can replace workers at this scale. Were just not there yet, says John, a current employee whose role involves helping other staff use AI. Theres a distinction between whats technically possible and just pardon my French whatever CEO bullshit will happen based on their own interpretation of how AI works, John says. While AI tools have certainly made engineers faster, humans still need to be a part of the loop. Block executives said in a recent earnings call that the company has seen engineering work that would have taken weeks to complete be done by a small team in a fraction of the time with agentic coding tools. They cited a greater than 40% increase in production code shipped per engineer since September. All code changes at Block require human approval before being added to products and services, according to John. He notes that about 95% of AI-driven code changes still need human tweaks as of about three months ago. They are not up to company standard on the first try, he says. Block is also monitoring employees use of AI, down to their use of specific tools and tokens, according to several employees. Evaluations about employee performance, which are determined partly by the direct managers assessments, now include questions about AI usage and proficiency. Liam, a recently laid-off software engineer, recalls feeling the pressure as his manager asked him about how he currently uses AI and what steps he would take to make that more effective. It was very clear that if you werent using AI, your job was in danger, he says. The push for rapid change has led to a widespread feeling of AI fatigue, according to John, who helps others use these tools: People are fed up with AI. Carl, a current employee, tells the Guardian that hes opposed to AI on an ethical level because of how the datacenters used to power it are harming communities. He avoids using these tools, noting: Youre not paying me to train your tools, so Im not going to do it. But even those who would have otherwise been more open to AI are frustrated. The pressure to use AI created more friction as it became obvious that we were being monitored for our usage, and we were being told that we had to use it, even if it was the less efficient route to accomplish a task, according to Oliver, a recently laid-off worker. Oliver and other workers told the Guardian that Blocks AI tools cant yet take the lead on some work in heavily regulated spaces, like banking and money transfers, which are vital parts of a financial tech companys business. Naoko Takeda, recently a data scientist at Cash App, which is owned by Block, wrote in a viral post on LinkedIn this week that she survived the layoffs but felt immense dread and survivors guilt. Despite a dramatic pay increase offered to employees who remained, she said, she left the company. In the last year, AI was shoved down everyones throats. Everything was about AI. We were told to use AI as much as possible, she wrote. Its nothing short of dystopian to be forced to employ the very tools that accelerate the disappearance of the jobs on which our livelihoods depend. Personally, I saw very limited gains in productivity from AI, nothing nearly profound enough to justify tossing out half of the companys workforce along with their institutional knowledge and expertise. Are bots bad for business? Beyond the impact on employees, Blocks AI expansion may also hurt its business. George, who still works at the company, describes how some customers have become angry about Block outsourcing some initial requests for customer support to chatbots. Weve noticed [from internal surveys] that [these bots have] made incredible mistakes, he says. That includes telling customers to cancel or close their existing accounts as potential solutions. Thats something, which, of course, we never want to encourage as a solution, he says. More broadly, workers described that, while AI can be especially helpful on the back end, customers and clients typically dont like talking to automated bots when they have serious issues. Its frustrating, like, you cant get your point across its almost like its reading a manual to you, and its like, well, this isnt the problem, says Carl. Other workers appreciate AIs effect on productivity, but note its lack of judgment and emotional intelligence. It doesnt have discernment. Its like, it can build a brick building, but does that mean it [understands] architecture? says Oliver. Amid these issues, the remaining workers are left to pick up the slack, as entire teams are decimated. Current employees describe being in survival mode and morale as in the gutter. An internal 26 February Slack message that the Guardian reviewed from Blocks engineering lead, in which he expressed gratitude to employees amid the layoffs, was met with a diverse array of emoji reactions from staff: hundreds of thumbs-downs, tomatoes, middle fingers and clown faces. Everyone that I know thats still there has a ton of dread because they just realized their workload has quadrupled or 10xed and AI is not going to fix it, Oliver says. Happy Womens Day 2026: Women Leaders In Politics Globally Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 11:32 IST International Womens Day highlights influential women leaders from around the world, including Indira Gandhi, Angela Merkel and Jacinda Ardern, who shaped political leadership. March 8 is a reminder of women who have shaped global politics. Here are five influential women leaders who broke barriers and changed history. (File pics) Women Leaders In Politics Around The World: March 8 marks International Womens Day, a time to recognise the contributions of women in shaping societies and political systems around the world. Politics has long been dominated by men, but many women have stepped into leadership roles and guided their countries through major political and social moments. From leading governments and shaping foreign policy to navigating global crises, these women leaders have influenced political discourse far beyond their borders. ALSO READ: Happy Womens Day 2026: 100+ Wishes, Quotes, Images, WhatsApp Status And Instagram Captions For International Womens Day Their journeys also reflect the gradual but important expansion of womens representation in public leadership. Here are some women leaders whose work has left a lasting impact on politics globally. Sushma Swaraj Sushma Swaraj was one of Indias most respected political leaders and served as the countrys Minister of External Affairs from 2014 to 2019. She was widely known for her accessibility and responsiveness, particularly on social media, where she frequently helped Indian citizens facing difficulties abroad. Her tenure marked a shift in how diplomacy connected directly with people. Before becoming foreign minister, Swaraj held several key political roles, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Chief Minister of Delhi. Her political career spanned decades and made her one of the most prominent women leaders in India. ALSO READ: 25 Interesting Facts About International Womens Day You Should Know Indira Gandhi Indira Gandhi served as Indias Prime Minister for more than 15 years and remains one of the most influential political figures in the countrys history. She first assumed office in 1966 and later led India during significant moments, including the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the creation of Bangladesh. Gandhi was known for her strong political authority and decisive leadership style. ALSO READ: International Womens Day 2026: History, Significance, Theme And Global Celebrations Her tenure continues to be widely discussed and analysed in Indias political landscape. Angela Merkel Angela Merkel served as Germanys chancellor from 2005 to 2021, making her one of the longest-serving leaders in Europe in recent decades. During her time in office, Merkel played a central role in handling the European debt crisis, migration challenges and several key negotiations within the European Union. Her pragmatic approach to leadership earned her global recognition. She was often seen as one of the most influential leaders in international politics during her tenure. Jacinda Ardern Jacinda Ardern became New Zealands prime minister in 2017 and quickly gained international attention for her leadership style. Her response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks and her governments handling of the COVID-19 pandemic were widely discussed globally. Arderns communication style and emphasis on social welfare policies shaped her public image as a modern political leader. She stepped down from the role in 2023 after serving for more than five years. Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher served as the United Kingdoms prime minister from 1979 to 1990 and became the first woman to hold the office. Known as the Iron Lady, Thatcher implemented major economic reforms and played a significant role in reshaping Britains political direction during her tenure. Her leadership style was firm and often polarising, but it firmly established her as one of the defining political figures of the late twentieth century. Women leaders across the world continue to reshape political systems and public leadership. Their journeys highlight both the challenges women have faced in entering politics and the influence they have had once they reached positions of power. On International Womens Day, reflecting on their leadership offers a reminder of how representation in politics can shape the future of societies. First Published: March 08, 2026, 07:45 IST News lifestyle events Happy Womens Day 2026: Women Leaders In Politics Globally 5 Safe Destinations For Women To Travel This Year Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 20:29 IST Discover five safe and empowering destinations around the world where women can explore confidently and create unforgettable experiences. Japan is widely regarded as one of the safest and most comfortable destinations for women travelling independently International Womens Day is a perfect occasion to celebrate how travel can be a liberating, enlightening and empowering experience. Many destinations around the world not only welcome female travellers but also offer environments where they can explore confidently, relax and connect with local cultures. Travel allows women to discover the world on their own terms while building confidence and meaningful cultural connections," says Louis DSouza, Managing Partner, Tamarind Global. Whether in vibrant cities or serene cultural landscapes, women can explore at their own pace, create lasting memories and experience the excitement of independent travel. 1. Japan Japan is widely regarded as one of the safest and most comfortable destinations for women travelling independently. The country offers efficient public transport systems and even women-only train carriages during peak hours. The contrast between the futuristic energy of Tokyo and the historic charm of Kyotos temples, along with the scenic beauty of Hakone, offers travellers the perfect blend of modernity and tradition. Combined with exceptional hospitality and world-renowned cuisine, Japan provides a deeply enriching experience for solo female travellers. 2. Iceland Iceland stands out as a destination that combines progressive values with extraordinary natural beauty. The capital city of Reykjavik offers a vibrant cafe culture and arts scene, while the rest of the country presents breathtaking landscapes. Women travellers can relax in the Blue Lagoon, chase the Northern Lights, or explore the Golden Circles geysers, waterfalls and glaciers. With its welcoming society and strong sense of safety, Iceland offers a liberating and unforgettable travel experience. 3. New Zealand New Zealand attracts women travellers seeking both adventure and tranquillity. Known for its friendly locals and safe environment, the country offers a wide variety of experiences. From bungee jumping and jet boating in Queenstown to hiking through Fiordland National Park or enjoying vineyard tours in Marlborough, the country caters to every type of traveller. Visitors can also explore the rich traditions of Maori culture while enjoying distinctive local cuisine such as green-lipped mussels, lamb and traditional Maori hangi meals. 4. Udaipur Udaipur offers a welcoming atmosphere, rich cultural heritage and tranquil surroundings that many women travellers find both comfortable and rewarding to explore. Known as the City of Lakes," Udaipur offers experiences such as boating on Lake Pichola, exploring the grandeur of the City Palace and shopping for handicrafts and silver jewellery in colourful local markets. Heritage walks, rooftop sunset views and relaxing spa experiences further enhance the charm of this royal destination. 5. Rishikesh Nestled along the sacred River Ganga and surrounded by the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh is ideal for women seeking both adventure and inner peace. Often called the Yoga Capital of the World," the town offers numerous yoga and meditation retreats set in peaceful ashrams. At the same time, adventure enthusiasts can enjoy activities such as river rafting, bungee jumping and trekking. Participating in the evening Ganga Aarti adds a deeply spiritual dimension to the experience. While these destinations are widely regarded as safe and welcoming for women travellers, it is always advisable to stay aware of local customs, follow basic travel precautions and remain informed about local travel advisories. Today, travel is not just about visiting new places, it is about experiences that inspire confidence, independence and personal growth. These destinations offer women the opportunity to explore safely while discovering cultures, landscapes and moments that stay with them long after the journey ends. First Published: March 08, 2026, 20:29 IST News lifestyle travel 5 Safe Destinations For Women To Travel This Year 'Grateful And Humbled': Anupam Kher On Receiving Reel Icon Honour At News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 15:09 IST Anupam Kher won the Reel Icon honour at the News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026 on his 71st birthday and shared a heartfelt note thanking fans and celebrating Tanvi The Great. Rapid Read Anupam Kher won the Reel Icon honour at the News18 Showsha Reel Awards Veteran actor Anupam Kher was conferred with the Reel Icon award at the News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026, held last night on March 7 at JW Marriott Juhu in Mumbai. Winning an award, that too on his birthday, was quite special for Anupam Kher. Following his win, the actor has now shared a long note on his Instagram expressing gratitude. Sharing a series of pictures on his social media from the Showsha Reel Awards 2026 ceremony, Anupam wrote, AWARDS: Grateful and humbled to receive the REEL ICON Award at the #News18ShoshaReelAwards. Thank you to the wonderful team at @cnnnews18 for this honour and for celebrating the magic of cinema and storytelling." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) Kher further continued and, while thanking his fans, wrote, Most importantly, my heartfelt gratitude to all my admirers and audiences who have supported, encouraged and believed in my work for so many years. Your love is my biggest motivation to keep reinventing myself. A special moment of pride was seeing our film Tanvi The Great being celebrated as well." At the ceremony, the lead actress of Tanvi The Great, Shubhangi Dutt, was also felicitated with the Best Actress Debut award. Praising her, Anupam added, Brilliant Shubhangi winning the BEST ACTRESS Debut Award made the evening even more special. Her dedication and sincerity have touched so many hearts. This recognition only strengthens our belief that stories filled with compassion, courage and hope will always find their audience. Thank you once again. Onwards and upwards. JAI HO! " Anupam Kher Honoured As Reel Icon Anupam Kher was conferred with the Reel Icon award at the News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026. The honour was presented by his contemporary and friend, Rakesh Bedi. Its always wonderful to win awards and get recognised by people. To me, awards are very important. Its such a joy to receive this award from a colleague of mine, I have been working with for a long time," he said while accepting the award. Meanwhile, on his 71st birthday, the makers of Prabhas upcoming film Fauzi shared Anupam Khers poster and revealed that he has joined the cast of Fauzi. His character and other details have not been shared yet. First Published: March 08, 2026, 15:09 IST News movies bollywood 'Grateful And Humbled': Anupam Kher On Receiving Reel Icon Honour At News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026 Finland President Alexander Stubb Reveals He Watched Dhurandhar Before India Visit: 'My Son Suggested It' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 08:56 IST Finnish President Alexander Stubb watched the Indian film Dhurandhar before visiting India, recommended by his son. He is excited for the sequel, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge. Finnish President Alexander Stubb Praises Dhurandhar. Looks like Dhurandhar has fans in some pretty unexpected places. During his visit to India, Finnish President Alexander Stubb revealed that he had already watched the blockbuster spy thriller thanks to a recommendation from his son. The world leader even shared his excitement for the upcoming sequel. Finnish President Talks About Dhurandhar Alexander Stubb, who is on a state visit to India from March 4 to March 7, spoke about the film during a conversation with ANI. He revealed that he watched the movie before arriving in the country after his son suggested it to him. Speaking about the experience, he said, Interestingly enough, before I came to India, my son suggested I should watch Dhurandhar. And I did. Of course that was one part of the narrative of that movie. I am happy to fight against terrorism and look forward to the sequel on the 19th of March." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Asian News International (@ani_trending) Trailer Of Dhurandhar 2 Released The Presidents remarks coincided with another big moment for the franchise which is the release of the second trailer for Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge. Dropped on March 7 at 11:01 am, the new footage gives viewers a deeper look at the next chapter of the story. The trailer shows Ranveer Singh returning as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, who continues his dangerous mission while navigating Karachis complex underworld. The character appears to be moving closer to controlling Lyari while secretly working to dismantle a terror network from within. The intense visuals, action sequences and dramatic narrative suggest that the sequel will take the story to a much larger scale. The trailer ends with Ranveer Singh delivering a striking line: Now India will decide the future of Pakistan." How The First Film Became A Huge Hit The original Dhurandhar, directed and co-produced by Aditya Dhar, released in theatres on December 5, 2025. It went on to become the highest-grossing Indian film of the year and sparked widespread discussion among audiences. Blending espionage, geopolitics and high-octane action, the film followed a covert Indian intelligence mission designed to infiltrate Karachis powerful criminal and political networks. The narrative was loosely inspired by several real-world geopolitical developments in South Asia. With a runtime of over three hours, the film also stood out as one of the longest Indian productions in recent years. Cast And Story Of The First Film Ranveer Singh led the film as an undercover agent who assumes the identity of Hamza Ali Mazari while infiltrating a powerful Baloch criminal network. The mission is initiated by Intelligence Director Ajay Sanyal, played by R. Madhavan. The ensemble cast included Akshaye Khanna as Rehman Dakait, Sanjay Dutt as SP Chaudhary Aslam, Arjun Rampal as Major Iqbal, Sara Arjun as Yalina Jamali, and Rakesh Bedi as Jameel Jamal. Other actors such as Gaurav Gera and Danish Pandor also featured in key roles. In the films climactic sequence, Rehman Dakait is killed by Hamza, though the act is made to appear as if someone else carried it out. The final twist reveals that Hamza is actually Jaskirat, an operative planted in Pakistan as part of a larger intelligence operation. The story ends with hints of a much bigger mission ahead, setting the stage for the sequel. The film is currently available for streaming on Netflix. What To Expect From Dhurandhar 2 Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is expected to continue from the dramatic cliffhanger of the first film. The new chapter will further explore the double identity of Jaskirat and Hamza and the broader espionage mission unfolding across borders. The sequel may also expand the role of R. Madhavans Ajay Sanyal, who is believed to guide and train Jaskirat in intelligence operations. Meanwhile, the power struggle in Karachi following Rehmans death could open the door for new conflicts. The trailer hints that the story will dive deeper into several unanswered questions including the origins of Jaskirats transformation into Hamza and the larger targets of the secret operation. Global Release And Production Backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the sequel continues Aditya Dhars ambitious spy-action franchise. The first film was shot across multiple locations including Punjab, Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Thailand, with cinematography by Vikash Nowlakha and music by Shashwat Sachdev. The sequel is set for a worldwide theatrical release on March 19, 2026. It will arrive in multiple languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. President Stubbs Visit To India During his trip, Alexander Stubb also held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The leaders discussed strengthening cooperation between the two countries in areas such as defence, space technology, semiconductors and critical minerals. Stubb emphasised the importance of ending Russias war against Ukraine and maintaining peace in accordance with United Nations principles. The meeting took place amid ongoing global tensions, including the continuing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran. Modi noted that closer collaboration between the two democratic nations could help build more reliable technologies and strengthen global supply chains. First Published: March 08, 2026, 08:56 IST News movies bollywood Finland President Alexander Stubb Reveals He Watched Dhurandhar Before India Visit: 'My Son Suggested It' Jr NTR's Bengaluru Hospital Visit Turns Chaotic; Anurag Dobhal's Wife Visits Him In Hospital Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 22:04 IST Jr NTRs hospital visit in Bengaluru turned chaotic as fans gathered in huge numbers; YouTuber Anurag Dobhals wife Ritika Chauhan reportedly visited him in hospital. Rapid Read Jr NTRs visit turned chaotic; Anurag Dobhals wife Ritika Chauhan visited him. Jr NTR has a massive fan following, and when people learn he is visiting a place, they come out in full force to catch a glimpse of him. Recently, such an incident happened, and it turned sour as a massive crowd came to see Jr NTR. The excitement quickly turned into chaos, forcing police to step in and carry out a mild-lathi charge. For More: Jr NTRs Bengaluru Hospital Visit Turns Chaotic As Fans Damage Escalator, Police Resort To Lathi Charge Bigg Boss 17 contestant and YouTuber Anurag Dobhal crashed into a divider on the Delhi-Dehradun highway while streaming live on Instagram. Soon after the accident, he was admitted to the hospital and taken into the ICU. Now his manager has shared an update on Anurag and revealed that his wife, Ritika Chauhan, has visited him in the hospital. For More: Anurag Dobhals Wife Visits Him in Hospital; YouTuber Is Under Observation, Reveals His Manager Womens Day is being celebrated today, and Bollywood celebrities are taking to social media to share heartfelt posts celebrating the women in their lives. Actress Akansha Ranjan Kapoor shared a post on Instagram, revealing that she recently underwent an egg freezing procedure. For More: Akansha Ranjan Kapoor Opens Up About Undergoing Egg Freezing Procedure: Last Two Weeks Were Intense Veteran actor Anupam Kher was conferred with the Reel Icon award at the News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026, held last night on March 7. The evening was even more special as it coincided with his 71st birthday. A video from the event shows the veteran actor celebrating his birthday with the paparazzi at the event. For More: Anupam Kher Gets Emotional As He Celebrates Birthday With Paparazzi At News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026 Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan attended a wedding celebration, and an inside video of the ceremony is now going viral, in which the actress is seen dancing to Salman Khans popular song Salaam-E-Ishq" with the wife of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani. The video has Nita, Abhishek and Aishwarya, along with other people, dancing their hearts out to the song. For More: Aishwarya Rai And Abhishek Bachchan Dance To Salman Khans Salaam-E-Ishq With Nita Ambani | Video First Published: March 08, 2026, 22:04 IST News movies bollywood Jr NTR's Bengaluru Hospital Visit Turns Chaotic; Anurag Dobhal's Wife Visits Him In Hospital You Changed My Life: Aneet Padda Thanks Mohit Suri, Ahaan Panday In Emotional Speech | Showsha Reel Awards 2026 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 08:09 IST Aneet Padda delivered an emotional speech after winning Star Of The Year (Movie), thanking Ahaan Panday, Mohit Suri and Saiyaara team for changing her life. Rapid Read Aneet Padda delivered an emotional speech after winning Star Of The Year (Movie) at News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026 It was a special moment for Saiyaara actress Aneet Padda as she won Star Of The Year (Movie) at News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026, which were held on March 7 in Mumbai. The actress delivered a heartfelt, emotional speech while accepting the award, while her Saiyaara co-star Ahaan Panday, and director Mohit Suri cheered the loudest. A video of her speech has now gone viral on social media, and fans cant stop gushing over her inspiring words. Aneet Paddas Speech After Her Big Win At News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026 In her acceptance speech, Aneet Padda spoke about her love for cinema, and how it has taught her pain, empathy and love. I have been giving a lot of speeches recently. And the only thing that I wish to say is this. I feel a lot of people believe that life is the biggest teacher of all. But anything that comes a close second, for me, it has been cinema. Because when I was younger, and hadnt lived enough life to understand the world, it was the thing that taught me pain, empathy and love and life. It was a thing that gave me an insight into how big the world is, outside. And for that I couldnt be more grateful to it. So I just really hope that I can give back, I really hope that I can pour the love back." She further thanked Saiyaara director Mohit Suri, co-star Ahaan Panday, and the entire team of the film, crediting them for changing her life. Lastly I would really like to thank Mo Mo (Mohit Suri). I love you so much. Ahaan Panday, theres nobody like you. The entire team of Saiyaara, theres nobody like you. Youve changed my life. You absolutely changed my life," she said. Check out the video below! View this post on Instagram A post shared by News18.com (@cnnnews18) Fans React Fans applauded Aneet Padda for her speech. Aneets speeches are so beautiful and meaningful," wrote one fan, while another one commented, New fav thing of mine.hearing Ameets speech." A third fan commented, I love how well spoken she is," while another netizen wrote, Theres something so beautiful about the way you speak, i admire you not just for your skills but also for the way youre." Apart from Aneet Padda, Ahaan Panday also won the Star of the Year (Movie) award at the News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026. Meanwhile, Mohit Suri won Best Director (Popular Choice) for Saiyaara. First Published: March 08, 2026, 08:09 IST News movies bollywood You Changed My Life: Aneet Padda Thanks Mohit Suri, Ahaan Panday In Emotional Speech | Showsha Reel Awards 2026 BTS Suga Turns 33: How Min Yoongi Became A Global K-Pop And Hip-Hop Icon Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 20:00 IST As BTS rapper Suga turns 33, revisit Min Yoongis journey from Daegus underground rap scene to global fame as Agust D, redefining K-pop and hip-hop worldwide. BTS member Suga (Min Yoongi) turns 33 on March 9, 2026. (Image: agustd/Instagram) Happy Birthday Suga: South Korean pop band BTS enjoys fame like no other in the world. Making their debut in 2013, the seven-member band has emerged as one of the most popular names in the world of music in the 21st century. And not just as a group, but each member has carved out a niche for themselves in the industry through their individual singing, rapping, songwriting, and dancing. Among them is Min Yoongi, aka Suga. With his extraordinary rapping and producing skills, he has made a name for himself separate from the groups identity. On the occasion of his 33rd birthday on March 9, 2026, lets have a look at how Suga is redefining K-pop in his own way. BTS Suga: Early Life Born on March 9, 1993, in Daegu, South Korea, Suga was drawn to music from a young age. After listening to the likes of Epik High and Stony Skunk, he decided to become a rapper. At 13, he began writing lyrics and even worked at a recording studio. He was also part of the underground rap scene and performed with a group called D-Town before formally entering the music scene. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SUGA of BTS (@agustd) BTS Suga: Rise To Popularity Suga rose to worldwide fame as a rapper and producer of BTS. Known for his sharp lyrics and introspective storytelling, he quickly garnered recognition among the masses not just for his rap skills but also for his behind-the-scenes work as a producer. Over the years, he has written, composed, and produced several chartbusters for the group. BTS Suga: Solo Career It was not until Suga made his solo debut that fans got to see a rawer, more personal side of his artistry. He ventured solo in 2016 with a free self-titled mixtape, Agust D. In 2020, he released his second mixtape, D-2. Just months prior to enlisting, Suga released his first solo studio album, D-Day, in April 2023. For his solo venture, he adopted the alias Agust D in 2016, a mix of his name Suga" and the initials of his birthplace, Daegu Towns DT," spelt backwards. Under this persona, he explored themes that go beyond his polished image as a K-pop idol. He addressed struggles with depression and social phobia, among other topics. Before enlisting in the military in September 2023, Suga kicked off his first-ever solo tour titled D-Day Tour in support of his debut studio album, D-Day, in April 2023, in New York City, and ended in August 2023, in Seoul, South Korea. His performance during the shows was well-received by audiences and critics, with many praising his singing, rapping, and pyrokinetics. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SUGA of BTS (@agustd) Suga was discharged from the military in June 2025 after completing his 21-month service as a social worker. Since then, he has kept a low public profile. Currently, he is busy with group activities as BTS is gearing up for their comeback with a new album, Arirang, and other exciting follow-up projects. Location : Seoul, South Korea First Published: March 08, 2026, 20:00 IST News movies korean BTS Suga Turns 33: How Min Yoongi Became A Global K-Pop And Hip-Hop Icon Anurag Dobhal's Wife Visits Him in Hospital; YouTuber Is Under Observation, Reveals His Manager Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 19:56 IST YouTuber Anurag Dobhal remains under observation in ICU after crashing his car during a livestream. His wife Ritika Chauhan visited him, his manager shared in a health update. YouTuber Anurag Dobhal wife Ritika Chauhan visited him. Bigg Boss 17 contestant and YouTuber Anurag Dobhal crashed into a divider on the Delhi-Dehradun highway while streaming live on Instagram. Soon after the accident, he was admitted to the hospital and taken into the ICU. Now his manager has shared an update on Anurag and revealed that his wife, Ritika Chauhan, has visited him in the hospital. On Saturday evening, he requested that Anurag is still under observation and wrote, Update: Close friends, Bhabhi (Anurags wife, Ritika Chauhan), and her family are currently at the hospital with him. He is still under observation. Please do not spread rumours or misinformation." Also, lets not target or spread hate towards anyone at this time. We are monitoring the situation. Lets all pray for him and hope for his speedy recovery," Rohit further added in his note. Earlier, Rohit had shared a statement on social media and updated fans about Anurags health. He had written, He has been moved to another hospital, currently in the ICU, so please pray for him. We are in touch with doctors and everyone else. Thanks to the people who have been supporting us, especially thanks to the fans who helped me figure out his location and got help for him. Aap log bhagwan ho sach me (you people are truly God)." About Anurags car crash During the livestream that preceded the crash, Dobhal made several emotional statements while driving. He was heard saying, Mummy, if I come in the next birth, just give me love," before speeding up his vehicle and adding, Lets go for the final drive." Moments before the livestream ended abruptly, Dobhal also said, Himmat thi lekin ab log hi nahi bache. Kisko phone karu?" The video stopped shortly after the crash. The incident comes just days after Dobhal publicly spoke about facing mental distress related to family issues. He had recently alleged that he was being mentally harassed by family members because of his inter-caste marriage. In earlier statements, the YouTuber said he had been feeling depressed and had even contemplated suicide, claiming that his family would be responsible if anything happened to him. First Published: March 08, 2026, 19:56 IST News movies television Anurag Dobhal's Wife Visits Him in Hospital; YouTuber Is Under Observation, Reveals His Manager Jr NTR's Bengaluru Hospital Visit Turns Chaotic As Fans Damage Escalator, Police Resort To Lathi Charge Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 18:25 IST Jr NTRs visit to a Bengaluru hospital turned chaotic as hundreds of fans gathered to see him, damaging an escalator and forcing police to resort to a mild-lathi charge. Jr NTRs visit to a Bengaluru hospital turned chaotic. Jr NTR has a massive fan following, and when people learn he is visiting a place, they come out in full force to catch a glimpse of him. Recently, such an incident happened, and it turned sour as a massive crowd came to see Jr NTR. The excitement quickly turned into chaos, forcing police to step in and carry out a mild-lathi charge. According to reports, Jr NTR attended the inauguration of KIMS Hospitals, and hundreds of admirers gathered to see the actor both inside and outside the hospital. As soon as fans got to know about the actors arrival, they started shouting slogans and attempting to move closer to him, which led to disruption, and the situation went out of hand. In an attempt to meet the actor, many chose to rush towards an escalator, and the heavy crowding reportedly damaged the escalator. Tarak anna waving hands at fans who gathered outside the KIMS Hospitals in Mahadevapura, Bengaluru Biggest Crowd puller @tarak9999 #NTRNeel #NTRInBengaluru pic.twitter.com/R7cHrkhA4G NTR KING OF MASS (@KingJrNTR) March 8, 2026 Police even had to use lathis to push the crowd away and bring the situation under control. A video featuring police officers pushing the fans to establish order surfaced online, while a security corridor was later formed to ensure the actors safe entry and exit. Meanwhile, even after the chaos, Jr NTR made sure that he greeted his fans. He decided to come out of the sunroof so that he could greet as many fans as he could. Currently, Jr NTR is in the headlines for his next film with Prashanth Neel. The action thriller, which is currently in production, has been generating massive buzz. As reported by 123 Telugu, Jr NTR recently flew to Jordan for the shooting. The movie is called Dragon, first revealed by SS Rajamouli on an international stage. But recently, producer Ravi Yerneni clarified that Dragon is not the final title and is only a working title. Repeated Roadblocks In Jr NTRPrashanth Neel Collaboration The shooting for Dragon began earlier in 2024 with high expectations, but the production has not progressed as planned. Recently, Telugu 360 reported that there have been multiple long breaks between schedules, affecting the films overall timeline. Recently, Jr NTR was on a personal break due to the wedding of his brother-in-law, Narne Nithiin. The actor was expected to resume shooting in the last week of October. First Published: March 08, 2026, 18:25 IST News movies telugu-cinema Jr NTR's Bengaluru Hospital Visit Turns Chaotic As Fans Damage Escalator, Police Resort To Lathi Charge Global Watch | Operation Gazab Lil Haq: Pakistan's War Of Optics Amid A Crisis At Home Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 20:43 IST While 'Operation Gazab Lil Haq' may project strength, its very existence underscores a failure of foresight, policy and governance Rapid Read Pakistani army trucks carrying ammunition arrive near the Torkham border between Afghanistan and Pakistan on February 28, 2026. (Image: AFP) When Pakistan announced the launch of Operation Gazab Lil Haq on February 26 against Afghanistan, the name itself seemed designed for effect. This peculiar phrase, which roughly translates as Fury for truth", suggested moral clarity and even inevitability. But behind this grandiose terminology lies a far more prosaic reality: Pakistan is a troubled state struggling to contain mounting violence at home and hence turning, once again, across the contested Durand Line as both battleground and diversion. The latest escalation began when Pakistan carried out airstrikes deep inside Afghan territory on February 22 and claimed to have killed nearly 80 fighters from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The group has emerged as the security nightmare for the Pakistani authorities by conducting attacks against government and military installations with unprecedented success. But Kabul swiftly rejected Islamabads account and accused Pakistan of targeting civilian homes and killing at least 18 people, including women and children, holding that it reserved the right to retaliate against this breach of sovereignty. And it did retaliate on the intervening night of February 26, when Afghan Taliban government forces launched large-scale cross-border strikes on Pakistani military positions all along the border and claimed to have inflicted heavy Pakistani casualties and captured border outposts. Even as fighting flared along the border, Pakistans military expanded its operations across a broad swathe of Afghanistan by launching airstrikes from Kabul to Kandahar, Paktika to Nangarhar, among others. Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif even went to the extent of declaring that the country was in open war" with the Afghan Taliban. However, such rhetorical escalation cannot obscure the fact that despite repeated assertions of inflicting heavy losses on TTP militant hideouts inside Afghanistan, Pakistan has not claimed to have killed any senior TTP leader yet. Such a divergence between official triumphalism" and operational ambiguity raises an uncomfortable question: whether this is a decisive counterterrorism campaign or just an act of strategic theatre. Nevertheless, understanding the present Afghanistan-Pakistan confrontation necessitates going beyond Pakistans rhetoric and examining how its internal security has unravelled in recent years. The country has experienced a sharp uptick in violence over the past five years, with TTP and allied groups, besides Baloch nationalist insurgent factions like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), having emerged stronger despite Pakistans successive nationwide military campaigns like Zarb-e-Azb, Raddul Fassaad and Azm-i-Istehkam. These groups have carried out coordinated attacks across KP and Balochistan respectively. According to reports by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), in just the first two months of 2026, the country witnessed nearly 180 militant and insurgent attacks which resulted in over 212 military and civilian casualties. For instance, the BLA executed a multi-day military assault, called Operation Herof-2, starting January 31 this year, targeting as many as 48 military and government sites across 14 cities of Balochistan, killing dozens of soldiers. The scale and audacity of the operation underscored the fragility of the states writ in its largest province. For Pakistans military-dominated establishment, such figures are more than statistics and represent a crisis of credibility. Given that the Pakistani Army has long positioned itself as the ultimate guarantor of national security and territorial integrity, this resurgence of both Islamist and ethno-nationalist insurgencies suggests an erosion of that claim. It is in this context that the Afghan escalation appears less as a strategic necessity and more as a political manoeuvre. By attributing the TTPs revival to sanctuary and support in Afghanistan, Islamabad externalises the problem. Kabul, in this framing, therefore becomes not merely a neighbour but the primary enabler of Pakistans insecurity. There may be some basis for concern since TTP shares ideological and historical ties with the Afghan Taliban. But so did the Pakistani Army, which sheltered the Afghan Taliban during the two decades of the American War on Terror and even facilitated its return to power in Kabul in 2021. Though Pakistan had hoped that the Afghan Talibans takeover would yield what its strategists once described as strategic depth", that is, a friendly regime in Kabul that would neutralise Indian influence and help contain anti-Pakistan militants, the policy has instead boomeranged. The Afghan Taliban have consistently denied harbouring or supporting the TTP and have instead urged Islamabad to address what they call its internal sources of instability". The group has shown little inclination to accede to Pakistani demands of cracking down decisively" on the TTP, as it risks alienating ideological allies and internal constituencies; a reluctance interpreted in Islamabad as complicity. The February airstrikes, then, can be read as an expression of frustration and desperation. But they also serve another purpose. In moments of domestic strain, external confrontation has often provided Pakistans establishment with a means of redirecting public attention. Historically, tensions with India have played that role. In the current geopolitical climate, Afghanistan has become the more accessible target. But such a deflection carries risks, as escalation along the Durand Line is not a cost-free exercise. Afghanistans Taliban rulers are not the fractured insurgency they once were, as they now command a state apparatus, however rudimentary that may be. In that sense, the current crisis is not merely a diplomatic spat. It is the culmination of a long strategic experiment. For years, Pakistans security doctrine relied on cultivating militant proxies to advance its regional interests. The expectation was that these groups could be managed, redirected or dismantled as circumstances required. The resurgence of the TTP and the intensification of insurgency suggest that the control mechanisms have frayed. Therefore, while Operation Gazab Lil Haq" may project strength, its very existence underscores a failure of foresight, policy and governance. By expanding the theatre of conflict into Afghanistan, Pakistans leadership risks deepening regional instability while leaving its domestic vulnerabilities unresolved. In the end, the question is not whether Islamabad can strike across the border. It is whether it can restore security and public confidence at home without relying on the language and the optics of perpetual external confrontation. A strategy built on deflection may buy time. It cannot, however, substitute for reckoning. (The writer is an author and columnist. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed are personal and solely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect News18s views) First Published: March 08, 2026, 20:43 IST News opinion Global Watch | Operation Gazab Lil Haq: Pakistan's War Of Optics Amid A Crisis At 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... When Cynthia Chen arrived on Columbia Universitys campus in 2000, she was 17, newly landed from Beijing and totally alone. She had zero credit to her name shed never seen a credit card. Fast forward 26 years and she runs Kikoff, a credit-building company with more than a million active users and a $1 billion valuation officially unicorn status in the tech world (1). The company has been expanding its AI offerings, including avatars that can call debt collectors on customers behalf. Must Read As far as shes come, Chen told Moneywise that it was her early experience as a student paying cash while others used credit cards that taught her what access to credit means in America. I got to know how important it would be for someone like myself, a new immigrant who was credit invisible, to establish credit so that I could get around in this country, she said. Chen co-founded Kikoff to support people who are credit invisible, those with no credit history or what she calls thin files. For them, getting a loan is not the only challenge. It can also be hard to do basic things like lease an apartment or pass a background check for a new job. At last count, there were 7 million credit invisible Americans, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2). The group includes students, immigrants and women who may struggle to get credit because they do unpaid or low-income work, or because male partners hold the credit cards. This is how Chen says her company is trying to help. How Kikoff works to improve users credit scores Kikoff is geared to people whose credit scores are nonexistent or below 600. For context, the credit scores range from 300 to 850. Chen says the goal is to help Kikoff users raise their credit scores above 600, which is the minimum many landlords, prospective employers, auto dealers and mortgage lenders look for when signing contracts. She adds that most Kikoff users see their credit score improve by an average of 86 points within a year. That may not sound like a lot, but Chen says it can be life-changing for someone who starts with a score below 600 and crosses that threshold. It could mean qualifying for a better apartment or even a mortgage. Opinion: Indias Women Are Advancing, Whether The World Notices Or Not Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 18:57 IST India is also showing the world how women can take the lead in handling newer tools and technologies The numbers do not lie, even when the commentary does (Image: Shutterstock) For the better part of the 20th and 21st centuries, India served as the default cautionary tale in Western discourse on womens rights. Op-ed writers in London and New York positioned the country as a danger zone. NGO reports framed it as a laboratory of patriarchal dysfunction. The narrative became so entrenched that it drowned out an inconvenient reality: India has been working with a laser-eyed focus on uplifting the lives of women. Since 2014 alone, Prime Minister Modis government has driven measurable and even large-scale improvements in nearly every indicator that matters for womens safety, economic participation and political representation. The numbers do not lie, even when the commentary does. Between 2017 and 2024, female labour force participation in India nearly doubled, climbing from 23.3 percent to 41.7 percent. In rural areas, the jump was even sharper: from 24.6 percent to 47.6 percent. That was a 69 percent surge that outpaced every other BRICS nation. Brazil, China and Russia saw stagnation or decline in the same period. India recorded the highest growth. Meanwhile, Indias Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has shown a significant decline since 2014, dropping from 130 per lakh live births in 2014 to 88 per lakh live births in 2022 a 86 percent reduction. Eight Indian states now meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal target of 70 or below. Institutional births have risen from 79 percent to 89 percent, indicating that women in India have access to better health and maternal care facilities. Indias share of global maternal deaths has fallen to about 7.2 per cent, down from higher levels that once defined the countrys health profile. School enrolment figures tell a similar story. Girls now account for 48.3 percent of Indias 24.69 crore students, nearly at parity with boys. For the first time, Indias teaching workforce has crossed the 10 million mark, and women are leading the charge at 54.2%. The Swachh Bharat Mission has constructed over 100 million household toilets since 2014. A direct consequence of this initiative has been 500 million people across 630,000 villages especially women getting a life of dignity they previously thought was impossible to achieve. That investment of Rs 1.4 lakh crore changed daily realities for women who had previously faced violence and humiliation while defecating in the open. Surveys found that 93 percent of women reported feeling safer after toilets got built. Sexual assault incidents fell by 25 per million between 2014 and 2016, a decline researchers have directly linked to improved sanitation access. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, meanwhile, has delivered 10.6 crore free LPG connections to women from poor households. The programme was launched in May 2016 to replace smoky chulhas that dominated Indias rural landscape. The government spent Rs 52,000 crore and provided cylinders at subsidised rates of Rs 553, lower than prices in many LPG-producing countries. Recent International Energy Agency (IEA) data notes that India has halved its population without clean cooking access since 2010. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the government made female ownership or co-ownership of houses mandatory. As result, 74 percent of rural homes built under the scheme have women as sole or joint owners. The second phase aims for 100 percent women ownership across two crore new houses. That provision does more than put names on property documents. It gives women legal standing, economic security and leverage in family decisions. The Lakhpati Didi initiative has mobilised 10.05 crore women into 90.86 lakh Self-Help Groups and helped nearly 1.5 crore of them earn annual incomes exceeding Rs 1 lakh. The programme combines skill training, business planning, credit linkages and market access. The government has now set a target of three crore Lakhpati Didis and allocated Rs 15,047 crore in the 2024-25 budget to reach it. India is also showing the world how women can take the lead in handling newer tools and technologies. The Namo Drone Didi scheme has added a technology edge for Indian women. The scheme provided 15,000 drones to women SHGs with an 80 percent subsidy. Women received 15 days of pilot training and five days of assistant training. The drones offered rental services to farmers for spraying fertilisers and pesticides. When it comes to political representation for women, India has left many in the developed and world far being. In September 2023, Indias Parliament passed the 128th Constitutional Amendment, reserving 33 percent of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. The law is awaiting implementation until delimitation, but once effective, it would lift womens representation from the current 13.8 percent to a guaranteed 181 MPs out of 543. That 33 percent mandate exceeded the actual representation in the United States (28.9 percent), Germany (32.4 percent), Italy (32.8 percent) and matched or bettered most Western democracies. However, commentary from the West routinely ignores all the strides India has made to improve womens lives. None of those critiques acknowledged the systematic and structural interventions underway. They fixated on individual crimes, real and horrifying, while erasing the policy frameworks that moved tens of millions of women from exclusion to participation. But presenting those incidents as the whole story while ignoring maternal mortality declines, toilet construction, LPG distribution, labour force entry and legislated political representation distorted reality beyond recognition. Western media applied one lens to India and another to themselves. When European countries debated gender quotas or the US struggled to push womens representation past 29 percent, the framing emphasised complexity, political constraints and incremental progress. When India legislated a 33 percent quota, the coverage focused on delays in implementation and questioned political motives. When maternal mortality remained high in parts of the United States, especially among Black women, reports treated it as a policy challenge requiring solutions. When India cut its maternal mortality ratio by 86 percent, faster than the global average, the achievement went largely unmentioned in international commentary. Modi has made women central to governance in ways that move beyond rhetoric. Lakhpati Didis, Drone Didis, LPG connections, housing titles in womens names and mandated parliamentary seats are all part of a coherent strategy to uplift women. The scale dwarfs anything attempted in most democracies. Over 100 million toilets represented the largest sanitation drive in history. Over 10 crore LPG connections constituted the worlds biggest clean energy transition for households. Mobilising 10 crore women into SHGs created the largest womens economic network anywhere. Do problems remain? Obviously. Violence against women persists. Gender gaps in wages and senior positions endure. Rural-urban divides continue to shape access to services. But acknowledging those gaps did not require ignoring what changed. The same Western outlets that devoted pages to attacks on minorities and women in India rarely covered the data on labour force participation, maternal health or sanitation. The narrative convenience of positioning India as a failed state on womens rights proved stronger than the editorial obligation to report measurable outcomes. The lesson cut both ways. India should neither dismiss legitimate criticism nor allow external commentary to define its trajectory. Womens safety, economic opportunity and political representation demands constant vigilance and continued investment. But the West might reconsider the impulse to lecture a country that legislated better gender representation than most of its critics achieved, cut maternal mortality faster than the global benchmark and enroled girls in school at near parity while building infrastructure that directly improved womens lives. The data tells a story that much of the commentary chooses to conveniently ignore. First Published: March 08, 2026, 18:40 IST News opinion Opinion: Indias Women Are Advancing, Whether The World Notices Or Not 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 | Middle East War: India Has Chosen A Side And Theres No Prizes For Guessing Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 15:59 IST Indias only option is securing its energy security and ensuring our diaspora is not dislocated or disturbed from this region Rapid Read Perhaps PM Modi had an inkling of how events would unfold in the Middle East during his recent Israel trip. (Reuters) No betting man can predict what will next happen in the Middle East. The vagaries of war and the mood swings of the US President are both unpredictable. What cannot be disputed, however, is that even if the war grinds to a stop, it wont be back to business as usual anytime soon. The rupture in the oil and LNG flow out of the GCC countries and de-weaponisation of the Strait of Hormuz cannot be miraculously re-set in a matter of days. It will take time. India removed from this theatre of action and yet umbilically attached to it in a manner of speaking is also feeling the heat of the conflict. The Opposition, especially the Congress party, is breathing fire at the Union government for what it feels is a junking of traditional India-Iran ties and its refusal to condemn the targeted killing of Ayatollah Khamenei. What are Indias options in this bloody game of thrones and kingdoms, an Islamic theocracy, an embattled Jewish state and an obdurate US president determined to rewrite the history books? There were three possibilities when the war erupted a few days back. The hope in Washington was that a successful, political and military decapitation strike would wobble the Iranian regime for good. A restless citizenry fed up with the excesses of the current Islamic dispensation would come out on the streets and effect a regime change. This optimism was based on the experiences of what happened in Iran in the year 1979. Agitating students, left-wing intellectuals and Islamists thronged the streets of Tehran and other cities seeking a regime change. They were fed up with the misrule of the Shah of Iran and excesses carried out by his secret serviceSAVAK. The Shah of Iran was overthrown, and the reign of the Pahlavi dynasty came to an end. The year 1979 has not repeated itself, at least not as yet at the time of writing this article. The second possibility, a grim reality, is unfolding before our eyes. The war has expanded beyond the borders of Iran. Iran is following a scorched earth policy and is carrying out missile and drone attacks on pro-American GCC countries, notably UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait and even Iraq. Strategic oil reserves have been targeted, airports and US air bases and diplomatic assets in these countries have been hit, even shopping malls and apartment complexes have not been spared. This unexpected military onslaught has caught both the Americans and the Israelis by surprise. The Iranians are showcasing their military and missile capacity. They are communicating that if we feel the pain, so shall you. If we go down, so shall all of you. The stark message is that Iran could turn the booming economies of these countries into an economic wasteland. And it would not end there. Who would want to invest in a war-torn, tension-shot region? Who would venture into a place where a civilisation war is raging? The Christian-Judaea armies pitted against Islamist forces? And not to forget Iran would like nothing better that the citizenry in the GCC countries to upstage and overthrow the GCC monarchies and unelected governments in these countries under the banner of Islam is in danger. After all, in good times, everyone wants to climb on the bandwagon and in bad times, everyone wants to join the stone pelters. The third possibility is the worst of them all. This war becomes a never-ending war, much like the Russia-Ukraine war, and drags on. A second, third or even fourth-tier leadership in Iran launches asymmetric warfare that bogs down America very much akin to what the Viet Cong did against the Americans decades ago. Such a turn of events could sink the whole region. Keep in mind the offensive and defensive capabilities of both the Israelis and the Americans are not inexhaustible. There are reports that the Americans are already short of interceptor missiles batteries of their THAAD air defence system. They want to divert some of that THAAD firepower from the South Korean theatre of action. Question being for how long you can cannibalise high-end missile firepower from other regions before it all runs out? And when that day arrives, the Iranians would be waiting with their abundant reserves of cheap but deadly Shahed drones. Drones which can spread havoc in the region. This is the scenario that is troubling our policy makers. Eighty per cent of our LNG comes from Qatar, which has all but shut shop. Twenty-eight to thirty per cent of our crude comes from Saudi Arabia whose biggest refinery Armacos Ras Tanura has taken direct drone hits. Production and distribution are curtailed. Irans IRGC (Islamic revolutionary guards) have choked the Strait of Hormuz, crippling a significant component of world trade. The investment climate and confidence in the Dubai story is tottering. The one crore Indian diaspora working in these countries and sending remittances back home face an uncertain future. This is the true picture and perhaps it would not be presumptuous to assume that layoffs of our work force and a cut off of our crude supply from these countries could become a real possibility. In the light of these developments, was it responsible of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to mount pressure on the government to condemn Khameneis assassination and question the prime ministers trip to Israel. We dont live in the seventies anymore when under Indira Gandhi and under the banner of the non-aligned movement, we cozied up to every dictator and despot in the world. Today, the world is guided by economic self-interest and not old-style sentimentalism and ideological fervour of letting the dictators of the world unite. Ayatollah Khamenei was more than that. He crushed the aspirations of a restive, young citizenry demanding freedom and rights with ruthlessness. He spawned paramilitary outfits like Hezbollah and Hamas that terrorised the region and beyond. He has periodically spoken out against us on the Kashmir issue. Sure, we had a working relationship with him, but to join in lamentations and finger pointing in his assassination and alienate Israel and America from us is too much of an ask. The Congress should know better. Let us approach the present situation with complete honesty. We have no choice but to support the GCC countries and condemn the missile attacks against them. We should have no illusions that our economic and even our sociological future is in a sense tied up with these countries. This is our side, our only option. To back Tehran at this time would mean supporting a regime despised by most countries in the world. Perhaps PM Modi had an inkling of how events would unfold in the Middle East during his recent Israel trip. That means the government had put a strategy in place. It did not move thoughtlessly in distancing itself from Iran and repeatedly extending support to the GCC countries. The government has probably figured out that eventually, the war will come to an uneasy end and the GCC countries will start limping back to normalcy. Iran, as we know now, would change forever. Maybe civil strife overtakes the country, maybe a more moderate regime assumes power. But it is inconceivable that the Iran of today, which alienates most countries on the globe, would survive in its present form. This also means that America would eventually withdraw from the region, and the real victor of this bloody conflict would then emerge. Israel would be the predominant power in the region. Perhaps PM Modi sensed all this and that perhaps explains the more than extraordinary warmth on display between both countries during his visit. Indias only option then is securing its energy security and ensuring our diaspora is not dislocated or disturbed from this region. And our real learning from the conflict is we live in a world of political and military assets decapitation strikes. India would do well to remember this lesson in a future conflict against Pakistan. Always be the first off the ground. (Juggi Bhasin is a veteran TV journalist, author and geopolitical commentator with his commentary featuring in The CAA Show on YouTube. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views) First Published: March 07, 2026, 15:59 IST News opinion Opinion | Middle East War: India Has Chosen A Side And Theres No Prizes For Guessing 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 | War In The Middle East: The Air Campaign Against Iran Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 11:41 IST The operation began with a massive Israeli air strike involving 200 combat aircraft, which attacked 500 targets in western and central Iran within a short span of time Rapid Read The intensity of the air campaign targeting the Iranian military and political apparatus is daunting, writes the author. (Reuters) On the morning of February 28, the Americans and the Israelis plunged the entire Middle East into an unheard-of crisis by launching a massive combined operation, code-named Urgent Fury" by the former and Roaring Lion" by the latter. Carefully planned during the previous months, it was preceded by a massive build-up. Washington thus dispatched to its Middle Eastern bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait around 200 combat aircraft, close to 100 tankers, two carrier groups (USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford), and a wide array of drones and support equipment operated by 50,000 servicemen, all acting under the Aegis of the American Central Command. These forces could also be supported by assets operating from bases located outside the region, such as B-1, B-2, and B-52 bombers. This already massive force was backed by roughly 300 F-15, F-16 and F-35 combat aircraft and a small fleet of enablers such as tankers, Airborne Warning and Control System and Electronic intelligence-gathering aircraft and a much larger one of drones, all operated by the Israeli Air Force. The operation began with a massive Israeli air strike involving 200 combat aircraft, which attacked 500 targets in western and central Iran within a short span of time, including ballistic missile launchers and air-defence systems, and foremost two locations in Tehran where several dozen Iranian leaders were gathered. Altogether, 40 high-ranking officials, including the Supreme Guide Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Pakpour, the Secretary of Irans Defence Council Ali Shamkhani, and the Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, died in the attack. The US armed forces entered the fray as well, firing volley after volley of Tomahawk cruise missiles, ATACMS and PRISMS ballistic missiles, as well as one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles, whilst both the Israelis and the Americans were also launching a series of cyberattacks. During the following days, both allies continued to launch several waves of airstrikes per day whilst coordinating their actions through joint coordination cells. The Israelis were responsible for operating in western and central Iran and prioritising strikes against air-defences, mobile ballistic missile launchers, and command centres, before adding, during the next few days, the Iranian regimes internal security apparatus in order to pave the way for a potential revolt of the Iranian population. In the meantime, the Americans operated mostly in the south of the country to neutralise the missile and drone launchers used by the Iranians to strike targets in the Gulf, as well as the two Iranian navies. By March 6, the sinking of the drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri, the frigates IRIS Jamaran and IRIS Dena, and the corvettes IRIS Bayandor and IRIS Naghdi had been confirmed, whilst other ships were damaged, out of the 43 vessels, including a submarine, claimed by CENTCOM on March 6, 2026. Most of these warships were struck in or close to port, with the exception of the IRIS Dena, which was sunk that day by an American attack submarine off the Sri Lankan coast. Meanwhile, the supply ship IRIS Bushehr had to be interned in Colombo, whilst the landing ship IRIS Lavan was interned in the Indian port of Kochi. On their side, the Israeli Defence Forces claimed to have destroyed 300 ballistic missile launchers by March 6, corresponding to roughly 60% of Irans total inventory, but only the destruction of 27 of them could be independently confirmed through open-source intelligence. Similarly, Tel Aviv claimed to have neutralised 200 air-defence systems by March 2, but the destruction of only 23 radars, anti-aircraft guns, and air-defence missile systems could be confirmed by March 6. Nonetheless, the intensity of the air campaign targeting the Iranian military and political apparatus is daunting. CENTCOM announced that it had struck 3,000 targets during the first seven days of the war, whilst the Israelis declared that they had carried out, within the same span of time, 2,500 sorties in 150 strike waves, during which 6,500 bombs and missiles were dropped or launched. On their side, the Iranian air-defences, which operate under the aegis of the Khatam Al-Anbiya Air Defence Headquarters, are unable to oppose such an onslaught frontally. Most of their systems are therefore kept in hiding, operating in a guerrilla mode; that is, they unveil themselves by activating their radars only for very short periods in order to engage a target within range before cutting their emissions and moving away. Moreover, the Iranians also operate a variety of systems designed precisely for such circumstances, as they are both small and mobile. These systems can also engage targets with electro-optical fire control and thus without emitting radiation that would allow the enemy to locate their position. Thus, Iranian defences continue to represent a threat to enemy aircraft flying over Iran, as demonstrated by the confirmed shoot-down of six Israeli Heron TP and Hermes 900 unmanned combat aerial vehicles. Furthermore, they claimed to have shot down an F-15 on 5 March in southwestern Iran and supported the claim with a video of the anti-aircraft system used to engage the aircraft. The American Central Command, however, denied having suffered such a loss. What is certain, however, is that the United States Air Force lost three F-15Es during a bizarre engagement in which they were fired upon by a Kuwaiti F/A-18 on 2 March 2026 over Kuwait, in the middle of a combined Iranian air strike involving ballistic missiles, attack drones, and combat aircraft. Indeed, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force remained active during the first days of the war, flying a limited number of combat sorties over Tehran to intercept enemy drones while launching a series of strike sorties at low altitude against targets in Northern Iraq and the Gulf. However, it paid a heavy price for this activity. One Yak-130 fighter-trainer was shot down over Tehran by an Israeli F-35 on 4 March, while the Qataris claimed that one of their F-15s shot down two Iranian Su-24 bombers as they were ingressing over the sea at 80 feet to avoid detection toward Al-Udeid Air Base, one of the main American military hubs in the region. Adrien Fontanellaz is a military historian and defence analyst. Views expressed are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 08, 2026, 11:41 IST News opinion Opinion | War In The Middle East: The Air Campaign Against 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... Last Updated: March 07, 2026, 14:03 IST 1 / 10 A sharp rise in wealth has pushed entrepreneur Ankur Jain into the spotlight this year. The New York-based founder of Bilt Rewards saw one of the biggest jumps on the Hurun Global Rich List 2026 released on Friday, March 6. According to the ranking, Ankurs net worth increased by about 217 per cent in just one year. The surge placed him among the biggest wealth gainers on the list. Ankurs growing fortune has been linked largely to the rapid rise of the rental rewards platform, Bilt Rewards, he founded. 2 / 10 The Hurun lists wealth list mentions that his overall wealth has more than tripled within that period. The strong growth of Bilt Rewards and investor backing have been key factors behind the surge. The company has been attracting attention for building a rewards program around rent payments. Data from the Forbes real-time billionaire index currently places Ankurs net worth at roughly $3.4 billion. The company he founded focuses on turning rent payments into reward points. In the US, rent is often the biggest monthly expense for many households. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 Ankurs connection with entrepreneurship started early in life. He was born in Bellevue, Washington, to Indian immigrant parents who were involved in the technology industry. His father, Naveen Jain, worked at Microsoft before launching the internet company InfoSpace during the late 1990s. Ankur got married to WWE NXT wrestler Erika Hammond in 2024. The young entrepreneur spent much of his early years around offices and business conversations. When he was six years old, his father left Microsoft to focus fully on building InfoSpace. After school, Ankur would often head straight to the office where both his parents were working. 4 / 10 Ankur also got an unusual early look at the business world when InfoSpace was preparing to go public. During the companys IPO roadshow in 1998, he briefly accompanied his father. It was like a minute. They were having me explain the ability to search someones phone number in the white pages online, Ankur told Forbes. Around the same time, he began exploring computers more seriously. Ankur started learning to code at the age of 10 and created his first website at 11. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 For higher education, Ankur went on to study at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in 2011 but had already begun experimenting with entrepreneurship during college. In 2008, during his freshman year, he and several friends started an incubator called the Kairos Society. The initiative brought together students who wanted to build businesses and test ideas. Most of it was a bunch of us building businesses together, Ankur said. After completing his studies, he moved to Los Angeles and continued working on startup ventures. 6 / 10 One of his first major startup projects was Humin which he co-founded in 2012. The app functioned as an address book that organised contacts using contextual information. It integrated contacts, calendars and social data to help people manage relationships more effectively. The idea attracted attention in the technology community. In 2015, Ankur was included in Forbes 30 Under 30 list. That same year, dating platform Tinder acquired Humin in what was widely described as an acqui-hire deal. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 Following the acquisition, Jain and his team joined Tinder. He worked there as Vice President of Product and gained experience inside a rapidly expanding tech company. In 2017, he decided to leave and start building companies again. Jain moved to New York and revived Kairos by turning it into a venture studio. The studio focused on startups tackling issues related to housing, healthcare and aging populations. One of the companies launched through the initiative was Rhino, a fintech platform designed to replace large apartment security deposits with a smaller monthly insurance payment. Startups connected to Kairos later reached a combined valuation of more than $6.5 billion. The initiative also partnered with President Barack Obamas Start-up America Partnership. 8 / 10 The idea that eventually led to Bilt Rewards came from Jains observation about renting. Rent is often the largest expense for many people yet it usually provides no rewards or financial return. Millions of renters pay thousands of dollars every year without building equity. Ankur began exploring how that spending could be connected to a loyalty system. Thats the problem Ankur Jain was hoping to solve with his startup, Bilt, Ankur said. Instead of gaining ownership of the property, renters could at least earn rewards for their payments. They earn the equivalent of frequent flier miles or American Express points, he explained. ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 miles. Delta gets paid for every mile and dollar issued. Its a pretty amazing business model, he said. Bihar CM Nitish Kumars Son Nishant Steps Into Politics, Joins JD(U) Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 13:54 IST Nishant Kumar joins JD(U) amid speculation he could become Deputy Chief Minister after Nitish Kumar moves to the Rajya Sabha. Nitish Kumars Son Nishant Joins JD(U) Today in Patna. (Photo: PTI) Nishant Kumar, the son of Nitish Kumar, officially joined the Janata Dal (United) on Sunday. He arrived at the party office in Patna and greeted party workers who had gathered to welcome him. Nishant Kumar also interacted briefly with supporters ahead of the formal announcement. Speaking in Patna, Nishant Kumar said his fathers decision to move to the Upper House was respected. My father decided to go to Rajya Sabha; we respect his decision, will keep working under his guidance," he said. Nishant joins JD(U) amid speculation that he could become Deputy Chief Minister after Nitish Kumar moves to the Rajya Sabha. Nishant Kumar is an engineering graduate, according to reports. Speculation about Nishant Kumars political entry has continued for more than two years. In December 2025, Sanjay Jha, the working president of JD(U), said in Nishant Kumars presence that party members and supporters wanted him to work for the party. Nitish Kumar files Rajya Sabha nomination Nitish Kumar, 75, has filed nomination papers to contest the March 16 Rajya Sabha election. His development initiatives in Bihar earned him the name sushashan babu", meaning good governance man. He is likely to vacate the Chief Ministers post soon. He filed his nomination papers at the office of Assembly Secretary Khyati Singh in the presence of Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister. Five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar will go to the polls on March 16. First Published: March 08, 2026, 13:36 IST News politics Bihar CM Nitish Kumars Son Nishant Steps Into Politics, Joins JD(U) 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... BJP Misusing Countrys Highest Chair: Mamata Banerjee Attacks Centre Over President Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 10:58 IST President Murmu had questioned why Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not receive her and also pointed to the change of venue and the low turnout at the programme. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (Image: PTI) A political confrontation between the West Bengal government and the Centre has intensified ahead of the state assembly elections after Droupadi Murmu raised concerns over arrangements during her visit to Siliguri. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre and the Bharatiya Janata Party of disrespecting and misusing the countrys highest office for political purposes. The President had questioned why the Chief Minister did not receive her and also pointed to the change of venue and the low turnout at the programme. What Mamata said? In a social media post, CM Banerjee said the district administration had already flagged concerns over the arrangements at the venue chosen for the event. The programme was organised by the International Santal Council, a private organisation, for the 9th International Adivasi Santal Conference in Siliguri. Banerjee said that after an Advanced Security Liaison, the district administration informed the Presidents Secretariat in writing that the organiser appeared inadequately prepared. The concern was also conveyed over the phone. She added that the Presidents Secretariat advance team visited on March 5, 2026 and was informed about the lack of arrangements, but the programme continued as scheduled. No protocol lapse, says chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the President was received and seen off by the Mayor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation, the District Magistrate of Darjeeling and the Siliguri Police Commissioner in accordance with the approved lineup shared by the Presidents Secretariat. She said the Chief Minister of West Bengal was not part of the lineup or the dais plan and insisted that there was no protocol lapse by the district administration. BJP is disrespecting and misusing the highest chair in the country for its own party agenda. Most unfortunate," she said. President questions chief ministers absence Earlier, President Murmu said that normally the Chief Minister and other ministers should be present to welcome the President during a visit. 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," she said. The President also questioned the choice of venue, saying it was located in a place that was difficult for people to reach. She also wondered whether the state government had prevented tribal communities from attending the programme. Murmu added that Mamata Banerjee was like her younger sister and said she herself was also a daughter of Bengal. Prime Minister calls incident shameful Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the developments as shameful and unprecedented". In a post on X, he said people who believe in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities were deeply disheartened. He said the All India Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal had crossed all limits and that its administration was responsible for the insult to the President. Modi also said the office of the President is above politics and its sanctity must always be respected. Political exchange escalates The exchange comes as assembly elections in West Bengal are expected in the coming months, with the Trinamool Congress and the BJP stepping up political attacks. Responding to the Prime Minister, Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee wrote on X, 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." First Published: March 08, 2026, 10:58 IST News politics BJP Misusing Countrys Highest Chair: Mamata Banerjee Attacks Centre Over President Row 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... 'Hitler Mindset': BJP Hits Back After Mahua Moitra Says 'Non-TMC Supporters Are Not Bengalis' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 21:35 IST Moitra made the remarks earlier in the day during a protest over the SIR issue at Dharmatala in Kolkata. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra. (PTI file photo) The BJP on Sunday strongly criticised Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra after she claimed that those who do not support the TMC are not Bengalis and have no right to stay in the state" Moitra made the remarks earlier in the day during a protest over the SIR issue at Dharmatala in Kolkata. Speaking at the site, she said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is fighting the political battle on behalf of the people of Bengal. I am saying this to everyone that those who are not with TMC now, they are not Bengalis , they dont have the right to stay in Bengal because Mamata Didi is fighting this battle for the people of Bengal," Moitra said. VIDEO | TMC MP Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) says, I am saying this to everyone that those who are not with TMC now, they are not Bengalis , they dont have the right to stay in Bengal because Mamata Didi is fighting this battle for the people of Bengal."(Full video available pic.twitter.com/GzxxHf5SSt Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 8, 2026 ALSO READ: Centre Vs TMC On President Protocol Row: Mamata Denies Breach, BJP Says Women Wont Forgive In response, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned her statement in a video message, accusing the TMC of projecting a mindset of intolerance. TMC stands for Tanashahi, Mansikta and Culture, and Mahua Moitras statement reeks of the same Tanashahi mindset of Indira Gandhi," Poonawalla said. Indira Gandhi once said, India is Indira, Indira is India." Today, Mahua Moitra is saying, TMC is Bengali, Bengali is TMC." VIDEO | Delhi: BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Mahua Moitras statement, says, This is a kind of dictatorship being displayed by Mahua Moitra. Mahua Moitra says that if you are not in the TMC, you are not Bengali and you must leave Bengal. Once upon a time, during Indira pic.twitter.com/frhsK34SYe Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 8, 2026 He added that her remarks reflect a Hitler-esque mindset" and a style reminiscent of Indira Gandhi, which he said underpins attacks on the Honourable President of India and the Adivasi community. This is the mindset that also drives attacks on the Honourable President of India. They insult the tribal community, the Adivasi community, in the manner they have treated the President. They also attack people," the BJP spokesperson remarked. Poonawalla further alleged that TMC workers and so-called activists target those who do not support the party, citing post-election violence that has seen hundreds of people killed. If you are not with TMC, they will ensure that their workers or Jihadi activists target you. We have seen post-election violence and the killing of hundreds of people," he noted. Location : West Bengal, India, India First Published: March 08, 2026, 21:31 IST News politics 'Hitler Mindset': BJP Hits Back After Mahua Moitra Says 'Non-TMC Supporters Are Not Bengalis' 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... 'President Was Upset': Multiple Venue Changes, Pass Issue, Protocol Lapse, Says Santhal Event Organiser | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 16:42 IST Naresh Murmu, working president of the International Santhal Council, said the event was originally planned last year but had to be rescheduled following violence in Murshidabad Rapid Read The organisers claimed that President Droupadi Murmu called them to ask why the state government was not allowing Bidhannagar as a venue for the programme, on February 25. (Image: PTI) In the midst of the massive Centre versus TMC controversy triggered by President Droupadi Murmus visit to West Bengal to attend a tribals-focused programme, the organiser has made allegations of non-cooperation" against the local administration. Naresh Murmu, who is the working president of the International Santhal Council, alleged that besides protocol lapse, there were multiple venue changes and difficulty in issuing passes for the programme. According to Naresh Murmu, the event was originally planned last year but had to be rescheduled following violence in Murshidabad. This also led to the Presidents visit being cancelled. Naresh said his organisation is an international body, and it was keen on organising the event and was in touch with state minister Moloy Ghatak about the arrangements. He said the event was initially planned in Bangladesh and later scheduled to be held in Bidhannagar in North Bengal. He said the organisers sent a letter to Rashtrapati Bhavan and held a meeting with the local administration on February 16, but the district magistrate was not present at that meeting. On February 21, the organisation received a call from Rashtrapati Bhavan informing them that the administration had conveyed that the programme could not be held at the proposed venue, he added. Subsequently, Naresh said, another location about 800 metres away from Bidhannagar was suggested. The organisers visited the site, but on February 25 they again received an email saying the venue was unsuitable, he said. The administration, he said, then proposed two alternative locations Khawkhali and Gosainpur near Bagdogra airport. They eventually selected Gosainpur out of compulsion, he added. Naresh further alleged that the administration told them that passes for the programme will not be issued. He said he tried to contact Ghatak about the matter. He also claimed that the President spoke to them on February 25 and expressed disappointment over the situation. She wanted to visit the original venue as she wished to meet members of the tribal community, he added. We tried to hold the programme in Bidhannagar, but we could not; they were not giving passes for the new venue, we are deeply hurt by the developments. The President saw that many tribal people were unable to attend the event, she too was upset, so she went to Bidhannagar," Murmu alleged. The organisers then attempted to reach out to the administration through Raj Bhavan, Naresh said. But even on the day of the programme, passes were not being issued and the organisers faced difficulties at multiple levels, he alleged. WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL AT SUCH EVENTS? Naresh alleged that proper protocol was not followed and the President personally heard the entire matter from him and expressed concern over the situation. According to protocol, whenever the President visits a state, the chief minister is expected to receive them or nominate a minister to do so. But, that did not happen in this case. Instead, the mayor of Siliguri and the police commissioner were present. First Published: March 08, 2026, 16:39 IST News politics 'President Was Upset': Multiple Venue Changes, Pass Issue, Protocol Lapse, Says Santhal Event Organiser | 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... NDA Set To Counter Opposition In 10-Hour Debate On Motion To Remove Speaker In Lok Sabha On Monday Curated By : Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 15:04 IST Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju will on Sunday evening hold a briefing with BJP MPs who are slated to speak during the debate Rapid Read File photo of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. (Image: PTI) The Lok Sabha will take up for discussion on Monday, March 9, a resolution moved by Opposition parties led by the Congress seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla. The debate will begin on the first day of the second part of the Budget Session and is expected to witness a sharp political confrontation between the ruling NDA and the Opposition. Amid the start of the Budget Session and the scheduled discussion on the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju will on Sunday evening hold a briefing with BJP MPs who are slated to speak during the debate. THE MOTION The motion has been moved by two Congress MPs Mohammed Jawed and Kodikunnil Suresh alleging that the Speaker has acted in a partisan manner and failed to maintain the impartiality expected of the office. In the notice submitted to the House, the Opposition has accused the Speaker of disallowing the Leader of the Opposition and other Opposition members from speaking, making unwarranted allegations against women MPs, suspending Opposition members for an entire session for raising issues of public concern, and not reprimanding ruling party MPs for derogatory remarks against former prime ministers. The motion states that such actions show that the Speaker has ceased to maintain an impartial attitude necessary to command the confidence of all sections of the House", and therefore calls for his removal from office. DISCUSSION TO LAST FOR MORE THAN 10 HOURS According to sources in the ruling alliance, the discussion on the motion is expected to last more than 10 hours, allowing participation from both treasury benches and the Opposition. NDA leaders have already drawn up a list of speakers from the BJP and its alliance partners who will participate in the debate. Sources said that those speaking on behalf of the ruling alliance have been asked to come prepared with research material highlighting what the NDA describes as the Congress partys history of disrespecting constitutional institutions and offices". Leaders within the NDA are expected to cite several instances to counter the Oppositions charges, including recent controversies involving the Opposition. The government side is also likely to refer to incidents where Opposition leaders allegedly showed disrespect towards constitutional authorities such as Governors, the Prime Minister and the President. One of the references expected during the debate relates to recent remarks by Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, which the ruling alliance has described as disrespectful towards the President during her recent visit to the state. A senior NDA minister told CNN-News18 that the ruling alliance would strongly counter the Oppositions allegations during the debate. We will not let anything go easy and will come hammering at the Congress to remind them of their past. It is unfortunate that the grand old party is dragging its alliance partners into moving such a motion," the minister said. Under parliamentary procedure, Speaker Om Birla will not preside over the House during the discussion on the motion seeking his removal. Instead, members from the panel of chairpersons will conduct the proceedings. THE ROW The controversy stems from events during the first part of the Budget Session when the Opposition, particularly the Congress, accused the Speaker of favouring the ruling side. The tensions escalated after a disruption in the House on March 4 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unable to deliver his reply to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents Address amid protests by Opposition MPs, including women members who gathered near the Speakers chair. Earlier, nine MPs had been suspended for the remainder of the session for unruly conduct. According to parliamentary sources, around 118 Opposition MPs have signed the notice supporting the motion. In a late development, the Trinamool Congress has also decided to support the resolution. Interestingly, during the first part of the session, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee had suggested that it would be unfair to move such a motion unless the Speaker was given an opportunity to respond to the allegations. However, the party has now decided to back the move. Meanwhile, the stand of Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) is yet to be clarified on whether the party will support the motion or abstain during voting. The discussion on the motion is scheduled to take place over two days March 9 and 10. After the debate concludes, the House will move on to discussions on Demands for Grants ahead of the passage of the Finance Bill, which remains the governments key legislative priority in the second part of the Budget Session. First Published: March 08, 2026, 15:04 IST News politics NDA Set To Counter Opposition In 10-Hour Debate On Motion To Remove Speaker In Lok Sabha On Monday 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... Amid War In Iran, Qatar Keeps 70% Government Staff On WFH; 30% Return To Office Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 16:48 IST The rule will be applicable to all ministries, government bodies, and public institutions but mothers and persons with disabilities will be able to work from home Smoke rises after reported Iranian missile attacks, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, as seen from Doha, Qatar.(Credits: Reuters) Qatar has announced partial resumption of work from office for government employees but remote work for mothers and persons with disabilities. This comes as Qatar continues to be hit by ballistic missiles by Iran. The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers said 30% of government employees will return to their offices from Monday while up to 70% continue working remotely until further notice. The rule will be applicable to all ministries, government bodies, and public institutions but mothers and persons with disabilities will be able to work from home. Besides, employees in the military, security, and health sectors, as well as those whose duties require physical presence, are excluded from the measure. Qatar Reports Missile Attacks Qatars defence ministry said the country had been targeted by 10 ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles fired from Iran a day earlier. Most were intercepted and no casualties were reported. Later, Qatar said Iran had fired a dozen missiles at the country. Six ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles were intercepted. Two ballistic missiles fell in the countrys territorial waters while two landed in an uninhabited area. Also Read: Gulf On Edge As Kuwait Airport Targeted, Qatar And Saudi Intercept Drones Amid Iran Strikes Saad al-Kaabi, who also serves as chief executive of QatarEnergy, told the Financial Times that the war had already forced Qatar to declare force majeure after an Iranian drone strike hit Ras Laffan- the countrys largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility- and warned that other Gulf exporters were on the brink of doing the same. The scale of the disruption at Qatars end is already severe. Al-Kaabi said the full extent of damage to the Ras Laffan facility was still being assessed and that it was unclear how long repairs would take. Even in the best-case scenario- an immediate end to hostilities- he warned it would take weeks to months" to restore normal export operations due to logistical chaos. Location : Doha, Qatar First Published: March 08, 2026, 16:48 IST News world Amid War In Iran, Qatar Keeps 70% Government Staff On WFH; 30% Return To Office 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... The Del Vecchio Inheritance War Is Heading Toward a Billion-Dollar Deal - Moby THE GIST Europes biggest corporate fortunes often look stable from the outside. Inside the family boardroom, they can be anything but. Now the heirs of Luxottica founder Leonardo Del Vecchio appear to be edging toward a deal that could settle a long-running succession battle and consolidate power over the holding company behind Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica. WHAT HAPPENED Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, one of the six children of the late billionaire Leonardo Del Vecchio, says he is nearing an agreement to buy out two of his siblings from the family holding company Delfin. Delfin, based in Luxembourg, sits at the center of the Del Vecchio fortune. It is the largest shareholder in eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica and holds stakes in companies including insurer Generali and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena. Leonardo Maria told the Financial Times that talks are close to agreeing a price that would allow him to purchase the stakes of siblings Luca and Paola Del Vecchio. If completed, his holding in Delfin would rise to roughly 37.5%, making him the largest shareholder in a company with about 56 billion (about $65 billion) in net assets. The dispute dates back to 2022, when Leonardo Del Vecchio died and divided Delfins ownership among six children and his widow. The arrangement sparked years of disagreements over governance and dividend policy. Those tensions have had practical consequences. Dividend distributions have been constrained and strategic decisions delayed as the heirs worked through legal disputes. Leonardo Maria said the transaction would likely be structured as a leveraged buyout supported by banks. The debt would be serviced through dividends from Delfins holdings. He pointed to roughly 7 billion in reserves that could support an extraordinary dividend followed by annual payouts of more than 1 billion. At the same time, other tensions remain. Leonardo Maria has also challenged a transfer by his mother, Nicoletta Zampillo, of half her 25% stake to his half-brother Rocco Basilico. WHY IT MATTERS At first glance, this looks like another billionaire inheritance dispute. In reality, its a control battle over one of Europes most powerful corporate holding structures. Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here. Delfin is the strategic nerve center of the Del Vecchio empire. It controls the largest stake in EssilorLuxottica, a company worth more than $100 billion, and holds influential positions in companies across banking and insurance. When governance inside the holding company stalls, the ripple effects reach far beyond the family. Bangladeshis Wait For Hours In Long Queues As West Asia Conflict Raises Fears Of Fuel Crisis Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 18:28 IST Bangladesh imports roughly 95% of its fuel oil and 70% of its gas from the Middle East, and the ongoing conflict has triggered fears of a fuel crisis in the country. Rapid Read Several motorists wait in long lines in Bangladesh to collect fuel. (AP) The ongoing conflict between the US-Israel and Iran in the Gulf region has triggered panic buying in Bangladesh, as car owners and drivers waited for hours in long queues on Sunday to collect fuel for their vehicles, according to several reports. FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES Several people waited overnight in many fuel stations in Dhaka to get fuel under a government rationing system that allowed vehicles to collect a limited amount of fuel, according to The Associated Press. Several petrol pumps ran out of fuel, triggering anger among people. The conflict in West Asia triggered a disruption in global energy flows and caused a spike in oil prices. Shortly after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, the Revolutionary Guards said they would take control of the Strait of Hormuz, which supplies one-fifth of all oil transported by sea worldwide. ALSO READ: Iran Receives Acid Rain: Oil Depot Explosions, Missile Strikes The Cause? Science In Times Of War Why Bangladesh Is On Edge? Bangladesh imports roughly 95% of its fuel oil and 70% of its gas, predominantly from the Middle East. Authorities say five of the countrys six fertiliser factories have been closed until March 18 because of the gas crisis. This has sparked concerns over a broader fuel crisis for the country, which just elected a new government last month. As a result of the war, demand for fuel increased dramatically, and panic buying has started in several parts of Bangladesh. For Dhakas new government, the stakes are high as ongoing tensions in the Gulf have threatened to further push up global energy prices, threatening a surge in the import bill and further strain on foreign exchange reserves. The disrupted supply has also threatened the worlds second-largest garment factory in Bangladesh. According to Prothom Alo, several petrol pumps ran out of fuel, triggering anger among the public. They told us that fuel cannot be given before 2 pm. Yet right now, they are giving fuel to government vehicles. But they didnt give it to us, the ordinary citizens. Are we tenants in this country?" a driver was quoted as saying. Could The War Affect Remittances? Meanwhile, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Bangladeshs Minister of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, raised concerns that the war could affect remittances coming into Bangladesh. Citing the large Bangladeshi population in the Gulf, Chowdhury said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government will release initiatives focusing on the welfare of expatriates. Depending on how the war situation develops, we are also keeping in mind the possibility of bringing them back to the country," he told reporters. Bangladesh receives a significant portion of its remittances from the Middle East, where millions of Bangladeshi migrant workers are employed in sectors such as construction, domestic work, transportation, and services. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman host a large number of Bangladeshi expatriates who regularly send money back home to support their families, which play a crucial role in strengthening Bangladeshs economy. Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: March 08, 2026, 18:17 IST News world Bangladeshis Wait For Hours In Long Queues As West Asia Conflict Raises Fears Of Fuel Crisis 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... Trump Vs Starmer Over Iran: US Says Dont Need People That Join Wars After Weve Already Won Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 06:01 IST According to reports, one of Britains two aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales, has been placed on advanced readiness in Portsmouth. US President Donald Trump with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (AFP file photo) Donald Trump criticised the United Kingdom on Saturday after reports that the latter was considering sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. In a post on his Truth Social, Trump said the United States no longer needed British support and accused the British government of joining the war late. Addressing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump said the US did not need allies who joined wars after they had already been won. What Trump said? Trump wrote on Truth Social that the United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all," was finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. Thats OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we dont need them any longer But we will remember," Trump wrote. We dont need people that join Wars after weve already won!" he added. UK has not joined offensive operations The UK government has not joined offensive military operations or given any commitment to do so. Reports earlier said one aircraft carrier had been placed on an advanced state of readiness in case it needed to be deployed to the region. However, the UK has allowed the US to use British bases for defensive operations. British aircraft carrier placed on readiness According to reports, one of Britains two aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales, has been placed on advanced readiness in Portsmouth. Trump, however, accused the move of being too little, too late. Relations between Washington and London over Iran had already faced differences. Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier withheld permission for the US to use British military bases to launch its initial strikes on Iran. He instead said efforts should focus on de-escalating the conflict. Trump responded by saying Starmer is not Winston Churchill". The British prime minister later said the UK had agreed to a US request to use British military bases for defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites, but stressed that Britain would not join offensive action. Meanwhile, the British warship HMS Dragon is being loaded with ammunition as it prepares to sail to protect a military base in Cyprus next week. On Saturday, United States B-1 bomber jets were also seen landing at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 08, 2026, 05:38 IST News world Trump Vs Starmer Over Iran: US Says Dont Need People That Join Wars After Weve Already Won 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... Explosive Devices Thrown Outside Mamdanis New York Home Amid Anti-Muslim Protest Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 10:49 IST Police detained a man for throwing "ignited devices" near far-right protesters outside New York mayor Zohran Mamdani's home. The devices had nuts, bolts, and screws. Rapid Read The man also threw a similar device near Lang's group of protesters. (AFP) Police detained a man after he threw what officers described as ignited devices" near far-right protesters demonstrating outside the residence of New Yorks mayor on Saturday, AFP correspondents reported. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the devices contained nuts, bolts and screws along with a fuse, but it was not yet clear whether they were functional improvised explosive devices or hoax imitations. She added that there was no indication the incident was linked to the ongoing hostilities in Iran. Far-right influencer Jake Lang had been demonstrating outside Gracie Mansion, the residence of mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim, protesting alleged Islamification" and calling for an end to public Muslim prayer" in New York. Police said around 20 people attended the protest, while counter protesters numbered about 125. A man wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and beige cargo pants was handed a device wrapped in tape and emitting smoke by another activist. He then dropped it near a line of police officers before jumping over a crash barrier. The same man also threw a similar device close to the group of protesters gathered around Lang. Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke as it travelled through the air before it struck a barrier a few feet from police officers," Tisch said during a briefing, identifying the suspect as Amir Balat, 18. Mr Balat thengets a second device from a man. Mr Balat lights the device and starts running with it. He then drops the device." Police, who were heavily deployed at the protest, detained him and the other man moments later. The bomb squad responded andbased 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 dont yet know if they contained energetic (explosive) material."According to an AFP correspondent at the scene, the man apparently a counterdemonstrator opposed to Lang shouted Allahu akbar" (God is the greatest"). Mia Kurzer, 23, a teacher and one of the demonstrators opposing Lang, 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 thats 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." Some scuffles were reported, apparently involving protesters and counterdemonstrators. Tisch said one protester from Langs group was arrested after using pepper spray on counter-protesters. Three other people were also detained for disorderly conduct. Tisch added that she did not believe Mayor Mamdani was at home at the time. Another protester opposing Lang, Wally Khan, told AFP that this is very in line with what he does from city to city. He tried to burn a Quran inDearborn" Michigan. Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: March 08, 2026, 10:38 IST News world Explosive Devices Thrown Outside Mamdanis New York Home Amid Anti-Muslim Protest 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... Four Killed, 10 Injured In Israeli Strike On Central Beirut Hotel: Lebanon Health Ministry Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 07:06 IST Lebanon was drawn into the widening United StatesIsrael conflict with Iran on Monday after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel. Rapid Read First aid responders gather at a Ramada hotel that was targeted by an Israeli strike, in Beiruts seaside Rawche area, on March 8, 2026. (AFP) At least four people were killed after an Israeli strike hit an apartment in the Ramada hotel building in central Beirut, Lebanons health ministry said. It was the first strike to hit the heart of the capital since hostilities between Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah resumed last week. In a statement, the health ministry said that ten people were also injured in the strike in Beiruts Raouche area. The hotel had been sheltering displaced people who fled the fighting in southern Lebanon and Beirut Southern Suburbs, with some residents seen leaving the building amid fears of further airstrikes. No additional details were immediately available, and there was no immediate comment from Israel. Lebanon was drawn into the widening United StatesIsrael conflict with Iran on Monday after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel. In response, Israel carried out heavy strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as areas near Beirut. Location : Beirut, Lebanon First Published: March 08, 2026, 06:54 IST News world Four Killed, 10 Injured In Israeli Strike On Central Beirut Hotel: Lebanon Health Ministry 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... Gulf On Edge As Kuwait Airport Targeted, Qatar And Saudi Intercept Drones Amid Iran Strikes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 09:34 IST Fuel tanks at the Kuwait airport were targeted as 15 drones were intercepted and destroyed in Saudi Arabia. Vehicles drive along the highway leading to and from Kuwait City on March 2, 2026. (File Photo: AFP) The Kuwait Fire Force announced that its teams have succeeded in controlling the fire at fuel tanks belonging to Kuwait International Airport. Firefighting teams continue their operation to combat another blaze at the main headquarters of the Public Institution for Social Security. Fuel tanks at the Kuwait airport were targeted as 15 drones were intercepted and destroyed in Saudi Arabia. The attacks came as Iran continued strikes in the region, a day after President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would not attack neighbouring countries. Kuwaits national oil company announced a precautionary" cut to crude production as the countrys military responded to what it described as a wave of hostile drones that penetrated its airspace. The company said the drone attack was a direct targeting of vital infrastructure. A separate statement said some civilian facilities suffered material damage due to falling fragments and debris from interception operations. Qatar reports missile attacks Qatars defence ministry said the country had been targeted by 10 ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles fired from Iran a day earlier. Most were intercepted and no casualties were reported. Later, Qatar said Iran had fired a dozen missiles at the country. Six ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles were intercepted. Two ballistic missiles fell in the countrys territorial waters while two landed in an uninhabited area. Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles and drones Saudi Arabias defence ministry said three ballistic missiles heading towards Prince Sultan Air Base were destroyed. The base hosts American troops. Seventeen drones were also intercepted over the Shaybah oil field in the southeast. Among the areas where attacks were attempted was the diplomatic quarter in the capital, Riyadh. : . (@SaudiNews50) March 8, 2026 Dubai Airport closed In Dubai, explosions were reported across the city and Dubai International Airport was briefly closed. Passengers were rushed into train tunnels after a loud explosion was heard followed by a cloud of smoke. The Dubai media office said a minor incident occurred after debris fell following an interception. Debris from another interception fell on a vehicle and killed a Pakistani driver in Dubai. The UAEs defence ministry said 221 ballistic missiles had been detected since the war began on 28 February, while the number of drones had surpassed 1,300. Apart from Dubai airport, Abu Dhabi airport, Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab and the US consulate in Dubai were also hit. In a rare televised address, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the Emirates were in a period of war" and would emerge stronger. Bahrain reports interceptions Manama, the capital of Bahrain, reported intermittent explosions each day. Bahrain said it had intercepted 92 missiles and 151 drones since the start of what it described as brutal Iranian aggression. Strikes in Lebanon In Beirut, four people were killed and 10 injured in a strike on a hotel. Lebanons health ministry also reported eight people killed in strikes on more than 20 towns and villages. The Israeli military said it carried out a precise strike in Beirut targeting commanders from Irans Revolutionary Guards operating in Lebanon. Meanwhile, President Masoud Pezeshkian had said that Iran would not attack neighbouring countries, while also stating that Tehran would not surrender. Hours later, Irans judiciary chief said strikes would continue on sites in Gulf countries that were at the disposal of the enemy". Location : Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) First Published: March 08, 2026, 09:34 IST News world Gulf On Edge As Kuwait Airport Targeted, Qatar And Saudi Intercept Drones Amid 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... Have No Accuracy: Trump Says Iran Likely Behind Minab School Strike Killing Over 150 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 07:49 IST Israel and the United States have not claimed responsibility for the attack. US officials have said the incident remains under investigation, while Iran has blamed Washington. US President Donald Trump US President Donald Trump on Saturday blamed Iran for a deadly strike on a girls school in the southern Iranian county of Minab, which authorities say killed more than 150 people, mostly students. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the attack was likely carried out by Iran itself. We think it was done by Iran. Because they are very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever," he said. According to Iranian authorities, the strike hit a girls elementary school last Saturday. Officials said more than 150 people were killed, most of them students. Israel and the United States have not claimed responsibility for the reported attack. US officials have said the incident remains under investigation, while Iran has blamed Washington for the strike. However, AFP has not been able to access the site to verify the incident or independently confirm the death toll. Iran targets US base Irans Revolutionary Guards said on Friday that they had targeted a US base in the United Arab Emirates, which they alleged had been used as a launchpad for the strike. Al-Dhafra air base, belonging to American terrorists in the region, was targeted using drones and precision missiles," the Guards said in a statement broadcast on state television. The Pentagon has confirmed that it is investigating the incident. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would not deliberately target a school." A report by The New York Times on Thursday said US military statements indicating forces were attacking naval targets near the Strait of Hormuz, where a Revolutionary Guards base is located, suggested they were most likely to have carried out the strike. The report said an analysis of social media posts from the time of the attack, along with photos and videos shared by witnesses, indicated the school was hit at the same time as nearby Guards naval base sites. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 08, 2026, 07:49 IST News world Have No Accuracy: Trump Says Iran Likely Behind Minab School Strike Killing Over 150 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... Bombs Target Temple, Mosque, Offices In Bangladeshs Cumilla District; Several Injured Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 11, 2026, 12:32 IST The chief priest, Keshab Chakraborty, suffered grievous injuries in the attack and has been admitted to hospital for treatment. Bomb Attack Targets Puja Gathering in Coomilla, Priest Hospitalised Multiple bomb attacks were reported in Bangladesh last week. Bombs were hurled at a temple during a puja gathering on 7 March in Cumilla district. A bomb exploded at Kaligach Tala Kali Mondir during the weekly Shani puja in the Baganbari Thakurpara area of Cumilla city on Saturday evening, police said. Priest Keshob Chakraborty, 48, was injured in the blast. Two others, Abdul Barek, son of Sujat Ali, and Jihad, son of Nazrul Islam, were also injured when the attackers detonated two crude bombs in front of a nearby Buddhist temple and a private office while fleeing. All three received primary treatment at a hospital, said Md Touhidul Anwar, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station. Locals said that as the attackers fled, they also detonated crude bombs near a nearby mosque, injuring two Muslim worshippers. Cumilla Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Anisuzzaman, who visited the scene shortly after the incident, said police are investigating the real cause and are working to arrest those responsible. The SP added that law enforcers cordoned off the temple premises. On record, he stated that the attack may have been a deliberate attempt to destabilise the region, according to reports from BDNews24 and The Daily Star. CNN News18 has obtained CCTV footage of the incident. The footage reportedly shows the moment bombs were thrown during the Puja gathering, triggering panic among those present. Surge in attacks on Hindus Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh have surged since Sheikh Hasinas ouster in August 2024. Minority groups have documented more than 2,000 incidents through early 2026. These include killings, vandalism of temples, rapes and the seizure of property. At least 15 Hindus were murdered between December 2025 and January 2026 alone. Many of the incidents have been linked to blasphemy accusations, extortion or Islamist mobilisation ahead of the February 2026 elections. Past cases Several violent incidents targeting Hindus were reported between December 2025 and January 2026. On 31 December, Khokon Chandra Das was stabbed, beaten and set on fire in Shariatpur. He survived after jumping into a pond. It was the fourth such attack in two weeks. On 18 December, Dipu Chandra Das was lynched in Mymensingh over a false blasphemy claim. His body was later burned. On 5 January, newspaper editor Rana Kanti Bairagi was shot in Jessore. On 6 January, Mithun Sarkar and Sarat Mani Chakraborty were attacked by a mob in Naogaon. Sarkar drowned while trying to flee. Location : Bangladesh First Published: March 08, 2026, 08:12 IST News world Bombs Target Temple, Mosque, Offices In Bangladeshs Cumilla District; Several Injured 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... Hormuz Chaos: Ships In Gulf Pose As Chinese Vessels To Dodge Iranian Attacks Curated By : Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 06:54 IST Data shows that at least 10 ships, including tankers and container vessels, changed their AIS signals between March 1 and March 6, 2026 to dodge Iranian attack. Boats manoeuvering around a tanker vessel during a military exercise by members of the IRGC and navy in the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo: AFP) Ships passing through the Gulf have begun declaring themselves as Chinese-owned or Chinese-crewed in an attempt to avoid Iranian attacks during the ongoing war. At least 10 vessels over the past week altered their Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals to display messages such as Chinese Owner", All Chinese Crew" or Chinese Crew Onboard", states a Financial Times report. The tactic was reported after analysis of MarineTraffic data and was first highlighted by the Financial Times. Among the vessels changing their signals was the ship Iron Maiden". While passing through the Strait of Hormuz on March 4, it altered its destination signal to read Chinese owner" as it moved through the area at full speed. Last week, Iran declared closure of Hormuz for all countries except China. Data shows that at least 10 ships, including tankers and container vessels, changed their AIS signals between March 1 and March 6, 2026. Large number of ships trapped Around 1,000 ships with an estimated value of about 25 billion dollars remain trapped inside the Gulf. The disruption follows strikes by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps near Kuwait and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Crews are also using methods such as GPS spoofing and jamming as they attempt to move safely through the region. Tactic linked to Iran-China ties The strategy is based on the assumption that Iranian forces may avoid targeting ships linked to China. Iran and China share strong strategic relations, including a long-term partnership and major oil trade. Because of these ties, crews hope vessels identified as Chinese will face a lower risk of attack compared with ships linked to Western or US-aligned countries. Iran-China ties China has come out in support of Iran in the war against the United States and Israel. Beijing has condemned the US-Israel strikes diplomatically but continues to prioritise energy security and Taiwan over direct involvement in the conflict, maintaining a risk-averse concerned onlooker" stance. As per reports, China has also been supplying intelligence to Iran during the conflict. The Iran war, which began on February 28, entered its ninth day today. China has also provided indirect aid to Iran through pre-war supplies of drones (loitering munitions), HQ-9B surface-to-air missile systems, YLC-8B radars and CM-302 anti-ship missiles, along with cyber tools replacing Western software. China also continues buying around 90% of Irans sanctioned oil, while a 25-year pact worth about $400 billion ensures a steady flow of discounted crude. Location : Iran First Published: March 08, 2026, 06:54 IST News world Hormuz Chaos: Ships In Gulf Pose As Chinese Vessels To Dodge Iranian Attacks 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 Among Two Killed In Saudi Arabia As Military Projectile Hits Residential Area Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 22:36 IST Kingdom's civil defence agency said that a military projectile fell on a residential area in the Al-Kharj governorate, killing two people - an Indian and Bangladeshi national. Rapid Read Smoke rises above Riyadh amid Iranian attacks. (Reuters) Saudi Arabia on Sunday confirmed its first deaths in the ongoing war in West Asia, as the Kingdoms civil defence agency said that a military projectile fell on a residential area in the Al-Kharj governorate, killing two people and injuring 12 others. The Civil Defence spokesperson said in a statement that the two killed were of Indian and Bangladeshi nationality, and all the wounded are Bangladeshi residents. These are the first casualties since the war broke out between the US-Israel and Iran a week ago. Follow Live Updates Of The US-Israel-Iran War Al Kharj governorate is home to a massive air base and has been targeted repeatedly over the past week as Tehran struck the Gulf after Israel and the US launched a campaign against the Islamic republic. Irans Revolutionary Guards said earlier on Sunday that they targeted radar systems in locations including Al-Kharj. ALSO READ: Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait Weigh Pulling US Contracts As Iran War Strains Economies: Report Anger has grown in the Gulf region following hundreds of Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting Gulf and other nations. Arab League chief Ahmed Abouel Gheit lashed out at Iran for a reckless policy" of attacking Arab countries. Saudi Arabias defence ministry said on Sunday that it intercepted 33 drones, adding there were no reports of damage or casualties from the attacks. This also came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian backtracked from his apology and said Irans military response would only strengthen, adding that Tehran would not bow in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression." The Gulf nations of Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also reported additional Iranian missiles launched toward them on Sunday, including several that hit new categories of civilian infrastructure. The UAE said Iran launched more than 100 missiles and drones. Only four drones fell at unnamed locations, the defense ministry said. Gulf countries have said their territory has not been used in attacks against Iran, and before the war began they repeatedly said they would not allow such a move. A day ago, Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Saudi Arabia has assured Iran that its land, territorial waters and airspace will not be used to launch attacks against the Islamic Republic. Location : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia First Published: March 08, 2026, 22:20 IST News world Indian Among Two Killed In Saudi Arabia As Military Projectile Hits Residential Area 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 Clerics Choose Khamenei Successor But Withhold Name; Israel Says Replacement Will Be Targeted Curated By : Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 16:05 IST Irans Assembly of Experts has chosen the next Supreme Leader after Ali Khamenei's death, but the name is undisclosed. Israel warns the successor could be a target. Rapid Read Irans Assembly of Experts has chosen the next Supreme Leader after Ali Khamenei's death, but the name is undisclosed. Israel warns the successor could be a target. (image: Reuters) Irans powerful Assembly of Experts has reached a decision on who will become the countrys next Supreme Leader, though the name of the chosen cleric has not yet been made public, according to Iranian media reports. Members of the body responsible for selecting Irans top leader confirmed that a consensus has been reached after internal deliberations. The Assembly convened following the death of longtime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose position is the most powerful in Irans political system. The most suitable candidate, approved by the majority of the Assembly of Experts, has been determined," Mohsen Heydari, a member of the selection body representing Khuzestan province, told Islamic Republic News Agency. Another member of the assembly, Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, confirmed the decision in remarks carried by Fars News Agency, saying a firm opinion reflecting the majority view has been reached." Israel Warns Successor Could Be Target The leadership transition is unfolding amid escalating tensions with Israel, which has warned that Irans next supreme leader could become a target. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz earlier said that whoever succeeds Khamenei would be an unequivocal target for elimination" if Iran continues its confrontation with Israel. The warning has heightened pressure on Irans clerical establishment as it navigates a sensitive leadership transition during an ongoing regional conflict. Why the Name Was Not Disclosed? Despite confirming that a decision has been reached, Iranian officials have not revealed the identity of the selected candidate. This is due to security concerns and political sensitivities, particularly after Israeli warnings that any successor to Khamenei could be targeted. Officials are also believed to be coordinating the announcement carefully to ensure a smooth transition of power and consensus within Irans political and religious leadership. Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: March 08, 2026, 15:57 IST News world Iran Clerics Choose Khamenei Successor But Withhold Name; Israel Says Replacement Will Be Targeted 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... Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) is among the 12 Best Alcohol Stocks to Buy Right Now. Diageo plc (DEO) Reports Fiscal 2026 First-Half Results On February 25, 2026, Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) reported fiscal 2026 first-half net sales of $10.46 billion, a 4.0% decrease from F25 H1, with organic net sales dropping 2.8%. Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Africa saw growth, countering weaker performance in North America and ongoing losses in Chinese white spirits in the Asia Pacific. The company reported an operating profit of $3.12 billion, a 1.2% decrease. Tariffs and an unfavorable mix reduced earnings, but disposals and marketing effectiveness boosted margins. Basic EPS increased 3.0% to 89.7 cents, while EPS before exceptional items decreased 2.5% to 95.3 cents. Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) earned $2.12 billion in operating cash flow and $1.53 billion in free cash flow, both dropping year-on-year, and concluded the period with a net debt of $21.7 billion. The corporation decided to sell its holdings in East African Breweries and the Kenyan spirits division to Asahi for $2.3 billion in net proceeds to reduce leverage. Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) is involved in the manufacturing and distribution of alcoholic beverages. The company's brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc, and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Casamigos, Tanqueray, and Guinness. While we acknowledge the potential of DEO 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: 15 Best Electric Utility Stocks to Invest In Now and 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Irans Attack On US Navys Fifth Fleet In Bahrain Kills 21 Soldiers As Military Escalation Continues Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 12:41 IST The US Navy's Fifth Fleet, headquartered at Naval Support Activity Bahrain in Manama, is facing major military escalation following direct missile, drone assault by Iranian forces Rapid Read The spots that were targeted. (X/TehranTimes) Iran has launched fresh attacks on the United States (US) Navys Fifth Fleet in the Juffair District in Manama, Bahrain, killing 21 soldiers, the Tehran Times reported. Their footage purportedly showed a fire at the spot. The US Navys Fifth Fleet, headquartered at Naval Support Activity Bahrain in Manama, is facing a major military escalation following a direct missile and drone assault by Iranian forces. #BREAKINGUSs weapons warehouses in Bahrain were targeted pic.twitter.com/A1QwBy90I0 Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) March 8, 2026 Recent strikes on the Fifth Fleet On February 28, 2026, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a coordinated assault using ballistic missiles and Shahed-136 attack drones targeting the Fifth Fleet headquarters. Satellite imagery and verified videos showed thick black smoke rising from the base. Reports indicate that several structures, including radar facilities, service buildings, and satellite communication terminals, were destroyed or heavily damaged. ALSO READ | US-Israel-Iran War Live Updates HERE U.S. officials reported that all personnel were in bunkers during the strikes, and while at least three American troops were killed and others wounded in related regional escalations, no immediate fatalities were confirmed specifically at the Bahrain base. On March 6, 2026, a U.S. submarine reportedly sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean using a torpedo, marking a significant escalation in naval warfare between the two nations. The retaliation to US-Israels Epic Fury Iran framed these strikes as precise retaliation" for a joint U.S.-Israeli operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, which allegedly targeted high-ranking Iranian leadership. Prior to these strikes, the U.S. Navy significantly increased its presence in the region, with approximately one-third of its deployed fleet aimed at deterring Iranian aggression. The assault has raised urgent questions regarding the effectiveness of regional air defences, despite the presence of Patriot PAC-3 systems tasked with shielding the Bahrain base. What is the Fifth Fleet? It oversees 2.5 million square miles of water, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Arabian Sea. It ensures the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz and manages the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a 47-nation coalition. It typically hosts about 8,300 sailors and is a rare accompanied posting" in the region where family members also reside. Why Strait of Hormuz matters The strait has become a primary flashpoint in the ongoing war. On February 28, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) began issuing warnings that ship passage was not allowed". On March 2, Iran officially confirmed the closure, threatening to set fire to any entering vessels. Several tankers have already been struck by drones or missiles, leading to casualties and significant damage. Major companies have suspended transits, with many vessels remaining anchored in the Persian Gulf. President Donald Trump has offered government-backed political risk insurance to encourage continued shipping and stated the U.S. Navy may begin escorting tankers. With Agency Inputs First Published: March 08, 2026, 11:54 IST News world Irans Attack On US Navys Fifth Fleet In Bahrain Kills 21 Soldiers As Military Escalation Continues 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's President Says His Remarks 'Misinterpreted By Enemy' Amid Stir Over His Apology Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 15:54 IST Pezeshkian caused a stir with an unusual apology to the neighbouring countries for Iranian attacks over the past week in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes Rapid Read Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian. (AFP file photo) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday clarified that his previous remarks on attacks on Gulf neighbours were misinterpreted by the enemy that seeks to sow division with neighbours," according to state media reports. Pezeshkian had earlier issued an unusual apology to the neighbouring countries for Iranian attacks over the past week in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes on February 28, saying that Tehran would suspend military actions in the Gulf if unattacked. However, US President Donald Trump cast the apology as a surrender, forcing his office to reiterate that Irans military will firmly respond to attacks from US bases in the region. Click Here To Follow Live Updates Emphasising the importance of fraternal ties, Pezeshkian said, It has repeatedly been said we are brothers and must have good relations with neighbours." However, he maintained a stance of defensive necessity, noting that Tehran is forced to retaliate to attacks" but clarified that this does not imply a dispute with neighbouring countries or a desire to upset their people." His comments came after Trump claimed on social media that Iran had lost" and surrendered to Middle East neighbours." The US president also called Iran the loser of the Middle East" and warned of more strikes. Stir Over Pezeshkians Apology Earlier, Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries for waves of 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. However, his apology left hardliners, including the powerful Revolutionary Guards, fuming with anger. Taking to X, hardline cleric and lawmaker Hamid Rasai said, Mr Pezeshkian, your stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable." ALSO READ: Stir Over Iran Presidents Apology Exposes Divisions In Leadership As War Pressure Mounts Meanwhile, the judiciary chief and a member of the three-man council that holds the powers of the supreme leader, Mohseni-Ejei, said that territories of some regional countries were being used to strike Iran and that retaliatory strikes would continue. Irans Revolutionary Guards announced that they had struck a US air combat centre at Al Dhafra Air Base, near Abu Dhabi. The Revolutionary Guards launched a new wave of retaliatory strikes against Israeli and US installations in West Asia, describing the operation as the 27th phase of Operation True Promise. According to Iranian state media, the latest attacks included missile strikes targeting US military facilities in the region, including bases in Kuwait. As the war goes on, the US and Israel have discussed sending special forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium at a later stage of the war, Axios reported, citing four people with knowledge of the discussions. Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: March 08, 2026, 15:51 IST News world Iran's President Says His Remarks 'Misinterpreted By Enemy' Amid Stir Over His 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... Israel Pounds Iran With Fresh Strikes As Tehran Says It Is Fully Prepared For Six-Month War Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 22:15 IST Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Sunday said they were "fully prepared" for at least six months of intense war amid relentless attacks by the US and Israel. Rapid Read Iran remained defiant in the face of relentless US and Israeli strikes. Irans Revolutionary Guards on Sunday said they were fully prepared" for at least six months of high-intensity war and claimed that several of its newer missiles and drones are yet to be used in the war against the US and Israel. This defiant tone came as Israel launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran. Follow Live Updates Of The US-Israel-Iran War IRGC spokesperson AliMohammad Naeini claimed that the missiles used so far in the conflict are largely older models produced around 20122013. He added that Iran has not yet deployed missiles manufactured in the past decade, despite a significant increase in production in recent years. Weaponry, strategy, tactics and initiative and an aresenla of heavy missiles, ballistic and cruise, all kinds of UAVs and attack vessels have been prepared appropriate for a large-scale war, an all-out war and a prolonged war. The capable and powerful armed forces in the Islamic Republic are fully prepared for at least an intense six-month full-scale war with the same current pace," he was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera. Israel Begins Extensive Strikes The remarks came as the Israeli Air Force also announced an extensive" wave of airstrikes against Iranian regime infrastructure in Tehran and other areas of Iran. This is the second round of airstrikes on Iran. Earlier today, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said they dismantled" the space agency headquarters, affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It said the site was used by the IRGC to advance terrorist activities and monitor the State of Israel and its residents." Israeli forces expanded their bombardment of Iran by striking fuel depots near Tehran, sending a blazing inferno down the storm drains along the streets of the capital. Thick, choking black smoke hung over Tehran on Sunday, residents said, after strikes on oil storage facilities had lit up the night sky with plumes of orange flame. ALSO READ: Inferno In Tehran Streets As Flaming Oil Runs Through Drains After Depot Strike | Videos 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 U.S. troops have also been killed. On Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his country will not surrender to the United States and Israel after the US Presidents latest warning that there will be no deal" with Tehran unless it agrees to an unconditional surrender". Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: March 08, 2026, 21:58 IST News world Israel Pounds Iran With Fresh Strikes As Tehran Says It Is Fully Prepared For Six-Month 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... Massive Blaze, Plumes Of Smoke: Israeli Strikes Hit Shahran Oil Depot In Tehran | Visuals Curated By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Meemansa Shekhawat Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 09:26 IST The Israeli Defense Forces struck Iranian fuel depots in Tehran, targeting the Shahran oil depot. Israeli strikes target fuel storage facilities in Iran (Image credit: Reuters) The Israeli forces struck multiple energy facilities around Tehran, the Iranian capital, targeting around 25 large oil storage tanks at the countrys largest refinery, marking a significant escalation since the start of the war. Footage captures huge flames emerging from the Shahr-e Rey oil depots south of Tehran, one of Irans largest refining complexes. An explosion at the Fardis oil depot in Karaj, a city west of the capital, was also reported. According to the FARS news agency, three depots in Kouhak and Shahran in Tehran, as well as Karaj, were struck by Israeli fighter jets. Several Fuel Depots Hit The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday announced it had hit several Iranian fuel depots in Tehran, acting on intelligence guidance. The military forces of the Iranian terror regime make direct and frequent use of these fuel tanks to operate military infrastructure. Through them, the Iranian terror regime distributes fuel to various consumers, including military entities in Iran," the IDF said in a statement. #BREAKINGShahran oil depot in Tehran was targeted pic.twitter.com/le2Q2jqYIp Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) March 7, 2026 The strike constitutes an additional step in deepening the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime", it added. Earlier, Iranian state media reported an oil depot in southern Tehran, near the capitals main refinery complex, was struck. Later, the ILNA news agency confirmed it was not damaged. Trumps Remarks On Iran U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday blamed Iran for what the countrys authorities said was a deadly strike" on a school based in the Minab city. We think it was done by Iran. Because they are very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. According to Iranian authorities, a strike hit a girls school last week, killing over 150 people, with most of the deceased being students. The United States and Israel have not claimed responsibility for the attack. The developments come as war between Israel and Iran entered its second week, with Jerusalem continuing to target multiple sites in Tehran. Iran, on the other hand, continues to retaliate by targeting facilities linked to the United States and Israel across the Gulf. Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: March 08, 2026, 07:29 IST News world Massive Blaze, Plumes Of Smoke: Israeli Strikes Hit Shahran Oil Depot In Tehran | Visuals 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... 'Need To Continue Fighting For Our People': Iran's Foreign Minister Rejects Calls For Ceasefire Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 23:00 IST Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected ceasefire calls, accusing the US and Israel of breaking last year's deal, stressing the need for a permanent end to the war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. (AFP photo) Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected calls for ceasefire while accusing the US and Israel of breaking the deal reached to end last years 12-day war. In an interview with NBC News, Araghchi said the US and Israel had already shattered the ceasefire reached to end last years 12-day war, adding, And now you want to ask for a ceasefire again? This doesnt work like this." There needs to be a permanent end to the war," he said. Unless we get to that, I think we need to continue fighting for the sake of our people and our security." He further claimed that the US and Israel are killing our people, they are killing girl students, you know, they are attacking hospitals". Follow for live updates He referred to the incident that occurred in Minab, in southern Iran, during the first day of US and Israeli attacks on the country. Irans ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said the strike killed 150 students at the girls school. However, the death toll could not be independently verified. Images aired on Iranian state television showed funerals held for the victims on Tuesday. Some footage also showed small coffins draped in Iranian flags being passed through large crowds before burial. Also Read: After We Will Remember Remark, Trump Holds Call With Starmer On RAF Bases, Middle East The White House did not directly address the allegation but reiterated that the United States does not intentionally target civilians. Reuters quoted two US officials saying that the United States military is investigating whether its forces were responsible for the strike on a girls school. Also Read: Were Going To Blow The Hell Out Of These People: US Senator Says Strikes On Iran To Intensify According to the officials, investigators believe US forces carried out the strike, but emphasised that no conclusion has yet been reached and that the inquiry remains ongoing. They also cautioned that new evidence could emerge that absolves the United States of responsibility and instead points to another party behind the attack. Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: March 08, 2026, 22:49 IST News world 'Need To Continue Fighting For Our People': Iran's Foreign Minister Rejects Calls For Ceasefire 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... 'Plan Is To Get Oil Flowing': US Energy Secretary Says Large Tanker Passed Through Hormuz Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 19:46 IST This came after the US-Israel-Iran war choked off energy supplies in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in a sharp spike in oil prices worldwide. Rapid Read The US-Iran war has cut off energy supplies in the Strait of Hormuz. (Reuters) US Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Sunday said the flow of energy products will resume through the Strait of Hormuz very soon amid the ongoing war with Iran, adding that a large oil tanker has already passed through the critical waterway without any issues. The plan is to get oil, natural gas and fertilisers and all of the products from the Gulf flowing through the straits for far too long. One large tanker has already gone through the straits with no issues at all," he told Fox News. .@SecretaryWright: The plan is to get oil, and natural gas, and fertilizer, and all of the products from the Gulf flowing through the straits One large tanker has already gone through the straits with no issues at all energy will flow soon." pic.twitter.com/wtvJNyJM2f Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 8, 2026 He asserted that the US is rapidly eliminating Irans capabilities to strike with missiles and drones, and that rate of attrition will only increase. We will be cautious, well be careful, but energy will flow soon (through Hormuz)," he promised. The remarks came as the global oil market faces uncertainty with Gulf producers cutting output and the Strait of Hormuz still blocked amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. The blockade of this critical shipping lane, through which a fifth of the worlds crude and liquefied natural gas typically flows, has sent prices soaring and raised fears of extended disruption to global energy supplies. According to Bloomberg, the disruption has already triggered a sharp surge in oil prices. Brent crude climbed 30% last week its largest weekly jump in six years bringing it just shy of the $100-a-barrel mark. The disruption is being felt most acutely in import-dependent Asia. Japan, which relies on Gulf crude for over 90% of its needs, has considered drawing on national reserves. China has curtailed fuel exports to preserve domestic supply, while South Korea is reviewing a possible oil price cap. ALSO READ: Gulf Giants Cut Output, Hormuz Blocked: West Asia War Pushes Oil Market Into Deeper Turmoil A senior official of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the country would use force to block traffic through the strait. The strait (of Hormuz) is closed. If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze," Brigadier General Sardar Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the Guards commander-in-chief, was quoted as saying by Iranian state media. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 08, 2026, 19:33 IST News world 'Plan Is To Get Oil Flowing': US Energy Secretary Says Large Tanker Passed Through Hormuz 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... Sailor In Iranian Warship Dena Told Father Of US Ultimatum Before Torpedo Attack: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 14:56 IST An Iranian sailor on IRIS Dena called his father before a US torpedo struck. The commander refused evacuation. The USS Charlotte sank the Dena, killing 87 sailors. Rapid Read The IRIS Dena, which was returning to Iran after an Indian naval exercise off Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, was torpedoed by an American submarine in an unprecedented military escalation on March 4, 2026. (Image: AFP/File) An Iranian sailor aboard the warship IRIS Dena called his father shortly before the vessel was struck by a US torpedo, saying American forces had issued two warnings for the crew to abandon the ship, a source close to the family told Iran International. The sailor was killed in the attack by a US submarine. According to the source, the Denas commander refused to allow the crew to evacuate despite the imminent threat. The standoff between the commander and his crew had dire consequences. Several sailors argued with the commander," the source said, adding that the 32 crew members who survived were largely those who defied orders and reached the lifeboats on their own. The US submarine torpedoed the Dena on the morning of March 4 in the Indian Ocean, about 19 nautical miles from the southern Sri Lankan port of Galle. Of the roughly 180 crew aboard, 87 bodies have been recovered. When the Sri Lankan Navy responded to the distress call, they found no trace of the ship, only an oil slick, empty life rafts, and sailors floating in the water. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike at the Pentagon, describing it as a quiet death" and noting it was the first time a US Navy submarine had sunk an enemy combatant since World War II. The attack was carried out by the USS Charlotte, a Los Angeles-class submarine, which fired Mark 48 torpedoes, one of which hit the Denas stern and sank it within minutes. The strike highlighted the widening geographic reach of the conflict with Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted that the ship was lost over 3,000 km from Irans shores, and that it had been a guest of the Indian Navy barely a week earlier, participating in the MILAN 2026 multilateral exercises off Visakhapatnam. An internal US State Department cable dated March 6, seen by Reuters, stated that Washington urged Sri Lankan authorities not to return the 32 surviving Dena sailors and the 208 sailors rescued from the Iranian naval auxiliary ship IRIS Booshehr. Location : Iran First Published: March 08, 2026, 14:56 IST News world Sailor In Iranian Warship Dena Told Father Of US Ultimatum Before Torpedo Attack: 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... Several Countries, Including Turkey & Malaysia, Urge Pakistan For Ceasefire With Afghanistan Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Shuddhanta Patra Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 09:06 IST A top diplomatic source told CNN News18 said that Pakistan has given its consent to Muslim countries for ceasefire efforts, but only under certain conditions. Taliban security personnel keep watch near the Durand Line in Gurbuz district of Khost province on February 27, 2026.(Image: AFP) Clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have entered their 11th day, raising concern in the region. Diplomatic sources told CNN News18 that several Muslim countries are now stepping in to push for a ceasefire between the two sides. According to a top diplomatic source, Turkish President Recep Tayyab Erdogan, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto are pressing Pakistan to begin ceasefire talks with Afghanistan. The same source said Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has received multiple calls from the three leaders. During these conversations, they offered to mediate and stressed the need for a ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan. A top diplomatic source said senior defence delegations from Turkey and Malaysia are expected to arrive in Pakistan soon as part of mediation efforts. Their visit is likely to focus on helping both sides move towards ceasefire talks. Contacts with Afghan Taliban Sources say Malaysian officials, Turkish authorities and the Indonesian president have also established contact with the Afghan Taliban leadership. They are urging the Taliban to agree to a ceasefire with Pakistan. A top diplomatic source claimed that a major breakthrough on a ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan could happen soon, possibly around the days of Eid. Previous mediation attempts After clashes between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in October last year, several rounds of mediation were held. Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia tried to broker peace, but those efforts did not succeed. Now Turkey, Indonesia and Malaysia are again actively pushing both Pakistan and Afghanistan towards a ceasefire. The top diplomatic source said that Pakistan has given its consent to Muslim countries for ceasefire efforts, but only under certain conditions. Location : Pakistan First Published: March 08, 2026, 09:03 IST News world Several Countries, Including Turkey & Malaysia, Urge Pakistan For Ceasefire With Afghanistan 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... Stir Over Iran President's Apology Exposes Divisions In Leadership As War Pressure Mounts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 08:47 IST Iran's leadership is fracturing amid conflict with Israel and the US. President Pezeshkian's apology angered hardliners like Rasai and the Revolutionary Guards. Rapid Read President Masoud Pezeshkians apology and promise not to strike the Gulf states caused a stir in Iran and displayed the differences within leadership. (Courtesy: Reuters) As the war continues to escalate with Israel and the US, the hierarchy of Iran appears to be fracturing over the conflict that its leaders appear to be perceiving as existential. The cracks were laid bare between hardliners and a more pragmatic faction after President Masoud Pezeshkians apology and promise not to strike the Gulf states caused a stir in Iran and forced his office to reiterate that Irans military will firmly respond to attacks from US bases in the region. Click Here To Follow Live Updates Stir Over Pezeshkians Apology Hours after the apology, the president again repeated his statement on social media; however, he omitted the apology part from his speech, which had left hardliners, including the powerful Revolutionary Guards, fuming with anger. Also Read: Iran President Apologises To Neighbouring Countries For Attacks, Says Will Not Strike Unless Taking to X, hardline cleric and lawmaker Hamid Rasai said, Mr Pezeshkian, your stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable." His idea of an apology was also denounced by a former Revolutionary Guards commander on social media. Meanwhile, the judiciary chief and a member of the three-man council that holds the powers of the supreme leader, Mohseni-Ejei, said that territories of some regional countries were being used to strike Iran and that retaliatory strikes would continue. Also Read: Iran Judiciary Chief Vows Continued Strikes On Gulf Countries Hours After Pezeshkians Apology Amid the stir over Pezeshkians apology, Irans Revolutionary Guards announced that they had struck a US air combat centre at Al Dhafra Air Base, near Abu Dhabi. Cracks Appearing Due To Khameneis Killing? The differences within Irans ruling elite have remained suppressed for a long time under the iron rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; however, his killing a week ago has allowed them to spill out in the open amid piling pressure on Tehran due to US and Israeli strikes. Also Read: Fuel & Families: Why Irans Sorry To The Gulf Is A Double Win For India The Revolutionary Guards have seized a bigger role in strategy amid the unrelenting bombardment, even though many of its top commanders have been killed. Sources close to Irans leadership have told Reuters that the strains have begun appearing among leaders who are still alive. Strain Within Top Leadership: A Tactic To Negotiate With West? According to two senior sources, the leadership of Iran has sometimes used differences between hardliners and moderates as a tactic to negotiate with the West; however, the dispute over Pezeshkians remarks showed genuine differences. A hardliner close to Khameneis office said to Reuters that the comments of Pezeshkian had angered many senior commanders in the Guards. (With inputs from Reuters) Location : Iran First Published: March 08, 2026, 08:23 IST News world Stir Over Iran President's Apology Exposes Divisions In Leadership As War Pressure Mounts 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... Terror One Of The Hypotheses: Norway Police After Blast At Oslo US Embassy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 18:04 IST Norway police are investigating an explosion at the US embassy, considering terrorism as a possible motive. Other causes are also being explored. No injuries were reported. The explosion left black marks on the ground and cracks in thick glass doors at the entrance to the consular section. (Image/usembassy.gov) Norway police on Sunday said an overnight explosion at the US embassy in Oslo may have been an act of terrorism, though investigators stressed other motives have not been ruled out. The blast caused no injuries and only minor material damage, but prompted an immediate security response in the Norwegian capital. One of the hypotheses is that it is an act of terrorism," Frode Larsen, head of the polices Joint Unit for Investigation and Intelligence, told public broadcaster NRK. But we are not completely stuck on that. We must be open to the possibility that there may be other reasons for what has happened." At a press conference on Sunday, Larsen said it was natural to view the explosion as a targeted attack on the embassy. It is natural to see this in the context of the security policy situation," he said, adding that there are currently no suspects. ALSO READ: From Air Base In Qatar To Embassy In Iraq, US Establishment Attacked By Tehran In 9 Days Of US-Israel-Iran War Police images from the scene showed shattered glass and fallen lamps outside the embassys consular entrance. Head of the Joint Unit for Operational Service, Grete Metlid, confirmed that an explosive device had been thrown at the embassy, though she declined to specify the type. Following the blast, security at the embassy has been increased. Metlid said police officers are now stationed outside, and guarding and operational readiness across key sites in Oslo have been reinforced. Over time, and especially recently, we have had an increased presence at several objects in the capital, with a background in the security policy situation. After the incident last night, we have further strengthened our measures," she said. The explosion, which occurred around 1:00 am local time (0000 GMT) in the early hours of Sunday, left black marks on the ground and cracks in thick glass doors at the entrance to the consular section. Norways Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide had called the incident unacceptable" and said he had been in contact with the US embassys charge daffaires, Eric Meyer. The blast comes amid heightened tensions for US embassies, particularly in the Middle East, following American military operations in Iran and retaliatory attacks on US diplomatic and industrial targets. (With inputs from agencies) Location : Norway First Published: March 08, 2026, 17:25 IST News world Terror One Of The Hypotheses: Norway Police After Blast At Oslo US Embassy 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... BP PLC (NYSE:BP) is among the 10 most undervalued stocks to buy and hold for 10 years. On March 5, three Iraqi oil industry sources told Reuters that BP PLC (NYSE:BP) evacuated its foreign staff from Iraqs giant Rumaila oilfield after two unidentified drones landed inside the field. We are taking all necessary steps to support our partners and ensure the safety of our people, a representative from BP PLC (NYSE:BP) said about the indecent, adding, We are continuously assessing the situation, have been communicating with those people under our duty of care and will address them directly should there be a need for any change. The reported evacuation was staged amid recent military actions in the Middle East. Iraq had cut oil production by nearly 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), according to the countrys oil officials, with cuts expected to increase to 3 million bpd within days as the country runs out of storage. Output at Iraqs largest oil field, Rumaila, which normally stands at around 1.4 million bpd, was reduced by 700,000 bpd. Drone Landing on BP (BP) Iraq Field Prompts Staff Evacuation An oil drilling platform. Photo by Jan-Rune Smenes Reite on Pexels. BP Plc (NYSE:BP) is a global energy company engaged in oil and gas production, marketing, and trading. The company also engages in a wide variety of businesses, including aviation fuel products and services, convenience and retail fuel, EV charging, Castrol lubricants and fluids, midstream, crude oil production, refining and oil trading, and bioenergy, among others. While we acknowledge the potential of BP 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 12 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next 2 Years. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. 'They're Being Decimated': Trump Says US Could Send Ground Troops Into Iran 'For Very Good Reason' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 19:13 IST Donald Trump said a ground invasion into Iran would need a "very good reason" and that it would decimate the Iranian forces, rendering them incapable of a response. Rapid Read US President Donald Trump, with Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at his side, speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One. (Reuters) US President Donald Trump on Sunday hinted that ground troops could be sent into Iran for a very good reason", adding that it would decimate Iranian forces to the point that it could not recover and fight against the American military. Follow Live Updates Of The US-Israel-Iran War When asked about a possible ground invasion aboard Air Force One, Trump said, I dont want to talk about it. I dont think its an appropriate question. I am not going to answer it. There could be (a ground invasion) possibly for a very good reason. There has to be a very good reason. I would say that if we ever did that, they (Iran) would be so decimated that they wouldnt be able to fight at the ground level." Trump also ruled out any possibility of negotiations with Iran. We are not looking to settle. They would like to settle, but we are not looking to settle," he told reporters. They have leaders right now that nobody even knows who they are. They are being decimated now. At some point, I dont think there will be anyone to say we surrender and they are being decimated." Trump said ground troops could be sent into Iran for a very good reason, adding there were no plans to negotiate https://t.co/3g8xpGl4T6 pic.twitter.com/e1Ho1odIR9 Reuters (@Reuters) March 8, 2026 This came days after Trump declared that it was too late" for talks with Iran and demanded an unconditional surrender to halt the US-Israeli military campaign that began on February 28. US and Israeli strikes have reportedly killed several senior Iranian leaders, including Major Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces; Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Brig. Gen. Mohammad Shirazi, Head of the Military Office; Aziz Nasirzadeh, Minister of Defense; Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Irans Defense Council; and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He has also refused to rule out the possibility of deploying American troops on the ground, but ruled out asking Kurdish forces to mount an invasion. We havent talked about it. At some point, maybe we will. It would be a great thing. Right now were just decimating them," he said, according to The Guardian. Meanwhile, Iran has moved closer to naming a new supreme leader after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with every indication suggesting his powerful son Mojtaba could take charge. Israels military has repeatedly threatened to kill any replacement for Khamenei. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 08, 2026, 18:59 IST News world 'They're Being Decimated': Trump Says US Could Send Ground Troops Into Iran 'For Very Good Reason' 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... UAE Official Calls Report Of Strike On Iran Desalination Plant Fake News Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 18:47 IST The UAE had been contemplating it should react after Abu Dhabi, along with a host of Gulf nations, came under attack by Iran after the US-Israeli strikes on February 28. Rapid Read The UAE, along with other Gulf states, came under attack by Iran after the US-Israeli strikes on February 28. (Reuters) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has denied reports of launching its first retaliatory attack on Iran on Sunday, after reports surfaced that it struck a desalination facility. The UAE had long been contemplating a response to waves of Iranian missile and drone attacks. Dr Ali Rashid Ali Nuaimi, a member of the United Arab Emirates Federal National Council and Chairman of the Defence Affairs, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee, has denied reports of an UAE retaliatory attack on Iran as fake news." This is fake news. When we do something, weve the courage to announce it," he said on X, in response to reports of an UAE attack on an Iranian desalination facility in retaliation for Tehrans missile and drone attacks over the last week. This is fake news . When we do something, weve the courage to announce it https://t.co/lZ47h6gSDO . Dr. Ali Alnuaimi (@Dralnoaimi) March 8, 2026 The UAE will never place the Iranian people in the same basket as the Iranian regime. The Iranian people are the real victims of that regime and the ones who suffer the most from its policies. As neighbours, we recognize this reality and we care about their wellbeing," he said in another post. UAE Criticises Inappropriate Israeli Reports Separately, an Emirati source tells The Times of Israel: We categorically deny this nonsense. If the UAE does something or takes an action, it will announce it and make it public." It is inappropriate for so-called Israeli senior officials to talk on our behalf and/or spread rumors about UAE actions or intentions. The UAE doesnt make statements on other countries actions nor their intentions, so we expect our friendly countries officials to refrain from doing so," the source said. Earlier, a source familiar with the matter told the Jerusalem Post that the UAE struck a desalination plant, which is used to remove salt and other minerals from seawater or salty groundwater to produce fresh drinking water, in its first retaliatory strike on Iran. Israeli outlet Ynet also reported that the UAE strike would represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict by bringing another Gulf state directly into military operations against Iran. Follow Live Updates Of The US-Israel-Iran War Iranian Attacks On UAE The UAE had been contemplating it should react after Abu Dhabi, along with a host of Gulf nations, came under attack by Iran since Israel and the US launched strikes on February 28. Last week, authorities in the UAEs Fujairah extinguished a fire caused by debris after the interception of a drone by air defences in the Fujairah oil industry zone. On Sunday, the UAEs Defence Ministry said the death toll from Irans attacks had risen to four. It also intercepted 16 missiles launched by Iran, while a 17th fell into the sea. The UAE says it also intercepted most of Irans 117 drones, but four fell in UAE territory. A Wall Street Journal report from Friday said that the UAE is considering freezing billions of dollars worth of assets belonging to Iran, a move which would cripple the countrys connection to the global economy. Along with the UAE, the governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain reported Iranian drone attacks in their countries on Saturday and early Sunday, with a huge fire engulfing a government office block in Kuwait. We Are No Easy Prey On Saturday, UAE president Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a warning to the countrys enemies, saying that while it was in a time of war", it was not an easy prey". 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," Al Nahyan, who is also ruler of Abu Dhabi, said in comments aired on Abu Dhabi TV on Saturday. READ MORE: We Are No Easy Prey: UAE President Vows To Defend Country In First Remarks After Iran Strikes Watch more videos Share this Article WhatsApp facebook Twitter telegram copy link 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. However, the Iranian top leadership later asserted that it would not stop attacks on neighbouring countries allegedly colluding with the US and Israel. Location : Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) First Published: March 08, 2026, 17:11 IST News world UAE Official Calls Report Of Strike On Iran Desalination Plant Fake News 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 Won't Leave Trump Alone': Khamenei's Top Aide Warns US President, He Retorts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 14:30 IST Ali Larijani warned President Trump, vowing to "avenge" the Iranian leaders' blood. The warning comes days after Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes. Iran's security chief Larijani warns US President Donald Trump (Image credit: Reuters) Ali Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, issued a warning to US President Donald Trump, saying Tehran would avenge the blood of our leader and our people". Larijani, who was considered one of the closest aides of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said, We will relentlessly avenge the blood of our Leader and our people. Trump must pay and will pay". He said the Iranian strikes against the United States and Israel are continuing in the region. Our strikes against the American and Zionist bases are ongoing, and we have inflicted severe losses on them." Larijani warned Iran will not leave Trump alone". We will not leave him alone. He must pay the price for what he did. He killed our leader and martyred more than 1,000 of our people. This is not a simple matter," he said in an interview with state television. Invoking the US militarys involvement in Venezuela which led to the capture of its President Nicolas Maduro Larijani said, America thought it could end the war in a short period, just as it did in Venezuela, but it failed". Trump Responds To Threat US President Trump dismissed the threats issued by Ali Larijani, stating he couldnt care less" and that he has already been defeated". I have no idea what hes talking about, who he is. I couldnt care less," Trump told CBS News. He added that Larijani has already been defeated." The president reiterated that the US strikes on Iran will continue, demanding an unconditional surrender" from Tehran. American Soldiers Captured On Saturday, Ali Larijani made explosive claims involving President Trump and American casualties in Iran. He alleged several American soldiers have been captured and are being held in prisons amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries. However, the US had denied the allegations. The Iranian regimes claims of capturing American soldiers are yet another example of its lies and deceptions", A CENTCOM spokesperson told Al Jazeera Arabic. Larijani accused Trump of promoting a misleading narrative" about the deaths of six US soldiers in Iranian strikes, claiming the true number of US casualties is over 500". Then, soon enough, with the passage of time, they gradually increase the number of the dead, under various pretexts, such as incidental accidents or fabricated incidents, he said in a post on X. In a separate post, he stated, It has been reported to me that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner. But the Americans claim that they have been killed in action. Despite their futile efforts, the truth is not something they can hide for too long". US-Israel-Iran war The development comes as the United States and Israel engage in a high-intensity military conflict with Iran. Israel, early Sunday, targeted oil infrastructure in Iran, including the Shahran oil depot in Tehran. Iranian Revolutionary Guards said they had hit Americas Juffair base in Bahrain, adding that it had been used to target an Iranian desalination plant earlier on Saturday. Air raid warnings sounded in Jerusalem and Qatars Doha, as Iran continued retaliatory strikes across the Gulf. Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: March 08, 2026, 08:36 IST News world 'Iran Won't Leave Trump Alone': Khamenei's Top Aide Warns US President, He Retorts 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... Why Thousands Of Cargo Ships In Gulf Are Facing GPS Disruptions Amid West Asia War | Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 18:43 IST US-Israeli strikes caused GPS jamming, leaving 1,000 ships in the Gulf and Gulf of Oman unable to locate themselves. Half the vessels off UAE and Oman are affected. Cargo ships wait to enter the Panama Canal in Panama City on February 28, 2026. (AFP photo) Widespread GPS jamming has left over 1,000 cargo ships, oil tankers and other vessels in the Gulf and Gulf of Oman unable to determine their exact location since the start of USIsraeli-Iran war last week. Experts say the problem is worse than many realise, with most ships relying on outdated GPS systems that cannot tap into modern satellite networks like Galileo or BeiDou. The majority of affected vessels are located off the coasts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, raising concerns about navigation safety in one of the worlds busiest maritime regions. ALSO READ: 37 Indian-Flagged Ships With Over 1,100 Seafarers Stranded Near Hormuz Amid West Asia Tensions Outdated Systems Many ships still depend on the original civilian GPS signal, known as the L1 C/A band, which has been in use since the 1990s. Most ships are unable to rely on alternative satellite systems in the event that GPS is jammed," Todd Humphreys, an engineering professor at the University of Texas at Austin, told news agency AFP. Unlike smartphones, which use multiple frequencies and satellite networks, ships navigation systems are relatively basic, leaving them vulnerable to signal interference. You will not find any aircraft flying in the world today whose built-in GPS receiver is capable of tracking and interpreting signals other than the GPS L1 C/A. So its out of date by 15 years," Humphreys added. Jamming a GPS signal is not that complicated," according to Katherine Dunn, author of Little Blue Dot. A stronger radio signal on the same frequency can effectively create a wall of mush," disrupting navigation. More sophisticated spoofing techniques can manipulate a ships Automatic Identification System (AIS), making vessels appear in false locations on tracking maps, sometimes even on land. ALSO READ: Hormuz Chaos: Ships In Gulf Pose As Chinese Vessels To Dodge Iranian Attacks Operational Challenges Beyond location, GPS signals are used to power onboard clocks, radar and speed logs. Without them, crews must revert to older instruments, such as radar or visual landmarks, to navigate safely. Given the size of the ships, electronic assistance has become necessary to steer them," said a merchant marine captain who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity. Defensive jamming by Gulf states aimed at protecting their own shores from drone attacks has also contributed to the disruption, mirroring tactics previously used by Israel and Iran. Latest Developments From Hormuz The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for nearly 20% of the worlds crude oil and LNG, has been severely affected. Since last Sunday, only nine tankers, cargo, and container ships have passed through the chokepoint, following attacks on three vessels. There have also been numerous attacks on ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Israeli war on Iran started on February 28. The narrow waterway between Iran and Oman links the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and remains a strategic corridor for global energy supplies. The war has effectively shut down normal traffic, raising concerns over energy markets and maritime safety in the region. (With inputs from agencies) First Published: March 08, 2026, 18:36 IST News world Why Thousands Of Cargo Ships In Gulf Are Facing GPS Disruptions Amid West Asia War | 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... 'Won't Surrender': Iran's President Vows 'Forceful' Response To American, Israeli Attack Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 08, 2026, 12:58 IST A day after apologising to Iran's neighbours, President Masoud Pezeshkian said if enemies "try to use any country to attack or invade our land, we will be forced to respond" Rapid Read Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries hosting US military bases for attacks on their territory on March 7. (Image: AFP/File) Vowing to respond forcefully" to the joint US-Israel attack, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country will not surrender as the ongoing West Asia conflict entered the ninth day on Sunday. We will respond forcefully to the American and Israeli attacks and will not surrender," Pezeshkian said, as reported by Al Arabiya. He further said his country will be forced to respond" to any attack or invasion attempt from a neighbouring country, in remarks aired by state TV. If Irans enemies try to use any country to attack or invade our land, we will be forced to respond to that attack. Responding does not mean we have disputes with that country or wish to harm its people we would be responding out of necessity", he added. Follow US-Israel-Iran War LIVE Updates Here On Saturday (March 7), Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries hosting American military bases for attacks on their territory. According to officials, the United States and Israel hit five oil sites in and near Tehran in overnight strikes. Last night, four oil depots and a petroleum products transport centre in Tehran and the Alborz were attacked by enemy aircraft," CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, Keramat Veyskarami told state TV.He said the five facilities were damaged" but the fire was brought under control". CAN FIGHT INTENSE WAR FOR MONTHS The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), meanwhile, said Iran can fight an intense war" for months. The remarks by the IRGC came as Israel struck Beirut in Lebanon. It said Iranian forces could fight an intense war for six months against the US and Israel. Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said Iran has so far used first and second generation" missiles, but will use advanced and less-used long-range missiles" in the coming days. Israels military said it launched a new wave of strikes across Tehran" on Sunday, after carrying out a precision strike targeting key commanders" in the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of the IRGC, at a hotel in central Beirut a part of the city popular with tourists. The AFP reported that Lebanons health ministry said the strike killed at least four people at the hotel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press on with the war against Iran with all our force", and said his country has plans to eradicate the Islamic Republics leadership after joint US-Israeli raids killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week. OIL INFRASTRUCTURE TARGETED The conflict spilled into its second week, with massive repercussions particularly for oil infrastructure in the region. Saudi Arabia intercepted a wave of drones headed for targets, including the diplomatic quarter in capital Riyadh, while Kuwait said an attack hit fuel tanks at its international airport. The strike on Kuwaits aviation fuel storage compounded fears over energy supplies with the countrys national oil company also announcing a cut in crude production over threats to the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the worlds oil and gas transit. Iran accused the US and Israel of striking an oil depot in Tehran on Saturday, the first reported assault on the countrys oil infrastructure as stock markets slumped and crude prices surged. The Israeli military, however, said it struck a number of fuel storage facilities in Tehran" that were used to operate military infrastructure". VIDEO | Iran Strikes Israels Haifa Refinery Linked To India In Response To Attack On Oil Depots The widening reach of the war and Irans ability to inflict damage and harm were underscored by US President Donald Trump, attending the return of six American service members killed in a drone strike on a US base in Kuwait last week. Irans security chief Ali Larijani accused the Trump administration of seeking to replicate a scenario similar to Venezuela where it ousted leader Nicolas Maduro. 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 said in a pre-recorded interview broadcast on state TV on Saturday. Irans hardline judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei also warned neighbouring countries, which he said are openly and covertly at the disposal of the enemy", that the heavy attacks on these targets will continue". DRONE, MISSILE ATTACKS ACROSS THE REGION Iran has vowed to go after US assets in the region, and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait on Sunday all reported new attacks. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted more than a dozen drones while Qatar said Iran fired two cruise missiles and 10 ballistic missiles at the country on Saturday. The UAE forces were intercepting incoming missiles and drones from Iran, the defence ministry said in a post on X. On Saturday, video footage showed one projectile crashing at Dubai airport, while AFP reported blasts in Iraqs Baghdad and Erbil in the evening. Inside Iran, damage to infrastructure and residential areas is mounting as its people report growing anxiety and a heavy security presence. I dont think anyone who hasnt experienced war would understand it," a 26-year-old teacher told AFP on condition of anonymity. On March 6, Irans health ministry said at least 926 civilians had been killed and around 6,000 wounded. Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: March 08, 2026, 11:42 IST News world 'Won't Surrender': Iran's President Vows 'Forceful' Response To American, Israeli Attack 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... The fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022 didn't just shatter the country's sense of safetyit blew open a long-muted scandal around the Unification Church, better known as the "Moonies" cult, named after founder Sun Myung Moon. Writing for the New Yorker , E. Tammy Kim traces how Abe's assassin, 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, came from a family financially gutted by his mother's devotion to the church. "The family's considerable assetsthe construction business, various real-estate holdings, Yamagami's father's life insurancedisappeared," Kim writes. "There was no food in the house. 'My family fell apart,' Yamagami later wrote." Eventually, Yamagami came to see Abe not as a personal enemy, but as the most visible political guardian of the organization he blamed for his family's ruin. Kim follows cult-beat journalist Eito Suzuki, whose decades of reporting on the church's ties to Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party suddenly moved from the fringe to the center of Japanese politics after the killing. The piece charts the Moonies' evolution from mass weddings and "spiritual sales" to deep political influence across Japan, South Korea, and even the US, as well as allegations of financial and emotional abuse by the church. Abe's death triggered lawsuits, new laws, a successful government effort to disband the church, and a life sentence for Yamagami. "Had it not been for the Abe assassination, [Suzuki] argued, the relationship between the Unification Church and politicians would never have become widely known." More here for a deeply reported look at how Abe's murder dragged a global religious movement back under the spotlight. Dubais crypto regulator has issued a cease-and-desist order against cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin, warning that the platform may be operating without proper authorization in the emirate. KuCoin is a global cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2017. It offers spot trading, derivatives, staking and lending services, serving millions of users worldwide. The Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), which oversees crypto activity in Dubai, said on March 5 that the exchange and several related entities may have been offering virtual asset services to residents without the required license. The regulator has instructed the company to immediately stop all unlicensed activities targeting Dubai users. Related: Binance Approved By Abu Dhabi: Will Top Exchange Base Itself In UAE? Dubai regulator flags KuCoins licensing status VARA identified multiple entities linked to KuCoin, including Phoenixfin Pte Ltd, MEK Global Limited, Peken Global Limited, and KuCoin Exchange EU GmbH, as potentially providing services to Dubai residents without approval. The companies operate under the KuCoin brand and advertise through the website KuCoin.com. VARA said the exchange does not hold a license to provide virtual asset services in or from Dubai, making any related activities a breach of the emirates crypto regulations. Any activities related to Virtual Assets advertised or conducted by this company are therefore in breach of the VARA Regulations, the authority said in its statement. Under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2022 and Cabinet Resolution No. 111/2022, all crypto service providers must obtain a license before offering services to users in the jurisdiction. VARA emphasized that any promotions, advertising or solicitations related to KuCoin have not been approved by the regulator. As a result, the company is not permitted to offer, promote or market crypto-related products or services to Dubai residents. A KuCoin spokesperson told TheStreet Roundtable that the exchange operates through different entities that serve users in specific jurisdictions. They also noted that regulators may mention different entities in their notices, but each entity follows the rules that apply in its region. Mathematics' great tale about the man who tamed infinity just got a messy rewrite. In Quanta Magazine , Joseph Howlett reports on newly surfaced letters that suggest Georg Cantor's landmark 1874 paperfamous for proving that some infinities are bigger than otherslifted key results from fellow German mathematician Richard Dedekind without credit. The smoking gun is a long-missing 1873 letter from Dedekind to Cantor, found in a thin blue binder at Germany's University of Halle by mathematician-turned-journalist Demian Goos. In it, Dedekind lays out a proof about algebraic numbers that later appears, nearly unchanged and under Cantor's name alone, in the paper that helped launch what's known as modern set theory. Howlett traces how the friendship between the two men soured and how hints of the misattribution sat largely ignored for decades. "The revelation about Cantor's result doesn't undermine his legacy," writes Howlett. "He was still the first person to prove that there are more real numbers than whole ones, which is what ultimately opened up infinity to study." But it does demand a serious revision of who gets credit for one of math's foundational breakthroughsand it speaks to Cantor's own personal weaknesses. He "was a man who did not easily connect to other people," as mathematician Karin Richter puts it. "It was very, very hard for Cantor." For the full narrative and the stakes for mathematical history, read the full story. An oil depot in southern Tehran erupted in flames late Saturday night, after an attack that state media blamed on the US and Israel, as Iran pressed its retaliatory strikes by directing missiles and drones at Arab states on the Persian Gulf. Tehran residents reported hearing a huge explosion and seeing a giant fireball, the New York Times reports; large columns of flames burned for hours. The attack appeared to be the first in the war against a civil industrial facility, per the AP. Women around the world called Sunday for equal pay, reproductive rights, education, justice, and decision-making jobs while celebrating progress toward female empowerment during events marking International Women's Day. The event is commemorated in different ways and to varying degrees in different places, the AP reports. This year's theme is "Give to Gain," with a focus on fundraising for organizations focused on women's issues and less tangible forms of giving such as teaching peers. Some demonstrators urged governments for guarantees on a series of issue. Sexual abuse also was a focus, with Gisele Pelicot marching in Paris and Virginia Giuffre's family members planning to speak outside the ranch Jeffrey Epstein owned in New Mexico. Berlin: Roughly 20,000 people attended a march, twice what police expected, the news agency dpa reported. Speakers decried violence against women in Germany, as well as gender discrimination. Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of the Iranian supreme leader killed in an allied airstrike , will succeed his father, state media reported Monday. The announcement early Monday was made in a statement from top clerics. The selection of the 56-year-old by the 88-member Assembly of Experts suggests the government wants continuity in the face of ongoing attacks by the US and Israel, New York Times reports, and the statement said he'll carry on his father's legacy. "The name of Khamenei will continue," Ayatollah Hosseinali Eshkevari, a senior cleric, said earlier in a video published in Iranian media, per Reuters . Although Mojtaba Khamenei has never held a government office, he'll have the final word on all state issues, and the AP reports he'll have a central role in deciding war strategy. Iran's powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard will answer to him. He's widely considered a hard-liner like his father, though some analysts have suggested that recent events, including the government's attacks on protesters, might inspire moderation from the next ruler. Khamenei brings full religious credentials as an ayatollah to the position, unlike his father, per the Times. He taught popular Shiite seminary classes. President Trump had demanded approval rights on the selection, a notion that Iran's foreign minister rejected. "If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long," Trump told ABC News on Sunday, per NBC News. He had earlier called Khamenei unacceptable, per the AP. "We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran," Trump said. The change in the top office represents just the second transfer of power since the Islamic Revolution; Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been in charge since 1989. Brian Jackson, elections program manager for the Alaska Division of Elections, holds an SD card containing results from Alaska's Aug. 16, 2022 state primary. The cards and paper ballots from the primary are shipped to state elections headquarters in Juneau after the election. Eaton Corporation (NYSE:ETN) is one of the stocks that should double in 3 years. On March 2, Eaton named David Foster as its new executive vice president and chief financial officer. Foster rejoins the intelligent power management company following a 29-year career with the organization, which previously concluded with his retirement in 2022. He succeeds Olivier Leonetti, who is departing the company on March 13 as part of a planned leadership transition. Before his return, Foster held various roles of increasing responsibility across Eatons finance organization, including assignments in the US and Asia Pacific. His background spans financial planning and analysis, controllership, corporate development, and treasury, as well as mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. In his most recent tenure at the company, he served as the senior vice president of Finance and Planning for the Industrial Sector. Eaton (ETN) Appoints David Foster as EVP and CFO Following 2025 Financial Results Photo by Michael Fousert on Unsplash CEO Paulo Ruiz highlighted Fosters deep understanding of Eatons operations, customers, and markets during a period of unprecedented demand and growth. Foster expressed excitement about participating in Eaton Corporations (NYSE:ETN) next phase as it scales its global power management business. Eaton Corporation (NYSE:ETN) operates as a power management company in the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through Electrical Americas, Electrical Global, Aerospace, Vehicle, and eMobility segments. While we acknowledge the potential of ETN 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 Stocks With Explosive Growth Potential. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. TOKYO, Mar 06 (News On Japan) - A nationwide ranking of Japanese dialect expressions whose usage can be difficult to understand has been released, highlighting regional words with meanings that often surprise people unfamiliar with local speech, including the Yamanashi dialect word "waniwani," which asks the question: would you know what it means? According to a ranking compiled by lifestyle website Seikatsu Guide.com, the word refers to "messing around" or "fooling around." For example, someone might say "waniwani shichoshi," meaning "Dont fool around." Masatoshi Nanba, a news presenter from Tokyo, introduced the ranking during a broadcast, noting how some regional phrases can be confusing even for native Japanese speakers. The list of the five most puzzling dialect expressions included: The No. 1 entry was "jira," used in Yamaguchi Prefecture to mean "selfishness." A typical phrase is "jira o kuru," meaning to behave selfishly. Second place went to "sunkujira" from Kagoshima Prefecture, meaning "a corner." In conversation it may appear in a sentence such as "Dont stay in such a corner." Third place was Yamanashis "waniwani," meaning to fool around. Fourth was "chunchun" from Fukui Prefecture, meaning "hot." Fifth place was "otsukai desu" from Nagano Prefecture, which surprisingly means "good evening." Former Foresight international affairs magazine editor-in-chief Shinsuke Tsutsumi, who is from Kumamoto, explained another dialect phrase from his home region: "ucchokinasai," which means "leave it alone." The expression can be used in a variety of situations. For instance, if someone offers to carry your luggage, replying "ucchokinasai" can mean "Its heavy, but Im fine." It can also be used when advising someone not to intervene with a misbehaving child, essentially meaning "Just leave that kid alone." Nanba noted that linguist Yukari Tanaka, a professor at Nihon Universitys College of Humanities and Sciences, describes dialects as "free regional resources." Using local dialect can highlight a regions unique character and attract attention from outsiders. In Imizu, Toyama Prefecture, officials created promotional posters featuring a local dialect phrase in order to raise awareness of the city, which was formed through municipal mergers. The phrase used in the campaign was "daite yaru," which in the local dialect means "Ill treat you." A sample conversation might go: "Daite yaccha" meaning "Ill treat you," followed by the response "Kinodokuna," meaning "Thank you." Because dialect expressions often spark curiosity and conversation, they can become a powerful and entertaining way for regions to promote themselves. Source: TBS TOKYO, Mar 08 (News On Japan) - Sake brewed aboard the International Space Station returned from orbit and arrived at Kansai International Airport on March 6th, marking a milestone in a Japanese initiative aimed at eventually producing alcohol on the Moon. A container carrying the "space-brewed sake" was delivered from the United States to Kansai Airport on the afternoon of March 6th. The project was launched by a brewery in Yamaguchi Prefecture as part of efforts to develop technology for brewing sake under lunar conditions in the future. In October 2025, brewing equipment and the raw ingredients for sake were transported to the International Space Station, where brewing was conducted inside an experimental module designed to replicate the Moons gravity. Astronauts added water to the brewing device, and after the mixture was automatically stirred over a period of two weeks, approximately 100 milliliters of sake was produced. After undergoing quarantine procedures, the sake will be sent to the Yamaguchi brewery for further research. One bottle will also be offered for sale for 110 million yen, with the proceeds planned to be donated to space development initiatives. Source: YOMIURI TOKYO, Mar 08 (News On Japan) - A day after a woman in her 70s was injured when a cherry tree collapsed at the same park, another tree was found toppled in Kinuta Park in Tokyos Setagaya Ward on March 8th. Around noon on March 8th, authorities received a report that a tree had fallen near the parking lot of Kinuta Park in Setagaya Ward. Park staff who responded to the scene confirmed that a large tree had fallen beside a vehicle. No injuries were reported in connection with the latest incident. The fallen tree, which measured more than 10 meters in height, had toppled over from its base and was lying on the ground. The discovery came just a day after another accident at the park on March 7th, when a cherry tree collapsed and pinned a woman in her 70s beneath it, leaving her with minor injuries. The park management office said it plans to investigate the age of the fallen tree and the cause of the collapse, while also carrying out inspections of other trees in the park. 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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 Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) is included among the 13 Best Defensive Dividend Stocks for 2025. Evercore ISI Downgrades Duke Energy (DUK) to In Line after Recent Share Rally Pixabay/Public Domain On March 5, Evercore ISI downgraded Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) to In Line from Outperform. The firm lowered its price target on the stock to $139 from $143. The firm said it still feels constructive about the companys long-term growth prospects. Duke operates in premium-service state territories, has a sizable pipeline of load growth, and continues to invest heavily in electric infrastructure that qualifies for efficient-recovery mechanisms. Even so, the stock has already moved higher. Shares have gained about 15% since early December. Given that run, the firm said it is comfortable taking a pause. Sean Russo of Ritholtz Wealth Management also discussed Duke Energy in a CNBC report published on February 23. He described the company as one of the largest regulated electric utilities in the US, serving more than 8 million customers across the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest. Russo noted that the management is guiding for annual EPS growth of 5%-7%, and the companys expanding rate base supports a premium valuation. In his view, regulated earnings growing at mid-single-digit rates, combined with a yield of about 3.4% and a higher valuation multiple, keep the stock relevant for investors. He added that Duke has returned to the list of Best Stocks in the Market and is trying to move back toward its previous high. Traders, he said, should wait for a clean breakout supported by strong volume. He also cautioned that the stock had previously failed sharply at similar levels. As he put it, the situation serves as an example of how certain price levels become meaningful to buyers and sellers. Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) is an energy holding company. The business operates through two main segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). While we acknowledge the potential of DUK 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. March 6 (Reuters) - The U.S.-Israel war with Iran, which entered its seventh day on Friday, threatens to disrupt the shipment of vehicles from Asia to the Middle East, a major export market for Asian automakers. Chinese, Indian, South Korean and Japanese automakers export cars worth billions of dollars to the Middle East through the Strait of Hormuz and shipping along the route has ground to a halt over fears of attacks by Tehran. CHINA The Middle East is the second-largest overseas market for China-made vehicles and an increasingly important region for the Asian giant as it looks to offset weak demand at home. Of the 8.32 million cars shipped overseas by Chinese automakers in 2025, 1.39 million, or one-sixth, were to Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, according to the China Passenger Car Association. Major car exporters include Chery Automobile, BYD, SAIC Motor, Changan Automobile and Geely. China joint ventures of Kia, Hyundai Motor and Toyota Motor are also among the top 10 car exporters to the Middle East, according to data from Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute, China's largest supply chain platform. INDIA India exported $8.8 billion worth of cars in 2025, of which 25% went to the Middle East, mainly Saudi Arabia, according to commercially available customs data. Hyundai Motor is most exposed with half its 2025 global shipments of $1.8 billion from India going to countries in the Gulf region. Toyota, too, has a large exposure with about two-thirds, or more than $300 million, of its total India exports of $470 million last year going to the Middle East, according to the data. Maruti Suzuki sends less than 15% of its exports by value to the Gulf region, the data showed. Of its total exports of $3.2 billion in 2025, cars worth $457 million were shipped to the region. Nissan Motor's exposure from India is about $318 million, or 38% of its total exports in 2025, the data showed. SOUTH KOREA South Korea's total car exports by value in 2025 hit a record $72 billion, of which $5.3 billion of vehicles were sent to the Middle East, up 2.8% from 2024, according to the Korea International Trade Association. Hyundai Motor's exports to the Middle East and Africa accounted for 8% of its total wholesale sales in 2025 of 4.14 million units. This adds up to about 317,000 cars that were shipped to the combined region. Kia shipped 8% of its 2025 wholesale sales of 3.1 million units to the Middle East and Africa. JAPAN Toyota exported 320,699 vehicles from Japan to the Middle East in 2025, which was a 5.4% increase over the previous year, according to data published by the company. This made up just over 15% of the company's total exports of over 2 million units last year. Barely one month after Mardi Gras, and were already talking about more parades, as New Orleans celebrates St. Patricks Day. Saturday, March 14, brings the Irish Channel Parade, the oldest of the local parading groups, organized in 1947. Among its founders were brothers Paul Burke, a former city council member and postmaster, and Richard Dick Burke, the longtime Orleans Parish assessor. Burkes son Dick is the current club president, his brother Ronnie is vice president and several other family members are also involved. Parade day begins with mass at noon at St. Marys Assumption Church in the Irish Channel, followed by the parade. On Sunday, March 15, the St. Patricks Day Parade rolls on Metairie Road at 11 a.m. It is organized by the St. Patrick Parade Committee of Jefferson, which was founded in 1970. Johnny Marchese and several friends, who had taken part in the Irish Channel parade that year, decided to form a St. Patricks parade in Jefferson Parish. Thirteen charter members organized the Old Metairie parade the following year. This St. Patricks Day, Tuesday, March 17, the Downtown Irish Club celebrates its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1976 and first parading in 1977, the clubs founders included legendary bar owners Edward Bud Rip Ripoll, Roy Markey Sr. of Markeys Bar, Clem Huerstel of Huerstels, Eddie Griffin of Griffins Final Edition Lounge and Jim Monaghan of Mollys at the Market. This years parade begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Marigny Triangle with tuxedo-clad marchers winding their way through the French Quarter and Central Business District, stopping at several bars along the way. Gen Z graduates are tossing their tassels with six-figure salaries in their eyes. But some wont be making $50,000even if they chased college degrees hailed as AI-proof. While some college majors like liberal arts and performing arts are resulting in rock-bottom salaries, other stable career pathways are handing out the same dismal pay. More from Yahoo Scout Are AI-proof healthcare degrees worth the investment cost? What drives low pay in supposedly recession-resistant careers? Why do pharmacy graduates earn such low starting salaries? How do education majors' salaries compare to national averages? Post-grad pharmacy majors aged 22 to 27 with only a bachelors degree earned just $40,000, the lowest median income of all college concentrations, according to a new Federal Reserve Bank of New York report analyzing 2024 U.S. census data. And the AI proof healthcare degree might not be worth the price tag; pharmacys early-career payout is thousands of dollars lower than the U.S median income of $45,140, according to Census Bureau data. Other Gen Z college graduates are feeling the pinch, earning less than the average American; theology and religion majors made $41,600, social services took home $43,000, performing arts earned just $44,000, and liberal arts received just $45,000 in the years following their bachelors programs. And there are more careers touted to withstand AI layoffs and recessionary impacts that also made the list. Teaching has risen in popularity for its job securityespecially as AI swipes office roles, and companies enforce sweeping cutsyet general education ($45,000) and elementary education ($45,000) were among the worst-paid majors after graduation. Gen Zers who invested four years into a biology undergraduate degree, a STEM pathway positioned to be safe in the tech revolution, only make $45,000 a year. Professions like education and healthcare have been dubbed AI proof Despite potential low pay, healthcare has been heralded as a fast-growing career path safe from both AI disruption and recessionary impactsleading to an influx of interest and job openings within the profession, while other sectors lay off staffers in droves. Healthcare is actually one of the key industries expected to grow amid the U.S.s AI-driven business landscape disruption, according to a 2024 McKinsey report. Home health, doctor, and nursing job postings have hit a combined 162% growth since pre-pandemic, according to a 2025 report from Indeed. Priya Rathod, career expert at Indeed, told Fortune last year that Healthcare is a classic recession-resistant industry because medical care is always in demand. Even Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks said that AI is nowhere near curing cancer, despite optimism from other business leaders that the advanced tech will eradicate all disease. Theres no timeline to remove human workers from the loop in these essential STEM professions. Low on numbers, low on confidence and low on points, Torquay Uniteds season has entered a precarious position after a painful 3-0 defeat at Ebbsfleet United. The Gulls are just about clinging on to a play-off place but there was a blatant lack of belief once United fell behind in the first half, and the day got steadily worse, as Ebbsfleet banged in two more goals and Matt Worthington was shown a straight red card. Uniteds interim boss Neil Warnock was only able to name four substitutes on the bench with Callum Dolan, Jordan Dyer, Jordan Thomas, Cody Cooke and Sam Dreyer among those unavailable due to injury. In that context, Warnock opted for a change in formation and United were solid in the early exchanges, without posing much of a threat as an attacking force. Matt Jay did have a pop from distance that flew wide, but it was slim pickings. Ebbsfleet raised the temperature when Dominic Samuel claims for a penalty were waved away but the home side were soon in front, Samuel taking out his frustration with an angled finish beyond James Hamon. Samuel almost grabbed a second before the interval, firing the rebound wide from a Hamon save. The second period failed to bring a change in pattern for the Gulls, Hamon tipping over a long-ranger on 55 minutes. It was, sadly, a brief stay of execution, as the vastly experienced Kwesi Appiah reacted first to a bobbling ball in the penalty area and lashed past Hamon. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, arguably Uniteds best player since the turn of the year, attempted to galvanise his comrades with a determined run and shot from 20 yards that was only narrowly off target. Unfortunately, a robust challenge from Worthington led to his dismissal and Uniteds race was run. Ebbslfeet poured further salt into a gaping wound with a third ten minutes from time, Marcus Wyllie gobbling up the rebound after an Appiah header had been blocked. There is no masking the fact United are on a horrible run and things need to improve quickly! Residents and staff at a care home in Topsham have completed a week-long indoor rowing challenge, raising more than 500 for charity with help from the local community. Participants at Watermeadow Grange care home set themselves the ambitious goal of rowing a combined 300 miles in seven days to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. By the end of the challenge, the group had raised 520 for the charity. READ NEXT: Safety fears as 1,300 sign Exeter street light petition The event brought together residents, staff and members of the wider community, with local groups stepping in to help the team reach their distance target. As the challenge progressed, enthusiasm and friendly competition grew among participants. However, with the scale of the target becoming clear, staff put out a call for extra support from the Topsham community. The appeal was answered by volunteers from the RNLIs Exmouth branch and members of the Orcombe Sea Swimmers, who visited the care home to help add miles to the collective total. Among those taking part were three residents in their nineties who completed sessions on the rowing machines, covering a combined two miles between them. Tanya Williams, home admissions advisor at Watermeadow Grange, praised their determination. She said: Three incredible female residents, all over 90, smashed their sessions on the rowing machines, covering two miles between them. Their determination, strength and sheer spirit is something special. They are proving that age isnt a barrier, its a badge of honour. One of the participants, 97-year-old resident Joyce Banks, said staying active has always been an important part of her life. I have always been an active person, hill walking, roller skating and country dancing when growing up, so while I can keep active I will, she said. And this was all for a great charity. Watermeadow Grange, located in Topsham near Exeter, is part of the Cinnamon Care Collection group, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Funds raised during the challenge will go towards the work of the British Heart Foundation, which supports research into heart and circulatory diseases and provides support for those affected. Devon County Council has highlighted the role of women across its workforce today on International Womens Day (Sunday, 8 March). The authority said women make up 72 per cent of its workforce and 70 per cent of its Strategic Leadership Team, with the organisation also led by a female chief executive. READ NEXT: Bovey Tracey council allocates 16k in public funds to community groups and youth support Seven of the councils nine directors are women, leading major service areas including adult social care, climate change, transport, finance, and legal and democratic services. Devon County Council said the figures show the significant contribution women make to local public services across Devon. Women make up 72 per cent of Devon County Councils workforce and play a vital role in shaping and delivering essential services that make a difference to the people of Devon. They are leading teams, solving problems, supporting colleagues and bringing insight, resilience and commitment to their work every day. The council said its leadership profile differs from national trends, as, across major organisations in the UK, women hold around 35 per cent of leadership roles, significantly less than at Devon County Council. International Womens Day is marked each year around the world to recognise the achievements of women and highlight progress towards gender equality. This years theme is Give to Gain, which focuses on the impact of supporting others through mentoring, sharing knowledge, resources and advocacy. Devon County Council said the theme reflects the organisations emphasis on collaboration. This years theme highlights how giving support through time, mentoring, resources or advocacy can expand opportunities and have a ripple effect. It aligns with the councils core value of collaboration, recognising that when employees and communities support one another and share knowledge, everyone benefits. The council also highlighted its approach to flexible working, which it said is an important factor in supporting women in the workforce. From their first day of employment, staff can request a range of working patterns including agile working, flexitime, compressed hours and annualised hours. The authority said flexible working can help remove barriers for employees who balance work with caring responsibilities and may also help reduce the gender pay gap. Being flexible by default helps create an environment where employees feel safe, supported and able to progress on merit. It also helps retain and develop talent across the organisation. The council said it will continue to promote flexible working, career development and support for staff as part of its wider commitment to equality and inclusion. Devon County Council continues to build a workplace where women not only thrive, but where their wellbeing and professional growth are recognised as essential to the success of the organisation and the communities it serves. The authority said the high proportion of female staff across its teams shows it remains an employer of choice for women across the county. By combining practical flexibility with a clear focus on inclusion and progression, the council is building a workforce that reflects the communities it serves and a culture in which women can excel. A former Britain's Got Talent contestant from Torrington was delighted to step into the spotlight once more at Crufts 2026 with her first-ever dog. Entering the ring for her Crufts debut alongside miniature smooth-haired dachshund Bella, she was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the show but said that with her 16-month-old pet by her side, the calm quickly returned. The founder of the Teachers Rock Choir auditioned on the BGT stage in 2024 alongside other North Devon teachers and schoolchildren, making it through to the next round with four yeses from the judges, although they did not reach the semi finals. READ MORE: Torrington musician and first-ever dog Bella set to make their Crufts debut Debbies first time at Crufts was another big national stage and with the first dog she had ever owned too. Above: Debbie had not realised initially the previous dog shows she entered had qualified Bella for Crufts. Debbie said: I run lots of big and vast projects, not quite on this scale, but big, south-west projects for young people trying to help support their mental health through transformation, musical experiences. So, my job can be quite stressful on a day-to-day basis and what Bella can bring is this amazing sense of calm and unconditional love to my life. This is way more nerve-wracking than getting in front of a full house at Exeter Cathedral and delivering a singing festival, or singing in front of an audience because you feel responsible, but in a different way. I think probably because I've just never done this before. Debbie and Bella qualified for their first Crufts completely by accident not just once, but twice. The music teacher was unaware the dog show she entered was a Crufts qualifier and was shocked to find out she had booked her ticket to the hallowed green carpet this March. With showing now under their belt, Debbie also revealed they had now taken up mini agility, obedience and scent work training with an ex-police officer as they continue to explore the opportunities available to them. She added: She qualified at her first dog show as a complete novice. I wanted to take her to a show that wasn't mixed breed, but I didn't realise it was a Crufts qualifier and then she got placed. And then her second show, she placed second so we qualified twice. I've got friends that have come here and I've got friends who've been judges at other dog shows. So we know quite a lot about the world but nothing about showing a dog. It's been quite a learning curve and coming here is quite overwhelming. Away from her newfound world of dog showing, Debbie leads the Teachers Rock Choir and delivers music projects at Exeter Cathedral for children looking to get into music. It has seen her standing on the famous BGT stage and recording at Abbey Road Studios, as she looks to inspire school children of all ages and backgrounds to find their musical avenue. Crufts, run by The Kennel Club, is a unique celebration of happy, healthy dogs and of the loving relationship that they enjoy with their owners. Crufts is held from March 5 to 8 at the NEC Birmingham. Viewers can follow all the action from the last day today (Sunday) and highlights on Channel 4 and More4 or for more information visit https://crufts.org.uk Happy Friday, traders. Welcome to our weekly market wrap, where we take a look back at these last five trading days with a focus on the market news, economic data, and headlines that had the most impact on gold prices and other key correlated assetsand may continue to in the future. Heres what you need to know: Gold headed for its first weekly decline in more than a month, even after a sharp Friday rebound tied to a much weaker-than-expected February jobs report. A stronger US Dollar and a spike in oil prices following escalating conflict in the Middle East created major headwinds for gold early in the week. Fridays risk-off move helped gold recover some ground, but not enough to fully erase earlier losses. Markets are now looking ahead to Wednesdays CPI report, which could shape expectations for Fed rate cuts and determine golds next move. February Jobs Miss Big Gold prices are looking at the metals first week-over-week decrease in over a month, despite a sharp rally of more than $60/oz on Friday morning. The underlying factors of golds weak performance over the last five sessions remain mostly unchanged, but markets on Friday morning were unable to ignore an incredibly disappointing February Jobs Report, which saw the headline unemployment rate in the US increase to 4.4% while the number of jobs in the economy decreased by nearly -100K, versus expectations of an anemic +60K increase. Global markets were swallowed up by a major risk-off swing on Friday morning, both just before and following the open of cash markets in the US. That move pushed gold spot prices as high as $5,160/oz, where the yellow metal seems to be finding resistance, while knocking US equity markets lower at the same time. All three major US stock indexes are looking at a loss of -1% or more on the day. Despite Fridays rally, the sharper sell-off that hit gold prices at the front end of the week still has gold poised for a weekly loss of roughly -2%. The Wartime Dollar Dominates The aggressive selling that hit gold on Tuesday was driven by the same underlying macro factors behind its initial spike on Sunday night and Monday morning. As traders and investors further digested the ignition of the US and Israels joint war in Iran, two gold-correlated commodities came to the fore at the precious metals expense: oil, alongside other parts of the energy basket, and the US Dollar. As investors fled to less risky positions, the clear preference was to back the US Dollar in wartime. A significant rise in the US Dollar Index coincided with golds drop on Monday and has held firm across the same intra-week period in which gold prices have been suppressed. Offaly County Council is celebrating a significant national achievement following its success at the LAMA All Ireland Community & Council Awards, where it won the prestigious National Impact Award for Driving STEM in the Midlands together with its partners Laois, Longford and Westmeath County Councils. This highly regarded award recognises a single project that has delivered a profound and lasting positive impact at a national level. The LAMA Awards shine a national spotlight on the very best of local government in action, celebrating strong collaboration between communities and local authorities. They highlight initiatives that demonstrate best practice and have the potential to be replicated nationwide, ensuring that successful local solutions can deliver wider benefits for communities across Ireland. Now in their 20th year, the awards continue to grow in scale and significance. The 2026 ceremony, hosted by Marty Whelan, attracted a record 533 nominations from all 31 local authorities, which were shortlisted to 137 projects across 26 categories. On the night, Cathaoirleach John Leahy proudly represented Offaly in the Parade of Counties at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. Offaly County Council was shortlisted in two major categories: the Local Authority Energy Decarbonisation Award for the Tullamore Decarbonising Zone, and the National Impact Award for Driving STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) in the Midlands. READ NEXT: Celebrating strong women at popular parkrun at Offaly venue The Tullamore Decarbonising Zone (DZ), which received a Highly Commended award, highlights how locally led climate action can deliver meaningful national impact. The initiative showcases Offalys commitment to innovation, sustainability and place-based solutions, serving as a testbed for progressive approaches that support climate action, community engagement and economic resilience. The Driving STEM in the Midlands initiative further underlines Offalys leadership. STEM equips young people with essential skills such as critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving, preparing them for future careers in an evolving job market. Speaking about the win, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council, Eoghan Ryan, said: Recognition for both the Tullamore Decarbonising Zone and Driving STEM in the Midlands firmly positions Offaly as a county at the forefront of innovation and leadership, with projects that extend beyond local boundaries to influence national policy and practice. This reflect how Offaly County Council is leading meaningful change through innovation, sustainability and education. From the Tullamore Decarbonising Zone to inspiring thousands of young people through STEM, we are investing in skills, creativity and opportunity for Offalys future. Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy added: It was a proud moment to see Offaly County Council recognised on a national stage. The Tullamore Decarbonising Zone is a vital project for our county, demonstrating how climate action can be delivered at a local level in a way that supports communities, encourages innovation, and creates a more sustainable future while Driving STEM in the Midlands highlights the power of collaboration between local government, education, industry, and the wider community, and they reflect Offalys commitment to preparing our young people for the challenges and opportunities ahead. READ NEXT: Remarkable team of women at the heart of Tullamore Credit Union's success A longtime conservation advocate warned on Saturday that President Donald Trump's recent park policies will likely take a toll on an innocent party -- Yosemite Park wildlife bears. Recalling a 2021 incident in which a mother bear stayed by her dead cub for hours after it was hit by a car, conservation advocate Beth Pratt wrote for the San Francisco Gate that Trump's new Yosemite Park superintendent, Ray McPadden, has imposed a new policy which makes it likely future incidents like that will occur much more often. 1930 Illustration of John Henry by Eben Given, from commons.wikimedia (Image by picryl.com/media/eben-given-illustration-of-john-henrysteel-driving-man-1930-46ffa4?zoom=true) Details DMCA Almost everywhere, I notice Artificial Intelligence. After A.I.s from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google kept recommending nuclear strikes in war game simulations, Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei said his company would not help the U.S. surveil unwitting civilians or deploy killer drones. In response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said contractors don't get to tell the government how to do its job. Dario Amodei stands by his belief that the decision to kill people must remain a human one. The Peace Corps has started a new department: The Tech Corps. The Tech Corps' volunteers will promote American A.I. abroad at farms, hospitals and schools. (Will anyone help people relate with robots and other living creatures?) San Francisco's school district bypassed its Board (and disregarded students' privacy concerns) to approve a contract with OpenAI. Los Angeles and San Diego school districts have also agreed to surveillance of students. No comprehensive federal or California law governs how K-12 schools may use generative A.I. A recent report showed that at least 41% of the images generated at Elon Musk's Grok chatbot were sexualized images of women. Then (while I need weeks or months to organize a substack and years to write a book), several colleagues now have A.I.s "write" their scientific reports and political essays and poetry translations in no-time at all. I have to admit that the work these A.I.s generate is admirable. Paul Kingsnorth has initiated a Writers Against AI Campaign. To support it, a writer must pledge: #1: I will not use AI in my work as a writer. #2: I will not support writers who use AI in their work. #3: I will support writers, illustrators, editors and others in related fields whose work is entirely human-made. I can agree to #1 and #3. I can't promise about #2-- even when A.I. weakens human brainpower. Plus, every A.I. activity engages the energy-intensive, water-intensive global super-factory that designs computers and LLMs; requires mining, smelting and refining of ores; manufactures chemicals, generates toxic waste from cradle-to-grave; and requires assembly plants, intercontinental shipping, building and deploying access networks, building and deploying data centers, et cetera. A.I. threatens our existence. Faced with A.I.'s profitability, Tech Bros (and users) don't pause, notice consequences or adjust technology use to respect the ecosystems on which life depends. They speed forward with upgrades and corporate protections. WHAT OPTIONS DO WE HAVE FOR THINKING ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE? There's fighting it. I think of John Henry. Born into slavery in 1848, a giant of a man, John Henry worked for the C&O railroad. In 1867 (post slavery), the company delivered a steam-powered machine to drill through Big Bend Mountain near Talcott, West Virginia. Afraid they'd lose their jobs to this machine, John Henry's crewmates challenged him (their strongest worker) to race against the machine. The steel-driving man nearly doubled the amount of rock that the steam drill cut. After winning, John Henry collapsed and died. Taoists advocate for being in concert with reality and other people. I do not know how to be in concert with A.I. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). 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 Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St. Greg Abel is moving into the CEO role at Berkshire Hathaway, marking a major leadership handoff from Warren Buffett. Berkshire Hathaway has resumed share repurchases, adding a fresh capital allocation step to the transition. Abel has committed a multi million dollar personal investment in Berkshire stock, aligning his interests with shareholders. Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) is entering this leadership change with an established track record that many investors already know well. The Class B shares recently closed at $498.98, and over the past 5 years the stock has returned 91.9%, with a 64.3% return over 3 years. Those longer term figures place Abels entry as CEO in the context of past compounding under Buffett. For investors watching this transition, the combination of resumed buybacks and Abels own purchase suggests that Berkshires longstanding focus on shareholder value remains central. A key consideration is how Abel will apply Berkshires traditional capital discipline to new opportunities while keeping the companys broad collection of businesses aligned with long term owners. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Berkshire Hathaway by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Berkshire Hathaway. NYSE:BRK.B 1-Year Stock Price Chart See which insiders are buying and buying and selling Berkshire Hathaway following this latest news. Investor Checklist: Berkshires Leadership Shift Quick Assessment Price vs Analyst Target : At $498.98, BRK.B sits about 1.8% below the US$508.36 analyst price target, which is within the typical 10% band. Simply Wall St Valuation : Simply Wall Sts model suggests Berkshire is trading about 37.6% below its estimated fair value, indicating a sizable valuation gap. Recent Momentum: The 30 day return of roughly 1.8% decline shows shares pausing even as the leadership transition and buybacks unfold. There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Berkshire Hathaway. Head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Berkshire Hathaway's Fair Value. Key Considerations Action continued in the CHF1,500 Main Event at the 2026 WSOP Circuit Liechtenstein inside the Grand Casino Liechtenstein, with Day 1d attracting 379 entries to the festivals flagship tournament. After more than thirteen hours of play, the field was whittled down to 57 players, all of whom bagged up their chips and secured a min-cash heading into Day 2. Leading the way from the penultimate starting flight was Lulei Hu, who finished with 1,162,000, the largest stack seen so far in the tournament. Germanys Semih Retzep also crossed the million chip mark, bagging 1,110,000, while Switzerlands Mathias Muehlebach rounds out the top three with 858,000. Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Lulei Hu Italy 1,162,000 97 2 Semih Retzep Germany 1,110,000 93 3 Mathias Muehlebach Switzerland 858,000 72 4 Marcel Maubach Germany 786,000 66 5 Adrian Liechti Switzerland 655,000 55 6 Samuel Jager Austria 546,000 46 7 Benjamin Hammann France 544,000 45 8 Riccardo Gubser Switzerland 544,000 45 9 Frank Pelster Germany 534,000 45 10 Faris Kanaan Germany 529,000 44 Faris Kanaan The biggest of all five opening flights was action-packed from the get-go. Muehlebach raced to the top of the counts early on by spiking a two-outer on the river to crack his opponents' aces. Later on, Faris Kanaan, who finished just inside the top ten, flopped aces-up and managed to get Andrei Chiriliuc to stack off with just one pair. Just before late registration closed, Fabian Bartuschk scored a double knockout with pocket jacks, and looked poised to bring a decent stack through to Day 2. However, this was not the case. As the bubble approached and the action slowed, the floor staff announced the start of hand-for-hand two away from the money. Louis Peren was first to go when his two Broadway cards remained unimproved. Fabian Bartuschk Then, after over an hour of bubble play, Bartuschk was forced all-in from the big blind for his last few chips. Jonas Heuser called from the small blind and found himself behind with jack-nine to the queen-eight of Bartuschk. The flop and turn were safe for Bartuschk, but a devilish jack on the river earned him the title of bubble boy for Day 1d. Some other notables who will return to the baize for Day 2 include Karlen Aladzjan (483,000), Paul-Adrian Covaciu (360,000), who is the only player to cash twice, and therefore will forfeit his smallest stack for a min-cash. Also joining them is Claudio Di Giacomo (346,000), thanks to a runner-runner straight, and bracelet winner Weiran Pu (220,000). Paul Adrian Covaciu While Day 1d has concluded, Day 1e, the turbo flight, is still underway. With late registration now closed, the final flight added 107 entries, bringing the total field size to 827 entries for the Main Event. All survivors from the opening flights will combine for Day 2 on Sunday, March 8, at 1 p.m., where the official prize pool and payouts will be announced shortly after cards get in the air. The plan for Day 2 is to play down until 24 players remain. Play will resume at Level 15, with 38 minutes remaining on the clock, at blinds of 4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 big blind ante. Remaining CHF1,5000 Main Event Schedule Day Date Time Blind Levels 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 Stay locked into PokerNews for continuing coverage of the CHF1,500 WSOPC Liechtenstein Main Event, as the field combines for the first time. Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Clear to partly cloudy. Low 58F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 58F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Haleon (NYSE:HLN) is one of the most promising stocks under $20. On February 25, Haleon reported financial performance for the full-year 2025, marked by the introduction of its Win as One strategy and an organic revenue growth of 3%. While results in North America were tempered by low consumer confidence and a weak cold and flu season, the company saw strong expansion in its EMEA, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific regions. Total revenue reached 11.03 billion, supported by the Oral Health sector, which outperformed with ~8% organic growth. These results allowed the company to maintain or gain market share in 60% of its business segments. Profitability was driven by aggressive productivity initiatives, including a 26% reduction in SKU complexity and optimized logistics. Despite market challenges, the company continued to reinvest in its future, increasing spending on R&D by 7.7%. For 2026, Haleon (NYSE:HLN) expects organic revenue growth to accelerate to between 3% and 5%, supported by a new operating model designed to increase agility. The company has created a Chief Growth Officer role and restructured into six specific operating units to better capture regional opportunities. Management plans to deliver high single-digit adjusted operating profit growth and has allocated 500 million for share buybacks in the coming year. Haleon (HLN) Reports 3% Organic Growth in 2025 Driven by 'Win as One' Strategy Haleon (NYSE:HLN), together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various consumer healthcare products in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. While we acknowledge the potential of HLN 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 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. PR-Inside.com: 2026-03-08 16:06:11 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 8, 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 The Lagos State Government has again warned actress Sarah Martins against conducting charity cooking activities on public roads, walkways or medians in the state. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the warning came four months after authorities apprehended her for a similar outreach programme in the Admiralty area of Lekki Phase 1. In October 2025, this newspaper reported that officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC/KAI) apprehended the actress for engaging in unauthorised activities on public infrastructure. Although Objective Four of the LAGESC/KAI law on street vending prohibits cooking or selling food on roads and sidewalks, Ms Martins posted a video on her Instagram page on Friday showing herself cooking on a Lagos street. sumptuous delicacies In the videos caption, she said she missed the bond she shared with children on the streets and decided to return. She added that they prepared, together, what she described as sumptuous delicacies during the outreach. I was missing the bond I share with my kids in the street, so I paid them a visit, and we made a sumptuous delicacy together, she wrote. Govt frowns Reacting to Ms Martins return to cooking on the street, the state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said his attention was drawn to the actresss recent activity. Mr Wahab, in a post on his X page on Saturday, stated that the government acknowledged and appreciated her spirit of charity. He added that such an act was not permitted under the state environmental and public order regulations. He emphasised that while charitable initiatives were commendable, they must comply with the states environmental and sanitation laws. He said: Dear Sarah Martins, I hope you are well. My attention has been drawn to your recent activity of cooking and distributing food on the streets of Lagos. While we acknowledge and appreciate the spirit of charity and compassion behind what you are trying to do, carrying out such activities on public roads, walkways or medians is not permitted under Lagos environmental and public order regulations. Cooking or trading on public infrastructure poses safety, sanitation and traffic concerns. You were previously cautioned about this same issue last year due to the understanding of its philanthropic intention and pleas. Proper way Additionally, Mr Wahab urged the actress to refrain from engaging in such acts in the future. He advised Ms Martins to conduct any charitable outreach through proper channels and at approved locations if she wished to continue such activities. I would strongly advise that you desist from carrying out street cooking or similar activities in public spaces in Lagos to avoid apprehension and prosecution. If you wish to continue your charitable outreach, it should be done through proper channels and in approved locations so that your efforts can support vulnerable people without violating existing laws and constituting an environmental nuisance, he said. Mr Wahab reiterated the need for all Lagosians to abide by the state law just as they would in any other well-regulated city. Backstory This newspaper earlier reported that, after her arrest, the actress said Seyi Tinubu, son of Nigerias President Bola Tinubu, gave her N20 million to support her charity initiative. In a video posted on her Instagram page, a woman was seen presenting an envelope said to contain N20 million to Ms Martins. She explained that Mr Tinubu admired the actresss humanitarian efforts and encouraged her to secure a proper shop to ensure public safety and sustain the initiative. She also stated that Mr Tinubu promised to equip the shop with appropriate industrial equipment once the space was secured. However, this newspaper later reported that Mr Tinubu clarified that the funds did not come from his personal account. I have been informed that some friends of mine, moved by compassion, raised funds to support a young woman who had an encounter with the law over an environmental violation. Their intention, I believe, was to help her secure a proper space to run her business, not to undermine the law. I appreciate their kindness and concern, Seyi wrote on his Instagram Story. The Imo-born actress began acting in 2004 but gained recognition for her charitable street cooking initiative. Shes known for movies like The Widows, Dangerous Mad Man, The Gods Are Wise, Family Lies, and Feast of the Spirits, among others. Cast: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Noray Nehita, Olumide Oworu, Ifeanyi Kalu, Lilian Afegbai, Baba Rex Director: Run time: 102 minutes The conflict between a childs need for independence and a parents desire to protect often centres on themes of control, rebellion, and autonomy. When this happens among the rich and powerful, it often ends up with the child, often a girl, finding solace in the arms of the squalour-dwelling young chap. While films that pursue these themes often highlight the tension between a parents stifling nature and their childs growing, rebellious desire for freedom, the emotional impact of such dynamics is often ignored. Plot Set against the familiar backdrop of Nigerias National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mothers Love opens with a nostalgic look at service year life, the drills, the parade grounds, and the lively bustle of Mami Market. Two young Nigerians from vastly different worlds are serving their country, but their paths soon intersect in ways neither could have anticipated. At the centre of the story are Adebisi (Noray Nehita) and Obaro (Olumide Oworu). Adebisi is a privileged young woman from the elite neighbourhood of Banana Island, whose parents are already planning her future abroad. For them, her NYSC is a waste of time. They prefer to ship her off to the United Kingdom to continue the life they have carefully mapped out for her. Obaro, on the other hand, represents a very different Lagos reality. His world is the gritty, slum community of Makoko, a place far removed from the fine dining and luxury lifestyle Adebisi has always known. As feelings begin to develop between them, Adebisi feels choked by her parents overprotectiveness, leading her to flee home. She leaves Banana Island to squat in Makoko with Ese (Lilian Afegbai), Obaros elder sister, where she takes up a teaching job. Obaro, meanwhile, is developing a business pitch for Ese Munch Happy, an app he designed to deliver street food to customers. Adebisis mother (Omotola Jalade Ekeinde) secretly follows her daughter, discovering the visits to Makoko. The events that unfold reveal a deeper emotional layer to Adebisis story, unearthing unresolved grief, the loss of a sibling that has made her parents intensely protective and controlling. As Obaros app starts to attract investors, of course, prodded by Adebisis mother, Mothers Love begins to tilt toward an inevitable romantic resolution. Review While Mothers Love occasionally leans too heavily on familiar cliches, its exploration of class divides, personal grief, and the emotional costs of privilege adds moments of sincerity to what is otherwise a conventional love story. Notably, the film marks a pivotal moment for Omotola, as it is her first time directing a feature film. Like many romantic dramas, the film dwells on familiar themes, such as the money cannot buy happiness cliche, the invisible cages created by wealth and privilege, and the complications that arise when love and ambition collide. These ideas may feel familiar, but they also lend the story a relatable emotional slant. The film also avoids the predictable trope where everyone gravitates toward the rich girl. Instead, Adebisi finds herself isolated among her peers, who mock her or keep their distance. In one of the films more vulnerable moments, she admits to feeling depressed and even suicidal. However, as most Nollywood films are wont to do, Mothers Love glosses over these heavy themes and instead settles for a happily-ever-after. Verdict: 6/10 Turkish President Recep Erdogan spoke with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday, highlighting concerns over the recent escalation following US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Turkiye is closely monitoring the process that began with the attacks on Iran. If the interventions are prolonged, they could cause significant damage to regional and global stability. There are still measures that can be taken to build a dialogue platform, and our peace-focused efforts continue, he said. Mr Erdogan was speaking during a phone call with Mr Starmer, according to an official statement released by the Turkish Communications Directorate. The discussion also covered bilateral relations and broader regional and global issues. According to the statement, Mr Erdogan reaffirmed Turkiyes strong commitment to deepening cooperation with the UK across all sectors, particularly in the defence industry. The Turkish President added that his country would continue taking steps to advance the collaboration. (NAN/AA) The war between the United States and Israel against Iran entered its ninth day and second week today (Sunday). Strikes are intensifying, casualties rising, with the majority of them in Iran. More than 1,300 people have been confirmed dead as a result of continuous strikes. We bring you major updates on the war on its eighth day. Attacks on Gulf states continue despite apology Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait all reported new attacks, a day after Iran issued an apology for previous attacks, and promised to no longer attack except when an attack is launched from the territories first. Two border guards died on Sunday after a barrage of Iranian drones and missiles hit Kuwait. A drone also struck fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport, triggering a major fire. Announcing the impact of the strikes, the Gulf nations Defence Ministry said, The fuel tanks of Kuwait International Airport were attacked by drones in a direct targeting of vital infrastructure. The Kuwaiti interior ministry also said two border guards were martyred while performing their national duty. The military said it had intercepted the hostile missile and drone attacks. Kuwaiti air defences are currently engaging hostile missile and drone attacks, the military said in a post on X. Kuwaits national oil company also announced a precautionary cut to its crude production. Similarly, Qatars defence ministry stated that the country was targeted a day earlier by 10 ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles fired from Iran. It noted the missiles were intercepted, and the debris from the aerial intervention fell on a car in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of a Pakistani driver. Saudi Arabias defence ministry also reported intercepting and destroying 15 drones that entered the kingdoms airspace, including an attempted attack at the diplomatic quarter in Riyadh. Disagreement over Pezeshkians apology As Iran reels under US and Israeli bombardment, cracks have begun to emerge in its leadership. President Masoud Pezeshkians apology to neighbouring Gulf states triggered a mix of reactions between the countrys hardliners and its more pragmatic factions. PREMIUM TIMES reported that in a televised address, Mr Pezeshkian had apologised to neighbouring countries affected by Iranian strikes and urged them not to join US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Mr Trump took credit for the new policy, saying it was only made because of the relentless US and Israeli attack. But Mr Pezeshkains comment triggered a backlash from hardliners in the state. Reuters reports that an Iranian lawmaker and cleric, Hamid Rasai, described Mr Pezeshkians statement as unprofessional, weak and unacceptable Also, a member of the three-person interim leadership council, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, said evidence shows that the geography of some regional countries has openly and covertly been placed at the disposal of the enemy and used for attacks on Iran. He declared that intense attacks on such locations would continue and that this strategy is currently being implemented and the government and other pillars of the system are united on this matter. The temporary three-member leadership council coordinates the operational command of Irans armed forces, including both the regular army and the IRGC. The council is currently exercising powers normally held by the countrys supreme leader in wartime. Iranian hardliners insist that any state used to launch attacks against Iran would be considered a legitimate target. Reuters also said Mr Pezeshkian later repeated his message on social media, omitting the apology. Trump vows to hit Iran harder President Donald Trump, on Saturday, declared that he had no interest in negotiations, even though he had maximum leverage. Mr Trump said negotiations would become irrelevant if all potential leaders in Iran were eliminated and the countrys military was destroyed. He added that the war would only end once Tehran no longer had a functioning military or any remaining leadership. We dont want to come back every five or 10 years and do this We want to pick a president whos not going to lead their country into a war. At some point, I dont think there will be anybody left, maybe to say We surrender, Mr Trump said. The US also appears to have changed its stance on Kurdish rebels, with Mr Trump stating that the country is not looking to the Kurds going in and that we dont want to make the war more complex than it already is. Slain American soldiers returned home On Saturday, the corpse of the six American soldiers killed by Iranian strikes in Kuwait arrived in the US. Mr Trump, as the commander-in-chief of the US military, presided over the arrival ceremony of the slain soldiers. He described their deaths as a very sad day for the Americans. This ceremony is regarded as the dignified transfer. Meanwhile, the US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegeseth, said the US will retaliate for the murder of any American citizen. If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation, and we will kill you, he was quoted as saying in a post by CENTCOM on X. Trump rejects UKs offer to send aircraft carriers Meanwhile, Mr Trump had rejected the UKs offer to send two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. This comes after the UK Ministry of Defence announced that it was preparing an aircraft carrier for possible deployment. The UK said its aircraft were flying over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus to defend British interests. But Mr Trump appears to be displeased with Londons initial hesitation. In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump 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. Thats OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we dont need them any longer, he said. But we will remember, he added. We dont need people who join wars after weve already won. Days earlier, Mr Trump had condemned the UK and Spain for their stances on the war. Spain refused to allow America to use its bases, which Mr Trump said was necessary to eradicate potential attack by an unstable regime. Mr Trump also criticised the UKs deal to give the Chagos Islands, home of the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, back to Mauritius. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had initially said his government does not believe in regime change from the skies. Iran mocks Trumps demand for unconditional surrender Iran, on Saturday, also mocked Mr Trumps call for unconditional surrender. The US president had earlier demanded that the Iranian leadership fully surrender to the US for the war to end. He had also called for the selection of a supreme leader acceptable to the US and Israel, following the death of Ali Khanemei in the joint US-Israel strike first launched on 28 February. 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. However, responding to this, Iranian President, Mr Pezeshkian, labelled the presidents demand a dream that they should take to their grave. Israel targets Irans fuel depot Late Saturday, Israel expanded its military campaign by striking fuel depots close to Tehran. This is the first attack on Irans energy infrastructure since the war began last weekend. According to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the strikes on the fuel depots were part of a broader effort to hit many more targets aimed at destabilising Irans government and creating conditions that could allow for change. BREAKING: Iranian oil depot bombed by the U.S. Now high chances of World W.See More pic.twitter.com/KdkQwDLemx Harrismadeit (@1harrismadeit) March 8, 2026 However, an Iranian leader, Ali Larijani, said the country would continue retaliatory attacks and warned that its enemies would pay the price for targeting the nation. But Mr Trump, responding to this threat, said, I have no idea what hes talking about, who he is. I couldnt care less. International Womens Day (IWD) has again brought renewed calls to tackle inequalities affecting women and girls, with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria urging leaders and communities to translate commitments into concrete steps. In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday to mark the global observance, AHF Nigeria said it is joining the worldwide movement advocating stronger efforts to dismantle barriers to health, equality and opportunity for women and girls. The organisation said it would commemorate the 2026 edition of the event on 9 March across the states where it operates in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Kogi and Nasarawa. According to the group, the activities are aimed at highlighting the need for sustained support and opportunities for women and girls to thrive. Despite decades of progress, women and girls remain disproportionately affected by HIV, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where they account for more than 60 per cent of new infections. Beyond HIV, the organisation noted that challenges such as gender-based violence, limited access to healthcare, restrictions on reproductive rights, income inequality and barriers to education continue to deepen disparities affecting women. It also pointed out that millions of women and girls still lack access to affordable menstrual health products and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, factors it said undermine dignity, mobility and opportunities. Medical training As part of this years activities, AHF Nigeria said it will organise Continuous Medical Education (CME) sessions for health workers in more than 156 healthcare facilities where the organisation provides services across its seven states of operation. The training will focus on the gendered dimensions of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and strategies to better support women, particularly those living in rural communities. The organisation said the initiative is expected to strengthen the capacity of health workers to help women navigate health challenges and improve their wellbeing and livelihoods. The Country Programme Director of AHF Nigeria, Echey Ijezie, said the organisation remains committed to programmes that prioritise women and girls. He emphasised that empowering women contributes to the development and well-being of entire communities. AHF Nigeria places enormous value on women and girls in society. It is the reason our programmes are anchored around impacting women and young girls, he said. Mr Ijezie said the organisation would continue to prioritise issues affecting women while urging leaders, policymakers and communities to match commitments with action. We will continue to prioritise issues that affect women as we call on everyone, leaders, policymakers and communities, to turn their commitments into action to accelerate development for women and young girls, he said. Advocacy for womens wellbeing AHF said it continues to promote policies and programmes that protect and uplift women and girls globally. These efforts include the distribution of free menstrual products, advocacy against gender-based violence and expanding access to HIV services. The organisation said the initiatives are aimed at ensuring that every woman and girl can live a healthy and empowered life. As part of its message for the 2026 observance of IWD, AHF Nigeria urged governments and communities to move beyond promises and support initiatives that improve the lives of women and girls. The organisation said such collective action aligns with its Give to Gain message, which emphasises that when women and girls are given opportunities and support, entire communities benefit. International Womens Day history, significance International Womens Day is observed every year on 8 March to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while also advocating for gender equality and womens rights. The day is recognised globally and is marked by campaigns, events, conferences and advocacy activities that highlight the progress made toward womens empowerment and the challenges that remain. This originated from labour and womens rights movements in the early 20th century in North America and Europe. The first National Womens Day was organised in the United States in 1909 by the Socialist Party of America. In 1910, German activist Clara Zetkin proposed an international day dedicated to womens rights at the International Socialist Womens Conference in Copenhagen. Delegates from 17 countries adopted the proposal. The first official IWD was celebrated in 1911 in countries such as Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, with more than one million people attending rallies to demand womens rights, including the right to vote and better working conditions. The date 8 March became firmly established after women in Russia staged protests in 1917 demanding bread and peace during World War I. The strike eventually contributed to political change and women gaining the right to vote in Russia. The United Nations began celebrating IWD in 1975, the year it was declared International Womens Year. Two years later, the UN General Assembly invited countries to officially observe the day as a global celebration of womens rights and international peace. Today, the day is used worldwide to raise awareness about issues such as gender equality, access to education, economic opportunities, reproductive rights and the fight against violence against women. Despite progress, significant gender gaps remain globally. According to the United Nations, women still have only about 64 per cent of the legal rights that men enjoy worldwide, reflecting persistent inequalities in areas such as employment, safety, property rights and political participation. The war in Iran shows few signs of winding downand with de-escalation looking unlikely in the near term, the conflict risks becoming a protracted one that destabilizes the broader Middle East and weighs on the global economy. As the conflict in Iran closes out its first week, neighboring powers are starting to take stock of what damage the war has already dealt and where it might go from here. The Middle East has partly built its modern reputation on its role as the global oil and gas trades supplier-in-chief. But with tankers unable to navigate dangerous waters and missiles constantly streaking across the skysome targeting crucial energy infrastructurethe effect on the fuel trade is already pronounced. Leaders warn that the longer the war lasts, the worse it will be for the global economy. More from Yahoo Scout How is Iran war disrupting global energy supply chains? How might extended energy disruption affect industrial production costs? Which regions face greatest vulnerability from Qatari gas shortages? What economic impact could prolonged Iranian conflict have? This will bring down the economies of the world, Saad al-Kaabi, Qatars energy minister and CEO of its state-owned energy company, told the Financial Times on Friday. If this war continues for a few weeks, GDP growth around the world will be impacted. Everybodys energy price is going to go higher. Qatar, like all of the major oil and gas exporters along the Persian Gulf, has had to almost entirely halt shipments over the past week. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz that links the Gulf to the rest of the world has been at a standstill as operators fear attacks and insurance companies cancel war coverage. Normally, one-fifth of all globally traded petroleum products and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes through the strait. Qatari exports are a massive part of that mix, especially LNG, with the country, around the size of Connecticut, accounting for around 19% of global LNG supply. Earlier this week, the Ras Laffan LNG export facility in northern Qatar, the largest of its kind in the world, was targeted in an Iranian drone attack, forcing the plant to close down for the first time in its three decades of operation. The extent of the global energy fallout will depend on the closures duration, but the facilitys shuttering already caused gas prices in Europe, one of the biggest importers of Qatari gas, to spike 50% on Monday. We dont yet know the extent of the damage, as it is currently still being assessed. It is not clear yet how long it will take to repair, al-Kaabi told the FT. For Qatar, the war has undermined the countrys hard-fought reputation as a stable and dependable LNG producer in a region where instability has frequently sent energy markets into a frenzy. We are a reliable supplier for our buyers, al-Kaabi told S&P Global in 2020. In its bid to rise as the worlds premier energy producer, Qatar even pulled out of OPEC, the cooperative of major petroleum producers, in 2018. It was the first time a Middle Eastern country had ever done so, and at the time, al-Kaabi said the decision had been taken to strengthen Qatars position as a reliable and trustworthy energy supplier across the globe. Nigerias renewed relationship with France is not a recent foreign policy decision, but rather predates the Bola Tinubu administration, the French Ambassador, Marc Fonbaustier, has stated. The ambassador said this in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, in response to a question on the popular assumption in Nigeria that France was shifting its focus to Nigeria as it grew increasingly unpopular among Francophone African countries in West Africa. Under President Bola Tinubus administration, Nigerias relations with France appear to be deepening. France has been Mr Tinubus top destination since taking office, and some of these trips have been to seek bilateral and multilateral partnerships. In an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the French Ambassador, Marc Fonbaustier, said the improved relations between the two countries date back to the early years of the Fourth Republic. He said the relations started to improve as France expanded its attention from its former colonies to other countries in West Africa. Mr Fonbaustier said that this shift occurred under the administrations of ex-French President Francois Mitterrand and, later, President Jacques Chirac, between the 1990s and 2000s. We have been shifting towards English-speaking countries for a long time. It was in the 90s, when we thought we were not sufficiently present in former British or Dutch colonies and that we needed to be more present, he said. Mr Fonbaustier stated that France began pushing to strengthen its ties with Nigeria after Nigerias return to civilian rule in 2000. He recalled that one of the first high-level visits of Nigerias first democratic president president of the Fourth Republic, Olusegun Obasanjo, was to France. The diplomatic trip opened the door to renewed engagement between the two countries. Nigerias relations with France were once tense and distant. France traditionally focused on its former colonies in West and Central Africa (the Francafrique network). At the same time, Nigeria positioned itself as an independent Anglophone power wary of Frances influence in the region. France began to improve its relationship with Nigeria in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when it found the need for closer cooperation to be strategic to its interests. Over the years, relations grew stronger. France eventually became regarded as one of Nigerias key Western partners, particularly after the rise of the jihadist insurgency in the Lake Chad region. Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari made several official visits to France, including a working visit in 2015 with then French President Francois Hollande to discuss defence, security, trade, and economic relations. About a year later, Mr Hollande made an official visit to Nigeria to attend and support the Second Regional Security Summit hosted by Mr Buhari. In 2021, Mr Buhari was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris for a working lunch, during which both leaders discussed bilateral relations, regional security, and economic cooperation. On this, Mr Fonbaustier said, We have fostered the pace. Its been fostered like this during the term of President Hollande, who came to visit you, and President Buhari made a reciprocal state visit to France. Now, there was the state visit of President Tinubu. What I want to illustrate is that it has a long history. It did not start at all with anything linked to Francophone countries, he stated. The ambassador reiterated that Frances aim remains to expand its presence and relations with all of Africa. Frances relations with AES Frances relations with its former colonies in the Sahel have been strained over the past few years. Its influence deteriorated with the rise of military rule in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, as successive coups undermined the political frameworks that had enabled strong Franco-Sahel cooperation. The military-led governments perceived Frances diplomatic and military presence as a challenge to their sovereignty and a reminder of colonial-era dominance. The states expelled French troops, ending longstanding military cooperation that had been central to Pariss Sahel security strategy. In 2025, the leader of the Burkina Faso Junta referred to France as an imperialist force that the continent must be rid of. He accused French President Macron of insulting all Africans after Mr Macron suggested that some African nations had been ungrateful for French military assistance. He said this remark reveals how France views Africans as less than human. Nigerias relations with junta-led Sahel states Nigerias relations with three junta-led Sahel states Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are also strained. The states have also criticised Nigerias relations with France. The Niger military leader, Abdourahmane Tiani, had earlier accused Nigeria of colluding with France to destabilise the country. He claimed France, with Nigerias knowledge, was allying with militant groups in the Lake Chad region to undermine Nigers security. Nigerian authorities are not unaware of this underhanded move, Mr Tiani had said. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the junta also blamed the Nigerian for an attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline. But Nigeria has denied these claims. The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, described the allegations as baseless and false. After forming the Alliance of Sahel states, the West African nations officially withdrew from the Nigeria-led Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This decision followed months of tension between the countries and the regional bloc. The juntas in all three nations had accused ECOWAS of failing to support them in their fight against terrorism and of imposing sanctions that they claim harmed their populations. They also rejected ECOWAS request to reconsider their decision to leave the bloc. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed shock at its members involvement in the kidnap and eventual death of Francis Igwe, father of Ebonyis former Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that confirmed reports indicate that the partys publicity secretary in the state was involved in the act. The APC Chairman in Ebonyi, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, expressed shock on Saturday when he led a party delegation on a condolence visit to Mr Igwes family in Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo Local Government Area (LGA). Mr Okoro-Emegha said the news of the party executives complicity was so shocking that he could not face the public. The report is unheard of, as I do not have the confidence to face the public since the past two days. Members of the party cannot believe in their entire lives that the party can be associated with such act. We operate as a family to the extent that someone can vouch for another despite our normal party activities, he said. The party chairman insisted that it would support the decision of the state government on the matter, in getting justice for the Igwe family. The governor, as the father of the state and leader of the party, cannot tolerate such evil act, no matter who is involved. We condemn whatever is condemnable, as whatever is evil is evil. All those who heard of the act and did not disclose it among other levels of involvement must receive equal measure of what they deserve, he said. He urged the deputy governor to be consoled because being strong would inspire consolation in those around him. I also urge the family and entire community to be consoled because the deputy governor needs your solace to be strong. The worst thing one can do against God is to take a life that you do not know how it was created, he said. The Palace Secretary of the community, Johnson Aloh, thanked the party for the visit, noting that the palace and community were totally devastated over the incident. Mr Aloh regretted that such an act was perpetuated in Ebonyi when the state had become a model among states and a haven of peace. Truly, it was earth-shaking when we heard that the name of our dear party was soiled by the actions of an individual. We, however, have the discerning spirit to differentiate the act of an individual from that of the party, as we know that the party can never indulge in such an act. We thank you for spearheading this fight and urge you to help in ensuring that bad eggs who want to tarnish the states image are checked, he said. (NAN) The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the government of President Bola Tinubu over the failure to withdraw the patently unlawful mass phone-tapping rules known as Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations, 2019. The lawsuit followed allegations by the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadus phone conversation was intercepted. Mr El-Rufai reportedly claimed, The NSAs call was tapped. They do that to our calls too, and we heard him saying they should arrest me. In the suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/11/26 filed last Friday at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Abuja, SERAP is seeking: a declaration that the failure of the government to withdraw the Interception of Communications Regulations is unlawful and a violation of Nigerias international human rights obligations. SERAP is seeking a declaration that the failure of the government to withdraw the Interception of Communications Regulations constitutes an official endorsement of unlawful mass phone-tapping rules, as the Regulations are patently unlawful, and violate the rule of law, democratic principles, and the right to privacy. SERAP is also seeking an order directing and compelling the Nigerian government to immediately withdraw the Interception of Communications Regulations, and to commence a legislative process to ensure that any interception regulations are in conformity with Nigerias international human rights obligations. In the suit, SERAP is arguing that the Regulations establish a sweeping mass phone-tapping regime that violates Nigerians constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights, including to privacy and freedom of expression. SERAP is also arguing that, Where powers affecting fundamental human rights are exercised in secrecy and concentrated in political authorities without independent supervision, the risks of arbitrariness are substantial. According to SERAP, Surveillance measures that lack strict necessity, proportionality and independent judicial oversight can easily be weaponised against political opponents, journalists, civil society actors and election observers. SERAP is also arguing that, The Regulations also raise serious concerns as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections. Broad and weakly safeguarded interception powers create a real risk of abuse during politically sensitive periods. The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Oluwakemi Oni, Valentina Adegoke and Maryam Mumuni, read in part: Secret surveillance and bulk data collection create a permanent risk of misuse, profiling and abuse, particularly given the formidable technologies available to state authorities. The mere retention or storage of personal data relating to an individuals private life constitutes an interference with this rightwhether or not the data is subsequently accessed or used. In an electoral climate, even the perception that private communications are being monitored can chill political organising, investigative reporting and voter mobilisation. The Regulations grant overly broad and vague powers to intercept communications on grounds such as national security, economic wellbeing, and public emergency, without adequate judicial safeguards, independent oversight, transparency, or effective remedies. Free and fair elections depend on confidential communications, protected journalistic sources and open democratic debate. Any misuse of intercepted data for intimidation, political advantage or disinformation would fundamentally undermine Nigerians right to political participation and electoral integrity. As 2027 approaches, interception powers must be narrowly defined, subject to prior independent judicial authorisation and backed by effective remedies. Without robust safeguards, these Regulations risk threatening privacy rights, freedom of expression and the credibility of Nigerias democratic process. Any restriction on the right to privacy must strictly comply with the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality. The Regulations fail all three tests. The Regulations normalise surveillance as routine state practice and invert the presumption of privacy by criminalising interception except as permitted under the Regulations. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has made it unequivocally clear: mass surveillance programmes based on indiscriminate and blanket collection of personal data are arbitrary per se and can never satisfy the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality. The Nigerian government has a positive obligation to adopt clear laws, effective safeguards, independent oversight mechanisms and accessible remedies to prevent abuse. These duties extend not only to state agencies but also to private actors, including telecommunications providers and technology companies. The Nigerian Communications Commission (the Commission) while purportedly exercising its powers under section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 adopted the Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations, 2019 (The Regulations). Under Regulation 4, broad discretionary interception powers are granted to the National Security Adviser and the State Security Services, with minimal clarity regarding the scope or limits of such discretion. The provision also extends to communications within and outside Nigeria and grants blanket immunity to licensees acting in good faith. Such broad and vaguely defined powers create significant risks of abuse, including political misuse. The inconsistencies in the Regulations create serious legal concerns. Regulation 4(1) limits interception powers to the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the State Security Services (SSS), and Regulation 12(1) reiterates this restriction. However, Regulation 23 on Interpretation expands the category of authorised agencies to include additional bodies such as the Nigeria Police Force, National Intelligence Agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and any other agency the Commission may designate. This creates ambiguity and undermines legal certainty. Nigerians cannot reasonably know which authorities are empowered to intercept their communications, making the Regulations unpredictable and prone to arbitrary application and abuse. By delegating authority to the Commission to expand the list at its discretion, Regulation 23 effectively grants unfettered administrative power, contrary to constitutional guarantees of privacy under Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution and Nigerias binding international human rights obligations. Such regulatory ambiguity threatens the rule of law, weakens accountability mechanisms, and increases the risk of abuse, particularly in politically sensitive contexts or during elections. Clear, narrowly defined statutory limits are essential wherever state authorities are empowered to intrude upon private communications. Regulation 8 is particularly troubling, as it permits interception without a warrant in situations involving consent, threats to life, or actions in the ordinary course of business. These grounds are overly broad and clearly susceptible to abuse. Even where warrants are required, applications are made ex parte and without adversarial safeguards. Grounds such as national security and economic wellbeing are insufficiently defined, undermining the principles of legality and foreseeability. The Regulations also fail to require notification of individuals who have been subjected to surveillance, either during or after interception. Without notification, the ability of individuals to challenge unlawful surveillance is severely undermined. Private communications form part of individuals intimate sphere and personal development. In the digital age, protecting these rights requires exceptional vigilance. The Regulations supposedly establish under Regulation 2 a legal and regulatory framework for the lawful interception of communications in Nigeria. Under Regulation 6, intercepted communications may be retained for the duration of an investigation and archived for up to three years. There is no clarity on conditions governing storage, destruction, and oversight of retained data. Regulation 9 compels disclosure of encryption keys and access mechanisms by licensees and private persons. This provision weakens cybersecurity for everyone and fails to provide safeguards for journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders whose communications require heightened protection. Regulations 10 and 11 require licensees to install interception equipment and prohibit services without interception capacity. These provisions effectively discourage privacy-enhancing technologies and undermine secure communications, thereby chilling freedom of privacy, expression and association. Emergency interception powers under Regulation 12 allow warrantless surveillance on broad grounds, including national security and organised crime, without prior judicial authorisation. Vague national security grounds violate the right to privacy. Regulations 13 to 15 grant extensive powers of entry, seizure, and execution without establishing an independent review mechanism. Likewise, Regulation 19 limits reporting to the Attorney General of the Federation, a political appointee, without independent parliamentary or judicial oversight. While SERAP acknowledges the governments responsibility to address national security and organised crime, such objectives must be pursued within constitutional and international human rights limits. The Regulations are neither necessary in a democratic society nor proportionate. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. Kolawole Oluwadare SERAP Deputy Director 8/03/2026 The Wife of the Enugu State Governor, Nkechinyere Mbah, has reaffirmed her commitment to promoting the well-being, protection and empowerment of women and girls in the state. Mrs Mbah made the commitment during a medical outreach held at Okpara Square in Enugu to commemorate the 2026 International Womens Day (IWD). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IWD is celebrated worldwide on 8 March to recognise the role of women in society and to draw attention to issues affecting their rights and opportunities. The 2026 celebration is themed Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls, while the global campaign theme is Give to Gain. Call to conscience, responsibility and collective action Speaking at the event on Saturday in Enugu, Mrs Mbah said the theme served as a call to conscience, responsibility, and collective action to advance the rights and welfare of women and girls. Mrs Mbah, represented by the Wife of the Enugu Speaker, Chinyere Ugwu, noted that women and girls across the world still faced discrimination, violence and exclusion because of their gender. According to her, many women are still denied access to quality education, healthcare, equal opportunities and a safe environment to thrive. She reaffirmed her commitment to championing initiatives that promote the welfare and empowerment of women and girls through advocacy for girl-child education, improved maternal health services, campaigns against gender-based violence and economic empowerment programmes. Yet, we know that when women are empowered, communities are strengthened, and when women and girls are protected, our future becomes more secure, she said. She described women in Enugu State as courageous and resilient, noting that they played critical roles as farmers, teachers, healthcare workers, entrepreneurs and public servants. Our women are industrious, and they deserve a state that protects their rights, upholds justice and creates space for their voices to be heard, she added. The governors wife stressed that protecting womens rights meant ensuring that every girl child had access to education, quality healthcare and opportunities to achieve their dreams. She also called for an end to child marriage, trafficking, harmful traditional practices and all forms of violence against women. Protection for gender-based violence survivors On justice, Mrs Mbah said survivors of gender-based violence must be believed, protected and supported, while institutions and law enforcement agencies must be responsive to womens realities. She urged participants at the medical outreach to commit themselves to defending the rights of women and girls and taking practical actions in their homes, workplaces and communities to make life safer and better for them. Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Equity Watch Initiative, Chimezie Atama, emphasised the importance of personal growth, goal-setting, and self-care for women. Ms Atama, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, described IWD as a global movement that celebrates the progress of women, while calling for greater efforts toward gender equality. She said the Give to Gain campaign encouraged investment in women through mentorship, resources and opportunities, noting that when women thrive, communities and societies benefit. Ms Atama also urged women to identify their personal values, set clear goals and prioritise self-care to achieve leadership and impact. Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to Mrs Mbah on Special Duties, Chidinma Egeonu, said women leaders from the states 17 local government areas were empowered during the event. Ms Egeonu explained that the empowerment initiative was designed to encourage the women leaders who serve as grassroots mobilisers across the state. Her Excellency decided to empower them today so that they will be encouraged to do more for the state and for women in their various communities, she said. In her remarks, the Managing Director of the Custos Care Foundation, Egodi Igwe, said the foundation organised a free medical outreach for women to empower them medically. Ms Igwe explained that the initiative aimed to improve womens health and ensure that those who attended the programme received free medical consultations and treatment. NAN also reports that the event attracted women leaders, community groups and stakeholders from across the state who gathered to celebrate womens achievements and advocate for greater gender equality. Shortly after Muslims broke their fast last Wednesday in Ngoshe, a rural community in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, gunfire shattered the quiet evening. Within hours, suspected Boko Haram insurgents had overrun a military base, killed soldiers and community leaders, and abducted scores of women and childrentriggering another humanitarian crisis in Nigerias conflict-scarred North-east. By morning, hundreds of residents had fled into neighbouring Pulka, carrying with them the latest scars of a conflict that has haunted the region for more than a decade. But the Ngoshe assault is not an isolated incident. Across northern Nigeria, a series of attacks since the beginning of Ramadan has left dozens of people dead, displaced thousands of residents and renewed fears that terrorists and bandits may be escalating violence during the Muslim holy month. At least six major attacks targeting soldiers and rural communities have been recorded in northern Nigeria since the start of Ramadan, according to reports compiled from local authorities and media accounts. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the Nigerian Army on Saturday buried the soldiers killed in recent attacks by terrorists in Borno State. The army did not state the exact number of soldiers buried, but they are estimated to be in the dozens. Apart from the attack in Ngoshe, the terrorists also attacked military bases in Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok late on Thursday and early Friday. The Ngoshe Attack According to reports by Daily Trust, The PUNCH, and local officials in Borno State, insurgents launched a coordinated attack on Ngoshe late Wednesday night, first targeting a military base of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion before storming the town and an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp. Security sources said the attackers arrived in large numbers and overwhelmed troops stationed at the base. Nine soldiers were later confirmed dead, while several armoured vehicles and military equipment were destroyed during the assault. After dislodging the troops, the insurgents moved into the community, burning houses and abducting residents, particularly women and children. Local officials say more than 100 people are still missing, although some community leaders believe the number could be higher. Among those killed during the raid were the chief imam of the town and several community elders. Thousands of residents have since fled to neighbouring Pulka town, where many are now sleeping in classrooms, school compounds and open spaces while awaiting humanitarian assistance. You will see a mother crying and searching for her children, or children looking for their parents, a resident told journalists after fleeing the attack. Pattern of renewed insurgent assaults The Ngoshe attack fits into a broader pattern of renewed insurgent assaults on military formations and rural communities in Nigerias North-east in recent months. Data compiled from security reports shows that several attacks targeting soldiers and civilians have occurred in Borno State since the beginning of the year. On 1 March, Boko Haram fighters attacked a forward operating base in Mayanti in Bama Local Government Area, killing the base commander, Major U.I. Mairiga, alongside three soldiers and a civilian hunter. Earlier, on 6 February, four soldiers were killed in an ambush near Auno along the MaiduguriDamaturu highway when troops travelling to reinforce colleagues came under attack. On 5 January, nine soldiers died after their convoy struck a landmine near Bindundul village in Mobbar Local Government Area before coming under heavy gunfire. Another attack on 28 January in Damasak reportedly left seven soldiers dead, including a commanding officer. Such repeated assaults on military formations may indicate attempts by insurgent groups to weaken troop presence in strategic locations across the region. Security experts say attacks on isolated military formations are a long-standing tactic used by insurgent groups operating in the Lake Chad region. By targeting smaller bases and forward operating posts, militants are often able to seize weapons, destroy equipment and temporarily disrupt security operations in surrounding communities. Umara Ibrahim, a professor of International Relations and Strategic Studies at the University of Maiduguri, has argued that attacks on resettling communities may also be intended to undermine government efforts to return displaced residents to their homes. According to Mr Ibrahim, the return of civilians to previously abandoned towns can restrict insurgents freedom of movement and make their activities easier to monitor. Despite more than a decade of military operations against Boko Haram and its splinter faction, ISWAP, attacks on remote communities and military bases continue to challenge security gains in the North-east. Analysts warn that unless intelligence gathering and rapid-response capabilities improve, such assaults may continue to threaten communities attempting to rebuild their lives after years of conflict. Military response Military sources say the Nigerian Armed Forces responded to the Ngoshe attack with airstrikes targeting fleeing insurgents. According to security reports, surveillance aircraft tracked the militants along known escape routes before the Nigerian Air Force launched precision strikes that reportedly killed more than 50 fighters. Despite the counterattack, many residents remain unaccounted for. Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District in the Senate, condemned the attack and called for stronger military operations in the Sambisa Forest and Mandara Mountains. The military base in the community was dislodged and major equipment destroyed, Mr Ndume said while reacting to the incident. Unfortunately, soldiers, the chief imam of Ngoshe and some elders were among those killed during the attack. The senator added that authorities were working with the Borno State Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials for displaced residents now sheltering in Pulka. Ramadan attacks across the North The violence in Ngoshe is part of a wider surge of attacks across northern Nigeria since the start of Ramadan. Ramadan is an Islamic holy month where Muslims fast from dawn to dusk by abstaining from food and water, as well as from all things considered immoral. In Kebbi State, at least 34 people were killed on the first day of Ramadan in several communities in Arewa Local Government Area. A week later, gunmen attacked a mosque in Dadin Kowa in Maiyama Local Government Area of the state, killing five worshippers during a Quranic Tafsir session. In Zamfara State, about 50 residents were reportedly killed during an overnight raid on villages in Anka Local Government Area. Similar attacks have also been recorded in Adamawa, Niger and Kaduna states, where gunmen have raided communities, killed residents and abducted worshippers during nighttime assaults. Communities being rebuilt are displaced again The latest attack has also disrupted fragile resettlement efforts in parts of Borno State. In recent months, some refugees who fled to neighbouring Cameroon during the height of the insurgency had begun returning to communities in Gwoza and surrounding areas. But the Ngoshe raid has forced many families to flee once again. Residents say the town is now largely deserted, with thousands seeking refuge in Pulka and nearby communities. Humanitarian conditions in the area are worsening as displaced families struggle with limited shelter, food, and basic supplies. Community groups have appealed for urgent assistance for the victims. The Gwoza Youth Forum called on humanitarian organisations and government agencies to provide food, clothing, and essential household items to displaced families now sheltering in Pulka. For many residents gathered there, however, the greatest concern remains the fate of those taken away during the attack. In Pulka, where displaced families now sleep in classrooms and open fields, many residents say the attack did not end when the gunfire stopped. Until the missing are found, the night Ngoshe came under siege will remain unfinished. Clerics condemn violence during holy month Islamic clerics have condemned the wave of violence, noting that the killings contradict the spiritual significance of Ramadan. Ibrahim Siraj, an Islamic scholar and lecturer at Bayero University Kano, said Islam strongly condemns the taking of innocent lives. Whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein forever, he said, quoting from the Quran. Ramadan is a sacred period meant for reflection and self-restraint. To carry out violence during this time shows complete disregard for its sanctity. Another cleric, Halliru Maraya, said many of the attackers act outside the principles of the faith they claim to represent. These criminals are not guided by Islamic teachings, he said. They simply commit atrocities and attempt to justify them in the name of religion. Ghana has asked the UN to investigate the missile attacks against its peacekeeping battalion in Lebanon. On Friday, the headquarters of Ghanas UN peacekeeping battalion in Lebanon was struck by two missile strikes, leaving two soldiers critically injured. The incident comes after Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East conflict on Monday when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel, expanding the US/Israel-war fronts. Since then, Israel and Irans Lebanese proxy Hezbollah have continuously exchanged strikes in a war that is rapidly expanding across the region. Following the incident, the Ghana Armed Forces stated that two soldiers are critically injured, while one other has been traumatised. The Officers Mess facility also got hit and was completely burnt down. Ghanaian soldiers are deployed in Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The battalion operates mainly in southern Lebanon, monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Ghana has been contributing troops to this UN peacekeeping mission since 1978, making it one of the longest-serving contributors. Ghana did not identify who fired the missiles. However, it protested the attack on the UN headquarters in New York. The country insisted on an immediate, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack. Ghana strongly condemns this attack and has further demanded that those responsible be identified and held accountable, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. The attack constitutes a grave violation of international law, amounts to a war crime and affronts the protections afforded to United Nations peacekeeping personnel. The Government of Ghana has further urged the United Nations to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of members of the Ghanaian contingent serving with UNIFIL, as well as all personnel serving under the Mission who, at great personal risk, make daily sacrifices in the service of humanity, it stated. Meanwhile, 217 people have been killed in Lebanon due to continued missile strikes into different cities and residential areas. An additional 798 people have been wounded and an estimated 95,000 displaced, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Residents of the Kungaboku community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed for a police post, permanent deployment of security personnel, and other infrastructure following violent attacks by suspected bandits. The appeals were made at an expanded residents meeting presided over by the community head, Ishaya Jagaba, and at a Kungaboku Farmers Association meeting chaired by a retired Captain, Wale Adebayo. Kungaboku, a predominantly farming community with hundreds of livestock, poultry, and fish farmers, is located near Byazhin, an extension of Kubwa in the Bwari Area Council. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that suspected bandits stormed the community on Thursday night, abducting a retired military officer, Bankole Ganiyu, and three children. Mr Ganiyus wife, a police officer, and two other children in the house during the attack, however, managed to escape unharmed. During the operation, which reportedly lasted between 11 p.m. and midnight, the bandits also attacked a farm settlement, killed a vigilante member on duty and abducted three workers, while six others escaped. In a cheering development, the seven abductees were among the 19 kidnapped victims rescued on Saturday by troops of the 7 Guards Battalion, Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army, working in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and members of a local vigilante group. The victims were reportedly rescued during a coordinated search and rescue operation conducted around Gidan Dogo in the Bwari Area Council. NAN also recalled that in October 2025, Ifeanyi Ogbu, a veterinary doctor and former chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, FCT Chapter, was killed in Kungaboku by suspected kidnappers who whisked away his three children from his home. At the expanded meeting, the residents noted that, given the level of economic activity in the community and the presence of large, modernised farm establishments, Kungaboku deserved a police post with permanent deployment of security personnel. They also underscored the need to equip the existing vigilante group in the community, incentivise the members and work in synergy with surrounding communities to curtail attacks. The residents said they were ready to provide land and basic infrastructure for the police post within the community. They appealed to the FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Miller Dantawaye, to promptly approve and provide the modalities for the setting up of the police post. In the interim, they urged the CP to approve a regular police patrol within the community and its surroundings to deter attacks and restore residents confidence. Zephaniah Moses, a former youth leader in the community who spoke on behalf of the village head, lamented that, following the attacks, many residents had fled their homes and farmhouses for safer havens and urged the CP to take prompt action. He also appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to address the infrastructure deficit in the community, particularly the access road and the primary health centre, which are in deplorable states. Mr Adebayo, chairman of the farmers association and a resident for over a decade, said Kungaboku used to be peaceful and safe until the recent developments. He said the communitys peace and safety attracted many high-profile individuals to establish farm settlements and even live there. Narrating the latest attacks, Mr Adebayo explained that shortly after vigilante members on duty left the area near Mr Ganiyus house, kidnappers struck, abducted him and three children. He said that after receiving a distress call from neighbours, he joined the men on duty and contacted the police for deployment to the community. Mr Adebayo added that while they were outside, another distress message appeared on the farmers association WhatsApp platform, reporting that a members farm was under attack. He said they quickly moved to the farm but discovered the attackers had already finished their operation before the police patrol team arrived. The retired captain stressed that with police presence in the community, the response would have been faster, and the attacks might have been repelled with vigilante support. Narrating the ordeal, the farm owner, Nnamchi Ephraim, said the attackers came in large numbers. He said the attackers, after gaining access to the premises, opened fire on the armed security personnel. Mr Ephraim, a lawyer, said it was heartbreaking because the victim had assumed work at the farm that very night. He said nine workers were on duty that night; three were abducted, while some hid in the ceiling and others scaled the fence and fled into nearby bushes. He commended one of the abducted workers who insisted there were no other workers on the farm, even when the attackers threatened to kill them. Mr Ephraim said the attackers broke into a room and opened fire into the ceiling, but fortunately, it was not the room where some workers were hiding. He said when the vigilante group and police patrol team arrived, the escaped workers returned and were taken to the hospital, while the security mans corpse was deposited in the morgue. The lawyer said that after the incident, none of the workers was willing to stay overnight at the farm; they only came to feed the birds and livestock before leaving. He urged prompt intervention to secure the community, protect workers, and safeguard his multi-million-naira investment and those of other farm owners. Another farm owner, Michael Ifesemen, a Merchant Navy officer, underscored the need for farmers operating in the community to demonstrate corporate social responsibility. He noted, however, that relevant government institutions must create an enabling environment for farmers to effectively fulfil such responsibilities. Mr Ifesemen also stressed the importance of cooperation and proactive measures among farmers, residents, and indigenes to ensure the community remains safe. A leader of the police patrol team stationed at the community after the attack assured the safe return of the kidnapped persons. The officer, simply identified as CSP Adache, advised residents to make available useful information that would assist the police in fighting crimes and protecting the community. READ ALSO: Nigerian Army buries soldiers killed in Borno terror attacks Meanwhile, the residents have stressed that establishing a police post and strengthening local vigilante operations would significantly improve response time to security threats and restore confidence among farmers and other inhabitants. They also urged the FCT administration to address critical infrastructure gaps, particularly the deplorable access road and the primary health centre, noting that improved facilities would enhance security, economic activities, and the general well-being of residents. The community maintained that with coordinated support from security agencies, government authorities and neighbouring communities, Kungaboku could reclaim its reputation as a peaceful hub for thriving agricultural investments and safe residential living. (NAN) The police have confirmed that Anthony Placid has been appointed as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO). According to a statement by the outgoing spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, the new FPRO was appointed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Placid, a deputy commissioner of police (DCP), was appointed to the role after Mr Hundeyin, an assistant commissioner of police (ACP), was asked to vacate the position. Mr Hundeyin was removed from office barely six months after he was appointed by the former IGP, Kayode Egbetokun. Mr Hundeyin was a CSP at the time of his appointment, but he was later promoted to ACP. This newspaper also reported that a new police unit, New Media Office, has also been established and Ali Giwa, a chief superintendent of police (CSP), has been appointed to head the unit. Mr Giwa will take charge of the Forces social media activities and campaigns. About the new FPRO Mr Placid, according to the statement, is a seasoned officer with experience spanning administration, operations, intelligence, training and international peacekeeping. Born on 2 December 1970 in Uyo, Mr Placid hails from Mbiokporo Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Uyo and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos. He also studied Law at the National Open University of Nigeria. Mr Placid joined the police as a cadet assistant superintendent of police (ASP) at the Nigeria Police Academy in 1996 and was commissioned in August 1998. He has attended several professional and international courses, including the United Nations Peace Operations Specialised Training (POST), with certifications in police studies, military studies, gender awareness, international humanitarian law, human rights and civilian protection. He also completed the UNITAR Senior Leadership and Peacebuilding course in Kenya. Over the years, Mr Placid has served in various operational and administrative roles within and outside Nigeria. He had served as the spokesperson for Adamawa police command and at the Police Staff College, Jos, Plateau State. He was also the Chief of Training for the African Union Mission in Sudan; and Head of Training and Development for the United Nations Mission in Darfur. Mr Placid has also served as Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in several divisions including Federal Housing Calabar, Bakassi, Uruan and Gembu; Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Robbery Unit in Kaduna State; African Union Election Security Adviser; and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) in Akwa Ibom and Kogi states. READ ALSO: Police arrest lab technician running illegal blood bank in hair salon He was also the assistant commissioner of police in charge of the Intelligence Department in Abia State and deputy in charge of Administration and Finance at Zone 3 Headquarters in Yola. Mr Placid is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a Commonwealth Human Rights Trainer as well as an International Committee of the Red Cross trainer on International Humanitarian Law. He is a graduate of the Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, where he was inducted as a Member of the National Institute (mni) on 13 December 2025 before his redeployment to Cross River State. The new police spokesperson can be reached via his line 07031179186. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says it has reserved 40 per cent of its positions for women across all structures to reaffirm its commitment to gender inclusion and leadership participation. This was contained in a statement by the partys National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, to commemorate International Womens Day (IWD), issued in Abuja on Sunday. Mr Abdullahi said the ADC recognised women as partners in nation-building, noting that across Nigeria, women shoulder enormous responsibilities within homes, communities, and workplaces. According to him, any political movement genuinely committed to national progress must recognise, empower, and harness the strength, resilience, and leadership potential of women. He stated that the composition of the partys National Working Committee (NWC) reflects a deliberate commitment to ensuring women are not pushed to political margins. This is because we are the p political party in Nigeria whose constitution reserves 40 per cent of all party positions, at every level, for women, Mr Abdullahi stated. He reaffirmed the partys commitment to womens inclusion in politics, insisting that women must move from the margins to the centre of leadership. Mr Abdullahi noted that Nigerian women carry a disproportionate share of the nations social and economic responsibilities but remain significantly underrepresented in key national institutions. He maintained that empowering women politically and economically remains essential to strengthening Nigerias democracy and ensuring inclusive governance for sustainable national development. As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark International Womens Day, the ADC celebrates all Nigerian women, whose labour and leadership sustain the nation. From mothers raising communities to entrepreneurs powering markets and teachers educating children, Nigerian women carry a disproportionate share of the nations burdens. Yet when critical decisions about Nigerias future are taken, women remain significantly underrepresented in positions of leadership across several national institutions, the spokesman noted. According to him, the ADC is determined to change the narrative by ensuring women are fully integrated into the partys leadership structure. In the ADC, women are leaders. They are part of the structures that guide the party and shape its decisions, Mr Abdullahi added. (NAN) Amazon founder Jeff Bezos once had what he considered a "brilliant" idea to save the company's early productivity. It turns out an employee had a much better one. Speaking at the Academy of Achievement Summit in 2001, Bezos looked back at 1995, when Amazon was operating out of a 2,000-square-foot basement warehouse in Seattle. There were 10 employees. The ceilings were low. The floor was concrete. By day, the team handled programming and customer emails. By afternoon and into the night, they packed books on their hands and knees. When the company launched, demand overwhelmed them. "Literally in the first 30 days we had orders from all 50 states and 45 different countries and we were woefully unprepared from an operational point of view to handle that kind of volume," Bezos said. The orders kept coming. The team kept kneeling. One night, exhausted, Bezos turned to the person next to him. "I remember just to show you how stupid I can be," he said. "My only defense is that it was late." He then described what he told the employee. "This packing is killing me you know my back hurts this is killing my knees on this hard cement floor," Bezos said. Trending: Most founders obsess over the wrong hires. See the 5 startup roles that actually determine whether a company scales or stalls. Then came what he called his "brilliant insight." "You know what we need. This is my brilliant insight," he said. "We need knee pads." He was serious. The reaction was immediate. "This person looked at me like I was the stupidest person they'd ever seen," Bezos said. The employee answered with a simpler idea. "What we need is packing tables." Bezos said the shift was immediate. "I thought that was the smartest idea I'd ever heard," he said. "The next day we got packing tables and I think we doubled our productivity." The fix was not padding the pain. It was removing the problem. Looking back, Bezos said that chaotic early stretch shaped Amazon's culture. "That early stage of Amazon.com, where we were so unprepared, is probably one of the luckiest things that ever happened to us because it formed a culture of customer service in every department of the company," he said. He added that everyone packed orders. No one was insulated from the work. "Every single person in the company had to work with our hands so close to the customers, making sure those orders went out. That really set up a culture that served us well. And that is our goal to be Earth's most customer-centric company." One person has died and six others sustained injuries in a road crash involving a commercial bus and an articulated truck along the OworonsokiApapa Expressway in Lagos early Sunday. The crash occurred at the New Castle Bus Stop inward Gbagada, according to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). In a statement on Sunday, LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq said the accident involved a Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number LSD 654 XY. Mr Taofiq said the bus reportedly veered off course and rammed into a roadside culvert, causing a female passenger to be forcefully ejected onto the expressway. The impact forcefully ejected a female passenger onto the expressway, while six others sustained serious injuries, including multiple fractures, he said. He added that the woman was subsequently crushed by an oncoming articulated truck whose driver could not avoid hitting her, resulting in her immediate death. According to the LASTMA spokesperson, six other occupants of the bus, including the driver, sustained serious injuries in the crash, while the truck driver fled the scene. Mr Taofiq said LASTMA officials immediately activated emergency traffic management protocols and temporarily cordoned off the expressway to enable the safe evacuation of the victims and removal of the wreckage. Personnel from the Nigeria Police Forces Pedro Police Division were deployed to maintain order and support emergency operations. Officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service evacuated the injured victims, including the bus driver, to a nearby hospital for treatment. The remains of the deceased were later removed by personnel of the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit. Following the successful evacuation, LASTMA operatives cleared the corridor and restored normal traffic flow, Mr Taofiq said. The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured passengers a quick recovery. Crashes The latest accident adds to a series of fatal road crashes recorded in Lagos in recent months. On New Years Day, two people were killed and at least six others injured in separate crashes across Lagos, including a fatal collision between a Volkswagen commercial bus and a Toyota Sienna vehicle at Iyana Itire inward Oshodi, according to LASTMA. Another incident that day occurred along the Ibeju Bridge inward Eleko on the LekkiAjah Expressway when a DAF tanker collided with an Opel Zafira car, leaving two persons critically injured. Similarly, four people were injured in another crash involving a Volkswagen commercial bus and a Toyota Corolla at Owode Elede inward Owode-Onirin on the Ikorodu Road corridor. Earlier in January, six worshippers were killed when a truck loaded with sharp sand rammed into a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God along Hospital Road in Epe shortly after an evening service. Other fatal crashes have also been recorded along major highways, including the LekkiEpe Expressway and the LagosIbadan Expressway, where collisions involving heavy-duty trucks have resulted in multiple deaths. Road safety authorities say excessive speeding, poor vehicle maintenance and reckless driving remain major causes of accidents across major transport corridors in Lagos. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), on Sunday, called for more women representation in leadership political positions. They made the call in separate statements shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday to commemorate the 2026 International Womens Day. The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, noted Nigerias low level of womens representation. In political and decision-making spaces, inclusive governance cannot be achieved without the meaningful participation of women, he wore in the statement. Since 2025, there has been a clamour for more womens representation in the political sector. One of such is the Special Seats Bill, which seeks to reserve additional seats exclusively for women in the National and State Assemblies. Despite Nigeria having a population of over 104 million women, their presence in governance remains extremely limited. Only 21 women serve in the National Assembly four senators and 17 members of the House of Representatives while only 48 of 991 state lawmakers are women, hence, the call for more representation. Also, Mr Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged Nigerians to advance and invest in women because it is a constitutional imperative and a key driver of sustainable development. According to him, investing in women in Nigeria would create a stronger and more equitable society. He also pushed for the implementation of laws and policies designed to protect women and girls and provide access to justice. Mr Ojukwu said women are at the receiving end of insecurity, being exposed to violence, loss of livelihoods and exploitation. Highlighting the theme of the Days commemoration, Give to Gain, Mr Ojukwu said Nigeria must move beyond discussions and aim at sustainable actions. This will help women and girls enjoy their rights fully, he said. He reaffirmed the NHRCs commitment to promote the rights of women and girls across the country. However, he highlighted the incidence of early and forced marriage in some communities as concerning. Mr Ojukwu said that this practice impedes the well-being of the girl-child and particularly exposes them to health risks. Calling for the protection of girls and women, he said, As we commemorate International Womens Day, we must reaffirm our collective commitment to building a society where every woman and girl can live free from violence, discrimination and fear, and where their rights and dignity are fully respected. CISLAC challenges political parties The CISLAC also challenged political parties over their dismal representation of women. In a statement by the group, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani Musa, said, Political parties in Nigeria have not demonstrated sufficient commitment to gender balance and the deliberate inclusion of women in political leadership and decision-making positions. Mr Musa noted that despite the efforts in recent years in raising awareness, structural inequalities, discrimination, and limited representation in decision-making spaces continue to undermine the full participation of women in Nigerias democratic and development processes. He therefore called for transformative reforms in laws, policies, and institutional practices for immediate state intervention to accelerate the development, protection, and political participation of women and girls across Nigeria. Transformative changes in governance, legal frameworks, and institutional practices are necessary to accelerate the development of women and girls in Nigeria. Without deliberate gender transformation, the progress we have made over the years risks being eroded, he stated. The low level of representation is restrictive to womens influence in governance, he said. The global community has celebrated International Womens Day since 1911. The Day is commemorated on 8 March annually. According to the United Nations, no nation has closed the legal gaps between men and women. Right now, women have only 64 per cent of the legal rights that men hold worldwide, and as such, this years theme demands an end to womens underrepresentation. Similarly, Mr Musa called for womens economic empowerment to overcome poverty, access to credit facilities, and economic opportunities. He noted that this serves as a double edged sword to build a sustainable national development. Other issues highlighted include gender-based violence. While condemning this, Mr Musa called on all stakeholders to work collectively in order to strengthen accountability mechanisms, ensure the protection of women and girls, and guarantee justice for victims. He also commended the resilience and contributions of the Nigerian women to society. If a well-educated, experienced and enlightened former public office holder like Nasir El-Rufai can say the things he said openly on national television before millions of viewers and if he can write such letters attempting to implicate the Office of the NSA in the importation of lethal substances, which are used to kill people, then he certainly has a lot of explaining to do and many questions to answer. In my last contribution titled Nasir El Rufai as a threat to national security, I asked a number of questions about the actions, utterances, public confessions and acts of sheer wickedness carried out by my old friend, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, for which I am still waiting for answers. The last thing I heard about him is that he is still in detention and that he suffered a nose-bleed whilst there after one week, and for this he has my sympathies. I hope he gets out soon, so that he can respond to me directly and take care of his nose. What I forgot to mention in that piece was the large number of orphanages he knocked down in Abuja when he was minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the large number of orphans that he made homeless. Outside of that, he demolished 2,000 homes and buildings in Abuja and 12,000 shanties on its outskirts, in which the poor had taken refuge, often against court orders and without compensation! I also forgot to mention the fact that he knocked down many orphanages in Kaduna when he was governor and that one of the last things he did whilst in office, which he ruthlessly, chillingly and cold-bloodedly carried out the day before handing over power to Governor Uba Sani, was to knock down an orphanage at Fadama Badan Dodo in Zaria. The worst aspect of this dastardly act was the fact that it took place at 1.00 a.m. and without a court order! Details of other demolition activities that he ordered in the days leading up to his exit as governor on 29 May, 2023 were as follows: Gbagyi Villa Demolition: Roughly 72 hours before leaving office, the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) demolished numerous houses in the Gbagyi Villa community in Kaduna. Residents claimed that these demolitions occurred despite existing court orders for him not to proceed and that many of the affected buildings were legitimate residences. Shiite Buildings: On Monday, 22 May, 2023 about a week before leaving office KASUPDA demolished several structures belonging to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), including schools, a hospital and private residences in various areas, including Kawo, Rigasa and Tudun Wada. Prior to these actions, El-Rufai had vowed to continue demolishing structures until his last day in office. While specific reports from May 2023 focused on the destruction of houses, schools and a hospital in Gbagyi Villa and Shiite-affiliated areas, some reports have mentioned that the affected sites included structures and orphanages where children resided, leading to allegations of the destruction of homes and communities. The demolitions were described by critics and affected residents as vindictive. In my view the word bestial would have been far more appropriate than vindictive. I say this because it is only a human being who can be vindictive and it is only a beast that can be bestial. Nasir El-Rufai was not just being vindictive here but was also being downright bestial. Even the homes and habitats of orphans were not spared from demolition and destruction! Like the troublers of the world who take pleasure in bombing and slaughtering women and children without regret or remorse, his bowels of compassion ran dry, he lost his sense of decency and humanity, he forswore the milk of human kindness and he offered no mercy to the women, the children, the elderly or the poor. His pleasure was to break their hearts, shatter their dreams and aspirations, and bring tears to their eyes, pain to their spirits and sorrow to their souls. His joy was to deprive them of not just where they had lived but also all that they had. Such callousness is unspeakable. Yet, sadly it does not stop there. I also forgot to mention the fact that he ruthlessly persecuted the followers of the late Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in Kaduna, raided their homes, desecrated their properties and places of worship, and committed the most despicable and hideous atrocities against them, which led the Sheikh to express his displeasure by pronouncing a curse on him. And others cursed him too. For example, the women of Kafanchan in Southern Kaduna went on a march, stripped themselves naked and cursed him at a roundabout in broad daylight in the middle of the town, as a consequence of his wickedness towards their community. I doubt that any governor in the history of our nation has attracted as many curses from his own people as Nasir El-Rufai has. I also forgot to mention the fact that he banned state-sponsored pilgrimages for Muslims who were going to Mecca and Christians who were going to Jerusalem, which was, in my view, bad enough. What made it worse was the fact that he surreptitiously lifted the one on Muslims and strictly enforced the one on Christians. In other words, he adopted a selective approach. Consequently, the first time that the Christians of Kaduna State were permitted to go on state-sponsored pilgrimages in the last 11 years was when Governor Uba Sani formally lifted the ban in February! I also forgot to mention the fact that he banned night vigils for Christians when he was governor and he directed pastors to submit the scripts of their sermons before they were allowed to preach. I also forgot to mention the fact that thousands of petitions from the Shia Muslims, the Tijaniya Muslims and the Christians of Kaduna, whose rights were violated, whose women and children were killed, and who were viciously and violently persecuted under his watch as governor were presented to the SSS when he was nominated as a minister by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These petitions were so alarming that they could not be ignored and that is why his nomination as minister was rejected by the Senate. Permit me to add that contrary to popular opinion, his nomination was NOT rejected as a consequence of the implementation of some far-fetched and illusionary conspiracy supposedly woven against him by the National Security Advisor, the Governor of Kaduna State, the Vice President and the President, which is the baseless and absurd narrative that he and his supporters are so fond of peddling to the public. Only the naive and the gullible would believe such a fairy tale, because if President Tinubu did not want him to be a minister he would not have been nominated in the first place. I also forgot to mention the fact that even though his successor in office, Governor Uba Sani, not only contributed millions of dollars of his personal money to El-Rufais legal fund between 2009 and 2014 when the EFCC prosecuted him but also stood by him through thick and thin, he repaid Sanis good with evil by attempting to undermine and discredit his government and destroy his future and career. Permit me to add the following. Before he left office, he told Uba Sani that he must ensure that once his tenure as governor begins he (Sani) must right all the wrongs that he (El-Rufai) had committed as governor and that he had no intention of interfering in the affairs of the state once he was out. He even said that he would hardly come to Kaduna and that if he did so, he would not go anywhere near Government House. Sadly he lied. He did not honour his word and neither did he take kindly to Sanis righting of his wrongs, which proved to be legion. His reaction to his successor in offices efforts to right those wrongs was vicious, unrelenting and unrestrained and brought out his shape-shifting reptilian nature, more than anything else. He turned on him with a vengeance and savagery that is rarely seen in politics anywhere in the world. This was best reflected not just by his sheer perfidy and malicious and malevolent actions but also by his words when he told all those who cared to listen that his sole reason and purpose for returning to active politics was to ensure that he destroys the career, future and life of Uba Sani. I also forgot to mention the fact that even though the minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal, who was his chief of staff when he was minister of FCT and the secretary to the state government of Kaduna State when he was governor, sold his only house in Abuja and used the proceeds to help pay El-Rufais lawyers when he was facing prosecution by the EFCC between 2009 and 2014, he repaid Lawals commitment and dedication with evil by not only attempting to block his nomination as a minister (after he himself had been rejected by the Senate), but also to destabilise and discredit the government that he serves. Permit me to add the fact that not only did Balarabe serve him in these two capacities over the years and not only were they colleagues in school during their childhood, but also the latter attended every single court sitting as a mark of solidarity when he (Nasir) was being prosecuted by the EFCC. All that for his former boss and yet the latter did all he could to abort his nomination and stop him from becoming a minister. If there was ever a Cesare Borgia in Nigerian politics his name was Mallam Nasir El-Rufai! I also forgot to mention the fact that he sent men to abduct Mr Jackson Ude, the publisher of Pointblank News, from his Abuja home and when Ude managed to escape their clutches, he sent another group of men to the home of his close friend, Mallam Jafaru Y Saaad, in Kaduna and locked him up for four gruelling months. I also forgot to mention the fact that he displayed a high degree of toxicity, malevolence and egregious hatred for Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State and that he attempted to humiliate and destroy him simply because he could not intimidate, manipulate, control or successfully threaten him when he was the Interim National Chairman of our great party and because he opened the door to many notable erstwhile opposition leaders to join us. There is so much more and I could go on but permit me to get to the meat of the matter and address the purpose of this additional contribution. Despite the gravity of the matters raised in my earlier essay and the importance of the additional points that I have added today, this contribution raises an even more disturbing issue, which gives many even greater concern. Permit me to begin with a rhetorical question. Has it occurred to anyone that those tapping phones for Nasir El-Rufai might be operatives or assets of a foreign intelligence agency or terrorist elements from outside Nigeria? I sincerely hope that I am wrong but until he either confesses to us that he was lying when he said he and his associates bugged the NSAs phone or he tells us who those who actually bugged that phone were, we will not know. What makes the matter even more serious is the fact that it was reported in the media that the ICPC alleged that they recovered phone-tapping equipment and other sensitive security documents from his house when they conducted a search there. The El-Rufai family issued a formal statement claiming that this is false, but whichever way you look at it, this new development is disturbing and takes the matter to an entirely different level. The stakes are high and the drama is unfolding by the day. Yet, the most frightening aspect of this issue is the allegation made by El-Rufai that the NSA has imported a large quantity of a lethal poison known as thallium sulphate into our shores, which is banned in many countries in the world, which has been used for assassination purposes in some nations in the past and which is lethal to humans and animals, even in small doses. Worst of all, it is a colourless and odourless substance that cannot be detected when released. It is the perfect killing machine. I have no doubt that the NSA has NOT imported this substance and this begs the following question. Is it possible that it is actually El Rufais associates that have secretly smuggled in that lethal poison and that they are planning to execute what is known as a false flag operation in our country, in which they will use it to eliminate large numbers of our people and then blame it on the security agencies and Federal Government? Is that why the letter was purposely and strategically leaked to the public? Were those behind the smuggling in of the poison and the leaking of the letter putting us on notice, albeit falsely, that the government has imported this chemical weapon and that when they (meaning the conspirators and terrorists) unleash it with devastating consequences on our people, the public will automatically assume it was the Federal Government and blame the Tinubu administration for it? Is that the evil hand and malevolent card they are attempting to play or are they planning to use the poison to simply target and kill government officials, public figures, members of the opposition or even to sell or donate to any or all of the five terrorist organisations that are waging war against our Armed Forces and people? This may all sound far-fetched to the uninformed, the naive and the shallow but history is replete with the execution and implementation of such false flag and black ops covert operations and any experienced and exposed intelligence officer will confirm this. These are the sort of sordid things specialised sections of some foreign intelligence agencies do in order to destabilise and destroy other countries and ultimately effect regime change through unconstitutional means. They covertly and clandestinely create chaos, carnage and confusion, incite the people against the government, fund and organise massive demonstrations and then move in for the kill. And they do this in collaboration and collusion with their local co-conspirators, collaborators and assets, one of whom they will then put in power who will operate as their puppet, stooge and front. Outside of that, if they dont get their way, they resort to a campaign of mass murder, genocide and ethnic cleansing, target innocent and defenceless women and children and flatten entire communities and nations with cluster bombs. I sincerely hope I am wrong but these are the sort of things that people like those I suspect are the associates of El-Rufai who have a hidden agenda and are desperate for and obsessed with power often do. History proves that. To be clear, I am not suggesting that El-Rufai himself may be inclined to do this but there is a distinct possibility that those that he may be associated with may have that inclination or disposition and may even harbour such evil plans without his knowledge. Terrorists, non state actors with evil intentions and foreign intelligence agencies usually only give information to their associates on a need-to-know basis and they may just be using Nasir as an unsuspecting patsy, an eager and excitable pawn, a useful idiot (as they are commonly referred to in intelligence circles) or the quintessential fall guy, despite his much touted brilliance. He may well be swimming in a sea of shark-infested waters without knowing it. If that proves to be the case, he has my sympathies and I hope he cooperates fully with the security agencies, so that he can exonerate himself. I would advise him to hold nothing back if he has any useful information or else he may sink with them. Again if local actors and opposition figures like the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who is presently in the custody of the SSS as a consequence of serious allegations of terrorism-funding or the former minister of state for Petroleum Resources Timipreye Silva, who is on the run and has been declared wanted by the Defence Intelligence Agency to explain his role in the funding of a recent coup attempt, are in any way involved, he should come clean and confess all he knows to the security agencies. I am reliably informed that BOTH Malami and Silva have access to vast resources and are totally committed to undermining, destabilising, discrediting and removing our government, so their involvement in such a reckless and godless venture cannot be ruled out. I have not made any categorical accusations or allegations here but I am simply thinking aloud and suggesting that we need to get answers to these questions, and we need to consider all the points raised. I ask these questions not to create panic or frighten anyone but only because these are not just my legitimate concerns but the legitimate concerns of millions of other patriotic Nigerians who love this country dearly and who want nothing but peace and security and for our people to thrive and flourish. If a well-educated, experienced and enlightened former public office holder like Nasir El-Rufai can say the things he said openly on national television before millions of viewers and if he can write such letters attempting to implicate the Office of the NSA in the importation of lethal substances, which are used to kill people, then he certainly has a lot of explaining to do and many questions to answer. It is either that he knows more than he is prepared to say or that he has lost his sanity. The matter has now gone way beyond mere politics or allegations of corruption and is now a MAJOR security issue which could endanger the lives of millions of our people. If you want to know what poisonous gas and chemical weapons can do to civilian populations when in the hands of a mentally-deranged meglomaniac who craves and is obsessed with grabbing power at any cost, please find out what happened to the people of Halabja, Iraq in 1988 and the Shia Muslims of Iraq in 1991, when Saddam Hussein used it on them. The consequences were devastating. Again if you want to know what such poisons can do to individuals who have been targetted for death, often without leaving any trace of foul play, find out what happened to the Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, the Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko (though he survived it), the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Wadie Haddad, a leader of Hamas Khaled Mashaal (though he survived it) and a senior official of Hamas, Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh. Is this the sort of evil that Nasir El Rufais associates have in store for some of our leaders? Are they planning to carry out such dastardly and wicked acts and then attempt to blame it on the state and our NSA? I am only asking and there is no harm or crime in that given the fact that he now keeps the company of those who are skilled in espionage and that have the skill, know-how and wherewithal to bug the National Security Advisors phone and share details of his supposed conversations. Is this why he and those that are working with him take every opportunity to insult, undermine, disgrace and humiliate our President and Vice President in the international media and on social media? Has his unquenchable envy for Senator Kashim Shettima, simply because he was elected as our nations vice president (a position that Nasir himself coveted and lobbied for) and hatred for Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, simply because he was appointed as the NSA, whilst he (Nasir) himself was rejected as a minister, driving him to a point of such bitterness and madness that he is now associating with and relying on information from subversive elements and enemies of the state? Is Nasir, a man that I once had so much affection and respect for, now a friend and associate of phone hackers, hardened criminals and terrorists and has he become a threat to national security? Is his sole objective to pull down our Government through any means possible and throw our nation into chaos and turmoil? I have every confidence that the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA), the State Security Service (SSS), the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) will get to the bottom of this mess and find out all they need to know about who El Rufais associates really are and what is really going on. They are very good at what they do and they will unravel the knot. Permit me to end this contribution with the words and counsel of @Ayekooto who posted the following words on X. He wrote, This man (Nasir El Rufai) woke up in his house one morning. Brushed his teeth, had his bath and wore a fine babariga, entered straight into his waiting car and was driven to a live AriseTv programme. It was a conducive environment, no stress, no force, no intimidation. And he just looked at the cameras and said we listen to telephone conversations of National Security Adviser. We know someone who tapped it. Yes, it is illegal but we are doing it.. Please my dear friends, dont joke with curses whether youre right or wrong. Use this Lent and Ramadan season to ask God for forgiveness of all sins you committed but more importantly, every curse placed on you that youre treating trivially, ask God for cancellation especially if those curses are from Kaduna people, pray fervently against it! David Oluwafemi Adewunmi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode is a former minister of Aviation, a former minister of Culture and Tourism, a former senior special assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Public Affairs, an ambassador-designate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, the Otunba of Joga Orile, the Aare Ajagunla of Otun Ekiti and a legal practitioner. The way things are panning out, by the time President Bola Tinubu finishes his course, he will be competing with Mrs. Malaprop in serial gaffes. Mrs Malaprop was a character in Richard Brinsley Sheridans 1775 play, The Rivals. Her name was derived from the French phrase mal a propos, which translates to inappropriate. In the play, Mrs. Malaprop was notorious for her frequent misspeaks which gave comic effect to the play. She used words that were meaningless but sounded similar, though out of sync with words she intended to say. In 1598, Shakespeare attempted to recreate Mrs Malaprop in his Much Ado About Nothing with his term Dogberryism, where the character, Dogberry, also uttered meaningless words like Mrs Malaprop. Last week, again, Tinubu relapsed into his usual malapropism. At the breaking of fast with members of the House of Representatives at the Villa, he admitted that the heat was high voltage from the critics but he and his political party, the APC, eventually weathered the storm. While promising the parliamentarians a second term, subject to an agreement between the APC and the political parties the legislators belonged, he was emphatic that it would be to the exclusion of the Biobaku party. Everybody laughed. Someone at the gathering, in the din of grovelling laughter, could be heard wondering what the president meant again by this. What is the Biobaku party? My childhood friend, Osasere Adagbonyin, gave me my first encounter with malapropism. In Ilesa, Osun State in 1984, shortly after we left high school, he recited to me the story of a man whose wife was barren but who, in a bombast, and a total deflection from what he meant, upon meeting the doctor, said, Dr, my wife is un-bear-able; she is in-conceive-able; she is impregnable! In the run-up to the 2023 elections, presidential candidate Bola Tinubu was embroiled in a dozen of such speech blunders. It was so bad that opposition political parties cheekily claimed his recurring faux pas indicated he was not mentally fit to administer Africas most populous nation. For a finicky people, unpretentious about their choices of sanity in leadership, Nigerians are consensus ad idem with the Oko-Irese tribe. They would not want an embarrassment in the Aso Rock Villa. Oko-Irese are a sub-Yoruba group who can be found in Kwara and Oyo States. Oral history, as well as traditional accounts, attribute Okos founding to a hunter prince who was in search of a fertile land. Late Ilorin bard, Odolaye Aremu, popularized Oko-Irese peoples carefulness in choices, especially, in their historical commercial activities of buying and selling of slaves. Their Oriki, praise poetry, speaks to those finicky choices made by their forebears, especially their historically recognized meticulous nature in commercial slave sale and purchase transactions. For them, like Nigerians, wrong choices are a red flag. At slave markets for human purchase, their forebears were picky, lest they purchase slovenly slaves who periodically decorated their cheeks with whitish, early morning caked saliva called lala. In chanting the Oko-Ireses Oriki, Odolaye articulated those finicky and careful choices. They were Oko Irese omo woyira, ko ma ba reru keru, eru keru abilala lenu In January 2022, while addressing some market women who came visiting him, Tinubu announced to them that their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) had expired. In case they do not announce to you on time, the PVC you have has expired, he said. INEC had to promptly counter him, resulting in an apology by one of his aides. Again, in March of that year, during his 69th birthday colloquium celebrated in Kano, Tinubu urged Muhammadu Buharis Federal Government to recruit 50 million soldiers as booster for the security forces. The suggested recruits, he pontificated, will eat cassava, agbada (real word in Yoruba for corn being agbado) in the morning, yam in the afternoon As if it was one month, one gaffe, in April of same year, the then presidential aspirant then asked, Do you know how many of you are tweeting on WhatsApp right now? Then, on 15 October, he said his ally-now-turned-political-foe, then Kaduna State governor, Nasir El Rufai, had turned a rotten situation into a bad one. By 17 November, he had turned the confetti of gaffes into a way of life. On that day, at a town hall meeting he had in Imo State, Tinubu uttered the infamous doggerel, Bala Blu, Blu, Bulaba. Till today, no one can tell what it meant. On 25 November of the year, eight days after the Imo indecipherable, the blunder to come became more utterly embarrassing. At Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, the presidential candidate said then Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, would be the next governor of the Niger Delta State. Tinubu then crowned his blistering gaffes at the 17 October, 2022 Arewa Stakeholders meeting in Kaduna. Asked of his take on the global climate change by reporters, he said it is a question of how do you prevent a church rat from eating a poisoned holy communion? Many of his supporters were worried. What could be the catalyst for these blunders? While some say it was a calculated attempt to pain himself as an underdog to be pitied and dissemble the ranks of the opposition. Tinubus erstwhile estranged deputy as Lagos governor, Femi Pedro, attributed the malaprops to slips of tongue which he said were buoyed by fatigue and high campaign pressure. Some also said that as a human being, Tinubu was prone to gaffes. On their face value, the gaffes are potentially fatal. My initial comparison of Nigerian finicky choice of leadership with the Oko-Irese sounds contradictory nevertheless. If they were finicky in their choices of leaders and abhorrent of a leader who constantly descended into malaprops, why did they choose Tinubu? Or, could the peoples case be contiguous with that of a farmer often referenced in manifest stupidity? Knowing before hand that his farmland was infested with Ikun, a ground, tree-dwelling squirrel known for its bushy tail and agility, reputed in folk stories to be deaf, this farmer nevertheless went ahead to plant groundnuts on it. At harvest time, distraught that Ikun had turned his plantation into ruins, my people mock the farmers stupidity. At the time when, as presidential candidate, Tinubu offered Nigerians gaffes a la carte, the people were just emerging from similar malapropism afflictions under Buhari. The Daura-born ex-soldier sometimes waffled into nothingness, far away from the content of his engagements. You will recall that in October, 2016, on a visit to Germany, while he stood beside the worlds most powerful woman, Chancellor Angela Merkel, Buhari was asked by journalists to react to his wife, Aishas consistent harangue of his government. He had replied: I dont know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and za oza room. If you watched the telecast of that event, fix your gaze at Merkel: She seemed to glare at this inappropriateness from a fellow world leader. How could any perceptive leader denigrate womanhood in the presence of the then most powerful woman in the world? To me, it was not just inappropriate; it was sexist, reflecting a disconnect somewhere. Again, on 23 September, 2019, Buhari had joined other world leaders at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Climate Action Summit which held in New York. Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and other senior UN officials were there. At the panel discussion, the moderator had asked: President Buhari, Nigeria has a very young population; perhaps you might highlight what a pathway for a resilient future looks like? It was a question that required a prompt, off-the-cuff and suave answer. Rather, Buhari asked for the speech he had earlier read and lapsed into an incoherent reply which immediately sparked furore on the social media. Many people have subjected President Tinubus Biobaku ad-lib statement to rigorous scrutiny. Their submission, parodying Ola Rotimis famous play, is that our president has gone Malapropos again. Three words appeared within the radar that Tinubu could probably be referencing. One is the name of famous pre and post-independence scholar of history, Professor Saburi Oladeni Biobaku. The second he might have meant was Abiku and the third, Abobaku. The three are Yoruba words. Whichever he meant, it was in bad light and as such, in searching for peripheral linkages to his mind construct among the three, our choice word must not convey positivity. Professor Biobaku, known for his rhythmic initials, SOB, the most famous bearer of that name the president referenced, evokes nostalgic, positive historical memory. A Nigerian scholar, historian, politician who lived between 1918 and 2001, an ex-boy of Government College, Ibadan, was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Biobaku was taught by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his primary school days at the Ogbe Methodist Primary School, Abeokuta. He later became Awolowos Secretary of the Premier Executive Council (SPEC) in the Western Region. He was also the first African Registrar of the University of Ibadan. In fact, when Chief Awolowo was to actualize his dream of bringing together the then fractious Yoruba people, Biobaku was one of the historians he consulted to establish the Yoruba language society. Biobakus 1957 book, The Egba and their Neighbours, originally his doctoral dissertation from the University of London in 1951, which he later turned into a 136-page text, is a huge bank of information on Egbaland in the 19th century. It became the second Nigerian-authored historical book published by the Oxford University Press, coming after Professor Kenneth Dikes famous 1956 Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta (1830-1885). The most famous story associated with Biobaku is the jostling for the Vice Chancellor position of the University of Lagos in 1965. Having earlier been appointed VC of the University of Zambia, he was dissuaded from accepting the offer by Nigerias Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and was instead offered the University of Lagos. It became a huge cauldron of inter-ethnic animosity between the Yoruba and Igbo. At this time, the animosity had reached feverish height. It signposted the SL Akintola governments battle to typecast Igbos Eastern Region as nepotist and not worthy to partner with the Western Region in the political alliance that was afoot. Chairman of the Nigerian Railways, Dr Okechukwu Ikejiani and Professor Eni Njoku, first VC of University of Lagos, 1962-1965, who was seeking re-appointment, were then represented by this semiotic battle. Its height was the allegation that Dr. Ikejiani had employed an Igbo medical doctor who earned an annual salary of 2,600 and yet had no job because the hospital earmarked for him was not going to be ready in the next eighteen months. The Daily Sketch newspaper, Akintolas megaphones edition of 6 April, 1964 carried a rather sarcastic story on its front page with the title, Yoruba nru, Ikejiani nsanra, meaning that, while the Yoruba race was going lean, Ikejiani (and invariably, his Igbo stock) were getting fatter. Apart from campaign ground statements which he made that became instant headlines in the Sketch, Akintolas visceral campaign against the Igbo involved pun-twisting the name of Ikejiani into a sarcastic Yoruba adaptation, so as to suit his pillory of the race. Akintola, reputed orator and very deep in Yoruba morphology, in this ikeji a ni (second will have) punning, was wont to ask his audience, The first (Igboman) would have, the second (Igboman) would have; what have you got? The Akintola government later released a White Paper on the New Political Alignment: Western Nigeria: Western Nigeria Official Document No. 1, 1964 that detailed allegations of nepotism against Ikejiani. It alleged that out of a grand total of 431 names on the staff list of the Railway corporation under him, 270 were Igbo and 161 of other ethnic groups; of the 57 direct senior appointments made by the corporation, 27 were Igbo, 8 were other tribes and eight others were expatriates. This inter-ethnic battle and allegations of tribal patronage in early Nigerian higher education was notorious in the 1965 battle for the Vice-Chancellorship of the University of Lagos. Playing on both professors names, Akintola was said to have told the university academic audience that we said we would give you a man who would not die (Yoruba translation of Biobaku), yet you insisted that it is the man who eats the dead (Yoruba literal translation of Eni Njoku) that you want! On 8 June, 1965, Biobaku, then newly appointed VC, was then stabbed by a student, Kayode Adams. Adams was an old boy of Ibadan Grammar School. His appointment came at the cusp of non-renewal of the VC tenure of professor of Botany and first vice chancellor of the university, Eni Njoku. Not only was Njoku loved by the entire university, the school felt that Biobakus appointment was aimed at feathering Yoruba ethnic nest. The decision led to demonstration by students and request to the then Minister of Education, Chief Richard Akinjide, to rescind the decision. With the help of Chair of Council, Professor Horatio Oritsejolomi Thomas, Biobaku sneaked into the school. As narrated by Biobaku himself in his autobiography, When we were no longer young (1999), he was stabbed after his address to the students at Idi-Araba. Biobaku had earlier penned When we were young (1992). Though he later pleaded not guilty, citing insanity, Adams only suffered judicial retribution. This was because of the attempt to life he was charged with, in accordance with sections 229 and 230 of Criminal Procedure Act (CPA). None of his rioting colleagues was touched. The court confined him to the Yaba psychiatry but in October, 1969, Adams was found dead at the Bar Beach. So, was it Saburi Biobaku, that highly-placed scholar, one of Yorubas most highly placed icons, that Tinubu was referencing in that bad light? It was not likely. Could the president have meant the Abiku party? In poems written by two Nigerian literary prodigies, Wole Soyinka and John Pepper Clark, in their 1967 and 1965 poems respectively, they explored the Yoruba concept of belief in a spirit child called Abiku. In Yoruba cosmological belief, that child is destined to die and get reborn repeatedly, as a plague to its mother. The two poets however sculpted the Abiku with different strokes. While Soyinka painted it as defiant in a detached and cynical brush, with focus on the childs supernatural nature, boasting that In vain is your bangles cast, Clark conversely sculpted the child being pleadingly entreated to consider staying back on earth, confronting it with the emotional peril its persistent journey out of the earth posed to its distraught family. Was this what the president meant? Have the Abiku political parties become such a pest on the president? Was he interceding with them to retreat from haranguing him like J.P. Clark or daring them like Soyinkas Abiku? The third of what Tinubu could have meant was Abobaku, also referred to as the Olokun esin. Meaning, he who dies with the king, it is the relic of a practice in the old Oyo Empire. In it, an individual, most times the Aremo, the kings eldest son, at his demise, was traditionally designated to accompany the monarch on a journey of no return by being buried alive with the Alaafin. It signifies Yoruba belief in the continuation of life in the hereafter. The Abobaku practice was formally halted around 1946, at the death of Alaafin Siyanbola Ladigbolu 1, who reigned from 1911 to 1944. As the Olokun esinwas about to be interred with Oba Siyanbola, the British Colonial Resident, Captain William Ross, intervened, forbidding the reluctant Abobaku from being buried alive with him. A cow substitute was immediately and subsequently used for the rites. So, did Tinubu mean that the opposition were Abobakus? Not likely. Many have read the Tinubu Biobaku party comment to mean that he was mocking the coalition-backed ADC due to what he regards as its multiple personal interests. But this still does not answer to this particular Biobaku word usage. I personally think something is wrong somewhere. It could be a throwback to an ancient Yoruba saying. When a plantain is ripening, it is doing one of two things. Transiting from its unalluring greenery into a beautiful, yellowish colour, the plantain is, at the same time, in preparation for a decay. When you then clap excitedly that the plantain is ripening, you are looking at it with myopia. My people then say, Ogede nbaje, e lo npon. It is the message of the Agidigbo drum. Only the wise dance to it and the scholarly understand it. Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist. The Nigerian Army says media reports that 40 soldiers died in recent terrorist attacks in parts of Borno were exaggerated and misleading. In a statement on Saturday, Sani Uba, a lieutenant colonel, said the reports ignored troops gallant efforts in repelling coordinated terrorist assaults on several North-East communities. Mr Uba, who is the media information officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, said the attackers were remnants of Boko Haram earlier dislodged from Sambisa Forest. He said the terrorists regrouped and launched coordinated night assaults from multiple directions on communities and military positions around Konduga, Ngoshe, Mainok and Jakana. According to him, troops responded swiftly, engaging the insurgents in intense battles and successfully repelling the attackers while defending the affected communities. He said: During the engagements, several terrorists were neutralised. Sadly, a Commanding Officer and some brave soldiers paid the supreme price while courageously confronting the attackers and preventing devastation in other communities. Mr Uba stressed that troops were not overrun as suggested in the report, noting they fought from multiple fronts to protect civilians and restore normalcy. He added that the attackers used indiscriminate explosives and heavy nighttime gunfire, leading to civilian casualties as some residents were caught in the crossfire. Mr Uba also disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, visited Maiduguri to assess the situation and strengthen ongoing counter-terrorism operations. He said the army chief ordered immediate reinforcement of troops and deployment of additional equipment to sustain pressure on fleeing terrorists. Mr Uba added that coordinated ground and air operations were ongoing to pursue the insurgents, dismantle regrouping elements and rescue civilians possibly abducted during the attacks. He urged the public to disregard exaggerated reports aimed at undermining troops morale. The Nigerian Army remains resolute and committed to decisively confronting the terrorists until lasting peace is restored in the North-East, he said. (NAN) The police in Delta State, south-south Nigeria, have arrested a laboratory technician for allegedly operating an illegal blood bank from a hairdressers salon and selling unscreened blood to other laboratory technicians. The police spokesperson in the state, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a video posted on X on Saturday. Mr Edafe was seen in the video parading and interviewing the suspects. About eight pints of blood were seen displayed on a table in the video. Mr Edafe said the main suspect, identified as Adeje Uchenna, 40, was a certified laboratory technician who allegedly supplied blood obtained without proper medical screening. The other day, we arrested a suspect who was operating an illegal blood bank. Today weve gotten another one, he said. Blood collected from vulnerable youths Mr Edafe said the suspect had approached the salon owner in June last year after losing his job and requested to use her facility to collect blood. He added that the suspect allegedly targeted vulnerable youths, where he got a Pint of blood at N5,000 and sold it to other technicians between N15,000 and N17,000. He collected blood from vulnerable youth who are either into drugs He obtained blood without running screening or knowing their PCV level. Mr Edafe warned that such practices could expose patients to deadly infections. One would wonder how someone is HIV positive, and you wouldnt know it is as a result of blood that has been taken unprofessionally, he said. Suspect admits offence In the video, Mr Uchenna told the police he studied at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, graduating in 2008, and obtained his professional license in 2011. Responding to questions, he admitted that the trade was illegal. For avoidance of doubt, Section 53 of the National Health Act, 2014, prohibits the sale or dredging of blood tissue or blood product, Mr Edafe said. The police said four other suspects, including the hairdresser whose salon was used for the operation, were also arrested. One of the laboratory technicians, allegedly patronising the suspect, said the blood was screened only after it arrived at their facility rather than at the point of collection. What the law says Nigerias National Health Act, 2014, regulates the collection, storage, and use of human blood and tissues. Under the law, the sale or commercial trading of blood and blood products is prohibited. Any person who contravenes the provision commits an offence and may face a fine of up to N100,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both upon conviction. The law also requires blood banks to operate only with proper authorisation and in accordance with regulatory guidelines issued by health authorities. Violating these standards or operating a blood bank without approval attracts legal sanctions. Nigerias underground blood trade Health experts say illegal blood banking persists in Nigeria due to chronic shortages of voluntary donors. PREMIUM TIMES four months ago reported that an estimated 1.23 million units of blood are collected annually across Nigerian health facilities, but the country requires about 1.8 million units each year, according to health experts. Studies indicate that as much as 90 per cent of blood donations in Nigeria come from paid donors, creating a thriving underground market for blood and raising concerns about transfusion safety. Medical experts warn that blood collected outside regulated facilities may not undergo proper screening for infections such as HIV, hepatitis, and other transfusion-transmissible diseases. Mr Edafe said the suspects would face prosecution. Weve had stories of people who got infected with deadly diseases after blood transfusion. These suspects will be charged in court, he wrote on X. Governor Alex Otti of Abia State says womens contributions have continued to shape society and impact humanity positively. We consider women as special and spectacular in Abia, hence our government provides a pride of place for them, while ensuring that their energies and talents are harnessed and put to good use for the development of our state in particular and humanity in general, Mr Otti stated on Sunday, while celebrating the women on International Womens Day. The governors comment is contained in a press release issued on Sunday, 8 March, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma. International Womens Day, celebrated annually on 8 March, is meant to promote the achievements of women and strengthen the campaign for gender equality. Mr Otti said it is always a thing of joy for him to seize every opportunity to celebrate our women. He said the appointment of women into key positions in his administration underscores recognition of the importance of women and the value they add to every endeavour they undertake. He expressed the joy that women have continued to justify the confidence reposed in them by his administration. Governor Otti called on the Abia women to see this years International Womens Day Celebration as another great opportunity to renew their vigour and expand their horizon of excellence for the good of all. He assured that he would continue to ensure that women remain a critical and integral part of his government, while providing them with the support they need to succeed. Governor Otti, on behalf of the First Lady, Lady Priscilla Chidinma Otti and the Government and people of Abia State, felicitates with Abia women and prays that God continues to uphold and inspire them to achieve greater excellence even as they celebrate this special day, the statement said. Pillars of our social harmony and economic growth Gov Otu On his part, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has described the women of Cross River as the pillars of the states social harmony and economic growth. Mr Otu stated this in a Facebook post on Sunday. Today, as the world marks International Womens Day, I celebrate the remarkable women of Cross River State whose resilience, enterprise and dedication continue to shape the progress of our dear state. Across our farms, markets, schools and institutions, Cross River women remain pillars of our social harmony and economic growth. Their courage, creativity and hard work inspire our collective advancement, Mr Otu stated. The governor stated that his administration remained committed to expanding opportunities for women in agriculture, entrepreneurship, education, technology and other emerging sectors. Empowering women is not only a social responsibility, but it is also a pathway to sustainable prosperity. I salute every Cross River woman for your strength and invaluable contributions. Together, we will continue to build a stronger and more inclusive Cross River. Hoodlums disrupted Saturdays local government congress of the Mr Nyesom Wike faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leaving a trail of destruction of property and injuries. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that party members were attacked at Bodija, Ibadan North Local Government Area, and allegedly, at other venues of the congress across the state. According to a member of the faction, Julius Adekunle, the hoodlums attacked almost all the designated venues of the congresses across the state. It was a planned attack because the hoodlums touched many of the venues across the state. Reports from Ogbomoso North, Ibarapa Central, Akinyele, Ibadan North LGAs, among others, showed that not less than 10 of our members were attacked. Many vehicles and other property belonging to our members were also vandalised. The hoodlums also invaded the house of our party leader, Chief Hazeem Gbolarunmi, at Bodija, where property worth millions of naira was vandalised, Mr Adekunle said. The factions state Chairman, Abdulrahman Akinoso, confirmed the incident and expressed concern over the development. Akinoso described the incident as chaotic and called on security operatives to ensure those responsible were arrested and held accountable. (NAN) Hand-illustrated silk artifact commissioned by Newfields Board Chair Madison Hromadka, governed by an anti-speculative covenant, establishing a new asset class. PARIS, March 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Objects of Affection Collection (OAC) today announced the public debut of The Court of Tenacity, a one-of-a-kind hand-illustrated silk artifact representing the fullest expression to date of founder Christopher Banks' "Post-Luxury Conceptual Functional Art" (PLCFA) framework. Commissioned by Madison Hromadka, Chair of the Board of Governors at Newfields Indianapolis, the work required 288 hours of manual illustration and is governed by a Custodian's Contract that mandates a five-year anti-sale covenant legally designating it an Anti-Speculative Entity for the duration of its holding period. Christopher Banks Debuts 'Court of Tenacity': A New Asset Class in Post-Luxury Functional Art The Court of Tenacity embodies what Banks terms "Material Singularity": an object whose value is generated not through market liquidity but through the patron's Burden of Preservation the contractual and ethical commitment to steward the work across time. Where conventional luxury trades on brand heritage and industrial scale, PLCFA establishes value through what the collector preserves, not merely what they acquire. The piece was photographed in the Newfields media room by Eric Lubrick, Senior Staff Photographer at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and contributor to National Geographic and Sotheby's lending the work the same archival authority applied to museum permanent collection records. The launch follows Banks' appearance as a featured presenter at the American Phygital Association (APA) Congress in Paris (February 2627, 2026), where his work served as a primary case study in the fusion of physical craft and digital provenance ecosystems. The OAC's "Zero-Sum Pivot" business model is currently a finalist for case study publication through Harvard Business Publishing and Ivey Business School. "The greatest luxury is not the freedom to sell it is the commitment to keep," said Christopher Banks. "The Court of Tenacity is proof that functional art, developed with intellectual rigor and contractual permanence, constitutes a legitimate and quantifiable asset class. Value is not what you consume. It is what you preserve." Full portfolio documentation, high-fidelity visuals, and all 50+ published OAC studies are available for editorial review and acquisition inquiries at https://objectsofaffectioncollection.com. Media Contact Christopher Banks Anthropologist of Luxury | Critical Theorist [email protected] https://objectsofaffectioncollection.com About Objects of Affection Collection The Objects of Affection Collection (OAC) is a Post-Luxury Conceptual Functional Art (PLCFA) studio and intellectual house founded by Anthropologist of Luxury and Critical Theorist Christopher Banks. Bridging critical anthropology, material culture, and proprietary semantic research infrastructure, OAC produces singular commissioned artifacts governed by custodianship frameworks designed to resist commodification and preserve narrative permanence. By applying the methodologies of critical theory to the production of high-end objects, OAC establishes a new asset class that prioritizes intellectual capital, material singularity, and emotional endurance over industrial scale. Press Contact: Christopher Banks 3174968045 https://www.objectsofaffectioncollection.com/ SOURCE Objects of Affection Collection WEIFANG, China, March 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The figures on a financial statement are often not the sole measure of whether a company has truly integrated into the local community. Through a series of practical and sustainable public welfare projects, Weichai is demonstrating its humanistic care that extends beyond business to the local community. In France, Weichai's subsidiary Baudouin embraced Breast Cancer Awareness Month by repainting its blue engines pink and initiating a fundraising campaign. For each pink engine sold, the company donates 500 to the Curie Institute, a world-renowned cancer research organization, to support clinical research and the development of new therapies for breast cancer. By blending cold, industrial products with warm, life-affirming care, Weichai has pragmatically yet uniquely infused a touch of French romance, transforming its 'engines' into 'engines of love' that fuel hope and vitality. In Germany, Weichai's subsidiary LHY has integrated public welfare into its daily corporate culture, regularly holding charity raffles and fundraising events to encourage employee participation, with all proceeds donated to local charities. In 2023, the funds were used to support hospice care in Aschaffenburg, providing warm companionship at the end of life. In 2024, the focus shifted to mental health services, supporting the telephone counseling work in the Lower Main region. This choice of charitable focus precisely addresses the most pressing health issues currently concerning German society. As an international enterprise, Weichai embraces the "We are One" philosophy, embedding humanistic care into every aspect of its global expansion and bringing a positive impact to local communities. SOURCE Weichai Get ready to pay more to fly. Most Read from Fast Company The war in Iran has sent fuel prices surging. On Friday, spot prices for jet fuel were nearly $4 per gallon, up roughly 80% from a month ago, when they were hovering around $2.25. The price increases are a result of the just-begun war in Iran, which has caused shipping and production stoppages and delays. At the same time, airlines are seeing higher demand than they were a year ago. Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that during January, the number of airline passengers was up almost 4% year over year, while demand for air cargo was up 5.6%. On top of that, the war itself is causing some airlines to cancel flights or operations in the region, further constricting supply. In effect, supply is stymied, but demand remains highso ticket prices are likely to increase as a result. Jet fuel prices have taken off in a similar way to those of gasoline and other petroleum products, and Americans are likely to feel the pain at the pump in short orderif they havent already. And, unfortunately, those increases in fuel prices are going to filter down to travelers, who will probably see higher airfares in the near future. Traditionally, fuel costs amount to somewhere in the neighborhood of 20% to 30% of costs for carriers. Given the total increase in fuel costs, Reuters estimates that the cost to the four big U.S. carriersDelta, United, Southwest, and Americancould amount to an extra $5.8 billion in aggregate if prices remain at current levels for the rest of the year. While no airlines, or their respective leaders, have plainly said that theyre anticipating higher ticket prices for passengers, those increases seem to be waiting in the wings. And some are even alluding to it in public comments. For instance, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, during a Thursday discussion at Harvard University, said that he is anticipating higher fuel costs to affect the bottom line, and that the downstream effect on ticket prices would probably start quick, according to CNBC. Airline stocks were down as of Friday afternoon, too: Delta Air Lines was down around 4.25%, American Airlines was down 5.3%, United Airlines was down 3.75%, Southwest Airlines was down 6.5%, and Alaska Airlines was down 3.3% as of 2:45 p.m. ET. That was significantly more than the broader marketthe S&P 500 was down around 1%. This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com Subscribe to get the Fast Company newsletter: http://fastcompany.com/newsletters International Women's Day RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico, March 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, we celebrate women whose visionary leadership creates lasting impact. Maria Dolores Lopez Lira e Hinojo is among Mexico's most influential tourism entrepreneurs, a founder who pioneered integrated destinations and elevated the country's profile in global hospitality. Dolores Lopez Lira Alongside her husband, Jose Luis Martinez Alday, she launched Lomas Travel in 1981 with just a handful of vehicles and boasts a fleet of over 200, offering seamless airport transfers, curated tours, and comprehensive mobility services within a robust safety framework that serves every resort in her portfolio. As her vision grew, she made a defining strategic decision: to separate from external hotel management and establish her own independent operating company, Lomas Hospitality. This empowered her to strengthen brand identity, enhance operational control, and drive sustained growth, positioning Grupo Lomas as a fully integrated tourism leader. Lomas Hospitality operates eight properties across distinct destinations, with more than 2,000 rooms and the support of over 5,000 families. Maroma | Riviera Maya Hotel El Dorado Maroma Hotel Palafitos Overwater Bungalows, the only overwater bungalows in the Mexican Caribbean El Dorado | Riviera Maya Hotel El Dorado Royale Hotel El Dorado Casitas Royale Hotel Generations Riviera Maya Seaside | Riviera Maya Hotel El Dorado Seaside Suites Hotel El Dorado Seaside Palms Hotel Hidden Beach Au Naturel Resort Grupo Lomas' portfolio also includes Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya and El Cielo in Valle de Guadalupe, as well as experiences such as Aqua Nick Water Park, Maroma Beach, and Rancho Bonanza. In Baja California's wine country, she extended her hospitality philosophy to create a destination rooted in viticulture, gastronomy, and landscape-inspired design. Through Fundacion Lomas, she advances education by providing scholarships and creating opportunities. Maria Dolores Lopez Lira leads with independence, strategic clarity, and national pride. On International Women's Day, her journey reflects the strength of a woman who transformed vision into destinations and dreams into opportunity. Today, that legacy evolves alongside her daughter, Sammantha Frachey, Executive Vice President of Grupo Lomas, whose leadership in innovative projects and strategic partnerships drives the Group's continued growth and diversification. Together, two women lead Grupo Lomas, uniting experience and new vision, legacy and momentum, shaping the future of Mexican hospitality with purpose, determination, and heart. SOURCE Lomas Hospitality 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 Tehran, March 8 : Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it attacked a refinery in Israel's Haifa on Saturday night in retaliation for a US-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 US-Israeli attacks Saturday night, Xinhua news agency reported. 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 February 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 US 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 US 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. Jerusalem, March 8 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a live broadcast statement 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 on Saturday. 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, Xinhua news agency reported. "If you do not do this, Hezbollah's aggression will have disastrous consequences for Lebanon," he warned. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the United States had severely weakened Iran's military after a week of fighting, while signalling that Washington holds strong negotiating leverage but is not actively pursuing a settlement with Tehran. Speaking to reporters on Saturday during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One, Trump described the early phase of the conflict as a decisive blow against Iran's armed forces. The United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on February 28. "We've wiped out their Navy, 44 ships. We've wiped out their Air Force. Every plane," Trump said. He said American strikes had also crippled Iran's missile capabilities and launch infrastructure. "We've knocked out about 70 per cent of the rocket launchers," he said, adding that the systems were "very hard to get, very expensive." According to Trump, the reduction in launchers and manufacturing capacity has sharply reduced Iran's ability to retaliate. "They're at about 9 per cent of what they sent out in the first two days," he said. United Nations, March 8 : India's international human rights pioneer Hansa Mehta's unflinching stand for the recognition of women animates contemporary struggles for their protection in the age of Artificial Intelligence, according to General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock. "We should be reminded every day when we are working on these new AI regulations to hold our stand firmly, as Hansa Mehta once did," Baerbock has said. Mehta is credited with rewording the First Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from a male-centric version that spoke of only men to "All human beings are born free and equal", making it inclusive of women. Speaking at the annual Hansa Mehta Memorial lecture sponsored by India's UN Mission, Baerbock said, "Her legacy lives on in the foundational principles she helped etch into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights". When, as a member of the Commission on Human Rights in 1949, Mehta demanded the change from "all men" to "all human beings", "they were frankly dismissive", she said. "She persisted until she secured a formulation that was unambiguous", and that was "a small change on the page but one with monumental consequences", Baerbock said. This year's theme of the lecture was "Breaking barriers for Social Transformation: Dr. Hansa Mehta's inspiring life". Baerbock said, "Advances in digital technology and Artificial Intelligence promise transformation, yet women remain less likely to have equal access to digital tools." Moreover, these technologies are being used to target women, she said, pointing out that "96 per cent of non-consensual deepfake pornography depicts women". "We should be reminded every day when we are working on these new AI regulations to hold our stand firmly, as Hansa Mehta once did," Baerbock said. Therefore, she added, it was fitting that "India's hosting of the second AI Impact Summit, which reflects a commitment to harnessing these technologies for inclusive and equitable development". "If just a single person can make such an immense difference, imagine how profoundly a society can transform when that opportunity is extended to all humanity", she said. Mehta was one of only 15 women in the Constituent Assembly of India that was responsible for drafting the Constitution. Chennai, March 8 : With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections likely to be announced soon, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appealed to TVK leader Vijay to consider joining the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to prevent a division of anti-DMK votes in the state. In a statement, Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad said the political situation in the state is rapidly evolving and claimed that the ruling DMK, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, is facing growing public dissatisfaction. According to Prasad, the DMK leadership has been attempting to expand its alliance by bringing in several smaller parties and organisations in an effort to strengthen its electoral prospects ahead of the upcoming polls. He alleged that the move reflects concerns within the ruling party about its performance and prospects in the election. The BJP leader also referred to recent political developments within the DMK-led alliance, particularly the decision to allocate a Rajya Sabha seat to the DMDK. He said the move has reportedly caused dissatisfaction among some long-time alliance partners, including the VCK and Left parties. Prasad further claimed that public dissatisfaction has been rising in Tamil Nadu over issues such as law and order, price rise and allegations of corruption. He argued that these factors could influence voter sentiment in the coming Assembly elections. Against this backdrop, the BJP spokesperson said that all political forces opposed to the DMK should consider working together to avoid splitting the anti-incumbency vote. He specifically appealed to actor-turned-politician Vijay, whose party TVK is preparing to enter electoral politics, to align with the AIADMK-BJP-led NDA. According to Prasad, if Vijay's stated objective is to prevent the DMK from returning to power, joining a broader opposition alliance could strengthen that effort. He cautioned that a fragmented opposition could indirectly benefit the ruling party. Prasad also urged Vijay to carefully assess the political landscape and historical electoral patterns in Tamil Nadu before making a decision about alliances. He said a united front against the DMK would provide a stronger platform for opposition parties to challenge the ruling coalition in the upcoming election. The BJP leader concluded by stating that the 2026 Assembly election would be a crucial political moment for Tamil Nadu, and called on all parties opposing the DMK government to work towards what he described as a "united democratic alternative" for the state. Amaravati, March 8 : Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said on Sunday that he was "deeply concerned by the painful and sad remarks" of President Droupadi Murmu regarding the conduct of the International Santal Conference in Darjeeling, West Bengal. "When an event celebrating the rich heritage of the Santhal community is organised, it should ensure the dignity, participation, and respect that such a culture deserves. It is regrettable that circumstances arose where members of the Santhal community themselves found it difficult to attend the conference meant for them. Such cultural gatherings must reflect inclusivity, sensitivity, and proper administrative planning," the Deputy Chief Minister posted on 'X'. The Jana Sena leader stated that the office of the President of India holds the highest constitutional respect in our nation and must always be treated with the dignity it deserves. "Ensuring that the Hon'ble Presidentas visit is conducted with utmost regard is the responsibility of the concerned administration. Indiaas tribal communities are an integral part of our nation's identity and pride. Their culture, traditions, and voices must always be honoured with sincerity and respect," said Pawan Kalyan. Earlier, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also took to 'X' to say that he was deeply saddened to see the anguish of the President. "The office of the President represents the dignity of our Republic and must always be treated with the highest respect and courtesy. In a vibrant democracy, constitutional institutions are above politics, and it is our collective duty to uphold their sanctity," posted Chandrababu Naidu, president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Andhra Pradesh BJP unit president PVN Madhav also slammed the TMC government of West Bengal. 'It is extremely unfortunate and condemnable that the state government led by Mamata Banerjee has shown such disregard towards the Hon. President of India, Droupadi Murmu. The office of the President commands the highest respect in our constitutional framework. Any insult directed at the President is effectively an insult to the Constitution and the people of India. This is truly disgraceful," Madhav posted on 'X'. Chennai, March 8 : PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss has strongly criticised the West Bengal government, alleging that President Droupadi Murmu was "deliberately disrespected" during her recent visit to the state to attend a programme organised for members of the Santali tribal community. Chennai, March 8 (IANS) PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss has strongly criticised the West Bengal government, alleging that President Droupadi Murmu was "deliberately disrespected" during her recent visit to the state to attend a programme organised for members of the Santali tribal community. In a post on the social media platform X, Anbumani accused the government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of failing to follow established protocol during the President's visit. According to him, the arrangements surrounding the event and the reception extended to the President raised serious concerns about the manner in which the first citizen of the country was treated. The controversy relates to the President's participation in the International Santali Tribal People's Conference held near Bagdogra in northern West Bengal. The programme was reportedly shifted at the last minute from its originally scheduled venue in Bidhannagar to Koshaypur, near Bagdogra airport. Because of the sudden change in venue, only a limited number of people were able to attend the event, particularly members of the Santali tribal community who had intended to participate. Anbumani Ramadoss alleged that the change in venue and the poor turnout were the result of political interference by the ruling Trinamool Congress government. He further claimed that the arrangements appeared to have been made in a way that undermined the importance of the President's visit. Another point of criticism raised by the PMK leader was that neither Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee nor any senior minister from her government was present to receive the President at Bagdogra airport. Instead, the President was reportedly welcomed only by the Mayor of Siliguri on behalf of the state government. Anbumani said that according to established protocol, whenever the President of India visits a state, the Chief Minister is expected to receive the President personally. In situations where the Chief Minister is unable to attend, a senior minister from the state government is usually deputed to perform the ceremonial reception. Calling the alleged lapse "deeply regrettable", he said the issue was particularly sensitive because President Murmu is the first woman from a tribal community to hold the office of President in India's history. "Insulting the President is equivalent to disrespecting the entire nation. In this case, it also amounts to disrespecting women and tribal communities," he said, demanding that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologise to the President and to the Santali tribal community. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has responded to the allegations and offered her explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding the President's visit. Cramer specifically called out optical and data center equipment. That maps directly to Marvell's strategic positioning. The company makes custom AI chips (ASICs) for hyperscalers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Google, and it recently acquired Celestial AI to strengthen its optical interconnect capabilities. Data center revenue now accounts for roughly 74% of total revenue, a concentration that has been consistent across the past several quarters. The more meaningful signal was in guidance. Management forecast Q1 FY2027 revenue of approximately $2.4 billion, comfortably ahead of Wall Street expectations near $2.28 billion. CEO Matt Murphy signaled that year-over-year revenue growth is expected to accelerate each quarter in fiscal 2027, driven by continued strength in data center. That forward guidance, more than the Q4 beat itself, is what sent shares up roughly 12% in pre-market trading. Marvell reported Q4 FY2026 revenue of $2.22 billion, beating Wall Street expectations near $2.21 billion. Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.80 versus the $0.79 consensus estimate. Those are modest beats on the headline numbers, but Cramer's "$1 billion more in sales than anyone thought" framing appears to reference the magnitude of data center revenue relative to where expectations stood earlier in the year, not the quarter-over-quarter margin of outperformance. The verdict is that Cramer's enthusiasm is directionally correct, but the thesis requires more precision than a one-liner about beating sales expectations. Marvell is a legitimate AI infrastructure company with a specific and defensible role in the buildout, and the Q4 numbers back that up. But the stock also carries a concentration risk that investors need to understand before treating it as a simple data center buy. "Marvell tech had $1 billion more in sales than anyone thought. It's involved directly with the data center. It's got optical, it's got fantastic equipment." That was Jim Cramer on Friday morning, pointing to Marvell Technology as the standout report from the prior night. The stock was up sharply in pre-market trading, and Cramer's framing raises a real question for investors: what exactly does a beat like this mean, and is Marvell actually worth owning as a data center play? Story Continues This is different from what NVIDIA does. NVIDIA sells GPU compute at scale to anyone who needs it. Marvell designs custom silicon specifically for individual hyperscaler workloads, and it builds the high-speed networking and optical interconnect that moves data between those chips. CEO Matt Murphy described the company's custom AI design pipeline in Q2 FY2026: "Our custom AI design activity is at an all-time high, with the Marvell team now engaged in over 50 new opportunities across more than 10 customers." That pipeline is what gives the guidance credibility. Cramer also flagged NVIDIA in the same breath, noting that "nvidia under 180... has now become right now it's just an S&P play." NVIDIA is trading near $181 today, essentially flat year-to-date after a 64.5% gain over the past year. The implication is that Marvell, at a lower valuation and with a more targeted data center story, may have more room to move from here. The Concentration Risk Investors Cannot Ignore Cramer's call is sound as a directional trade thesis, but it understates one structural risk. When 73% to 76% of Marvell's revenue comes from data center in any given quarter, the company's fortunes are tightly tied to hyperscaler AI capital expenditure decisions. If Amazon, Microsoft, or Google slow their infrastructure spending, Marvell has limited diversification to absorb the impact. The automotive and industrial segment, which could have provided some balance, was largely divested. Marvell sold its automotive ethernet business to Infineon for $2.5 billion, closing in August 2025. That sale sharpened the portfolio and generated cash, but it also removed a revenue buffer. The Celestial AI acquisition and the pending XConn Technologies deal are both data center plays, meaning the concentration is deepening, not broadening. For investors who believe AI infrastructure spending continues to accelerate through 2026 and 2027, that concentration is a feature. For investors who are uncertain about the pace of hyperscaler capex, it is a risk that needs to be priced in. Who Should Pay Attention to This Call Cramer's framing works best for investors who are specifically looking for AI infrastructure exposure that is less correlated to NVIDIA's daily moves. Marvell trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 7.67x, a premium to peers, but one that reflects its concentrated AI infrastructure positioning. Analyst price targets range from $105 from RBC Capital to $135 from Melius Research at RBC Capital to Melius Research's higher target, both well above the current price near $87.73, suggesting the market has not yet fully priced in the bull case if data center growth holds. That gap between current price and analyst targets is the core of the opportunity Cramer is pointing at. The industry average P/E of 43x provides context on where Marvell's valuation sits relative to the broader semiconductor sector, a useful benchmark for investors weighing whether the current entry point is justified by the growth trajectory. The call is less suited for investors who need sector diversification or who are uncomfortable with a stock where one bad quarter of hyperscaler capex guidance could erase months of gains. Institutional ownership sits at 83.51%, which means the stock is heavily held by professional money managers who will move quickly on any change in the AI spending narrative. Marvell shares are up 18% over the past month and about 21% over the past year. The stock pulled back significantly from its late 2025 highs near $100 before this week's earnings catalyst, which means investors are buying back in at a lower entry point than the peak enthusiasm of last December. What to Watch Next The most important number to track going forward is data center revenue growth on a year-over-year basis. Murphy committed to accelerating growth each quarter in FY2027, which means the Q1 FY2027 report will be the first real test of that claim. If data center revenue comes in at or above the implied trajectory from the $2.4 billion total guidance, the bull case stays intact. If it misses, the concentration risk becomes a live problem rather than a theoretical one. The Celestial AI optical interconnect acquisition is also worth monitoring. CEO Murphy called it "a transformational milestone that accelerates our scale-up roadmap for interconnect" and a way to strengthen Marvell's position in one of the fastest-growing opportunities in AI datacenter infrastructure. Revenue contribution from that deal is not expected until the second half of fiscal 2028, so near-term results will still be driven by the existing custom silicon and networking portfolio. Cramer is right that Marvell's Q4 report was the strongest number of the night. The more useful takeaway is understanding why: the company has built a specific, defensible position in AI infrastructure that is not dependent on winning the GPU arms race. Whether that position justifies buying the stock at today's price depends entirely on your conviction that hyperscaler AI spending does not slow materially in the next 12 to 18 months. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks Wall Street is pouring billions into AI, but most investors are buying the wrong stocks. The analyst who first identified NVIDIA as a buy back in 2010 before its 28,000% run has just pinpointed 10 new AI companies he believes could deliver outsized returns from here. One dominates a $100 billion equipment market. Another is solving the single biggest bottleneck holding back AI data centers. A third is a pure-play on an optical networking market set to quadruple. Most investors haven't heard of half these names. Get the free list of all 10 stocks here. Kolkata, March 8 : Amid hike in the price of the cooking fuel, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Centre, alleging that it is harassing common people. "We always try to be by people at all levels. On the other hand, the job of the Union government and the BJP is only to harass people. The way the gas price has been hiked will surely affect the lives of ordinary people. Today, the girls and women of West Bengal will take to the streets in protest. They will be wearing black sarees as a mark of the protest," the Chief Minister said. On the occasion of the International Women's Day, the Chief Minister said each day of the year is Women's Day for her. "A society where girls are not well off can never be well off. Therefore, the West Bengal government has taken many groundbreaking programmes from day one to ensure that they can advance in every aspect of life," the Chief Minister said in her social media statement. She highlighted women-specific welfare and dole schemes which the West Bengal government, led by her, had introduced during the last 15 years of the Trinamool Congress regime. She also claimed that, in terms of women's safety, the situation in West Bengal is the best among all Indian states. "Even the Union government itself has acknowledged that Kolkata is the safest city in the country. In order to further strengthen this security, Kolkata Police has recently launched the 'Pink Booth' and all-women 'SHINING' mobile services. This initiative is to make women feel more secure at night," the Chief Minister said. Leaders of the West Bengal unit of the BJP, however, had ridiculed these claims of the Chief Minister on women's safety and said that the state of affairs in West Bengal is evident from daily cases of ghastly rapes and murders, with those attached to Trinamool Congress being the perpetrators in most such cases. New Delhi, March 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) Redevelopment Plan in New Delhi's Sarojini Nagar on Sunday and handed over the keys of the Type-5 quarters to the female allottees. Spread across key locations such as Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Kasturba Nagar and Sriniwaspuri, these projects are part of the government's programme to modernise GPRA colonies and create world-class infrastructure for Government employees and administrative offices. The projects, worth Rs 15,200 crore under the GPRA plan, have been redeveloped through an innovative self-sustainable financial model that ensures the redevelopment is carried out without burdening the public exchequer. Under this model, the government is developing and monetising a limited portion of the project area for commercial and residential space to finance the entire project. The revenue generated from it is being used to fund the redevelopment of modern government housing, supporting infrastructure and public facilities. The redevelopment plan will provide more than 9,350 modern flats for government employees, along with the creation of approximately 48 lakh square feet of office space, which will significantly enhance administrative efficiency while also generating monetisation potential. Later in the day, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of Delhi metro projects worth about Rs 18,300 crore. The Prime Minister will inaugurate two new corridors of the Delhi Metro. These include the Majlis Park-Maujpur Babarpur (Pink Line) corridor of around 12.3 km and the Deepali Chowk-Majlis Park (Magenta Line) corridor of around 9.9 km. The new connectivity will benefit several areas of Delhi, including Burari, Jagatpur-Wazirabad, Khajuri Khas, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar, Madhuban Chowk, Haiderpur Badli Mor, Bhalaswa, Majlis Park, among others. PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for three new corridors under Phase V-A of the Delhi Metro, covering a route length of around 16.10 km. The three new corridors are R.K. Ashram Marg to Indraprastha, Aerocity to Indira Gandhi Airport Terminal-1, and Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj. These corridors will provide direct connectivity to several important locations in the national capital and improve connectivity for residents travelling between Noida, South Delhi and the airport. Mumbai, March 8 : Finnish President Alexander Stubb concluded his State Visit to India on Sunday and was warmly seen off by the Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani. Taking to X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "A fruitful visit concludes as President Alexander Stubb of Finland departs India. Warmly seen off by Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani at the airport." "A defining moment in the Indian-Finland ties as the relationship gets elevated to 'Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability', which will add significant momentum in bilateral relations," it added. During his India visit this week, Stubb earlier highlighted India and the Global South's growing role in shaping a cooperative, fair and representative multilateral world order. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that the cooperation between India and Finland will expand in key technology sectors such as artificial intelligence, 5G and 6G telecommunications, advanced data analytics and quantum computing. During the talks with Stubb, both sides also agreed to strengthen research collaboration and promote innovation. Joint research calls between India's Department of Science and Technology and Finland's innovation funding agency Business Finland will focus on areas such as renewable energy, smart cities, hydrogen technologies, electric vehicles, and waste management. Earlier, in his address at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on March 5, Stubb mentioned that the power balance has shifted and the Global South has both demography and economy on its side. "I mean, here we are in a country which is portraying growth rates of 7 per cent, probably projecting all the way to 2047. And at the same time, it's the biggest democracy in the world. But my argument is that the era of a Western-dominated world is over; that's the disruption. This is obvious, but it will take some time to sink in across the West. Nostalgia can give us lessons, but it rarely provides us with solutions. So, I think that a good starting point to any analysis is to deal with the world as it is, not with a world that we would wish it to be," he added. Stubb stressed that violence is being used as a foreign policy tool around the world. He spoke about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, West Asia and Sudan and also mentioned his conversations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the UAE President and the Qatar Emir. He also quoted External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar's earlier remarks about Europe and endorsed them. "One of my favourite foreign ministers, Dr Jaishankar, has remarked and let me quote once again, 'Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems, but the world's problems are not Europe's problems.'...I wholeheartedly agree with you, Dr Jaishankar. What we need to recognise is that all three examples that I mentioned, Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan, and many other wars and conflicts are all of our problems." New Delhi, March 8 : Authorities have initiated bulldozer action against the property of the main accused in the Uttam Nagar murder case in Delhi, where a 26-year-old man was killed following a dispute during Holi celebrations. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carried out the demolition drive against the house of the accused, identified as Nizamuddin, as the investigation into the violent clash continues. The incident occurred on the day of Holi in the Uttam Nagar area of Delhi, when a minor altercation escalated into a violent confrontation, ultimately leading to the death of 26-year-old Tarun Kumar. According to police officials, a dispute began after a water balloon thrown by a child accidentally burst near a neighbour, triggering tensions between the two families. The tragic incident took place on the night of March 4 in the JJ Colony area of Uttam Nagar. Police said the confrontation started when an 11-year-old girl playing Holi from the terrace threw a balloon filled with coloured water. The balloon burst accidentally and splashed on a woman standing nearby. Although the girlas family immediately apologised, the matter escalated after an argument broke out. According to investigators, the woman later called her relatives to the spot, following which members of both families -- belonging to different communities -- engaged in a violent clash. During the scuffle, eight people were injured, including three from one side and five from the other. Most of the injured were treated and discharged from the hospital on the same day. Tarun Kumar, who was pursuing courses in digital marketing and interior designing, had returned home after celebrating Holi with his friends and was not initially involved in the dispute. However, as he reached the lane near his house, he was allegedly surrounded by the attackers. Police said the accused brutally assaulted him using iron rods, sticks, bricks and stones. He sustained severe head injuries. Tarun was rushed to a hospital for treatment, but succumbed to his injuries on Thursday morning. Following the incident, police registered a case and launched an investigation. So far, seven people, including a minor, have been arrested in connection with the murder. Authorities have also added provisions of the SC/ ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to the case during the course of the investigation. Meanwhile, civic authorities initiated demolition action against the property of the main accused, Nizamuddin, in Uttam Nagar. Officials said the action was taken by the MCD as part of enforcement proceedings. Police said further investigation into the case is underway. New Delhi, March 8 : The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship will host a 'breakout session' on strengthening India's care ecosystem as part of the PostaBudget Webinar series, an official statement said on Sunday. New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship will host a 'breakout session' on strengthening Indiaas care ecosystem as part of the Posta'Budget Webinar series, an official statement said on Sunday. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said the session will focus on developing 1.5 lakh "multiskilled caregivers" capable of meeting Indiaas increasing domestic needs while also tapping into emerging global opportunities in the care economy. The Webinar is expected to serve as a collaborative platform for all stakeholders to deliberate on implementation strategies for vision outlined in the Budget Speech 2026a'27 Budget Speech 2026a'27 mentioned a astrong Care Ecosystem to be built covering geriatric and allied care services." "A variety of NSQFa'aligned programmes will be developed to train multiskilled caregivers combining core care and allied skills, such as, wellness, yoga and operation of medical and assistive devices. In the coming year, 1.5 lakh caregivers will be trained," the finance minister had said. The Union Budget 2026a"27 has announced a significant push to strengthen the care ecosystem by introducing NSQF-aligned training programmes that combine core caregiving competencies with allied skills, including wellness support, yoga, and the operation of medical and assistive devices. The webinar will convene healthcare experts, state governments, international organisations and academia to discuss standardising caregiver qualifications, enhancing trainer capacity, infrastructure and expanding apprenticeship opportunities, the statement said. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship also highlighted plans to facilitate workforce mobility for caregivers by aligning skilling standards with global benchmarks. Indiaas skilling ecosystem - supported by institutions such as the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)/National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and others are being strengthened to meet these evolving workforce requirements. Thousands of candidates have already been trained in caregiving-related roles such as Geriatric Caregiver, Home Health Aide and General Duty Assistant, creating the foundation for a structured care workforce, it added. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will lead the full-day webinar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the posta'Budget webinar on March 9, 2026. Mumbai, March 8 : The market valuation of Larsen & Toubro declined sharply by Rs 45,629.03 crore this week, taking its total market capitalisation to Rs 5,43,208.36 crore, as a broad sell-off in equities weighed on India's most valuable companies. Overall, eight of the top-10 most valued firms together lost Rs 2,81,581.53 crore in market valuation during the week. The losses came in line with a weak trend in the stock market, where the benchmark BSE Sensex dropped 2,368.29 points, or 2.91 per cent. According to Ajit Mishra, Senior Vice President of Research at Religare Broking Ltd, markets ended the holiday-shortened week with steep losses due to rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia and a sharp jump in crude oil prices, which hurt investor sentiment. Among the biggest losers, the market valuation of State Bank of India saw the steepest fall, dropping Rs 53,952.96 crore to Rs 10,55,567.27 crore. The valuation of ICICI Bank also declined significantly by Rs 46,936.82 crore to Rs 9,40,049.82 crore. Similarly, HDFC Bank lost Rs 46,552.3 crore in market value, taking its total valuation to Rs 13,19,107.08 crore. Other major companies also saw declines during the week. The market capitalisation of Bajaj Finance dropped by Rs 28,934.56 crore to Rs 5,91,136.03 crore, while that of Tata Consultancy Services fell by Rs 28,492.44 crore to Rs 9,25,380.15 crore. The valuation of Hindustan Unilever declined by Rs 26,350.67 crore to Rs 5,23,042.51 crore. Bharti Airtel also saw its market capitalisation slip by Rs 4,732.75 crore to Rs 10,67,120.50 crore. However, two companies from the top-10 list managed to post gains during the week. The market valuation of Reliance Industries rose by Rs 14,750.39 crore to Rs 19,01,583.05 crore, while Infosys added Rs 3,459.99 crore to reach Rs 5,30,546.54 crore. Commenting on Nifty technical outlook, experts said that from a levels perspective, 24,700 is the immediate resistance, followed by 25,000 and 25,150. "On the downside, key supports are placed at 24,300 and 24,000, while a break below 23,800 could accelerate further downside pressure," an analyst stated. Kolkata, March 8 : On International Women's Day, women Trinamool Congress leaders and workers staged a protest against the hike in cooking gas prices by sporting black sarees. A procession was taken out on Sunday from Subodh Mallick Square wearing black sarees and black clothes to party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's sit-in demonstration site at Esplanade. State Ministers Shashi Panja and Chandrima Bhattacharya led the protest march. Protests were also held on the sit-in stage wearing black sarees. Mamata also protested with symbolic cylinders in her hands. Every year, the Trinamool Congress holds various programmes on International Women's Day. This time, the increase in LPG cylinders prices in the fallout of the conflict in the Middle East has been the issue of their programme. On Saturday, Mamata expressed her anger over a hike in the price of LPG cylinders and called for a procession to protest the increase in the price of cooking gas. Speaking from the sit-in demonstration in Esplanade, the Chief Minister had appealed to the people to come to the protest site with kitchen utensils. The price of cooking gas cylinders in India has increased in the midst of the US-Iran conflict in the Middle East. The price of cooking gas cylinders for households has been increased by Rs 60 from Friday midnight. "Yesterday, the price of cooking gas was increased by 60 rupees. Three days before that, the price of commercial gas was increased by 49 rupees. The price of a large cylinder has become 2,100 rupees. And the price of a small cylinder has become almost 1,000 rupees. They said that you have to book LPG cylinders 21 days in advance. Will someone whose house runs out of gas go without cooking for 21 days? Don't you think about these things first? What will people eat?" she had said. The government has directed Indian refiners to maximise their output of LPG, asking public sector oil marketing companies to ensure that LPG so procured is marketed solely to consumers of domestic LPG. The Centre has increased the price of a 14.2 kg domestic cooking gas cylinder by Rs 60. Gas worth Rs 879 will now have to be purchased at Rs 939. The new price has been fixed from Saturday. The price of commercial gas has also been increased per cylinder. The price of commercial gas has been increased by Rs 50 from Rs 114 to Rs 1990. Jammu, March 8 : Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said on Sunday that Jammu and Kashmir is no longer settling for mediocrity and is now daring to dream big. L-G Sinha inaugurated the headquarters of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) at Sidhra in Jammu city. He said at the inaugural function, "Jammu and Kashmir no longer settles for mediocrity or the ordinary, and it dares to dream big." He said over the past few years, the region has witnessed transformative changes, thereby rendering the system transparent. After inaugurating the Headquarters of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), L-G Sinha wrote on X, "These two buildings are not merely structures of steel, glass, and concrete; they stand as a bold declaration of transparency in public life and a corruption-free Union Territory. Today, J&K stands at a pivotal juncture. Over the past 5-6 years, we have ushered in transformative changes, rendering the system transparent and dedicating it to public service. The entire machinery now operates not for the benefit of a select few but for every individual across UT. J&K no longer settles for mediocrity or the ordinary. It now dares to dream big." The L-G said that among our people, a firm belief has taken root that a golden future lies ahead. Fulfilling this vision is also the responsibility of the officers and staff at the Anti-Corruption Bureau. "I called upon ACB to ensure that each decision, investigation and prosecution stands firm under scrutiny of the courts and must harness the authority granted by the nation's Constitution to expose injustice, eradicate corruption, and earn the trust of the people," he said. The ACB is the premier anti-graft organisation in the union territory, and its main objective is to eradicate corruption. The offences of corruption and bribery against government employees were initially covered only under the provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code,1932. Till 1949, the cases in this regard were registered and investigated by the local police. In 1962, a separate organisation, 'Anti-Corruption Organisation', was created to investigate all cases relating to bribery and corruption. With the passage of time, various Acts were enacted to deal effectively with the menace of corruption. Most important among those enactments were the Prevention of Corruption Laws (amendment) Act, 1983 A.D., by virtue of which the "Anti-Corruption Organisation" was renamed as "State Vigilance Organisation", and the J&K Public Men and Public Servants Declaration of Assets and Other Provisions Act, 1983. After the enactment of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, a separate wing called "Anti-Corruption Wing" was formed in the State Crime Branch for investigating the cases. By virtue of this Act, the elected representatives of various public bodies, MLAs and Ministers were brought under the purview of Corruption Laws and filing of Annual Property Returns was made mandatory for all public servants and public men. Failure to do so was made an offence under the P.C. Act, 2006. To streamline investigations, two police stations were set up, one in Jammu and another in Srinagar. These police stations deal with offences related to corruption as envisaged in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, and offences related to Public Servants envisaged in the Jammu & Kashmir Public Men and Public Servants Declaration of Assets and Other Provisions Act. Mumbai, March 8 : The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has detained two more individuals for questioning in connection with its investigation into a 21-year-old engineering student arrested for alleged links to extremist organisations, officials said on Sunday. Computer science engineering student Ayan Yusuf Sheikh was earlier arrested by the ATS for his suspected association with the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed and the global extremist outfit Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. He is currently in ATS custody until March 9 as investigators continue to examine his activities and online communications. According to officials, the investigation has revealed that Sheikh was allegedly influenced by extremist and hate-driven content circulated on encrypted groups on the messaging platform Telegram. Authorities believe the material played a key role in radicalising him over the past several months. During interrogation, Sheikh reportedly told investigators that the Telegram channels functioned as discussion forums focusing on what participants described as "injustices against Muslims". He said the groups were also used to discuss ways to "protect the community", according to ATS sources. Investigators said Sheikh had been actively participating in encrypted Telegram groups for the past six to seven months. These groups allegedly included members from several countries, including individuals believed to be based in Pakistan who were using forged or anonymous identities. Officials said that some of the participants in these channels were suspected to be associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed. According to investigators, operatives linked to the group have previously been identified by security agencies for spreading propaganda online through multiple aliases. Authorities added that such groups have historically circulated content aimed at shaping narratives of victimhood among Muslim communities worldwide. The ATS said the material shared in the channels included videos related to political conflicts in regions such as Kashmir, audio recordings referencing historical militant figures, and posts highlighting alleged persecution of Muslim communities in various parts of the world, including India, Myanmar, several European countries, the United States, and Palestine. Officials described the pattern of exposure as part of what they called a "hate crime brainwashing model", where emotional appeals based on religious identity are used to attract and influence participants online, potentially encouraging extremist behaviour offline. According to investigators, the Telegram groups also served as platforms where members discussed alleged hate crimes and debated possible responses. Authorities said participants often exchanged views on how communities should react to such incidents and what actions should be taken to defend or protect their groups. While specific channel details have not been disclosed, officials said Sheikh was actively engaged in these forums and frequently reacted strongly to discussions related to punishment and retaliatory actions. Some of the posts circulating in the groups claimed that Jaish was acting to defend Muslims globally, reinforcing the ideological narratives promoted within the channels. During questioning, Sheikh reportedly admitted that the content was often shared in small and gradual portions, such as short video clips or motivational posts. Over time, he began participating more actively in the groups, interacting with members who shared similar views. He also acknowledged sharing some of the content with friends through private chats, initially out of curiosity, but later after repeated exposure to the material. Investigators said Sheikh now recognises that his involvement in these discussions linked him to a wider online network that authorities have described as extremist. Chennai, March 8 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Sunday inaugurated a series of civic infrastructure projects and welfare initiatives worth more than Rs 45 crore in his Kolathur Assembly constituency. The projects, implemented through the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), the Greater Chennai Corporation, and the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, are intended to strengthen civic infrastructure while enhancing public facilities for residents. One of the major highlights of the event was the inauguration of the upgraded Murasoli Maran Park and the Kalaignar Centenary Coin Memorial on Perambur High Road. Developed at a cost of Rs 4.20 crore, the renovated park now features landscaped walking paths, a musical fountain, yoga spaces, badminton courts, children's play areas, and dedicated exercise equipment for senior citizens, providing a modern recreational space for local residents. The Chief Minister also inaugurated a modern library and the 'Mudhalvar Padaippagam' facility in Jawahar Nagar, built at a cost of Rs 4.75 crore. The two-storey complex has been designed to support students preparing for competitive examinations and includes spacious reading halls, computer facilities, and dedicated study sections. In another major addition to the constituency, Stalin opened the Kolathur Modern Market complex on Paper Mills Road, constructed at a cost of Rs 9.30 crore. The multi-storey market houses 74 commercial shops, along with parking facilities, lifts, and modern civic amenities aimed at supporting small traders and strengthening local business activity. Further strengthening civic infrastructure in the constituency, the Chief Minister inaugurated a new school building with 14 classrooms, a women's gymnasium, and a multi-purpose centre that houses two fair-price ration shops. These facilities were constructed by the Greater Chennai Corporation to improve education and community services in the area. Stalin also launched upgradation works at sewage pumping stations in Kolathur, undertaken at a cost of Rs 12.48 crore. The project includes the installation of high-capacity pumps, advanced odour control systems, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) based monitoring technology to enhance wastewater management and ensure efficient sewage handling. Later in the day, at a separate event, the Chief Minister distributed welfare assistance to around 3,200 Muslim beneficiaries ahead of the Ramzan season. The support included sewing machines for 320 women to encourage self-employment, laptops and certificates for students trained in accounting software, and spectacles for 200 people who underwent eye screenings. The initiatives form part of the government's broader effort to accelerate development in North Chennai while improving civic infrastructure, livelihood opportunities, and welfare support for residents in the region. Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HTGC) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer talked about. Answering a callers query regarding the stock, Cramer stated: No, this is a business development company. Weve disliked these for 21 years now There was one today that we talked about with, that BlackRock did. I want you to stay away from these. You dont know whats in them, and it tends to be stuff that you would never buy. Photo by AlphaTradeZone Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HTGC) is a business development company that provides venture debt, growth capital, and private equity to companies. We recently discussed the company while covering high-growth financial stocks. You can read it here. While we acknowledge the potential of HTGC as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News. Chennai, March 8 : Strong reactions have emerged from Tamil Nadu political leaders after President Droupadi Murmu expressed disappointment over the conduct of an official event organised by the West Bengal government. Leaders of the AIADMK and AMMK on Sunday criticised what they described as a breach of protocol and an affront to the dignity of the nation's highest constitutional office. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said any form of disrespect shown to the President was deeply regrettable and unacceptable. In a post on social media, Palaniswami expressed concern that the President had to publicly convey her anguish over the incident. "It is deeply saddening that our Honable President had to publicly express anguish over such an incident," he said. Emphasising the importance of respecting constitutional institutions, the AIADMK leader noted that offices such as that of the President symbolise the dignity and spirit of the Indian Republic. "Constitutional offices are not mere ceremonial symbols; they embody the dignity of our Republic," Palaniswami stated. Without directly naming the West Bengal government, he added that those entrusted with governance must ensure that administrative conduct reflects the highest standards of respect toward the nation's constitutional authorities. Meanwhile, AMMK founder T. T. V. Dhinakaran also condemned the incident and demanded an apology from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Dhinakaran described the episode as a "premeditated insult" to the President and alleged that the incident was politically motivated. He emphasised that the President holds a position above political considerations and must be treated with due respect at all times. He also pointed to what he termed serious violations of established protocol during the President's visit. According to Dhinakaran, the customary practice of either the Chief Minister or a senior Minister welcoming the President upon arrival was not followed. Additionally, he alleged that the venue of the event was changed at the last moment, which he said contributed to the controversy and reflected poorly on the organisers. Such actions, he argued, amounted to disrespect toward the office of the President. The remarks from the Tamil Nadu leaders have added to the growing political debate surrounding the incident, with opposition figures calling for accountability and adherence to established constitutional protocols during official engagements involving the President. Bhopal, March 8 : A 36-year-old man was killed, while his wife and six-year-old son were seriously injured in Madhya Pradesh's Betul district on Sunday. The incident occurred near the Jhi Tapa junction on the busy Betul-Nagpur National Highway. According to police officials, a speeding container truck suddenly lost control, smashed through the road divider, and veered onto the opposite lane. The vehicle collided head-on with a motorcycle carrying Vikas Rao (36), a resident of Narmadapuram (also known as Hoshangabad), his wife, and their young son. The family was en-route to Mo Harkheda village from their home to attend a thirteenth-day ceremony (terahvin) at the house of an acquaintance - a traditional ritual observed in many Indian families to mark mourning and remembrance after a death. The journey turned deadly in an instant due to the truck driver's apparent negligence and excessive speed. Police officials said the container truck was moving at high velocity when it failed to negotiate a section of the highway, causing it to break the median and enter oncoming traffic. The impact was devastating; Rao suffered fatal injuries and was declared dead at the scene. Rao's wife and son sustained multiple fractures, internal injuries, and trauma. They were rushed to a nearby hospital in Betul, where they are undergoing treatment. Doctors described their condition as stable but critical, with the child requiring intensive care. Police from the local station arrived promptly, securing the site and initiating an investigation. The container truck driver fled the scene immediately after the crash, prompting authorities to launch a search. The vehicle has been impounded, and a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rash driving, causing death by negligence, and hit-and-run. Preliminary inquiries suggest overspeeding and possible fatigue or distraction as contributing factors. Authorities have assured a thorough probe, including examination of the truck's fitness certificate and the driver's records. Kolkata, March 8 : Former West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Sunday said his resignation from the post was a conscious decision and the reasons behind it would remain confidential till the right time. Speaking to reporters after arriving at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, Bose said he would return to West Bengal again to cast his vote. Bose, a native of Kerala, had shifted his voting base to West Bengal barely a week before tendering his resignation from office. "I took a conscious decision to put in my papers, the reasons for which will remain confidential till the right time arrives. The rules of this game include knowing when it ends," said Bose. When asked to comment on the concern expressed by President Droupadi Murmu over alleged protocol violations in the state, Bose avoided giving a direct response. "The President is very experienced, balanced and an extremely dignified person. She must have had her reasons for saying what she said. But I am no one to comment on what the President said," Bose said. He, however, declined to comment on the functioning of the state administration. "I am no longer the Governor, so I will not say anything about the administration here," he said. Last Thursday, Bose stepped down from his post and submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi. The sudden resignation came ahead of the Assembly polls in the state. Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi has replaced him. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had called West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and informed her about the development. CM Banerjee, however, said she was "shocked and deeply concerned by the sudden news of the resignation". Observing that the reasons behind his resignation were not known to her at the moment, the Chief Minister said she would not be surprised if the Governor had been subjected to some pressure from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to serve certain political interests on the eve of the forthcoming state Assembly elections. New Delhi, March 8 : India's energy policy is determined in New Delhi and not in Washington, a data has showed. The analysis by The Matrix, which analysed data on India's crude oil imports between November 2024 and February 2026 claimed that despite a prolonged pressure campaign from the United States during the presidency of Donald Trump, India continued to increase its imports of crude oil from Russia, prioritising its own energy security and economic interests. According to the data cited in the social media post on X, the pressure on India began even before Trump assumed office. During his presidential campaign in September 2024, Trump had warned India against purchasing Russian oil. After taking office in January 2025, the rhetoric gradually translated into policy measures aimed at discouraging such trade. The situation escalated on April 2, 2025, when the US administration announced a 26 per cent "reciprocal" tariff. However, the data shared by The Matrix suggested that India did not reduce its Russian oil purchases. Instead, the share of Russian crude in India's total imports reportedly rose to 43 per cent that month, the highest level during the period covered in the analysis. Relations between the two countries reportedly became more strained following the military operation referred to as "Op Sindoor" in May 2025. Later, on August 6, the White House introduced a stricter measure by imposing a total 50 per cent tariff -- including a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff and an additional 25 per cent specifically linked to India's purchase of Russian energy. Despite these measures, the data indicated that India's imports of Russian crude continued to grow. Shipments reportedly increased from around 1.6 million barrels per day in August to about 2 million barrels per day by October 2025. The post further claimed that the standoff eventually ended with the United States easing its stance. On February 7, 2026, Trump announced that sanctions would be lifted, although he warned of possible future action. According to the data cited, India's imports of Russian oil still rose by about 8 per cent in February compared with the previous month. The Matrix also suggested that the US administration later decided to fully retreat from the pressure campaign amid global geopolitical tensions, including a conflict involving Iran. On March 6, 2026, Washington reportedly lifted sanctions while allowing a 30-day transition period. According to the analysis, the developments over the 15-month period highlight that India continued to prioritise affordable energy supplies for its domestic needs despite external pressure. The post argued that the import data reflects New Delhi's decision to focus on energy security and national interest while managing its global diplomatic relationships. Kolkata, March 8 : Former Union Minister and Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur on Sunday participated in the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Parivartan Yatra in West Bengal along with Union Minister Shantanu Thakur and other party leaders. Addressing a large public gathering in the Naihati Assembly constituency of North 24 Parganas district, he alleged that while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposes President Droupadi Murmu, she simultaneously welcomes infiltrators and mafias into the state. He claimed that Mamata Banerjee was not functioning as a Chief Minister but as the "Quaid-e-Azam of mafias, jihadis and infiltrators". According to him, to protect the identity and resources of Bengal, it is essential that the Trinamool Congress government is removed and a BJP government is brought to power in the state. Thakur said the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal would be a decisive battle for the protection of Bengali pride, Bengali culture and the very existence of the state. He alleged that illegal infiltration from Bangladesh has been continuing in Bengal for a long time. According to him, from the Congress to the Communists and now the Trinamool Congress, successive governments have allowed infiltration in a systematic manner because infiltrators serve as a vote bank that helps them win elections. "Instead of creating new industries and employment opportunities for the youth of Bengal, the state government has repeatedly cheated the people through cut money collected by its ministers, leaders and workers," Thakur said. He added that whenever central agencies visit the state to investigate criminal cases, they appear to fear Mamata Banerjee more than the criminals. Thakur also alleged that under the Trinamool Congress regime, even schools and colleges have become unsafe for women and girls, and victims often have to run from court to court in search of justice. He further said that the Trinamool Congress had come to power with the slogan of "Maa, Maati, Manush". However, he alleged that "Maa has been captured by Mamata, Maati has been consumed by mafias, and Manush has been swallowed by money power", turning the government into one run by Mamata, mafia and money power. New Delhi, March 8 : Indian carrier Air India announced on Sunday that it will operate 78 additional flights on nine routes between March 10 and March 18, 2026, to support passengers amid the ongoing situation in West Asia. The carrier is deploying extra capacity to New York (JFK), London (Heathrow), Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Colombo and Male, adding 17,660 seats on the nine routes in both directions, the release from Air India said. The trips include Delhi-New York (JFK), Delhi-London (Heathrow), Mumbai-London (Heathrow) for "boosting much-needed capacity when travel options for passengers remain constrained," it said. Further planes will fly from Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Male and Colombo to Delhi. The additional flights on the European routes will operate with B787-8 and those to Male and Colombo will be operated with A320neo aircraft. The flights to New York (JFK) are subject to the requisite regulatory approvals and would operate with Air India's B777-300ER aircraft. "Despite the odds, Air India continues to maintain its scheduled services to Europe and North America, sustaining connectivity to several international gateways using alternative routings that are assessed as safe for operations," said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. "We are confident that passengers in need to travel to destinations in these regions will appreciate the additional options and reliability with Air India," he added. Due to continuing airspace restrictions in other parts of West Asia, the airlines will operate additional non-scheduled flights on March 8, the airline had said in another statement. "Air India will run extra flights between Delhi and Mumbai and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Air India Express will also operate 30 additional flights between India and UAE cities including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah," -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Raipur/Jagdalpur, March 8 : On the occasion of International Women's Day on Sunday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai transferred the 25th installment of the "Mahtari Vandan Yojana" to the bank accounts of more than 69 lakh (6.9 million) beneficiary women through direct benefit transfer at the Mahatari Vandan Sammelan-2026 event held in Jagdalpur. With a single click from the Sammelan venue, the Chief Minister released the latest installment, described as a gift of happiness and self-reliance to millions of women in Chhattisgarh. This digital transfer brought financial assistance directly to eligible married women across the state, marking another step in the state government's efforts to promote women's economic empowerment. The scheme, launched by the Chhattisgarh government, provides monthly financial support of one thousand rupees, amounting to twelve thousand rupees annually, to strengthen the financial independence of married women and help them meet family expenses. Earlier, in February this year, Chief Minister Sai had transferred Rs 6,41,34,00,000 as the 24th installment to beneficiaries. The consistent release of installments underscores the state's commitment to timely and transparent welfare delivery. As of now, the state government has disbursed a total of Rs 1,62,37,33,00,000 under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana through these periodic transfers. The event in Jagdalpur, a significant location in the Bastar region, saw enthusiastic participation, highlighting the scheme's reach even in remote and tribal areas. Beneficiaries have used the assistance for household needs, children's education, healthcare, and small entrepreneurial activities, contributing to improved family well-being and women's decision-making roles at home. Officials said that the programme continues to benefit nearly 70 lakh women statewide, with direct bank transfers ensuring no middlemen and full accountability. The Chief Minister emphasised that such initiatives reflect the state government's priority on inclusive development, focusing on women's welfare as a foundation for societal progress. This latest transfer on International Women's Day reinforces the message of equality, justice, and action for women. New Delhi, March 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a Post-Budget Webinar on the theme "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas -- Fulfilling Aspirations of People" on March 9. New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a Post-Budget Webinar on the theme "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas -- Fulfilling Aspirations of People" on March 9. The event will begin at 10:15 AM and will be held through video conferencing. The webinar will focus on key areas highlighted in the Union Budget and aims to discuss ways to implement government policies effectively. Several breakout sessions will be organised during the event, covering sectors such as education and skilling, health and AYUSH, tourism and hospitality. During the discussions, participants will explore initiatives designed to strengthen the link between education and employment. There will also be deliberations on developing content creator labs for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC), a sector that has been identified as a growing area for job creation and innovation. In the healthcare sector, the sessions will examine plans to expand the training of allied health professionals and caregivers. Discussions will also focus on the development of regional medical hubs and the establishment of new institutions related to AYUSH systems of medicine. Tourism-related initiatives will also be a major part of the webinar. These include skill development in the hospitality sector, promotion of sustainable tourism trails, and development of Buddhist circuits in the North-Eastern region. Efforts to promote heritage tourism will also be discussed. According to the government, the Post-Budget Webinar is intended to bring together representatives from the government, industry and various sectors to discuss practical ways of implementing the announcements made in the Union Budget. The discussions are expected to generate actionable recommendations that can help accelerate inclusive growth and development across the country. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) Redevelopment Plan in the national capital. PM Modi handed over the keys of the Type-5 quarters to the female allottees. New Delhi, March 8 : Women parliamentarians and leaders participating in the two-day national convention of women thought leaders, 'Bharati-Nari to Narayani', highlighted the role of women's empowerment rooted in Indian traditions while addressing the gathering in the national capital on the occasion of International Women's Day. New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Women parliamentarians and leaders participating in the two-day national convention of women thought leaders, 'BharatiNari to Narayani', highlighted the role of women's empowerment rooted in Indian traditions while addressing the gathering in the national capital on the occasion of International Women's Day. Speaking to IANS, BJP MP Kavita Patidar expressed pride in the Rashtriya Sevika Samiti's initiative to organise the programme. She said the convention showcased the strength and contribution of Indian women and reflected the steps taken by the government to empower them. "I am extremely proud that the Rashtriya Sevika Samiti has organised this programme on International Women's Day. Here, we are witnessing the power of Indian women, and it reflects the steps our Prime Minister has taken to empower women, granting them rights and respect. an example of that can be seen here," she said. Referring to Indian spiritual philosophy, Patidar said that Lord Shiva, assuming the form of Ardhanarishwar, symbolised the importance of women's participation in society. "By assuming the form of Ardhanarishwar, Lord Shiva gave the message to the entire world that without the participation of women, the welfare of the world and society is not possible," she added. Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma also greeted people on International Women's Day and said such events play an important role in bringing women together for dialogue and social engagement. "These events are being conducted in a very organised manner, bringing women together along with their families. Discussions are also being held to include women MPs and leaders, and I had the opportunity to be part of one such discussion," Sharma said. She emphasised the need to continue organising such programmes in society. "Society is changing rapidly, but in this change, the influence of Western culture is also becoming visible. Therefore, today India needs to move forward while staying rooted in its ancient traditions and culture," she added. BJP MP Sumitra Balmik also spoke about the cultural and traditional aspects highlighted during the programme held at Vigyan Bhavan. She said that on International Women's Day, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with V. Shanta Akka, Director of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, guided the programme and women participants reflected upon various cultural, national, political and traditional legacies. Meanwhile, BJP leader Sandhya Verma extended greetings to women across the country and said the theme 'Nari Tu Narayani' reflects the rising strength and empowerment of women in India. "I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all the mothers, sisters and women across the country. The theme 'Nari Tu Narayani' reflects the growing strength and empowerment of women in our nation," she said. The convention brought together women leaders, parliamentarians and social workers to discuss the role of women in shaping society and the nation, while highlighting cultural and traditional values. New Delhi, March 8 : Women business leaders and professionals from diverse fields on Sunday lauded the national convention of women thought leaders titled "Bharati -- Nari to Narayani", saying the platform has brought together women from across communities and sectors to deliberate on empowerment, culture and leadership. Speaking to IANS, Lakshmi Puri, Ambassador and former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, extended greetings on the occasion of International Women's Day and said she felt privileged to participate in the unique gathering. "Happy International Women's Day to all women and girls in India and around the world. I am particularly pleased and privileged to be here at this first-of-its-kind conference, which has been organised to bring together women and girls from all over India, from all communities, all generations and from different sectors and professions," she said. Sangeet Natak Akademi Chairperson, Sandhya Purecha, said the discussions at the convention covered a wide spectrum, ranging from India's ancient knowledge traditions to modern policy frameworks. "I feel very proud to say that discussions here covered everything from our ancient knowledge to modern policies. Another very important point was the focus on women's empowerment, the strengthening of families, and conversations about culture and progress," she added. Highlighting the theme of the event, Purecha said that the journey from "Nari to Narayani" symbolises recognising the deeper strength and potential of women in society. "The entire journey from Nari to Narayani -- it's true essence and the meaning behind it -- was discussed here. I believe that India has not conquered the world through weapons but through the legacy of our knowledge and culture," she added. Businesswoman Shashi Buvna said the gathering brought together women from different social and economic backgrounds, allowing them to share experiences and perspectives. "I believe that every woman, whether she comes from a lower-income group, a middle-class family, or a high-class family, faces different kinds of situations and challenges in her life. At this gathering, people from all sections of society have come together," she added. She said that the wide-ranging discussions during the convention were helping draw meaningful conclusions on issues concerning women's progress and empowerment. "Through these conversations, the conclusions of all these discussions are now coming forward," Buvna added. The two-day convention in the national capital saw participation from women leaders, professionals, and social workers, who discussed issues ranging from cultural heritage and leadership to women's empowerment and societal development. Groceries are a little harder to come by in dozens of neighborhoods this year in the wake of an ongoing retreat from The Kroger Co. Most Read from Fast Company The Cincinnati-based supermarket company has been shuttering locations since June of last year, when it announced a footprint optimization plan that would result in the closure of about 60 stores. According to a Fast Company review of local media reports and online review platforms like Yelp, Kroger could be more than halfway through that process. Some 33 stores have already closed, with at least three more confirmed so far this year. Closures in the months since the announcement largely impact stores under the flagship Kroger banner, but also include Kroger-owned Fred Meyer, Frys Food and Drug, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, Marianos, Pick n Save, and QFC locations. Kroger has not publicly provided a list of locations that would be impacted by its plan, which was disclosed in a quarterly earnings report and was expected to bring modest financial benefit. Its unclear how many jobs have been lost by Krogers plan. As of early 2025, when it last filed an annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), it had 409,000 full- and part-time employees. Kroger said it operated 2,731 supermarkets at that time. Fast Company reached out to Kroger for comment. Kroger also announced in August that it was laying off about 1,000 corporate workers, and during its most recent earnings call this week, it said it planned to close 50 underperforming locations of its Little Clinic walk-in care centers. Shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) are up over 18% this year, far outperforming the S&P 500, which is down 1.5% this year as of Friday. Job losses and union pushback Krogers decision to close stores has been controversial, with residents and food workers unions accusing the company of abandoning certain communities where Kroger was the only remaining option for affordable groceries. The closures come during an affordability crisis that has more and more families across America struggling to pay their food bills. According to a recent research brief from Stacy Mitchell and Katy Milani of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, grocery desertslow-income areas where at least a third of residents dont have easy access to a supermarketexacerbate this problem. Agartala, March 8 : Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday interacted with members of Women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) at the International Trade & Fair Centre in Tripura on the occasion of International Women's Day and lauded their contribution to grassroots development and women's empowerment. Addressing a gathering of SHG members and 'Lakhpati Didis' at the International Trade & Fair Centre at Hapania, on the outskirts of the capital city, the Vice-President said that India has witnessed a major transformation in the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, moving from the concept of women development to women-led development. He noted that Self-Help Groups have emerged as a powerful instrument of social and economic empowerment, enabling women to become confident leaders and active contributors to the nation's progress. Highlighting the 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative, Radhakrishnan said that around 10 crore women have been connected to Self-Help Groups across the country and more than two crore women have already become 'Lakhpati Didis'. A 'Lakhpati Didi' is an SHG member whose annual household income exceeds Rs 1 lakh. Appreciating the efforts of the Tripura government, he noted that the state has set an ambitious target of creating 1.35 lakh 'Lakhpati Didis', reflecting the rapid progress being made in the field of women's empowerment. The Vice-President also highlighted initiatives such as 'Namo Drone Didi' and the prioritisation of women beneficiaries under schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission and Ujjwala Yojana, which he said have significantly improved the lives of women. Noting the growing achievements of women in education and entrepreneurship, Radhakrishnan expressed confidence that many 'Lakhpati Didis' would soon become 'Crorepati Didis', further strengthening the nation's economy. The Vice-President also visited SHG stalls at the International Trade & Fair Centre at Hapania and was briefed about the local products being showcased by Self-Help Groups from various districts. The programme was attended by Tripura Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Manik Saha, several members of the Legislative Assembly, senior officials of the state government and members of various Women's Self-Help Groups. Earlier in the day, the Vice-President addressed the 14th convocation ceremony of Tripura University. He also visited the Mata Tripura Sundari temple at Udaipur in southern Tripura on Sunday morning and offered prayers. The temple is one of the 51 Hindu Shakti Peethas. Radhakrishnan also paid tribute to martyred soldiers at the Albert Ekka Memorial Park at Lichu Bagan on the outskirts of Agartala. A post on the X handle of the Vice-President of India said: "Vice-President Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan paid floral tributes to Param Vir Chakra awardee Lance Naik Albert Ekka at the Albert Ekka War Memorial in Agartala, Tripura today. He remembered the extraordinary courage and supreme sacrifice of the 1971 Indo-Pak War hero during the Battle of Gangasagar, describing it as a timeless example of the indomitable spirit of the Indian Armed Forces." "Recalling his visit to the janmabhoomi of Lance Naik Albert Ekka in Gumla, Jharkhand, during his tenure as Governor of Jharkhand, the Vice-President said that the nation continues to draw inspiration from the gallant soldier's bravery and selfless service," the post added. Chennai, March 8 : Ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K. Selvaperunthagai said on Sunday that the Congress would lead the alliance in Puducherry, while the DMK would continue to lead the alliance in Tamil Nadu. "The Congress has always been the leading political force in Puducherry, while the DMK is the leading party in Tamil Nadu," Selvaperunthagai said while addressing reporters after a consultation meeting of senior party leaders at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, the Congress headquarters in Chennai. The meeting was held as political parties intensify preparations ahead of the announcement of Assembly election dates for five states -- Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam -- which are expected to be declared in the coming days. The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President also said the Congress would contest 28 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu as part of the seat-sharing arrangement within the DMK-led alliance. "We will be contesting in 28 Assembly constituencies. In the seats where we are not contesting, we will work wholeheartedly for the victory of our alliance partners," he added. The consultation meeting was attended by senior Congress leaders, including party observer Mukul Wasnik and senior in-charge Girish Chodankar. Discussions focused on election preparedness and coordination between the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry units of the Congress ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mukul Wasnik expressed strong confidence about the alliance's prospects in the elections. "We are very confident about our success in the forthcoming Assembly elections. Senior executives from both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have shared their views and suggestions during the meeting, and we have taken them into consideration," Wasnik said. During the interaction, reporters asked why Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had not publicly expressed happiness after the alliance agreement with the DMK was finalised. Responding to the query, Selvaperunthagai said there was no reason to doubt Rahul Gandhi's satisfaction with the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. "He (Rahul Gandhi) will certainly be happy after the alliance has been formed, but he may not necessarily express it publicly," he added. Senior Congress leader Girish Chodankar also highlighted the party's organisational strength at the grassroots level. "The Congress has a strong network of booth committee members across the state, and they will play an important role in ensuring the victory of the alliance in the upcoming elections," he said. Seat-sharing talks between the DMK and Congress for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections have already been concluded, with the Congress allotted 28 Assembly constituencies and one Rajya Sabha seat. Discussions on seat-sharing arrangements in Puducherry are also continuing as the parties prepare for the polls. New Delhi, March 8 : India has started securing additional crude oil supplies from alternative global sources as the conflict involving Iran continues to disrupt energy flows in West Asia. Indian refiners are negotiating cargoes from countries such as the United States, Russia and producers in West Africa to ensure stable fuel supplies if the geopolitical tensions persist, according to the sources. The move comes as tensions in the region have raised concerns about disruptions in oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route used by global energy markets. Nearly half of India's crude oil imports passed through the strait in February. India imports around 88 per cent of its crude oil requirement, making stable supply routes critical for the country's energy security. To prepare for possible disruptions, refineries have postponed planned maintenance shutdowns and are maintaining normal processing rates so that enough fuel can be produced to meet demand in the near term. "Non-strait sources are fully operational and we are sourcing more supplies from non-conflict zones," as per the sources, adding that about 60 per cent of India's crude imports came from outside the Strait of Hormuz in 2025. After the escalation in the Middle East conflict, that share has increased to nearly 70 per cent. The supply situation has also been supported by a temporary waiver issued by the US Treasury Department, which allows the sale and delivery of sanctioned Russian crude that had already been loaded onto ships before March 5. The waiver is valid until April 5 and allows cargoes already in transit to be delivered without violating sanctions. Meanwhile, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said India's energy supply situation remains stable despite the geopolitical tensions. Speaking to reporters, Puri said the country is successfully managing the challenge of ensuring energy availability, affordability and sustainability in the current global environment. "Energy imports into the country are in full flow from all non-Hormuz routes. The energy requirements of our citizens are being fully met. India is in a comfortable position and there is no room for anxiety or speculation," he said. Chennai, March 8 : In view of the expected surge in tourist arrivals during the summer vacation season, the Southern Railway's Salem Railway Division has announced the operation of a summer special Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) service between Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district and Udhagamandalam (Ooty) in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. The move is aimed at accommodating the growing number of visitors heading to the popular hill destination in the Nilgiris. According to railway officials, the special mountain train will operate from March 27 to July 5, running twice a week on Fridays and Sundays from Mettupalayam to Ooty. It will depart from Mettupalayam at 9.10 a.m. and is scheduled to reach Udhagamandalam at 2.25 p.m., offering passengers a leisurely journey through the picturesque Nilgiri hills. The return service will run from March 28 to July 6 on Saturdays and Mondays from Ooty to Mettupalayam. On these days, the train will leave Ooty at 11.25 a.m. and arrive at Mettupalayam at 4.20 p.m. Railway authorities said the introduction of the special services comes in response to the sharp increase in tourist bookings during the summer months, when families, students, and travellers flock to hill stations to escape the intense heat in the plains. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO-recognised heritage rail line, currently operates between Mettupalayam and Udhagamandalam and is renowned for its breathtaking views of lush forests, tea plantations, tunnels, and steep mountain curves, making it one of the most sought-after tourist experiences in South India. Under the regular schedule, the heritage train departs Mettupalayam at 7.10 a.m. and reaches Ooty around noon. The route, which covers about 46 kilometres, attracts both domestic and international tourists who travel specifically to experience the historic steam-powered mountain railway. However, with school and college examinations nearing completion and summer holidays approaching, demand for tickets on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway has risen sharply. Many passengers have reportedly found it difficult to secure seats on the regular service due to the high demand. Officials said the additional summer special services are expected to ease ticket shortages and accommodate more travellers eager to explore the cool climate and scenic beauty of the Nilgiris. The railways have advised passengers to book tickets in advance through authorised booking platforms to avoid last-minute inconvenience, as the mountain train continues to remain one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu during the summer season. --IANS aal/vd Kathmandu, March 8 : Nepal's probe panel investigating September's Gen Z protests and its aftermath, which had reportedly left over 70 people dead and led to the fall of the K. P. Sharma Oli government, finally submitted its report to interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Sunday. There was some reluctance earlier in certain quarters within the current administration in accepting the report running into 1,000 pages, drafted by the three-member committee, headed by a retired judge of Nepal's Supreme Court, Gauri Bahadur Karki. Earlier media articles suggested that the government may not want to make the report public before the March 5 election. "The findings and recommendations of the Gauri Bahadur Karki-led commission are considered crucial. Leaders from the old parties warn that if the report is released before the elections and implicates leaders who are contesting, it could influence the electoral process. As the election code of conduct is already in effect, the Election Commission also has the authority to advise the government on the matter," The Kathmandu Post said last month. Incidentally, the government formed the commission on September 21, initially giving a three-month timeframe. However, it was later extended by another 20 days. The early February Kathmandu Post report had quoted two unnamed ministers saying that although not formally discussed, the government is not inclined to receive the report ahead of the March elections. Though there was pressure from human rights organisations and Gen Z groups, the interim government, with advice from the Election Commission, chose to accept the report only after the election was over. There were apprehensions of some influential names being mentioned in the report that may affect the poll process itself. The commission members are said to have interviewed about 200 individuals and consulted experts before finalising the report, recommending actions against people held guilty. Recording of statements was reportedly over by the first week of February. It included political stalwarts, including Nepali Congress's ex-president Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepali Communist Party leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), former Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayor and projected PM candidate Balendra Shah, among others. The members also interviewed members of security agencies, like the then inspector general of Nepal Police, his successor and incumbent, head of the Armed Police Force, Chief of the Army Staff, and the then head of the National Investigation Department. The commission's terms of reference included investigating and recommend action on all losses occurred during the September 8 and 9 protests; inquire into the causes; receive and analyse information or petitions related to the losses; present measures and suggestions to be adopted to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future; and present a clear action plan for the implementation of the suggestions mentioned in the report. The mandate was later expanded following a 10-point agreement between Gen Z representatives and the government on November 30. Even before assuming his role as the panel chairman, reported Kantipur News last year, Gauri Bahadur Karki courted controversy by airing his views publicly that those involved in the suppression of the Gen-G movement should be brought to book, they should be investigated and not allowed to escape. "How can a person who has formed an opinion before the formation of the commission act independently? The question is being raised," added the report. The report going public may now attract retaliation from certain quarters against people who are held responsible for the violence, said a former administrator in Kathmandu. It is more so against those names involved in the police firing that killed 17 people, including a schoolboy, he said, adding that Gauri Bahadur Karki is a "no-nonsense and aggressive" person who will not hide behind innuendos. New Delhi, March 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Sunday joined by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in extending greetings on the International Women's Day, lauding the role of "Nari Shakti" in India's progress. In a post on social media platform X, the Union Home Minister said, "Warm greetings to our "Nari Shakti" on the International Women's Day. Humankind is indebted to the peerless role Nari Shakti plays in society. Nurturing generations and driving scientific and economic progress, they contribute to every aspect of our lives." "This deep gratitude drives PM Narendra Modi Ji's vision of women-led development, where women are no longer just witnesses to progress but the changemakers, who pave our journey to greatness," Union Minister Shah added. Prime Minister Modi greeted women across the country and acknowledged their growing role in shaping India's progress. He said that across every field, women are contributing with determination, creativity and unmatched zeal, and that their achievements inspire the nation while strengthening the collective resolve to build a 'Viksit Bharat'. Highlighting the Union government's commitment towards women-led development, the Prime Minister noted that empowerment of women lies at the core of several schemes and initiatives of the government. He reiterated that the Union government remains committed to creating opportunities that enable every woman to realise her full potential and contribute to India's journey of development. Prime Minister Modi also remarked that the achievements of India's "Nari Shakti" are a source of pride for the nation and a powerful reminder of the transformative role played by women in nation building. He added that as India progresses further, the aspirations and contributions of women will continue to guide the country's collective journey towards a strong and prosperous nation. Prime Minister Modi also shared a glimpse of how the lives of women at the grassroots have been transformed over the past decade, highlighting the impact of initiatives aimed at empowering women across the country. Chandigarh, March 8 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, on Sunday, attended the grand Hola Mohalla celebrations at Namdhari Gurdwara in Sirsa district and sought blessings from the Sant Samaj. Addressing a large gathering, the Chief Minister said he felt extremely happy to be present among them on the occasion of the glorious festival of Hola Mohalla being celebrated at this sacred ashram. Bowing at the feet of Sant Dilip Singh Maharaj, Chief Minister Saini added that the Sant Samaj is doing a great service by connecting society through love, service, brotherhood and spirituality. He said the sacred land of Sirsa has long been a "tapobhoomi" of saints and great personalities. In the year 1507, the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, set foot on this land. To carry forward his teachings, Gurdwara Sri Chilla Sahib was established here. The Chief Minister added that many saints such as Baba Sarsai Nath and Baba Bhooman Shah spread the message of spirituality, service and humanity from this land. Their teachings continue to guide society in the right direction even today, he said. The Chief Minister noted that Hola Mohalla "is not merely a festival but a living symbol of India's rich culture, bravery and spiritual tradition. It inspires people to maintain a balance between courage and devotion in life". He said the festival "is not only about colours but also represents the resolve to stand against injustice and uphold righteousness. Dashmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh-ji had initiated the tradition of celebrating Hola Mohalla to strengthen the Khalsa traditions and promote brotherhood and unity in society along with the enthusiasm of Holi". The Chief Minister added the history of the Namdhari community is filled with sacrifice, penance and dedication. "The Kuka Movement started by Satguru Ram Singh Maharaj is an important chapter in India's freedom struggle." He said that when the country was under colonial rule, the Namdhari community promoted the message of adopting Swadeshi and boycotting foreign goods, which gave new energy to the freedom movement. The Chief Minister also paid tribute to the brave Namdhari martyrs, who stood fearlessly before cannons in Punjab's Malerkotla, and sacrificed their lives with smiles but never abandoned the path of truth and self-respect. New Delhi, March 8 : The Narcotics Control Bureau seized 2,338 LSD blotters and busted a drug traffickers' network that was active on darknet platforms and the encrypted Session messaging application since January 2025, an official said on Sunday. During the operation, NCB officers seized 2,338 LSD blotters, 160 MDMA (Ecstasy) pills weighing 77.517 grams, 73.612 grams of charas, 3.642 grams of amphetamine, and 3.6 kg of liquid MDMA from 13 domestically intercepted parcels and 2 parcels originating from the Netherlands linked to the network, said the official in a statement. The seizure highlights the growing use of darknet marketplaces and encrypted communication platforms by drug traffickers to distribute narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, it said. "The operation marks one of the significant crackdowns on darknet-based narcotics trafficking networks operating in India," said the NCB in a statement. Earlier, NCB secured the conviction of a drug trafficker in a 2022 case involving heroin smuggling across the IndoPak border at Jalalabad, Punjab. A Special NDPS Court, Fazilka, sentenced Vakeel Singh, a resident of Dhandi Qadim, Fazilka, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The case pertains to the seizure of 1.790 kg of heroin by BSF in September 2022 while foiling a smuggling attempt across the border. The NCB later took over the case and found that the contraband, supplied by a Pakistani national, was retrieved by the convict from across the border fence and concealed in two cold drink bottles inside the tractor's bumper. The NCB recently also busted an international drug trafficking network linking Nepal, India and Sri Lanka with the arrest of five accused and seizure of 77.60 kg Hashish Oil and 2 kg Charas valued at nearly Rs 10 crore. Acting on credible intelligence regarding the movement of narcotic drugs across multiple states, officers of NCB Hyderabad Zonal Unit intercepted a Tata Safari Storme car on March 3 near Raikal Toll Plaza on the BengaluruHyderabad Highway in Telangana. During the search of the vehicle, 2 kg of Charas was recovered concealed in specially fabricated cavities. Two persons, one a Delhi resident and the other a Uttar Pradesh resident, were apprehended in connection with the transportation of the Contraband, said an NCB statement. Preliminary investigation revealed that the recovered Charas, along with other consignments of about 78 kg of Hashish Oil, was trafficked into India from Kathmandu, Nepal, through the Sonauli Indo-Nepal Border. Consignment of about 78 kg Hashish Oil was already delivered by the arrested persons at Thoothukudi for onward trafficking to Sri Lanka via sea route, it said. Agartala/Aizawl, March 8 : The Red Shield Division of the Indian Army, on Sunday, organised a series of health and wellness initiatives across Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur to mark the International Women's Day, aiming to promote preventive healthcare and enhance medical awareness among women and their families. According to officials, the outreach programmes focused on addressing critical health concerns while encouraging community participation in life-saving initiatives. Marking the spirit of strength, resilience and unity, the Indian Army's Spear Corps celebrated the International Women's Day with great enthusiasm at Vibrant Village Tuting in the remote Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The event paid tribute to the remarkable contributions of women in society and highlighted the importance of empowering women in border communities. The celebration brought together women from the local villages in a vibrant display of camaraderie, health awareness and community bonding. The programme commenced with a rejuvenating yoga session aimed at promoting physical fitness, mental well-being and stress reduction. Conducted in the serene natural surroundings of Tuting, the session encouraged participants to adopt a healthy lifestyle and showcased the benefits of yoga as a holistic practice for maintaining both physical and emotional balance. Adding a unique and joyful dimension to the event, a friendly futsal match was organised between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law from the local community. The match, filled with laughter, cheers and enthusiastic participation, symbolised the spirit of harmony, mutual respect and family unity. It not only served as a platform for recreation but also strengthened the bonds within families and the community at large. The initiative reflected the Indian Army's continued commitment towards fostering social cohesion and empowering women in remote border areas. By organising such inclusive activities, the Spear Corps aims to create opportunities for women to come together, express themselves and build confidence while reinforcing the importance of well-being and community support. The event also highlighted the role of women as the backbone of families and communities, particularly in remote regions where their contributions often shape the social and economic fabric of society. Through initiatives like these, the Indian Army continues to encourage women's participation in community development while promoting values of equality, respect and empowerment. Participants expressed their gratitude for the initiative, saying that such events not only bring joy and recreation but also inspire women to prioritise their health, well-being and personal growth. The celebration concluded with a shared message of unity and empowerment, reinforcing that when women are supported and encouraged, they become powerful agents of positive change. The Indian Army remains committed to working alongside local communities to promote well-being, harmony and progress in the border regions. The event at Tuting stood as a meaningful tribute to the spirit of Nari Shakti -- where grace meets grit and empowered women continue to inspire stronger and more resilient communities. In Aizawl, Mizoram, an HPV vaccination drive was conducted to support the prevention of cervical cancer. A total of seven girls received the vaccine, marking an important step towards safeguarding the health of the younger generation. In Agartala, Tripura's state capital, a blood donation camp was organised where 35 individuals, including women, voluntarily donated blood, contributing to strengthening local healthcare reserves and reflecting the spirit of selfless service. At Leimakhong in Manipur, the Indian Army organised a medical and dental health check-up camp along with an awareness lecture. The camp witnessed the participation of 125 women and their family members, who benefited from professional medical screening and awareness sessions on maintaining long-term dental and physical health. Through these initiatives, the Red Shield Division reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the health and well-being of women in the region. By addressing key health issues such as cervical cancer prevention and oral health awareness, the initiative aims to contribute to building healthier communities across the Northeast. The Indian Army said that it remains steadfast in its commitment to the welfare of the people of the Northeast, ensuring that quality medical care and health awareness reach even the remotest corners of the region. New Delhi, March 8 : Two persons have been arrested for allegedly manufacturing and supplying counterfeit protein supplements of reputed brands in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), the Delhi Police Crime Branch said on Sunday. The accused, identified as Mohit Tiwari and Mohit Dixit, both residents of Brahmpuri in northeast Delhi, were arrested following a crackdown by a team of the Crime Branch. Police said the racket involved the production and sale of fake protein supplements of well-known brands, which could pose serious health risks to consumers. According to the police, a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Copyright Act, 1957, at the Crime Branch police station in New Delhi. Acting on specific intelligence, a team of the Crime Branchas NDR unit conducted a follow-up operation in the Brahmpuri area on March 6. During the operation, the two accused were apprehended for their alleged role in manufacturing and supplying counterfeit protein supplements. During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to their involvement in the racket and led the police team to illegal manufacturing units operating from Brahmpuri. Investigators said the units were being used to prepare fake supplements by mixing various raw materials and packing them in containers bearing labels of reputed brands. Police seized a large quantity of counterfeit supplements, packaging materials, and raw materials from the units. The recovered items included boxes of protein supplements labelled as Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey, Syntha-6 Ultra Premium Protein Matrix and Isopure Zero Carb Protein, along with flavouring agents, cocoa powder, whey protein powder, fat powder and maltodextrin powder. The Crime Branch also recovered packaging materials such as brand stickers, hologram labels, seals, plastic jars, and lids bearing the names of reputed brands. Two mixing machines and weighing machines used for preparing the fake supplements were also seized. In total, around 100 kg of counterfeit protein supplements and 55 kg of raw materials used for manufacturing the products were recovered from the premises. Two mobile phones used by the accused were also seized. Police said the accused had been manufacturing fake supplements by mixing maltodextrin and flavouring agents and selling them in the market under the labels of popular brands to make quick profits. Further investigation is underway to trace the co-accused, including Anil Biswa, and to identify the supply chain, sources of raw materials and the distribution network used to circulate the counterfeit supplements in the market, police said. Tight-on-time Kroger shoppers got some good news this week, when the 143-year-old grocery retailer announced new additions to its Private Selection brand. More than 20 new convenience meals, including frozen entrees, refrigerated deli items, and freshly-roasted chicken, will be hitting shelves at Kroger stores across the country this month, the company said in a statement on March 2. The new offerings will deliver the bold flavor of restaurant classics without the restaurant prices. The new Private Selection line brings high quality and convenience without the premium price tag or hours spent in the kitchen," Kroger Group Vice President of Our Brands Ann Reed said in the statement. "The meals provide an exceptional value that allows customers to enjoy exciting and flavorful dishes that are high quality and ready in minutes." But a low price point doesnt mean shoppers are compromising on ingredient quality or flavor. At Kroger, customers do not have to choose between a good meal and a good deal, the company said. Standouts from the new range include Korean-inspired beef bulgogi, Chinese-inspired mandarin chicken, and ready-to-cook chicken parmesan. Krogers renewed commitment to store brands The additions to the Private Selection line are a part of Krogers (KR) larger strategy of focusing on its own brands. During the companys Q4 2026 earnings call earlier this month, chairman Ronald Sargent told investors that sales of Simple Truth and Private Selection played a major role in Krogers revenue growth. Kroger announced it would be adding 20 new convenience meals to its Private Selections line.Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock Our Brands had a solid quarter, Sargent said. Simple Truth and Private Selection again led our growth, with customers continuing to choose these products because they deliver high quality at an affordable price. The Private Selection story Kroger launched its Private Selection label back in 2000. In all, the line has more than 3,600 unique products. While there have certainly been some flops earlier this month, the USDA recalled Krogers Chinese Inspirations Chicken Fried Rice thanks to potential glass contamination there have also been some major hits. Related: 143-year-old grocery chain closes more locations, lays off dozens According to Kroger, top sellers include: Private Selection Croissant Loaf Bread Private Selection salad kits Private Selection Amaretto Cherry Cordial Ice Cream Private Selection cheesecakes Fans of the grocery stores own brands should keep their eyes peeled for even more additions over the next several months. Innovation continues to be a priority, Sargent told investors during Marchs call. The chairman noted that the company was particularly focused on adding health and wellness related items as it saw increased customer demand in those categories. New Delhi, March 8 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dedicating historic projects worth over Rs 18,000 crore to the people of Delhi on International Women's Day New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dedicating historic projects worth over Rs 18,000 crore to the people of Delhi on International Womenas Day PM Modi inaugurated two new corridors of the Delhi Metro and laid the foundation stone for three new corridors under Phase V(A). These projects, worth over Rs 18,000 crore, will strengthen connectivity across the capital and make travel faster, safer and more convenient for millions of residents, she said. Speaking at the programme, CM Gupta welcomed the Prime Minister and said that the visit is a moment of pride for the capital. She stated that the Prime Minister presenting such an important gift to the people of Delhi, particularly women, on the occasion of International Womenas Day, was highly significant. While every citizen will benefit from modern public transport, it will be especially important for mothers, sisters and daughters as a safe and convenient mode of travel, she said. Chief Minister Gupta said that the two corridors inaugurated by the Prime Minister include Majlis Park to Maujpura"Babarpur (approximately 12 km) and Majlis Park to Deepali Chowk (approximately 9 km). With the commencement of these corridors, travel will become easier for lakhs of people across Delhi. In particular, areas in Trans-Yamuna such as Wazirabad, Khajuri Khas, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar and Karawal Nagar will receive Metro connectivity for the first time. Chief Minister Gupta stated that the three new Metro corridors for which the foundation stone has been laid today will further accelerate Delhias connectivity and development. She also described the commencement of trial operations on the Delhia"Dehradun Expressway as another significant development for the capital. The Chief Minister said that under the guidance and blessings of the Prime Minister, the Delhi government has completed one year in office, and during this period, the government has worked with dedication and honesty in line with the Prime Ministeras mantra of hard work and integrity in public service. Schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, the cleaning of the Yamuna and addressing the issue of landfill mountains have remained among the key priorities of the Delhi government, and work is being carried out in mission mode on these fronts, she said. She stated that, inspired by the Prime Ministeras guiding principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, 70 Atal Canteens have been launched in Delhi, where affordable meals are being provided to the poor, dependents and labourers at very nominal prices. Around 70,000 people are receiving meals daily at these canteens. She added that concrete steps are also being taken, with the support of the Central government, to address the issues of pollution and waterlogging in the city. After nearly 50 years, a new drainage master plan has been prepared for Delhi, which will help address the problems of waterlogging and pollution, she said. The Chief Minister said that, inspired by the Prime Ministeras vision of Meri Punji, Mera Adhikar, the Delhi government has disbursed nearly Rs 200 crore to around 70,000 girls under the Ladli Scheme, clearing long-pending payments that had remained unclaimed in accounts and had not reached the beneficiaries earlier. Referring to the Prime Ministeras emphasis on technology and transparency, the Chief Minister stated that the Delhi government has promoted digitalisation across all departments. Initiatives include the e-file system, digital records in hospitals, online OPD booking, digital asset management, a project management portal and the CM Jan Sunwai App, she said. She added that extensive digital initiatives have also been undertaken in the education sector. In Delhias government schools, 7,000 smart classrooms, 275 computer laboratories and 100 digital libraries have been established. Over the past 365 days, the Delhi government has worked continuously to serve the people and move towards resolving several long-pending issues, she said. Referring to International Womenas Day, the Chief Minister said that PM Modi has undertaken historic initiatives for the dignity, safety and empowerment of women in the country. The construction of 12 crore toilets, the provision of 10 crore Ujjwala gas connections, financial empowerment through Jan Dhan accounts, the Mudra scheme, and the initiative for 33 per cent reservation for women are significant steps towards strengthening womenas empowerment. The Chief Minister further stated that the recent initiative by the Prime Minister to provide free cervical cancer vaccination for girls aged 14-15 years reflects his commitment to womenas health. New Delhi, March 8 : Several beneficiaries and attendees expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his rally in the Burari area of the national capital, highlighting the benefits of government welfare schemes, particularly the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Among those who interacted with the Prime Minister was Shobha Devi, a beneficiary who shared how the Ayushman Card helped her receive crucial medical treatment. A heart patient, she said, the expenses for her treatment were becoming overwhelming before she received assistance under the scheme. Speaking to IANS, she said, "PM Modi personally handed over the card to us and spoke with us. We are very thankful to him, recalling her interaction with the Prime Minister. She added that the Ayushman Card had provided significant financial relief and enabled her to continue her treatment without worrying about mounting medical costs. Another attendee at the rally praised the Prime Minister's initiatives for the public, especially women. "PM Modi has given wholeheartedly to the people, and he has done even more for women," the attendee said. Sharing a similar experience, another participant highlighted how the health scheme helped their family during a medical emergency. "My mother's treatment was done through the Ayushman Card. The hospital bill was around Rs 1,09,000, and it was completely free of cost for us," the attendee said. A woman attendee said receiving benefits from the government on International Women's Day made the moment even more special. "We feel very fortunate that we received this gift, and that too on Women's Day. He has done so much work for people," she said. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, launched by the government in 2018, is the world's largest publicly funded health assurance scheme. It provides health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to economically vulnerable families, helping millions access affordable healthcare across the country. New Delhi, March 8 : President Droupadi Murmu said on Sunday that empowered women play a very important role in social progress and are the greatest force needed for building the country's future. She added that educated, self-reliant women are builders of India, which is not just a piece of land, but a living nation. President Murmu expressed these views while addressing the concluding session of the two-day national conference of women thinkers titled "Bharti -- Naari Se Narayani" held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The conference brought together women thinkers from different fields across the country. The President said that in Indian tradition, women are not seen only as protectors of the family but also as symbols of knowledge, strength and prosperity. She added that today Indian women are achieving remarkable success in many fields such as education, science, administration, sports, entrepreneurship and social service, and are contributing significantly to nation building. President Murmu said that the real progress of any society is possible only when women receive equal opportunities, respect and security. She emphasised that women must get the freedom to make decisions, the opportunity to live with self-respect, and equal access to education and employment. The President also said that the idea of women-led development is growing rapidly in India today. Encouraging young girls, President Murmu added that they should move forward with confidence to achieve their dreams and actively contribute to the nation's development. She added that when women are empowered, families, society and the nation all become stronger. President Murmu expressed confidence that Indian women, through their knowledge, leadership and sensitivity, will take the country to new heights of progress and prosperity. At the closing ceremony, Rashtra Sevika Samiti Chief V. Shanta Kumari said that women should accept encouragement from society. "By increasing our abilities, respect naturally comes to us. Our behaviour should inspire society to support us, and we should use that support to work for the upliftment of society," she added. She said that after gaining respect -- moving from "Naari to Narayani" -- women can move forward in every field. She emphasised that women should stay connected with the roots of Indian culture and take pride in it, adding that in this way, they can become role models for others. President Murmu said that Indian women should use their knowledge to create a positive environment around them and strengthen their families, which will ultimately strengthen society and the nation. On this occasion, Shivani V., Bhartiya Vidvat Parishad Secretary, explained the objectives of the conference. The "Bharti a" Naari Se Narayani" conference aimed to strengthen the journey of women from silent strength to decisive power. Around 1,500 women thinkers from across the country participated in the conference and discussed topics such as women's empowerment, education, leadership, self-reliance and the role of women in society. The conference was organised by Bhartiya Vidvat Parishad, Rashtra Sevika Samiti and Sharanya Organisation. The main objective of the conference was to bring women together on one platform, share their experiences and ideas, and take meaningful steps toward women-led nation building. Chandigarh, March 8 : Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party's working President Ashwani Sharma on Sunday said that the state Budget "is a major betrayal of the mothers and sisters of the state and is disappointing for farmers, employees and the common people too". Chandigarh, March 8 (IANS) Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party's working President Ashwani Sharma on Sunday said that the state Budget "is a major betrayal of the mothers and sisters of the state and is disappointing for farmers, employees and the common people too". Reacting to the Budget for 2026-27, proposing a total outlay of Rs 260,437 crore and projecting the state's GSDP at Rs 980,635 crore with an estimated growth rate of 10 per cent, Sharma told the media here that the Aam Aadmi Party government, which was formed on March 16, 2022, will complete four years, i.e., 48 months, on March 16. "If the Bhagwant Mann government was truly sensitive towards women, it should have made a provision in the Budget to give them a lump sum of Rs 48,000 for the past four years, calculated at Rs 1,000 per month," he said. Sharma said the government announced giving Rs 1,000 or Rs 1,500 to women, but has not allocated the full required budget for it. Approximately Rs 15,000 crore is required for this scheme, whereas only Rs 9,300 crore has been provided in the Budget. "Moreover, the government has imposed a registration condition for the scheme. Just as the registration for the Rs 10 lakh health insurance scheme has not been completed so far, it is clear that the registration for this scheme will also remain pending for a long time, and women will not receive the benefits," said the BJP lawmaker. He said farmers have also been deceived because, despite electoral promises, the minimum support price (MSP) has not been provided for all 24 crops, and it has not been given a legal guarantee. Sharma said the state government is presenting funds coming under the Central government schemes as its own. "Road projects worth about Rs 15,000 crore are under Central government schemes; houses being built for the poor, Rs 3,504 crore under AMRUT 2.0, and facilities such as new classrooms and computers in schools are also being provided through funds from the Central government." He further said that the Budget has also ignored health services and the interests of employees, which has led to disappointment among the people. Kolkata, March 8 : The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police, on Sunday, told that they have been arrested two Bangladeshi nationals, who were accused of the killing of 'anti-India' leader and Inqilab Moncho Spokesperson, Sharif Osman Hadi, in December last year. According to a statement issued by the West Bengal Police, the two arrested Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as Rahul alias Faisal Karum Masud and Alamgir Hossain. The duo have been arrested from the India-Bangladesh border area under Bongaon sub-division in the North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal Police said in a statement. "There was secret credible information that two Bangladeshi nationals, after committing serious crimes, including extortion and murder in Bangladesh, had fled their country and illegally entered India, and were trying to take shelter in the border area of Bangaon with the intention of returning into Bangladesh when an opportunity arises," the statement added, a copy of which is available with IANS. "Acting on this information, a raid was conducted, and two Bangladeshi nationals were intercepted, namely Rahul alias Faisal Karim Masud (37), a resident of Bangladesh's Patuakhali, and Alamgir Hossain (34), resident of Dhaka, from the area of Bongaon in the intervening night of March 7-8, 2026," the statement said. As per the state, preliminary investigation had revealed that Rahul and Alamgir Hossain had committed the murder of Osman Hadi, a Bangladesh political activist, and then fled . "They illegally entered Indian territory through the Meghalaya border and moved through different places in India and finally came to West Bengal's Bongaon, with the intention of crossing back into Bangladesh," the statement added. A specific case has been registered in this regard, and the two arrested persons have been sent to police custody, on their production before the concerned court on Sunday. Further investigation into the matter is ongoing. Washington, March 8 : The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has urged the US government to redesignate Pakistan as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) over systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. In its 2026 Annual Report, the US federal watchdog recommended that the US government lift the existing waiver that exists for Pakistan, or not issue a waiver, releasing the administration from taking otherwise legislatively mandated action as a result of the CPC designation. Furthermore, the body called for imposing targeted sanctions on Pakistani officials and government agencies responsible for severe violations of religious freedom by freezing assets of those individuals and/or barring their entry into the United States under human rights-related financial and visa authorities, citing specific religious freedom violations. It also urged the US government to enter into a binding agreement with Pakistan under the IRFA to encourage measures to address violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), including release of people imprisoned for blasphemy or their religion or beliefs, repealing blasphemy and anti-Ahmadiyya laws and introducing reforms to make blasphemy a bailable offence, require evidence by accusers, carrying out proper investigations by senior police officials, and allow authorities to dismiss unfounded accusations and implementing existing penal code articles criminalising perjury and false accusations and holding accountable individuals who incite or participate in vigilante violence, targeted killings, forced conversion, and other religiously based crimes. In the report, the USCIRF stated: "The US Congress should incorporate religious freedom concerns into its larger oversight of the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship through hearings, letters, resolutions, and congressional delegations and advocate for the release of FoRB prisoners in Pakistan." "In 2025, religious freedom conditions in Pakistan continued along a troubling trajectory. The government continued to enforce its strict blasphemy law, impacting people of all faiths, including religious minorities. Increasing vigilante attacks and mob violence targeting religious minorities, specifically Ahmadiyya Muslims and Christians, contributed to an intensified climate of fear and intolerance." "Authorities continued to wield the blasphemy law and its death penalty provision to punish those deemed to have insulted Islam. In January, four individuals were sentenced to death for allegedly posting blasphemous content on social media. The same month, a mentally ill Christian man, Farhan Masih, was imprisoned on blasphemy and terrorism charges. Despite being acquitted, Masih could not return to his village out of fear for his safety. In February, a sessions court sentenced another man to death after a member of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) accused him of 'insulting religious sentiment." Violent attacks against religious minorities occurred with impunity and in some cases under accusations of forced conversions in Pakistan. In September last year, two gunmen attacked Christian pastor Kamran Naz as he travelled to Islamabad to lead a church service. The pastor had previously received death threats and was accused of "proselytising among Afghan refugees". Reports continued to emerge about forced conversions of Hindu and Christian girls in the Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan in 2025. In February, a 12-year-old Christian girl was reportedly forcibly converted to Islam and married to a 35-year-old man in Sindh Province. In July last year, the Sindh Human Rights Commission voiced concern about the alleged kidnapping and forced conversion to Islam of a 15-year-old Hindu girl, Shahneela, in Matli. In a police report, her uncle claimed that two gunmen forcibly entered the residence of the girl and kidnapped her, according to the report. Furthermore, authorities in Pakistan continued to impose restrictions on Ahmadiyya Muslimsa ability to practice their faith and allowed for assaults against Ahmadiyya mosques. London, March 8 : Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh attended the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting Ministerial Retreat in London on Sunday and called for a reformed, future-ready Commonwealth delivering tangible benefits for members. In a post on X, he said: "Starting the dayas engagements during my first official visit to the UK, participated in the CFAMM26 Ministeras Retreat at Lancaster House. Called for a reformed, future-ready Commonwealth delivering tangible benefits for members, emphasising the needs of the Global South and highlighting cooperation in digital public infrastructure, AI for development, disaster resilience, and economic growth." He, along with other leaders, posed for a family photo at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministersa Meeting. Sharing the photo of the ministers on X, Kirti Vardhan Singh wrote: "A moment of unity and shared purpose! Ministers gather for the family photo at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministersa Meeting (CFAMM26), reflecting the shared commitment to strengthening cooperation and dialogue across the Commonwealth." On Saturday, Kirti Vardhan Singh arrived in London to attend the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting. India's High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, welcomed him. "Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh arrives in London to participate in the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministersa Meeting (CFAMM26) and Commonwealth Day Reception. During the visit, he will also hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from partner countries," Indian High Commission in the UK posted on X. During his visit to the UK, the minister will also attend Commonwealth Day celebrations being held in London. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said: "India is one of the largest contributors to the Commonwealth and has assisted the organisation with technical assistance and capacity building. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 countries and serves as a vital platform to deepen Indiaas engagement with Commonwealth members, in particular the Small States and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). MOS (KVS) is expected to meet with the Commonwealth leadership and counterparts from some of the Member States. Samoa is the current Commonwealth Chair-in-Office." After concluding his engagements in the UK, MoS Singh will visit Chile from March 10-12 to represent the Indian government at the inauguration ceremony of the President-elect, Jose Antonio Kast Rist, according to the MEA statement. During the visit, Kirti Vardhan Singh is expected to call on the outgoing President Gabriel Boric Font and the incoming President Rist, as well as the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Francisco Perez Mackenna. Guwahati, March 8 : Raijor Dal President and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi, on Sunday, announced the formal breakdown of his party's alliance with the Congress ahead of the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, blaming senior Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Rakibul Hussain for what he described as "arrogance" that derailed the seat-sharing talks. Addressing the reporters here, Akhil Gogoi alleged that the alliance collapsed primarily due to disagreements over seat allocation, particularly over a single Assembly constituency. He said that despite several rounds of discussions, the Congress leadership failed to honour earlier assurances given to his party. "The Congress had approached us with a proposal for an alliance and sought our support. We had only asked for 15 Assembly constituencies to contest. However, they were willing to leave only nine seats for us, which was unacceptable," the Raijor Dal President added. He also claimed that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) had earlier indicated that the Dhing Assembly constituency would be allotted to Raijor Dal as part of the alliance arrangement. According to Akhil Gogoi, senior Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi had also conveyed the same assurance during the negotiations. "Both the AICC and Pradyut Bordoloi had informed us that Dhing Assembly seat would be given to our party. But later, Gaurav Gogoi and Rakibul Hussain refused to allow that," the Raijor Dal Chief alleged. Akhil Gogoi said that the dispute over the Dhing seat eventually led to the collapse of the proposed alliance between the two parties. He also alleged that protests by the Congress workers in Dalgaon against the proposed alliance were not spontaneous but were carried out under direct instructions from the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC). "The Congress workers protesting in Dalgaon were acting under the direct instructions of the APCC leadership," he claimed. The development is seen as a setback for the prospects of opposition unity in Assam ahead of the crucial Assembly polls, as efforts had been underway to forge a broader alliance among anti-BJP forces in the state. With the collapse of the talks, Raijor Dal is now expected to contest the elections independently. Kolkata, March 8 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted in the poll-bound state was intended to help the BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections. Addressing party workers from her sit-in demonstration site at Esplanade, CM Banerjee claimed that the exercise had resulted in the deletion of names of several voters from the electoral rolls. She said that even with the support of the Election Commission, the BJP would not be able to win the Assembly elections in the state. "The people of Bengal will give them a befitting reply for snatching their rights," CM Banerjee said. Referring to the alleged deletion of voters' names, the Chief Minister questioned how people who had voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections could now be excluded from the electoral rolls after the SIR exercise. "If someone became the Prime Minister after being elected by voters in 2024, how can some of those voters suddenly be declared ineligible? They had exercised their franchise earlier, and now their names are being deleted from the voters' list," she said. CM Banerjee also raised questions about the role of the Election Commission and said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should examine the matter. Speaking about former West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose stepping down on March 5, CM Banerjee said there should be clarity regarding the circumstances surrounding his resignation. "Let there be an inquiry. He still had three years left in his term. Similarly, why did (former) Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who had earlier served as the Governor of West Bengal, resign from his post last July? Should there not be an inquiry into that as well?" she questioned. Meanwhile, CM Banerjee on Sunday once again said that the state government had followed protocol and that the BJP was unnecessarily politicising the issue related to President Droupadi Murmu's event venue change. The Chief Minister said that if there had been any mismanagement at the function, the responsibility lay with the private organisers and the Airports Authority of India, which had provided the venue for the event, and not with the state government. Seoul, March 8 : A chartered plane departed from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday to bring home hundreds of South Koreans stranded in the Middle Eastern country amid the escalating conflict between Iran and the United States, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said. An Etihad Airways chartered flight carrying 203 South Koreans and their three foreign spouses departed from Abu Dhabi at 5:35 p.m. (Korean time), according to the ministry. The plane is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, at around 2 a.m. Monday, Yonhap News Agency reported. South Korea has been seeking to bring home some 3,000 nationals stranded in the UAE due to flight disruptions amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Around 1,500 South Koreans, including those aboard the chartered plane, have left from the UAE since flights heading to and departing from the country have been resumed. The Foreign Ministry has dispatched a joint rapid response team to the UAE to assist evacuation operations. Since early Saturday, the South Korean Embassy in the UAE has received applications from South Korean nationals wishing to board the chartered plane. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry raised travel alerts for Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. A Level 3 travel alert, which advises nationals to leave the country, will be applied to the seven countries as of Sunday from a special travel advisory, according to the ministry. In particular, all areas of Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait will be subject to the Level 3 alert. "We are calling for South Korean nationals planning to visit those regions to cancel or postpone their trip," the ministry said. "We are also urging those staying there to withdraw unless business is urgent." David, a marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles, is considering a major life change: moving his family thousands of miles north to Alaska for a modest pay raise and what he hopes will be a better quality of life. The decision sounds simple on paper as the new job pays about $6,000 more per year and comes with lower living costs, but the therapist worries that accepting the role could hurt his longterm career because the title is technically a step down. Does A Job Title Really Matter? David called into The Ramsey Show recently and said that he currently works as a clinical director at a treatment center in Los Angeles. The Alaska job would give him the title of clinical manager. Even though the title is lower, the responsibilities are nearly identical. Responsibilities are essentially exactly the same, the caller said. Im still running the place. I still have the same oversight, just about the same amount of employees. The job also appears financially appealing. Alaska's lower taxes and lower living costs would allow the family to keep more of their income. I dont think theres two people on the planet that will notice your title change, personal finance expert Dave Ramsey said. He said that in his decades of experience working with professionals across many industries, titles rarely matter as much as people think. Trending: A single bad hire can set a startup back years. Here are the 5 hires founders most often misjudge and why If two candidates had done the same job but one held the title director and the other manager, Ramsey argued that most employers would focus on the responsibilities, not the wording on the business card. Ive never been someone that collects titles, he said. I collect the ability to get things done and get paid for it. However, Ramsey jokingly reminded him of what comes with the territory. Its cold though, Ramsey said. And theres bears. Ramsey Suggests Negotiating The Offer While Ramsey thought the job itself sounded promising, he encouraged the therapist to ask for more money before accepting the offer. Because Alaska can be a difficult place to recruit workers, companies often offer higher pay or additional incentives to convince people to relocate. Alaska generally pays a premium to get people to live there, Ramsey said. His suggestion was simple: ask politely whether there is room to improve the offer. Is this the best you can do? Ramsey suggested saying, as even a casual question can sometimes result in a better offer. The employer might increase the salary, offer a signing bonus or provide relocation support. Gandhinagar, March 8 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, on Sunday, urged the people in Gujarat to reject both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, saying the "state needed a change in the entire political system rather than simply replacing one party with another". Addressing a rally in Gandhinagar as part of the "Parivartan Lao, Kisan Bachao Yatra", Kejriwal said the people of Gujarat should form a "government of the people" that would take decisions independently. "This time Gujarat will have a government of the people and it will take its own decisions. We must not just change the party in power but change the entire system for Gujarat's progress," he added. Kejriwal said AAP leaders including Yashu Bhai, Pravin Ram and Manoj Sorathiya had travelled through villages and neighbourhoods over the past 10 to 12 days after offering prayers at the Somnath Temple, interacting with farmers before reaching Gandhinagar for the rally. According to the AAP Convenor, the journey revealed widespread distress among farmers. "Everywhere we went we found that farmers in Gujarat are unhappy and suffering. In some places there is no drinking water, in others there is no irrigation water. Prices of everything have increased and farmers are not receiving the full price for their crops," he alleged. Kejriwal alleged that despite three decades of BJP rule in Gujarat, farmers, youth and traders had not benefitted. "Only BJP and Congress leaders are progressing. Their joint business is running," he said. Referring to protests by the farmers in Botad against the "kadda" system, Kejriwal alleged that police action had led to 85 farmers being jailed for months. "Farmers were protesting peacefully but the state government entered their homes, dragged them out and put them in jail," he said. He also referred to the arrest of AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava and farmer leader Pravin Ram, alleging they were jailed for raising issues such as corruption in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. Kejriwal referred to his own arrest in connection with the Delhi excise policy case and said central agencies had conducted raids at his residence, bank accounts and offices but "did not find a single rupee". "The court has said there is no evidence and no witness against me," he said. Comparing with BJP and Congress, Kejriwal said he would not allow his own children to enter politics and claimed the AAP would give opportunities to candidates from ordinary families rather than to relatives of political leaders. Calling on farmers to oppose the BJP in future elections, he added that the upcoming political contest should aim at changing the governance system in the state. "When the people's government is formed, the first step will be to end the hooliganism and corruption of leaders and send those who looted Gujarat to jail," Kejriwal said. Seoul, March 8 : Unionised workers at Samsung Electronics are set to begin a vote later this week on whether to launch a strike, industry sources said on Sunday, amid controversy after a union warned that employees who refuse to participate in the walkout could face disadvantages. The company's three largest unions, which represent a combined estimated 89,000 of the tech giant's roughly 130,000 employees, will hold the vote from Monday through March 18 on whether to stage a general strike for 18 days from May 21 to June 7, they said. Controversy has arisen after union leaders pressured members to participate by warning of penalties for those who do not join the strike, reports Yonhap news agency. Choi Seong-ho, chairman of the Samsung Electronics Labor Union, said during a YouTube broadcast that the union will keep a list of members who continue working during the strike and later prioritise them for measures such as forced transfers or dismissal that require consultation with the union. Choi also said the union plans to operate a reporting center during the strike and offer rewards to members who report employees cooperating with the company. It would mark the second walkout since the tech giant's founding. The first strike, led by the National Samsung Electronics Union, was launched in 2024, when workers demanded higher pay. Meanwhile, President Lee Jae Myung will meet with senior officials from major conglomerates and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) this week to discuss ways to promote a co-prosperity business model, Cheong Wa Dae said. Lee plans to host the meeting with business and government officials on Tuesday to encourage mutually beneficial cooperation between large companies and SMEs and to share best practices, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a press notice. Senior executives from Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, SK Group, Hanwha Ocean and Naver as well as representatives from SMEs and experts will participate, alongside Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol, SME Minister Han Sung-sook and senior presidential aides, Kang said. a"IANS na/ -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Washington, March 8 : US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sunday that the US asked India to purchase Russian oil cargoes that were waiting to unload at Chinese refineries in a bid to stabilise global energy markets during the ongoing conflict with Iran. In an interview to CNN, Wright said the Trump administration directly reached out to India as part of a short-term effort to calm oil markets rattled by disruptions in the Middle East. "I did call up the Indians, as did US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and say, look, there's a whole bunch of oil that's floating to wait to unload at Chinese refineries," he added. "Instead of having it wait six weeks to unload there, let's just pull that oil forward, have it land at Indian refineries and tamp this fear of shortage of oil, tamp the price spikes and the concerns we see in the marketplace," Wright said. The US Energy Secretary added that the step was intended to quickly bring additional crude supplies into global markets and prevent further spikes in oil prices triggered by the war with Iran. "It's just a pragmatic effort that has a short time span," he said. The US Energy Secretary emphasised that Washington's broader policy toward Russia had not changed despite the temporary flexibility extended to India. "It is not. The United States' policy towards Russia has not changed at all," Wright said when asked whether the move undermined the administration's efforts to reduce reliance on Russian oil. He added that India had already shifted much of its energy sourcing away from Russian crude. "India is very clear on that. They had displaced all Russian oil imports. And they were raising their imports from the United States, from Venezuela, and other nations. India's been a great partner through this," Wright said. The Energy Secretary said the US administration's immediate priority was stabilising global oil supplies as the conflict with Iran disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. "The world is very well supplied with oil right now," he added. "You're seeing a little bit of fear premium in the marketplace. But the world is not short of oil today or natural gas." The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 per cent of global oil shipments normally pass, has seen significant disruption since the conflict began, raising concerns about supply shortages and sharp increases in energy prices. Wright said some tanker traffic had already resumed, though shipping levels remained far below normal. "We're nowhere near normal traffic right now. And that'll take some time," he added. "But, again, worst case, that's a few weeks. That's not months." The remarks underscore India's growing role in global energy markets as major economies look for ways to manage supply disruptions triggered by geopolitical crises. Washington, March 8 : The US military has issued a warning on Sunday to civilians in Iran, urging them to stay indoors as Iranian forces continue launching drones and ballistic missiles from densely populated cities -- a tactic American officials say is placing millions of ordinary people at risk. US Central Command said the Iranian military had been conducting operations from crowded urban areas, including the cities of Dezful, Esfahan, and Shiraz, where drones and missiles have been launched in recent days. "The Iranian regime is using heavily populated civilian areas to conduct military operations, including launching one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles," CENTCOM said in a statement. American officials warned that using residential neighbourhoods for military operations could expose those areas to retaliation under international law. "This dangerous decision risks the lives of all civilians in Iran since locations used for military purposes lose protected status and could become legitimate military targets under international law," the command said. The statement urged civilians across Iran to remain inside their homes as fighting intensifies. "US forces strongly urge civilians in Iran to stay at home," the statement said, adding that the Iranian government was "knowingly endangering innocent lives". American officials also accused Iranian forces of targeting civilian infrastructure elsewhere in the region. According to CENTCOM, Iranian forces have "deliberately and indiscriminately targeting civilian airports, hotels, and residential neighborhoods" across parts of the Middle East, putting innocent people in neighbouring countries at risk. Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said Tehran's actions were placing both its own population and regional partners in danger. "Iran's terrorist regime is blatantly disregarding civilian lives by attacking Gulf partners while compromising the safety of their own people," Cooper said. U.S. officials said Iran had launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of one-way attack drones since February 28. But they added that the pace of those launches has begun to slow after sustained military pressure. "Launch rates have drastically declined as US and partner forces decimate Iran's military capabilities," the command said. The US military said it was taking steps to minimise civilian harm but cautioned that it could not guarantee safety near facilities used by Iranian forces. "The US military takes every feasible precaution to minimize harm to civilians but cannot guarantee civilian safety in or near facilities used by the Iranian regime for military purposes," the statement said. "Unlike the Iranian regime, US forces do not target or intentionally risk the safety of civilians." At the same time, the US State Department said it has been carrying out a large effort to help Americans leave the region as tensions escalate. Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson said more than 32,000 Americans have already returned to the United States since the crisis began. "Since February 28, over 32,000 American citizens have safely returned to the United States from the Middle East," Johnson said. The State Department said it had organised nearly two dozen charter flights and evacuated thousands of Americans from the region, while commercial flight availability across the Middle East gradually improves. Through its round-the-clock task force, the department said it has directly assisted more than 19,000 Americans abroad by providing security guidance and travel support. The evacuation programme covers Americans in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel who may require assistance leaving the region. Officials also noted that more than half of the Americans who asked for help ultimately declined government-arranged transport when contacted. Some chose to remain in the region, while others preferred to arrange their own departures. Cachar : , March 8 (IANS) In a significant success against drug trafficking, the Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with the state Police, apprehended five drug peddlers and recovered heroin worth nearly Rs 3.5 crore from their possession in Assam's Cachar district, officials said on Sunday. A Defence Spokesman said that the operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the trafficking of narcotics in the region. Acting swiftly on the information, a joint team of the Assam Rifles and Assam Police intercepted the suspects at Burunga village near Kalain on Saturday night while they were transporting the drugs with plans to cross over into Meghalaya. During the operation, five members of the drug trafficking network were apprehended. Two vehicles used for transporting the contraband were seized, along with several mobile phones recovered from the accused. The apprehended individuals, along with the seized vehicles and mobile phones, have been handed over to the Assam Police in Cachar district for further investigation and legal proceedings. The Spokesman said that the timely operation successfully foiled a major attempt to smuggle narcotics across state borders, dealing a significant blow to drug trafficking networks operating in the region. "The Assam Rifles has been at the forefront of anti-drug operations in the Northeast, conducting regular intelligence-based missions to disrupt and dismantle narcotics networks," an official statement said. It added that the latest seizure marks another milestone in the ongoing efforts to curb the menace of drug trafficking and ensure the safety and well-being of communities in the region. Police suspect that the heroin was smuggled from Myanmar and transported to Cachar district with the intention of ferrying it to Bangladesh through Meghalaya. Mizoram shares a 510-km-long unfenced international border with Myanmar and a 318-km-long porous mountainous border with Bangladesh, making the region particularly vulnerable to cross-border smuggling and illegal movements. Myanmar's Chin State is considered a major hub for the smuggling of 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. Washington, March 8 : Former Israeli Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, said on Sunday that the war against Iran may require sustained pressure and could last for an extended period unless the current regime in Tehran is replaced. Speaking in an interview with ABC News, Oren added that Iran's leadership is unlikely to abandon its core policies voluntarily, making regime change a central question in the conflict. "The DNA of this regime is Jihad," Oren said. "That's what they're about. They're about regional domination and expanding that domination across the globe." The former Israeli Ambassador said that expecting the current Iranian leadership to give up its ballistic missile programme or support for militant groups would be unrealistic. "To say that they're going to give up terror, to say they're going to give up their ballistic missile system is virtually impossible for this regime," he added. "It's basically talking about identity suicide for them." The former Israeli Ambassador warned that the conflict could continue for a long time, even if major military targets are degraded. "I think that the pressure has to continue on Iran," Oren said. "It may not continue with this intensity." He said that Israel and its allies would likely need to keep applying pressure to ensure Iran can no longer threaten neighbouring countries or rebuild its military capabilities. "If you can reduce Iran's ability to shoot at us, to shoot at our neighbours, to shoot at our allies in the region, to conduct terrorist attacks around the world," he said, the campaign could shift into a different phase even if the regime remains in power. Oren also said the existence of highly enriched uranium stockpiles inside Iran remains a major concern. "As long as you have that 400 kg of highly-enriched uranium, it only takes a few days to enrich that to missile grade," he added. "That can be put into a warhead, or it can even be put into a suitcase." He acknowledged that securing or removing such material could require ground operations. "That would, I would think, require Special Forces or somebody going in on the ground," the CNN interviewer asked, to which the former Israeli envoy Oren said: "Wouldn't rule it out." Asked about the possibility of regime change, Oren said political transformations often appear impossible until they suddenly occur. "Revolutions are always impossible to occur, until they do, in which case they become inevitable," he added. He noted that revolutions throughout history have often begun with small groups before gaining broader domestic and international support. "At some stage in this campaign the Opposition, which seems disorganised, in fact can make that type of move," Oren said. However, he acknowledged that predicting such a tipping point in Iran remains uncertain. "That doesn't mean it's going to happen here, but it also doesn't mean it's not going to happen." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, March 8 : The Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting discussed national and international issues and decided to raise foreign policy, unemployment and economic issues prominently during the second part of the Budget Session of Parliament starting on Monday, a party MP said. In light of the conflict in the Gulf, the Congress has decided to raise issues related to its implications, the fall in the rupee and our foreign policy deviation, said Congress MP from Rajya Sabha Syed Naseer Hussain on Sunday. He said the Opposition has also resolved to collectively vote in favour of the no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla on Monday in the Lok Sabha. "A meeting of floor leaders of all Opposition parties will be held at 10 a.m. in the office of Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge," said Hussain. He said the party is also planning to raise the issue of the impact of the conflict on our international trade and energy sector. The Congress MP also gave a strong indication of the party seeking a debate on the impact of the interim Indo-US trade deal on farmers and the agricultural economy of the country. He said the party is also focused on discussing the fiscal centralisation and the crisis in Parliament. The Congress leader also indicated the party's plan to raise issues related to Ladakh and the delay in the restoration of the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. Hussain said the environmental implications of the green clearance given to the Great Nicobar project will also be raised. The 166-sq-km mega-infrastructure development on India's southernmost island aims to build an international container transhipment terminal, airport, township, and power plant as part of the project. The Congress leader said the party would also seek discussions on issues related to urban governance in Indore and Ahmedabad, besides seeking an explanation from the government over the fall in the rupee's value. Kolkata, March 8 : The Election Commission of India (ECI)'s full bench, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, arrived in Kolkata from New Delhi late on Sunday evening with a packed schedule for the next two days. Kolkata, March 8 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI)as full bench, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, arrived in Kolkata from New Delhi late on Sunday evening with a packed schedule for the next two days. CEC Gyanesh Kumar and his team were received at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport by West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal and state Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty. CEC Kumar is scheduled to begin the visit early on Monday morning with a visit to the iconic Kali temple at Kalighat in south Kolkata, which is located close to the residence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, before commencing the official schedule of the two-day visit. As per the itinerary, the Commissionas full bench will hold meetings with representatives of different registered political parties on Monday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, with each party being allotted 10 minutes for interaction. The Trinamool Congress, being the ruling party in the state, is expected to get the first slot during the interaction with the ECIas full bench. Initially, it was decided that the Trinamool Congress delegation meeting Kumar would have three representatives -- two Lok Sabha members, Mahua Moitra and Kalyan Banerjee, and one Rajya Sabha member, Samirul Islam. However, late on Sunday night, the ruling party informed that three additional representatives had been included in the delegation scheduled to meet CEC Kumar. Two of the additional members are West Bengal Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim, and Minister of State for Finance (independent charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya. The third additional member included in the team is just-retired acting Director General of West Bengal Police Rajeev Kumar, who is slated to become a Rajya Sabha member of the Trinamool Congress. After completing the two-day schedule, the Commissionas full bench will return to New Delhi on the evening of March 10. Washington, March 8 : US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sunday that more than 100 million barrels of Russian crude are currently floating at sea waiting to be delivered to China, a backlog the US believes could temporarily ease global energy market disruptions if redirected to other refineries. "There's more than 100 million barrels of floating Russian crude waiting in line to deliver to China," Wright said in an interview with CBS News. "That's going to be sold, it's going to be refined, but that could be one or two months from now." The comments came as global oil markets react to disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which has rattled shipping routes and pushed up fuel prices. Wright said Washington has taken what he described as a pragmatic step to help ease the supply dislocation affecting refineries in Asia and Europe. "So in a pragmatic way, with no change in US policy towards Russia, we told the Indians, bring that into your refineries," he added. "You know, if you, if you're feeling a shortage of crude, prices are being bid up, draw down that Russian crude stocks that are sitting right offshore." According to Wright, the current spike in oil prices is driven more by logistics disruptions than by an actual shortage of crude supplies. "The world is very well supplied with oil. There's no energy shortage at all in the Western Hemisphere," the US Energy Secretary said. "The United States is a net exporter of oil, a large net exporter of natural gas." However, he noted that refineries in Europe and Asia were facing interruptions because normal shipping routes and supply flows had been affected. "But there is massive energy stores around the world," Wright said, adding: "What you're seeing is emotional reactions and fear that this is a long term war. This is not a long term war." He said the US military was currently focused on restoring stability in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit corridor through which nearly 20 million barrels of crude typically pass each day. "All of our military assets right now are focused on ending Iran's ability to kill their neighbours, threaten American soldiers and threaten ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz," Wright said. He added that the conflict had already reduced Iran's operational capabilities. "Their missile launches are down 90 per cent, the drone launches are down by more than 80 per cent," Wright said. "I think in the relatively near term, you're going to see their capacity so low that we'll see more normal ship traffic return to the Strait of Hormuz." Wright added that some early tanker movements may require direct protection from the US military. "Yes, there could be there -- early tankers probably will involve some direct protection by the US military," he said, adding that the US was engaging with shipping operators seeking to move tankers out of the Gulf. The US Energy Secretary also said the Trump administration remained focused on limiting the impact of the crisis on fuel prices. "Right now, we're worried about Iran and fixing a 47-year problem there, and we're worried about American consumers," Wright added. "We want to stop the rise in gasoline and diesel prices." Guwahati, March 8 : Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi on Sunday reacted strongly to remarks made by some Congress workers who allegedly described him as an "imported leader" and an "outsider", asserting that such comments are not only baseless but also disrespectful to the people of Assam. Notably, the state and central leadership of the Congress party have almost finalised a seat-sharing formula with Lurinjyoti Gogoi's regional outfit, even as a section of Congress workers continues to target the AJP leader. Addressing reporters here, Gogoi questioned the logic behind the accusations and said that labelling a person from Assam as an outsider within the state itself was both illogical and offensive. "Can a person from Assam become an outsider in Assam?" he asked, adding that such remarks go beyond personal criticism and amount to an insult to the collective sentiments and identity of the Assamese people. The controversy surfaced after some leaders associated with the Congress allegedly referred to Gogoi as an "imported leader" and an "outsider". The situation escalated further when a group of Congress workers reportedly burned his effigy during a protest. Reacting to the incident, the AJP chief said he does not regret the protest and believes the act reflects a deeper disregard for the feelings of the people of Assam. "They have not burned my effigy; they have burned the sentiments of the people of Assam," Gogoi said, adding that the public would eventually respond to such actions in their own way. Amid the political controversy, Gogoi also spoke about the broader need for opposition unity in the state ahead of the upcoming elections. Stressing the importance of a consolidated opposition front, he said that cooperation among anti-BJP forces is essential to mount an effective political challenge. In the backdrop of Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi announcing earlier in the day his willingness to consider an alliance with the Congress, the AJP leader expressed optimism that a partnership involving his party could take shape. "An alliance is both necessary and desirable. From my side, the door is open," he said, indicating that discussions among opposition leaders are continuing. He also urged people to maintain faith in the leadership of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), suggesting that the party's central leadership could play an important role in facilitating a united opposition front in Assam. Mate Rimac Transitions From Rimac Technology CEO Role to Focus on Bugatti Leadership Mate Rimac has stepped down as chief executive of Rimac Technology, marking a significant leadership shift within the Croatian automotive technology company he founded. The company announced that Nurdin Pitarevic, previously chief operating officer, has assumed the role of CEO as part of a planned transition. Rimac will remain actively involved with the broader organization as President of the Rimac Group. In that capacity, he will continue supporting the companys long-term direction while dedicating more of his attention to his role as CEO of Bugatti Rimac, the high-performance automotive venture that unites the historic French brand with Rimacs electric expertise. Pitarevics promotion positions him to guide Rimac Technology through its next phase of development. His leadership will focus on executing the companys strategic roadmap through 2030. That plan emphasizes continued advancement in electrification technologies, expansion of artificial intelligence-driven and digitalized operations, and the pursuit of sustainable industrial growth. The roadmap also calls for strengthening organizational structures and reinforcing financial stability as the company scales. The leadership reshuffle extends beyond the chief executive role. Marko Brkljacic has been appointed chief operating officer, stepping up from his previous position as deputy COO at Rimac Technology. Brkljacic brings experience from earlier leadership roles at Tokic Ltd and has held several key strategic positions within Rimac Automobili. His past responsibilities included serving as head of strategic projects and chief of staff, roles that placed him at the center of the companys operational and long-term planning efforts. The changes signal a new chapter for Rimac Technology as it continues to expand its footprint in advanced automotive systems, while Rimac himself sharpens his focus on guiding Bugatti Rimac into its next era. Join our Newsletter, follow our Instagram page, and follow us on Facebook. Washington, March 8 : The United States of America urged India to draw down more than 100 million barrels of Russian crude waiting offshore for Chinese refineries in an effort to cool rising oil prices during the Iran conflict, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sunday. Speaking in interviews on US television programmes, including CNN and CBS News, Wright said the Trump administration directly reached out to India as part of a short-term effort to calm energy markets rattled by disruptions in the Middle East. "I did call up the Indians, as did Treasury Secretary (Scott) Bessent, and say, look, there's a whole bunch of oil that's floating to wait to unload at Chinese refineries," the Energy Secretary added. "There's over 100 million barrels of floating Russian crude waiting in line to deliver to China," Wright said. According to the US Energy Secretary, the proposal was to redirect those cargoes to Indian refineries rather than allowing them to remain idle offshore while waiting for Chinese unloading slots. "Instead of having it wait six weeks to unload there, let's just pull that oil forward, have it land at Indian refineries and tamp this fear of shortage of oil, tamp the price spikes and the concerns we see in the marketplace," Wright said. He described the move as a temporary and pragmatic step aimed at preventing panic in global oil markets as the conflict involving Iran disrupts key energy shipping routes. "It's just a pragmatic effort that has a short time span," Wright said. The US Energy Secretary stressed that the step does not represent any shift in Washington's broader policy toward Russia. "It is not. The United States' policy towards Russia has not changed at all," Wright said when asked whether the move undermined the US administration's efforts to limit reliance on Russian oil. He added that the world currently has sufficient oil supplies and that recent price spikes are driven more by market anxiety and logistical disruptions than by an actual shortage of crude. "The world is very well supplied with oil right now," Wright said. "You're seeing a little bit of fear premium in the marketplace. But the world is not short of oil today or natural gas." The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil shipping corridors. Wright said shipping through the waterway had begun to resume but remained far below normal levels. "We're nowhere near normal traffic right now. And that'll take some time," he added. "But, again, worst case, that's a few weeks. That's not months." Jaipur, March 8 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said on Sunday that women are the backbone of society, and their empowerment leads to the progress and development of the nation. Calling for greater awareness regarding womenas rights, respect and equal opportunities on International Womenas Day, he emphasised the importance of education, health and self-reliance of half the population. The Chief Minister was addressing the state-level International Womenas Day programme organised at Dhan Mandi in Hanumangarh on Sunday. Extending his greetings on the occasion, he said womenas strength continues to inspire society. He cited the achievements of President Droupadi Murmu, the countryas first tribal woman President, and the role of Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh during Operation Sindoor as examples of women bringing glory to the nation. He also highlighted the international achievements of sportspersons such as PV Sindhu, Smriti Mandhana, Mirabai Chanu, Harmanpreet Kaur, Manu Bhaker and Avani Lekhara. The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has framed several policies with women at the centre. More than 12 crore toilets have been constructed under the Swachh Bharat Mission to ensure the dignity and safety of women. Over 11 crore LPG connections have been provided under the Ujjwala Yojana, while more than 70 per cent of houses constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are in the name of women or jointly owned by them. The Nari Shakti Vandan Act, providing 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies, has further strengthened womenas empowerment. CM Sharma said the state government is committed to the empowerment and protection of women. More than 16 lakh Lakhpati Didis have been created in Rajasthan so far. Livelihood assistance worth Rs 679 crore has been provided to about 1.39 lakh self-help groups. Under the Chief Ministeras Ekal Nari Samman Pension Scheme, Rs 6,876 crore has been provided to more than 19 lakh women pensioners. Similarly, under the Chief Ministeras Kanyadaan Scheme, nearly Rs 101 crore has been provided for the marriage of more than 27,000 girls. The Chief Minister said the Lado Protsahan Yojana is helping promote a positive outlook towards the health and education of girl children. Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh is provided in seven instalments, benefiting over six lakh girls so far. Schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and Maa Voucher Scheme are also playing a major role in womenas welfare. He added that due to the state governmentas effective efforts, the average time for investigation in cases of crimes against women has reduced from 128 days in 2020 to 52 days. The number of such cases has also declined by about 10 per cent compared to 2023. The Chief Minister said the state government is ensuring balanced development across all regions. The additional Rs 150 bonus on the MSP of wheat announced in the 2026 state budget will particularly benefit farmers of the Sri Ganganagara"Hanumangarh region. Reconstruction of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project (IGNP), the Ganga Canal and development of the Ferozepur feeder will further strengthen irrigation facilities. An amount of Rs 500 crore has also been allocated for canal construction in Hanumangarh. Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the state government is ensuring that women receive the benefits of welfare schemes directly through DBT. She added that the 10 per cent increase in the honorarium of Anganwadi workers, helpers and assistants will further strengthen womenas empowerment. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara said that the reduction in petrol and diesel prices has provided significant relief to the people of Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts. He added that the provision of Rs 5,000 crore for electricity supply and canal water availability will benefit farmers. During the programme, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth more than Rs 1,000 crore in Hanumangarh. He also launched the Lado Protsahan Yojana portal and transferred funds to beneficiaries of the Lado Protsahan Yojana, Chief Ministeras Maternity Nutrition Scheme and the Girl Child Distance Education Scheme through DBT. Symbolic cheques were also distributed to beneficiaries under the PM SVANidhi Yojana, Chief Ministeras Nari Shakti Udyam Protsahan Yojana and self-help groups receiving loans. The Saathin Guide was digitally launched, and awards under the Panna Dhai Suraksha and Samman Yojana were also presented. Earlier, the Chief Minister shared information about various schemes and programmes being implemented by the state government for womenas welfare and empowerment. Jaipur, March 8 : On the occasion of International Women's Day celebrated globally on Sunday, Rafeek Khan, Congress Chief Whip in the Rajasthan Assembly and MLA from Adarsh Nagar Assembly constituency, announced a unique initiative aimed at strengthening women's participation in development activities. On the occasion, Khan invited more than 40 women Councillors and social workers from the Adarsh Nagar constituency to his residence and announced Rs 1 crore from his MLA fund to support development works in their respective areas. Addressing the gathering, the Congress leader urged the women representatives to identify development needs in their localities and propose projects based on the priorities of their communities. He said the fund would be used to execute development works through women Councillors and social workers. Khan also added that the amount could be increased if required to ensure effective implementation of projects. During the interaction, the Congress leader expressed concern over what he described as the neglect of women's issues in recent state and Central budgets. He also mentioned that the Udaan Yojana, which was launched during the previous Congress government to distribute sanitary pads among women and girls, has been discontinued by the current Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government. He also said that the scooter scheme for meritorious female students, which aimed to encourage girls' education, has also slowed down during the tenure of the present state government. Khan emphasised that the initiative is not merely financial assistance, but an effort to empower women by giving them a direct role in the development process. According to the Congress leader, the move will help strengthen gender equality and promote women-led development at the grassroots level. Several women representatives and social workers from the Assembly constituency attended the event, including Sunita Mahawar, Rabia Gudage, Savitri, Gunjan Sharma, Sanju Tank, Surendra Kaur, and Mamta Sharma. The initiative by Congress MLA Rafeek Khan is being widely viewed as an important and inspiring step toward strengthening women's empowerment and participation in local development initiatives. Washington, March 9 : US Senator Tim Kaine has warned that the ongoing conflict involving Iran risks repeating the mistakes of decades of American wars in the Middle East, calling the military action "illegal and profoundly unwise" while raising concerns about the safety of US personnel and civilians. Speaking on CBS News on Sunday, the Virginia Democrat said the return of the first American casualties had deepened concerns about the direction of the conflict. "With the arrival of the first American casualties back home yesterday, including a Virginian, I worry that the answer to that is no," Kaine said when asked whether the US had learned lessons from past wars in the region. "That's just one more reason why I've been asking the question, have we learned nothing from 25 years of war in the Middle East?" he added. Kaine said the security situation around American diplomatic posts had deteriorated amid rising tensions linked to the conflict. "There are threats," he said, noting that embassies and consulates had faced demonstrations that were "merging toward violence or at least frightening to our diplomats". The Senator said thousands of Americans remain stranded across the Middle East after travel disruptions caused by the conflict. "It's thousands and thousands," Kaine added. "Not every American chooses to come home. So there's hundreds of thousands, if you just add them all up, who is coming home." Kaine said his office had been assisting constituents trying to return to the United States. "We were able to facilitate one Richmond area resident getting home from Dubai on a flight a couple of days back," he added. He also expressed concern that some diplomatic personnel remain stationed in high-risk locations. "Some of the professionals at embassies and consuls are not being told to come home," Kaine said. "And they're sort of there, and often their security presence is not what we wish it would be." The Senator said the US Congress had yet to receive clear information about the potential financial cost of the conflict. He noted that analysts have estimated the first 100 hours of military operations cost billions of dollars. "We don't know that the White House is sending a supplemental," Kaine said, referring to a possible emergency budget request to fund the war. "What I can say, and it's not classified, is the administration said they haven't made a decision." Kaine said his immediate priorities were to protect US troops and push for an end to the conflict. "My goals right now are two-fold, stop this war, which I view as both illegal and profoundly unwise, and protect our troops," he added. He suggested the Trump administration might delay requesting additional funding to avoid Congressional debate on the war. "They may not want to ask for a supplemental because they're trying to avoid debates and votes in Congress on the Iran war right now," Kaine said. The Senator also voiced concern about Americans detained in Iran, including Journalist Reza Valizadeh and 70-year-old Kamran Hekmati. "I do not, and I fear about that," Kaine said when asked whether there were assurances about their safety. "If school kids are being killed in bombing, likely US bombing... I worry about the fate of US citizens, who are being held prisoners there." -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed New Delhi, March 9 : Even in defeat, Lakshya Sen has captured admiration across the sporting world, earning praise from Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra for his resilience at the All England Open 2026. Sen went down 21-15, 22-20 to Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei in the men's singles final, settling for a silver medal. Despite the loss, Bindra highlighted the qualities Sen displayed on the court. "Not every inspiring sporting story ends with a trophy. Over the last few days, Lakshya Sen has shown India what courage, resilience and belief truly look like," Bindra wrote on X. Bindra's tribute underscored that Sen's journey was about more than the scoreline. "His run to another All England final, through extraordinary wins and immense physical pain, has been about far more than a result," he said, praising the 24-year-old for his grit and determination. The Olympic champion also emphasised the lesson Sen provides to the next generation of Indian athletes: "He has reminded young India that greatness lies not only in winning, but in the honesty of effort, the dignity of the fight and the strength to keep believing." Concluding his post, Bindra expressed his personal pride in Sen, saying, "I am Proud of you, @lakshya_sen. Very, very proud." Sen spent over five hours on court in the earlier rounds and faced a tough challenge against the lightning-fast Lin. He started slowly in the first game, struggling with the depth of his lifts and tosses, allowing Lin to seize control and take the opening game. In the second game, Sen raised his tempo, winning six consecutive points from 3-4 to lead 9-4. However, Lin gradually clawed back, engaging Sen in long rallies and ultimately converting his second match point to clinch the title. Lin became the first men's singles player from Chinese Taipei to win the prestigious tournament. This marked Sen's second All England final appearance after 2022, highlighting his skill, determination, and resilience despite falling just short of the trophy. HOME > Deadliest Catch Captain Rick Shelford / Facebook 'Deadliest Catch' star Todd Meadows' mom asks Discovery to not air son's death By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/08/2026 star Todd Meadows' mother, Angela Meadows, has pleaded with Discovery Channel not to air the footage of her son's tragic death. ADVERTISEMENT Angela "[We] do not want Discovery to air any of that footage or make money off of our son's death," Angela noted. "We hope they only air good things of Todd on that boat." On Tuesday, March 3, a spokesperson for the United States Coast Guard Arctic District released a statement that Todd, who died on February 25 at age 25, was at sea on the Aleutian Lady when The spokesperson said that Todd was "recovered unresponsive" by the crew about 10 minutes later and "attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful." Todd's co-star, bunkmate Trey John Green III, told TMZ that Todd's accident -- and ultimate death -- were caught on camera while filming Season 22 of , which wrapped its 21st season in October 2025. Angela said she hopes to watch positive footage of Todd on the boat so her family can "have the videos for memories." She added that she wants "his memory to be a good memory everywhere." "It never mattered what anybody had to say about him, good or bad," she shared with the website. "He wasn't out there to make friends. He wasn't out there to click with people. He was just out there to work and to do what he loved." The Coast Guard shared how the incident is currently under investigation. In a separate Another of Todd's co-stars, Captain Rick Shelford, FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "February 25, 2026 was the most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea," Rick began in his lengthy tribute. "We lost our brother, Todd Meadows. Todd was the newest member of our crew, he quickly became family. His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone's respect right away." Rick continued, "His smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always." Rick said Todd's love for his children, family, and life in general was "evident in everything he did." "He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him. Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can't fully express," Rick added. "We ask that you lift Todd's children and family in prayer and keep them in your thoughts as they face the days ahead without him." Rick shared how Todd "will forever be part of this boat, this crew, and this brotherhood." "Though we lost him far too soon, his legacy will live on through his children and in every memory we carry of him. Rest easy brother, till we meet again," he concluded. ADVERTISEMENT "We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows," the spokesperson said. "This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time." Todd's family launched a GoFundMe account with the goal of raising $16,000 for his children. "We are heartbroken to share the sudden passing of Todd Morgan Meadows, a beloved 25-year-old father, son, brother and friend, who left us far too soon while doing what he loved -- crabbing out on Alaskan waters," the fundraiser page read. "He was a determined dad to three amazing little boys who were his entire world. Everything he did was for them -- their smiles, their futures, and the memories they will carry with them." The family called Todd's death an "unimaginable loss" on the GoFundMe page that "has left his children without their father, his parents without their son, his siblings without their brother and his family broken." The page continued, "As the family navigates this heartbreaking time, we are raising funds to help support his three boys, assist with funeral expenses, and help ease the financial burden in the months ahead." All donations will apparently go "directly toward honoring his life and ensuring his boys are cared for in the way he would have wanted." Todd's family also asked for prayers and to keep Todd's name alive if they're unable to donate money. As of Thursday, March 5, the GoFundMe has collected over $47,000. , a reality series about the challenging and high-stakes world of crab fishing, first premiered in 2005. Todd is not the first cast member to have died in recent years. ADVERTISEMENT About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON GOOGLE NEWS star Todd Meadows' mother, Angela Meadows, has pleaded with Discovery Channel not to air the footage of her son's tragic death.Angela told TMZ on Wednesday, March 4, that her family doesn't "want to see any footage from the accident.""[We] do not want Discovery to air any of that footage or make money off of our son's death," Angela noted. "We hope they only air good things of Todd on that boat."On Tuesday, March 3, a spokesperson for the United States Coast Guard Arctic District released a statement that Todd, who died on February 25 at age 25, was at sea on the Aleutian Lady when he "fell overboard" just after 5PM local time in Alaska.The spokesperson said that Todd was "recovered unresponsive" by the crew about 10 minutes later and "attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful."Todd's co-star, bunkmate Trey John Green III, told TMZ that Todd's accident -- and ultimate death -- were caught on camera while filming Season 22 of , which wrapped its 21st season in October 2025.Angela said she hopes to watch positive footage of Todd on the boat so her family can "have the videos for memories."She added that she wants "his memory to be a good memory everywhere.""It never mattered what anybody had to say about him, good or bad," she shared with the website."He wasn't out there to make friends. He wasn't out there to click with people. He was just out there to work and to do what he loved."The Coast Guard shared how the incident is currently under investigation.In a separate statement to Alaska's News Source, Angela said, "No parent would want the world to watch their child die."Another of Todd's co-stars, Captain Rick Shelford, first announced Todd's passing on Facebook on Monday, March 2."February 25, 2026 was the most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea," Rick began in his lengthy tribute."We lost our brother, Todd Meadows. Todd was the newest member of our crew, he quickly became family. His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone's respect right away."Rick continued, "His smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always."Rick said Todd's love for his children, family, and life in general was "evident in everything he did.""He worked hard, loved deeply, and brought joy to those around him. Right now, our hearts are broken in a way that words can't fully express," Rick added."We ask that you lift Todd's children and family in prayer and keep them in your thoughts as they face the days ahead without him."Rick shared how Todd "will forever be part of this boat, this crew, and this brotherhood.""Though we lost him far too soon, his legacy will live on through his children and in every memory we carry of him. Rest easy brother, till we meet again," he concluded.A Discovery Channel spokesperson also shared a statement with People about Todd's unexpected death."We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows," the spokesperson said."This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates, and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time."Todd's family launched a GoFundMe account with the goal of raising $16,000 for his children."We are heartbroken to share the sudden passing of Todd Morgan Meadows, a beloved 25-year-old father, son, brother and friend, who left us far too soon while doing what he loved -- crabbing out on Alaskan waters," the fundraiser page read."He was a determined dad to three amazing little boys who were his entire world. Everything he did was for them -- their smiles, their futures, and the memories they will carry with them."The family called Todd's death an "unimaginable loss" on the GoFundMe page that "has left his children without their father, his parents without their son, his siblings without their brother and his family broken."The page continued, "As the family navigates this heartbreaking time, we are raising funds to help support his three boys, assist with funeral expenses, and help ease the financial burden in the months ahead."All donations will apparently go "directly toward honoring his life and ensuring his boys are cared for in the way he would have wanted."Todd's family also asked for prayers and to keep Todd's name alive if they're unable to donate money.As of Thursday, March 5, the GoFundMe has collected over $47,000., a reality series about the challenging and high-stakes world of crab fishing, first premiered in 2005.Todd is not the first cast member to have died in recent years.Nick Marvar, Nick McGlashan and Blake Painter are among the fishermen who have passed away. DEADLIEST CATCH MORE DEADLIEST CATCH NEWS << PRIOR STORY Rachel Lindsay: I don't think Taylor Frankie Paul will ask hard questions or find The One on 'The Bachelorette' NEXT STORY >> Tyler Cameron feels like 'The Bachelor' star on 'Bachelor Mansion Takeover' Get more Reality TV World! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or add our RSS feed. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Page generated Sat Mar 14, 2026 14:16 pm in 0.47747993469238 seconds Leading female executives are urging corporate India to overhaul workplace systems to support and advance women into leadership positions within the rapidly evolving technology sector, especially in fields like artificial intelligence. Key Points Corporate India needs to redesign workplace systems to address the mid-career drop-off of women in the technology sector and promote them into leadership roles. The focus in the tech industry is shifting from basic representation of women to sustained leadership and accountability. Structured mentorship, sponsorship from senior leaders, and transparent career progression frameworks are essential to help women advance into complex roles. Companies should build work environments that support women across different life stages, including family transitions and raising children. Young women are confidently shaping emerging fields like AI and cybersecurity, demonstrating a shift in mindset towards leadership as a natural progression. As young women enter the technology sector with unprecedented confidence to shape emerging fields like artificial intelligence, corporate India must urgently redesign workplace systems to bridge the mid-career drop-off and propel them into leadership roles, top female executives said. While the industry has moved past the foundational struggles of basic representation, a consensus among leading women in the Indian tech and corporate ecosystem highlights a critical transition: the focus must now shift from mere participation to sustained leadership and accountability. "They're rewriting the playbook - Not just succeeding in existing frameworks, but fundamentally changing how tech leadership looks - prioritising sustainable growth, inclusive innovation, and human-centred design. There's a critical mass now. Women leaders are actively pulling others up, creating mentorship pipelines and support systems that didn't exist before. It is exponential, not linear. "They know they belong - in boardrooms, in engineering, in the C-suite - and they're right. They are better educated, more globally connected, and frankly more confident than my generation ever was at their age," said Arundhati Bhattacharya, President and CEO of Salesforce South Asia. This optimism is echoed across the sector, driven by the influx of women into frontier technologies. Sindhu Gangadharan, MD of SAP Labs India and Chairperson of Nasscom, noted that young women are actively building products and leading innovation in AI, data science, and engineering. She believes the coming decade will be transformative for gender representation in India's technology sector. The rapid expansion of digital industries and the growing demand for skills in artificial intelligence, data science and advanced engineering, she said, are creating new pathways for women to enter and grow in technology careers. "At the same time, many organisations are becoming more intentional about building inclusive workplaces through mentorship programmes, leadership development initiatives and policies that support women at different stages of their careers. While progress will require sustained effort, the momentum today is stronger than it has ever been," Gangadharan said. Tech Mahindra CIO Pallavi Katiyar says that the confidence and clarity with which young women today are approaching technology careers gives her great optimism. "They are not just participating in the ecosystem but shaping it, whether in AI, cybersecurity, or digital platforms. Access to global knowledge networks, mentorship, and more inclusive workplace policies is also helping. This generation sees leadership as a natural progression, and that shift in mindset will be a powerful catalyst for change," she said. The Challenge: Addressing the Leadership Gap However, despite robust entry-level numbers, the journey to the C-suite remains fraught with invisible barriers. Resham Sahi, Senior Vice President of Technology at A.P. Moller-Maersk, pointed out the stark disparity in the talent pipeline. "While women represent roughly one-third of India's technology workforce, representation drops significantly at senior levels, with only about 7 per cent in executive roles and around 13 per cent at director levels," Sahi said. "The challenge is therefore less about entry into the workforce and more about sustained progression into leadership." Redesigning Systems for Inclusivity To combat this, leaders are calling for a fundamental overhaul of corporate structures rather than superficial policy tweaks. Sahi added that corporate India must build work environments that support women across different life stages, particularly during periods of relocation, family transitions, and raising children. "Don't retrofit women into broken systems. Redesign systems for human reality," Bhattacharya asserted. She emphasised that companies solving for women's full participation will naturally solve for all employees, including caregivers and people with disabilities, marking a "strategic transformation" rather than just an HR policy. Structured Interventions for Advancement To ensure women do not fall off the corporate ladder, industry veterans are pushing for structured interventions. Sandhya Arun, CTO of Wipro Limited, advocated for greater accountability in leadership advancement. "Corporate India needs to move beyond intent and ensure women are consistently represented in decision-making roles. When leadership pathways are transparent and outcomes are measured, inclusion becomes real," she said. Both Arun and Katiyar highlighted the necessity of structured mentorship, sponsorship from senior leaders, and transparent career progression frameworks to help women step into complex roles. Reflecting on the evolution of the industry, the executives acknowledged undeniable progress. Bhattacharya noted that the corporate conversation has fundamentally shifted from "Can women lead?" to "Why aren't more women leading?", adding that companies today are "embarrassed by all-male leadership teams." "When I became a mother, maternity leave was a hurdle, not a given. Childcare support was non-existent. Remote work was impossible. Today's companies offer substantive maternity benefits, paternity leave, flexibility options, and return-to-work programmes. This generation fights for equal advancement post-maternity. That's a higher-order problem, which means we've solved some foundational issues," Bhattacharya said. As the digital economy expands, the message to the next generation of female technologists is clear: build deep competence and take charge. "Stop waiting for permission," advised Bhattacharya. "Leadership isn't granted by committee-it's seized by those who deliver results others can't ignore. If you're waiting for the system to change before you rise, you've already lost. Pakistani security forces successfully neutralised four TTP militants in Punjab, preventing a major terrorist attack on police and government targets, highlighting ongoing counter-terrorism efforts. Photograph: ANI Video Grab Key Points Pakistani Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) killed four Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab. The CTD operation foiled a planned terrorist attack on police checkpoints and government installations. Weapons and explosives were recovered from the killed militants, indicating the severity of the planned attack. A search operation is underway to apprehend the remaining eleven militants who escaped. Pakistan's Law enforcement agencies on Sunday night shot dead four terrorists of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Punjab province. According to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab Police, Dera Ghazi Khan district of Punjab (some 400 km from Lahore) narrowly escaped a major terrorist attack as four militants belonging to "Fitna Al-Khawarij" (TTP) were killed in an exchange of fire with CTD near the border village of Jotar. Details of the Counter-Terrorism Operation "The CTD conducted an intelligence-based operation after receiving information about the presence of around 15 militants in the area who had finalised plans to attack police checkpoints and other government installations in DG Khan. As soon as the CTD team reached the location, the militants opened fire. The CTD personnel retaliated, resulting in the killing of four terrorists," the CTD said. It said eleven other terrorists managed to escape under the cover of darkness. Weapons and explosives, including rifles, ammunition and explosive materials, were recovered from the militants. The CTD teams have cordoned off the Jotar area and launched a search operation to arrest the fleeing militants, it said and added that the process of identifying the killed terrorists is currently underway. The CTD said the militants had already completed planning for attacks on police posts and other state institutions. Kowalchik noted the third quarter is historically the companys weakest for sales because it spans year-end holidays. Gross profit decreased to $38.8 million from $41.3 million, driven primarily by lower volume and product mix in automotive and the interface segment. CFO Laura Kowalchik said net sales declined 3% from $239.9 million in the prior-year quarter, reflecting lower volumes in the automotive segment due to reduced North American EV volumes and lower interface segment sales related to a previously announced appliance program roll-off. Those declines were partially offset by higher industrial sales, particularly off-road lighting and power products, and favorable foreign currency translation that benefited results by about $12 million in the quarter. President and CEO Jon DeGaynor said the company generated $234 million in sales and delivered positive free cash flow of $10 million in the quarter, with approximately $17 million of free cash flow year to date. DeGaynor highlighted industrial segment sales growth of 9.5% year over year, citing strength in off-road lighting and power distribution solutions that support data center applications. Methode Electronics (NYSE:MEI) reported fiscal third-quarter 2026 sales of $233.7 million and adjusted EBITDA of $7.3 million, as management pointed to mixed end-market demand and ongoing operational transformation efforts. On the call, executives emphasized continued cash generation and progress on portfolio and footprint actions, while acknowledging near-term pressure tied largely to North American automotive, including EV program delays and cancellations. Portfolio moves and data-center momentum: Methode completed the sale of dataMate ($18M revenue, ~$3M profit) to repay debt and right-size the portfolio, while its data-center power business now has line of sight to a roughly $120M annualized run rate. Operational and auto headwinds: Near-term pressure from North American automotive including EV program delays/cancellations and slower-than-expected productivity in Mexico (about six months behind improvements seen in Egypt) were cited as primary drivers of the weaker profitability outlook. Q3 results and guidance: Methode reported fiscal Q3 sales of $234 million, adjusted EBITDA of $7.3 million and an adjusted net loss of $13.1 million, generated $10 million of free cash flow and $133.7 million of cash, while narrowing fiscal 2026 sales guidance to $950M$1.0B but lowering full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to $58M$62M . Story Continues Profitability and cash flow MarketBeat Week in Review 03/02 - 03/06 Adjusted EBITDA declined $5 million year over year to $7.3 million. Kowalchik attributed the profitability decline primarily to lower gross profit and higher selling and administrative expenses. Selling and administrative expenses increased $1.4 million to $39.1 million, including $400,000 of restructuring and asset impairment charges. The company posted an adjusted net loss of $13.1 million, compared with an adjusted net loss of $7.2 million in the fiscal third quarter of 2025. Adjusted loss per diluted share was $0.37 versus $0.21 a year ago. Income tax expense was $2.8 million, down from $6.2 million in the prior-year quarter; Kowalchik cited a lower valuation allowance for U.S. deferred tax assets compared with the year-ago period. 3 Blue-Chip Stocks Built for a Rotating Market On the balance sheet and cash flow, Kowalchik said Methode ended the quarter with $133.7 million in cash, up $30.1 million compared with the end of fiscal 2025. Operating cash generation was $15.4 million and free cash flow was $10.1 million, down from $19.6 million in the prior-year quarter. Net debt declined $16.9 million from the same period last year. Management reiterated capital allocation priorities including debt reduction, selective high-growth investments, business improvements, portfolio alignment, and dividends. Transformation efforts and Mexico operational challenges DeGaynor described Methodes transformation as a multi-year effort focused on operational execution, portfolio refinement, and cost and footprint alignment, while acknowledging improvement will not be linear. He highlighted two facilities that were extremely challenged when the company began its transformation journey: Egypt and Mexico. DeGaynor said Egypt has shown positive trends from changes implemented there, while Mexicos transformation is not as far along. He said the company has not seen the productivity improvements as quickly as we initially expected in Mexico, a situation worsened by commercial vehicle volume reductions and program delays from multiple North American customers. DeGaynor said those external factors were the primary driver of the companys revised adjusted EBITDA outlook. In Q&A, DeGaynor told analysts Mexico is probably about six months behind Egypt. He added that Mexico is facing year-over-year revenue shrinkage, with program roll-offs and EV-related program delays concentrated there, meaning the company is spending to prepare and launch new programs without the benefit of higher revenue. He said Methode has rebuilt the Mexico leadership team over the last six months and is supplementing it with corporate and external specialist resources. Kowalchik added that Mexicos revenue decline is contributing to lower absorption, while SG&A has increased due to management changes, wages, and added resources. Despite this, she said the company is seeing improvements in scrap and direct material costs as a percentage of sales through supply chain initiatives. Portfolio and footprint moves, including the dataMate divestiture DeGaynor said Methode completed the sale of its dataMate business, describing it as a supplier of copper transceivers for enterprise and telecom networks that was not aligned with the companys long-term power solutions strategy. He also noted progress on footprint reduction actions, including moving the companys headquarters from Chicago and subleasing the prior facility, as well as signing a purchase agreement for the Harwood Heights facility in Illinois. Management said proceeds from the dataMate sale and the planned Harwood Heights facility sale are expected to be used primarily to repay debt and strengthen the balance sheet. During Q&A, DeGaynor said dataMate produced roughly $18 million of revenue and about $3 million of profitability. He said management believes the ability to pay down debt, exit an underutilized facility, and continue structural cost rationalization can largely offset the profitability, adding that the company views the divestiture as an accretive decision. In a separate exchange, DeGaynor said the portfolio review is ongoing and that investors can expect more to come in the future, calling dataMate an important first step. Data center power momentum and updated outlook DeGaynor reiterated the companys emphasis on power solutions across EV, industrial, and data center markets. On data centers specifically, he said that based on fourth-quarter order patterns the company now has line of sight toward $120 million annualized run rate, which he described as a significant increase year over year. He emphasized that the run rate reflects current end customers through various contract manufacturers and does not assume incremental wins from new accounts. In Q&A, DeGaynor said the companys move to vendor managed inventory (VMI) created a 6- to 8-week revenue gap as it shifted the point of sale recognition, contributing to a relatively flat year-over-year view for the full year. He said the $120 million run rate is supported by EDI-based forecasting, which management views as providing greater transparency and confidence. Management also said the company has not made material capital expenditures for the data center business. Kowalchik provided context on companywide capital spending, stating fiscal 2025 capital expenditures were $42 million and fiscal 2026 year-to-date capex was about $16.5 million. On guidance, Kowalchik said fiscal 2026 net sales guidance was narrowed, with the low end raised by $50 million to a range of $950 million to $1.0 billion. She attributed the change primarily to foreign exchange translation, totaling approximately $25 million through the first nine months of fiscal 2026, and an expected $30 million full-year benefit versus prior assumptions. However, the company lowered its full-year adjusted EBITDA outlook to $58 million to $62 million from the prior $70 million to $80 million range. Kowalchik said the reduction is concentrated in North American auto and reflects updated cost assumptions tied to multiple customer program delays and higher expenses associated with the Mexico transformation, including wages and professional fees. She added that guidance does not reflect the sale of dataMate, the Harwood Heights facility transaction, or any customer recoveries. In closing remarks, DeGaynor said the company is focused on stabilizing operations, refining the portfolio, aligning footprint and cost structure, and reallocating resources toward higher-growth power solutions opportunities, while maintaining emphasis on cash generation and balance sheet discipline. About Methode Electronics (NYSE:MEI) Methode Electronics, Inc is a Chicago-based global manufacturer of custom-engineered electronic and electromechanical components and assemblies. Founded in 1946, Methode specializes in providing solutions that integrate electrical connectors, sensors, switches, human-machine interface devices and power distribution modules. The company's product portfolio addresses complex application requirements across a broad range of end markets, including automotive, industrial, energy, healthcare and data/telecommunications. In its automotive segment, Methode develops advanced connector systems, circuit protection devices and thermal management solutions for internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles. The article "Methode Electronics Q3 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. Assam faces scrutiny over the environmental impact of felling over one lakh mature trees for development projects since 2016, prompting debate about ecological compensation and sustainability. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Over one lakh mature trees have been felled in Assam since May 2016 for development projects, raising environmental concerns. The Assam government claims 3.5 crore saplings have been planted to compensate for the loss, but experts question the ecological equivalence. Environmental experts highlight the significant ecological loss from felling mature trees, which cannot be quickly replaced by saplings. The lack of ecological impact assessments following large-scale tree felling is a major concern for biodiversity and microclimate. Tree felling has occurred in both notified forest areas and non-forest locations, impacting both government and private projects. More than one lakh mature full-grown trees have been felled across Assam since May 2016, when the BJP formed its first government in the state, for various public and private projects, according to official records. The Assam government, on the other hand, said that all these trees were cut in "dire necessity" to develop the projects, while more than 3.5 crore saplings have been planted in the last two years alone to compensate the loss in green cover. However, experts from different state-run institutions opined that cutting so many trees have resulted in "significant ecological loss" and comparing felling of mature trees with planting saplings is "problematic", while terming it "scientifically concerning" for no study to assess the impact. Details of Tree Felling in Assam Replying to a set of queries sent to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) through an application under the Right to Information Act, 15 out of 44 wildlife and territorial divisions across Assam have said that 1,06,896 trees have been felled so far since May 2016. A set of 11 queries were submitted to the Office of the PCCF & Head of Forest Force under the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department of the Assam government. It was forwarded to 43 divisions across the state. Apart from the 15 divisions that provided data, 12 more responded to the RTI application but did not give any information related to tree felling. No reply has come from the remaining 16 divisions at all so far. None of the 27 divisions that responded to the queries have conducted any study on the impact on ecology for cutting these huge numbers of trees over the years. Government's Justification and Afforestation Efforts When contacted, Assam Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary told PTI that the trees were cut for oil exploration projects as well as infrastructure development. "These trees have been cut across the state for various development projects. It was a dire necessity to fell the trees for different projects," he added. Giving examples, Patowary said a huge number of trees were cut for the four-laning of National Highway-17 from Guwahati to Goalpara and construction of the Darrang Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). "In most places where trees were cut, roads have been developed -- mainly the national highways. Besides, ONGC and Oil India are also exploring crude and developing wells at new locations. For that too, some trees were felled," he added. The DMCH is being built at a location where there was a silk plantation. So, the entire area was cleared for construction work, the minister said. "We have planted a huge number of saplings against these felled trees. In 'Amrit Briksha Andolan', we planted one crore saplings in a single day. There are other schemes also. We have planted a total of 3.5 crore saplings in the last two years," he added. According to the RTI data, most of the responding authorities said that more than 70 per cent saplings have survived after proper care. Over 26,000 trees have been felled in notified forest areas since May 2016, while the remaining have been cut in non-forest locations. Nearly 84,000 trees were chopped for various government projects like construction of roads, bridges, flyovers, factories and buildings such as medical colleges, police battalions and all other structures. More than 10,000 trees have been felled for private works. The available information shows that almost 65,000 trees have been logged from 2021 to 2025 during Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's tenure. Over 18,000 trees were removed during his predecessor Sarbananda Sonowal's period. Expert Opinions on Ecological Impact When contacted, Cotton University Environmental Biology & Wildlife Sciences Assistant Professor Narayan Sharma told PTI that equating the felling of mature trees with planting saplings is "problematic". "A full-grown mature tree represents decades of ecological value that cannot be quickly or easily replaced. In most cases, sapling plantations hardly compensate for the loss of mature trees immediately, as it takes decades for them to provide comparable ecosystem services, if they survive at all to the adult stage," he added. On the absence of a study to assess the impact of felling such a huge number of trees, Sharma, an expert of biodiversity conservation, said that when large numbers of trees are felled at a particular location, a proper ecological impact assessment "must be conducted". He stressed that such a study or research is necessary to ascertain the damage to local microclimate and biodiversity ecosystem, including its hidden impact on human physical and mental health. Expressing similar sentiments, Gauhati University Assistant Professor (Environmental Science) Minakshi Bora said that as an environmental science teacher, she would interpret this RTI data with caution and concern. "I would say the numbers appear impressive, but they are not directly comparable. Felling over one lakh mature trees and planting saplings are ecologically unequal actions." A mature tree represents decades of biomass, carbon storage, habitat value and ecosystem services that a sapling cannot immediately replace, she added. Bora, a GIS and Ecohydrology expert, also commented that not conducting the impact assessments in respective divisions is "scientifically concerning". "Without systematic study, cumulative ecological degradation may go unnoticed until impacts become severe and irreversible," she added. Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah is set to become Nepal's next prime minister as his party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), achieves a landslide victory in the general election, promising a new era of governance and political reform. IMAGE: Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), greets his supporters as he celebrates after winning the election, in Damak, Jhapa district, Nepal, on March 7, 2026. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters Key Points Balendra Shah's RSP secured a sweeping victory in the Nepal general election, signalling a major shift in the country's political landscape. Balen, the RSP's prime ministerial candidate, defeated veteran politician K P Sharma Oli by a significant margin, reflecting public desire for change. The RSP's success is attributed to addressing key issues such as fighting corruption, ending nepotism, and promoting generational change in leadership. Balendra Shah is expected to be the next prime minister of Nepal, potentially becoming the youngest and first Madhesi leader to hold the position. Analysts suggest Balen's leadership must prioritise anti-corruption measures and maintain an independent foreign policy, balancing relations with global actors. Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party is all set to form the government in Nepal after securing a sweeping victory in the crucial general election, decimating the established parties in the politically-fragile Himalayan country. Popularly known as 'Balen', the 35-year-old prime-ministerial candidate of the RSP defeated four-time former prime minister K P Sharma Oli, the chair of Nepal's legacy party -- the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) -- by a huge margin of about 50,000 votes in the Jhapa-5 constituency. Balen secured 68,348 votes against 74-year-old Oli's 18,734, the Election Commission (EC) said. Balen is expected to be the next prime minister of Nepal, reflecting a public mood of rejection of established parties. He will be the first Madhesi prime minister of the Himalayan country and also the youngest to occupy the top post in Nepal's parliamentary history. The RSP has won 107 of the 138 seats, for which results were declared by the Election Commission till 10 am on Sunday. The RSP's seats include a clean sweep in all 15 constituencies of three districts in Kathmandu Valley, the EC data showed. Legacy parties failed to convince 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) is a distant second with just 15 seats won and leading in three. The CPN-UML won just seven seats and is leading in three, the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) won six seats and is leading in one, the Shrama Shakti Party (SSP) has won one and is leading in two seats, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) won one seat, the EC data showed. Among the winners is one independent. Legacy parties suffer crushing defeat Former deputy speaker Indira Rana Magar, of the RSP, won from Jhapa-2 by defeating the speaker of the dissolved House of Representatives and senior leader of CPN-UML Dev Raj Ghimire. Rana Magar won by a huge margin of 48,742 votes against Ghimire, who secured 11,368 votes. Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa, 49, who was projected as his party's prime ministerial candidate, lost from Dhanusha-4 constituency to Amaresh Singh of the RSP. Singh received 33,688 votes against Thapa's 22,831, according to the Election Commission. Other senior leaders of Nepali Congress, including general secretary Guru Raj Ghimire, Shekhar Koirala and Bimalendra Nidhi, also faced defeat. Ten office bearers of the CPN-UML, including the party's general secretary Shankar Pokharel, also lost the election. Other leaders of the CPN-UML who lost were vice presidents Bishnu Paudel, Prithvi Subba Gurung and Gokarna Bista, deputy general secretary Raghubir Mahaseth, and secretaries Sherdhan Rai, Mahesh Basnet, Rajan Bhattarai and Bhanubhakta Dhakal. Nepal witnessed about 60 per cent voter turnout during the March 5 election to the House of Representatives. The counting of votes started late on Thursday night and as of Sunday morning, counting was in progress in the remaining seats of the total 165 constituencies, the EC said. Modi congratulates Nepal The election was being closely watched by India, which is hoping for a stable government in the politically-fragile Himalayan country to take forward the developmental partnership between the two sides. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the people and government of Nepal on Saturday for the successful conduct of the election. '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. He also said 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. Oli, who too was projected as the prime-ministerial face of the CPN-UML, wished Balen a full five-year tenure for his government in a country that has seen 14 governments in the last 18 years. 'Balen babu, congratulations for the victory. I wish your five year tenure be trouble free, successful and hearty congratulations,' Oli wrote in a social media post and attached a 2022 photo showing him gifting a tabla to Balen after the rapper-turned politician won the mayoral polls in Kathmandu as an Independent candidate. RSP chairman Lamichhane won with a huge margin from the 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 EC, 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 the 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 party to have secured a seat in the House of Representatives. The election also saw 10 women candidates emerge victorious -- nine from the RSP and one from the NC. Meanwhile, the RSP is also leading in proportional voting system with the party bagging 13,79,280 votes followed by Nepali Congress with 4,68,066. The CPN-UML has received 3,77,974, the Nepali Communist Party 1,81,136, the RPP 1,00,674, and the Shrama Shakti Party 56,235 votes till now. Of the 275 members of 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, through its two-day intensified protests on September 8 and 9 last year, ousted Prime Minister Oli, who was heading a coalition government with the backing of the 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, a generational change in the political leadership, etc. Analysts' Perspectives on the Election Outcome Sunil Babu Pant, former MP and a political analyst, said, "The victory of the Rastriya Swatantra Party in the March 5 election and the expectation that Balen Shah could emerge as Nepal's next prime minister reflect the people's deep-rooted frustration with the old political order and their hope for a new direction." "As Balen assumes the country's leadership, his first responsibility must be to demonstrate that corruption will not be tolerated under any circumstances," he said. Balen will also face a complex geopolitical challenge, Pant said, adding, "He must prove that he is not a puppet of any external power, western or otherwise. Nepal's leadership must carefully balance relations with all global actors and pursue an independent foreign policy that prioritises national interest." Indian police have arrested two Bangladeshi nationals in West Bengal who are suspected of murdering Osman Hadi, a political activist whose death sparked widespread unrest in Bangladesh. Photograph: Abdul Goni/Reuters Key Points Two Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested in West Bengal, India, in connection with the murder of Osman Hadi, a Bangladeshi political activist. The suspects, Rahul alias Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, were apprehended in Bongaon while allegedly attempting to cross back into Bangladesh. The Bengal STF stated that the suspects had fled Bangladesh after committing serious crimes, including extortion and murder. Osman Hadi was shot in Dhaka in December 2025 and later died in Singapore while receiving treatment. Two persons accused of killing Osman Hadi, a political activist of Bangladesh whose daylight murder had sparked widespread violence in the neighbouring country, were arrested by the special task force (STF) of the West Bengal police, an official said on Sunday. The two Bangladesh nationals, identified as Rahul alias Faisal Karim Masud (37) and Alamgir Hossain (34), residents of Patuakhali and Dhaka, respectively, were apprehended from the border town of Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district. They were arrested on the intervening night of March 7 and 8, the Bengal STF said in a statement. It said that there was credible information that two Bangladeshi nationals, after committing serious crimes, including extortion and murder in Bangladesh, had fled and illegally entered India. "They were trying to take shelter in the border area of Bongaon with the intention of crossing back into Bangladesh when the opportunity arises," the statement said. The two, accused of having committed the murder of Hadi, were intercepted by the STF after conducting a raid. The STF said that the two accused entered Indian territory through the Meghalaya border and moved through different places in India, and finally came to Bongaon with the intention of crossing back into Bangladesh. "A specific case has been registered in this regard," it said. A court on Sunday remanded Masud and Hossain to police custody. Hadi, a student leader and spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha in Bangladesh, was shot at on December 12, 2025, in Dhaka and thereafter flown to Singapore for better treatment. He died on December 18 there. Bihar police have arrested three individuals in Patna and seized a large quantity of 'dry drugs', including thousands of narcotic tablets and injections, as part of an ongoing effort to combat drug trafficking in the city. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Bihar police arrested three individuals in Patna for allegedly supplying 'dry drugs'. The drug bust resulted in the seizure of over 10,000 Alprazolam tablets and various injectable narcotics. A special police team was formed to curb the supply of 'dry drugs' in Patna. The accused allegedly procured the drugs from outside Patna and distributed them within the city. The Bihar police on Sunday said they have arrested three persons and seized a large quantity of 'dry drugs', including narcotic tablets and injectable substances, in the state capital. The arrests were made during an anti-drug operation in the Agamkuan police station area of Patna district on Saturday. Details of the Seized Drugs The seized items include 10,800 tablets of Alprazolam, 60 Lecgesic injections, 52 silent injections, 59 Talgesic injections, 10 Rainkout injections, 130 Zepine injections, 90 unlabelled ampoule injections, 10,600 Avil injections and 330 Fenargan injections. Investigation and Further Action According to a statement issued by Patna police, a special team was constituted on the instructions of the Patna SSP to curb the supply of 'dry drugs' in the city. Preliminary investigation by the team revealed that the accused were allegedly procuring the contraband from outside Patna and supplying it in different police station areas of the city, a police officer said. A motorcycle was also recovered from the accused. Following President Droupadi Murmu's expression of displeasure, BJP MP Khagen Murmu is demanding West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's resignation, igniting a political firestorm over alleged disrespect and protocol breaches. Key Points BJP MP Khagen Murmu demands West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's resignation for allegedly insulting President Droupadi Murmu. President Murmu expressed displeasure over venue changes and the absence of CM Banerjee and senior ministers at a Siliguri event. Banerjee accused President Murmu of acting on BJP's advice and questioned her silence on tribal issues in BJP-ruled states. BJP leaders are calling for a Union Home Ministry probe into the alleged insult to the President by West Bengal officials. TMC leaders are criticising BJP's selective outrage, pointing to issues affecting tribal women in West Bengal. BJP MP Khagen Murmu on Sunday demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating that she insulted President Droupadi Murmu. The President expressed her displeasure over the change of venue of her programme near Siliguri on Saturday, and over neither the CM nor any senior cabinet minister being present. "To uphold the dignity of the Adivasis, the chief minister should resign immediately," Murmu, a tribal MP, said. Maintaining that a mere apology would not do, the Maldaha Uttar MP said that the chief minister was behaving like a 'Badshah' (emperor) of West Bengal. Addressing tribals at the International Santal Conference near Siliguri in north Bengal on Saturday, Murmu had 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. In unusually sharp remarks hours after Murmu expressed her displeasure, Banerjee accused the President of speaking "on BJP's advice", questioning her "silence" on "atrocities" against tribals in states such as Manipur and Chhattisgarh, both ruled by the saffron party. Castigating Banerjee for her comments against the President, BJP MLA from Siliguri, Sankar Ghosh, said it has again been proved that the state's chief minister does not adhere to any constitutional norms. "The Union Home Ministry should hold a detailed probe into the insult of the President and take action against the state officials," Ghosh, who is the chief whip of the BJP's legislative party in the state assembly, said. Criticising Khagen Murmu, state minister Shashi Panja asked why he was not questioning the deletion of names of women from the Scheduled Tribe communities during the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. "These women have also been deprived, but the BJP does not talk about them," the TMC leader said. The BJP has launched a scathing attack on Mamata Banerjee for her controversial remarks about President Droupadi Murmu, igniting a political firestorm over respect for the Constitution and the President's office. Photograph: @AITCofficial/X Key Points The BJP has criticised Mamata Banerjee for allegedly disrespecting President Droupadi Murmu. Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Banerjee of welcoming 'infiltrators' while disrespecting the President. Banerjee questioned President Murmu's silence on alleged atrocities against tribals. The BJP has accused Banerjee of exercising 'dictatorship' in West Bengal and disregarding institutions. The BJP urges Banerjee to respect the President, who hails from the tribal community and is the constitutional head. The BJP on Sunday lashed out at Mamata Banerjee over her remarks about President Droupadi Murmu and asked the West Bengal Chief Minister to stop talking about saving the Constitution if she "cannot respect" the President of the country. "Under Mamata Banerjee's rule, only 'ghuspaithiye' (infiltrators) are welcomed. Doors are open for them," senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad told a press conference at the party headquarters here. "Rashtrapati ka kare apman, aur ghuspaithiyon ko baneye mehman (Insult the President and welcome infiltrators)," he said. Banerjee on Saturday accused President Murmu of speaking "on BJP's advice", questioning her "silence" on "atrocities" against tribals in states such as Manipur and Chhattisgarh. Banerjee's remarks had come after President Murmu expressed her displeasure over the change of venue of the Santal conference, which she attended in the state, and the absence of the chief minister and her ministers during her visit. Hitting back, Prasad said, "She (Mamata Banerjee) is saying what could she do if President Murmu visits just two days in advance. This is her response." "What kind of response is this? Is it kind of respect that she has for a tribal woman who is President of India?" the BJP leader asked, adding, "This is very shameful and condemnable." Prasad further said, "I request Mamata ji that she must stop making the facade of the Constitution in danger if she cannot give respect to the President of India who is the supreme commander of the armed forces, apart from being the constitutional head. She is also a distinguished lady who hails from the tribal community." Accusations of Dictatorship in West Bengal The former Union minister also accused Banerjee of exercising "dictatorship" in West Bengal. "Mamata Banerjee's dictatorship has increased so much that she has become the law unto herself. This is not right. The country functions with democracy, dignity and institutions' respect. But, she has decided to disregard every institution," he charged. Top BJP leaders are blasting the West Bengal government for allegedly violating protocol and showing disrespect towards President Droupadi Murmu during her recent visit, igniting a major political controversy. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Union Ministers Kishan Reddy and Ramchander Rao accuse West Bengal government of protocol breach during President Murmu's visit. The BJP leaders allege insult to the President and the Santal community due to the arrangements made by the West Bengal government. Kishan Reddy demands an unconditional apology from the TMC government for the alleged disrespect. The controversy has ignited a political slugfest in West Bengal, with accusations of disrespect towards the President. President Murmu's concerns about the lack of tribal development in West Bengal have further fuelled the political tensions. Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy and Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao have launched a scathing attack on the West Bengal government, alleging a "blatant violation of protocol" during President Droupadi Murmu's recent visit to that state. Kishan Reddy said he was deeply disturbed by what happened during Murmu's visit to West Bengal. "The President of India, a proud tribal daughter, was insulted in West Bengal. No CM, no ministers present, and a venue deliberately chosen where Santal people couldn't even reach. This is a blatant violation of protocol and an insult to the highest office of our nation," he said in a post on X. Calling the TMC government's conduct "shameful and indefensible", he said an unconditional apology is owed to the President, the Santal community and every Indian. Ramchander Rao said he stands with fellow citizens across the country in expressing sorrow and concern over what transpired in West Bengal. The words of anguish expressed by President Murmu reflect the sentiments of millions of Indians, he said. "Despite the TMC government having prior knowledge of the Hon'ble President's visit to West Bengal, the manner in which the situation was handled reveals a troubling disregard for established protocol and constitutional decorum," Rao said. A fierce political slugfest erupted in poll-bound West Bengal on Saturday, after President Droupadi Murmu flagged the lack of development among tribals in the state, drawing an angry retort from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the TMC of insulting the President. Police in Prayagraj are urgently investigating the alleged abduction of a five-year-old boy from his home, launching a widespread search to ensure his safe return. Key Points A five-year-old boy was allegedly abducted from outside his house in Sarai Kalan village, Prayagraj. Eight police teams have been formed to investigate the abduction and recover the missing child. The boy, identified as Prateek, was reportedly taken away in a van by unidentified individuals after returning from school. Police are reportedly close to identifying the suspects and anticipate a swift resolution to the case. A five-year-old boy was allegedly abducted from outside his house in a village here, police said on Sunday. The incident occurred on Saturday in Sarai Kalan village when the child had just returned home from school, they said. Additional Commissioner of Police Ajay Pal Sharma visited the spot along with other officials and spoke to the family members of the child. "Eight police teams have been formed and are working to recover the boy," Sharma said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Yamuna Nagar) Vivek Chandra Yadav said Manda police station received information on Saturday that the child, identified as Prateek (5), had been abducted by some unidentified persons from outside his house. "The boy had just reached outside his home after returning from school when some unidentified persons arrived in a van and took him away," Yadav said. Police teams are close to the suspects, and the case is likely to be solved soon, he added. A joyous Jaipur wedding celebration turned tragic when a speeding car crashed into the procession, leaving multiple people injured and prompting an investigation into the accident's cause. Key Points A speeding car collided with a wedding procession in Jaipur, resulting in injuries to around a dozen people. The accident occurred near Damodarpura under the Bassi police station area. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while trying to overtake a DJ vehicle. Several women were among those injured in the incident. Seriously injured individuals were referred to Sawai Man Singh Hospital for further treatment. A speeding car rammed into a group of revellers dancing as part of a wedding function procession here, leaving around a dozen injured, police said on Sunday. The incident occurred near Damodarpura under the Bassi police station area on Saturday night. The car driver was allegedly attempting to overtake a vehicle carrying the DJ setup behind the procession. His foot slipped from the brake and pressed the accelerator, causing the car to plough into the procession, police said. Several women were among those injured. Bystanders rushed the injured to the sub-district hospital in Bassi in ambulances and private vehicles, they said. While some of the injured were discharged after primary treatment, those who sustained serious injuries were referred to Sawai Man Singh Hospital, police said. The Indian government is investigating potential protocol breaches during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to West Bengal, demanding an explanation from the state government regarding alleged lapses in security and arrangements. IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu expresses strong displeasure after the TMC-ruled West Bengal government changed the venue of the International Santal Conference, in Darjeeling on Saturday. Photograph: Darjeeling District Administration/ANI Video Grab Key Points The Centre has requested a response from West Bengal regarding alleged violations of protocol during President Murmu's visit. Key concerns include the absence of the Chief Minister and other top officials, inadequate facilities, and a poorly maintained route. President Murmu expressed disappointment over low turnout at a tribal event and questioned the venue change. Prime Minister Modi has accused the West Bengal government of insulting President Murmu during her visit. The 'Blue Book' outlines security and protocol rules for the President, Vice-President, and Prime Minister. Amid a row over 'lapses' at President Droupad Murmu's event in West Bengal, the Centre has sought a response from the state government by 5 pm on Sunday over the 'violations' of the rules related to protocol, venue and route arrangements during the visit, sources said. In a letter to West Bengal chief secretary, the Union home secretary has asked him to furnish a response on the violations of the 'Blue Book' rules of protocol, venue and route arrangements. The 'Blue Book' is a confidential document which lists out rules for the security and protocol for the President, Vice-President and the prime minister and their families. President Murmu's Disappointment President Murmu on Saturday expressed dismay over a low turnout at a tribal community event near Bagdogra airport, and questioned the decision to shift the venue from Bidhannagar. She also noted the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her ministers during her visit. Highly placed sources said the communique sent to the West Bengal chief secretary sought response on the absence of the chief minister, the chief secretary and the DGP to receive the President on her arrival to the state which is a serious violation of the Blue Book rules. The Centre has taken note of the fact that only the Siliguri Mayor was present to receive her which is a violation of protocol, they said. According to the sources, the washroom set up for the President did not have water for which an explanation has been sought from the state government. The state has been asked to explain why the route chosen by the administration for ferrying the President was littered with garbage, they said. The letter seeks to know about the action taken against District Magistrate Darjeeling, Commissioner of Police Siliguri and Additional District Magistrate who seems to be directly responsible for such violations. Venue Change and Low Turnout Murmu had been invited to the annual programme of the tribal community, which was originally scheduled to be held at Bidhannagar in Siliguri. However, citing security and other logistical reasons, authorities shifted the venue to Goshaipur near the Bagdogra airport, officials said. When the President arrived at the venue on Saturday afternoon, only a handful of people were present. Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb was the only representative present at the airport to receive her. "Mamata Banerjee is like my younger sister. I am also a daughter of Bengal. I do not know whether she is upset. Anyway, that does not matter. All of you stay well," the President had said. She also questioned the change of venue for the tribal community's annual programme from Bidhannagar to Goshaipur, where the turnout was reportedly low. "Had the programme been held there (at Bidhannagar), it would have been better. There is ample space there, and many people could have attended. But I do not know why the state administration did not permit the meeting there. Today's programme is being held at such a place that it is difficult for people to come here. Perhaps the state government does not want the welfare of tribals, and that is why they were prevented from coming here," Murmu said. According to protocol, the chief minister or a minister of the state government is usually present to receive the President. Political Reactions Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday described 'lapses' in President Murmu's event in West Bengal as unfortunate, saying the high constitutional office must always get the dignity it deserves. Accusing the West Bengal government of insulting President Murmu during her visit to the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said it was 'shameful and unprecedented' and the TMC dispensation has 'truly crossed all limits'. A GOP lawmaker from Michigan has urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to scrutinize Chinese companies gaining access to the U.S. auto market. Scrutinize Malign Foreign Investments In a letter to Bessent on Thursday, Rep. John Moolenar (R-MI) urged the Treasury Secretary to exercise "heightened scrutiny" of "inbound investment push from China" and Chinese businesses wanting to expand market access in critical manufacturing sectors in the U.S. He also said that if it were left unchecked, the administration risks undermining its own efforts to "safeguard national security, prevent foreign adversary control over critical infrastructure, and rebuild American industrial strength." Don't Miss: "Beijing seeks to subsidize its broken economic model on the back of the American taxpayer," Moolenar said in the letter. He then outlined how Chinese companies were "sustained by state support," allowing them to operate at a loss for extended periods. "In lithium-ion batteries, a foundational technology, China has leveraged sustained state support and domestic procurement policies to achieve dominance," Moolenar said, adding that in the automotive sector, Chinese automakers have "benefited from protected domestic markets and state-backed capital." He then raised an alarm about allowing Chinese automakers into the U.S. market, which would put American automakers in "direct competition with firms that have no need to compete on genuine market disciplines." Trending: Own the Characters, Not Just the Content: Inside a Fast-Growing Pre-IPO IP Company Zeekr's U.S. Debut? The news comes as Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. was mulling an entry into the U.S. market via its Zeekr brand in the next 2-3 years, as shared by Ash Sutcliffe, who is Geelys Head of Global Communications during January's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026. Zeekr already has a partnership in place with Alphabet Inc.'s Robotaxi service Waymo, as it provides the Robotaxi operator with the "Ojai" robotaxi, fitted with Waymo's Sixth-generation autonomous driving suite. Ford Floats Chinese JV Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley floated the idea of forming joint ventures with Chinese automakers to manufacture vehicles in the U.S. with American companies maintaining a controlling stake in the venture. Ford also recently held talks with BYD Co. Ltd. to expand battery-supply partnerships. A cleric was brutally assaulted in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, prompting a police investigation and raising concerns about religious tensions in the region. Key Points A 28-year-old cleric, Mufti Abdul Wahab, was allegedly assaulted in Muzaffarnagar while on his way to a mosque. Police have registered a case against five individuals in connection with the assault and have arrested one suspect. The victim's family alleges that the attackers stopped Wahab, made offensive remarks, and assaulted him with sticks and a bat. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has condemned the attack and demanded strict action against the accused, calling it a provocative act. Security has been increased in the area following the assault. A 28-year-old cleric was allegedly assaulted by a group of men in the Sarwat locality under the Civil Lines Police Station area here on Sunday, police said. Mufti Abdul Wahab was on his way to a mosque to pray when he came under an attack, they said. Circle Officer Siddharth Mishra said a case has been registered against Lavi, Basant, Harish, Aditya, and Rishabh in connection with the murder. The police have arrested Lavi while efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused, the officer said. Details of the Assault According to a complaint lodged by the victim's family, Wahab on his way to the mosque on his motorcycle when a group of men allegedly stopped him, made objectionable remarks and asked his name before assaulting him with sticks and a bat. The cleric was first taken to the district hospital and was referred to a higher medical centre due to his critical condition, the police said. Reaction and Aftermath The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the accused. The outfit's media in-charge, Maulana Sabir, said the attack was a provocative act and called for stringent action. Meanwhile, security has been tightened in the area. A collection agent in Delhi was robbed of cash by armed men on motorcycles, prompting a police investigation to apprehend the suspects and recover the stolen money. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A 27-year-old collection agent was robbed of cash in Delhi's Khajuri Khas area. Four unidentified men on motorcycles allegedly threatened the agent with a weapon. Police have launched an investigation and are searching for the suspects. A forensic team inspected the crime scene and collected evidence to aid the investigation. A 27-year-old collection agent was allegedly robbed of a bag containing cash by four unidentified men on motorcycles in northeast Delhi's Khajuri Khas area, police said on Sunday. The victim, Avinash, a resident of Old Seelampur, works as a collection agent for a scrap dealer in the Chandni Chowk area. The incident occurred on Saturday near a bank ATM in the area, they said. "Avinash was carrying cash on his scooter when four men riding two motorcycles intercepted him near the ATM. The assailants allegedly threatened him with a weapon, snatched his bag containing cash and fled the spot," an officer said in a statement. After receiving information, a police team reached the spot and initiated an investigation. A forensic team also inspected the crime scene and collected relevant evidence, the officer said. A case has been registered, and teams have been deployed to identify and trace the accused, police said. To mark International Women's Day, the Delhi Police launched a series of initiatives including self-defence training and awareness programs aimed at enhancing women's safety and legal knowledge. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Delhi Police organised awareness drives and self-defence training for International Women's Day. Initiatives focused on promoting women's safety awareness and legal literacy. Programmes included self-defence sessions, cyber awareness workshops, and health check-up camps. A women's scooter rally and felicitation events were held to recognise women's contributions. Self-defence workshops and safety awareness meetings were organised in schools, colleges, and public spaces. The Delhi Police on Sunday organised a series of awareness drives, self-defence training sessions and community outreach programmes across districts and units to mark International Women's Day. The initiatives, held in the run-up to and on the occasion, aimed at promoting women's safety awareness, legal literacy and community participation through various engagement activities. A senior police officer said the programmes included self-defence training sessions, lectures on good touch and bad touch, cyber and social media awareness workshops, health check-up camps, a women's scooter rally, and felicitation events recognising the contribution of women in society and policing. District-Level Initiatives In the North District, a scooter rally involving 40 women police personnel was organised. In the northwest district, a self-defence training session was conducted at government school, while similar awareness programmes were organised under the Parivartan Cell and Nazuk scheme. Several districts, including South, Southeast, West and Dwarka, organised self-defence workshops, safety awareness meetings and cyber awareness sessions in schools, colleges, markets and public spaces. A deadly Holi clash in Delhi's Uttam Nagar has plunged the community into tension, disrupting businesses and daily life as residents grapple with the aftermath and increased security measures. IMAGE: Security personnel being deployed at Uttam Nagar after tension following the murder of a youth in a clash during Holi celebrations, in New Delhi, March 8, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Businesses in Uttam Nagar are severely impacted, with shops shuttered and markets deserted during the important Ramzan period. Residents describe a 'lockdown-like' situation, with restricted movement and fear affecting daily life. The police have arrested several individuals and invoked the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in connection with the case. Local residents emphasise the area's history of communal harmony, attributing the recent tensions to external factors. Four days after a Holi clash left a 26-year-old man dead in southwest Delhi's Uttam Nagar, shops in the area remain shuttered, markets deserted, while residents struggle to go about their routines, just days before Eid. The usual bustle of the Ramzan month in the densely populated neighbourhood has now been replaced with a heavy police and paramilitary deployment, barricading and restrictions on movement, keeping customers away. Residents said the atmosphere in the area resembles a lockdown-like situation, with people hesitant to step out and business activity coming to a near standstill. "Everything in the entire area is shut, shops and markets are closed. It is almost like a lockdown," Khalid Ali, a resident of the area and a member of the Muslim Samaj Committee, said. "This is a very large area, yet all the shops are closed. People are unable to move around and are troubled, confined to their homes. In the last 50 years of living here, I have never seen so much police presence," he added. On March 4, a 26-year-old man, identified as Tarun, was killed following a clash that broke out between his family and their neighbours in the JJ Colony area. According to police, the violence started after a girl from Tarun's family threw a balloon, splashing a woman from the neighbour's family during Holi celebrations. Police said the two families had known each other for nearly five decades and had previous disagreements over issues such as parking and garbage disposal. Speaking about the clash, Ali said that barring the recent incident, the area has historically witnessed peaceful coexistence among communities. "In the last five decades, people here have lived in harmony. Those who are trying to give it a communal colour, that is not the case here. On any festival, our communal harmony has never been disturbed," he said. Visuals from the locality after the clash showed long stretches of markets wearing a desolate look. Temporary stalls and roadside vendors have also covered their goods with tarpaulin sheets, while narrow lanes that normally remain crowded on Ramzan evenings appeared eerily quiet. Impact on local businesses Shopkeepers said the timing of the disruption has worsened their losses as Eid is usually one of the busiest periods of the year. "My shop has been closed for three days. People from outside are not coming to buy goods anymore. No one is coming because of fear," a shopkeeper in the area said. "It's the month of Eid; usually business is very good during this time, and work is fast. But now everything is ruined," he added. Residents said the presence of police personnel in large numbers and the tense atmosphere have discouraged visitors from nearby areas, affecting not only shop owners but also daily wage earners and small vendors who depend on the evening rush. The police said seven people have been arrested and a juvenile has been apprehended so far in connection with the case. Provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and murder charges have been added to the FIR. The incident triggered tension in the area earlier, with an angry mob damaging vehicles and setting some on fire, prompting authorities to increase security deployment. Abad Ali, a 27-year-old law student living in the locality, said there was an atmosphere of uncertainty in the neighbourhood. "I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime. Even my father has never seen this," he said. He alleged that outsiders were contributing to the tension. "Outsiders are coming here and spoiling the environment. For a long time, people here have lived together with love, harmony and brotherhood. Hindus and Muslims have always interacted well, and everything was going smoothly," he said. Ali further said Tarun was like his brother and was of his age. "What happened was very wrong and very condemnable. No one supports it. Whoever did it should be punished, and strict action should be taken against them," Ali added. Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Sunday carried out a demolition drive and razed "illegal portions" of a house linked to one of the accused in the case. An Indian court has denied bail to a man accused of leaking sensitive Indian Navy secrets to Pakistani nationals via WhatsApp, highlighting the severity of espionage and national security concerns. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A junior service engineer, Ravi Varma, is accused of leaking sensitive information about Indian Navy warships and submarines to Pakistani nationals. Varma allegedly shared information about Indian Navy ships and boats via WhatsApp in exchange for money. The court denied bail, citing the serious nature of the offences under the Official Secrets Act and the potential for tampering with evidence or witnesses. Varma faces charges under the Official Secrets Act and Section 61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), with a potential punishment of 14 years imprisonment. A court in Thane in Maharashtra has refused bail to a junior service engineer accused of leaking sensitive information about warships and submarines to Pakistani nationals, saying the offence related to naval establishments was serious in nature. In the order passed earlier this month, Additional Sessions Judge V G Mohite noted that charges against the accused carry a potential punishment of 14 years of imprisonment. The accused, Ravi Varma, who was employed by Crasni Technology Pvt Ltd, a firm providing services to Naval Dockyard, Mazagon Dockyard, the Coast Guard and Mumbai Port Trust, was arrested on May 28, 2025. Varma, a resident of Kalwa in neighbouring Thane, is currently in judicial custody. The prosecution alleged that between November 2024 and March 2025, Varma shared secret and sensitive information about the names and locations of Indian Navy ships and boats with two Pakistan nationals via WhatsApp in exchange for money. He was booked under Official Secrets Act and Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Defence Arguments and Prosecution's Concerns Varma, in his bail plea, claimed he was innocent and has been falsely implicated in the crime. He cited that the investigation was over and the chargesheet had been filed. All material electronic evidence was in the possession of the prosecution and his detention was not necessary, the accused claimed in the plea. The prosecution contended that Varma had shared his bank details with the absconding accused, who thereafter credited money in his account for providing such sensitive and secret information. If Varma is released on bail, he would tamper with prosecution witnesses and evidence, and could also abscond, police said. Therefore, his application should be rejected, the prosecution told court. Court's Decision The court, after hearing both sides and perusal of documents on record, noted that the accused is chargesheeted for offences of "serious nature" under the Official Secrets Act. "He has committed serious offences for getting pecuniary benefits," the court remarked. The judge indicated that the court intends to frame charges within a few months and proceed with the trial. The court concurred with the prosecution's concern that if released, he may assist the co-accused from evading their arrest. The possibility of tampering with prosecution evidence and witnesses by him cannot be ruled out, it added. The court then rejected Varma's bail plea. A shooting at a Gurugram luxury car showroom injures one and damages vehicles, prompting a police investigation into possible gang connections and raising concerns about organised crime in the area. IMAGE: Photograph: Screengrab/X Key Points A man was injured and vehicles were damaged in a shooting at a luxury used-car showroom in Gurugram. Police are investigating potential links to the Himanshu Bhau gang in connection with the shooting. The shooting occurred at the Big Boy Toyz showroom, with multiple rounds fired at the building and a luxury car. The showroom owner had previously received threats and extortion demands from a gang in October 2024. Three suspects have been identified and police are actively working to apprehend them. A man was injured and vehicles damaged after three unidentified bike-borne men opened fire outside a luxury used-car showroom near Hero Honda Chowk here, police said on Sunday. The police have registered a case at Sector 37 police station, and preliminary investigation has revealed possible links to the Himanshu Bhau gang, they said. The incident took place around 8 pm on Saturday in the Sector 37 police station area when three youths arrived on a motorcycle and suddenly started firing at the Big Boy Toyz's showroom. During the firing, a bullet grazed the hand of Rajpal, a resident of Rajasthan, who was present there, following which bystanders immediately rushed him to the hospital and informed the police. The shooter fired multiple rounds, targeting the showroom and a luxury car, causing damage to parked vehicles and shattering the glass panels at the entrance, the police said. Investigation and Previous Threats A senior police officer said the owner of Big Boy Toyz's showroom had received threats from a gang in October 2024, demanding crores of rupees, following which an FIR had been registered at Sector 37 police station at the time of threats. However, no gang has claimed responsibility for the firing incident, the police said. "Three suspects involved in the firing have been identified as Atul, Deepak and Neeraj, residents of Kulasi village in Jhajjar district," a Gurugram police spokesperson said. Efforts are underway to nab them, he said. In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Assam Police seized heroin worth 3.25 crore and arrested five individuals in Cachar district, underscoring the state's commitment to combating drug abuse. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Assam Police seized 538 grams of heroin worth 3.25 crore in Cachar district. Five individuals were arrested for drug trafficking after police intercepted two vehicles. The drug seizure occurred on the Silchar-Kalain Road following specific intelligence. Assam's Chief Minister lauded the police team, reaffirming the state's commitment to a drug-free Assam. Five people were arrested after heroin worth 3.25 crore was seized from their possession in Assam's Cachar district, according to the Chief Minister's Office. The arrests and recovery of the narcotics substance were made from two vehicles on Saturday. The CMO, in a post on X, said that acting on specific intelligence, the Cachar police intercepted the two vehicles on the Silchar-Kalain Road. "A total of 538 g of heroin worth 3.25 crore was seized, and five peddlers were held," it said. "HCM Dr @himantabiswa has lauded the team for their clinical execution, reaffirming that Assam's fight against drugs will continue with zero compromise until our state is drug-free," the CMO added. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi advocates for a shift in India-China relations, urging both nations to embrace partnership and cooperation for mutual growth and regional stability. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets China's President Xi Jinping in Tianjin, August 31, 2025. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Key Points Wang Yi highlights the importance of mutual trust and cooperation for the development of both countries and the rejuvenation of Asia. India and China are encouraged to maintain peace and stability in border areas while focusing on economic development and people-to-people exchanges. Both countries are expected to support each other in hosting upcoming BRICS summits, fostering collaboration within the expanded group. India and China should view each other as "partners, not rivals" and "opportunity instead of threat", Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Sunday. Wang, at his annual press conference on the sidelines of the Chinese parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), said both countries should stick to the direction set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping to improve relations without interference. Modi and Xi had a successful meeting in Tianjin last August, Wang said. "Building on the fresh start enabled by their Kazan meeting in 2024, the Tianjin summit brought about further improvement in China-India relations," he added. "We are heartened to see re-energised interactions at all levels, a new record in bilateral trade, and closer people-to-people exchanges. All this has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples," he said. On the future course of the ties, Wang said both countries "must maintain the correct strategic perception of each other as partner rather than rival, and opportunity instead of threat". "Both sides also must uphold good-neighbourliness and friendship, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the border areas and focus on development," he said. "As each other's important neighbours and members of the Global South, China and India enjoy profound civilisational ties and share extensive common interests," Wang said. "Mutual trust and cooperation are beneficial to the development of the two countries, while division and confrontation is detrimental to the rejuvenation of Asia," the Chinese foreign minister said. The two sides should follow the direction set by leaders and remove interference, he said without elaborating. BRICS cooperation He said India and China should support each other hosting BRICS summits. While India is set to host the summit this year, China is due to host the summit in 2027. BRICS which originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, later expanded with the admission of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran. India-China relations, which were frozen for five years due to military standoff in eastern Ladakh, began the process of normalisation following two summits between Modi and Xi at Kazan in Russia in 2024 followed by a second meeting on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Tianjin last year. Both sides resumed visa and flight services besides initiating a series of measures to normalise their relations. A projectile strike in Saudi Arabia's Al-Kharj Governorate has resulted in the death of an Indian national and a Bangladeshi national, highlighting the dangers of regional conflict. Photograph: Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters Key Points An Indian national and a Bangladeshi national were killed in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, after a projectile struck a residential area. Twelve Bangladeshi residents were injured in the projectile strike, which also caused material damage. Saudi Civil Defence confirmed the incident, stating the projectile hit a residential site belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company. Authorities have condemned the targeting of civilian objects as a violation of international humanitarian law. An Indian national is among two persons killed after a projectile fell on a residential location in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, officials said. The military projectile fell in a residential area in Saudi Arabia's al-Kharj Governorate on Sunday, killing two people and injuring 12 others, the Saudi Civil Defence said. A Civil Defence spokesperson of the Saudi government said the projectile struck a residential compound belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company in Al-Kharj. The incident killed one Indian national and one Bangladeshi national, while 12 Bangladeshi residents were injured, Al-Arabiya news reported. However, the authorities have not yet released the identity of the victims. The strike also caused material damage, the spokesman said. "The official spokesman for the Civil Defense stated that on Sunday, Civil Defence dealt with a military projectile falling on a residential site belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company in Al-Kharj Governorate, which resulted in two deaths of Indian and Bangladeshi nationalities and injury to (12) residents of Bangladeshi nationality, as well as material damage, the Saudi Civil Defence said in a post on X. The post further said that "attempts to target civilian objects are a blatant violation of international humanitarian law..." Escalating Regional Tensions Starting February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, which came after days of build-up with US President Donald Trump ramping up the pressure on Tehran to agree to a new deal on its nuclear programme. Iran's retaliation escalated the war to the entire Gulf region. The operation specifically directed missile counter-offensives against Israeli military infrastructure located in the northern regions of the 'occupied territories'. IMAGE: An Iranian missile flies towards Israel, as seen from Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on March 7, 2026. Photograph: Mussa Qawasma/Reuters Key Points IRGC announced the 27th phase of Operation True Promise 4, targeting US and Israeli positions. Iran said it used new solid-fuel Kheibar-Shekan missiles with terminal guidance capability. Drones reportedly struck a site housing US personnel near Marina and Warner Brothers buildings. IRGC Navy claimed it hit US Fifth Fleet-linked facilities at Salman Port in Bahrain. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared the commencement of its 27th offensive under Operation True Promise 4, targeting American and Israeli positions in response to what it termed a new wave of 'unprovoked US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic', Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported. In a formal announcement released on Saturday, the elite military wing described the latest phase as a series of integrated drone and missile barrages. The operation specifically directed missile counter-offensives against Israeli military infrastructure located in the northern regions of the occupied territories. The IRGC said the strikes were carried out using newly developed solid-fuel missile technology by its Aerospace Division. "In this strategic and multidimensional operation, Zionist military targets in [the occupied city of] Haifa were struck by the IRGC Aerospace Divisions new solid-fuel Kheibar-Shekan missiles, which possess terminal guidance capability up to the point of impact," the official dispatch stated. Furthermore, Press TV reported that unmanned aerial systems were deployed to strike a site housing American personnel. Large scale attacks on US military The military statement noted that drone units 'successfully targeted the location where American forces are stationed in 'Marina', in the vicinity of the buildings of the 'Warner Brothers' company'. Simultaneously, the IRGC Navy engaged facilities linked to the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. According to the Corps, naval forces struck the command centre for unmanned surface vessels and military support hangars at Salman Port, which it described as belonging to 'American terrorist forces'. Commenting on the internal situation within the occupied territories, the IRGC claimed that its monitoring suggests the Israeli administration is 'attempting to create a human shield to protect its military personnel by confining residents of the occupied territories to northern and central areas'. Press TV also reported that the persistence of these retaliatory strikes has triggered continuous emergency sirens across the region. The IRGC said that following these 'smart attacks', the atmosphere in the occupied territories has shifted into a permanent state of 'siren after siren'. Iran 'prepared for long-term escalation' The statement concluded by asserting that the Iranian armed forces are prepared for a long-term escalation, warning that their units 'are lying in wait for American forces with precision and planning'. Operation True Promise 4 was launched immediately after foreign strikes began last Saturday. Since then, the IRGC has reportedly fired hundreds of ballistic missiles and suicide drones at strategic targets, including sites in Tel Aviv, the 'holy occupied city of al-Quds', and the technology hub of Be'er Sheva. Previous reports have also claimed successful engagements against the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and a destroyer in the Indian Ocean. Flying cars are quickly moving from science fiction to real life. That includes Joby Aviation (JOBY), which could fly to higher highs this year. For starters, its working with Uber (UBER) and expects to fly their first passengers later this year in Dubai. Secondly, Joby is also working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will eventually lead to commercial service in the U.S. www.barchart.com We should also mention that Jobys $125 million acquisition of Blade Air Mobilitys passenger business will help speed up Jobys path to commercialization. It also gives Joby valuable infrastructure, including landing terminals and operational expertise in major cities worldwide. Plus, it doesnt hurt that the White House selected Joby Aviation for its eVTOL pilot program, which serves as major validation of the companys position as a frontrunner in advanced air mobility. More News from Barchart Jobys Uber Advantage Morgan Stanley says risks around certification and adoption remain. But the firm believes Joby has a major edge thanks to its partnership with Uber. Once integrated, users will be able to book Joby flights directly through the Uber app. All of which would give the company instant access to a massive customer base. In addition, Jobys $125 million acquisition of Blade Mobilitys passenger business accelerates commercialization with access to Blades 12+ terminals in key markets, such as New York, Los Angeles, and Europe. It also provides Joby with access to a large customer base. Meanwhile, Joby continues to make progress on certification with the U.S. FAA, which could fuel massive upside once it crosses this hurdle. Morgan Stanley also says we could be looking at a potential $1.5 trillion flying car market opportunity here by 2040 and up to $9 trillion by 2050. Plus, according to McKinsey, People are ready for flying taxis. Across geographies, more than 15 to 20 percent of survey respondents say they can definitely imagine switching from their current mode of mobility to a flying-taxi service in the future. Granted, some analysts argue that JOBY is still in the early innings of growth, but sometimes it pays to get in on the ground floor. Earnings Are Improving With Pentagon contracts to develop hybrid-electric eVTOL aircraft for military logistics, corporate partnerships (Uber, for example), and its acquisition of Blade Air Mobility, the company posted better-than-expected earnings and boosted guidance. Israeli media claimed Mojtaba Khamenei had been chosen, even as no independent confirmation has surfaced from official Iranian state media. IMAGE: A combination of satellite images shows Mehrabad Airport in Tehran, Iran, before (above) and after a reported attack, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, March 6, 2026 (above) and March 7, 2026. Photograph: 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters The assembly of experts in Iran has reached a majority consensus regarding the successor to the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to reports from the Tehran-based Mehr News Agency. The development follows the killing of the 86-year-old supreme leader. Quoting assembly of experts member Mirbaqeri, the report stated that while a "majority consensus over Khamenei's successor has been reached," the transition process is not yet fully complete as "some obstacles regarding the process need to be resolved." This movement toward a transition was further reinforced on Wednesday this week, when Iran's leadership council informed state media that a successor would be appointed at the earliest opportunity. In a video shared by the Tasnim News Agency, an official told state television that "no problem has arisen in the field of leadership." He confirmed that the leadership council is currently running the country, adding, "Praise be to God, we have come closer, but the situation is one of war." The official contrasted the current crisis with the transition following Ayatollah Khomeini's death, noting that the immediate appointment seen then was possible because the environment was not a "war situation." He emphasised that the assembly of experts is now "striving" despite the ongoing hostilities. Amid the deliberation, the Iranian government, via its Consulate General in Mumbai, dismissed reports emerging from Israeli media suggesting that Mojtaba Khamenei had been named as his late father's successor. In a post on X, the consulate stated: "Reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's assembly of experts have no official source and are officially denied." While Israeli media claimed Mojtaba Khamenei had been chosen, no independent confirmation has surfaced from official Iranian state media. As the political transition unfolds, Iran's state media has reported that citizens will bid farewell to the late Supreme Leader in a ceremony scheduled for tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony is expected to last for three days, with the final funeral procession to be announced once it is finalised. The regional conflict has escalated significantly for over a week following the US and Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Khamenei and other key figures. In retaliation, Tehran has launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases and Israeli assets across the region. The clarification follows a period of diplomatic confusion where earlier comments suggested a potential suspension of military actions against Gulf nations. IMAGE: Smoke continues to rise after a reported strike on fuel tanks in an oil refinery, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has clarified that his previous statements regarding regional military operations were "misinterpreted by the enemy that seeks to sow division with neighbours," according to state media reports cited by The Times of Israel. Key Points In a televised address on Saturday, Pezeshkian announced that the leadership council had decided not to attack neighbouring countries unless provoked The Iranian President struck a note of defiance against Western pressure, ruling out any possibility of surrender. The West Asia conflict entered its eighth day on Sunday. The clarification follows a period of diplomatic confusion where earlier comments suggested a potential suspension of military actions against Gulf nations, even as regional strikes continued. Addressing these perceptions, Pezeshkian emphasised the importance of fraternal ties, stating, "It has repeatedly been said we are brothers and must have good relations with neighbours." However, Pezeshkian maintained a stance of defensive necessity, noting that Tehran is "forced to retaliate to attacks" but clarified that this does not imply a dispute with neighbouring countries or a desire to "upset their people." The West Asia conflict entered its eighth day on Sunday. Pezeshkian had previously appeared to strike a note of reconciliation. In a televised address on Saturday, he announced that the leadership council had decided not to attack neighbouring countries unless provoked. "I apologise to the neighbouring countries. We have no intention of invading other countries," Pezeshkian said, adding that there would be no missile launches unless attacks against Iran originated from those specific nations. Despite this overture to neighbours, the Iranian President struck a note of defiance against Western pressure, ruling out any possibility of surrender as the US-Israel campaign intensifies. "They will take their dreams of us surrendering unconditionally to the grave," he asserted. This defiant stance serves as a direct rebuttal to US President Donald Trump, who recently declared on Truth Social that there would be "no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender." Trump asserted that negotiations would only consider an agreement once the current leadership completely yields and is replaced by "great & acceptable leader(s)." In his post, Trump articulated an ambition to reconstruct the nation under the slogan "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!)" and previously expressed a desire to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next Supreme Leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel strike, according to Axios. Meanwhile, the theatre of war has seen no relenting. On Friday night, more than 80 Israeli Air Force fighter jets reportedly dropped 230 bombs on key Iranian military sites, including a subterranean ballistic missile factory and a military academy. In retaliation, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced the launch of the 23rd wave of "Operation True Promise 4." The IRGC stated it deployed new-generation missile systems against targets in occupied territories and US bases across the region, highlighting the continued escalation despite the diplomatic rhetoric. Following the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka, 22 Iranian sailors have been discharged from hospital, while efforts are underway to repatriate the deceased IMAGE: An injured Iranian sailor is moved on a stretcher at a hospital following a submarine attack on the Iranian military ship off the coast of Sri Lanka, in Galle, Sri Lanka, March 5, 2026. Photograph: Thilina Kaluthotage/Reuters Key Points 10 Iranian sailors remain hospitalised in Sri Lanka following the ship sinking incident. Sri Lanka recovered 84 bodies of Iranian sailors and is arranging repatriation. The IRIS Dena sank after reportedly being torpedoed off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka. Sailors from the IRIS Bushehr are at a naval facility in Welisara, with repatriation decisions pending. At least 22 Iranian sailors of IRIS Dena, the Iranian ship that was torpedoed, have been discharged, hospital authorities said on Sunday. "They were dispatched in ambulances to the Sri Lanka Air Force facility at Koggala outside Galle under heavy security," officials said. Another 10 sailors remain under treatment at the National Hospital Galle in Karapitiya. They were admitted on Wednesday after the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena sank after being torpedoed off Galle on the island's southern coast. Sri Lanka said it had recovered 84 bodies of Iranian sailors killed in the attack. The ship was returning home from Visakhapatnam in India after a naval fleet review exercise. Sri Lanka said steps were being taken to repatriate their bodies. The government said that the situation had not improved yet to try sending them by air or sea. The magisterial inquiry and the post-mortems on 84 bodies were concluded in the southern port town of Galle on March 5. Eighty of the 84 personnel were identified by the survivors. Status of remaining sailors The sailors of the second ship IRIS Bushehr are currently at the naval facility at Welisara outside Colombo. Sri Lanka is yet to make a decision on their repatriation. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has said Sri Lanka would strictly adhere to the relevant international laws to deal with the situation. Netanyahu asserted that the military campaign, conducted in close coordination with Washington, was carried out with the full understanding of US President Donald Trump regarding the magnitude of danger Iran posed to the world IMAGE: Text. Photograph: / Rediff.com Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed that the United States and his administration have achieved nearly total dominance over Iranian airspace following a series of coordinated military strikes. Key Points The Israeli PM stated that the current offensive was a primary goal of his administration Netanyahu thanked President Trump for his strong leadership during the mission Netanyahu issued a stern warning to the Lebanese government regarding its obligations to disarm Hezbollah The Prime Minister made these remarks in Hebrew in a video message shared on X. Reflecting on the strategic success of the joint operations, he declared, "We achieved almost complete control over the skies of Tehran." Netanyahu asserted that the military campaign, conducted in close coordination with Washington, was carried out with the full understanding of US President Donald Trump regarding the magnitude of danger Iran posed not only to Israel but to the broader international community. Drawing a direct line to the Hamas-led attacks of 2023, the Prime Minister stated that the current offensive was a primary goal of his administration. "We have turned Israel into a regional power. All of this requires courage, initiative and taking risks," Netanyahu said, pointing out that this was a goal of his government since the Hamas-led October 7 massacre in 2023. "As I promised you two days after October 7, we are changing the face of the Middle East," he explained. "But we didn't just change the Middle East. First and foremost, we changed ourselves. Because after the great disaster of October 7, I decided to lead a polar shift, powerful actions one after another, proactive and surprising actions, actions that dramatically change the balance of power between us and our enemies." Netanyahu warned that Israel was confronting what he described as a grave and immediate threat from the Iranian regime, which he said had sought to expand its military capabilities in order to attack Israel and other countries. "We are facing an extremely evil regime that is plotting to destroy us with atomic bombs and tens of thousands of missiles," stated Netanyahu. Expressing gratitude for American support, the Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his strong leadership during the mission. "I would like to thank my friend President Trump for the leadership he is showing," he said, noting that the joint effort, dubbed "Operation Rising Lion," was essential to remove what he called an immediate danger to Israel. "In Operation Rising Lion, we combined forces to remove immediate danger from Israel," Netanyahu said. He claimed that the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had attempted to safeguard Iran's military assets by moving them into fortified locations. "Khamenei ordered the capabilities to be restored and buried underground so that they would be immune," continued Netanyahu. "If that had happened, he would have used it to destroy the State of Israel and threaten the entire world." The Prime Minister revealed that the joint intervention was timed to thwart these plans and prevent a pre-emptive Iranian strike on US and Israeli interests. "From this foresight, we, the United States and Israel, took action together to thwart these threats and allow the Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands." Netanyahu reiterated that the decision to act was also driven by fears that Iran could strike US and Israeli targets in the region. "There was a danger that Iran would attack American targets in the region and Israel first," Netanyahu continued, "and for all these reasons, we acted at the appointed time." Highlighting the achievements of the first week of the campaign, he stated, "In the first week, we eliminated the dictator Khamenei, we destroyed hundreds of ballistic missile launchers," a move he noted significantly "reduces the threat to the State of Israel." Shifting his focus to the northern front, Netanyahu issued a stern warning to the Lebanese government regarding its obligations to disarm Hezbollah. "I repeat to the Lebanese government," the prime minister stated, "your responsibility is to enforce the ceasefire agreement and disarm Hezbollah." He cautioned that failure to comply would lead to "disastrous consequences for Lebanon," urging the nation to "Take your fate into your own hands." The Prime Minister also addressed operatives within Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). "To the Revolutionary Guards operatives, you too are in our crosshairs," Netanyahu warned. "Whoever lays down his weapon, no harm will come to him. He who does not will pay the price." He suggested that Israel had prepared a further "well-organised plan with many surprises to undermine the government and enable change" within Iran. Directly addressing the citizens of Iran, Netanyahu described the conflict as a mission of liberation but noted that the final outcome rested with them. "To the Iranian people - we seek to liberate Iran," explained Netanyahu, "but at the end of the day, liberation from the yoke of tyranny will depend on you, the Iranian people." He expressed hope for a future transformation in bilateral ties. "I believe that if you [Iranians] stand up at the moment of truth, the day will not be far off when Israel and Iran return to being brave friends," he added. Netanyahu argued that the Iranian regime poses a threat not only to Israel but to many countries in the region. "Today, everyone understands that the regime of the ayatollahs endangers the entire world," he argued. "Iran attacked 12 countries around it. We stand by them, and they see our great military and technological capabilities. Many countries are turning to us for cooperation." Netanyahu criticised the United Nations for what he described as hypocrisy in its handling of regional conflicts. "The countries around us see the hypocrisy of the UN," continued Netanyahu, "which condemned us without reason in our just war against Iran's murderous proxies in Gaza, yet that same UN did nothing in the face of the mass slaughter in Iran." Asserting that many nations now see Israel as a trusted partner, Netanyahu predicted a dramatic expansion of the circle of peace once the threat from the ayatollahs is neutralised. "Many countries today see exactly who can be trusted," Netanyahu stated. "Thanks to this initiative, we will bring a dramatic expansion of the circle of peace around us." "Together we will continue to stand firm," Netanyahu said, "together we will roar like a lion, and with God's help, together we will ensure the eternity of Israel." The Israeli military warned that those involved in selecting a successor to Ali Khamenei, including participants in related meetings, would be treated as legitimate targets. IMAGE: People stand near a destroyed vehicle as smoke rises after a reported strike on Shahran fuel tanks, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have issued a stern warning that they will persist in targeting any potential successor to Iran's next supreme leader, local media reported. Key Points The threat comes as the assembly of experts in Iran has reportedly reached a majority consensus regarding the successor to the late supreme leader Khamenei. >In a video shared by the Tasnim News Agency, an official told state television that 'no problem has arisen in the field of leadership.' The development follows the killing of the 86-year-old supreme leader. "We want to tell you that the hand of the State of Israel will continue to pursue every successor and every person who seeks to appoint a successor," a social media post of the Israeli military written in Farsi was cited by The Jerusalem Post on Sunday morning. The IDF further cautioned individuals involved in the transition process, stating that anyone attending meetings to choose a new leader would be considered a legitimate target. "We warn all those who intend to participate in the successor selection meeting that we will not hesitate to target you, either. This is a warning!" the military added. This threat comes as the assembly of experts in Iran has reportedly reached a majority consensus regarding the successor to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the Tehran-based Mehr News Agency (MNA). The development follows the killing of the 86-year-old supreme leader. Quoting assembly of experts member Mirbaqeri, the report stated that while a "majority consensus over Khamenei's successor has been reached," the transition process is not yet fully complete as "some obstacles regarding the process need to be resolved." The momentum toward a transition was further reinforced on Wednesday this week, when Iran's leadership council informed state media that a successor would be appointed at the earliest opportunity. In a video shared by the Tasnim News Agency, an official told state television that "no problem has arisen in the field of leadership." He confirmed that the leadership council is currently running the country, adding, "Praise be to God, we have come closer, but the situation is one of war." The official contrasted the current crisis with the transition following Ayatollah Khomeini's death, noting that the immediate appointment seen then was possible because the environment was not a "war situation." He emphasised that the Assembly of Experts is now "striving" despite the ongoing hostilities. Amid these deliberations, the Iranian government, via its Consulate General in Mumbai, dismissed reports emerging from Israeli media suggesting that Mojtaba Khamenei had been named as his late father's successor. In a post on X, the consulate stated: "Reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied." While Israeli media claimed Mojtaba Khamenei had been chosen, no independent confirmation has surfaced from official Iranian state media. As the political transition unfolds, Iran's state media has reported that citizens will bid farewell to the late supreme leader in a ceremony scheduled for tonight at Tehran's Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony is expected to last for three days, with the final funeral procession to be announced once it is finalised. The regional conflict has escalated significantly for over a week following the US and Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Khamenei and other key figures. In retaliation, Tehran has launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases and Israeli assets across the region. Seven individuals face charges in Kashmir for allegedly misappropriating Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds allocated for school construction, highlighting concerns over corruption in education projects. Key Points Seven individuals are charged with misappropriating Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds meant for school construction in Kupwara district, Kashmir. The accused allegedly violated SSA guidelines by not executing approved works, including a kitchen, toilet, and ramp, despite the release of funds. Investigations revealed a criminal conspiracy between officials and a contractor to alter the project's site plan for personal gain. The contractor failed to hand over the completed school building to the education department, leading to its illegal occupation. The Economic Offences Wing of the Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet against seven persons accused of misappropriation of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan scheme funds for school building work in Kupwara district, officials said on Sunday. The EOW on Saturday filed a chargesheet before the Court of Special Anti-Corruption Judge Baramulla against seven accused individuals for offences under Sections 420, 120-B RPC read with Section 5(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, they said. The case was registered on the basis of a written complaint alleging misappropriation of government funds sanctioned for the construction of a school building at the village of Hampora Kralgund under the SSA scheme. The project was sanctioned for the construction of a school building along with a kitchen, toilet and ramp. During the investigation, it surfaced that although an amount of Rs 5,73,592 had been released through various cheques by the then zonal education officer Langate, mostly routed through the first teacher of the primary school Hampora, the approved works were not executed as per norms, the officials said. On the ground, only the school building structure existed, while the kitchen block, toilet and ramp were not constructed despite the release of funds, they added. Investigation Details and Allegations The investigation further revealed that the accused officials, in connivance with the contractor, entered into a well-planned criminal conspiracy and allotted the contract in violation of SSA guidelines, although the construction work was required to be executed through village education committee members, the officials said. The site plan of the project was also allegedly altered for their benefit by deviating from the approved plan of a three-roomed school building with a separate kitchen, toilet and ramp, and instead a double-storey structure with four rooms was constructed, they said. Further, even after completion of the structure, the contractor failed to hand over the building to the education department, while the concerned officials deliberately did not take possession, enabling another accused to occupy the building illegally, they said. On the basis of evidence collected during the course of the investigation, offences under the relevant provisions of law have been established against the accused persons, and the case has been challaned before the competent court for judicial determination, the officials added. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to address the Lok Sabha on the West Asia crisis, providing insights into India's response amid escalating regional tensions and concerns for Indian citizens in the region. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab Key Points External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will address the Lok Sabha on the evolving situation in West Asia. The statement comes as Parliament reconvenes for the second half of the Budget session. The opposition has been pressing for a discussion in Parliament regarding the situation in West Asia. India is closely monitoring the safety of its citizens in the region amidst ongoing tensions. Over 52,000 Indians have returned to the country following the partial opening of airspace in West Asia. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will make a statement in the Lok Sabha regarding the situation in West Asia on Monday. The second half of the Budget session of Parliament will begin on Monday. According to the revised list of business of the Lok Sabha for March 9 circulated on Sunday evening, "Dr S Jaishankar to make a statement regarding the situation in West Asia." Till Saturday, the opposition-backed resolution seeking removal of Om Birla as the Lok Sabha speaker was the only listed official agenda for Monday. The opposition has demanded a discussion on the situation in West Asia in the House. India is continuously monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia, especially in the context of the safety of its citizens stranded in the region. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said more than 52,000 Indians have returned to the country following the partial opening of the airspace across the region. The security situation in West Asia remains precarious as the US and Israel continue their bombardment of Iranian targets while Tehran retaliates with strikes against Israeli positions and US military bases across the region. Kerala's KITE introduces the 'Cyber Safety Protocol 2026' to safeguard students in the age of Artificial Intelligence, providing comprehensive guidelines for schools, teachers, and parents to navigate digital challenges and ensure online safety. Photograph: David Becker/Reuters Key Points Kerala's KITE has launched the 'Cyber Safety Protocol 2026' to protect students from AI-driven cyber threats in schools. The protocol provides guidelines for institutional heads, teachers, parents, and students to ensure a secure digital learning environment. Key objectives include raising awareness about AI risks, promoting critical thinking, identifying misinformation, and fostering responsible digital citizenship. The protocol addresses emerging cyber threats like deepfakes, AI grooming, and digital arrest, providing legal context and safety measures. Schools must ensure teacher-supervised internet access, establish cyber security committees, and avoid home assignments requiring internet access to bridge the digital divide. In a landmark move to address the complexities of the Artificial Intelligence era, the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) has published the 'Cyber Safety Protocol 2026'. KITE is the technology wing of the General Education Department of the state government. This comprehensive framework is designed to ensure a secure digital learning environment and robust cyber defences for students across Kerala's public school system, an official statement said here on Sunday. Developed through a meticulous analysis of emerging AI-driven challenges and cybercrimes, the protocol aligns with existing legal standards to provide targeted directives for institutional heads, teachers, parents, and students, it said. Core Objectives and Operational Areas KITE CEO K Anvar Sadath said the initiative encompasses 13 core objectives, including fostering awareness regarding the risks of sharing confidential data with Generative AI, cultivating critical thinking toward digital content, identifying misinformation, and nurturing responsible digital citizenship. Further, it defines nine key operational areas, also ranging from academic AI integration and administrative data management to the maintenance of secure online learning spaces, he said. Responsibilities for School Heads and Teachers Heads of schools are tasked with 17 specific mandates such as ensuring uninterrupted, teacher-supervised internet access during school hours and establishing dedicated School Cyber Security Committees led by a designated Coordinator. "To protect student privacy, the protocol mandates 'Privacy by Design' principles, specifically advising against real-time CCTV monitoring via private servers in classrooms," Sadath explained. Furthermore, to bridge the digital divide, teachers are instructed to avoid home assignments that mandate internet access. But they must provide school-based facilities for students who cannot otherwise access programmes like 'Key to Entrance'. The protocol also prohibits the use of unverified online data during instruction and the collection of sensitive student information via social media platforms, he explained. Guidelines for Students and Parents For students, the protocol outlines 25 essential safety guidelines, such as identifying suspicious links, protecting live locations and private data on social media, and managing camera or chat permissions in online gaming. Parents are provided with 16 actionable guidelines focusing on screen time management, understanding the long-term impact of digital footprints, and utilising monitoring tools like Family Link, the statement added. To support this, KITE offers specialised Cyber Security and AI literacy programmes for families. The protocol integrates protections from the IT Act 2000, DPDP Act 2023, and POCSO Act, while incorporating 2026 IT rule amendments specifically addressing Synthetically Generated Information (SGI). The document also details 11 general safety measures, such as two-factor authentication and secure downloading practices, alongside a clear roadmap for reporting grievances. It also defines 20 major cyber threats-including deepfakes, AI grooming, and "digital arrest"-providing both legal contexts and precautionary measures. Sadath noted that this protocol serves as a strategic extension of the 'Sarvam AI Mayam' training provided to six lakh parents this year, and will be supported by ongoing training sessions and cyber safety clinics for the entire educational community. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is calling for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation, alleging significant voter list irregularities and accusing the BJP of anti-women policies in the state's Special Intensive Revision. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Mamata Banerjee demands Narendra Modi's resignation, alleging voter list manipulation in West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Banerjee questions the abrupt resignation of West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, suggesting potential political interference. The Chief Minister accuses the BJP of being anti-women, citing the removal of women's voting rights during the SIR. Banerjee claims the BJP is spreading propaganda about Muslim infiltration into Bengal, dismissing the allegations. Banerjee criticises the central government for rising cooking gas prices, highlighting the burden on citizens due to global events. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said Narendra Modi "should resign first," since he became the Prime Minister with the votes of the people whose names were allegedly being "deleted arbitrarily" during the SIR by the Election Commission. Banerjee said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should ask the prime minister to resign. "If Modi has become the Prime Minister on this voter list in 2024, why will those in it not be allowed to exercise their franchise now?" Banerjee said at the central Kolkata's sit-in platform against the SIR exercise being conducted in the poll-bound West Bengal. Asking why Governor C V Ananda Bose had to resign abruptly on March 5, Banerjee said, "Let there be an inquiry; he still had three years of his term left. He was supposed to receive the President on that day at Bagdogra. Was he suddenly called to Delhi and asked to resign?" The CM wondered whether the Modi government was trying to install a "yes man" in the post. The TMC supremo also asked why Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who had earlier been the governor of West Bengal, resigned from his post in July last year. "Should there be an inquiry into this matter?" she said. Maintaining that the CBI and ED would be under pressure, she said, "You entrust our CID to conduct the inquiry, they will do it." Dhankar was a governor of West Bengal earlier and had frequent run-ins with the Mamata Banerjee government during his tenure in the state. Accusations Against the BJP Banerjee accused the BJP of having planned the imbroglio over President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Bagdogra on Saturday by using a private organisation. "Yesterday's game was preplanned. I do not blame the Hon'ble President," the chief minister said. Banerjee claimed that her government had suggested that this organisation would not be able to hold the programme of such magnitude where the President was to be present. Claiming that the issue of logical discrepancy has come up only in West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, she said, "This is a planted game." Women's Voting Rights and BJP Propaganda Accusing the BJP of being anti-women, Banerjee said that on International Women's Day, she wants to say that the voting rights of many women have been struck off in the ongoing SIR. "We have only one demand, genuine voters must be allowed to exercise their voting right," she said. Banerjee said that it is because the TMC is in power in the state that everyone is living happily. "But if it so happens that we are not in power some day, one should know that when a community unites, they can destroy anything in a second," she said, without elaborating. She asked people not to listen to the BJP's propaganda. "I have heard that the BJP is making propaganda that I have helped infiltration of Muslims into Bengal," she said, maintaining that these people have been in the state since Independence. Banerjee said that she was not even born then, so she couldn't engineer their infiltration. Accusing the saffron party's predecessors of having been the "stooge" of the British, she asked, "Who killed Gandhiji?" Criticising the Centre for the price hike of cooking gas, the chief minister said that the people will have to bear the burden of any hike in fuel prices owing to the ongoing war in West Asia. After nearly a decade on the run, a man wanted in connection with the alleged murder of his 12-year-old daughter in Jammu and Kashmir has been apprehended in Delhi, highlighting the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing justice. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Ramesh Kumar, accused of murdering his 12-year-old daughter in 2016, has been arrested in Delhi after a decade-long search. Kumar had been living in Delhi under the false identity of Rajbeer Singh to evade arrest. Jammu and Kashmir Police, with assistance from Delhi Police, apprehended Kumar in south Delhi's Bhati Mines. A murder case was registered at Gandhi Nagar police station following the death of Kumar's daughter in hospital after he assaulted her. Kumar has been brought back to Jammu and Kashmir to face trial for the alleged murder of his daughter. On the run for almost 10 years, a man wanted for allegedly killing his 12-year-old daughter here has been arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police from Delhi, officials said on Sunday. The accused, Ramesh Kumar from Jhikmau-Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh, has been brought to Jammu and Kashmir to face trial, they said. Kumar assaulted his daughter on July 27, 2016, and later abandoned his rented accommodation in Digiana Puli. The girl died in hospital, Superintendent of Police, Jammu City (South), Ajay Sharma. A murder case was registered at Gandhi Nagar police station here. However, despite sustained efforts, police could not trace the accused, he said. Arrest and Investigation Based on reliable information gathered about Kumar's whereabouts, he was finally arrested from south Delhi's Bhati Mines with the assistance of Delhi Police. The accused was living in Delhi under a false identity of Rajbeer Singh, the SP said. The accused was brought to Jammu and produced before a court for seeking his custody, Sharma said. Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St. MUFG (TSE:8306) has entered into a new partnership with AlbaCore Capital Group to expand access to UK and European infrastructure debt. The partnership is focused on growing MUFG's role in global structured finance and infrastructure project finance. The move also aims to widen MUFG's external distribution channels and support new investment strategies in both high yield and investment grade credit. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, one of Japan's largest financial institutions, is already active across corporate banking, asset management and structured finance. By working with AlbaCore, a credit investment specialist, MUFG is tying its balance sheet and client reach more closely to UK and European infrastructure financing, an area that often attracts long term institutional capital. For investors, the partnership appears to be a business development initiative that targets fee based investment products alongside traditional lending. It also indicates that MUFG is placing more emphasis on building an investment management ecosystem that can distribute credit strategies to clients who are considering both high yield and investment grade opportunities linked to infrastructure. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. TSE:8306 Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026 3 things going right for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group that this headline doesn't cover. Quick Assessment Price vs Analyst Target : At 2,759.5, the share price is about 9.6% below the 3,051.7 analyst target. Simply Wall St Valuation : Shares are described as trading 33.2% below the estimated fair value. Recent Momentum: The 30 day return is roughly a 6.5% decline. There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. Head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group's fair value. Key Considerations A Thane resident has been arrested in connection with the murder of a ride-hailing driver whose body was found in Pune, prompting an ongoing police investigation into the motive and potential accomplices. Key Points A man has been arrested in Thane, Maharashtra, in connection with the murder of a ride-hailing driver. The victim, Nasir Ahmed, was reported missing before his body was discovered in the Malshej Ghat area of Pune district. Police found Nasir Ahmed's abandoned car with bloodstains, leading to the arrest of a suspect from Titwala in Thane. The investigation is ongoing to determine the motive and whether other individuals were involved in the ride-hailing driver's murder. Police have arrested a man from Maharashtra's Thane district for his suspected role in the murder of a driver-partner of a ride-hailing platform, officials said on Sunday. Victim Nasir Ahmed had been reported missing by his family earlier this week. The breakthrough came after Nasir's car was found abandoned in the Govili forest area in Thane district along the Kalyan-Murbad road. There were a lot of bloodstains inside the vehicle, police said. Nasir's body was recovered from Malshej Ghat in Pune district on Saturday. Acting on inputs, police apprehended a resident of Titwala in Thane for his suspected role in the crime. Ongoing Investigation into Ride-Hailing Driver's Murder Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Lad said, "While the primary suspect is caught, we are investigating if more individuals were involved. The exact reason for this murder is being ascertained." Forensic evidence from the car is being collected, the official said, adding they are also awaiting the post-mortem report to know more about how the victim was killed. A heated property dispute and festering financial tensions led to a tragic murder in Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, where a man killed his younger brother, highlighting the devastating consequences of family conflicts. Key Points A man in Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly murdered his younger brother over a property dispute and financial disagreements. The accused confessed to shooting his brother at a farmhouse after feeling humiliated and wanting to control his assets. Police recovered the murder weapon and CCTV footage, leading to the arrest of the accused. The dispute stemmed from the sale of property and the victim's fixed deposit of Rs 25 lakh. A property dispute and festering financial tensions allegedly drove a man to kill his younger brother, a 27-year-old farmer, in Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli district, police said on Sunday. The incident occurred on Friday in Jamalpur village of Kandwa area, when Vishal Singh was resting at a farmhouse outside the village, and his elder brother, Vivek Singh (30), shot him in the head, leading to his death shortly after. Superintendent of Police Aditya Langhe said the accused have been arrested following a joint investigation with the crime branch. The pistol allegedly used in the crime, and the CCTV footage from the farmhouse, have been recovered, Langhe said. Motive Behind the Murder During questioning, Vivek revealed that four months ago, they had sold off a piece for Rs 75 lakh. While he had already spent his share of the money, he often asked his younger brother for financial help, leading to frequent humiliation, the officer said. He told police that Vishal had recently deposited Rs 25 lakh in a fixed deposit at HDFC Bank in Zamania, which led him to believe that killing his brother would help him gain control of the property and money, SP Langhe said. On March 5, the accused consumed alcohol during Holi celebrations and was insulted by Vishal again, which further angered him, the officer added. The next day, when Vishal was resting at the farmhouse, Vivek went there and shot him in the head, he said. Arrest and Confession Circle Officer (Sadar) Devendra Kumar said the accused confessed that after killing his brother, he removed the DVR of the CCTV camera installed at the farmhouse and threw it near a pond on March 7. A case was registered against him, and he was arrested, police added. An Etawah man walked into a police station and confessed to the brutal murder of his teenage sister-in-law, revealing a tragic tale of abduction, strained relationships, and fatal violence. Key Points A 29-year-old man in Etawah confessed to police that he murdered his 17-year-old sister-in-law. The man, Vijay Kushwaha, allegedly abducted the teenage girl from Saifai earlier in the week and fled to Delhi. After returning to Etawah, an argument ensued, leading to the girl's murder by strangulation and blunt force trauma. Kushwaha confessed to the crime at the Sadar Police Station, prompting his immediate arrest. A 29-year-old man walked into a police station here early Sunday and confessed he had bludgeoned his sister-in-law to death with a brick, an officer said. Vijay Kushwaha created a stir at the Sadar Police Station when he arrived at 3.40 am claiming to have killed his lover, an underage girl, at his house. According to Circle Officer (Saifai) Ram Gopal Sharma, Kushwaha works as a contractual mechanic with the Delhi Jal Board. He allegedly abducted the 17-year-old girl on Wednesday and fled to Delhi, he said. Following a complaint by the girl's family on Thursday, a case of abduction was registered at the Saifai Police Station. "As police teams tracked their location to Delhi, the two returned to Etawah on a state transport bus Saturday night," the officer said. At Kushwaha's house near Jain Dharamshala, an argument broke out between the two around 1.30 am. In a fit of rage, Kushwaha allegedly strangled the girl and then used a brick to crush her head and face to ensure she was dead, the CO said. Local Station House Officer Yashwant Singh said Kushwaha had been married for five years and has a son. Due to marital discord, his wife had been living with her parents for several months. Meanwhile, Kushwaha developed a relationship with the girl, who was his wife's cousin, the police said. A Manipuri woman was allegedly assaulted in Delhi after bravely confronting a group of men who were harassing her and her friend near the Saket District Court, prompting a police investigation. Image used only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points A Manipuri woman was allegedly assaulted near Saket District Court in Delhi after objecting to harassment. The woman and her friend were reportedly subjected to offensive comments by a group of men while walking in a park. An argument ensued after the woman objected, leading to the alleged assault and minor injuries. Delhi police are investigating the incident, in contact with the victim, and working to identify and apprehend the accused. A Manipuri woman was allegedly assaulted for objecting to harassment by a group of men near a park close to the Saket District Court complex on Sunday evening, police said. According to preliminary information, the woman and her friend were taking a walk in a park when a group of men allegedly commented on them. "When one of the women objected to the remarks, an argument broke out, and the accused allegedly assaulted her," a police officer said. The woman sustained minor injuries in the incident and was taken to Safdarjung Hospital for medical examination and treatment. "A police team reached the spot soon after receiving information about the incident and contacted the victim. Teams are in constant touch with her, and further action will be taken based on her statement," the officer said. Sources said efforts are underway to identify and trace the accused persons. Following a deadly Holi clash in Uttam Nagar, the Delhi police said that they have arrested 7 persons and a minor has been apprehended so far in connection with the case. IMAGE: MCD carries out bulldozer action against the property of the accused in Holi clash case, at JJ colony, Uttam Nagar in New Delhi, March 8, 2026. Photograph: Naveen Sharma/ANI Photo Key Points Delhi authorities demolished illegal portions of a house linked to an accused in the Uttam Nagar. The clash resulted in the death of a 26-year-old man, sparking tensions and calls for justice. The police said stringent provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been invoked in the case. The killing sparked anger among residents, with an agitated mob damaging vehicles and setting some of them on fire on Friday. Authorities on Sunday demolished alleged "illegal" portions of a house linked to one of the accused in the Uttam Nagar Holi clash case in which a 26-year-old man was killed, even as the victim's family demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe and strict action against all those involved in the incident. A team of MCD officials reached the JJ colony with bulldozers and razed parts of the house belonging to Nizamuddin, the father of accused Umardeen, sources said, while police and paramilitary remained deployed in strength to prevent any flare-up in the area that has been gripped by tension since the March 4 incident. As the demolition action against the accused, perhaps the first such instance in Delhi in recent years, was carried out, the police cordoned off the area and a large number of residents gathered nearby to watch the operation. While the MCD remained tight-lipped over the action, an official of the civic body, requesting anonymity, said it was part of a civic exercise to remove encroachments built over drains that obstruct the flow of water, especially with the monsoon season approaching. The police have so far arrested seven people and apprehended a juvenile in connection with the case, deputy commissioner of police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said. The latest arrest was that of Imran alias Bunty (38), who was taken into custody on Sunday in connection with the killing of Tarun (26) following a clash between two families during Holi celebrations. The accused arrested earlier have been identified as Umardeen (49), Jummadeen (36), Kamruddin (36), Mustaque (46), Muzzafar (25) and Tahir (18), while a juvenile was also apprehended in the case. The police said stringent provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been invoked in the case after statements of members of the victim's family. According to the police, the violence erupted after water from a balloon thrown by a girl from Tarun's family splashed on a woman from the neighbouring family during Holi celebrations in the densely populated JJ Colony area. What began as a minor argument soon escalated into a violent confrontation between members of the two families and their supporters. The police said the two families had known each other for nearly five decades and had earlier been involved in disputes over issues such as parking and garbage disposal in the locality. Tarun sustained fatal injuries during the attack. The killing sparked anger among residents, with an agitated mob damaging vehicles and setting some of them on fire on Friday, prompting authorities to increase security deployment across the area. "Companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed in the area, along with additional forces drawn from the western range of the Delhi Police, including personnel from the outer and west districts," the DCP said. Senior police officers said the area has been divided into zones, sectors and sub-sectors to ensure effective monitoring and to maintain law and order. "Zones are being monitored by the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Dwarka district, while sector areas are under the supervision of Assistant Commissioners of Police. Sub-sectors are being monitored by senior officers, including station house officers," an officer said. Police personnel could be seen patrolling the lanes of the locality and making announcements through loudspeakers, appealing to residents to remain calm and not pay heed to rumours. Authorities said strict vigil is being maintained to ensure that no attempt is made to disturb communal harmony or the law and order situation in the area. Police teams are also keeping an eye on social media posts. Meanwhile, the demolition drive carried out by the civic authorities drew mixed reactions from residents and the victim's family. Memraj, the father of victim Tarun, said the demolition of the house would not bring justice to his family and demanded a thorough investigation into the case. "I got to know that some portion of the house of Nizamuddin has been demolished today. They killed my son. Demolishing their house will not bring justice," he told PTI. Memraj demanded that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure that all the accused are arrested and punished. "Such people who can kill anyone must be encountered. I appeal to the government to announce a CBI probe into the matter so that all the accused can be arrested," he said. The victim's cousin also demanded strict action against the accused and called for a CBI investigation into the entire incident. He said the family was not satisfied with the action taken so far and that those responsible for the killing must face the strictest punishment. Some protesters who gathered in the locality echoed similar sentiments and demanded harsh punishment for those involved in the attack. A few of them said that capital punishment should be awarded in such cases to deter violent crimes. According to some locals and protesters, around 20 to 25 people were involved in the assault, though the police have so far arrested seven and apprehended one juvenile. Family members of the deceased alleged that several accused fled from the spot after the incident and questioned when the police would be able to apprehend them. Some residents also held a protest outside the Uttam Nagar Police Station, demanding justice for the victim. The tense situation in Uttam Nagar has also affected daily life of people. Markets and shops in the area have largely remained shut following the incident, with residents describing the atmosphere as similar to a Covid lockdown. The usually bustling neighbourhood, which witnesses a surge in business activity during the Ramzan month ahead of Eid, has seen deserted streets and shuttered shops. Temporary roadside stalls and small vendors who depend on evening crowds have also been affected by the restrictions and the tense atmosphere. Residents said the heavy deployment of security forces and barricading in several lanes have discouraged people from visiting the markets. Many shopkeepers said the timing of the disruption has severely impacted their business as the Eid season is typically one of the busiest periods of the year. Some residents also emphasised that the area has historically witnessed peaceful coexistence among different communities. A section of locals said that people in the neighbourhood have lived together in harmony for decades and it was wrong to give the incident a communal colour. "The unfortunate clash between the two families should not be used to disturb the communal harmony that has existed in the locality for years," a local said. However, the tension remains palpable. Police sources said some political leaders were stopped from visiting the victim's family in view of the prevailing law and order situation. "Such restrictions were necessary to prevent large gatherings that could further inflame tensions in the area," a police officer said. Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal met the victim's family and demanded exemplary punishment for the accused. Sources also said that some Hindu political organisations have called for a "Mahasabha" to discuss the incident and demand justice for the victim. The police said they are keeping a close watch on any planned gatherings or meetings in the locality to ensure that the situation remains peaceful. They said strict action would be taken against anyone found attempting to spread rumours or incite violence. The investigation into the killing is currently underway and efforts are on to identify and apprehend any other individuals involved in the attack, the police said. Amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, India is actively monitoring the situation and prioritising the safety and return of its citizens stranded in the region, with over 52,000 already safely evacuated. IMAGE: An Indian citizen, who was stranded in Dubai, greets her parents as she arrives at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, on March 3, 2026. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters Key Points India is actively monitoring the evolving security situation in the Middle East to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian nationals. Over 52,000 Indian citizens have safely returned to India from the Gulf region between March 1-7, following the partial opening of airspace. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has urged Indian nationals in the Middle East to adhere to local authority guidelines and advisories issued by Indian missions. Indian embassies and consulates in the region have established 24/7 helplines and issued detailed advisories to assist Indian citizens. The Indian government is collaborating with governments across the region to facilitate assistance for Indian nationals in need. India on Saturday said it is continuously monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East, especially in the context of the safety of its citizens stranded in the region. In a late night statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said more than 52,000 Indians have returned to the country following the partial opening of the airspace across the region. It also urged all Indian nationals in the region to follow the guidelines of the local authorities and the advisories issued by the Indian missions. The safety and welfare of Indian nationals abroad is of utmost priority to the government and it remains engaged with the governments across the region to work towards facilitating all those in need of assistance, the MEA said. MEA advises Indian citizens to follow local guidelines The security situation in the Middle East remains precarious as the United States and Israel continue their bombardment of Iranian targets while Tehran retaliates with strikes against Israeli positions and US military bases across the region. '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,' the MEA said. '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,' it said. The MEA said Indian missions in the region have issued detailed advisories and set up 24x7 helplines to assist Indians. '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,' the MEA said. '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, 32,107 of whom have travelled on Indian carriers. More flights are planned in the coming days,' it said. '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 said. In a major crackdown on illegal activities, Nuh police arrested seven individuals for cow smuggling and possession of banned meat, seizing cattle and contraband in the process. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Nuh police arrested seven individuals in Ferozpur Jhirka and Akeda for cow smuggling and possession of banned meat. Police seized seven cattle from three pickup trucks attempting to cross from Rajasthan to Haryana. Approximately 70 kilograms of banned meat, knives, and an axe were recovered from a motorcycle-borne individual. The arrested individuals have been identified and produced in court, subsequently sent to judicial custody. The operation highlights ongoing efforts to combat cow smuggling and illegal meat trade in the Nuh district. Under a special drive against the cow smugglers, the Nuh police arrested seven people from Ferozpur Jhirka Sadar and Akeda police station areas, officials said on Sunday. Police said in two separate cases, they seized seven cattle from three pickup trucks and approximately 70 kilograms of banned meat from a motorcycle-borne accused. They have also seized several mobile phones, cash and tools, officials said. Details of the Arrests According to a police spokesperson, in the first instance, the crime section staff at the Ferozpur Jhirka police station received a tip-off that three pickup trucks carrying cattle from Rajasthan to Haryana were crossing the Mumbai Expressway. Based on the information, a barricade was set up near the Bawandheri village. The accused in their vehicles attempted to flee upon seeing police, but all three vehicles were intercepted, according to the spokesperson. A total of seven cows were recovered from these vehicles, tied with ropes, while six accused from the vehicles were arrested, the official added. The arrested individuals were identified as Sazid, Saikul, Akbar, Sanjay, Lalit Kumar and Irsad. Five mobile phones and Rs 27,450 were recovered from their possession, he added. Recovery of Banned Meat According to police, the crime section staff also arrested Yunus, resident of the Akeda village in Nuh district, who has been accused of trying to sell banned meat on his motorcycle. "Around 70 kilograms of banned meat, two knives and an axe were recovered from his motorcycle at the spot. Two separate cases were registered against the accused. They were produced in a city court today and sent to judicial custody," the police spokesperson added. According to officials, an investigation is underway to determine the motive and weapon used for the incident. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo A class nine student allegedly went on a rampage at a private residential school in Ballari, killing one and injuring others with a sharp object and an iron rod, the police said on Sunday. The incident took place at the school hostel on Saturday night, they said. The deceased boy was a native of Andhra Pradesh. The body was shifted to the Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Ballari, for post-mortem. According to officials, an investigation is underway to determine the motive and weapon used for the incident. A search is also on to nab the accused student, who apparently fled the scene immediately. "Nine students were under the supervision of a social science teacher (also hostel warden) on Saturday night. The student (accused), in a fit of rage, attacked everyone randomly... unfortunately, one student died and seven others are undergoing treatment," Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Ballari Range P S Harsha said. Speaking to reporters in Ballari, he said the teacher's statement has been recorded and a preliminary inquiry was conducted. Also, the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams have visited the spot. "This case will be considered under the law as one involving a juvenile, who is in conflict with law. So, the investigation should be done sensitively under the Juvenile Justice Act, keeping in mind the safeguards available for the accused. More information cannot be shared." He further said, "The statements of the deceased boy's parents will also be recorded. A detailed investigation will be conducted, and a report will be submitted to the concerned courts." According to sources, the warden is also said to have sustained injuries while attempting to intervene. The students were reportedly asleep in the hostel after dinner, when the accused boy attacked his peers with an iron rod and a sharp object. Sources suspect that some minor dispute might have triggered the incident. The student, who was seriously injured in the attack, died on the way to the hospital. The Brucepet police have registered a case, and an investigation is on. Jammu and Kashmir police have seized property belonging to a Pakistan-based terror handler in Rajouri, signalling a strong crackdown on cross-border terrorism and illegal activities. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Jammu and Kashmir police attached property of Pakistan-based terror handler Shafeeq Ahmed in Rajouri. The attached property includes seven marlas of land in Naika Panjgrain village. Shafeeq Ahmed is a proclaimed offender currently operating from Pakistan. The attachment was carried out under Section 88 of the CrPC, ensuring legal compliance. This action demonstrates the commitment of J&K Police to combat terrorism and enforce the law. Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday attached immovable property of a Pakistan-based terror handler in Manjakote area of Rajouri district, officials said. The attached property comprises seven marlas of land owned by proclaimed offender Shafeeq Ahmed, a resident of Naika Panjgrain village, a police spokesperson said. He said Ahmed had crossed the border into Pakistan and is presently operating from there. Legal Proceedings and Commitment to Law Enforcement The attachment proceedings were carried out after obtaining due permission in the form of an attachment order under Section 88 of the CrPC corresponding to Section 85 of BNSS issued by the competent Court, the spokesman said. He said the action reflects the commitment of Police to take stringent legal measures against terror handlers and to ensure compliance with the law. Further legal proceedings shall follow as per due process, the spokesperson said. Pakistan's security forces' operation against the Taliban aimed at eliminating cross-border terrorism following attacks on Pakistani locations IMAGE: Military vehicles move on a road in a location given as Nangarhar, Afghanistan, in this screengrab from a handout video released on February 26, 2026. Photograph: Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence/Handout via Reuters Key Points Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in response to attacks by the Afghan Taliban on 53 locations along the border. Pakistan reports destroying over 242 Taliban check posts and targeting 64 locations across Afghanistan by air. Pakistani forces thwarted an infiltration attempt by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in the Chaman border area. Pakistan asserts the operation will continue until the threat of cross-border militancy is eliminated. Pakistan's security forces have killed 583 Afghan Taliban operatives in the ongoing military operation launched along the border last month, according to an official data released on Sunday Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on February 26 after the Afghan Taliban attacked 53 locations along the border. Providing an update on social media, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the Taliban losses include "583 killed and 795 injured". He also said Pakistan destroyed 242 Taliban check posts during the ongoing operation, while another 38 posts were captured and later on destroyed. Tarar said 213 Taliban tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery guns have been destroyed and 64 locations across Afghanistan have been "effectively targeted by air". Meanwhile, official sources said the armed forces thwarted an infiltration bid by three Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in the Chaman border area. They were engaged by the troops at the border. While one terrorist was killed in an exchange of fire, others were injured but managed to escape, they said. The forces recovered four to five improvised explosive devices and fence-cutting equipment from the slain terrorist. Earlier, security sources said several Afghan Taliban posts were destroyed on Saturday during an aerial operation carried across the North Waziristan district. Pakistan has maintained that the Afghan Taliban have suffered heavy losses in the ongoing operation which will continue until the objective of eliminating the threat of cross border militancy is tackled. A furniture maker whose consolidation in North Carolina last year drew praise from the White House is laying off 200 workers at its Guilford County factory as it goes entirely out of business. After careful consideration and efforts to find a sustainable path forward for the business and prospects of Prepac Manufacturing, it has made the difficult decision to begin an orderly wind-down of all operations, read a company statement Thursday to The News & Observer. Prepac cited global competition, including the continued influx of low-cost Chinese imports. As part of its impending closure, it notified North Carolina Commerce Department officials this week that it will eliminate 200 positions at its campus in Whitsett, a small town halfway between Greensboro and Burlington. The company produces ready-to-assemble home furniture, which it sells online through retailers like Target, Amazon and Walmart. In 2020, North Carolina awarded Prepac an economic incentive to open a new East Coast factory in Whitsett. The company created 131 jobs there through its grant and received close to $300,000 in state tax breaks, N.C. Department of Commerce records show. Last March, Prepac announced it would move all manufacturing to Whitsett, shifting production from its longtime headquarters in British Columbia. Republican leaders credited this move to President Donald Trumps trade policies, with Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina posting on X, THE TRUMP EFFECT AT WORK FOR NORTH CAROLINA! The White House also included the news in a weekly roundup of wins. Prepac at the time disputed tariffs contributed to it leaving Canada. In a statement provided to The N&O last year, Prepac CEO Nick Bozikis called the decision to centralize operations in North Carolina the product of many months of consideration and analysis, and began long before any tariff risks to Prepacs business arose. The last several years have been challenging for North American furniture manufacturers with overall demand currently lower than when we opened the North Carolina facility in 2021, he added, noting that around 70% of the companys demand is on the East Coast. Prepac was locally owned until the Toronto-based private equity firm TorQuest Partners acquired it in 2019. The companys arrival the following year marked a win for a diminished North Carolina furniture industry. Between 1993 and 2022, the state lost 60% of sector jobs as competition increased from less expensive Asian imports. Whitsett is a 30-minute drive from High Point, considered The Furniture Capital of the World for its density of manufacturers and biannual market. Pakistani security forces successfully eliminated 13 terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through intelligence-led operations, highlighting the ongoing fight against terrorism in the region. Photograph: Screen grab/X Key Points Pakistani security forces neutralised 13 terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during intelligence-based operations. The operations targeted members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Fitna-al-Khawarij. The operations took place in Bajaur, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber, and South Waziristan districts. Pakistan faces increasing terrorist attacks, particularly in areas bordering Afghanistan, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experiencing a surge in violence. The rise in attacks follows the breakdown of a ceasefire agreement between the TTP and the Pakistani government in 2022. Security forces killed 13 terrorists in five different intelligence-based operations in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in north-west Pakistan, the army said on Sunday. These intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted from March 6 and 7, Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the army, said. "During an IBO in Bajaur district, our troops effectively engaged the Khawarij location, and after an intense fire exchange," the ISPR statement said, adding, five of them were killed. Fitna-al-Khawarij is a term that the state uses for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Three other terrorists were killed in two different encounters in Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan districts, the army said, adding that five more terrorists were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber and South Waziristan districts. Security forces also recovered weapons and ammunition from the terrorists killed, who, the ISPR statement said, were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area. These operations are being conducted concurrently as Pakistan continues to counter emerging challenges along its borders with Afghanistan, the army said. Rising Terrorism in Pakistan Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, especially in regions bordering Afghanistan, predominantly targeting the police, law enforcement agencies' personnel, and security forces with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province facing maximum damage. According to the Annual Security Report 2025 by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded a significant surge in violence last year as casualties rose to 2,331 from 1,620 in 2024. Attacks increased after the banned TTP broke a ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022. Odisha's political landscape heats up as BJD leader Naveen Patnaik slams the BJP government for its alleged failure to protect women, sparking a strong rebuttal from the Deputy Chief Minister regarding past and present crime statistics. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Naveen Patnaik, BJD leader, accuses the BJP government in Odisha of failing to address the rising crimes against women. Patnaik claims the BJD prioritises women's empowerment and criticises the current government's leadership. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida defends the BJP government's commitment to women's safety and criticises Patnaik's past record. Parida challenges Patnaik to cite a recent case where the accused in a crime against a woman was not arrested promptly. BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik on Sunday slammed the BJP government in Odisha for "total failure of leadership" over the "rising" number of incidents of crimes against women. Addressing the party's women leaders and members here on the occasion of International Women's Day, Patnaik said the BJD, which follows the ideology of former chief minister Biju Patnaik, had taken major steps for the empowerment of women when it was in power in the state. "However, under the BJP government, atrocities against women are on the rise, and no one is there to listen to them... (It's a) total failure of the leadership at the government level," he said. Stating that the BJD recognises the power of women in social development, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly said his party will continue to fight for the security, dignity and "true empowerment" of women. He said Biju Patnaik was a "torch-bearer of women's empowerment in India". Government's Response to Allegations Reacting to Patnaik's statement, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida asserted that the Mohan Charan Majhi government is committed to ensuring the safety and security of women. Hitting out at the BJD chief, she said, "Because he failed to provide security to the women during his 24-year rule, they changed the government. If we start counting cases of crimes against women reported during the BJD government's tenure, it will be a very long list." "Let the LoP cite an incident of a crime against a woman, during our tenure, in which the accused was not arrested within 48 hours," he added. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari champions Prime Minister Narendra Modi's women empowerment initiatives, including sanitation and housing schemes, while criticising the Trinamool Congress's governance in West Bengal. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points Suvendu Adhikari credits PM Modi with ground-breaking steps for women's empowerment through schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission and PM Awas Yojana. Adhikari accuses the Trinamool Congress of providing adulterated food grains and promises pure food grains if BJP comes to power. He highlights the central government's subsidised cooking gas program and criticises the West Bengal government for not participating in the Ujjwala III programme. Adhikari criticises the state of women's security in West Bengal, citing specific incidents and the Chief Minister's advice to women. He alleges corruption in the Jal Jeevan Mission in West Bengal, claiming funds have been looted despite central government providing Rs 27,000 crore. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken ground-breaking steps for the empowerment of women. He said the PM has got 14 crore toilets constructed under Swachh Bharat Mission for ensuring the dignity of women and also got six crore houses, of which 40 lakh are in West Bengal, built under the PM Awas Yojana across the country where the ownership remains with the senior-most female member of a family. Accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress of providing adulterated food grains to people in the state, Adhikari promised "pure" food grains to the recipients if a BJP government comes to power in West Bengal in the coming assembly elections. Stating that the central government was providing subsidised cooking gas to crores of people across the country, he said, "Those of the TMC who are holding rallies with gas cylinders should know that the Mamata Banerjee government was not sending applications to the Centre for the Ujjwala III programme, which will benefit 15 lakh more women in the state." Enumerating the Modi government's programmes for women's upliftment in the country, Adhikari said he was stating these on International Women's Day to make the people aware of its efforts. Concerns over Women's Security in West Bengal "Women in West Bengal have no security," he said, addressing a 'Poriborton Yatra' rally here, pointing to the heinous rape-murder of an on-duty doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024, and other incidents, including the rape and subsequent death of a minor at Hanskhali in Nadia district. "Instead of ensuring women's security, the chief minister has advised them not to venture out at night," Adhikari said. He asserted that a BJP government in the state will ensure security for women and punishment for anyone perpetrating atrocities on them. Promises for Farmers and Infrastructure The BJP leader said that if the saffron party wins the assembly elections, farmers in West Bengal will get a proper price for their produce. Stating that the central government provided Rs 27,000 crore to the state for the Jal Jeevan Mission, he alleged that the TMC dispensation renamed it as the 'Jal Swapno' programme. "There are taps in West Bengal's villages, but water does not flow through those as funds have been looted," the BJP leader said. He said that in neighbouring Bihar, the project has been successful with water reaching every household. A senior Rajasthan police officer is under investigation after a junior colleague filed a complaint alleging casteist remarks were made during a meeting about upgrading communication systems. Key Points A Rajasthan police officer has filed an FIR against a senior officer, SP Neetu Bugalia, for alleged casteist remarks made during a meeting. The complaint was lodged by Director-Police Telecommunications Daulatram Atal under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The alleged incident occurred during a meeting at the police headquarters in Jaipur concerning the upgradation of communication systems. Atal claims Bugalia interrupted his presentation and stated he became a director due to reservation, leading to her removal from the meeting. A Rajasthan police officer lodged a case against his junior officer for allegedly making casteist remarks during a meeting at the police headquarters here, police said. "The FIR was lodged against SP Telecommunications Neetu Bugalia on Friday based on the complaint of Director- Police Telecommunications Daulatram Atal under sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act," Jyoti Nagar SHO Santara Meena said on Sunday. A meeting chaired by Additional Director General of Police (Cyber Crime and Technical Services) V K Singh was held in the police headquarters on the evening of March 5 that was attended by several senior police officers of the telecommunication department. The meeting's agenda was to hold discussion on the upgradation of communication systems. Allegations of Casteist Remarks Atal told PTI that during the session, he was delivering a presentation when SP Telecommunications Bugalia interrupted him and said that he had become a director due to reservation. He said that Bugalia repeatedly interrupted the presentation. "I asked her to not make such remarks and warned of registering an FIR but she continue to disrupt during the presentation following which the ADG asked her to leave the meeting," he said. An accused in the Santosh Deshmukh sarpanch murder case has been granted temporary release by a Maharashtra court to attend his brother's funeral rituals, sparking controversy and raising concerns about potential law and order issues. Key Points Jairam Chate, accused in the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, was granted temporary release to attend his brother's post-death rituals. The court order allows Chate to leave prison under strict police protection for a limited time. The victim's family has objected to the temporary release, citing potential law and order issues. The accused will bear the costs of travel and police security during the temporary release. The sarpanch was allegedly murdered for opposing extortion attempts from a wind energy firm. A court in Maharashtra's Beed district has allowed Jairam Chate, one of the accused in the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, to step out of jail for a few hours to take part in his brother's post-death rituals. Chate has been behind bars for the past 14 months for his alleged involvement in the abduction and murder of Massajog sarpanch Deshmukh in the district in December 2024. According to the court order, Chate has been permitted to leave prison under strict police protection between 9 am and 4 pm to join the 12th day rituals of his younger brother Shriram Chate, who died on March 2 due to health reasons. Chate's lawyer had filed a special application in the district and sessions court, seeking permission for him to attend the ceremony. Though Assistant Government Prosecutor Balasaheb Kolhe opposed it, the court granted relief to Chate on humanitarian grounds. The cost of travel and police security for the duration of the visit will have to be borne by the accused himself, according to the court order. Family Objections and Law & Order Concerns Meanwhile, Deshmukh's family has objected to the permission granted to Chate. Santosh Deshmukh's brother, Dhananjay Deshmukh, said Chate's visit to his village on the pretext of religious rites could create a law-and-order situation. "Who would be held responsible if any untoward incident occurs during the visit?" he asked. Background of the Murder Case It has been alleged that Deshmukh was killed for opposing an attempt to extort money from a wind energy firm operating in his area. Walmik Karad, a close aide of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde, has been named the prime accused. Ashutosh Brahmachari, the complaint against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, was attacked on a train in Prayagraj, prompting a police investigation into the incident and raising concerns about the ongoing case. IMAGE: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. Photograph: ANI Photo Key Points The razor attack occurred while Brahmachari was travelling on the Rewa Express, sustaining minor injuries. Police have launched an investigation, examining CCTV footage to identify the attacker and determine the motive. An FIR was previously filed against Saraswati and his disciple for alleged sexual abuse of two individuals, including a minor. The FIR was registered under the POCSO Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Ashutosh Brahmachari, who had filed a complaint alleging that Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati sexually exploited students at his ashram, was attacked by an unidentified person with a razor on a train here on Sunday morning, police said. According to a Government Railway Police (GRP) official, Ashutosh alleged that he was travelling to Prayagraj by the Rewa Express when the incident occurred. The officer said that when the train was approaching Sirathu station in the morning, Ashutosh went to the toilet, where an unidentified person allegedly attacked him with a razor. He sustained minor injuries in the incident and was sent to Calvin Hospital in Prayagraj for a medical examination, the officer added. Based on the medical examination report, a case will be registered, the officer said. The CCTV footage from the spot is also being examined to identify the attacker. Further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation, he added. On February 21, an FIR was lodged against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari over allegations of sexual abuse of two persons, including a minor, over the past year, including during the Magh Mela. The action was taken after an order passed earlier that day by the special judge (POCSO Act), Prayagraj, directing that a case be registered on an application moved by Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj and others. According to officials, the FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Besides Avimukteshwaranand and Mukundanand Brahmachari, two to three unidentified persons have also been named in the complaint. According to the FIR, the complainants included Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj, a disciple of Swami Rambhadracharya, and two persons, including a minor, who alleged sexual abuse at a gurukul and during religious congregations. The complainants had alleged that the accused, posing as religious preceptors, subjected the minor and another youth to repeated sexual assault on multiple occasions over the past year. Intense US-Israeli air strikes hit Tehran and other Iranian cities on the seventh day of the war, marking what Israel called a 'new phase' targeting regime infrastructure. US B-2 bombers reportedly dropped bunker-buster penetrator bombs on deeply buried Iranian missile launchers, while explosions struck military sites, residential areas and locations near Tehran university. Iranian officials said schools and civilian buildings were also hit. More than 1,300 people have been killed, including at least 181 children, according to UNICEF. US President Donald Trump warned Iran would be 'hit very hard' and said expanding targets inside the country was under consideration. Key Points US-Israel air attacks intensified, striking Tehran and other Iranian cities. Israel said strikes targeted 'regime infrastructure', marking a new operational phase of the conflict. US B-2 bombers reportedly used bunker-buster penetrator bombs against deeply buried Iranian missile launch sites. Iranian media reported hits on residential buildings, schools and a military academy in Tehran. More than 1,300 people have been killed so far, including at least 181 children, according to UNICEF. US B-2 Bombers Deploy Penetrator Bombs IMAGE: Smoke rises following an explosion in Tehran, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters IMAGE: Smoke rises following an explosion in Tehran, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Naser Safarzadeh/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters IMAGE: Rubble lies after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Reuters IMAGE: Rubble lies after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs. Photograph: Reuters IMAGE: A man inspects damaged buildings after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, March 7, 2026, here and below. Photograph: Reuters Photograph: Reuters IMAGE: A car drives past burned buildings after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Reuters IMAGE: 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. Photograph: Mohammad Yassine/Reuters IMAGE: A damaged site where Israel's military carried out an airborne operation that dropped troops overnight in the town of Nabi Chit, Lebanon, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Mohammad Yassine/Reuters IMAGE: 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. Photograph: Mohammad Yassine/Reuters IMAGE: A person holds bullet casings at the site where Israel's military carried out an airborne operation that dropped troops overnight in the town of Nabi Chit, Lebanon, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Mohammad Yassine/Reuters IMAGE: A view of tents for displaced people inside a stadium in Beirut, March 7, 2026, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel. Photograph: Claudia Greco/Reuters IMAGE: Israeli soldiers look towards Lebanon, amid an escalation between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel, and amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, by the Israel-Lebanon border in northern Israel March 7, 2026. Photograph: Avi Ohayon/Reuter IMAGE: Israeli soldiers stand next to military vehicles on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon in northern Israel March 7, 2026. Photograph: Avi Ohayon/Reuters IMAGE: Fire burns at the Hilton Hotel in Juffair, Bahrain, March 6, 2026, following an Iranian drone strike. Photograph: Reuters IMAGE: A missile is intercepted amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, March 5, 2026. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters IMAGE: An Iranian missile with cluster munitions flies towards Israel, as seen from Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, March 5, 2026. Photograph: Mussa Qawasma/Reuters IMAGE: Rescue personnel work at the scene following reported missiles launched from Iran in central Israel, March 6, 2026. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters IMAGE: Smoke billows after reported strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon, March 6, 2026. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters IMAGE: Gas prices are seen at a Shell station in Washington, DC, March 5, 2026 as the price of oil and gas has surged amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Photograph: Ken Cedeno/Reuters IMAGE: A drone view shows the Dome of the Rock on Al-Aqsa compound, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount as Muslim worshippers are no longer permitted to attend Friday prayers during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan following restrictions on gathering in large groups, in Jerusalem's Old City, March 6, 2026. Photograph: Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters IMAGE: Foreign oil company personnel have their luggage inspected by security forces before departing Iraq through the Safwan border crossing toward Kuwait in Basra, Iraq, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Mohammed Aty/Reuters IMAGE: A US B1 B bomber taxis after landing at the RAF Fairford airbase, which hosts United States Air Force personnel, in Fairford, Britain, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters IMAGE: A drone view shows damage at a compound housing offices and warehouses used by US firms Halliburton after a drone attack in Basra, Iraq, March 7, 2026. Photograph: Essam al-Sudani/Reuters Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff A hospital owner in Thane, Maharashtra, alleges he was cheated of 10 lakh by former partners, leading to a police investigation into the financial dispute and alleged breach of trust. Photograph: PTI Photo Key Points A hospital owner in Thane has filed a police complaint alleging he was cheated of 10 lakh by two former partners. The accused individuals had entered a partnership with the hospital in 2016, investing 63.20 lakh and receiving 1.28 crore in profits between 2017 and 2021. The partners allegedly withdrew from the agreement, demanded additional funds, and obtained 1 crore in cheques under false pretences, with 10 lakh being successfully encashed. Police have registered a case against the accused under sections related to cheating, criminal breach of trust, criminal intimidation, and defamation. Police have registered a case against two individuals for allegedly cheating the owner of a private hospital in Maharashtra's Thane district of 10 lakh, officials said. According to the victim's complaint, the accused had entered into a 10-year partnership for the Dombivli-based hospital's medical facilities in 2016, investing 63.20 lakh. Between 2017 and 2021, they received profits and returns amounting to about 1.28 crore. The accused later withdrew from the partnership abruptly, demanded more money, and extracted cheques of 1 crore from the hospital owner under false pretences. Of these, 10 lakh was encashed, while payment on the remaining cheques was stopped after suspicion of foul play, an official said. The accused had already recovered more than their investment, but allegedly engaged in cheating and attempted to defame the complainant in the medical profession, he said. Police Investigation and Charges Based on the complaint, a case was registered on Friday against the two accused under sections 318(4) (cheating), 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 356(2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Senior Police Inspector Ganesh Javadwad said. A probe was underway into the case. When asked about Bessent's announcement allowing certain Russian oil sales to India and whether the US is considering any other moves, including tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), Trump said, "If there were some, I would do it just to take a little of the pressure off." IMAGE: US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives in Miami, Florida, on March 7, 2026. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Key Points Trump said the US has allowed Russian oil sales to India to 'take a little pressure off' global markets. The US 'granted a 30-day waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil' amid Gulf supply disruptions. India imports about 40% of its crude from the Middle East via the Strait of Hormuz. India says its energy supplies remain comfortable despite the crisis. United States President Donald Trump on Saturday spoke to the media about several developments following the unfolding security situation in the Middle East and the Gulf, and responded to the announcement by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on temporarily allowing India to purchase Russian oil. He made the remarks aboard Air Force One. When asked about Bessent's announcement allowing certain Russian oil sales to India and whether the US is considering any other moves, including tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), Trump said, "If there were some, I would do it just to take a little of the pressure off." He added, "I think the oil pressure -- there's a lot of oil. We've got a lot of oil. Our country has a tremendous amount, and there's a lot of oil out there. That will get healed very quickly." His remarks came after Scott Bessent, the US Treasury Secretary, again said that the United States has given India 'permission' to accept Russian oil in view of the developing security situation in the Middle East. In an interview with Fox Business, Bessent 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 unsanction other Russian oil." India reviews its energy situation Amid the crisis in the Gulf severely hampering shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, the US said on Thursday it 'granted a 30-day waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil to meet its energy requirements'. India sources nearly 40 per cent of its oil imports from the Middle East, with a significant portion transported through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Notably, according to sources, India is reviewing its energy situation twice a day and remains in a comfortable position regarding its energy security. The country's current stock position is also seen as comfortable, with supplies being replenished daily. According to the sources, there is no shortage of LPG, LNG, or crude oil globally. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said there is no shortage of energy in India and no cause for concern for consumers. The minister discussed various aspects of Indias uninterrupted energy imports despite geopolitical challenges. '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 for worry for our energy consumers,' the minister posted on X. Existing stock adequate to meet domestic demand According to the sources, the country currently has access to diversified energy supplies exceeding the volume that could potentially be affected by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. India's existing stock of crude oil and petroleum products is also adequate to meet domestic demand. Sources said the government is closely monitoring the situation and plans to ramp up supplies from alternative geographies to offset any potential supply constraints linked to the Strait of Hormuz. They highlighted that India has significantly diversified its crude import basket in recent years. Since 2022, India has been importing crude oil from Russia. While Russia accounted for only 0.2 per cent of India's total crude imports in 2022, the share has risen substantially in subsequent years. "In February, India imported about 20 per cent of its total crude oil imports from Russia, amounting to around 1.04 million barrels per day," government sources said. Also on Friday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Washington, DC's decision to issue a 30-day waiver allowing India to purchase certain Russian oil supplies is part of 'short-term measures' aimed at keeping global oil prices under control amid supply pressures linked to tensions in the Middle East. The family of a tanker driver killed in a 2010 road accident in Thane has been awarded 24.05 lakh in compensation after a lengthy legal battle, with the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal dismissing the insurance company's time-bar claim. Key Points MACT awards 24.05 lakh compensation to the family of a tanker driver killed in a 2010 road accident. Insurance company's claim that the compensation petition was time-barred was dismissed by the tribunal. The tribunal cited Supreme Court precedents regarding the retrospective effect of the 2019 amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act. The compensation includes amounts for loss of dependency, consortium, estate, and funeral expenses. The truck owner and insurer are jointly and severally liable to pay the compensation with 9% interest from the petition date. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Thane has awarded a compensation of Rs 24.05 lakh to the family of a 26-year-old tanker driver killed in a road accident nearly 16 years ago. The offending truck's insurance company had contested the claim, arguing that the petition was filed in 2020 for the accident in 2010 and was thus barred by limitation. It also alleged negligence on the tanker driver's part for hitting the truck from behind. However, MACT member R V Mohite, in the order passed on March 5, dismissed these contentions. Citing Supreme Court precedents, the tribunal noted that the 2019 amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act (imposing a six-month limit for filing claims) does not have a retrospective effect on accidents occurring before April 2022. Details of the Accident The incident dates back to April 18, 2010, when Firoz Siddik Ahamad Shaikh (alias Khan) was driving a chemical tanker towards Jhansi. A truck ahead applied brakes abruptly without any signal near Kalamb village at Shahapur on the Mumbai-Agra highway in Maharashtra's Thane district. The tanker rammed into the truck, causing the hazardous cargo to ignite. Shaikh sustained burn injuries and died the same day. Compensation Details The tribunal assessed Shaikh's notional income at Rs 12,000 per month and added 40 per cent for future prospects while awarding a compensation of Rs 24,05,800, including for the loss of dependency, consortium, estate and funeral expenses. It directed the owner of the truck and its insurer to pay the amount jointly and severally to the claimants with 9 per cent interest per annum from the date of the petition (2020). The compensation will be divided between Shaikh's wife and mother, with portions of the amount to be kept in fixed deposits, as per the order. Nintendo filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government on Friday over its extraction of tariffs from global businesses. The gaming giant is seeking a refund for any duties it paid due to President Donald Trumps executive orders that invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, comes after a Supreme Court decision struck down the tariffs that the president imposed under IEEPA, arguing that he exceeded his authority. More than a thousand other companies have already sued for refunds on the tariffs that they pay; according to Nintendos complaint, viewed by TechCrunch, these tariffs have resulted in the collection of over $200 billion on imports in total. More from Yahoo Scout How much have companies paid in tariffs? Why did Nintendo sue the U.S. government? What was Trump's response to the Court decision? What Supreme Court decision impacted these tariffs? We can confirm that we have filed a request, Nintendo told TechCrunch in a statement. We have nothing else to share on the topic. In response to the Supreme Courts decision which he called extraordinarily anti-American President Trump raised tariffs from 10% to 15%. Now, 24 states have sued to argue that the president has once again overstepped the limits of his power by making this change. Addressing a gathering after launching various development projects worth Rs 1,069 crore in Chittapur in Kalaburagi, the Congress president claimed that Modi is 'controlled' by Trump using the Jeffrey Epstein files. IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Photograph: AICC/ANI Photo Key Points Kharge criticises India's trade deal with the USA, claiming it disadvantages Indian farmers due to tariff imbalances. Kharge alleges Modi is influenced by Trump using the Jeffrey Epstein files, impacting India's decision-making. Kharge questions Modi's silence on alleged injustices by the US, particularly regarding oil imports. Kharge contrasts Modi's foreign policy with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Indira Gandhi's leadership. All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said US President Donald Trump is a "dictator" and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is his "gulam" (slave), as he targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre over its stand on the ongoing Middle Eastern crisis, trade deal with the US, and tariff issue. Addressing a gathering after launching various development projects worth Rs 1,069 crore in Chittapur in Kalaburagi, he claimed that Modi is "controlled" by Trump using the Jeffrey Epstein files. "It (Iran) is also a country, its supreme leader was murdered...if the leader of a country is killed will that country and the world be safe? Think about it. Whether it is Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei or Venezuela's leader (Nicolas Maduro Moros). If leaders of countries are threatened like this, there will be no peace in the world," Kharge said, as he accused the US for its "arrogance" and violating international laws. Also, targeting India's trade deal with the USA, he claimed that India was forced to accept it, where it cannot impose tariffs on the import of several agricultural products, while the Americans impose tariffs on what India exports to them. "Sixty five per cent of our farmers are dependent on agriculture, while it is 3 per cent in America. What will happen to our farmers? With friendship with such people (Trump), you (Modi) are destroying our country, pushing it to slavery. You have pledged the country for American interests. You act as America says," he added. Pointing out that India used to get oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela, Kharge said the country used to buy from wherever it was cheap to fulfill its energy needs, but today the purchase is made based on what Modi directs and at the price he dictates. "He is destroying the country." Modi calls Trump his friend. India used to get oil from Russia, but Trump said not to do so, or else he will impose tariffs. "This is what Modi's dost (friend) has done." "Modi speaks so much. He does Mann Ki Baat. Why doesn't he speak now, when America is doing so much injustice to us by asking us, not to get oil as per our choice," he said. Noting that the US has given a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil, Kharge said, "He (Trump) is a dictator. Modi is his gulam (slave)." "Will you accept it (diktat)? The Congress party got the country's freedom from the British. Gandhiji and others sacrificed themselves for the cause by taking bullets. You abused such a Congress and came to power. Did you come to power to take the country to slavery," he asked. Alleging that Modi's priority was election campaigning, as he is always seen campaigning in various parts of the country like Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said people gave him the mandate to administer and address their concerns based on global events. "Leaving that, he roams across the country, makes election speeches, and targets Congress and its leaders, despite the Congress not being in power for long. He does it to divert people's attention. While we (Congress) did nation building, Modi is destroying the country," he alleged. Claiming that the Modi government's foreign policy is "wrong", Kharge said the country was respected across the globe earlier. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was formed under Jawaharlal Nehru's leadership for world peace. "What have they (Modi govt) done? They don't have a good relationship with anyone. He (Modi) goes to every country, wears a medal on his neck and says he was honoured. Israel honoured him, and the very next day they hit Iran and killed Khamenei... such people have been born in our country. You (people) need to teach them a good lesson," he said. Kharge pointed out that the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which was returning after participating in the International Fleet Review and MILAN exercise hosted by the Indian Navy, was torpedoed and sunk by the US in the Indian Ocean. "This shows your (Modi govt's) actual strength," he said, and questioned what happened to Modi's warning to those who threaten India. If any loss happens to the country amid these global happenings, the poor here will be the most affected, he said. "The rich will somehow survive. If there is a bomb attack on us, the rich will go to the US, UK or some other country, but where will the poor go?" Alleging that people in RSS had worked for the British and had not shed a drop of blood for the country, the AICC chief said, their ideology is not good for the country. He claimed that Modi is being controlled by Trump using Epstein files, and said the country cannot progress if such a government continues for long. "Epstein files that America has contains records of who has done what, where they have gone, what enjoyment they did on that island. Using it Trump has caught hold of Modi's nose... fearing the Epstein files, Modi has bowed his head down and his mouth is shut," he said. The Union government had rejected references to PM Modi in the latest Jeffrey Epstein case files, describing it as "little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal that deserves to be dismissed with the utmost contempt". Stating that no one had provoked India in 75 years, Kharge said that when Pakistan tried to do so, Indira Gandhi divided that country and created Bangladesh. "She did it without fear when the US sent a huge warship to the region then. Modi, why don't you have such courage," he asked. Following a deadly Holi clash in Uttam Nagar, the victim's family is calling for a CBI investigation and stringent measures against those responsible, as authorities demolish property linked to an accused individual. Key Points Family of Tarun, the victim of the Uttam Nagar Holi clash, demands a CBI probe into his death. Authorities demolished parts of a house linked to an accused in the Uttam Nagar Holi clash case. Police have arrested seven people and apprehended a juvenile in connection with the Uttam Nagar Holi clash. Tensions remain high in Uttam Nagar following the Holi clash, impacting daily life and business. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has been invoked in the Uttam Nagar Holi clash case. Authorities on Sunday demolished alleged "illegal" portions of a house linked to one of the accused in the Uttam Nagar Holi clash case in which a 26-year-old man was killed, even as the victim's family demanded a CBI probe and strict action against all those involved in the incident. A team of MCD officials reached the JJ colony with bulldozers and razed parts of the house belonging to Nizamuddin, the father of accused Umardeen, sources said, while police and paramilitary remained deployed in strength to prevent any flare-up in the area that has been gripped by tension since the March 4 incident. As the demolition action against the accused, perhaps the first such instance in Delhi in recent years, was carried out, the police cordoned off the area and a large number of residents gathered nearby to watch the operation. While the MCD remained tight-lipped over the action, an official of the civic body, requesting anonymity, said it was part of a civic exercise to remove encroachments built over drains that obstruct the flow of water, especially with the monsoon season approaching. Police have so far arrested seven people and apprehended a juvenile in connection with the case, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said. The latest arrest was that of Imran alias Bunty (38), who was taken into custody on Sunday in connection with the killing of Tarun (26) following a clash between two families during Holi celebrations. The accused arrested earlier have been identified as Umardeen (49), Jummadeen (36), Kamruddin (36), Mustaque (46), Muzzafar (25) and Tahir (18), while a juvenile was also apprehended in the case. The police said stringent provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been invoked in the case after statements of members of the victim's family. According to the police, the violence erupted after water from a balloon thrown by a girl from Tarun's family splashed on a woman from the neighbouring family during Holi celebrations in the densely populated JJ Colony area. What began as a minor argument soon escalated into a violent confrontation between members of the two families and their supporters. The police said the two families had known each other for nearly five decades and had earlier been involved in disputes over issues such as parking and garbage disposal in the locality. Tarun sustained fatal injuries during the attack. The killing sparked anger among residents, with an agitated mob damaging vehicles and setting some of them on fire on Friday, prompting authorities to increase security deployment across the area. "Companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed in the area, along with additional forces drawn from the western range of the Delhi Police, including personnel from the outer and west districts," the DCP said. Senior police officers said the area has been divided into zones, sectors and sub-sectors to ensure effective monitoring and to maintain law and order. "Zones are being monitored by the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Dwarka district, while sector areas are under the supervision of Assistant Commissioners of Police. Sub-sectors are being monitored by senior officers, including station house officers," an officer said. Police personnel could be seen patrolling the lanes of the locality and making announcements through loudspeakers, appealing to residents to remain calm and not pay heed to rumours. Authorities said strict vigil is being maintained to ensure that no attempt is made to disturb communal harmony or the law and order situation in the area. Police teams are also keeping an eye on social media posts. Demolition and Demands for Justice Meanwhile, the demolition drive carried out by the civic authorities drew mixed reactions from residents and the victim's family. Memraj, the father of victim Tarun, said the demolition of the house would not bring justice to his family and demanded a thorough investigation into the case. "I got to know that some portion of the house of Nizamuddin has been demolished today. They killed my son. Demolishing their house will not bring justice," he told PTI. Memraj demanded that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure that all the accused are arrested and punished. "Such people who can kill anyone must be encountered. I appeal to the government to announce a CBI probe into the matter so that all the accused can be arrested," he said. The victim's cousin also demanded strict action against the accused and called for a CBI investigation into the entire incident. He said the family was not satisfied with the action taken so far and that those responsible for the killing must face the strictest punishment. Some protesters who gathered in the locality echoed similar sentiments and demanded harsh punishment for those involved in the attack. A few of them said that capital punishment should be awarded in such cases to deter violent crimes. According to some locals and protesters, around 20 to 25 people were involved in the assault, though police have so far arrested seven and apprehended one juvenile. Family members of the deceased alleged that several accused fled from the spot after the incident and questioned when the police would be able to apprehend them. Some residents also held a protest outside the Uttam Nagar Police Station, demanding justice for the victim. Impact on Daily Life and Community Relations The tense situation in Uttam Nagar has also affected daily life of people. Markets and shops in the area have largely remained shut following the incident, with residents describing the atmosphere as similar to a Covid lockdown. The usually bustling neighbourhood, which witnesses a surge in business activity during the Ramzan month ahead of Eid, has seen deserted streets and shuttered shops. Temporary roadside stalls and small vendors who depend on evening crowds have also been affected by the restrictions and the tense atmosphere. Residents said the heavy deployment of security forces and barricading in several lanes have discouraged people from visiting the markets. Many shopkeepers said the timing of the disruption has severely impacted their business as the Eid season is typically one of the busiest periods of the year. Some residents also emphasised that the area has historically witnessed peaceful coexistence among different communities. A section of locals said that people in the neighbourhood have lived together in harmony for decades and it was wrong to give the incident a communal colour. "The unfortunate clash between the two families should not be used to disturb the communal harmony that has existed in the locality for years," a local said. Political Reactions and Ongoing Investigation However, the tension remains palpable. Police sources said some political leaders were stopped from visiting the victim's family in view of the prevailing law and order situation. "Such restrictions were necessary to prevent large gatherings that could further inflame tensions in the area," a police officer said. Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal met the victim's family and demanded exemplary punishment for the accused. Sources also said that some Hindu political organisations have called for a "Mahasabha" to discuss the incident and demand justice for the victim. The police said they are keeping a close watch on any planned gatherings or meetings in the locality to ensure that the situation remains peaceful. They said strict action would be taken against anyone found attempting to spread rumours or incite violence. The investigation into the killing is currently underway and efforts are on to identify and apprehend any other individuals involved in the attack, the police said. Following a deadly Holi brawl in Uttam Nagar, a Hindu right-wing leader visited the victim's family as tensions escalate, prompting police action and community concern. Key Points A man was killed in Uttam Nagar, Delhi, following a brawl that started after a Holi celebration. The United Hindu Front's working president visited the victim's family, who are demanding the death penalty for those responsible. Police have arrested six adults and apprehended a minor, invoking the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and murder charges. The incident has heightened tensions in the area, leading to property damage and increased police presence. A Hindu right outfit member on Sunday met the family of a man in Uttam Nagar here who was killed in a neighbourhood brawl on Holi. Jai Bhagwan Goyal, the working president of United Hindu Front, visited Kali Basti in Uttam Nagar to meet the family of Tarun, who died in a clash between his family and their neighbours. The fight broke out after water from a balloon thrown by a girl from Tarun's family splashed on a woman from the neighbour's family, according to police. The two families had known each other for the past five decades and got into rows over parking and garbage disposal, among other things, the police had earlier said. Goyal, in a statement, said Tarun's family has demanded a death sentence for the people responsible for Tarun's killing. The police arrested six people and apprehended a minor in connection with the case, and invoked the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and murder charges. The adults accused have been identified as Umardeen, 49, Jummadeen, 36, Kamruddin, 36, Mustaque, 46, Muzzafar, 25, and Tahir, 18. The incident sparked tensions in the area with an angry mob damaging several vehicles and setting them on fire on Friday, prompting heavy police deployment. Police in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, are investigating the shocking murders of a mother-son duo and another woman in separate incidents, sparking a manhunt for the absconding suspects. Key Points A mother and her nine-year-old son were found murdered in their rented room in Tilwara Sumari, Rudraprayag, with the husband missing. A woman from Kurukshetra was found dead in a Rudraprayag hotel room after her husband and his friend left, claiming they would return. Police have registered FIRs and dispatched teams to search for the absconding suspects in both murder cases in Uttarakhand. Forensic evidence has been collected from the hotel room to aid in the investigation of the woman's death. Three people, including a mother-son duo and a woman from Haryana, were murdered in two separate incidents in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag, police said on Sunday. According to the police, the alleged killers in both incidents have fled and efforts are on to trace and nab them. Mother and Son Found Dead in Tilwara Sumari The decomposed bodies of a Nepali woman and her son were recovered from a locked room in the Tilwara Sumari area on Friday, with her husband absconding since the incident. The incident came to light when neighbours reported a foul smell from the rented room, where the family was residing. Following this, police broke down the door of the room, they said. The deceased have been identified as Kamla Shahi, 34, and her nine-year-old son, Roshan. Police said that prima facie the incident appears to have taken place a few days ago, and her husband, Deepak Bahadur, has been absconding since then. Woman Found Dead in Hotel Room In another incident, Kajal, a resident of Kurukshetra, was left unconscious at a hotel in Rudraprayag, and her husband and his friend fled from the spot. Upon receiving information from the hotel owner, police arrived at the scene and took the woman to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead, they said. Following this, police sealed the hotel room and collected forensic evidence. According to the police, Kajal had checked into the hotel on the night of March 6 with her husband, Arun, a resident of Kaithal, and his friend Akshay Kumar. The two men accompanying the woman left on Saturday morning, saying they would return shortly, police said. When the woman did not check out after waiting for a long time, the hotel owner became suspicious and peeped through the window, and informed the police after seeing her lying unconscious. The deceased's family has been contacted and is arriving in Rudraprayag, police said. Prima facie, both cases appear to be that of murder, police said, adding that FIRs have been registered and police teams have been dispatched to search for the absconding individuals. Indian police have uncovered a human trafficking ring where a 21-year-old woman was forced into multiple marriages, prompting a suicide attempt and leading to arrests. Key Points Police in Beed, India, arrested four people for trafficking a 21-year-old woman. The victim was forced into three marriages, with the accused profiting from each arrangement. The trafficking ring operated under the guise of arranging marriages, exploiting vulnerable women. The investigation began after the victim attempted suicide due to pressure to enter a fourth marriage. Police suspect a wider network is involved in trafficking women for marriage. Police have arrested four individuals in connection with the alleged trafficking of a 21-year-old woman from Latur district who was forced to "marry" three different men by the accused, who earned lakhs in "commission," an officer said on Sunday. The matter came to light after the victim tried to kill herself by consuming poison when she was pressured into a fourth marriage in Kanadi (Budruk) village in Latur district on Friday evening, said Ashti police station inspector Sharad Bhutekar. Police have so far arrested four individuals, including a woman who orchestrated the deals and her husband, from Tuljapur and Pune. According to police, the victim had been staying with her parents in Latur district for the last two years due to alleged harassment by her husband. During this period, she came in contact with a woman, a resident of Latur. Police said she introduced the victim to another woman, a resident of the Hadapsar area of Pune, who promised to arrange her marriage. "The accused allegedly promised to arrange a second marriage for the victim and took her to Pune. There, she was forcibly married to a man in the Katraj area. The accused women allegedly received Rs 5 lakh from the man for arranging the marriage," police said. Within 10 days of the wedding, the victim was forced into a second marriage with a man from the Kurkumbh area in Pune district for a "fee" of Rs 4.5 lakh. Her ordeal didn't stop. "With the help of another woman from Tuljapur in Dharashiv district, the accused persons arranged the victim's third marriage on March 4 with a man from Kanadi (Budruk) village in Ashti tehsil. The accused allegedly collected around Rs 4.5 lakh in this deal as well," police said. Police suspect that the case may be linked to a wider racket involved in trafficking women under the guise of arranging marriages. Even after arranging three marriages, the accused allegedly continued to exploit the woman. On March 6, they reportedly began pressuring her to enter into a fourth marriage. Unable to bear the mental trauma and fearing further abuse, the victim allegedly consumed poison in an attempt to end her life. She is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Shrigonda tehsil of Ahilyanagar district, where her condition is said to be critical, police added. Ashti police have registered a case against four accused, including the woman who allegedly orchestrated the deals and her husband, and investigating further. President Droupadi Murmu champions women's empowerment, urging society to dismantle stereotypes and inequalities hindering their progress, while celebrating their achievements and historical significance in India IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu speaks during the International Women's Day celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan, in New Delhi, March 8, 2026. Photograph: PHOTO RB/ANI Photo Key Points President Murmu acknowledges women's achievements while recognising persistent social and economic inequalities. Murmu emphasises the importance of addressing stereotypes and psychological barriers faced by women in India. The President highlights the historical prominence of women in Indian traditions and culture. Murmu advocates for promoting Indian languages and knowledge systems to build a self-reliant India. President Murmu encourages remembering and emulating inspiring women figures from Indian history. Women are excelling in various fields but there are many who still face social stereotypes, economic inequalities and psychological barriers, President Droupadi Murmu said on Sunday, giving a call for making a collective effort to address the issue with sensitivity. Addressing the valedictory session of a national convention here at Vigyan Bhavan, Murmu said women are equal to or even superior to men in many dimensions like service, dedication, nationalism, bravery, patience and talent. "In every university I visit, I see more daughters receive gold medals. This is proof that given the opportunity, daughters can excel. However, we must also acknowledge the harsh reality that even today, many women face social stereotypes, economic inequalities, and psychological barriers," she said. "If there are good things in society, we are creating them. We also have a responsibility to address and eliminate the bad. Therefore, I believe we should make more efforts to address these issues," the President said, adding that organisations like the Rashtriya Sevika Samiti can make a decisive contribution in this direction. Women have historically been accorded respect and prominence in Indian traditions, the President said, citing examples such as expressions "Radha-Krishna" and "Sita-Ram", where women are placed first as a mark of respect. The convention, titled "Bharati - Nari to Narayani" was organised by the Bharatiya Vidvat Parishad in association with the Rashtra Sevika Samiti and Sharanya here at Vigyan Bhavan. The Rashtra Sevika Samiti, founded in 1936, functions as a women's organisation parallel to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for men. Appreciating the organisers of the event, the President said the Bharatiya Vidvat Parishat is making sincere efforts to keep India's knowledge-traditions, classical thought and scientific discourse alive. Such conferences help preserve and disseminate the country's rich legacy in fields like philosophy, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, literature and arts, she said. Murmu also emphasised the importance of promoting Indian languages and traditional knowledge systems for building an Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) and developed India. "By giving priority to Indian languages and India's scientific traditions, a cultural foundation is being provided for building an Atmanirbhar and developed India. All institutions involved in such initiatives should move forward with mutual coordination and cooperation," she said. Extending greetings on International Women's Day, the President urged people to remember inspiring examples of women's power and translate their ideals into action in contemporary life. Referring to historical figures, she said the courage and wisdom of women such as Rani Durgavati, Jijabai, Kittur Chennamma, Rani Lakshmibai, Jhalkari Bai and Ahilyabai Holkar have served as a source of inspiration for society. "We should study them not merely as history written in books or as statues placed somewhere, but we must ask ourselves how much we have implemented their ideals in our own lives and how much inspiration we have given to the next generation to follow the same path," she said. Murmu also noted that celebrations were being held across the country to mark 150 years of the composition of the national song 'Vande Mataram' and described it as a tribute to the power of motherhood and feminine strength. The accident took place on Saturday night near Hawa Hawai restaurant in the Masuri police station area, prompting a police investigation into the cause. IMAGE: YouTuber Anurag Dobhal. Photograph: Courtesy Instagram Key Points The accident occurred near Hawa Hawai restaurant in Ghaziabad, with Dobhal's car allegedly crashing into a divider at high speed. Dobhal is currently in the ICU at Max Super Speciality Hospital receiving treatment for his injuries. The police are investigating the circumstances of the crash, including the possibility of a suicide attempt, following reports of alleged mental harassment. The high-speed impact caused significant damage to the vehicle, leading to a police investigation into the cause of the accident. YouTuber Anurag Dobhal was critically injured in a car crash on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Ghaziabad, the police said on Sunday. Dobhal gained widespread recognition after participating in the television show 'Bigg Boss 17'. The accident took place on Saturday night near Hawa Hawai restaurant in the Masuri police station area, according to the police. Information about the incident was received through the 112 emergency helpline number. Deputy commissioner of police (Rural) Surendra Nath Tiwari told PTI that when the police team reached the spot, Dobhal had already been rushed to the Subharti Hospital for treatment. "He was later shifted around midnight to Max Super Speciality Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU," Tiwari said. Subharti Hospital Medical Superintendent Preeti Goel confirmed that Dobhal was admitted to the ICU in critical condition. Dobhal, a native of Dehradun, was reportedly travelling towards Delhi from Dehradun when the accident occurred. His Toyota Fortuner allegedly crashed into a divider on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway while travelling at a speed of around 150-160 km per hour, police said. The impact of the collision was severe, causing the vehicle to flip over and land in the opposite lane. The SUV was completely damaged in the crash, officials said. The police said a suicide attempt is also being suspected, and the matter is under investigation. According to people close to Dobhal, he had allegedly been complaining of mental harassment for some time prior to the accident. Further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway, officials added. A brightly lit gas station at dusk with cars refueling - Wirestock/Getty Images Depending on where you live, your city may have several of the same branded gas stations from one end to the other. But while you're likely familiar with many of the logos and the companies behind them, you may not know which one has the most stations in the United States. That distinction goes to Shell, which has 13,605 stations throughout the country. This is according to third-party information from ScrapeHero, an online data gathering company. However, it's important to note that this figure may not be completely accurate, as Shell's official fact sheet puts the number of its gas stations at around 12,000. The same caveat applies to Shell's biggest competitor, ExxonMobil, which SlashGear has reported previously as having some of the best quality gas in the United States. ScrapeHero has ExxonMobil in second place with 11,014 stations in the US, but again this number might not be entirely exact; this figure is under the more than 12,000 total reported by ExxonMobil's corporate site. So while it may seem Shell and ExxonMobil are close, their totals are approximations reported by the companies rather than exact real-time counts. This is also true for the rest of ScrapeHero's top five, including Chevron, which officially reports over 8,000 locations, more than the third-party site lists. 7-11, a gas station chain you might not know is owned by a Japanese company, isn't listed by ScrapeHero due to how the stores are classified. Official 7-11 corporate reports list more than 8,200 stations in its network, including Speedway and Stripes, which are two brands owned by the same parent company. Read more: Popular Synthetic Oil Brands Ranked Worst To Best Shell's continued growth amidst challenges in the US Shell logo seen at a gas station in Arvin, California. - Tada Images/Shutterstock As the number-one gas station chain in the US, Shell serves millions of customers every day in locations that are often operated by independent owners. But Shell is more than just a gas station chain, as the company owns several popular motor oil brands like Pennzoil and Quaker State. It also offers vehicle services through Jiffy Lube, operates EV charging points, and works with clean energy initiatives. Because of its widespread approach, Shell is able to offer services in all 50 states. But Shell's U.S. expansion has come with its fair share of controversy. In 2013, the company faced environmental enforcement as a result of Clean Air Act violations. The problems occurred at the company's refinery in Deer Park, Texas, where Shell agreed to pay civil penalties, while also investing over $115 million to help control its pollution. That same year, Shell recorded a $2.1 billion impairment, reflecting losses on North American shale oil and gas projects on an initial investment of around $24 billion. These projects didn't deliver profits as the company expected. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A few clouds. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 22F. WNW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 22F. WNW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. The United States is considering arming Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in neighboring Iraq, according to reports, with the aim of fomenting an uprising inside the Islamic republic. The possibility of the United States supplying weapons to the exiled groups and supporting potential cross-border ground attacks in western Iran comes amid a joint US-Israeli aerial campaign against Tehran, launched on February 28. US President Donald Trump on March 5 encouraged the over half a dozen exiled Iranian Kurdish groups to attack Iran. "I think it's wonderful that they want to do that. I'd be all for it," he said. Tehran has responded by intensifying attacks on camps and bases operated by the Iranian Kurdish groups in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Trump appeared to walk back his comments on March 8, telling reporters that he does "not want the Kurds to go into Iran" because the war is "complicated enough as it is." RFE/RL spoke to Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an on-the-ground reporter and analyst specializing in Kurdish affairs who said the Iranian Kurdish groups are deeply cautious about becoming entangled in the US-Israeli war on Iran. RFE/RL: What considerations do you think these Kurdish groups are weighing before launching their offensive into Iran? Wladimir van Wilgenburg: These Kurdish groups will not launch an offensive if they don't have any guarantees for any form of political recognition. We saw with the Kurds in Syria that the US didn't give any promises. After there was no more need for them to fight ISIS [the Islamic State extremist group], they were abandoned, and the US administration worked with the new authorities in Damascus. The Kurds in Iran don't want a repetition of that scenario where they basically fight the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps] and, when the war is over, the US administration says it was just a transactional relationship and 'bye-bye.' RFE/RL: Do you think there is going to be an incursion? Van Wilgenburg: There has been no incursion. The gist [of it] is that the Kurdish groups are preparing for such an offensive and have had some talks with US officials. I don't know on what level, whether government or military, but they're just in an exploration phase of relations. I don't think there have been any decisions so far to go inside [Iran]. We also saw statements by Iraqi Kurdish officials saying they don't want to be part of this regional war [and are] calling for calm. Today, there was a statement by a senior defense official in Iran threatening Iraqi Kurdistan, saying if any of those groups cross, the retaliation will be very heavy. RFE/RL: If they do eventually launch an offensive, what is the ultimate goal? Is it regime change, or a push for an independent Kurdistan? Van Wilgenburg: The Kurds in Iran have always had a historical focus on autonomy. They are not focused on an independent Kurdish state. What they want is a federal Iran with democracy, secularism, and autonomy for Iranian Kurds. There's no goal to separate. Their idea is to go only to the Kurdish areas -- not like in Syria, where Kurdish forces went to non-Kurdish areas like Deir al-Zor and Raqqa. The idea is to create a sort of safe haven for the Iranian opposition. Currently, there are calls for defections [from the state] and protests [against the authorities], but there's no safe haven for the opposition to go to. It would be similar to how the Iraqi Kurdish opposition was hosted in [Iran's] Kurdistan Province in the 1990s. RFE/RL: Regarding Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), if Iranian Kurds decide to launch an incursion, would the KRG have the power or the desire to stop them? Van Wilgenburg: Most of the bases for these Iranian Kurdish parties are in [the regional capital] Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Province, so they are quite dependent on the KRG's tolerance. One reason they are tolerated is the understanding that they would not carry out armed action. There was also an agreement between Baghdad and Tehran in 2023 to disarm these parties, which is why some camps are currently empty. However, you have groups who are not dependent on the KRG because they control their own areas in the mountains. The other parties are very close to urban areas in the Kurdistan region and are more restricted. RFE/RL: Were those groups actually disarmed as part of that 2023 agreement? Van Wilgenburg: There were a lot of conflicting media reports about that in the Kurdish media, but there has been no official confirmation. RFE/RL: Given the history, how wary are these groups of working with the United States as a partner? Van Wilgenburg: They are worried it could be a transactional relationship, so they prefer guarantees. They have their own issues with the Islamic republic, but they aren't going to risk a fight if they would lose everything. History shows this: The Mahabad Republic [a short-lived and unrecognized Kurdish state] collapsed after Soviet support ended, and after the 1979 revolution, [Islamic republic founder Ruhollah] Khomeini launched a military operation against the Kurds after they had taken control of their areas. They fear a new centralist government in Tehran might do the same. They want guarantees that it will be a federal state, similar to the relationship between the Kurdistan region and the central government in Baghdad. RFE/RL: Do the Kurds currently have the weaponry to cause significant trouble for the Islamic republic? Van Wilgenburg: Their numbers are not that large, but the situation can change quickly. In Syria, the Kurdish groups started small and grew into the SDF [Syrian Defense Forces], which is over 100,000-strong. If they go inside and get US air support and weapons, it would be very easy to crush [Iran's] defenses in Kurdish-majority areas. Most IRGC and Basij [paramilitary] soldiers there are not native to the area. If Iran doesn't control the airspace, it will be very difficult for them to hold those areas, even with their advanced drones and ballistic missiles. Kurdish officials say they could take these areas in a very short period if there is a US decision to support them. RFE/RL: Is there any truth to reports that the United States or Israel are already arming these groups? Van Wilgenburg: There is a lot of speculation based on anonymous sources. On the ground, you don't see any new weapons. The fighters still have their old Kalashnikovs. There are no physical or public signs yet. But logically, if there is a decision to support them, they will be armed. The US did that with the Iraqi opposition, the Kurds in Syria, and via CIA programs for other rebels. Such programs could be repeated, but there are no signs of those arms in the hands of Iranian Kurds yet. The March 8 election of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader by Iran's Assembly of Experts following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack marks the first time the son of a supreme leader is succeeding his father in the Islamic republic. Mojtaba Khamenei has rarely appeared in public and has never addressed an audience beyond seminary classrooms, yet he is widely seen as a shadowy behind-the-scenes force with influence over those closest to the supreme leader's office and Iran's security institutions. But who is Mojtaba Khamenei, and how did his name become one of the most controversial options for his father's succession? 'Master' Mojtaba The 56-year-old second son of the late supreme leader has long been described as the "guardian of the gate." Despite never holding a formal government office, the younger Khamenei has spent two decades at the center of his father's office, the Beyt, coordinating between the clerical establishment and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Ali Khamenei once warned domestic critics to refer to his son as only "Agha" -- or "Master." In 2005, Mehdi Karroubi, a defeated presidential candidate, accused Ali Khamenei of supporting his son Mojtaba during the election campaign for Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. Karroubi later revealed that when one of the elders told Ali Khamenei, "Your Highness's son is supporting so-and-so in the election," Khamenei replied, "He is a master, not just the child of a master." This was the sentence that brought Mojtaba Khamenei's name into Iranian politics for the first time -- not just as one of the sons of the supreme leader but as a political figure in his own right. Now, his election as supreme leader of the Islamic republic by the Assembly of Experts, he officially become the center of the shaky power structure of the Islamic republic. Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to be backed by the IRGC, and his selection represents continuity. Supporters argue his deep intimacy with the security apparatus makes him the most capable of maintaining order during active conflict. Critics Warn Of 'Hereditary Rule' However, his elevation risks domestic fury, especially among the core supporters of the Islamic republic. Critics argue a move toward "hereditary rule" betrays the very anti-monarchist roots of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. "The optics of having a son succeed his father perhaps resembles the optics of a monarchy," Farzan Sabet, a senior research associate at the Geneva Graduate School, told RFE/RL in 2024. A member of the Assembly of Experts in 2024 insisted the senior Khamenei had opposed the idea of his son taking over in conversations with the assembly. Furthermore, Khamenei Jr's relatively low clerical rank, Hojatoleslam, remains a point of contention. A news agency affiliated with Iran's seminaries has since 2022 called him an ayatollah, an honorific title reserved for high-ranking clerics. In 2022, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, who has been under house arrest since 2011, warned that Ali Khamenei was preparing his son to take over, effectively reviving the hereditary succession that the 1979 revolution was meant to end. "Have dynasties of 2,500 years returned so that a son succeeds his father to power?" he wrote. In response to these criticisms, the Assembly of Experts emphasized that the appointment of the supreme leader is based on "merit selection." Recent investigations, including a report by Bloomberg published in late January, detailed a sprawling and secretive real estate portfolio linked to the younger Khamenei, who has been under US sanctions since 2019. The reports suggest he has successfully maintained and expanded a global network of luxury assets through intermediaries and shell companies. Mojtaba Khamenei's wife, Zahra Haddad Adel, was also killed in the same US and Israeli strike as her father-in-law, the supreme leader. TEL AVIV -- Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition in Israel, says air strikes on Iranian oil fields --which have showered Tehran in black rain -- were needed to cut the lifeline of the regime in Iran. Speaking to RFE/RL at a downtown location hit on March 8 by falling debris from an intercepted Iranian missile, Lapid also indicated that Israel reserves the right to strike any new supreme leader who takes power following the death last weekend of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It depends who is the leader, he said. This is our way of protecting ourselves from death and destruction. Because, you know, this is what this regime is. Israeli Opposition Head Says Wait And See On Any New Iranian Leader by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:03:53 0:00 Lapid, who was Israel's prime minister for several months in 2022 before Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office, has strongly backed the Israeli governments decision to launch airstrikes on Iran on February 28, which included those that killed Khamenei. The body in charge of selecting Iran's new supreme leader said on March 8 it had reached a decision on a new leader, but did not immediately reveal the name of the choice. US President Donald Trump said earlier on March 8 that any new supreme leader "is not going to last long" without White House approval. Lapid's support comes despite the bitter battles he has fought against Netanyahu on domestic policies and the Gaza Strip. I can't remember a time when we stood that united and that determined, he said, praising the spirit of the Israeli people. RFE/RL has approached Netanyahus Likud party for comment. In recent days, Likud lawmakers and ministers have rarely given media interviews. Netanyahu's Televised Address In a televised addressed on March 7, Netanyahu said Israel had an "organized plan with many surprises" in store. Netanyahu told Israelis the campaign would "destabilize the regime" and that "the moment of truth is drawing near." In his role of official opposition leader, Lapid gets security briefings directly from Netanyahu. Asked whether Netanyahus remarks meant that regime-change was imminent in Iran, Lapid said I find it hard to believe that there is a real possibility for regime change with airstrikes." "I think boots-on-the-ground is not inevitable, but maybe it's not the greatest idea. What we are doing now is creating the conditions or enabling the people of Iran to change their own fate, the 62-year-old added. A part of this, he said, were strikes on Irans oil industry. Israel made what appeared to be its first attack on oil facilities on March 7. The next morning, dark, polluted clouds clogged the sky and black rain fell on Tehran. This is where the money is coming from. They spent the last...40 years building nuclear sites instead of building an economy for themselves. So, what they have is those oil sites. So, eliminating them will help cutting the lifeline of the regime, Lapid said. 'Heartbreaking' Civilian Deaths In Iran The current US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran have decapitated the countrys clerical leadership and substantially weakened its military. They have also caused civilian casualties. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says more than 1,200 civilians have been killed, including nearly 200 children. In Israel, which has state-of-the-art air defenses, there have been 12 civilian fatalities. Asked about the toll on civilians, Lapid pointed to the damaged building behind him. Look around you. Where are we? This is not a military site, right? So. the Iranians are intentionally trying to kill civilians, he said. Sometimes bystanders and the innocent are killed, especially when it's children. It's heartbreaking. Children should not die in grown-ups' wars. Yet it's a mistake. Here, they are doing it intentionally. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The Tehran skyline was filled with smoke following Israeli strikes on oil facilities in Iran. The Israeli military claimed responsibility for strikes on a number of fuel storage facilities in Tehran on March 8. Iran has named hard-liner Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as supreme leader, likely putting him directly in the sights of the US and Israeli militaries. Iran's Assembly of Experts, responsible for electing the new ruler, said on March 8 that it had "designated and introduced Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran." As supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei will have final say in all political and military matters and hold near-dictatorial powers. The appointment also makes him a target for US and Israeli forces, who killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28 as they launched a war against Iran that has spread throughout the region. 'An Unacceptable Choice' The decision comes after US President Donald Trump earlier called Mojtaba Khamenei -- then seen as the favorite to succeed his father -- an "unacceptable choice" and a "lightweight" and insisted that anyone chosen by Tehran must be acceptable to Washington. Trump told ABC News that if he [the next supreme leader] doesnt get approval from us, hes not going to last long, adding that there are numerous people that could qualify for the role. "We don't have to go back every five years and do this again and again...[We seek] somebody that's going to be great for the people, great for the country," Trump said. In an interview with the Times of Israel shortly after the Khamenei announcement, Trump declined to comment directly on the move, saying only, "We'll see what happens." Hours before the announcement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned that Israel will continue to follow any successor and anyone who seeks to appoint a successor and that it would not hesitate to target any of the dozens of Assembly of Experts members participating in the meeting to choose the successor. Iran having a new leader would help them advance their war against us, IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said on March 8. Iran not having a leader is something that makes it hard for them to operate the war machine against us. Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition in Israel, told RFE/RL in an interview on March 8 that Israel reserves the right to strike any new supreme leader who takes power following the death of Ali Khamenei. When asked ahead of the announcement whether Israel should attempt to kill the new leader, Lipid said, "Well, it depends on who is the leader." "I hope they will find something very different from what they have there right now," he said of the Iranian leadership. "What we have there is a terror organization." Shortly after the Khamenei announcement was made, Iran said it fired a volley of missiles toward Israel. "Iran fires first wave of missiles under Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei toward occupied territories," state broadcaster IRIB said on its Telegram channel. It also posted a photo of a projectile with the words: "At Your Command, Sayyid Mojtaba." Defiant Assembly Of Experts In announcing the decision, Iran's Assembly of Experts appeared defiant, saying it made the choice "despite the acute war situation and direct threats from enemies." Mojtaba Khamenei was known to have close ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which wields considerable military power in the country, separate from the regular armed forces. The hard-line IRGC was quick to endorse the choice of the new leader, pledging "allegiance" to him, according to state media. The leaders of the armed forces also pledged to follow Khamenei as the new ruler. Powerful national-security chief Ali Larijani, also considered a hard-liner, called for unity around the new supreme leader, saying the Assembly made the choice in spite of threats to target the electing body. Strikes On Iran Continue Meanwhile, the United States and Israel carried out new air strikes on strategic infrastructure in and around Tehran on March 8, including oil depots and refining facilities, as Israeli forces also expanded their operations beyond Iran. Large fires were reported at several fuel storage sites in Tehran, sending heavy smoke over parts of the capital. Iranian officials confirmed that multiple oil facilities were damaged, although emergency teams managed to bring some fires under control. Iran continued to strike back at several Gulf states that are hosting US military assets, despite an apology from President Masud Pezeshkian expressing sorry for earlier attacks on Washington's Arab allies. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, reported new attacks or interceptions of Iranian drones and missiles on March 7 and 8. Air defense systems across the region were activated to intercept incoming projectiles, with multiple explosions reported as defenses engaged Iranian drones and missiles. Trump: US 'Not Looking To The Kurds Going In' In comments a day earlier, Trump said he does not want ethnic Kurds to launch an attack on the Iranian regime. The remarks came after conflicting reports as to whether Trump was encouraging a ground offensive by Iranian Kurdish exiles based in Iraq. "We're not looking to the Kurds going in," he told reporters aboard Air Force One. "We're very friendly with the Kurds, as you know, but we don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is." "I don't want to see the Kurds get hurt and killed. They're willing to go in, but I've told them I don't want them going in. The war's complicated enough without getting the Kurds involved," he said. On March 5, Trump had told Reuters he would be "all for" an offensive by Iranian Kurdish fighters in support of the US-Israeli effort. WASHINGTON -- The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran has focused world attention on the Middle East. It has also fueled debate in Washington over whether the conflict could divert resources and political attention away from Ukraine more than four years into Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced those concerns earlier this week, telling the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera he that he hopes "the Iranian crisis remains a limited operation," though there's a "risk" it won't. But US officials and lawmakers told RFE/RL they believe the Iran campaign will remain limited in scope and pledged to keep the needs of Kyiv on the front burner, as well. Representative Jake Ellzey of Texas, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and commissioner of the Helsinki Commission, said the United States can address both Iran and Ukraine simultaneously. In an interview with RFE/RL, he said the world often requires juggling multiple security challenges at once. "Yes, Iran has gotten the attention right now. However, back there, there is Ukraine," he added. Ellzey emphasized that the international community remains united in supporting Ukraine and that logistical strains from multiple fronts are being carefully managed. "Our job has been to take out Iran's offensive capability, and the Israelis are handling other elements. I think this is going to be over fairly quickly," he said. Republicans See Strategic Link to Ukraine Other Republican lawmakers emphasized that strikes on Iran could have knock-on effects on the battlefield in Ukraine. Senator John Curtis of Utah noted that US attacks targeting Iranian military facilities could disrupt drone production that Russia has relied on heavily in its air strikes against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. "The operations targeting sites in Iran are actively destroying Iranian-made drones that Russia uses to kill Ukrainians," Curtis said. Since Russia's invasion began in 2022, it has deployed Iranian-designed drones such as the Shahed-136 against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina echoed that view during a Helsinki Commission hearing early this week, arguing the degrading of Tehran's military capabilities could ease pressure on Ukraine's defenses since it will impact Iran's military support to Moscow. Analysts contend that such effects will be limited because Russia now makes most of the Shahed-type drones itself, no longer relying on Iranian supplies. That said, the Trump administration has sent mixed signals on how long, and and how limited, the Iran campaign will be. Trump has said it could last around 100 days, but he also hasn't ruled out putting US troops on Iranian soil. That uncertainty prompted some lawmakers to caution that sustained operations could stretch US military resources to a point that impacts overall operations. Representative August Pfluger, a Republican from Texas, warned that continued combat could draw down munitions stockpiles, requiring careful planning to ensure readiness for other global contingencies. "This engagement in Iran is going to deplete some of our stockpile of munitionsand we're going to have to replace that in order to continue to deter our enemies around the world," Pfluger told an audience at the Heritage Foundation on March 4. Democrats Raise Concerns Over Strategic Tradeoffs Democrats have voiced similar skepticism, warning the Iran campaign could complicate US efforts to address simultaneous global threats. Senator Chris Coons said in a statement this week that while Tehran's record of supporting terrorism is well documented, the administration has not sufficiently demonstrated that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States. He added that launching military action at a time when Washington already faces "significant threats from an aggressive China and Russia" risks stretching US strategic focus and military capacity. Other Democrats have also questioned whether resources used in the Iran campaign could instead have been directed toward Ukraine. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut told reporters on March 5 that some of the weapons used in Operation Epic Fury, the code name for the US campaign, might have been better deployed to support Kyiv. He added that US officials have repeatedly cited limited stockpiles as a reason for not providing additional Patriot interceptors and other munitions to Ukraine. The US military and Trump himself have rejected such claims, saying there is sufficient ordnance for operations in Iran. Pentagon Emphasizes Targeted Objectives Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations on March 4, described the Iran operation as a targeted effort to degrade Tehran's ability to project military power. He also acknowledged the broader challenge facing US planners: preparing for scenarios in which multiple adversaries act simultaneously. "The core military problem is the potential for possible foes to operate on simultaneous or roughly concurrent timelines," he said. Colby highlighted the need for European allies to increase defense spending and capabilities to support Ukraine's long-term security, whether through negotiations or continued fighting. "The implications are the same," he concluded. "There needs to be a European buildup." Allies Say Conflicts Reflect Wider Struggle For some US allies, the crises in Iran and Ukraine are not competing priorities but part of a broader confrontation between democratic countries and authoritarian regimes. Vidmantas Verbickas, Lithuania's vice minister of foreign affairs who was in Washington this week to highlight regional challenges and transatlantic relations, said the developments should be viewed in that broader context. Speaking with RFE/RL in Washington, he argued that the turmoil surrounding Iran should not be seen as diverting attention from Russia's war against Ukraine. "What is happening in Ukraine is Russia's war of aggression," Verbickas said. "What we see in Iran is also a humanitarian disaster. These are regimes that are not looking for peaceful solutions. They seek to coerce, oppress, and disregard international law." From that perspective, he said, the democratic world is confronting related challenges rather than shifting focus from one crisis to another. "This is not a shifting of the focus," Verbickas said. "This is the democratic world dealing with dictatorships." Asked about potential implications of the Middle East escalation for Ukraine, Verbickas said it was too early to draw firm conclusions. "There is a lot of speculation -- about weapons supplies, about oil prices," he said. "Some volatility in energy markets might temporarily help Russia, but supply chains may also be affected." At lease 10 people were killed when Russia struck a five-story residential building in the northeast Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with a ballistic missile, local officials said on March 8, prompting an angry call by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for action by Western partners. "Since nightfall, [rescue crews] have been dismantling the rubble of a residential building in Kharkiv after a Russian ballistic missile strike," Zelenskyy said on Telegram. "The entrance was destroyed, the upper floors of a neighboring building were damaged.... There may still be people under the rubble. All necessary services are working on the spot for rescue." Officials said two children were among the dead in the attack. AFP said its reporters saw rescuers sifting through the debris, where several people were believed to be trapped. Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said 15 people were also injured and 19 residential buildings were damaged by the Russian attacks overnight. "There should be a response from partners to these savage strikes against life. Russia has not abandoned its attempts to destroy Ukraine's residential and critical infrastructure, and therefore support should continue," Zelenskyy said, calling on Western partners to step up supplies of air defense weapons. Russia denies it targets civilian areas, despite widespread evidence of such attacks. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said its forces carried out massive overnight strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial complexes, military airfields, and energy sites, Interfax reported. Ukrainian officials said Russia also attacked four rail stations and other railway infrastructure in central Ukraine and port facilities in the Odesa region in the south of the country. Meanwhile, regional authorities in Russia's Krasnodar Krai said on March 8 that a fire broke out at an oil depot in the southern Russian city of Armavir overnight following a drone attack. According to the regional military officials, the blaze occurred on the territory of an oil storage facility after unmanned aerial vehicles targeted the area during the night. By the morning of March 8, officials said firefighters had managed to localize the fire, which covered an area of about 700 square meters. Emergency services deployed significant resources to the scene, including around 120 personnel and 38 pieces of equipment to contain the blaze. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted 72 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions of the country. According to the ministry, four of those drones were allegedly shot down over Krasnodar Krai, where Armavir is located. Ukrainian military officials have not publicly commented on the reported attack. Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington have been involved in trilateral negotiations to attempt to end Russia's conflict with Ukraine, which became a full-scale war following Russia's invasion of February 2022. However, those talks appear to be on hold since the United States, along with Israel, launched a massive air campaign against Iran, leading to Iranian retaliation against many Gulf Arab countries. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, AFP and Reuters March 6 (Reuters) - Nvidia (NVDA) has adopted a new variable compensation plan for fiscal 2027 that sets a target cash bonus of $4 million for CEO Jensen Huang, according to a regulatory filing on Friday. The plan, approved by Nvidia's compensation committee on March 2, ties executive cash bonuses to the achievement of specific revenue goals for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2027. More from Yahoo Scout What revenue goals tie to Nvidia executive bonuses? How does Jensen Huang's 2025 compensation compare to his new bonus target? What is Nvidia's new variable compensation plan for CEO? How do Nvidia's recent financial results support compensation changes? Huang's total compensation for 2025 was $49.9 million, driven largely by stock awards valued at $38.8 million, according to a regulatory filing in May last year. The filing comes after Nvidia last month reported better-than-expected results for the January quarter and forecast current-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates, underscoring expectations that heavy spending by Big Tech on artificial intelligence processors will continue. The world's most valuable company said it expects fiscal first-quarter sales of $78 billion, plus or minus 2%. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid) On International Womens Day Roscommon native Ruth McCourt is celebrating not only the global achievements of women but also her own journey as the founder of Smart Digital Marketing PR Agencya business she has grown from the ground up after a decade spent honing her craft in the marketing world. Ruth, from Roscommon Town, says the spark that drove her to set up on her own came from a clear need she saw emerging in Irish business. I saw an opportunity to support Irish businesses and SMEs with creative digital marketing and PR strategies, she tells the Roscommon Herald. Today, she works with clients across tourism, education, the charity sector and retail, helping them strengthen their digital presence, shape their stories, and reach the audiences that matter. Its incredibly rewarding to see businesses grow and gain visibility through the work we do, she says. Ruth was educated at Roscommon Convent of Mercy before studying at ATU Galway. Throughout college, she travelled home at weekends to work in Molloys Bakery and Coffee Shopan early grounding, she says, in the realities of local business. She credits the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Roscommon with playing a pivotal role in Smart Digitals early days. A Trading Online Voucher helped her build and launch the agencys first website, and that initial support, she says, made all the difference. She is also quick to acknowledge the guidance she received from her parents, George and Rosaleen McCourt, especially in the challenging first years of business. Her father George, now head of innovation and enterprise at ATU, provided invaluable mentorship. It is great to get advice from someone who has knowledge. Years one to three were the toughest and my parents helped me power through, she says. Last year, Ruth was nominated for the Galway Chamber Business Awards, reaching the finals in the Best Small Media Enterprise category. She was also invited as a guest speaker to a Network Ireland Roscommon eventan experience she describes as particularly meaningful. I loved being a speaker for Network Ireland Roscommons Business Woman of the Year Awards and going back to where it all began. Ruth also highlights the constant encouragement she receives from her fiance, Paul Briscoe, a self employed farmer. As for being a woman in business, she acknowledges the challenges while noting encouraging progress. Running a business is challenging for anyone, but women can sometimes face additional pressureswhether thats being taken seriously in certain industries or balancing multiple responsibilities. But I do think things are changing positively, she says. This International Womens Day, Ruth stands as one of many Irish businesswomen driving that positive changeone digital strategy, one growing client, and one brave step forward at a time. A six-bed specialist in-patient eating disorder unit could soon be located in Roscommon. Plans to significantly enhance local eating disorder services have been welcomed by Dr Martin Daly TD. The Roscommon Galway Fianna Fail TD confirmed that the Department of Health intends to provide specialist inpatient eating disorder beds co-located with the planned new acute psychiatric unit at Roscommon University Hospital. Dr Daly said he has had detailed discussions with the Minister of State for Mental Health, Mary Butler, who has confirmed her commitment to the replacement of the existing psychiatric unit at Roscommon University Hospital and to advancing this project through the HSE capital plan. He confirmed that it is the ministers intention that a six-bed specialist inpatient eating disorder unit will be co-located with the new acute psychiatric unit as part of this replacement development. This is a very welcome and significant development for people living with eating disorders and for their families, Dr Daly said. There is a well-documented shortage of specialist inpatient eating disorder beds in Ireland, and the intention to provide a dedicated six-bed unit in Roscommon represents real progress in addressing that gap. He also welcomed the separate announcement of funding for a GalwayRoscommon Community Adult Eating Disorder Team, which will provide specialist, community-based assessment and treatment closer to home. Dr Daly noted that the announcements were made during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, highlighting the growing recognition of the seriousness of these illnesses and the urgent need for investment in specialist services. Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses with the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition, he said. Families across Roscommon and the wider region know the distress caused by long waiting times and the lack of appropriate inpatient care. When Tulsk resident Nikita Ryan returned home from Australia, she decided to take a leap. I came home to Ireland and just went for it, she saysand thats exactly how her 'I Do Website Design' was born. The Longford native now firmly rooted in Tulsk works as a freelance web designer supporting clients with both site creation and tech guidance. Her workand her impacthavent gone unnoticed. Last November, she was named a finalist in the National Women in Business Awards. She says that it was such a nice thing to be recognised, but for her, the true value was the community around it. What I loved most was being part of that group of women. When women in tech are visible and celebrated, it sends a message to others that there is a place for them here. Nikita praises the support shes received from other women locally, especially through Network Ireland Roscommon. It makes you feel like you belong and that your ambitions are valid, she says. On International Womens Day, today Sunday March 8th, she believes the day carries dual purpose. It works best when it holds both things at oncepride in progress and honesty about what still needs to change. Among the changes shed most like to see is stronger maternity and childcare supports for the self employed, calling current gaps a massive barrier that disproportionately affects women. She also advocates for introducing financial literacy, digital skills, and business basics at school level. If young women grew up more comfortable with those tools, wed see so many more female founders. Looking ahead, Nikita is already working on something newan initiative designed specifically for women in trade businesses. And her message to women this International Womens Day? If youve been putting off investing in yourself just do it. And to every woman doing the hard, often invisible workyoure not alone. I see you, and Im rooting for you. Happy International Womens Day. The George Severeanu Museum The George Severeanu Museum is located in Bucharest, in a house built at the beginning of the 20th century and forms part of the Bucharest Municipality Museum. RRI Encyclopedia Ion Puican, 08.03.2026, 14:00 The George Severeanu Museum is located in Bucharest, in a house built at the beginning of the 20th century and forms part of the Bucharest Municipality Museum. It houses the impressive collection of Dr. George Severeanu (1879-1939), one of the pioneers of radiology in Romania and a teacher at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy. In addition to his medical career, he was a passionate collector of coins and archaeological artfiacts. He collected over 9,000 pieces, coins and ancient artifacts, which he donated to the Romanian state. George Severeanu was also the first director of the Bucharest Municipal Museum, which was officially inaugurated in 1931. The collection he donated is a valuable contribution to the cultural heritage of the city of Bucharest and Romania in general. Vasile Opris, the head of the Systematic Archaeology and History Section of the Bucharest Municipality Museum, told us about what the public can see in the George Severeanu Museum: They can see mainly what they cant see anywhere else in Bucharest. That is, an archaeology and numismatics museum in an elegant setting, which I dont think they can find in any other museum in Bucharest. Visitors will be able to almost all the stages of history, even prehistory, starting from the prehistory of Romania, passing through ancient Egypt, ancient Greece and the Roman era. A large section of the artifacts are from the local ancient period, that is the Getae, Dacians the Etruscans and other peoples who wandered through Europe. Vasile Opris told us what the museum contains: It is a small but concentrated museum. The display method is modern, with elements such as caps on electronic tablets, holograms, and, much to the delight of the public and especially children, display cases with drawers, which give the visitor the opportunity to discover for themselves what is hidden in them. The building housing the George Severeanu Museum was built between 1908 and 1909. It preserves original architectural elements and the atmosphere of a period residence. In the collection, the visiting public can see Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins, statuettes, ceramic vessels, jewellery and archaeological objects from the Mediterranean area. An important part of the collection is made up of coins that tell the story of civilisations over 2,000 years old. The museum opened to the public in 1956. The building that houses the museum has its own history and distinctive features: The house is built in an eclectic style. Its history is not related to the Severeanu family, but to Lerescu family, which is a well-name name in Arges County, the former Muscel, the Lerescus being wealthy boyars at that time. The house was bought and given as dowry to one of the daughters of the boyar Lerescu, named Maria. She was married to a lawyer initially, but their marriage did not last very long, and then she married George Severeanu and together they formed this family. The actual collection that they donated is called Maria and Dr. George Severeanu. As I said, it is an eclectic house in terms of architecture. It preserves many of the original elements. It was restored between 2008 and 2013, and since 2017 it has been home to this museum. The family itself used to live here. They would hold thematic meetings, especially on coins, because George Severeanu was passionate about history, artifacts, but especially numismatic history. He is even a founding member of the Romanian Numismatic Society. He died in 1939 and it was his wish, which he laid down in his testament, to donate the entire collection to the city, to the Bucharest Municipality Museum, through his wife Maria Severeanu. We asked Vasile Opris what is the museums biggest attraction for the visiting public: Unexpectedly for us, the things that visitors find most interesting are not the actual exhibits, but the objects that are part of the houses furniture. Visitors take many photos of the antique masonry heaters. A room we call the Severeanus office, because it was where his office used to be, contains most of the original furniture, including a series of cabinets and filing cabinets used by him to store his coins. And when it comes to artifacts, tastes are quite divided here. But somehow the most shocking artifact, especially for children, is an Egyptian mummys hand. The George Severeanu Museum preserves the memory of civilizations that shaped the world. Through the collections presented here, the Bucharest Municipality Museum supports education, research and respect for heritage. NEW YORK (AP) The price of oil surged higher and showed no signs of halting its rapid climb a week after the U.S. and Israel launched major attacks on Iran that escalated into a war in the Middle East. The conflict, in which nearly every country in the Middle East has sustained damage from missiles or drone strikes, has left ships that carry roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Gulf that is bordered on its north side by Iran. The shipping disruption and damage to key Middle East oil and gas facilities has interrupted supplies from some of the world's largest oil producers. Kuwait, for example, said on Saturday that it would reduce its oil production as a precautionary measure due to the war, which could jolt global energy markets even further. 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. 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. President Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S. expected its military operations against Iran to last four to five weeks but has the capability to go far longer. 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 $3.41 on Saturday, up about 43 cents from a week ago, according to AAA motor club. Diesel was selling for $4.51 a gallon Saturday, up about 75 cents from last week. 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. March 7, 2026 UPDATE A roundup of local and world news March 7, 2026 UPDATE Newsroom, 07.03.2026, 20:00 Romanians repatriated from the Middle East A flight with 189 seats from Saudi Arabia to Romania is being prepared by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the institutions spokesperson. Andrei Tarnea explained that this initiative assists Romanians stranded in Qatar, who will be transferred from the capital, Doha, to Riyadh by land with the support of Romanian consular teams. Tarnea also mentioned that approximately 14,000 Romanian citizens are currently under the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including about 400 people in the United Arab Emirates who have priority for repatriation. On Friday, 127 Romanians, including 95 students stranded for nearly a week in Dubai due to the war in the Middle East, arrived home. This was the first of five flights announced by Romanian authorities through the European Union 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 areas; 39 citizens from other European countries were also on board. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approximately 1,500 Romanians have returned to the country from the Middle East since the start of the conflict between the USA, Israel and Iran. USA snubs deal with current Iran leadership American President Donald Trump stated that the United States will strike Iran very hard and threatened to extend strikes to areas and groups of people that have never been considered targets, without providing details. In this regard, overseas media reports that the US Navy is preparing to deploy a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East. On Friday, Donald Trump said he would not enter into any agreement with the current leadership of Iran, except for an unconditional surrender. In an online message, he explained that after selecting an acceptable leader, the USA and its allies will work tirelessly to pull Iran back from the brink, including stimulating the country economically. 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, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, warned European Union member states intending to join the United States and Israels attacks on Iran that they would become legitimate targets for the Iranian armed forces. While France, Greece, and Italy have sent warships to the Middle East, 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 RON, according to the Price Monitor app. A liter of standard diesel sells between 8.57 RON and 8.70 RON. Premium gasoline is sold for slightly over 9 RON, while premium diesel has reached 9.25 RON. However, both products can be purchased at some stations for just under 9 RON per liter. In this context, Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan stated that it is very important for fuel prices not to reach double digits, which is why several options are currently being worked on to prevent such a situation. He explained that the government cannot cap tariffs because it lacks the legal levers for such an intervention. 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. Victory for the womens national football team The Romanian womens national football team defeated the Cyprus national team 4-0 in a match held on Saturday in Group C5 of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers. The goals were scored by Ioana Balaceanu in the 12th and 74th minutes, Mihaela Ciolacu in the 40th minute (from penalty kick), and Ana Maria Vladulescu on minute 58th. On Tuesday, Romania defeated the Republic of Moldova with a score of 1-0 in the first match of the group. Romania will play at home against Cyprus on April 18 and away against the Republic of Moldova on June 5. UEFA has been allocated 11 spots at the final tournament taking place in Brazil, and a 12th European team could qualify following an intercontinental play-off. (VP) March 8, 2026 A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 08.03.2026, 14:00 Repatriation flights for Romanians in the Middle East Authorities in Bucharest continue to organize evacuation operations for Romanians caught in conflict-affected areas of the Middle East. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced that further flights are in advanced operational preparation for the coming days, either through European cooperation mechanisms or via assisted-repatriation charter flights for a fee. At the start of the week, two flights are scheduled via Oman, and the United Arab Emirates has confirmed an increase in daily commercial flights to Bucharest, depending on security developments. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Andrei Tarnea said that a new charter flight with 189 seats is being prepared on the Riyadh-Bucharest route. For those currently in Qatar, Romanians will be transported by land to the capital of Saudi Arabia. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Iran, over 1,500 Romanians have managed to return home from the Middle East. Approximately 14,000 Romanian citizens are currently being monitored, Andrei Tarnea added. Hostilities continue in the Middle East The war in Iran continues, and messages from both sides indicate that, for the time being, neither side is willing to back down. The situation appears more complex in Tehran, which has conveyed contradictory messages suggesting the existence of multiple factions with differing visions. Both American-Israeli bombings of Iran, with Tehran being among the targets, and Iranian attacks against targets across the Middle East have continued. Gulf countries reported a new wave of drone and missile attacks on Sunday. The Kuwaiti Army announced that a series of hostile drones targeted fuel depots at Kuwait International Airport, with debris from interceptions damaging civil infrastructure. The Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry also announced the interception of at least 21 drones. In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry attributed a fire at a facility in the port of Mina Salman to Iranian aggression, adding that emergency services are working to extinguish the blaze. In the United Arab Emirates, the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said that air defenses are responding to a missile threat. The war in the Middle East drives up fuel prices Oil prices have climbed to their highest levels since 2023 amid the war in the Middle East. Both Brent crude from the North Sea and US crude have surpassed the $90 per barrel threshold following an unprecedented, accelerated increase. The Qatari Energy Minister estimated that oil prices could reach $150 if the war does not end quickly. In Romania, the spike has primarily affected diesel prices. In the capital, a liter of standard diesel sells for a minimum of 8.60 Lei. Standard gas continues to sell at prices between 8.20 Lei and 8.31 Lei per liter. Half of the final pump price consists of state-collected taxes, excise duties and VAT. Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan says the government may decide on a possible reduction of these taxes to prevent prices from reaching 10 Lei per liter. Those most affected by the rising fuel costs are transporters and farmers, the Energy Minister added, noting that the state cannot intervene by directly capping tariffs as there are no legal provisions for such a decision. Education trade unions announce boycott Teachers in Romania will boycott the mock exams for the national and Baccalaureate exams, Marius Nistor, the leader of the Spiru Haret Federation of Education Unions, has announced. According to him, teachers are dissatisfied with the austerity measures adopted by the government and the lack of real dialogue with authorities. Teachers voted massively against participating in these exams during a referendum, Nistor emphasized. If the mock exams are not held during the originally announced period, they will be rescheduled. On the other hand, the Education Ministry said it understands the teachers grievances and expressed 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 mock exams are scheduled for March 2326. Crime statistics Crime went down 11% at national level in 2025 compared to the previous year, falling below the average of the last 10 years, Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu announced during the presentation of the Interior Ministrys annual activity report. According to the Ministry, its institutions intensified efforts to combat organized crime in 2025, with an emphasis on combating drug trafficking. Consequently, several criminal groups were dismantled, and more than twice the amount of high-risk drugs were seized compared to 2024. International Womens Day Women in numerous countries around the world are celebrated on March 8, in recognition of their contribution to the development of society. In Romania as well, International Womens Day is observed through public events and symbolic gestures of appreciation. The holiday has its roots in the social movements of the early 20th century, when demands for political rights and better working conditions began to be formulated publicly and in an organized manner. The first documented celebration took place in the United States under the name National Womans Day, organized following an initiative by the American Socialist Party on February 28, 1909. (VP) Electric two-wheeler retail sales in India continued to grow strongly in February 2026, even though volumes declined slightly compared to the previous month. According to data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), a total of 1,11,709 electric two-wheelers were sold in February 2026. This represents a 45.60% year-on-year (YoY) growth compared to 76,722 units sold in February 2025. However, on a month-on-month (MoM) basis, sales declined 9.04% when compared to 1,22,812 units recorded in January 2026. Electric 2W Sales Feb 2026 TVS Continues To Lead TVS Motor Company retained its leadership position in the electric two-wheeler segment with 31,614 units sold in February 2026. This marked a 66.78% YoY growth over 18,955 units sold in February 2025. On a MoM basis, however, sales declined 8.52% compared to 34,558 units sold in January 2026. The companys iQube electric scooter continues to drive volumes and has helped TVS maintain its strong position in the fast-growing EV segment. Bajaj Auto secured the second position with 25,328 units sold in February 2026. This represents a 17.42% YoY growth compared to 21,571 units sold in February 2025. MoM sales were largely stable, declining just 1.05% from 25,598 units recorded in January 2026. Ather Energy ranked third with 20,584 units sold in February 2026. The company recorded a 71.85% YoY growth compared to 11,978 units sold in February 2025. However, MoM sales dipped 6.43% compared to 21,999 units in January 2026. Models such as the Ather Rizta and Ather 450 range continue to contribute significantly to the companys sales. Hero Vida Sees Strong Growth Hero MotoCorps Vida electric scooter range reported 12,514 units sold in February 2026. This marked a massive 364.17% YoY growth compared to 2,696 units sold in February 2025, reflecting the companys expanding presence in the EV segment. On a MoM basis, sales declined 5.92% from 13,302 units recorded in January 2026. Greaves Electric Mobility, which sells electric scooters under the Ampere brand, reported 4,724 units sold in February 2026. This represents a 27.54% YoY growth compared to 3,704 units sold in February 2025. MoM sales declined 11.49% from 5,337 units in January 2026. Greaves moved ahead of Ola Electric, which reported 3,968 units sold in February 2026. The company saw a sharp 54.26% YoY decline compared to 8,675 units sold in February 2025. On a MoM basis, Ola sales dropped significantly by 47.21% compared to 7,516 units recorded in January 2026. BGauss, River and E-Sprinto BGauss recorded 2,411 units sold in February 2026, registering a 97.79% YoY growth compared to 1,219 units sold in February 2025. MoM sales dipped slightly 2.66% from 2,477 units in January 2026. River Mobility reported 2,255 units sold, marking a strong 267.86% YoY growth compared to 613 units sold in February 2025. However, sales declined 12.83% MoM from 2,587 units recorded in January 2026. E-Sprinto Green, a Haryana-based electric two-wheeler manufacturer, registered 1,176 units sold in February 2026. This represented a 337.17% YoY growth compared to 269 units sold in February 2025, though MoM sales declined 42.15%. Other electric two-wheeler manufacturers together contributed 7,135 units to total retail sales in February 2026. This represents a 1.32% YoY growth compared to 7,042 units sold in February 2025, though sales declined 3.65% MoM. The cycle started this week with Qatar ceasing most of its liquefied natural gas output. Then Iraq and Kuwait began shutting down production from their oilfields. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia may soon follow suit. Its not because these oil and gas fields are under military threat (though some of them may be). The problem is the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz because of the war in Iran. The tightening of that chokepoint gives many of the Gulf energy producers few export outlets for their barrels. That sets off a chain reactionwith domestic storage filling up and then forcing the shuttering of production. More from Yahoo Scout How is the US addressing insurance and security concerns? What are the worst-case scenarios for global energy markets? What long-term damage occurs when oil production stops? How is the Strait of Hormuz closure affecting production? That shuttering, in turn, could create long-term trouble. Oil and gas wells dont operate like light switches. The shutdown process can trigger equipment failures and geological breakdowns and, even in best-case scenarios, it can take several weeks to resume the full flows of hydrocarbons. The silent killer of global energy isnt just the war; its the irreversible physical decay that happens the moment oil production stops, explained Sid Misra, petroleum engineering professor at Texas A&M University. The oil can be trapped in the subsurface as returning water rushes to fill the pore space. This oil is not just paused; it is physically locked away from ever being produced through the wellbore, Misra stated. Even when the conflict ends, that production capacity may be gone forever, permanently reducing global supply and raising the long-term floor price of energy. The good news for global oil markets is that Middle Eastern nations in OPEC are more adept at adjusting production flows than anywhere else in the world, said Pavel Molchanov, energy analyst at Raymond James. In the Middle East, theres a long history of oilfields modulating production up and down. Its just that normally it happens for a different reason, Molchanov told Fortune. It will differ from field to field, but its days or weeks [to return production]. Its not months. Insurance from Uncle Sam In the background, the U.S. is working to resolve another issue that has spooked the energy markets: insurance prices on regional oil shipments, which have soared since the Iran conflict broke out. The U.S. government is preparing to offer subsidized insurance with third parties to cover the treks of oil tankers and more, while preparing potential naval escorts for the tankers at a to-be-determined time. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) said March 6 it will initially focus on offering cargo, hull and machinery coverage for maritime reinsurance, including war risk, in the Persian Gulf region. The emphasis is on working with preferred American insurance partners. DFC said it is coordinating with the U.S. Treasury and U.S. Central Command on the next steps in the implementation of this plan. 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. 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? He explained that Provaris Energy Ltd was progressing two parallel programs designed to enable the transport of green fuels across emerging energy supply chains. 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. 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. 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. Story Continues 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. New archaeological research suggests that seabird guano, nutrient-rich bird droppings, played a major role in transforming agriculture in ancient Peru and may have helped propel the Chincha Kingdom to prominence as one of the most prosperous and influential societies before the Inca. Dr. Jacob Bongers, lead author of the study and a digital archaeologist at the University of Sydney as well as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Australian Museum Research Institute, said the findings reveal the surprisingly powerful impact bird droppings had on Andean civilizations. "Seabird guano may seem trivial, yet our study suggests this potent resource could have significantly contributed to sociopolitical and economic change in the Peruvian Andes," Dr. Bongers said. "Guano dramatically boosted the production of maize (corn), and this agricultural surplus crucially helped fuel the Chincha Kingdom's economy, driving their trade, wealth, population growth and regional influence, and shaped their strategic alliance with the Inca Empire. "In ancient Andean cultures, fertilizer was power." Ancient Fertilizer Revealed Through Scientific Analysis The research, published in PLOS One, examined biochemical markers in 35 maize samples recovered from burial tombs in the Chincha Valley. This region once supported a powerful coastal society with an estimated population of around 100,000 people. Laboratory analysis showed extremely high nitrogen levels in the maize. These levels far exceeded what the surrounding soils could naturally produce. The results strongly suggest the crops were fertilized with seabird guano, which is rich in nitrogen because seabirds feed on marine life. "The guano was most likely harvested from the nearby Chincha Islands, renowned for their abundant and high-quality guano deposits," Dr. Bongers said. "Colonial-era writings we studied report that communities across coastal Peru and northern Chile sailed to several nearby islands on rafts to collect seabird droppings for fertilization." The team also studied archaeological artwork from the region. Images of seabirds, fish, and sprouting maize appear together on textiles, ceramics, pottery, wall carvings and paintings. These depictions provide additional evidence that seabirds and maize held deep cultural importance in these societies. "Together, the chemical and material evidence we studied confirms earlier scholarship showing that guano was deliberately collected and used as a fertilizer," Dr. Bongers said. "But it also points to a deeper cultural significance, suggesting people recognized the exceptional power of this fertilizer and actively celebrated, protected and even ritualized the vital relationship between seabirds and agriculture." Dr. Emily Milton, a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., said combining multiple research approaches was key to understanding the practice. "The historical records documenting how bird guano was applied to maize fields helped us interpret the chemical data and understand the regional importance of this practice," she said. "Our work extends the known geographic extent of guano fertilization, echoing recent findings in northern Chile, and suggests soil management began at least around 800 years ago in Peru." Farming in One of the Driest Places on Earth Agriculture along Peru's coast has always been difficult because the region is among the driest environments on Earth. Even irrigated farmland quickly loses nutrients. Guano transported from offshore islands offered farmers a powerful and renewable fertilizer that made it possible to grow large quantities of maize in the Chincha Valley. Maize was one of the most important staple crops in the Americas. The ability to grow it in abundance produced agricultural surpluses that supported merchants, farmers and fisherfolk. This prosperity helped the Chincha develop into major coastal traders. "We know the Chincha were extraordinarily wealthy and one of the most powerful coastal societies of their time. But what underpinned that prosperity? Previous research often pointed to spondylus shells, the spiny oyster, as the key driver of merchant wealth," Dr. Bongers said. "Our evidence suggests guano was central to the Chincha Kingdom's success, with the Chincha's maritime knowledge and access to the Chincha Islands likely reframing their strategic importance in the region." Guano, Trade, and Relations With the Inca Empire The Inca civilization, based high in the Andes, built the largest Indigenous empire in the Americas before European arrival. Maize held enormous cultural importance for the Inca and was used to make ceremonial fermented beer called 'chicha'. However, growing large amounts of maize in the highlands was difficult, and the Inca did not have seafaring technology. "Guano was a highly sought-after resource the Incas would have wanted access to, playing an important role in the diplomatic arrangements between the Inca and the Chincha communities," Dr. Bongers said. "It expanded Chincha's agricultural productivity and mercantile influence, leading to exchanges of resources and power." Ecological Knowledge Behind Chincha Prosperity Coauthor Dr. Jo Osborn of Texas A&M University said the findings encourage a broader rethink of how wealth and power functioned in the ancient Andes. "The true power of the Chincha wasn't just access to a resource; it was their mastery of a complex ecological system," she said. "They possessed the traditional knowledge to see the connection between marine and terrestrial life, and they turned that knowledge into the agricultural surplus that built their kingdom. Their art celebrates this connection, showing us that their power was rooted in ecological wisdom, not just gold or silver." The study also builds on Dr. Bongers' earlier research on the Band of Holes located just south of the Chincha Valley. He has suggested that this site may have served as an ancient marketplace operated by the Chincha Kingdom. "This research adds another layer to our understanding of how the Chincha, and potentially other coastal communities, used resources, trade and agriculture to expand their influence in the pre-Hispanic era," Dr. Bongers said. Funding for archaeological field-work and isotopic analyses of maize samples was provided to JLB by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (DGE-1144087), the Society of Fellows at Boston University, the Ford Foundation Fellowship Program, the National Geographic Young Explorers Grant Program (9347-13), and the Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid Research Program. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Key Takeaways Rising out-of-pocket health care costs have led many people to cut discretionary spending or increase credit card debt. Requesting an itemized medical bill can help you identify and dispute any incorrect charges. Hospitals often offer financial assistance programs, which can reduce or eliminate a patient's medical bills. Pricey medical bills can be overwhelming, forcing people to cut spending in other areas of their lives or to rely more heavily on high-interest debt. A survey of more than 2,000 people by the Employee Benefits Research Institute found 40% reported dealing with increased out-of-pocket health care costs in the past year. More from Yahoo Scout What strategies can reduce medical bill burden? How are Americans using credit cards for healthcare? What financial assistance options do hospitals provide? How do hospital payment plans compare to credit cards? Of those who did, 55% said they reduced their discretionary spending as a result, while more than one-third (35%) said they increased their credit card debt. However, there are ways to ease the burden of medical bills without having to lean on credit cards, which often have sky-high APRs. What This Means For You Using high-interest credit cards to pay medical bills can lead to costly debt that is difficult to pay down. That can ultimately affect credit scores and disrupt a household's long-term financial stability. When you get a medical bill, don't pay it off immediately. Instead, call the hospital's billing department and request an itemized bill. The bill should list all the services or procedures (and their respective codes) that are charged. If you notice anything that doesn't align with the care you received, try chatting with the billing department and challenging any faulty charges. If your bill is correct, avoid paying it with a credit card. Consider requesting a payment plan instead, since incurring interest on your medical debt can make it even harder to pay off. In 2025, the average credit card APR across all accounts was more than 21%. In contrast, many hospitals offer payment plans with little to no interest, which allows patients to spread the cost out over many months and makes it easier to budget for. Even if you think you won't qualify, try inquiring with your hospital's billing office about financial assistance policies. In the U.S., nonprofit hospitals are required to provide some type of financial assistance to those who qualify, and you may be eligible even if you're insured. While these policies vary by hospital, they may be based on income, assets, and more. If you're eligible, your medical bills may be reduced or eliminated entirely. Ultimately, there is a way out of medical debtthough it may involve a few phone calls to your hospital's billing office and making room in your budget for a monthly payment plan. Read the original article on Investopedia The 2bn contract to build dozens of HS2 "bullet trains" is set for major changes as ministers prepare to outline fresh delays and cost overruns on the project. The deal, awarded in 2021 to a joint venture between Hitachi and Alstom to supply 54 trains from sites in Derby, Crewe and County Durham, was agreed when HS2 was still expected to run from London to Manchester. With the line now cut back to Birmingham, the Department for Transport has opened talks with the manufacturers over reducing the number of trains and altering train lengths, according to sources at the Times. Any changes could trigger penalty payments or compensation. HS2 is fully taxpayerfunded. The UK government is preparing to offer more than 1bn in state support to Comcast as part of plans to build Europe's first Universal Studios theme park. The funding, largely earmarked for transport and infrastructure links, is significantly higher than the 500m previously expected, according to sources at the Times. Comcast confirmed last year that it intends to develop a multibillionpound park on a 500acre former brickworks site in Bedfordshire. Both sides have declined to comment on total project costs or the scale of government backing. Planning has been fasttracked, with a special development order granted in December. The Telegraph reported that Donald Trump has told Keir Starmer that the US does not need Britain to send aircraft carriers to the Middle East, warning he "will remember" the lack of UK support for the conflict with Iran. Posting on social media the Trump noted that the UK, "our once Great Ally", was only now considering deploying its two carriers. "Thats OK we don't need them any longer But we will remember", he wrote. The comments followed reports that the Royal Navy was preparing HMS Prince of Wales for possible deployment within five days. Labour is preparing to impose higher energy bills on households and businesses as ministers finalise a 1bn scheme aimed at cutting electricity costs for Britain's most energyintensive factories, according to the Telegraph. Officials from the Department for Business and Trade have held talks with suppliers in recent weeks on how the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will be implemented. The programme, announced last year, will raise the discount on network charges for heavy industry to 90% from 60% and exempt eligible firms from levies including the renewables obligation, feedin tariff and capacity market. Around 7,000 companies are expected to benefit. Passengers on a Virgin Atlantic service from Heathrow to Dubai were flown back to the UK after a 16hour "flight to nowhere", amid widespread disruption caused by Iranian strikes across the Gulf. Thousands of travellers have been stranded in the region over the past week, said the Independent, with Dubai airport briefly suspending flights on Saturday and moving passengers into tunnels following fresh drone attacks. Flight VS400 departed Heathrow at 22:22 GMT on Friday for the sevenhour journey, but was forced to turn back after six hours in the air when Saudi Arabian airspace was closed. Police are investigating threats made against the Green Party's deputy leader after claims he attended a rally supporting the Iranian regime, according to the Independent. Leeds councillor Mothin Ali has demanded an apology from Keir Starmer and Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke after the allegation was raised in parliament. Ali told the BBC he had received multiple death threats on social media following the claims. West Yorkshire Police said they had received reports of threatening messages and were conducting enquiries. China's foreign minister Wang Yi has said the war in the Middle East "should never have happened", according to the Guardian, even as he adopted a more conciliatory tone towards the US ahead of Donald Trump's upcoming visit. Wang warned that regime change - a stated aim of the US president - "will find no popular support", adding that "a strong fist does not mean strong reason". Speaking at China's annual Two Sessions political gathering, he avoided direct criticism of Washington and instead emphasised "mutual respect" in USChina relations. Talks between Trump and Xi Jinping had been "heartening", he said, calling 2026 a "big year" for bilateral ties. New workers' rights coming into force next month will disproportionately benefit women, according to research from the TUC. Around 4.7m women are set to gain from stronger sick pay rules, including more than 830,000 who will receive statutory sick pay for the first time because they currently earn below the 125aweek threshold. According to the Guardiam, the TUC said lowpaid women have long been excluded from sick pay, forcing many to work while unwell. From April, fathers and partners will also gain a dayone right to paternity leave, while all parents will receive a dayone right to unpaid parental leave under the Employment Rights Act. Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) is one of the 10 Stocks Investors Are Watching Closely This Week. Sable Offshore skyrocketed by 74 percent week-on-week, as investors placed bets following an executive departments opinion confirming that President Donald Trump could override conflicting federal laws that prevent the listed firm from conducting full operations at its California pipeline system. Thomas Elliot Gaiser, assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel of the Department of Justice, said that a presidential order could preempt California laws currently impeding Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) from fully operating its Las Flores onshore pipeline. Drone Landing on BP (BP) Iraq Field Prompts Staff Evacuation An oil drilling platform. Photo by Jan-Rune Smenes Reite on Pexels. Operations at its offshore unit, Santa Ynez, have already started in May, but Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) remains unable to sell or transport hydrocarbons through its Las Flores unit pending court approval. We conclude that it (a presidential order) 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, he 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 noted. The statement sparked renewed optimism and buying appetite for Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC), which has been battling for the revival of the pipeline for 10 years since it was ordered shut in June 2015 following a leak that caused a major oil spill. 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. Advertisement BusinessCompaniesMiddle East at war Alarming: The billionaire sending his ships into the deadly Strait of Hormuz Christopher Jasper March 9, 2026 8:04am 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 tycoons shipping empire is sending oil tankers into the Strait of Hormuz, despite Irans warning that any vessels using the vital trade lane will be sunk. At least five ships owned by George Prokopious company Dynacom Tankers have travelled through the 48-kilometre wide narrows at the mouth of the Gulf since the war began, according to maritime analytics specialist Kpler. Iran has warned that any vessels using the vital trade lane will be sunk. AP Crews have allegedly been ordered to turn off the transponders on the vessels before entering the strait in order to make them harder to hit. Ship-tracking websites showed them disappearing from view as they approached the waterway before reappearing on the other side after their transponders were reactivated. Advertisement Related Article Middle East at war How an oil lifeline became a clogged artery: the Strait of Hormuz The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) condemned the practice and said that ship owners should not be forcing crews to risk their lives. The high-risk strategy has not been limited to loaded tankers carrying oil from the Gulf even empty ships have passed through from the east. One such tanker, the 72,000-tonne Athina, appears to have crossed through the strait unladen on Saturday night, loaded up in Bahrain and departed two days later. It was still in the Gulf on Friday, headed east towards the strait, according to the VesselFinder website. Advertisement The much larger Pola which at 150,000 tonnes is one of the largest tankers able to use the Suez Canal was among the other Dynacom ships to make the transit, according to Kpler. Prokopiou, 79, a controversial figure in the shipping industry, said after the Russian invasion of Ukraine that sanctions have never worked. Greek shipping tycoon George Prokopiou. Ukraine added Dynacom to its list of international sponsors of war, although it later withdrew the designation. The companys decision to continue to use the Strait of Hormuz risks its ships coming under attack from Iranian missiles after Tehran pledged that any ships in the area would be set on fire. Iran has declared the trade lane closed. Advertisement At least nine cargo vessels have been hit in the area since the start of the conflict, with three seafarers killed. Related Article Exclusive Energy Local refiners seek federal lifeline as fuel supply fears grow However, the rewards for making the journey are significant. Freight rates have more than doubled in a week, with a tanker sailing through the strait to China now earning about $US500,000 ($715,000) a day, according to price-reporting agency Argus. Ana Subasic, a trade risk analyst at Kpler, said the Dynacom tankers and a handful of shadow fleet vessels which transport Iranian oil in defiance of international sanctions were the only ones still using the strait. Unique insurance arrangements Advertisement She said the Greek firm would have had to negotiate unique insurance arrangements to restart operations and that other shipping lines were unlikely to follow since most insurers would baulk at such terms. Subasic said she understood that the US was also continuing to look at ways to provide insurance cover that would get oil flowing out of the Gulf again, but that no solution was close to hand. She expected the waterway to remain closed for at least four more weeks. Oil prices have skyrocketed as supplies tighten. AP Stephen Cotton, the general secretary of the ITF, said seafarers have agreements offering them the right to refuse to sail into the area. Advertisement The ITF and major shipping lines agreed to designate the strait a warlike operations area on Thursday, enhancing protections for crews. The agreement also includes a 100 per cent bonus for those staff who do agree to sail through the strait and doubles compensation for death or disability arising from an attack. Related Article Analysis Middle East at war The Iran energy nightmare is becoming a reality Cotton said: The risk to life for seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz is real and present and seafarers have already been killed. It is alarming to hear that companies are choosing to sail and put seafarers lives at risk. No worker should have to risk being killed or maimed simply for doing their job. Prokopious three shipping companies have a collective fleet of more than 150 vessels, with many more currently under construction. Advertisement The tycoon also owns the 106.5-metre mega-yacht Dream, moored near Athens, and has developed extensive real estate holdings, including the only Four Seasons hotel in Greece and an adjoining marina development. However, he drives an ageing Mercedes 4WD and is known to eschew personal bodyguards, unlike the majority of Greeces ship-owning elite. Dynacom Tankers was contacted for comment. The Telegraph, London The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. 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 NationalReligion Opinion My cell guards tears put my jaw on the floor. Why good Australians mourn a torturer Kylie Moore-Gilbert Political scientist and writer March 9, 2026 5:00am March 9, 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 On January 3, 2020, I was alone in my cell in the section of Tehrans Evin prison run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intelligence service. Without warning, a guard I had come to know by the name Taraneh burst through the heavy steel door, tears streaming down her face. A very good man has died! she sobbed, one of the best men we have in this country! I was friendly with Taraneh, she was one of the kinder IRGC prison guards. In happier times she would painstakingly correct my Farsi, and I would save pieces of kebab for her from my prison rations food that she would package up and take back to her family, who she had confessed were too poor to afford meat. Women hold posters as thousands of people gather in Enghelab Square, Tehran, after Iranian state media confirmed the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Getty Images I gave her a hug. Whats happened, who is this man? Haj Qasem! Taraneh wailed. One of the kindest, gentlest, most decent men. He helped everyone, he was so selfless. He single-handedly defeated IS, he saved not just Iran, but the entire world Advertisement At this point my jaw was on the floor. Taraneh was of course, talking about Qasem Soleimani, head of the IRGC Qods force and one of the most successful and notorious terrorists ever produced by the Islamic Republic. The architect of Irans axis of resistance strategy, and the mastermind behind the IRGCs devastating intervention in the Syrian civil war. Donald Trump had bombed a man who had more blood on his hands than almost anyone in Irans regime, other than the Supreme Leader Khamenei himself. Related Article Opinion Middle East at war Why Iranians are celebrating being bombed Kylie Moore-Gilbert Political scientist and writer Yet, as I would come to see from ingesting a sickening amount of state TV propaganda in the subsequent weeks, Soleimani was remembered by his supporters as a sensitive family man who had made the ultimate sacrifice in pious service to both nation and religion. Taranehs tears were real, and based on the information she had to hand, her kind heart was in the right place. A good man had been killed by evil adversaries it was only natural for Taraneh and her IRGC colleagues to loudly and emotively mourn his demise. As difficult as it may be to comprehend from our position here in Australia, similar dynamics are now playing out in some parts of Iran and the Middle East following last Saturdays assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. While ordinary Iranians inside and outside the country celebrate the death of a dictator who only six weeks earlier ordered the slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent protesters with military grade weapons, Irans cohort of regime supporters are in deep mourning. I have no doubt that Taraneh and the other Revolutionary Guards I had come to know are among them. Iranian diaspora gather outside Victorias Parliament House after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 1. Luis Enrique Ascui Advertisement There was understandable outrage this week when it emerged that a number of Shiite mosques and gathering places (majlises or husseiniyat) in Sydney and Melbourne were holding mourning ceremonies for Khamenei, who was lionised as a martyr and a righteous scholar with a pure soul. The Iranian-Australian community has been very vocal in their opposition to any efforts to mourn Khamenei, which they view as celebrating a tyrant responsible for mass killings, torture, rape, terrorism and the oppression of their loved ones back in Iran. The Jewish community has also expressed fears that a man who was known for his vicious antisemitism and who headed a country that the Australian government has recognised as a state sponsor of terror would be commemorated just months after the Bondi attack. Those Shiite Muslims, largely non-Iranians of Arab and South Asian background, are operating according to a worldview that is radically different to that of both anti-regime Iranians and most of us living here in the West. Decades of Iran-sponsored narratives designed to spread an explicitly Islamist interpretation of Shiite religious practice have elevated the thinking of the Islamic Republics founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, who positioned his regime as a champion of the oppressed. Related Article Opinion Iran sanctions Five years on, Australia is calling out the thugs who jailed me for what they are Kylie Moore-Gilbert Political scientist and writer At the heart of political Shiitism is the 680CE Battle of Karbala, in which Imam Hossein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, took a principled stance against injustice and oppression, despite knowing that he would be martyred in the process. Ayatollah Khomeini was masterful in transplanting the Karbala paradigm into a modern context, and in doing so, inspiring new generations of Shiite believers to rise up against oppression, first through the Iranian revolution of 1979 and then in attempts to export Irans revolutionary ideology to other parts of the Shiite world. Large numbers of Arab, Pakistani and Indian Shiites, many of them historically oppressed by Sunni Muslim or other rulers, bought into Khomeinis narrative alongside the pro-regime constituency inside Iran. If you add to this the fact that Ayatollah Khamenei, like Khomeini before him, is looked to as a marja al-taqlid, or supreme source of emulation, by millions of Shiite followers, you can begin to understand why someone who is seen as an arch-terrorist and mass murderer by much of the world is being mourned by so many. Advertisement Of course, this doesnt make the ceremonies being held to remember Khamenei any less threatening to Jewish and Iranian Australians. We have very recently experienced the unimaginable trauma of Islamist-inspired terror, and what these mosques and majlises are effectively doing is commemorating the leader of a terrorist regime responsible for untold bloodshed and atrocities. Related Article Opinion Political leadership Im a swinging voter. Heres why prospect of a new centre-right party has me excited Kylie Moore-Gilbert Political scientist and writer The problem here is not Shiite Islam, but the Islamic Republics attempts to use and debase the Shiite religion to justify its decades of repression. While there is no legal basis to ban these memorial ceremonies, we should absolutely question whether they align with Australian values, and whether we should allow supporters of the Islamic Republic to migrate here. However, I cant help but think of Taranehs tears for Qasem Soleimani. Many of those mourning Khamenei here in Australia inhabit an alternate moral universe, in which the bad guys responsible for oppression are seen as both victims of it, and fighters against it. Some of them may be radical followers of the regime in Iran, but others are probably more like Taraneh. If we want social cohesion to be more than a political buzz word, perhaps we need to find a way to reach out to the Taranehs among us. Kylie Moore-Gilbert is a research fellow in Security Studies at Macquarie University and a regular columnist. She is the author of The Uncaged Sky: My 804 Days in an Iranian Prison. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Religion Opinion For subscribers Iran Islam Kylie Moore-Gilbert is a research fellow in Security Studies at Macquarie University and a regular columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. She is the author of The Uncaged Sky: My 804 Days in an Iranian Prison. Advertisement NationalCrime Editorial Nigerian scammers got just deserts but online teens need guardrails The Herald's View Editorial March 8, 2026 5:00pm March 8, 2026 5:00pm 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 Parents and authorities struggling to protect young Australians from the predatory aspects of social media can take heart from a global investigation involving state and federal police that put two Nigerian sextortionists in jail after their scam resulted in the suicide of a NSW teenager. His death is an unspoken fear of many parents who worry about their childrens vulnerability to social media and the darker corners of the internet. The boy took his own life in 2023, just hours after the Nigerians demanded $500 in online gift cards, threatening to distribute his naked photos to family and school friends. He had been contacted by a so-called girl who encouraged him to reciprocate sexualised photos. She sent a racy photo. He dispatched one back and the scammers swooped. Two scammers from Nigeria have been convicted as a result of action by NSW police, the AFP and local authorities. On Wednesday, a Nigerian court sentenced the pair, aged 25 and 29, to more than 40 years jail. In investigating the boys death and preparing evidence for the coroner, NSW Police found the messages that caused his suicide. They established Strike Force Prescribe, and, with the Australian Federal Police and international enforcement agencies, traced the plotters to Nigeria. Advertisement The AFP issued a warning in 2024 over the rise of sadistic sextortion online, by which children as young as 12 were coerced into creating self-produced explicit material to gain acceptance into extreme online communities. The eSafety Commissioners office also noted there had been an alarming surge in sextortion cases. Reports soared from 432 in 2018-19 to 6187 in 2022-23, a 1332 per cent increase. The jailing of the Nigerian scammers is the first time Australian authorities have played a role in convicting sextortion scammers abroad. It happened as another move to protect young Australians came into effect. From Monday, adult sites and a range of other services including AI companion chatbots and app stores, will be required to implement age verification for users attempting to access pornography, extremely violent material or self-harm content. The Australian online safety regulator has warned platforms that are not in compliance with the codes could face fines of up to $49.5 million per breach. As the deadline neared, number of adult websites reportedly began blocking users in Australia. Advertisement Related Article Updated Social media Pornhubs owner to block Australians over age check laws The reforms requiring age verification for access to adult sites also follows the Albanese governments decision in December to restrict social media access for children and teens aimed at reducing the pressures and risks that young users may face on social media, which include cyberbullying, addiction, mental health issues, exposure to predators, and, as the Sun Herald reported, eating disorders. Australia was the first country to implement such measures, and although there has been pushback from countries and corporations with some nominating privacy concerns, it has set such an innovative precedent that nations including Britain, Spain, France, Slovenia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Greece, Germany, Ireland and Denmark are considering their own legislation. Adoption of rapidly evolving technology and the take-up of social media has occurred with few realising the risks involved, and now we are playing catch-up. The age requirement reforms and successful pursuit of the Nigerian scammers are small but welcome steps toward protecting our children. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion 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: Crime Opinion Editorial For subscribers The Herald's View Since the Herald was first published in 1831, the editorial team has believed it important to express a considered view on the issues of the day for readers, always putting the public interest first. Advertisement NationalVictoriaRoads These residents were told their road would reopen. Now its gone forever Gemma Grant March 8, 2026 1:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Residents living near the North East Link construction have slammed the project for backing out of a promise to reopen a key road, saying it leaves their community vulnerable during bushfires and medical emergencies. An 85-metre section of Borlase Street in Yallambie, in Melbournes north-east, was closed in mid-2022 to help facilitate construction of the major infrastructure project, with locals told the street would reopen after six years. Narelle Lawton with sons Mitchell, Baily and Declan at their Yallambie home. Eddie Jim But in February 2023, Victorian Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny endorsed new plans that made the closure permanent. The change left approximately 80 houses in the area with a single access point to Lower Plenty Road and sparked concerns about emergency and evacuation access. Resident Narelle Lawton, who has lived in the area for over 20 years, says her community is desperate to have the road reinstated. Advertisement Its caused years of stress its just been a constant battle. But this road is significant, she said. I really do worry that if there was a medical emergency or there was a bushfire, that peoples lives would be lost. Particularly of concern to residents is the fact that sections of Kay Court, Fahey Crescent and Amanda Court in Yallambie which are all impacted by the road closure are in a designated bushfire-prone area. Houses in this category have been flagged by the state government as likely to be subject to fires. Emergency service access to the estate also poses an issue. In February 2025, when a truck rolled over at the nearby intersection of Lower Plenty Road and the Greensborough Highway, Lawton said an ambulance was unable to access the estate to attend to an ill resident. Luckily, it wasnt a life-threatening illness that the ambulance was coming for. But they actually couldnt get in, she said. Advertisement A spokesperson from the North East Link project said updated plans displaying the Borlase Street closure had been publicly advertised, and that its removal allowed more space for Banyule Creek, wetlands and parkland. Traffic modelling and road safety assessments were both undertaken to ensure that access is adequate, the spokesperson said. The section of road has been closed since 2022. Eddie Jim We will continue to work closely with residents and to support them throughout works, as well as stakeholders including emergency services and local councils, they said. Resident Amy McKellar, who also lives in the impacted neighbourhood, said she had grown frustrated with the community consultation process and felt her perspective had not been properly considered. Advertisement Advertisement The accumulation of incidents was criticised at a Banyule City Council meeting on February 9, where councillor Matt Wood said the community had a real trust issue with the road project. Laws were passed to allow these big projects just to go on, but theyre pushing on without any regard with whats happening in and around, Wood told The Age. A sinkhole at AJ Burkitt Oval in Heidelberg opened due to North East Link tunnel boring. Eddie Jim He said that the council had only had limited consultation with the North East Link and that they were yet to receive any traffic survey data concerning the road closure in Yallambie. Councillors voted to formally request access to the detailed data at their February 9 meeting, and passed a separate motion to request increased health testing by the Environmental Protection Agency in the area. Advertisement Related Article Roads North East Link quietly scraps promised wildlife crossing, leaving kangaroos stranded When the projects finished in three or four years, everyone will pack up and leave, and itll be the residents and council that are left with the impacts, Wood said. Im absolutely supportive of the project. Its going to bring great outcomes for our city. But its these indiscriminate impacts that were seeing that need to be called out and managed appropriately. 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 PoliticsNSWNSW State Parliament Around the Christmas table: The premier, his brother and the five-day prison policy backflip Max Maddison March 9, 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 In late September last year, Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Gary McCahon found himself at odds with the powerful Public Service Association, which represents the states prison guards. Stewart Little, the unions secretary, was pushing to lower the threshold of proof for inmate misconduct to the civil standard, which the NSW ombudsman had expressly recommended against, saying it would adversely affect the rights of inmates overall. The Public Services Union successfully lobbied for a lower burden of proof for allegations of inmates misconduct. The Sydney Morning Herald Little argued determining inmates guilt at the higher, criminal standard beyond reasonable doubt was unworkable and would result in serious offences being disregarded at parole hearings. McCahon was unmoved. Corrective Services had assured Ombudsman Paul Miller in January 2025 that McCahon had the backing of Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong to develop and implement reforms that will deliver a more accountable and transparent corrections system. Advertisement McCahon told Little he was confident the reforms wouldnt undermine the security of prisons and the safety of guards. The September 29 correspondence had been approved by the ministers office, according to emails obtained through a parliamentary call for papers. Related Article Exclusive NSW State Parliament Prisoners could be paroled without full and accurate record, union warns Five days later the premier overruled the minister and two state agencies and gave the union exactly what it wanted. It was the second time Premier Chris Minns had ridden roughshod over Chanthivong to overhaul policy after twice overruling him during reform of the states rental laws. The amendments to the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 jettisoned more than a year of work undertaken across the states prison system and when the bill was announced on October 3, the changes hadnt been considered by cabinet. The ombudsman, stakeholders and departmental staffers were blindsided. Advertisement In March, the NSW ombudsman called on the government to reaffirm Corrective Services commitment to its August 2024 report, warning that applying the civil standard of proof to serious offences was unreasonable and unjust. Chanthivong is required to respond within 12 sitting days. The ombudsmans report A NSW ombudsmans investigation into inmate discipline, released in August 2024, concluded there had been a systemic failure to follow legislation and relevant policies, leading, in some cases, to unjust outcomes and potentially unlawful decisions. A comprehensive review and reform of the inmate discipline framework was included as part of 34 recommendations. The key problem, the ombudsman found, was the failure to apply the test of beyond reasonable doubt to inmate misconduct matters, as was required under legislation. The civil standard was being applied instead, Corrective Services later concluded. Advertisement The Ombudsmans report found in numerous cases that the evidence presented could not have sustained a rational finding on any legal standard. An overview of the 57,618 discipline charges made between 2018 and 2022 found 93 per cent resulted in a finding of guilt. In nearly a third of non-drug-related offences, inmates charges were incorrect for the conduct alleged, the ombudsman found. In one case, three inmates were found guilty of intimidation after being accused of abusing a corrections officer. The trio disputed the evidence and, after inquiries from the ombudsman, the findings against all three were overturned and penalties revoked. With Chanthivongs approval, Corrective Services agreed to all the ombudsmans recommendations two months later, including not watering down the standards or rules themselves such as by a general reduction in the standard of proof. The premiers intervention Advertisement The PSA continued lobbying Chanthivong to codify the civil standard of proof as late as September 18, 2025, emails show. David Bartle [the PSAs industrial manager] advised that he has been advocating to the minister to change this to balance of probabilities for the longer-term reform, stated a departmental briefing. Little directly lobbied the premier on September 24, urging reform to legislate the balance of probabilities as the standard of proof. He warned the changes were desperately needed to ensure prison misconduct matters were properly recorded. The same day, Chanthivongs office requested departmental advice to assist in discussions with the premier about the PSAs representations relating to the standard of proof. What amendments (if any) and assessments of amending standard to the balance of probabilities has been considered? the first requested point asked. Advertisement Corrective Services NSWs acting director responded that the requirement of the highest standard of proof provided the most appropriate safeguard for fairness in the inmate discipline system and aligned with the ombudsmans recommendations. Following threats of industrial action by the PSA, the premier agreed to make urgent amendments, a departmental briefing note stated on October 10. The legislation largely mirrored a draft bill the union had proposed. The matter was approved by cabinet on October 13, 10 days after Chanthivong announced the amendments. Owing to the urgency with which the government moved the amendments, there was no consultation with stakeholders. The NSW ombudsman was informed about the amendments prior to the bill being introduced into parliament, the briefing note stated. The ombudsman expressed disappointment with this decision. Advertisement Jim Minns Jim Minns and Chris Minns. SMH The corrections portfolio is an area of interest for Minns. In late October he told 2GB he knew this issue back to front, attributing his knowledge on the matter to his younger brother Jim, a solicitor for the PSA who deals with corrective services matters. Well, my brother is the unions lawyer, so I know this issue back to front. He works on it every single day. I know how difficult the job is. Two weeks ago, we backed their call to ensure that there wasnt a beyond-reasonable-doubt test for internal prison justice, he said. Asked whether the reforms had been negotiated with Jim, Minns replied: Not directly but around the Christmas table and around the family table he tells me exactly whats going on. Advertisement Emails show Minns brother was in correspondence with Chanthivongs office during consultation about the ombudsmans proposed changes to inmate discipline and at least up to the legislations introduction to parliament. Chanthivongs chief of staff emailed Jim Minns and Bartle directly in October 2024, saying bills were being drafted to implement recommendations. However we would like to organise a session with relevant PSA reps to discuss all the proposed amendments and get your feedback to inform further development of bills, she wrote. A year later Minns brother emailed Chanthivongs policy adviser on October 14, asking for a timeline on when the amendments to the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 would go to the house. Minns intervention in formalising the balance of probabilities a matter his brother was intimately involved in raises questions about whether the premier should have declared a conflict of interest. The premier has previously declined to say whether he did so. Advertisement Jim Minns told the Herald he wasnt really involved in inmate discipline matters. Anything he had done relating to the policy had been done at the behest of Stewart (Little). I dont know why he made those comments, Jim Minns said of the premiers interview on 2GB. I never talk to him about my job and he never talks to me about his job. Greens justice spokesperson Sue Higginson said the documents revealed an extraordinary policy backflip. Law and policy that applies to a justice system in NSW is not the family business of the Minns; the ombudsman has made clear that our prison system is rife with injustice, and Corrective Services is routinely breaking the law, she said. The premier and the minister need to clean up this mess, not make it worse. Advertisement A spokesman for the premier said the legislation brought NSW in line with other jurisdictions. Following discussions with the union representing prison guards, the government accepted the need for reform but made a separate policy judgment about the best way to protect staff safety and prison security, they said. The fallout The abrupt announcement of the legislation on October 3 stunned stakeholders. In an unusual move after the legislation was introduced into parliament, Miller proactively released legal advice provided by outside senior counsel. Advertisement The advice recommended the state follow Queenslands system, where minor offences committed by inmates were assessed by the civil standard, while maintaining the criminal threshold of beyond reasonable doubt for major offences. Internal workplace messages from advisers in the cabinet office reveal concern about the ombudsmans release. Wanting to be clear it cuts across everything he [the ombudsman] recommended! We opposed. Bit awks but PO seems not too worried at this stage, the adviser wrote on October 15. The state government did not blink. A month later the Standard of Proof Act became law. 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 WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Iran announces new supreme leader as US-Israel strike key infrastructure Jon Gambrell and Sam Metz Updated March 9, 2026 9:51am ,first published 6:53pm 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 Jerusalem/Dubai: Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader of Iran, has been appointed his successor to take charge of the theocratic regime under assault by the US and Israel for over a week. The name of Khamenei will continue, said Ayatollah Hosseinali Eshkevari, a member of the clerical council charged with electing a new leader, in a video published earlier by Iranian media. Mojtaba Khamenei pictured in 2018. The 56-year-old cleric, who had not been seen or heard from publicly since the war started, had long been considered a contender for the post. He has never been elected or appointed to a government position but he maintains close ties to the countrys paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which continues to fire missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states. The war has shaken global energy markets, pushing oil prices above $US100 a barrel. US President Donald Trump on Sunday (US time) said the surging prices were a small price to pay for the eradication of Irans nuclear program. As the crisis entered its 10th day, Trump on his Truth Social platform said prices would fall again once the conflict was over. Advertisement Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace, he said in his post. Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war as it happened: Ali Khameneis son Mojtaba Khamenei named new Supreme Leader; Acid rain falls in Tehran; Almost $90 billion wiped off ASX; Iran death toll rises The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei has also antagonised Trump, who said the US should have a say in the selection of the next leader of Iran. He has described the late Khameneis son as unacceptable. If he doesnt get approval from us, hes not going to last long, he told ABC News. Israel has previously said it will continue to pursue every successor to the late ayatollah. Advertisement As Irans powerful paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard answers to the supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei will now have the central say in war strategy. He has also gained control of Irans stockpile of highly enriched uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon should he choose to decree it. Meanwhile, Israel confirmed it had struck a hotel in central Beirut on Sunday, killing five senior Revolutionary Guard commanders while they were hiding in a civilian hotel. Ten people were wounded in the attack, Lebanons Health Ministry said. With the conflict spreading, Israel said Lebanon would pay a very heavy price if it did not rein in Iran-allied Hezbollah militants, as it continues to pound the groups strongholds with airstrikes and as it mounted a deadly airborne raid in the east. The death toll from Israels attacks on Lebanon since Monday rose to about 300. Israel said the commanders served in the Guards Quds Forces Lebanon and Palestine corps and were involved in funding, arming and providing intelligence to Hezbollah and Hamas. Advertisement The Israel Defence Force also said it had destroyed military command centres in Iran, where airstrikes hit the headquarters of Irans regional corps, its internal security forces command centre and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps police headquarters, rocket engine production facilities and launch sites for ballistic missiles. Tehran struck again Tehrans residents woke on Sunday to a skyline shrouded in black smoke and acid rain clouds after Israeli airstrikes set ablaze key fuel depots serving one of the Middle Easts largest cities. It appeared to be the first time civilian industrial facilities had been targeted in the war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a US airstrike had damaged an Iranian desalination plant on Qeshm Island, saying the US set this precedent, not Iran. Meanwhile, neighbouring Bahrain said an Iranian strike had damaged one of its desalination plants. Loading Advertisement Desalination facilities are critical for drinking water supplies in the parched deserts of the Gulf. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also reported Iranian drone attacks in their countries over the weekend. A huge fire engulfed a government office block in Kuwait. The US embassy in Norways capital, Oslo, was hit by an explosion early on Sunday, causing minor damage but no injuries, police said. It was not immediately clear what had caused the blast or who was involved. Meanwhile, a newly released video has added to the evidence that a US missile probably hit an Iranian elementary school where 175 people, many of them children, were reported killed. Advertisement The video, uploaded on Sunday by Irans semiofficial Mehr News Agency and verified by The New York Times, shows a Tomahawk cruise missile striking a naval base beside the school in the town of Minab on February 28. The US military is the only force involved in the conflict that uses Tomahawk missiles. The Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school building was severely damaged by a precision strike that occurred at the same time as attacks on a Revolutionary Guard naval base. The Pentagon has said it is yet to determine what happened, while Trump has said it was Iran, not the US, that had hit the school. On Sunday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, standing behind Trump aboard Air Force One, said the matter was still under investigation. Trump then cut in. We think it was done by Iran because theyre very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions, he said. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran. No. In my opinion and based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran. Theyre very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions, he told reporters. Advertisement Apart from rattling global markets, the conflict has disrupted air travel and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised many surprises for the next phase of the conflict. Photo: Matt Golding Israel said it had continued to target senior Iranian figures, including Abolqasem Babaian, the recently appointed head of the military office of the supreme leader, killed in a strike on Saturday. Trump has said he is not interested in negotiating with Iran and he has raised the possibility that the Iranian war will end only once Tehran no longer has a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said: At some point, I dont think there will be anybody left maybe to say, We surrender, Trump said. Advertisement The US and Israel have discussed sending special forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium at a later stage of the war, news website Axios reported, citing four people with knowledge of the discussions. Asked on Saturday about the possibility of sending ground troops to secure nuclear sites, Trump said it was something they could do later on. The US-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Irans UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. Iranian attacks have killed 10 people in Israel. The US military has announced that an American service member has died of injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia, bringing the number of US service members killed in the war to seven. The service member died on Saturday from injuries sustained during a March 1 Iranian attack on the kingdom. Iran on Sunday said it had struck US bases in Kuwait. Advertisement Reuters, AP and staff reporter 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. 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 9:50am 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 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 Solana exchange-traded funds have defied brutal market conditions to accumulate nearly $1.5 billion in flows outpacing Bitcoin by a factor of two in the process. Since the product went live in July 2025, Solana has plunged to around $85, down from nearly $300 when traders could start trading the ETF. In fact, for Eric Balchunas, Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst, the timing was terrible. About as unlucky timing as youll ever see, Balchunas wrote on X. But Solana investors dont seem to care. They managed to not only accumulate $1.5 billion in flows but not really give any of it up, Balchunas said Thursday. Both really good signs for the future. ETF flows refer to money put into and pulled out of the investment funds. Flows in March and February have been positive, suggesting investors view current prices as a buying opportunity rather than a warning sign. According to Balchunas, the majority of Solana ETF holders are institutions filing 13Fs hedge funds, asset managers, pension funds which typically invest with longer time horizons than retail. Their willingness to accumulate through a cliffside 57% decline shows that they are confident about Solanas long-term prospects. Beating Bitcoin Solanas flows look even more impressive when they are adjusted for Solanas market value relative to Bitcoin. If we adjust for the size of Solana versus Bitcoin market cap, its the equivalent of $54 billion in net new flows, Balchunas said. Thats about double where Bitcoin was at the same point. Beating Bitcoin in terms of ETFs is no small feat: the cryptocurrency had most successful launch in ETF history, bringing in upwards of $107 billion in its first year. The composition of Solana holders also suggests some pretty important institutional conviction. Roughly 50% of Solana ETF assets come from 13F filers institutional investors required to disclose holdings quarterly, according to Balchunas. Serious investor base, he added. Pedro Solimano is a markets correspondent based in Buenos Aires. Got a tip? Email him at psolimano@dlnews.com. Advertisement WorldNorth AmericaBondi shooting Trump officials asked why Australian Jews arent carrying guns Michael Koziol March 8, 2026 1:55pm 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: Trump administration officials asked a visiting Australian Jewish leader whether Jews were seeking to be armed following the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, as the White House continues to take a significant interest in the spread of antisemitism in Australia. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin met US officials, including President Donald Trumps antisemitism envoy, Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, during a visit last week, and briefed staff at the National Security Council, the State Department and Congress. He said he received several questions in meetings about gun ownership in Australia and whether the Jewish community was proactively looking at taking up arms. Alex Ryvchin said Trump administration officials showed interest in whether the Bondi Beach event was sufficiently resourced and left vulnerable by being unarmed. James Brickwood I had to say to them, Look, thats just not part of our culture, he said in an interview in Washington. Australians dont think, I better arm myself. Were not Second Amendment people; its not part of the mindset. Advertisement However, the Minns Labor government in NSW is examining whether it should allow the Community Security Group, a non-profit Jewish security provider, to carry additional arms following the December 14 massacre, in which 15 people were killed at a Hanukkah celebration. Related Article Bondi shooting What is CSG, the Jewish security group the premier wants armed more heavily? Under the groups licence, personnel are allowed to carry pistols when protecting schools and synagogues, but not at public events. Ryvchin said the Trump administration officials showed a lot of interest in whether the Bondi Beach event was sufficiently resourced and whether it had been left vulnerable by being unarmed. The American approach, being a very individualistic society, is: What are you guys doing? Rather than waiting for the police to protect you, he said. Advertisement But [it] makes you think: Are we still living in an old world, thinking that threats are contained and police and ASIO have everything under control when they clearly dont? Im not saying the solution is for Jews to arm themselves, but I think we need to modernise our thinking about the threats and how to meet those threats. Loading Kaploun, who was confirmed as Trumps antisemitism envoy just days after the Bondi massacre, says the US president is closely watching how Australia responds to the worst-ever terrorist attack on its soil. In January, he told The Australian there were concerns within the administration that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had turned a blind eye to antisemitism. There was a level of apathy and just no interest to deal with it until a tragedy occurred, Kaploun told the newspaper. Advertisement Advertisement Ryvchin said that US officials did not raise concerns about free speech during their meetings, but the issue came up when he met with the United Nations in New York. Some of the missions to the UN were very curious about that question, about how you repress violent speech and incitement without limiting legitimate free speech, he said. To me, its not complicated Street chants about Zionists being terrorists is not a form of free speech, in my opinion. Its a clear form of incitement and demonisation. Asked whether restricting speech such as banning phrases like globalise the intifada might lead to violence as an act of rebellion, Ryvchin said he didnt believe that was how extremists thought. Advertisement Related Article Queensland government Labor opposes hate speech and gun control law to LNP jeers I think that they go as far as theyre allowed to go, he said. Were not talking about legitimate gatherings to express a political position. Were talking about gatherings to burn flags and threaten the Jewish community. If theres a permissive attitude towards that, or if people say its just a critique of Israeli policy, its just the expression of a political position, they go further and further and further. Ryvchin, who was invited by the World Jewish Congress, said his mission in the US was not to criticise the Albanese government, but to relay that there were warning signs ahead of the attack. This wasnt a spontaneous attack. This wasnt isolated. This wasnt two lone individuals. They came from an ideology. They were radicalised, he said. Advertisement An interview was sought with Kaploun. 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. Trump says school strike 'done by Iran' Aboard Air Force One, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 President Donald Trump on Saturday blamed Iran for what the country's authorities said was a deadly strike on a school in the southern county of Minab. "We think it was done by Iran. Because they are very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. According to Iranian authorities, a strike hit a girls' elementary school last Saturday, killing more than 150 people, mostly students. Israel and the United States have not claimed responsibility for the reported attack -- with US officials saying it remains under investigation -- while Iran has blamed Washington for the strike. AFP has neither been able to access the site in order to verify the incident, nor to obtain independent confirmation of a toll. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Friday they had targeted a US base in the UAE that they alleged had been used as a launchpad for the strike. "Al-Dhafra air base, belonging to American terrorists in the region, was targeted using drones and precision missiles," the Guards said in a statement broadcast on state TV. The Pentagon has confirmed it is investigating, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US would "not deliberately target a school." The New York Times newspaper reported Thursday that US military statements indicating forces were attacking naval targets near the Strait of Hormuz, where a Revolutionary Guards' base is located, "suggest they were most likely to have carried out the strike." An analysis of social media posts from the time of the attack, as well as photos and videos from witnesses, indicated that the school had been struck at the same time as Guards' naval base sites, the Times said. Trump suggests US troops could be sent to secure Iran's uranium Aboard Air Force One, March 7 (AFP) Mar 07, 2026 US President Donald Trump evoked Saturday the idea of sending ground troops into Iran to secure the country's stockpiles of enriched uranium, as part of efforts to dismantle Tehran's nuclear program. "At some point maybe we will. That would be a great thing," he told reporters during a briefing aboard Air Force One. "We haven't gone after it but it's something we could do later," he said. Some critics of the US-Israeli war on Iran, launched last Saturday, have said air strikes alone are unlikely to achieve the stated goals of destroying Iran's military capacity and preventing it from developing a nuclear bomb. Asked about the use of ground troops in general, Trump did not rule it out, saying: "Could there be? Possibly, for a very good reason -- it'd have to be a very good reason." "And I would say if we ever did that, they would be so decimated that they wouldn't be able to fight at the ground level," he said. Lebanon says Israeli strike on Beirut hotel kills four Beirut, Lebanon, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Lebanon's health ministry said Sunday that an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people, with Israel saying it had targeted commanders from Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on Monday, when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes. Israel, which has kept up strikes targeting Hezbollah despite a 2024 ceasefire, launched multiple waves of strikes this week across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas. Early Sunday, the Lebanese health ministry said an Israeli air strike hit Beirut's city centre, targeting "a hotel room", killing four people and wounding 10 others. The Israeli military earlier announced it had "begun an additional wave of strikes in Beirut", saying it was targeting the capital's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. A separate statement later said Israeli forces carried out a "precise strike" in Beirut, targeting "key commanders" in the Quds Force, the Guards' foreign operations arm. The statement, which did not specify the exact location, accused the unidentified commanders of planning "terror attacks against the State of Israel and its civilians". Israel "will continue to precisely eliminate the commanders of the Iranian terror regime wherever they operate", it said. An AFP photographer at the bombarded seafront hotel saw one room on the fourth floor with shattered glass and charred walls, while security forces cordoned off the site. The hotel's area of Raouche is a major tourist destination and had remained untouched by Israeli strikes during the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended with a ceasefire in November 2024. Dozens of panicked guests were fleeing the hotel with their luggage, the photographer said. Two witnesses said they had heard a loud bang, before ambulances rushed to the scene. - Rockets - The area along the Mediterranean coast is home to dozens of hotels, now overcrowded with displaced people who fled their homes elsewhere in Lebanon due to the ongoing fighting. This is the second Israeli attack on a hotel in the Beirut area this week. On Wednesday, an Israeli air strike hit a hotel in the predominantly Christian neighbourhood of Hazmieh outside Beirut, near the presidential palace and several government ministries and diplomatic missions. AFPTV live footage from Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday also showed smoke following what appeared to be an air strike. Hezbollah meanwhile claimed rocket attacks early Sunday targeting Israeli forces and a city across the border, "in response to the criminal Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns", according to statements from the group. Hezbollah also said its fighters were engaged in clashes with Israeli forces near the border town of Aitaroun. Air raid sirens sounded in several areas of northern Israel, with no immediate reports of any casualties or damage. Israelis head to shelters after Iran fires missiles Jerusalem, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel early Sunday, warning of incoming missiles from Iran, with no reports of damage or casualties. An Israeli military statement said air defences were responding to "missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel". Alerts were activated across much of northern Israel including the port city of Haifa, according to the army's Home Front Command, which ordered residents to go into shelters or safe rooms. The alerts were later lifted, with the military saying "it is now permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas of the country". Israeli media reported that several missiles were launched, and at least most of them were intercepted. Missile attacks in the war -- which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 -- have killed 10 people in Israel. War in the Middle East: latest developments Paris, France, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Here are the latest events in the Middle East war: - Iran says will keep fighting - Iran can fight an intense war against the United States and Israel for at least six months, the Revolutionary Guards said. "The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are capable of continuing at least a 6-month intense war at the current pace of operations," said Guards spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini, according to the Fars news agency. - China says no reason for war - China's top diplomat Wang Yi said the war in the Middle East should "never have happened". "This is a war that should never have happened," he told a press conference in Beijing, adding that "a strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle." - Israel pounds Lebanon - Lebanon's health ministry said Sunday an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people, after sites across southern Lebanon were targeted. The Israeli military said it carried out a "precise strike" in Beirut targeting commanders from Iran's Revolutionary Guards. In southern Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting Iran-backed group Hezbollah, the health ministry said eight people were killed in strikes on more than 20 towns and villages. - Iran unleashes barrage - Gulf states as well as Israel reported missile and drone attacks from Iran. Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted a drone attack targeting the diplomatic quarter in the capital Riyadh, reporting no casualties or damage. Kuwait said fuel tanks at the nation's international airport were targeted by Iranian drones. - Trump blames Iran for school strike - US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for a deadly strike on an elementary school in the southern Iranian town of Minab, which Iranian officials say killed at least 150 people. "We think it was done by Iran. Because they are very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. A New York Times investigation has found the US military was most likely responsible. - Kurdish offensive? - Trump also said he did not want Kurdish forces to launch an offensive against Iran, following speculation they might use the war as a chance to seize more autonomy. "We're not looking to the Kurds going in," he said. "We don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is." Trump had told Reuters news agency Thursday he would be "all for" an offensive by Iranian Kurdish fighters in support of the US-Israeli war. Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said a potential civil war in Iran would be "the most dangerous scenario". - Netanyahu vows 'all our force' - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue its war with Iran "with all our force" as part of "a systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime". He added that US and Israeli air strikes had secured "almost complete control of the airspace" over Tehran. Israel's military said it had carried out around 3,400 strikes on Iran since the start of the war on February 28. - Tehran oil depots hit - US and Israeli strikes hit an oil depot in Tehran, Iranian state media said, the first reported attack on Iran's oil infrastructure. The depot was close to a key oil refinery but the ILNA news agency said the refinery's facilities were not damaged. Strikes also hit a depot in northwestern Tehran, according to an AFP journalist who saw flames and smoke rising from the site. Separately, Israel said it hit 16 military aircraft belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in overnight strikes on Mehrabad airport, in Tehran. - Kuwait cuts crude production - Kuwait's national oil company on Saturday announced a cut to its production of crude due to Iranian attacks and threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for Gulf hydrocarbons. The "precautionary reduction in crude oil production and refining throughput" will be reviewed as the situation develops, it said. - Italy sends frigate - Italy is sending a frigate to protect Cyprus after a drone strike on a British base on the Mediterranean island "to ensure the security of the European Union's borders," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said. "But our position is very clear: Italy is not part of the conflict and does not intend to become part of it," she added. - Iran sailors in Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka will treat Iranian sailors rescued from a torpedoed frigate according to international law, a minister said, following reports that Washington is pressuring Colombo to not repatriate them. The South Asian country recovered 32 sailors and 84 bodies from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, sunk by a US submarine on Wednesday just off Sri Lanka's southern coast. burs-ami/hmn THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY Sri Lanka hospital releases 22 rescued Iranian sailors Colombo, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Sri Lanka discharged from hospital 22 Iranian sailors who were plucked from life rafts after their warship was sunk by a US submarine, officials said Sunday. The sailors were treated at Karapitiya Hospital in the southern port city of Galle since Wednesday after the IRIS Dena was torpedoed just outside Sri Lanka's territorial waters. "Another 10 are still undergoing treatment," a medical officer at the hospital told AFP. He said the bodies of 84 Iranians retrieved from the Indian Ocean were also at the hospital. Those discharged from hospital overnight had been taken to a beach resort in the same district. Sri Lankan authorities said the survivors from the Dena were being handled according to international humanitarian law, and the government had contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross for assistance. The island is also providing safe haven for another 219 Iranian sailors from a second ship, the IRIS Bushehr, that was allowed to berth a day after the Dena was sunk. Sailors from the Bushehr have been moved to a Sri Lanka Navy camp at Welisara, just north of the capital Colombo, and their ship taken over by Sri Lanka's navy. Sri Lanka announced it was taking the Bushehr to the north-eastern port of Trincomalee, but an engine failure and other technical and administrative issues had delayed the movement, a navy spokesman said. Sri Lanka has denied claims that it was under pressure from Washington not to allow the Iranians to return home, and said Colombo will be guided solely by international law and its own domestic legislation. A US State Department spokesperson said the disposition of the Bushehr crew and Iranian sailors rescued at sea was up to Sri Lanka. "The United States, of course, respects and recognises Sri Lanka's sovereignty in the handling of this situation," the spokesperson told AFP in Washington. India, meanwhile, said Saturday that it had allowed a third Iranian warship, the IRIS Lavan, to dock in one of its ports on "humane" grounds after it too reported engine problems. The three ships were part of a multi-national fleet review held by India before the war in the Middle East started last week. "I think it was the humane thing to do, and I think we were guided by that principle," Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Saturday. The Lavan docked in the south-west 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," Jaishankar said. aj/pjm/fox Lebanon says Israeli strike on Beirut hotel kills four Beirut, Lebanon, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Lebanon's health ministry said Sunday that an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people, with Israel saying it had targeted commanders from Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on Monday, when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes. Israel, which has kept up strikes targeting Hezbollah despite a 2024 ceasefire, launched multiple waves of strikes this week across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas. Early Sunday, the Lebanese health ministry said an Israeli air strike hit Beirut's city centre, targeting "a hotel room", killing four people and wounding 10 others. In southern Lebanon, the official National News Agency said at least 12 people were killed in three separate strikes overnight. The Israeli military earlier announced it had "begun an additional wave of strikes in Beirut", saying it was targeting the capital's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. A statement issued later said Israeli forces carried out a "precise strike" in Beirut, targeting "key commanders" in the Quds Force, the Guards' foreign operations arm. The statement, which did not specify the exact location, accused the unidentified commanders of planning "terror attacks against the State of Israel and its civilians". Israel "will continue to precisely eliminate the commanders of the Iranian terror regime wherever they operate", it said. An AFP photographer at the bombarded seafront hotel saw one room on the fourth floor with shattered glass and charred walls, while security forces cordoned off the site. The hotel's area of Raouche is a major tourist destination and had remained untouched by Israeli strikes during the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended with a ceasefire in November 2024. Dozens of panicked guests were fleeing the hotel with their luggage, the photographer said. Two witnesses said they had heard a loud bang, before ambulances rushed to the scene. - Rockets - The area along the Mediterranean coast is home to dozens of hotels, now overcrowded with displaced people who fled their homes elsewhere in Lebanon due to the ongoing fighting. This is the second Israeli attack on a hotel in the Beirut area this week. On Wednesday, an Israeli air strike hit a hotel in the predominantly Christian neighbourhood of Hazmieh outside Beirut, near the presidential palace and several government ministries and diplomatic missions. AFPTV live footage from Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday showed smoke following what appeared to be at least two air strikes several hours apart. Hezbollah meanwhile claimed rocket attacks early Sunday targeting Israeli forces and a city across the border, "in response to the criminal Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns", according to statements from the group. Hezbollah also said its fighters were engaged in clashes with Israeli forces near the border town of Aitaroun. Air raid sirens sounded in several areas of northern Israel, with no immediate reports of any casualties or damage. Israelis head to shelters after Iran fires missiles Jerusalem, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Air raid sirens sounded across Israel early on Sunday, warning of incoming missiles from Iran, with no reports of damage or casualties. Israeli military statements said air defences were responding to at least four waves of "missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel" within about five hours. Alerts were activated across much of northern, southern and central Israel including in major cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheba, according to the army's Home Front Command, which ordered residents to go into shelters or safe rooms. The alerts were later lifted, with the military saying, "it is now permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas of the country." Israeli media reported that several missiles were launched and most had been intercepted. Missile attacks in the war -- which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 -- have killed 10 people in Israel. There were also repeated air raid alerts early Sunday in northern Israel, in areas near the border with Lebanon. Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has launched drones, rockets and missiles at Israel during the war. One of the most influential venture capitalists in Silicon Valley says the tradition of a four-year college education is up in the air. Vinod Khosla, founder of Sun Microsystems and Khosla Ventures, told Fortune editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell on the Titans and Disruptors of Industry podcast that when everything can be learned or achieved through technology, abundance will rule. All education should be free, Khosla said, while noting the fate of universities themselves is a real question. To be sure, people like the idea of institutions, he added. But in a world where technology rules and higher education is free, attending college may be more like a hobby than a necessity. You wont need a college to get an engineering degree. You wont even need the engineering degree, except if your passion is learning, Khosla said. The shift away from traditional higher education that Khosla predicted may already be underway among young people today. A Gallup poll from September found only 35% of Americans say going to college is very importanta record low, and down from more than half who said the same in 2019. As soaring tuition costs and a shaky job market have eroded confidence in the four-year degree, another survey showed that a quarter of Gen Zers say they regret going to college altogether. And young people have increasingly turned to trade jobs such as welding, plumbing, and carpentry over white-collar positions. At the same time, when AI levels the playing field by making expertise free and nearly equal, it raises serious questions about how to value the knowledge a person actually has. Do you pay a farmworker the same as an oncologist, because they happen to have the same expertise, which is the expertise of AI? Khosla asked. For younger generations, the effects of AI may be even more transformative. He added that in a world where AI takes over so many of the jobs we see as essential today, the cost of living will also decrease and free up young people to focus on what fulfills them. The end of work Still, hand in hand with free education and the freedom to pursue our interests comes major disruption in the job market. Khosla warned the impending AI jobs apocalypse will upend the economy by the end of the decade, and tech could soon replace some 80% of jobs, including some of the roles that have traditionally been associated with years of training or education. Two-thirds of all jobs will be capable of being done by an AI. So whether youre a physician, whether youre a radiologist, whether youre an accountant, whether youre a chip designer, whether youre a salesperson, AI will do your job better, he told Fortune. Sri Lanka hospital releases 22 rescued from torpedoed Iranian vessel Colombo, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Sri Lanka discharged 22 Iranian crew from hospital who were plucked from life rafts after their warship was sunk by a US submarine, officials said Sunday. The crew had been treated at Karapitiya Hospital in the southern port city of Galle since Wednesday after the IRIS Dena was torpedoed just outside Sri Lanka's territorial waters. The attack on Dena was the first military strike far outside the Middle East since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran a week ago. Those discharged overnight had been taken to a beach resort in the same district, as Sri Lanka's navy ended its search on Sunday for survivors from the vessel. Just over 60 people remain missing, according to an official Sri Lankan estimate. "Another 10 are still undergoing treatment," a medical officer at the hospital told AFP. He said the bodies of 84 Iranians retrieved from the Indian Ocean were also at the hospital. Sri Lanka has denied claims that it was under pressure from Washington to stop the Iranians from returning home, saying Colombo would be guided solely by international law and its own domestic legislation. The survivors from the Dena were being handled according to international humanitarian law, and the government had contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross for assistance, officials said. The island is also providing safe haven for another 219 Iranian sailors from a second ship, the IRIS Bushehr, which was allowed to enter Sri Lankan waters after the Dena was sunk. The crew from the Bushehr have been moved to a Sri Lanka Navy camp at Welisara, just north of the capital Colombo, and their vessel has been taken over by Sri Lanka's navy. Sri Lanka announced it was taking the Bushehr to the north-eastern port of Trincomalee, but an engine failure and other technical and administrative issues had delayed the movement, a navy spokesman said. -Pressure denied - A US State Department spokesperson said the disposition of the Bushehr personnel and Iranian crew rescued at sea was up to Sri Lanka. "The United States, of course, respects and recognises Sri Lanka's sovereignty in the handling of this situation," the spokesperson told AFP in Washington. India, meanwhile, said Saturday that it had allowed a third Iranian warship, the IRIS Lavan, to dock in one of its ports on "humane" grounds after it too reported engine problems. "I think it was the humane thing to do, and I think we were guided by that principle," Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Saturday. The three ships were part of a multinational naval exercise held by India before the war in the Middle East started last week. The Lavan docked in the south-west 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," Jaishankar said. Sri Lankan authorities meanwhile reported an oil slick at another nearby beach resort and said about 50 workers and volunteers had been deployed for a clean-up, while boats were being sent to check for more pollution. "We saw a thin oil patch at Hikkaduwa beach yesterday," said Samantha Gunasekara, chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA). He added that parts of a damaged life raft, an barrel of lubricants and footwear had washed ashore, and officials were trying to establish if they were from the sunk Dena. aj/pjm/hmn War in the Middle East: latest developments Paris, France, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Here are the latest events in the Middle East war on Sunday: - Tehran oil facilities hit - An Iranian official said that overnight US-Israeli air strikes damaged several Tehran oil facilities. The reported targeting of Iran's oil infrastructure will deepen global markets' concerns about crude production and exports from the Gulf region, where shipping transport has been effectively halted. - Attacks on Gulf states - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain all reported new attacks Kuwait's national oil company announced a "precautionary" cut to its crude production. The military said fuel tanks at Kuwait's international airport were targeted in a drone attack. Saudi Arabia's defence ministry reported intercepting 15 drones, including an attempted attack in the diplomatic quarter of the capital Riyadh. Bahrain said three people were wounded by falling missile debris and that a water desalination plant was damaged. - IRGC: we can fight six months - Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the country's forces can fight an "intense war" for six months, with a spokesman saying more advanced missiles would be used in coming days. - Iran 'forced' to respond - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country "will be forced to respond" to any attack or invasion attempt from a neighbouring country. "Responding does not mean we have disputes with that country or wish to harm its people -- we would be responding out of necessity," he said in remarks broadcast on state TV. A day earlier, Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries hosting US military bases for attacks on their territory. - Israel strikes 'across Iran' - The Israeli military said it conducted strikes "across Iran". About 10 hours earlier, the military announced strikes on "infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran". - Israel pounds Lebanon - Lebanon said an Israeli strike on a Beirut hotel killed four people. The Israeli military said it carried out a "precise strike" in Beirut targeting commanders from the foreign operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the Quds Force. In southern Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, the health ministry said eight people were killed in strikes on more than 20 towns and villages. - Trump blames Iran for school strike - US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for a deadly strike on an Iranian primary school that Iranian officials say killed at least 150 people. "We think it was done by Iran. Because they are very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. A New York Times investigation has found the US military was most likely responsible. AFP has not been able to access the site to verify the circumstances surrounding the incident or to independently confirm the toll. - Crew discharged from hospital - A Sri Lanka hospital discharged 22 Iranian crew members who survived the sinking of their warship by a US submarine, with another 10 still receiving treatment. Sri Lanka recovered 84 bodies from where the ship went down after it was struck in international waters on Wednesday, and more than 60 people from it remain missing. A second Iranian warship took refuge in Sri Lanka's waters after the sub attack. bur/rmb/smw Drone strikes on Sudan markets kill 33: medical source Khartoum, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 A drone attack hit two markets in paramilitary-controlled towns in southwest Sudan, killing 33 people, a medical source told AFP on Sunday. The strikes targeted the markets of Abu Zabad and Wad Banda in West Kordofan state -- part of the resource-rich Kordofan region that is currently the fiercest battlefield in the nearly three-year war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A doctor at Abu Zabad hospital, one of the few medical facilities still serving the area, said two drones struck the markets on Saturday, injuring 59 people. Speaking via a Starlink connection and requesting anonymity, the doctor said 30 of the wounded remain receiving treatment. The two towns lie roughly 15 kilometres (9 miles) apart. A resident of Abu Zabad town, Hamad Abdullah, said he helped bury 20 people on Saturday following what he described as an army drone strike on the town's market. "Four of them were my relatives who worked in the market," he told AFP. A military source rejected the accusations, telling AFP that the "armed forces do not bombard civilian areas". "This is a lie with no basis. We only target rebels, their equipment and their weapons depots," the source said, requesting anonymity because they are not authorised to brief the media. Since war broke out in April 2023, both sides have been accused of war crimes including targeting civilians and indiscriminately shelling residential areas. The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced more than 11 million and fuelled what the United Nations describes as the world's largest displacement and hunger crises. Pope prays 'roar of the bombs' in Middle East will cease Vatican City, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Pope Leo XIV on Sunday prayed the "roar of bombs" in the Middle East will cease, as the war triggered by US-Israeli air strikes on Iran extended into its ninth day. News from the region "continues to arouse deep dismay", the US-born pope said at the end of the Angelus prayer. "Added to the episodes of violence and devastation and the widespread climate of hatred and fear, is the fear that the conflict will spread, and that other countries in the region, including beloved Lebanon, may once again sink into instability," he said. On Sunday, Iran was preparing to reveal its new supreme leader, after US-Israeli air strikes destroyed fuel dumps and triggered fires that choked much of Tehran in a thick blanket of smoke. Iranian missile-and-drone retaliation has targeted many Gulf countries and further afield in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump has refused to rule out sending American ground troops into Iran, but continues to insist that the war is progressing speedily. Leo said he prayed "that the roar of the bombs may cease, the weapons may fall silent, and a space for dialogue may open in which the voices of the peoples may be heard". Iraq's complicated role in the Middle East war, explained Baghdad, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Iraq, which had recently regained some stability after decades of conflict, was immediately dragged into the Middle East war triggered when the United States and Israel attacked Iran last weekend. Within hours, warplanes filled Iraq's airspace. Air strikes pounded bases hosting Tehran-backed groups across the country. Iran-backed groups in turn launched attacks on US interests in Iraq, while Tehran struck Kurdish militants in the north. Iraq has long been a proxy battleground between the United States and Iran, with the country's successive governments struggling to balance relations between the two rivals. Neither the US nor Israel has announced launching strikes in Iraq, but they have been accused of doing so. Iran-backed groups claim dozens of attacks on the "enemy", but rarely name their targets. Here is an AFP guide for understanding the main actors -- and their targets -- in Iraq during the Middle East war. - Tehran-backed groups - Iran holds significant sway over Iraq's politics and also backs armed groups that are blacklisted by the US as terrorist organisations. Some of these groups hold seats in parliament and have seen their political and financial clout increase. When the drums of war began to beat, these groups vowed to defend Iran. When it broke out, they were the first targets of strikes blamed on the US and Israel. The Tehran-backed groups have brigades that operate within the Hashed al-Shaabi, or the Popular Mobilisation Forces, which is a former paramilitary alliance created in 2014 to fight jihadists and is now integrated into the Iraqi armed forces. But these factions have a reputation of acting on their own. They unite under a loose alliance called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. These groups include Kataeb Hezbollah, the al-Nujaba movement, Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada and Kataeb Imam Ali, among others. Bases belonging to Hashed hosting these groups, mostly Kataeb Hezbollah, have been hit several times across the country since war broke out. The factions vowed to target US bases. - Their US targets? - Every day, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claims it carried out dozens of attacks against the "enemy" in Iraq and the region, without specifying its targets. Baghdad's international airport, which houses a US diplomatic facility, has been targeted several times with drones and rockets. A week into the war, the US embassy also came under rocket fire. Oil fields operated by foreign companies have been struck in the southern Basra province and the northern Kurdistan region. The autonomous Kurdistan region -- which hosts US troops, including at the airport in its capital Erbil -- has been a primary target. US air defences now intercept drones almost daily over Erbil, which also hosts a US consulate complex. At least two hotels have also been targets of drones in Kurdistan. - Kurdish militants vs Tehran - The autonomous Kurdistan region also hosts camps and bases operated by Iranian Kurdish rebel groups, which have formed an alliance seeking to overthrow the Islamic republic. Iran accuses these groups of serving Western or Israeli interests, and it has struck them repeatedly since the start of the war. They include the leftist Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) and the nationalist Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, among others. The groups hope to secure Kurdish self-determination in Iran, but they disagree on what form this should take if they succeed. Nevertheless, they may be willing to ally with the US to achieve their goal. Amir Karimi, co-commander of the PJAK, told AFP that the "Americans are already in the area, and we have had a dialogue." US President Donald Trump said Saturday that he did not want the Kurds to launch an offensive against Iran. "We don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is." Tehran has threatened to target "all the facilities" in Kurdistan if militants cross into Iran from there. - Authorities in the crosshairs - Authorities in Baghdad and the Kurdistan region have found themselves in the crosshairs. While they insist that Iraq should not be used as a launchpad for attacks on neighbouring countries, events appear to be escalating beyond their control. Baghdad has condemned what it described as a "terrorist attack" on the US embassy. Drones have targeted Kurdish security forces in the autonomous region following reports that Kurdistan may support an incursion into Iran -- claims that authorities firmly deny. Six wounded in Israel after Iran missile fire Tel Aviv, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Six people were wounded, some by shrapnel, at blast sites in central Israel on Sunday, according to first responders, after the military said it had detected a new wave of Iranian missiles. A spokesperson for Magen David Adom emergency services said "medics and paramedics are providing medical treatment and evacuating" the wounded to hospitals. A 40-year-old man was in a serious condition, while a 25-year-old man was moderately injured and a further three people were in mild condition, they said. A spokesperson for the Ichilov hospital in Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv said one man wounded in the neck was receiving urgent treatment. Earlier at least 10 explosions were heard over Tel Aviv by AFP journalists. Israeli media showed images it said were from Tel Aviv of a blast hole in a street with a damaged car jutting out of it. The Israeli military had warned prior to the blasts that it had "identified missiles launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel". In a separate media briefing prior to the missile warning, military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said that Iran's "firepower has dropped dramatically all across the region, not only towards Israel". Iran has been firing missiles at Israel and countries across the region in response to a US-Israeli campaign that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranians including diplomats evacuated from Beirut on Russian plane: Lebanese official Beirut, Lebanon, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 More than 100 Iranians, including some diplomats, were evacuated from Beirut overnight on a Russian plane, a Lebanese official told AFP on Sunday. "A total of 117 Iranians, including diplomats and embassy staff, were evacuated on a Russian plane that left Beirut overnight from Saturday to Sunday," the official said on condition of anonymity. The evacuation comes after Lebanon's government on Thursday banned any activity by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps -- a main backer of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The government also imposed a visa requirement on Iranians entering the country as part of measures to pressure the Iran-backed Hezbollah. The official said the Iranian embassy had informed Lebanese authorities beforehand of the evacuation operation, which was carried out via Beirut's international airport. The official added that the plane was heading to Turkey, without specifying the final destination of the Iranians. Beirut airport, located near the city's southern suburbs, which have been pounded by Israeli air strikes since Monday, is operational despite the bombardment, but only Lebanon's national carrier Middle East Airlines is operating significant numbers of flights. The body of an Iranian diplomat killed during the war, along with those of his wife and three children, were also on board the plane, the official added. Hezbollah, which on Monday drew Lebanon into the war between Iran, Israel and the United States by launching strikes against Israel, is being overseen by Iranian liaison officers, according to a Lebanese security source. Overnight Saturday into Sunday, an Israeli strike targeted a seafront hotel in Beirut, hitting the heart of the Lebanese capital for the first time since the war began. The Israeli army said it had "carried out a precise strike against key commanders of the Lebanon Corps of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps". Four people were killed and 10 wounded, according to the Lebanese health ministry. On Tuesday, the Israeli army announced it had killed with a strike in Tehran a Lebanese liaison officer with the Revolutionary Guards who was in charge of Iran's external operations. Arab League chief says Iran attacks on member states 'reckless' Cairo, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 The Arab League's secretary-general said Sunday that Iranian attacks on several member states were "reckless", urging Tehran to reverse what he called a "massive strategic mistake". In response to a US-Israeli air campaign that began on February 28, Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on Israel and Gulf states, which house American bases. Addressing an emergency videoconference of Arab foreign ministers from Cairo, Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the strikes "cannot be justified under any pretext or excuse", accusing Tehran of responding to Gulf peace efforts with "treacherous rockets and drone attacks". He said Arab states were "not parties to the ongoing war" and had made it clear they would not allow "their territory or airspace to be used" to launch attacks. Several Arab countries, including Oman -- until recently the mediator of US-Iran nuclear talks -- as well as Qatar and Egypt, had put in "earnest, sincere and serious efforts to spare the entire region, including Iran, the ravages of war", Aboul Gheit added. Thousands come out in Spain for women's rights, against Iran war Madrid, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Thousands of people came out in cities across Spain on Sunday to denounce violence against women and the war in the Middle East sparked by US-Israeli strikes. Demonstrations marking International Women's Day took place in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Granada, Bilbao, and San Sebastian, among other cities. "No to war" and "Anti-fascist feminists against imperialist war" were among the slogans written on signs at the protests. Madrid saw two demonstrations in the centre of the Spanish capital -- one for transgender rights and the other for the legalisation and regulation of prostitution. "It is within our power to stop the war, to stop the barbarity, and to win rights. We proclaim ourselves in defence of peace, in defence of the Iranian people, in defence of Iranian women," Yolanda Diaz, second vice president, told the press at the rally. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has drawn the ire of the US administration after he refused the use of Spain's military bases for strikes against Iran, which he called an "extraordinary mistake" and "not in accordance with international law." US President Donald Trump lashed out at Sanchez's government, threatening to sever all trade with the EU and NATO member, which he called "a loser." Israel military says struck Iran Guards 'space force' HQ Jerusalem, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 The Israeli military said on Sunday it had struck what it described as the "space force headquarters" of Iran's Revolutionary Guards in Tehran. "As part of the strikes, the IDF targeted and dismantled the Iranian terror regime's IRGC Space Force headquarters," the military said. "The headquarters served as a reception, transmission and research centre for the Iranian Space Agency, which is affiliated with the regime's military," it said. The military said the site included research facilities as well as the command-and-control centre for the "Khayyam" satellite, which was used to "monitor the State of Israel and its residents". In August 2022, Russia launched the satellite on a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Iran's space agency said at the time that the device was constructed by Russia under Iranian supervision. The US said that the Khayyam satellite would give Iran "significant spying capabilities". Iran's space agency rejected that, saying that the purpose of Khayyam was to "monitor the country's borders", and help with the management of natural resources and agriculture. On Sunday, the Israeli military said it had also targeted other sites in Tehran, including around 50 bunkers that stored ammunition and a compound belonging to the Guards' ground forces. SoftBank Is Putting All Its Eggs in the OpenAI Basket - Moby THE GIST Softbank is borrowing money to go all-in on AI. The Japanese investor is seeking the largest-ever loan denominated purely in U.S. dollars, about $40 billion, to help fund a massive expansion of its investment in OpenAI. WHAT HAPPENED SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son is once again swinging for the fences by negotiating a 12-month bridge loan of up to $40 billion to fund OpenAI, according to a Bloomberg report. The deal itself sounds like a little too much exposure to OpenAI. SoftBank already holds about 11% of OpenAI as of December, after injecting more than $30 billion into the company previously. It now wants to take a loan to primarily finance a $30 billion additional investment in OpenAI. As per reports, there are four primary underwriters including JPMorgan Chase. For Son, this is Softbanks AI moonshot. He is trying to repeat the success story of Alibaba and ByteDance, but the price tag of AI is way steeper and the risk is exponentially higher. And this comes at a sensitive time for Softbanks balance sheet. For every hit like Alibaba and ByteDance, Softbank has had massive misses like WeWork, OYO, and Didi Global. This cost the fund tens of billions of dollars between 2021 and 2023 as tech valuations crashed. What makes this exposure riskier is that SoftBank has been liquidating some of its winners. The company recently sold portions of its stake in Nvidia, whose chips power much of the generative AI boom. WHY IT MATTERS Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here. That strategy has begun to worry credit watchers. Ratings agency S&P Global this week lowered SoftBanks credit outlook, warning that its growing exposure to OpenAI could strain liquidity and weaken the quality of assets backing its debt. And its not just OpenAI. Softbank is doubling down on AI across the board: It jointly invested $1 billion in SB Energy to build U.S. data-center infrastructure. The company agreed to buy digital-infrastructure investor DigitalBridge Group for about $3 billion, and it purchased chip designer Ampere Computing for $6.5 billion. It also proposed acquiring the robotics unit of ABB Ltd for $5.4 billion. But even still, OpenAI has become one of SoftBanks most important assets, rivaling its roughly 90% stake in chip designer Arm Holdings. That concentration means SoftBanks market value is increasingly tied to whether OpenAIs models can outperform rivals such as Googles Gemini or Anthropics Claude. 'Back to square one': Gazans despair as key crossing remains closed Gaza City, Palestinian Territories, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 When Israel reopened Gaza's Rafah border crossing in early February, Fadi Emad thought his chance had finally come to leave the devastated Palestinian territory and finish his studies abroad. But when Israel abruptly slammed the gateway shut again with the outbreak in the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, the 19-year-old felt "devastated", like his future had been put on hold. Rafah -- which Israeli forces captured nearly two years ago during the war with Hamas -- had been reopened to people for just under a month when Israel announced on February 28 that all crossings into the Strip would be closed as a security measure following the start of strikes on Iran. Emad, from Gaza City, said the renewed closure was a crushing blow. "I was very happy when the Rafah crossing opened recently because I wanted to travel to continue my studies abroad. I thought my dream and the beginning of building my future were finally close," he told AFP. "But the occupation's closure of the crossing has devastated me psychologically. We are still living in fear and anxiety about the possibility of war returning again and the ceasefire collapsing," he added. "Our suffering continues without pause." Gaza had been under blockade even before Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war, with Israeli authorities strictly controlling the entry of all goods. And even after an October ceasefire largely halted the fighting, humanitarian conditions remain dire inside the territory. "We are exhausted from waiting for so long," said Ali Al-Shanti, 40, a displaced Palestinian living in the southern Al-Mawasi area. "When the Rafah crossing partially opened under Israeli restrictions, we said that things might gradually improve. But then the war with Iran came and destroyed everything, bringing the situation back to square one," he told AFP. Shanti said the closure of crossings had once again sent prices soaring as goods became scarce. Israel reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing on Tuesday "for the gradual entry of humanitarian aid", with the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA announcing that 500,000 litres of fuel and humanitarian assistance had arrived through Israel and Egypt. - 'Matter of life or death' - For scores of sick and injured in Gaza, the reopening of Rafah had offered a lifeline, holding out the possibility of receiving care in Egypt. "I was living in a state of anxiety and anticipation, waiting for the Rafah crossing to open so I could travel for treatment," said Mohammad Shamiya, a 33-year-old with a kidney condition requiring dialysis. "After the crossing opened and I felt that hope of travelling was getting closer, the war with Iran broke out and the occupation closed the crossings on us again," he told AFP. "Every day that passes takes something from my life, and my illness is getting worse, especially with the limited medical services available for dialysis patients here in Gaza," he added. "Waiting for the crossing to open has become a matter of life or death for us." The reopening of Rafah had also offered a chance for Gazans long-separated from their loved ones to reunite with their families. "My children and I were very happy when the crossing opened so we could join my husband outside Gaza," said Tahani Abu Sharbi, a 34-year-old displaced Palestinian who had been unable to join her husband while he received medical treatment abroad. But after Rafah closed again, "it felt as if our dream had become more distant," she told AFP. "My only hope is that the crossing will open soon so that we can reunite as a family after this long separation." Israel strikes Beirut hotel as Lebanon says war toll nears 400 Beirut, Lebanon, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Israel struck a hotel in central Beirut on Sunday, the first attack on the city centre since the start of the new war with Hezbollah, as Lebanon said nearly 400 people were killed over the past week. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on Monday, when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes. Israel, which has kept up strikes targeting Hezbollah despite a 2024 ceasefire, launched multiple waves of strikes this week across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas. Hezbollah said on Sunday that it repeatedly targeted northern Israel, including attacking a naval base in Haifa and sending a swarm of drones towards the city of Nahariya. Israel's military, meanwhile, said that two of its soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, the first of its troops to have died since the latest offensive began on March 2. It also reiterated its call for Lebanese residents to leave the area south of the Litani River, which covers many hundreds of square kilometres (miles). Lebanon's health minister Rakan Nassereddine on Sunday said that Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed 394 people over the past week, including 83 children and 42 women. Earlier the same day, the health ministry said an Israeli air strike hit Beirut's city centre, targeting "a hotel room" and killing four people and wounding 10 others. - 'No safe place' - "I came here from the southern suburbs to be safe with my children and the strike hit," said Abu Hussein, a 45-year-old taxi driver while showing his damaged car. "There is no safe place." The strike was the first since Monday to target central Beirut. An AFP photographer at the bombarded seafront hotel saw one room on the fourth floor with shattered glass and charred walls, while security forces cordoned off the site. Israel's military said it had "conducted a precise strike targeting key commanders" in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, its foreign operations arm. A security official at the scene told AFP on condition of anonymity that Hezbollah-linked rescuers recovered three bodies from the hotel. The area of Raouche is a major tourist destination and remained untouched by Israeli strikes during the previous war between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended with a ceasefire in November 2024. Along its Mediterranean coast, the area is home to dozens of hotels, now overcrowded with displaced people who fled their homes elsewhere in Lebanon. - Iranians evacuated - Lebanon's government on Thursday banned any activity by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps -- a main backer of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. A Lebanese official who requested anonymity told AFP that "a total of 117 Iranians, including diplomats and embassy staff, were evacuated on a Russian plane that left Beirut overnight from Saturday to Sunday" for Turkey. In the south, a strike on Sir al-Gharbiyeh, right above the Litani, killed 11 people including children according to the health ministry, with rescue efforts ongoing to find people under the rubble. Standing next to a destroyed home, resident Ali Youssef Taha told AFP that "a family was sleeping inside" before "Israeli warplanes bombed the building, resulting in a massacre". Later on Sunday, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported two Israeli strikes on the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh in the south. Israel's army said, meanwhile, that it struck "over 600" Hezbollah targets and killed 200 members of the group in the past week. Lebanon's health minister insisted that "these are civilians being targeted, not, as they claim, military personnel and military installations", adding that nine rescuers had been killed since the start of the latest war. On Friday night, a failed Israeli commando operation to find the remains of airman Ron Arad, missing since 1986, killed 41 people in eastern Lebanon. Iran's top diplomat says Iran, not Trump, will elect new leader Washington, United States, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Iran's foreign minister said Sunday that the Iranian people, not Donald Trump, will elect their new leader and demanded that the US president apologize for starting the war with Iran. "We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs. This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC's "Meet the Press." Trump on Sunday reiterated his demand to have a say in picking Iran's next supreme leader after Ali Khamenei died in the opening salvos of the US-Israeli attack that began nine days ago. "He's going to have to get approval from us," Trump president told ABC News. "If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long." Araghchi would not be drawn on who the successor would be. Iranian state media reported Sunday that the clerical body responsible for doing that had voted and that a name would be announced soon. Some clerics suggested Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, would be chosen. Trump has previously rejected that possibility. "We have to wait for the Assembly of Experts to convene and vote for the new supreme leader, and the one who is elected by them," Araghchi told NBC. Trump told ABC he was open to a successor with ties to the Iranian government in power before the 1979 Islamic revolution, adding, "There are numerous people that could qualify." In addition to rejecting the idea of the US president guiding the Iranian succession, Araghchi said Trump "should apologize to people of the region and the Iranian people for the killings and destruction they have done against us." He defended Iranian attacks that have hit Gulf neighbors during the war, saying those strikes were aimed at US bases in the region as Iranian missiles were unable to reach the United States. "It is Americans who started this war against us, attacking us, and we are defending ourselves. So it is obvious that our missiles cannot reach the US soil," Araghchi said. "What we can do is to attack American bases and American installations around us, which are unfortunately in the soil of our, you know, neighbor countries." Trump has asserted that Iranian missiles could "soon" be able to strike the United States, although a US intelligence assessment as recently as 2025 stated Tehran did not have intercontinental ballistic missiles, and that it could take until 2035 for it to develop 60 such weapons. Starmer and Trump hold call about Iran war London, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump held a call Sunday about the Middle East war, the UK government said, after fierce criticism of the British premier by the US leader. Trump had lobbed insults at Starmer over the latter's initial refusal to have any role in the US-Israeli war with Iran, which began on February 28. "The leaders began by discussing the latest situation in the Middle East and the military cooperation between the UK and US through the use of RAF bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region," Starmer's office said in a statement. "The prime minister also shared his heartfelt condolences with President Trump and the American people following the deaths of six US soldiers. "They looked forward to speaking again soon," the statement added. It did not mention whether the pair discussed the apparent fracturing of their close relationship over the past week. Starmer had worked hard to cultivate a warm relationship with the unpredictable Trump, who was given an unprecedented second state visit to Britain last year. But he angered Trump by refusing to allow British bases to be used for the US's initial strikes on Iran. He later agreed to a US request to use two British military bases for a "specific and limited defensive purpose". US bombers began operating at the Fairford site in Gloucestershire, southwestern England, and the UK-US Diego Garcia base on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, on Saturday. Trump said last week he was "not happy with the UK" and mocked Starmer, saying "this is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with". In a post late on Saturday he called Britain "our once Great Ally" and accused Starmer of trying to "join Wars after we've already won!" Starmer had defended his position by insisting British action "must always have a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan". He has argued that Iran's retaliatory firing of missiles at British allies and interests in the Middle East justified his change of stance. pdh/rlp War in the Middle East: latest developments Paris, France, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Here are the latest events in the Middle East war on Sunday: - Dead, wounded in Saudi - Saudi Arabian civil defence officials said a "projectile" had killed two people and wounded 12. Its defence ministry reported intercepting 15 drones, including an attempted attack in the diplomatic quarter of the capital Riyadh. - Trump threatens next Iran leader - US President Donald Trump told ABC News channel Iran's next leader would need Washington's approval if they wanted to last. "He's going to have to get approval from us," Trump told the channel. "If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long." Earlier members of Iran's Assembly of Experts said they met and chose a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel's military has vowed to target "any successor and anyone seeking to appoint one". - Starmer and Trump talk - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump held a call on Sunday about the war in the Middle East, said a UK government statement. It follows days of insults lobbed by Trump at Starmer over the latter's initial refusal to have any role in the US-Israeli war with Iran. - Tehran hit - Several blasts were heard in various parts of the Iranian capital, AFP journalists said. It was not immediately clear what was targeted, with clouds of smoke still shrouding the skyline after overnight strikes on oil depots in and around Tehran. - Palestinian camp hit - Israel struck a Palestinian refugee camp in south Lebanon, Lebanese state media reported. The National News Agency said "enemy warplanes launched two raids on the Ain al-Hilweh camp in Sidon". - Iran defiant - Iran's foreign minister said the Iranian people, not the US president, would elect their new leader. "We will allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs," Abbas Araghchi told NBC. US President Donald Trump should apologise to the people of Iran and the region for the "killings and destruction", he added. Defending strikes on Gulf neighbours, he said that while Iranian missiles could not reach US soil, they could target US bases in the region. - 'Reckless' attacks - The head of the Arab League said Iran's attacks on several member states were "reckless", urging Tehran to reverse what he called a "massive strategic mistake". - Space force HQ - Israel's military said it struck what it called the "space force headquarters" of Iran's Guards in Tehran. - Israeli casualties - Israel's military said two of its soldiers had been killed fighting in southern Lebanon -- the first Israeli troops to have died since fighting flared with Iran's Lebanese proxy Hezbollah. Six people were wounded, some by shrapnel, at blast sites in central Israel, first responders said. - Abu Dhabi blasts - Witnesses told AFP of hearing fresh explosions in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi. - Lebanon toll climbs - Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed 394 people in the past week, including 83 children and 42 women, the country's health minister said. He said nine rescue workers were among those killed, condemning attacks on medical teams and ambulances. - Iranians leave Beirut - More than 100 Iranians, including some diplomats, were evacuated from Beirut overnight on a Russian plane, a Lebanese official told AFP. - Blasts across Iran - State media reported explosions in Iran's central Yazd province Sunday. The official IRNA news agency said the blasts occurred on the periphery of Yazd city. Earlier, explosions were reported in other parts of the country including the capital and the central Isfahan province. - Israel pounds Lebanon - Lebanon said an Israeli strike on a Beirut hotel had killed four people. The Israeli military said it had carried out a "precise strike" in Beirut targeting commanders from the foreign operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the Quds Force. In southern Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting Hezbollah, the health ministry said eight people were killed in strikes on more than 20 towns and villages. - Missing crew - Three Indonesian crew members are missing after a UAE-flagged tugboat was hit by a blast and sank in the Strait of Hormuz Friday, Jakarta's foreign ministry said. Of the ship's seven crew members, one of the four survivors recovered was receiving burns treatment in Oman. bur/jj/yad Trump says new Iran leader won't last long without his approval Tehran, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 US President Donald Trump warned on Sunday that Iran's next supreme leader would not last long without his approval, as Tehran prepared to reveal the successor to the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Nine days after US-Israeli strikes on his compound killed Khamenei and plunged the Middle East into war, Iran's Assembly of Experts met privately and chose their next leader, members of the body said. The clerics did not say who had been selected, only that a name would be announced soon. Some suggested Khamenei's 56-year old son Mojtaba Khamenei would succeed his father. Trump had previously demanded a say in the appointment and dismissed the younger Khamenei as an unacceptable "lightweight". "He's going to have to get approval from us," Trump told ABC News on Sunday, referring to Iran's next leader. "If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long." But Tehran's top diplomat said earlier in the day that the decision was Iran's alone, adding it would "allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs". Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press", Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi went on to demand that Trump "apologise to people of the region" for the spiralling war. The younger Khamenei is regarded as a conservative figure, notably because of his ties to the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the Islamic republic's military. Israel's military has warned any successor that "we will not hesitate to target you". - Air 'unbreathable' - Israel's reach was underlined by two new operations overnight -- strikes against fuel dumps in and around Tehran, and an attack on a hotel in the heart of Lebanon's capital Beirut that targeted suspected Iranian commanders. Warplanes hit five oil facilities around the Iranian capital, killing at least four people, according to a state oil executive, and blanketing the city in acrid smoke. Tehran's governor told the IRNA news agency that fuel distribution had been "temporarily interrupted" in the capital. A dark haze hung over the city of 10 million people, blocking out the sun, while the smell of burning fuel lingered in the air. Authorities warned the fumes could be toxic and urged citizens to stay indoors, but many windows were blown out by the force of the blasts. "The blaze has been burning for more than 12 hours, the air has become unbreathable. I can't even go out to do the daily shopping," said a 35-year-old from Tehran. "At first, I supported this war. After Khamenei's death, I celebrated with my friends: we drank wine and we danced. "But since yesterday... people say there's not even any gasoline left at the gas stations," she said in a text message to Europe. As the war extended into its ninth day, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had enough supplies to continue their drone and missile war over the Middle East for up to six months. Several blasts were heard over Israel's commercial hub of Tel Aviv after the Israeli military said it had detected a salvo of missiles from Iran. The Magen David Adom emergency services said six people were wounded in central Israel. - Advanced missiles - Trump again refused to rule out sending US ground troops into Iran, but continued to insist that the war was all but won despite the ongoing Iranian missile and drone strikes. The US President spoke with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday, Downing Street said, after Trump had lobbed insults at the premier and accused him of trying to join a war "we've already won". The pair discussed military cooperation, London said, with Britain having granted the US use of its military bases for "collective self-defence of partners in the region", having refused to allow their use for the initial strikes on Iran. Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said Iran had so far used only first- and second-generation missiles, but would use "advanced and less-used long-range missiles" in the coming days. Saudi Arabia said two people were killed and 12 wounded by a "projectile" on Sunday in Al Kharj province, having earlier said it intercepted a wave of drones headed for targets including the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh. Kuwait, meanwhile, said an attack hit fuel tanks at its international airport and Bahrain reported a water desalination plant had been damaged. Iran's health ministry said Sunday that at least 1,200 civilians had been killed and around 10,000 wounded -- figures AFP could not independently verify. Lebanon's health minister said at least 394 people had been killed in Israeli air strikes since Lebanon was dragged into the war a week ago, including 83 children and 42 women. Two Israeli soldiers were killed during the fighting in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military said. Trump on Saturday attended the return of the bodies of six American service members who were killed in a drone strike on a US base in Kuwait last Sunday. - No clear way out - Analysts warn there is still no clear path to ending a conflict that US and Israeli officials say could last a month or longer. Trump has suggested Iran's economy could be rebuilt if a leader "acceptable" to Washington replaces the late supreme leader. China and Russia have largely stayed on the sidelines despite close ties with Tehran. China's top diplomat Wang Yi said the war in the Middle East should "never have happened", telling a press conference in Beijing: "The world cannot return to the law of the jungle." On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV prayed "that the roar of the bombs may cease, the weapons may fall silent, and a space for dialogue may open". burs-dc/smw/dcp Kuwait airport, Bahrain desalination unit struck as Iran presses Gulf attacks Kuwait City, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Iran struck Gulf infrastructure Sunday, hitting fuel tanks at Kuwait's airport and a desalination plant in Bahrain, with at least four reported dead in the region as Tehran pressed its campaign there into a second week. In Saudi Arabia, the civil defence said a "military projectile" killed two people -- an Indian and a Bangladeshi -- and injured 12 others after it fell in a residential area in Al-Kharj governorate south of Riyadh. In Kuwait, two border guards were killed "while performing their national duty", the interior ministry said, without elaborating on the circumstances. Gulf countries have borne much of Tehran's response after the US and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran, with 18 people, 10 of them civilians, killed in the Gulf states since the war began, according to an AFP tally. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned Sunday that the Islamic republic "will be forced to respond" against its neighbours if their territory was used to attack it. On Saturday, the president had apologised to neighbouring countries hosting US military bases for attacks on their land. Gulf countries have said their territory has not been used in attacks against Iran, and before the war began they repeatedly said they would not allow such a move. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait all reported new attacks on Sunday. Fuel tanks at Kuwait's international airport were targeted in a drone attack, the military said. The official Kuwait News Agency said a fire at the airport was brought under control, reporting no "significant injuries". The military 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". - 'Drone threats' - Kuwait's national oil company announced a "precautionary" cut to its crude production, as the country's military said Sunday that it had responded to several drone and missile attacks. Authorities said Kuwait's main building for social security was targeted, causing material damage, and that it would not receive visitors there on Sunday. Bahrain's interior ministry said Sunday that an Iranian drone attack damaged a water desalination plant, accusing Tehran of "randomly" targeting civilian infrastructure. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Saturday that it had struck the United States' Juffair base in Bahrain, adding it had been used to attack an Iranian desalination plant earlier in the day. Bahrain's national communication office later said the Iranian attack on the desalination facility had no impact on water supplies or network capacity. Falling missile debris also injured three people and damaged a university building in the Muharraq area, the interior ministry said in a separate statement. Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said on Sunday that it intercepted 33 drones, adding there were no reports of damage or casualties from the attacks. Among them was a drone aimed at Riyadh's diplomatic quarter, also thwarted with no material damage or civilian injuries, the ministry's spokesman said, adding the capital and surrounding areas were targeted by 26 drones. One drone targeted the Shaybah oil field in the southeast of the country, according to the Saudi defence ministry. - 'At the disposal of the enemy' - The UAE said its air defences detected 17 ballistic missiles on Sunday -- destroying 16, while one fell into the sea -- and intercepted 113 of 117 drones detected, with four falling inside the country. Despite the Iranian president's apology to the Gulf countries for earlier strikes, hours later its judiciary chief said strikes would continue on sites in Gulf countries that 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 briefly closed its main airport -- the world's busiest for international traffic -- on Saturday after authorities said an unidentified object was intercepted nearby. A witness told AFP of a loud explosion in the area followed by a cloud of smoke. 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. Macron to visit Cyprus as France deploys warships to Mediterranean Paris, France, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 President Emmanuel Macron will visit Cyprus on Monday, his office said, as France deploys warships to the Mediterranean following a drone attack on the island EU member days ago. Macron will meet his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Paphos to show "solidarity" and detail moves to "strengthen security around Cyprus and in the eastern Mediterranean", the Elysee said on Sunday. The visit will take place as the war pitting the US and Israel against Iran is in its second week, affecting much of the Middle East. Cyprus on Monday was targeted by Iranian-made drones, leading Macron to order France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean and a frigate and air defence units to Cyprus. "This trip is intended to demonstrate France's solidarity with Cyprus, a member state of the European Union with which we have a strategic partnership" and which was recently hit "by several drones and missile strikes", the Elysee said. France has insisted its stance in the region is "strictly defensive". The visit to Cyprus will also allow Macron "to emphasise the importance of guaranteeing freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, in particular through the European Union's Aspides maritime operation", it added. Numerous attacks have struck ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint in the Gulf, since the US-Israeli war on Iran started on February 28. A government spokesman for Cyprus, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said the visit will allow the leaders of Cyprus, Greece, and France to assess the "high level of coordination" between their nations. Letymbiotis also highlighted the role of Italy, which like the United Kingdom, has deployed a warship to Cyprus. On Sunday, Macron wrote on X that he had also spoken with the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the presidents of Egypt and Azerbaijan. Discussing the region with the Qatari ruler, Macron said he highlighted France's "defensive military support," particularly in the air, which he noted is deployed to the "benefit of Qatar". "Qatar and France share the same conviction: beyond the clamour of arms, lasting stability for all must come through de-escalation and negotiation," Macron added. Macron also said he offered France's "support and solidarity" to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev after a drone strike on the country, which neighbours Iran, raised fears that the Middle East war could spill into the Caucasus. With Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, he discussed "the important of securing as quickly as possible the maritime transport in the Red Sea", including for energy resources, Macron said on X. Trump says new Iran leader won't last long without his approval Tehran, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 US President Donald Trump warned on Sunday that Iran's next supreme leader would not last long without his approval, as Tehran prepared to reveal the successor to the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Nine days into the war that killed the supreme leader, three members of Iran's Assembly of Experts said the organisation had chosen a successor, but several hours after those statements no name had been revealed. Hossein Redaei, a member of the body, said it had gathered the votes for the next supreme leader, but said it had not been deemed appropriate to hold a public and in-person gathering given the wartime conditions. Some have suggested that Khamenei's 56-year old son Mojtaba Khamenei would succeed his father. Trump had previously demanded a say in the appointment and dismissed the younger Khamenei as an unacceptable "lightweight". "He's going to have to get approval from us," Trump told ABC News on Sunday, referring to Iran's next leader. "If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long." But Tehran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said earlier in the day that the decision was Iran's alone, adding it would "allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs". Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press", Araghchi went on to demand that Trump "apologise to people of the region" for the spiralling war. The younger Khamenei is regarded as a conservative figure, notably because of his ties to the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the Islamic republic's military. Israel's military has warned any successor that "we will not hesitate to target you". - Air 'unbreathable' - Israel's reach was underlined by two new operations overnight -- strikes against fuel dumps in and around Tehran, and an attack on a hotel in the heart of Lebanon's capital Beirut that targeted suspected Iranian commanders. Israel said the Beirut strike killed five Revolutionary Guards commanders, including three from the Quds Force, the Guards' elite foreign branch. Warplanes hit five oil facilities around the Iranian capital, killing at least four people, according to a state oil executive, and blanketing the city in acrid smoke. Tehran's governor told the IRNA news agency that fuel distribution had been "temporarily interrupted" in the capital. A dark haze hung over the city of 10 million people, blocking out the sun, while the smell of burning fuel lingered in the air. Authorities warned the fumes could be toxic and urged citizens to stay indoors, but many windows were blown out by the force of the blasts. "The blaze has been burning for more than 12 hours, the air has become unbreathable. I can't even go out to do the daily shopping," said a 35-year-old from Tehran. "At first, I supported this war. After Khamenei's death, I celebrated with my friends: we drank wine and we danced. "But since yesterday... people say there's not even any gasoline left at the gas stations," she said in a text message to Europe. As the war ground on, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had enough supplies to continue their drone and missile war over the Middle East for up to six months. Several blasts were heard over Israel's commercial hub of Tel Aviv after the Israeli military said it had detected a salvo of missiles from Iran. The Magen David Adom emergency services said six people were wounded in central Israel. - Advanced missiles - Trump again refused to rule out sending US ground troops into Iran, but continued to insist that the war was all but won despite the ongoing Iranian missile and drone strikes. His comments came hours before the US military announced the death of a seventh service member, who died on Saturday in Saudi Arabia after being wounded during an Iranian attack. Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said Iran had so far used only first- and second-generation missiles, but would use "advanced and less-used long-range missiles" in the coming days. Saudi Arabia said two people were killed and 12 wounded by a "projectile" on Sunday in Al-Kharj province, having earlier said it intercepted a wave of drones headed for targets including the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh. Kuwait, meanwhile, said an attack hit fuel tanks at its international airport and Bahrain reported a water desalination plant had been damaged. In a rare speech, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa said "we regret the unprecedented aggression" of Iran's attacks, which he said "cannot be justified under any excuse". Iran's health ministry said Sunday that at least 1,200 civilians had been killed and around 10,000 wounded -- figures AFP could not independently verify. Lebanon's health minister said at least 394 people had been killed in Israeli air strikes since Lebanon was dragged into the war a week ago, including 83 children and 42 women. Two Israeli soldiers were killed during the fighting in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military said. Trump on Saturday attended the return of the bodies of six American service members who were killed in a drone strike on a US base in Kuwait last Sunday. - No clear way out - Analysts warn there is still no clear path to ending a conflict that US and Israeli officials say could last a month or longer. Trump has suggested Iran's economy could be rebuilt if a leader "acceptable" to Washington replaces the late supreme leader. China and Russia have largely stayed on the sidelines despite close ties with Tehran. China's top diplomat Wang Yi said the war in the Middle East should "never have happened", telling a press conference in Beijing: "The world cannot return to the law of the jungle." On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV prayed "that the roar of the bombs may cease, the weapons may fall silent, and a space for dialogue may open". burs-dc/smw/dcp/jsa US military announces death of 7th service member in Iran war Washington, United States, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 The US military on Sunday announced that a service member had died after being wounded in Saudi Arabia by an Iranian attack, the seventh American combat death since the war began. US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military forces in the Middle East, said in a statement that the service member died Saturday night "from injuries received during the Iranian regime's initial attacks across the Middle East" on March 1. It did not provide further details about the circumstances of the attack and said the service member's identity was being withheld until 24 hours after notification of the person's family. The six other US service members killed so far were all in Kuwait and also struck in the initial wave of retaliatory attacks from Iran. Since the United States and Israel launched their mass aerial campaign against Iran on February 28, Tehran has responded with waves of drone and missile attacks on Israel and on nations around the Middle East where US troops are located. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump and other top officials attended the repatriation of the bodies of the six dead soldiers at a US military base in Delaware. Markets sold off this past week as escalating US-Israeli strikes sent oil prices to their highest levels since 2024, leaving investors scrambling to price in the risk of a prolonged regional conflict. In times of volatility, Wall Street strategists say that certain tech giants offer safe havens for those who must remain positioned in the stock market. Rob Haworth, senior investment strategist at US Bank Wealth Management, told Yahoo Finance that there is a definitive "structural tailwind" to the AI trade, with hyperscalers upping their investment by 30% in 2026 alone. Even as questions about the broader market remain, "this is a story that we think lasts and has legs," he said. The primary defensive anchors in this environment are Microsoft (MSFT) and Apple (AAPL), which DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria described as "stay connected" necessities. Luria points out that even in an economic slowdown, consumers will continue to buy iPhones, just as businesses will remain committed to Windows and Azure. Dan Ives of Wedbush reinforced this, pointing to Microsoft's massive $625 billion backlog and Apple's "monster cash flow" as critical buffers against volatility. Google parent company Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) is also seen as a resilient third choice due to its steady business model, though Luria remains skeptical of more "economically sensitive" names like Meta (META). This stems from Meta's near-total reliance on advertising, which makes up roughly 98% of its revenue. While Microsoft and Alphabet have enterprise cloud buffers, Meta remains highly vulnerable to pullbacks in marketing budgets from small and medium-size businesses. Others on Wall Street are more bullish on Amazon (AMZN), pointing to a significant margin opportunity for its retail and cloud service, Amazon Web Services (AWS). Amazon is the "most attractive it's ever been on a sum-of-the-parts basis," Rockland Trust vice president Michael Sayers told Yahoo Finance. This divergence highlights a shift toward high-margin cloud infrastructure as a hedge against traditional retail volatility. As the global landscape darkens with oil prices spiking and major indexes reeling from the escalating US-Israel strikes on Iran the cybersecurity and defense sectors are turning into mission-critical utilities. Read more: How oil price shocks ripple through your wallet, from gas to groceries Companies like Palantir (PLTR), CrowdStrike (CRWD), and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) are at the top of the list for an "aggressive" defensive strategy, providing the digital protection necessary to combat state-actor threats, said Luria. Israel strikes Beirut hotel as Lebanon says war toll nears 400 Beirut, Lebanon, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Israel struck a hotel in central Beirut on Sunday, the first attack on the city centre since the start of the new war with Hezbollah, as Lebanon said nearly 400 people were killed over the past week. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on Monday, when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes. Israel, which has kept up strikes targeting Hezbollah despite a 2024 ceasefire, launched multiple waves of strikes this week across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas. Hezbollah said on Sunday that it repeatedly targeted northern Israel, including attacking a naval base in Haifa and sending a swarm of drones towards the city of Nahariya. It later said it had downed an Israeli drone over Wadi Saluki in southern Lebanon. Israel's military, meanwhile, said that two of its soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, the first fatalities among its forces since the latest offensive began on March 2. It also reiterated its call for Lebanese residents to leave the area south of the Litani River, which covers many hundreds of square kilometres (miles). Lebanon's health minister Rakan Nassereddine on Sunday said Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed 394 people over the past week, including 83 children and 42 women. Social affairs minister Haneen Sayed later said 517,000 displaced people had registered their names on a website affiliated with the ministry. Earlier the same day, the health ministry said an Israeli air strike hit Beirut's city centre, targeting "a hotel room" and killing four people and wounding 10 others. - 'No safe place' - "I came here from the southern suburbs to be safe with my children and the strike hit," said Abu Hussein, a 45-year-old taxi driver while showing his damaged car. "There is no safe place." An AFP photographer at the bombarded seafront hotel saw one room on the fourth floor with shattered glass and charred walls, while security forces cordoned off the site. Israel's military said it had "conducted a precise strike" targeting "five commanders" in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, its foreign operations arm, "while they were meeting at a hotel in Beirut". A security official at the scene told AFP on condition of anonymity that Hezbollah-linked rescuers recovered three bodies from the hotel. The Raouche area is a major tourist destination and remained untouched by Israeli strikes during the previous war between Israel and Hezbollah, which a November 2024 ceasefire sought to end. Along its Mediterranean coast, the area is home to dozens of hotels, now overcrowded with displaced people who fled their homes elsewhere in Lebanon. - Iranians evacuated - Lebanon's government on Thursday banned any activity by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps -- a main backer of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. A Lebanese official who requested anonymity told AFP that "a total of 117 Iranians, including diplomats and embassy staff, were evacuated on a Russian plane that left Beirut overnight from Saturday to Sunday" for Turkey. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi also accused Hezbollah of carrying out a "blatant attack on Cyprus", after Nicosia said an Iranian-made drone that hit a British base on the island on Monday was probably fired by Hezbollah in Lebanon. In the south, a strike on Sir al-Gharbiyeh, just north of the Litani, killed 11 people including children according to the health ministry, with rescue efforts ongoing to find people under the rubble. Later on Sunday, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported two Israeli strikes on the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh in the south. Lebanon's health ministry reported one Palestinian killed and 10 wounded. Earlier that day, an Israeli strike on Tefahta, also in the south but above the Litani river, killed six people according to the ministry. Israel's army said, meanwhile, that it struck "over 600" Hezbollah targets and killed 200 members of the group in the past week. It announced in a later statement that it carried out over 100 air strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah. Lebanon's health minister insisted that "these are civilians being targeted, not, as they claim, military personnel and military installations". On Friday night, a failed Israeli commando operation to find the remains of airman Ron Arad, missing since 1986, killed 41 people in eastern Lebanon. War in the Middle East: latest developments Paris, France, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Here are the latest events in the Middle East war on Sunday: - 7th American killed - The US military announced its seventh combat death since the war began, after a service member succumbed to injuries from an attack in Saudi Arabia during Iran's initial wave of retaliatory strikes. The six others were killed in a drone strike on their base in Kuwait. - Macron speaks with Iran president - French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke with Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian and urged a halt to strikes on other countries in the region. It is the first known contact by a Western leader with Pezeshkian since the war began. - Iran commanders killed - Israel said five people were killed in a strike on a Beirut hotel, including three Iranian Revolutionary Guards commanders. - War could last - Israel's military chief warned that the country's state of emergency could last "much longer". - Anti-war women's demos - Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in cities across the world to mark International Women's Day and denounce the war in the Middle East. - Iran threatens oil strikes - Iran warned it would target oil sites in the region if Israel continued to strike its energy infrastructure. "If you can tolerate oil at more than $200 per barrel, continue this game," Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for Iran's central military command, told state TV. - Lebanese displaced - Lebanon's social affairs minister Haneen Sayed said more than half a million people had been registered as displaced since the outbreak of the new war between Israel and Hezbollah. - Dead, wounded in Saudi - Saudi Arabian civil defence officials said a "projectile" had killed two people and wounded 12. Its defence ministry reported intercepting 15 drones, including an attempted attack in the diplomatic quarter of the capital Riyadh. - Trump threatens next Iran leader - US President Donald Trump told ABC News that Iran's next leader would need Washington's approval if they wanted to last. "If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long." - Iran eyes successor - Members of Iran's Assembly of Experts said they had met and chosen a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel's military has vowed to target "any successor and anyone seeking to appoint one". - Starmer and Trump talk - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump held a call on Sunday about the war in the Middle East, said a UK government statement. Trump had insulted Starmer over his initial refusal to have any role in the war. - Tehran hit - Several blasts were heard in various parts of the Iranian capital, AFP journalists said. It was not immediately clear what was targeted, with clouds of smoke still shrouding the skyline after overnight strikes on oil depots in and around Tehran. - Palestinian camp hit - Israel struck a Palestinian refugee camp in south Lebanon, Lebanese state media reported. The National News Agency said "enemy warplanes launched two raids on the Ain al-Hilweh camp in Sidon". - Iran defiant - Iran's foreign minister said the Iranian people, not the US president, would elect their new leader. "We will allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs," Abbas Araghchi told NBC. US President Donald Trump should apologise to the people of Iran and the region for the "killings and destruction", he added. - 'Reckless' attacks - The head of the Arab League said Iran's attacks on several member states were "reckless", urging Tehran to reverse what he called a "massive strategic mistake". - Israeli casualties - Israel's military said two of its soldiers had been killed fighting in southern Lebanon -- the first Israeli troops to have died since fighting flared with Iran's Lebanese proxy Hezbollah. Six people were wounded, some by shrapnel, at blast sites in central Israel, first responders said. - Abu Dhabi blasts - Witnesses told AFP of hearing fresh explosions in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi. - Lebanon toll climbs - Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed 394 people in the past week, including 83 children and 42 women, the country's health minister said. He said nine rescue workers were among those killed, condemning attacks on medical teams and ambulances. - Iranians leave Beirut - More than 100 Iranians, including some diplomats, were evacuated from Beirut overnight on a Russian plane, a Lebanese official told AFP. Mojtaba Khamenei: son and successor to Iran's supreme leader Paris, France, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, has been appointed to succeed his father as the new head of the Islamic republic. The younger Khamenei was named supreme leader by the top clerical body the Assembly of Experts in a statement published shortly after midnight on Monday in Iran. Other contenders for the top position had included Alireza Arafi, one of the three members of the interim council running the country, hardliner Mohsen Araki, and even Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic republic in 1979. But ultimately the assembly settled on Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, opting for the kind of hereditary transition that his father had rejected on principle in 2024. The Islamic revolution had put an end to a multi-century royal dynasty headed by the shah. Born on September 8, 1969, in the holy city of Mashhad in eastern Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei is one of six children of the late supreme leader. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed aged 86 just over a week ago in Tehran during the first wave of US-Israeli air strikes that triggered the war in the Middle East. Because of his discretion at official ceremonies and in the media, Mojtaba Khamenei's true influence has been the subject of intense speculation for years among the Iranian population as well as in diplomatic circles. He is the only child of the former supreme leader to hold a public position, despite having no official post. The cleric, who has a salt-and-pepper beard and the black turban of the "seyyed", descendants of the Prophet Mohammed, has been presented by some as acting behind the scenes to pull strings at the heart of power in Iran. He is regarded as close to conservatives, notably because of his ties with the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the Islamic republic's military. That relationship dates back to his service in a combat unit at the end of the war between Iraq and Iran that lasted from 1980 to 1988. - Security force links - The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba Khamenei in 2019 during President Donald Trump's first term, saying he represented the supreme leader "despite never being elected or appointed to a government position aside from work in the office of his father". Ali Khamenei had "delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities" to his son, "who worked closely" with Iranian security forces "to advance his father's destabilising regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives", the Treasury said. Opponents have notably accused him of playing a role in the violent crackdown that followed the re-election of ultra-conservative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009, which triggered a vast protest movement. According to an investigation by the Bloomberg news organisation, which cited anonymous sources and Western intelligence agency reports, Mojtaba Khamenei has amassed wealth estimated at more than $100 million. Money from oil sales had been channelled into investments in luxury British real estate, hotels in Europe and property in Dubai through shell companies in tax havens, according to the investigation. On the religious front, Mojtaba Khamenei studied theology in the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, where he also taught. He attained the rank of Hujjat al-Islam, a title given to mid-ranking clerics, below that of Ayatollah held by his father and by revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini. His wife, Zahra Haddad-Adel, daughter of a former speaker of parliament, also died in the US-Israeli strikes that killed the supreme leader, according to Iranian authorities. Israel has issued a stark warning to the new supreme leader and whoever selected him, saying "the hand of the State of Israel will continue to follow any successor and anyone who seeks to appoint a successor". The Assembly of Experts has 88 members who are elected every eight years. It has only overseen one leadership transition process to date, when Khamenei was selected in 1989 following the death of Khomeini. Iran names Khamenei's son as new supreme leader Tehran, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Iran's ruling clerics on Sunday appointed the slain leader's son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, as the country's new supreme leader, defying threats from the United States and Israel to oppose him. Nine days after US-Israeli strikes killed the elder Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and plunged the Middle East into war, the clerical government's Assembly of Experts convened to choose their next leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, "is appointed and introduced as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the decisive vote of the respected representatives of the Assembly of Experts", the clerical body said in a statement. It said that the clerical body "did not hesitate for a minute" in choosing a new leader, despite "the brutal aggression of the criminal America and the evil Zionist regime". US President Donald Trump has previously dismissed the younger Khamenei as a "lightweight", and insisted again on Sunday that he should have a say in the new leader's appointment. "If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long," he told ABC News before the announcement was made. But Tehran's top diplomat said Sunday that the decision was Iran's alone, adding it would "allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs". Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press", Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi went on to demand Trump "apologise to people of the region" for starting the war. The younger Khamenei is regarded as a conservative figure, notably because of his ties with the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of the Islamic republic's military. Israel's military had previously warned any successor that "we will not hesitate to target you". - Air 'unbreathable' - Overnight, Israel struck five oil facilities in and around Tehran, killing at least four people and sparking blazes that left the skies filled with acrid smoke. Tehran's governor told the IRNA news agency that fuel distribution had been "temporarily interrupted" in the capital. A dark haze hung over the city of 10 million people, blocking out the sun, and the smell of burning fuel lingered in the air. Authorities warned the fumes could be toxic and urged citizens to stay indoors, but many windows were blown out by the force of the blasts. "The blaze has been burning for more than 12 hours, the air has become unbreathable. I can't even go out to do the daily shopping," said one 35-year-old from Tehran. "At first, I supported this war. After Khamenei's death, I celebrated with my friends: we drank wine and we danced. "But since yesterday... people say there's not even any gasoline left at the gas stations," she said, in a text message to contacts in Europe. As the war extended into its ninth day, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had enough supplies to continue their drone and missile war over the Middle East for up to six months. Several blasts were heard over Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv after the Israeli military said it had detected a salvo of missiles from Iran. The Magen David Adom emergency services said six people were wounded in central Israel. - Advanced missiles - Trump again refused to rule out sending American ground troops into Iran, but continued to insist that the war was all but won despite the ongoing Iranian missile and drone strikes. Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said Iran had so far used only first- and second-generation missiles, but would use "advanced and less-used long-range missiles" in the coming days. Saudi Arabia said Sunday that two people were killed and 12 wounded by a "military projectile" in Al Kharj province, having earlier said it intercepted a wave of drones headed for targets including the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh. Kuwait, meanwhile, said an attack hit fuel tanks at its international airport and Bahrain reported a water desalination plant had been damaged. Iran's health ministry said Sunday that at least 1,200 civilians had been killed and around 10,000 wounded -- figures AFP could not independently verify. Lebanon's health minister said at least 394 people had been killed in Israeli air strikes since Lebanon was dragged into the war a week ago, including 83 children and 42 women. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed during the fighting in southern Lebanon, the military said. Trump, meanwhile, attended the return of the bodies of six American service members killed in a drone strike on a US base in Kuwait last Sunday. - No clear way out - Analysts warn there is still no clear path to ending a conflict that US and Israeli officials say could last a month or longer. Trump has suggested Iran's economy could be rebuilt if a leader "acceptable" to Washington replaces the late supreme leader. On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV prayed "that the roar of the bombs may cease, the weapons may fall silent, and a space for dialogue may open". burs-dc-sct/des 10 vessels attacked in Hormuz Strait: analysts Paris, France, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 About 10 vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz have come under attack since Iran blocked the strategic waterway in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, data analysis groups report. The attacks throughout the week following the outbreak of war on February 28 almost completely halted traffic through the strait, a crucial route for oil and other goods. Britain's maritime security agency UKMTO has issued around 10 alerts for attacks as well as warnings of suspicious activity, but has released few details on the vessels involved. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) listed on its website Friday a total of nine attacks on ships in the strait in one week, including four incidents that killed a total of seven people. - Seven reported killed - The IMO said one person was killed in each of three attacks on the vessels Skylight, MKD Vyom and the Stena Imperative on March 2, when the Hercules Star was also hit. Between March 3 and 5 four more vessels were struck: the Libra Trader, Gold Oak, Safeen Prestige and the Sonangol Namibe. On March 6, four people were killed when the Mussafah 2 was struck. Indonesia announced Sunday that a vessel whose characteristics and last known position matched those of the Mussafah 2 sank two days earlier, but with a different toll. Jakarta reported three Indonesian crew members missing, one injured Indonesian survivor and four survivors of other nationalities. The strait normally sees 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas transit it, but tanker traffic there has dropped by 90 percent in a week, according to analysis firm Kpler, which operates the MarineTraffic platform. According MarineTraffic data analysed by AFP on Friday, only nine commercial ships -- tankers, cargo vessels and container ships -- had been detected crossing the strait since Monday, with some intermittently masking their position. - Rescuers targeted - Maritime security firm Vanguard said the Mussafah 2 was hit by two missiles as it tried to assist the container ship Safeen Prestige, which had been struck by a missile two days earlier. "Recent incident reporting... indicates that vessels providing assistance or salvage operations to previously targeted vessels may also face elevated risk of follow-on strikes," the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC), run by a Western naval coalition, warned in a note Saturday. "The observed pattern of strikes against anchored vessels, drifting ships, and assistance vessels indicates a campaign focused on creating operational uncertainty and deterring routine commercial movement rather than a sustained attempt to sink vessels." Drone and missile attacks claimed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards are not always confirmed by independent sources -- some are confirmed only after several days, and the vessels involved are not always identified. Casualty tolls can vary. - Iran's mixed messages - Iran exports its own oil via the Strait of Hormuz and its intentions remain unclear. A Revolutionary Guards general warned on March 2 that Iran would "burn any ship" attempting to cross the strait and block all Gulf oil exports. But Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday it had "no intention" of closing the Strait of Hormuz. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday it would escort merchant ships attempting to transit the strait "as soon as it's reasonable to do it". French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday he was seeking to build a coalition to secure the "sea lanes essential to the global economy" in the region. Macron to visit Cyprus as French warships deploy to counter Iran threat Paris, France, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 President Emmanuel Macron will visit Cyprus on Monday, his office said, as France deploys warships to the Mediterranean following a drone attack on the island EU member days ago. Macron will meet his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Paphos to show "solidarity" and detail moves to "strengthen security around Cyprus and in the eastern Mediterranean", the Elysee said on Sunday. The visit will take place as the war pitting the US and Israel against Iran is in its second week, affecting much of the Middle East. Cyprus on Monday was targeted by Iranian-made drones, leading Macron to order France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean and a frigate and air defence units to Cyprus. "This trip is intended to demonstrate France's solidarity with Cyprus, a member state of the European Union with which we have a strategic partnership" and which was recently hit "by several drones and missile strikes", the Elysee said. Macron said later he had spoken with his US and Iranian counterparts Sunday ahead of the trip. The first Western leader to speak with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian since the outbreak of the war, Macron said on X that he "stressed the need for Iran to immediately cease its strikes against countries in the region". He also urged Iran to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. He gave no details of his conversation with US President Donald Trump. - Hormuz Strait security - France has insisted its stance in the region is "strictly defensive". The visit to Cyprus will also allow Macron "to emphasise the importance of guaranteeing freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, in particular through the European Union's Aspides maritime operation", it added. Numerous attacks have struck ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint in the Gulf, since the US-Israeli war on Iran started on February 28. A government spokesman for Cyprus, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said the visit would allow the leaders of Cyprus, Greece, and France to assess the "high level of coordination" between their nations. Letymbiotis also highlighted the role of Italy, which like the United Kingdom, has deployed a warship to Cyprus. On Sunday, Macron wrote on X that he had also spoken with the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the presidents of Egypt and Azerbaijan. Discussing the region with the Qatari ruler, Macron said he highlighted France's "defensive military support", particularly in the air, which he noted was deployed to the "benefit of Qatar". "Qatar and France share the same conviction: beyond the clamour of arms, lasting stability for all must come through de-escalation and negotiation," Macron added. Macron also said he offered France's "support and solidarity" to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev after a drone strike on the country, which neighbours Iran, raised fears that the Middle East war could spill into the Caucasus. With Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, he discussed "the important of securing as quickly as possible the maritime transport in the Red Sea", including for energy resources, Macron said on X. vl-fff-hr/ekf/yad/rlp/jj I didnt know how to be alive the way I wanted to be, and it was difficult, but I do not for a second regret it, and I think Ive been able to transform it and recognise our vulnerabilities as humans in the world. The wilder the content, the more likely it is to drive engagement and potential revenue. Its no longer enough to post a video about the health benefits of, say, tinned sardines. Instead, influencers are going on a three-day sardine cleanse where they only eat the oily fish. One creator claimed she had the best sleep of her life, felt energised, refreshed, and could even hold better conversations. Having that much fat for that long could probably cause you some digestive upset, says Kirsten Humphreys diplomatically not to mention the risk of arsenic poisoning. Yet she is all too aware of why influencers go to the extremes. Humphreys recalls a social media training course where she was advised to say things that are controversial in order to grow her profile. Allow Google Search To use the search feature, we need your consent to load Google Custom Search, which may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to enable search. See our privacy policy for more information. Allow and Continue I will always be guided by what is best for the British public and no matter the headwinds, supporting working people and their families with the cost of living is always top of my mind. Shares of transformational organ transplant company TransMedics Group (NASDAQ: TMDX) are up 104% over the last year as the company continues to become the clear leader in its niche. While it is easy for investors to feel like they missed their opportunity to buy a stock once it doubles, The Motley Fool's co-founder, David Gardner -- and his six traits of a Rule Breaker stock -- say the exact opposite is true. Strong past price appreciation is one of the traits that helps investors find the most promising growth stocks on the market, which I believe TransMedics will continue to be. Best yet for investors: This isn't the only Rule Breaker trait that TransMedics is home to. TransMedics: Revolutionizing the organ transplant industry TransMedics offers a turnkey, end-to-end offering for organ transplants through its Organ Care System (OCS) and its National OCS Program (NOP). Its OCS is a next-gen array of solutions that "replicate many aspects of the organ's natural living and functioning environment outside of the human body," keeping the donated organs much healthier than traditional ice storage methods. Meanwhile, TransMedics' NOP helps streamline operations on the clinical side, while the company's logistics network of 22 aircraft and 18 hubs across the U.S. provides expedited transportation for organs. Powered by these new innovative solutions, TransMedics looks like a true Rule Breaker. 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 1. Top dog and first mover in an important, emerging industry TransMedics' leading-edge OCS makes it a first mover in its industry, where it holds roughly a 20% market share in U.S. transplants for livers, hearts, and lungs. While the organ donation industry isn't an "emerging" market per se, there is an immense opportunity for optimization. Only 20% of hearts, 24% of lungs, and 61% of livers donated in the U.S. get utilized. As TransMedics' OCS and NOP steadily push these figures higher, the company is essentially turning the industry into an emerging one. Furthermore, donations after circulatory death -- which are typically vastly underutilized compared to donations after brain death -- have jumped sixfold since 2017, highlighting that the company's capabilities are fueling growth. Image source: The Motley Fool. 2. Sustainable competitive advantage Powered by new generations of its OCS for livers, hearts, lungs, and possibly kidneys, TransMedics and its NOP network are hard for any single company to replicate. This vertical integration from research and development on new iterations of its products, all the way down to providing the logistics to use its products, makes the company's moat quite wide. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (center) mingles with Texas Rep. Richard Raymond and another person at the 74th Annual Mr. South Texas Luncheon, on Feb. 21, 2026, at Laredo Country Club. David Gomez Jr./Laredo Morning Times With the possible exception of U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico, the most relieved Democrats after Tuesday's primary might be U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez of South Texas. Their relief has less to do with the fact that each easily secured renomination against lesser-known challengers. What matters more is the raw vote totals: in both districts, Democratic turnout matched or exceeded the total number of Republican votes cast in the GOP primaries. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thats significant because both districts were redrawn last year by the Republican-controlled state Legislature at the urging of President Donald Trump, who wanted as many as five additional winnable Texas seats for the GOP in Novembers midterm elections. Consider Cuellar's 28th Congressional District, anchored by his home base in Laredo but stretching into rural Southwest Texas where Republicans showed surprising strength in the 2024 presidential election. That display of newfound muscle convinced Republican map drawers that they might finally be able to unseat Cuellar, even though he's been racking up votes in the region since the 1990s, when he was first elected to the Texas House. Tuesday's results told a different story. Statesman Logo Want more Statesman? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source Cuellar drew just over 39,000 votes, about 58% total in a three-way race. In all, 67,401 votes were cast in the district's Democratic primary, according to the Texas Secretary of State's Office. On the Republican side, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina captured nearly 75% of the vote against a single rival. But his raw total was just 12,487 votes out of 16,792 ballots cast. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Put simply, Democrats outvoted Republicans by more than a 4-to-1 margin in a district designed to give the GOP the edge. A similar pattern emerged farther south the Rio Grande in Brownsville, the anchor city of the 34th Congressional District. Gonzalez received 35,249 votes against his only challenger, good for 63% of the 56,198 ballots cast in the Democratic primary. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thats notable because Gonzalez has had some close calls. In November 2024 he won reelection with just 51% of the vote, suggesting he might be vulnerable if Republicans tweaked the districts boundaries during the 2025 redistricting. U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (third from right wearing cap) of Texas mingles with Democrats at El Dorado Restaurant in Weslaco in South Texas. To his right is U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York. Gromer Jeffers Jr./TNS The GOP certainly treated the race that way: eight Republicans entered the newly drawn District 34 primary. Combined, those eight Republican candidates received 36,520 votes slightly more than Gonzalez himself, but nearly 20,000 fewer than the total number of Democratic votes cast in the district. Advertisement Article continues below this ad None of this guarantees that Cuellar or Gonzalez will win in November. But it also doesnt point to the kind of Republican landslide that some political strategists and GOP leaders predicted after South Texas shifted toward Trump in 2024. South Texas has become one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in modern Texas politics. Most of the state's large cities have been firmly Democratic since the turn of the century, while Republicans have long dominated rural Texas. But Trump's gains in heavily Hispanic counties along the Rio Grande in 2024 suggested the GOP might finally be building an insurmountable coalition across the state. If that were the case if Republicans could add South Texas to their existing strength in places like the Piney Woods, the Panhandle and the High Plains Democrats could face decades more in the political wilderness. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tuesdays primary results dont settle that debate. Turnout in primaries is always far lower than in general elections even in a cycle with unusually high participation. The electorate that shows up in November can look very different from the one that votes in March. Its entirely possible the Democratic turnout advantage seen Tuesday will disappear in the fall. Its also possible that the GOPs recent South Texas gains prove less durable than they first appeared. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Still, if Democrats are searching for signs of life in Texas politics, the primary numbers offer at least a hint of one. Performance was driven by a milestone year of strategic fleet renewal, including the integration of the Viken fleet and achieving record-high fleet utilization of 96.6%. Management attributed late-year strength to the lifting of Venezuelan sanctions, noting TEN operated the first vessel to transport legal exports to the U.S. following political changes. The company is leveraging a 'moat' of modern, eco-friendly vessels, transitioning toward dual-fuel and LNG-powered tankers to meet specific energy major requirements. Operational success is anchored in an industrial model where fixed-rate charters cover all cash expenses, allowing spot and profit-sharing revenue to flow directly to the bottom line. Strategic divestment of 18 older vessels (average age 17 years) and replacement with 34 modern vessels (average age 0.5 years) has significantly lowered the fleet's average age and improved fuel efficiency. A Miami Beach condo building is at the center of a fraud investigation that should catch the attention of condo owners everywhere: How closely are you watching the people who handle your buildings money? Prosecutors say two men were jailed after allegedly diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars that were supposed to fund critical safety work, a reminder that when oversight breaks down, residents can end up paying the price. Must Read According to investigators, the case centers on the Euclid East Condos in Miami Beach, where property manager Francisco Obispo and maintenance worker Jose Hernandez Aguiar are accused of orchestrating a kickback scheme tied to the buildings required 40-year recertification (1), a process meant to ensure structural safety. Alleged kickback scheme tied to condo safety funds Authorities allege that the homeowners association paid roughly $370,000 to Hernandezs company, JLB Repair LLC, for work connected to the recertification. Investigators say Hernandez was not a licensed contractor, and that after payments were issued, money allegedly flowed back to Obispo. Prosecutors claim Obispo received about $95,000 through multiple transactions. A property manager taking kickbacks its bad for condo owners because it secretly flips a managers role and his motives and incentives," Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle told Local 10 News in Miami (2). The alleged scheme came to light after a board member noticed discrepancies in financial records and reported concerns to investigators. That board member was later removed after Obispo reportedly told others he posed a safety risk, according to investigators. Both men have been arrested and face charges including an organized scheme to defraud, with Obispo also accused of receiving kickbacks. 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) Why condo fraud can hit owners hard For condo owners, stories like this land close to home because they rely heavily on property managers, boards and vendors to manage large sums of money. That money can include everything from maintenance budgets to special assessments. The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds perform maneuvers for leaders of Air Combat Command, the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and 57th Fighter Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 5, 2026. (Zachary Foster/U.S. Air Force) The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, has earned its final certification ahead of the 2026 air show season, authorizing the team to perform for public audiences across the nation. The final certification came from Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command on Thursday, according to a service news release. This certification is the culmination of a rigorous training season, and it is a testament to the skill, motivation and attitude this team shows up with every day, Spain said. They have earned the honor of representing the U.S. Air Force and showcasing the excellence and discipline we expect from every airman. U.S. Air Force Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command, evaluates the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds performance at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. March 5, 2026. (Zachary Foster/U.S. Air Force) Maintenance personnel assigned to the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds prepare aircraft for the teams certification at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 5, 2026. (Zachary Foster/U.S. Air Force) The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds perform their Low Bomb Burst manuever during the teams certification at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 5, 2026. (Zachary Foster/U.S. Air Force) U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Tyler Clark, Thunderbird 4/Slot Pilot assigned to the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds, performs a lightning take-off during the teams certification at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 5, 2026. (Zachary Foster/U.S. Air Force) With all required certifications now complete, the Thunderbirds are cleared to begin this years season. The first show is scheduled for March 21-22 at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The Thunderbirds conducted two months of training at the teams home station, Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, before deploying roughly 70 team members, nine F-16s and equipment across three locations: Spaceport America, N.M.; Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.; and Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif. While training at NAF El Centro, the team received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, confirming it meets the agencys strict federal safety standards. The Thunderbirds are the official air demonstration team of the U.S. Air Force. Their mission is to showcase the precision, professionalism and capabilities of the Air Force through aerial demonstration performances at air shows and public events around the world. For more information on the Thunderbirds and dates for upcoming shows, visit their website at http://www.airforce.com/thunderbirds. Maj. Sorffly Davius, who was deployed to Camp Buehring in Kuwait, died Friday from a medical incident, government officials said. (NYPD Facebook) A New York City police officer serving in Kuwait with the Army National Guard died Friday from a medical issue, government officials in his home state said Saturday. Maj. Sorffly Davius was deployed to Camp Buehring in Kuwait when the medical incident occurred, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement late Saturday. Davius was a devoted husband and father. I personally conveyed my deepest condolences to his wife and will keep his family, colleagues, and all who knew him in my thoughts, Hochul said. Davius was part of the Guards 42nd Infantry Division and was in Kuwait supporting Operation Epic Fury, according to NYPD. Davius joined NYPD in 2014 and served with the departments 79th Precinct in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. His career was defined by service to his country and to New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a joint statement. Hochul called Davius a citizen soldier who spent his career protecting others. U.S. Central Command confirmed Davius death Sunday. Camp Buehring, established more than 20 years ago during the Iraq War, is a logistics hub and major staging area for U.S. forces in the Middle East. The base has been among the military locations targeted by Iran since the joint U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign launched over a week ago. The USS Nimitz transits Puget Sound during the ships final departure from Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, Wash., March 7, 2026. (Ibarra Ruiz/U.S. Navy) BREMERTON, Wash. USS Nimitz departed Friday for military exercises in the Southern Command area, the Navy said Saturday. Nimitz is deploying to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility this spring as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleets Southern Seas 2026 deployment, Lt. Cmdr. Peter Pagano, spokesman for the carrier, said in an email from aboard the ship. It departed Bremerton, its longtime homeport, for the last time. The Navys oldest carrier, commissioned in 1975, had been scheduled to depart its homeport at Naval Base Kitsap near Seattle to arrive in mid-April to begin decommissioning. It arrived at Kitsap in December from Asia and the Middle East at the end of what the Navy at the time said was its final deployment. Pagano said details of the new deployment are still under development. The Navy has not yet announced plans for South Seas 2026. The exercise last took place in April 2024 and included port calls in Peru, Chile and Brazil by the carrier USS George Washington. Nimitz will still shift homeports from Kitsap to Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The Nimitz is too large to use the Panama Canal, so it must make the estimated 12,400-nautical-mile voyage from Bremerton, around Cape Horn at the tip of South America, then north to Norfolk. Pagano did not comment on how participation in the exercise might affect the timeline for decommissioning the Navy laid out last year. Detailed planning is currently underway for Nimitz to visit several partner states on the ships circumnavigation of the continent of South America, en route to its new homeport, Pagano said. Additional details on the upcoming Southern Seas 2026 deployment, such as participating and embarked units, will be released before it begins. The departure of the Nimitz leaves one carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, at Kitsap. The USS Ronald Reagan is undergoing a 17-month overhaul scheduled to end later this year. The Navy has announced plans to homeport the future USS John F. Kennedy at Kitsap as early as 2029. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, center left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, center right, arrive at a ceremony following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Jan. 17, 2025. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo/AP) MOSCOW As U.S. and Israeli missiles and bombs rain on Iran, Russia has responded with words of indignation but no visible action to support its Middle Eastern ally. That cautious stance is driven by President Vladimir Putins focus on Ukraine and his apparent hope that the Iran war will play into Moscows hands by boosting its oil revenues and eroding Western support for Kyiv. Putin sent his condolences to Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian, condemning the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last weekend as a cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law. While Moscows failure to help another ally after the 2024 ouster of former Syrian ruler Bashar Assad and Januarys U.S. arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro highlighted the limits to its influence, the Kremlin expects to reap benefits from the Iran war. Russia already is profiting from a surge in energy prices over the wars disruptions to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and damage to energy facilities in Gulf countries. If hostilities escalate, a continued windfall would help fill Moscows coffers to finance military operations in Ukraine and patch the budget deficit. The Kremlin also hopes the Iran war will distract global attention from Ukraine, deplete Western arsenals and force the U.S. and its NATO allies to reduce military support for Kyiv. A swift Russian rebuke Hours after the war began Feb. 28, the Russian Foreign Ministry denounced the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran as a deliberate, premeditated, and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state, in direct violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international law. A week into the war, Putin had a call with Pezeshkian, saying Moscow wants to see a quick end to hostilities. But before that, he had a series of calls with Gulf leaders in an apparent bid to cement ties with the countries that are increasingly important for Moscow as part of the OPEC+ grouping controlling global oil prices and key trade partners helping bypass Western sanctions. The Kremlin said Putin will convey to Tehran the Gulf leaders deep concern about the strikes on their infrastructure and make every effort to facilitate at least minor easing of tensions. In a subsequent call with his Iranian counterpart, Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underscored the priority of ensuring the safety of civilians and protecting civilian infrastructure in all the countries of the region. Mark Galeotti, an expert on Russian politics who heads the Mayak Intelligence consultancy, noted that Russia has actually been quite an effective operator within the Middle East. He said that as the war escalates, many regional powers may have reason to look a little bit more to Moscow. Uneasy partners While Moscow and Tehran signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in January 2025, their relationship had a troubled past and remained tinged with rivalry. Even though Russia and Iran shared opposition to the Western-led rules-based order, Iran was always something of a strategic frenemy to Russia, Galeotti said in a recent podcast. Tensions ran high between Moscow and Tehran during the Cold War, when Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was a staunch U.S. ally. When Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led the 1979 Islamic Revolution, branding the U.S. as the Great Satan, he labeled the Soviet Union as the Lesser Satan. Russia-Iran ties warmed quickly after the USSRs 1991 breakup as Moscow became an important trade partner and helped build Irans first nuclear power plant in Bushehr. When Syrias civil war erupted in 2011, Russia and Iran pooled efforts to shore up Assads government but failed to prevent the swift collapse of his rule in December 2024. After Putin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, Tehran provided Russia with Shahed drones and later licensed their production in Russia. But even as it has built ties with Iran, Russia also has remained friendly with Israel, angering many in the Iranian leadership who were suspicious of Moscows intentions. Russias relationship with Iran, despite the latters staunch opposition to the U.S., has always been complex and challenging, Moscow-based military analyst Sergei Poletaev said in a commentary. When the U.S. and Israel struck Iran in June 2025, Russian officials underlined that their strategic partnership didnt envisage mutual military assistance in case of aggression. Asked Thursday whether Moscow could go beyond rhetoric and provide Iran with weapons, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded that it has received no such requests from Tehran. On Friday, two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence told The Associated Press that Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region. The people, 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. Peskov said Friday that Russia is in dialogue with the Iranian side, with representatives of the Iranian leadership, and will certainly continue this dialogue. Pressed on whether Russia has provided any military or intelligence assistance to Tehran since the wars start, he refrained from comment. Little damage seen to Putins authority While Khameneis killing revived talk of Russias failure to protect an ally, some observers warned against exaggerating the damage to Putins authority. Galeotti noted that Russia and Iran were always very pragmatic allies rather than anything else. Iran is a rival for authority in the Middle East and indeed within the South Caucasus, he said. If this regime doesnt actually fall, but has its wings clipped, from Russias point of view that actually might make it a rather more amenable temporary strategic partner. China a key customer for Iranian oil will likely boost imports of Russian crude as hostilities expand. After pressuring India to halt its imports of Russian oil, the U.S. on Thursday issued a 30-day waiver allowing its refineries to buy those supplies currently at sea. Turkey could boost its natural gas imports from Russia if supplies from Iran are disrupted. Sam Greene, a professor at Kings College London, also observed that the idea that Putin suffers when he loses allies whether Assad, Maduro or Khamenei exists entirely in the heads of Western analysts and has no basis in observable fact. Theres zero evidence that he cares, that it affects his authority at home or his legitimacy abroad, he said in a post on X. The Putin-Trump relationship Putin will not risk his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump to help Iran, Greene said, arguing that as miffed as Putin might be personally, hes not going to throw his relationship with Trump under the bus. The president, he said, is Putins greatest source of leverage over Europe. Hell keep his eye on the ball. As the U.S. and its allies quickly use up their arsenals of Patriot interceptors to fend off Iranian missiles targeting Israel and the Gulf countries, Russia can only be gleeful over the scenario. A prolonged conflict would not only draw attention away from Ukraine but would also redirect crucial resources like missile defense systems to the Persian Gulf, Poletaev said. Noted Galeotti: The more Patriots that get used up in this conflict ... the fewer available to the Americans generally and more uncomfortable they will feel about passing or selling any of them to the Ukrainians. Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed. A view of Manama, Bahrain, is shown in March of 2026. (Stars and Stripes) MANAMA, Bahrain An Iranian drone damaged a water desalination plant in Bahrain on Sunday, raising fears about attacks on the regions drinking-water infrastructure as Operation Epic Fury stretches into its second week. Bahrains Ministry of Interior said the drone struck the plant Sunday morning and accused Tehran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets. The Electricity and Water Authority confirmed that water and electricity services to residents were not affected. The island kingdom of Bahrain is home to thousands of U.S. service members and their families. Many live in the capital of Manama near a U.S. Navy base that has been attacked repeatedly since U.S. and Israeli forces began striking Iran on Feb. 28. The desalination plant attack came a day after Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps accused the U.S. of striking an Iranian desalination plant on Qeshm Island, which is north of the U.A.E. and Oman in the Persian Gulf. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sundays strike on Bahrains facilities was retaliation for the U.S. attack. The U.S. military has not confirmed striking the Iranian plant. Iran has fired counterstrikes at more than a dozen nations in the last week. The recent attacks have raised worries about the conflict expanding to critical civilian infrastructure. Desalination plants convert seawater into drinking water for millions of people across the Middle East. The region relies on over 400 Persian Gulf desalination plants run by Gulf Cooperation Council states, which produce about 40% of the worlds desalinated water. Desalination provides roughly 90% of Kuwaits drinking water; 86% in Oman; 70% in Saudi Arabia; and 42% in the UAE according to the Washington-based Arab Center. Also in Bahrain on Sunday, the interior ministry said falling missile debris injured three people and damaged a university building in the Muharraq area, an island northwest of Manama. Air raid sirens warned residents to take shelter. Missile fragments struck a main road, injuring one person and damaging several shops, causing evacuations. Manama is home to U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet and is one of numerous U.S. installations that have come under attack across the Middle East since the war began. Bahrains airspace remained closed Sunday and the King Fahd Causeway to Saudi Arabia remains the primary ground route out of the country. Service members and other members of the U.S. military community are relying on local markets for food and daily supplies after the on-base commissaries were shuttered when Iranian missiles and drones hit the Navy base. Bahrains Ministry of Industry and Commerce has begun enforcement actions against businesses accused of price gouging, according to local media, shutting down at least one food store. Investing.com The global gas market is facing a major supply shock following the Iran war and the shutdown of key Qatari LNG facilities, raising questions about whether U.S. liquefied natural gas can help stabilize Europes energy supply. Europes energy security has become more fragile as the region tries to replace lost pipeline gas supplies and reduce its reliance on Russian energy. This shift has pushed European buyers to depend more on global LNG markets, where supply is tighter and prices can be volatile. The United States has become a major LNG exporter in this environment. Strong shale gas production and new export facilities along the Gulf Coast have allowed the country to increase shipments to global markets, including Europe. According to a note from Bernstein, the halt of LNG shipments from Qatar and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have triggered sharp increases in global gas prices, with Europes benchmark TTF rising to about $16 per mmbtu while Asian prices climbed even higher. Despite the crisis, analysts say the U.S. may have limited ability to significantly increase LNG supply to Europe in the short term. Bernstein notes that U.S. LNG export terminals are already operating near full capacity, with recent export volumes running at roughly 94% of peak capacity. Facilities such as Sabine Pass, Corpus Christi, and Freeport are already producing close to their maximum sustainable output, leaving little room to boost shipments further. Instead of increasing production, the U.S. could only redirect existing cargoes. Because U.S. LNG contracts are typically sold on a free on board basis without destination restrictions, shipments originally bound for Asia could be diverted to Europe if prices there become more attractive. However, Europe is currently losing that bidding war. Asian LNG prices have surged sharply, creating a price spread that makes it more profitable for tankers to head toward Asian markets rather than Europe. Bernstein estimates that European gas prices may need to rise another 40% to 50% to attract enough U.S. LNG cargoes away from Asia if the disruption to Qatari exports lasts several months. Europes direct reliance on Qatari LNG is relatively limited, accounting for about 8% of its LNG imports in 2025, but the shutdown still has significant ripple effects because about 20% of global LNG supply normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, Europes gas storage levels are already below historical averages after a cold winter, adding further pressure on the region to secure supply ahead of next winters heating season. In this combo from satellite images provided by Vantor shows is a view of Natanz nuclear facility before, left, and with damage on Monday, March 2, 2026 in Iran. (Satellite image 2026 Vantor via AP) U.S. special operations forces may be needed to secure Irans uranium stockpiles, analysts say, as uncertainty over missing nuclear material persists amid American airstrikes on Iranian military targets. Thousands of U.S. and Israeli attacks have destroyed warships, missile launchers, facilities and weaponry. But questions about the fate of canisters containing enriched uranium could trigger action on the ground. In June, the U.S. carried out bunker-busting attacks on Irans nuclear program that were believed to set the program back years. Still, nuclear proliferation experts warn that nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium could be weaponized if centrifuges remain operational. It would take the mother of all commando raids plus heavy equipment to retrieve the canisters, Barbara Slavin, an expert on Iran with the Stimson Center think tank, wrote in response to a question from Stars and Stripes. President Donald Trump on Saturday didnt rule out such a move in the future. Right now, were just decimating them, but we havent gone after it, Trump said aboard Air Force One, referring to Irans nuclear sites. But (its) something we could do later on. We wouldnt do it now. Suspected locations for the material include damaged tunnel complexes at Irans Esfahan site and inside facilities at Fordow and Natanz. Recovering the material could require digging through rubble in harsh terrain while a war is underway, analysts say. Given uncertainty over who ends up controlling Irans nuclear sites, the U.S. could face a scramble to seize enriched uranium and centrifuges. If the current conflict leads to the erosion and eventual loss of control by the Iranian regime, and the emergence of instability or a power vacuum, the security of nuclear materials, technology and knowledge will be a major issue, wrote Daniel Salisbury and Alexander Bollfrass, experts with the International Institute for Strategic Studies in an analysis. A regime downfall could create an opening for theft of centrifuges and materials by groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic State, Slavin wrote in a Stimson Center analysis co-authored with proliferation experts Richard Cupitt and Christina McAllister. Attempts by the U.S. military to recover the material likely would involve elite special operations forces supported by heavy equipment and technical experts, analysts say. To truly effect both regime change and secure the vulnerable WMD-relevant material in Iran, the United States may yet have to put boots on the ground, the Stimson Center report said. Verifying compliance with dismantling its nuclear enrichment, missile, and drone programs, and investigating potential biological and chemical weapons programs and, if confirmed, dismantling them, will certainly take large numbers of investigators and inspectors at the very least, the report said. Trump has shown a willingness to launch high-risk operations with special operations troops. In January, the U.S. Armys Delta Force swooped into Venezuela in a daring operation to capture dictator Nicolas Maduro. Last month, Trump awarded U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover with the Medal of Honor for his heroics during the raid. For the Pentagon, the stated main objective of Operation Epic Fury is the dismantling of Irans ability to project military power, including the destruction of its missile and drone programs. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Power Studies, said many of the administrations goals can be achieved by airstrikes. What stands out so far is the level of detailed intelligence on Iranian targets that has enabled the U.S. and Israel to achieve air dominance and operate at will, he said. It is the intelligence with respect to knowing where the systems and capabilities that you want to have an effect upon are located. And its not just simply a question of destroying every single missile that the Iranians possess, but its also affecting their ability to use them, and we demonstrated over and over again how that is possible with air power, Deptula said. How prepared the U.S. is to move quickly to secure Irans nuclear material is an open question. The overall attack appears to have been planned for months with the explicit goal of encouraging the overthrow of the government. It is less clear, however, that there has been any associated forethought given to securing the stockpiles, the Stimson Center report said. But when it comes to a plan for containing Irans nuclear program, and making sure the material doesnt fall into the wrong hands, Deptula said it is a virtual certainty that military commanders have been planning through scenarios. It is possible that the two companies re-engage at some point in the future, but that is not our base case, Jefferies analyst Christopher LaFemina said in an emailed note. Rio likely goes it alone, Bloomberg reported the analysts comments. According to Bloomberg, UK rules now prevent Rio Tinto from pursuing an acquisition of Glencore for at least six months. For the time being, the matter is closed. Until yesterdays 10 a.m. announcement that Rio Tinto would not be making a formal offer for Glencore, investors were under the impression that the company might seek an extension of its Feb. 5, 12 p.m. ET deadline to clarify its intentions. That did not happen. There are several reasons for this, including the most obvious, which Ill address shortly. But given the breadth of call options, Ill consider the strategies institutional investors were using yesterday. My Friday commentary centers around unusual options activity. Yesterday, Rio Tinto had 40 in the top 100 Vol/OI ratios, ranging from 56.89 to 31.33. And they were all calls; not a single put. Its share volume wasnt too unusual -- 4.87 million compared to its average daily volume of 3.65 million -- but its options volume was off the charts -- 1.29 million on the day, over 17 times higher than its 30-day average. The next highest daily volume over the past 24 months was 308,315 in August 2025. Unmistakable was the interest in Rio Tinto (RIO), the London-based global mining giant that until yesterday was considering making an offer for Glencore (GLNCY) that would have created the worlds largest mining company. More on that later. With higher-than-normal options volume comes unusually active options. In yesterdays action, the top 100 Vol/OI (volume-to-open-interest) ratios ranged from Southwest Airlines (LUV) at 131.81 for the top one to 28.77 for Strategy (MSTR), the 1ooth highest. In Thursdays trading, the options volume was 66.03 million, about seven million higher than the average daily volume. A war will do that. As we head into the weekend and the second week of the Iran war, options volume is higher than usual. Thats not unexpected. If theres one thing Ive learned about the options market, it's that traders love volatility. Story Continues The two sides were unable to agree on the valuation and terms of a merger. Specifically, Glencore wanted 40% of the combined entity post-merger; Rio Tinto felt that implied a much higher premium than it was willing to pay. Glencore wouldnt budge. End of story. I must admit, Im not a big follower of mining companies, but theyre most definitely front-and-center these days, given gold and other metal prices. Consolidation in the global mining industry will continue despite the end of this possible tie-up. Projects in the billions require massive scale. Mining is definitely not software. The Reasons for RIO Call Dominance In addition to Rio Tinto ending its pursuit of Glencore yesterday, today is the companys ex-dividend date for its final dividend of 2025. Payable on April 16, it is $2.54 a share, up from $2.25 a year ago. So, if you were long Rio calls, and the calls were ITM (in-the-money) or deep ITM, yesterday was the last day for you to exercise your right to buy RIO stock to be eligible for the April dividend payment. Its $ 4.02-a-share payout in 2025 was flat with 2024. Consider an institutional investor like Citigroup (C). As of its most recent 13F filing, it owned 1.5 million shares of Rio Tinto, with an additional 287,500 shares held through call options. Thats $730,250 in dividends its leaving on the sidelines if it doesnt exercise those options. Here are the five unusually active call options from yesterdays trading that also had the highest volume. As you can see, theyre all ITM, with three expiring in three weeks from today, and two in six weeks. Im going to focus on the two deepest ITM, the March 20 $75 call and the April 17 $75 call. Looking at the options flow, the March 20 $75 call had 23 trades of 1,000 contracts or more yesterday, accounting for 82% of the 112,881 total volume. The April 17 $75 call had 7 trades of 1,000 contracts or more yesterday, accounting for 52% of the 72,562 total volume. Many of the trades were at the bid price, indicating selling pressure, as buyers of these calls looked to book gains on their options. The closing bid price at the end of yesterdays trading for the $75 calls expiring on March 20 and April 17 was $17.60. The trade prices so far on Friday morning for the earlier DTE are around $15. Theres no volume for the April 17 $75 call with bid and ask prices of $15.20 and $15.80, respectively. Because the March 20 expiration is four weeks earlier, the bid and ask prices have fallen by 50-60 cents more than the April 17 expiration. So, as far as I can tell, much of the call action yesterday involved longs exiting their positions rather than exercising their calls to capture the dividends. However, the OI (open interest) today is 193,175, 14% lower than a day earlier, indicating calls were exercised. The Covered Call Was Popular For investors who already owned Rio Tinto shares heading into yesterdays trading, writing Covered Calls for income made a lot of sense, given the higher bids available. However, you would likely have to sell the shares to the buyer at expiration because the strike prices were so deep ITM. The ideal DTE for covered calls is generally 30 to 45 days, providing better income, but not too much time decay, so that you can profit from the trade, either by exiting the position, or the calls expiring worthless. In yesterdays situation, the latter scenario wasnt possible with most of the unusually active options deep ITM. So, lets focus on the unusually active calls expiring in 43 days, on April 17, with Vol/OI ratios of 28.77 or higher. As mentioned, all of these are significantly ITM, so youd likely have to sell your shares in April. Given the $80 call had 138,841 in volume yesterday, lets consider that strike price. Based on the information above, lets assume you bought 100 shares of Rio Tinto a year ago for $6,400, or $64 a share. You received $12.70 in premium yesterday for selling one $80 call. That lowered your net cost per share to $51.30. Now, assume the shares remain flat between now and then and are called away at expiration in April. You would receive $8,000 ($80 a share) plus $1,270 in premium, for $9,270. Your return would be 44.8% [$9,270 - $6,400 / $6,400], or 40.1% annualized [44.8% * 365 / (365 + 43)]. Thats less than the 45.9% return (41.1% annualized) achieved without selling a call. However, now lets assume the shares fall to $80 by April 17. They likely expire worthless. You pocket the $1,270 in premium for an annualized return of 40.1%, considerably higher than 22.4% without selling a call. So, by selling calls deep in the money, you were protecting your downside, while capping your upside. Given the shares have gained 41% over the past 12 months, and Rio Tinto is prepared to go it alone, that seems like a wise bet. While most of yesterday's volume was likely institutions rolling over their covered callsbuying their existing calls to close and selling new ones to open for income with higher strike prices and further-out expiration datessome exercised their calls to capture the April dividend. Both are bullish despite the negative net trade sentiment. On the date of publication, Will Ashworth 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 China is committed to pushing forward its high-quality development, with a focus on economic structural optimization and quality enhancement as outlined in the country's new five-year plan, the nation's top economic regulator said on Saturday. Zheng Bei, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, made the remarks at a news conference in Beijing while elaborating on the key points of the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development. Highlighting the strong focus on high-quality development, Zheng said the draft outline describes the GDP growth target set for the next five years as staying "within a reasonable range, with annual adjustments based on circumstances". This target is designed to steer all stakeholders toward pursuing tangible growth, thereby leaving necessary policy space for shifting the growth model, making structural adjustments and deepening reforms, she said. As a pivotal step in China's pursuit of high-quality growth, the development of new quality productive forces is prioritized in the draft outline, with policymakers emphasizing the integration of technological and industrial innovation. Bai Jingyu, director of the NDRC's department of innovation and high-tech development, said the country will strengthen fundamental research and adopt a strategic, forward-thinking and systematic paradigm. "We will enhance the involvement of enterprises in national major technological innovation decisions, focusing on the key common technological needs of businesses in national science and technology programs," Bai said, underscoring the efforts to solidify the central role of enterprises in technological innovation. Against the backdrop of an accelerating technological revolution and industrial transformation, the emergence of new technologies, industries and business models presents China with "unprecedented opportunities" for advancing its modernization drive, Bai added. According to the draft outline, authorities will fully implement the "AI Plus" initiative, fostering the deep integration of artificial intelligence with scientific innovation, industrial development, culture, public welfare and social governance. The goal is to "seize the commanding heights of AI industrial applications" and comprehensively "empower a wide range of sectors", it said. Pan Jiaofeng, a deputy to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institutes of Science and Development, said the rise of emerging sectors has given China significant global advantages. "We've seen the booming development of the 'new trio' electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products. In the next five years, another 'new trio' is expected to emerge," he said. Yuan Da, secretary-general of the NDRC, said that strengthening the domestic market will be among priorities, with policies aimed at expanding domestic demand, optimizing supply and streamlining domestic circulation. He highlighted the importance of improving and expanding the service sector, refining the policy support system and addressing weak points in the productive services industry. Carl Fey, a professor of strategy at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway, said that China has "room to increase domestic consumption, because Chinese people save a larger percentage of their income than people in many other countries". Contact the writers at zhangchenxu@chinadaily.com.cn If you have any problems with this article, please contact us at app@chinadaily.com.cn and we'll immediately get back to you. WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. will provide reinsurance for losses up to $20 billion in the Gulf region, to help provide confidence for oil and gas shippers during the war on Iran, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation said on Friday. President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered the DFC to provide political risk insurance and financial guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf after oil and liquefied natural gas tanker transit had ground to a halt in the Strait of Hormuz waterway off Iran, where ordinarily 20% of global oil moves daily. More from Yahoo Scout What reinsurance coverage is the U.S. providing? How are war-risk premiums affecting maritime insurance? Why did oil tanker transit halt completely? Which agencies are coordinating the Gulf insurance plan? The coverage will occur on a rolling basis and will initially focus on hull and machinery and cargo insurance, DFC said. The DFC said it will work with preferred American insurance partners, without providing detail. The U.S. Treasury Department and DFC, which partners with private investors to support projects in developing countries, are coordinating with the U.S. Central Command on the next steps of its plan. Oil shipments have been largely blocked through the Strait with a number of tankers damaged by strikes and others stranded. War-risk premiums have jumped and some providers have scaled back or withdrawn coverage. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Susan Heavey, Editing by Louise Heavens and Chizu Nomiyama) Nepal's rapper-led centrist party heads for poll landslide Kathmandu, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Nepal's centrist RSP party of rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah had secured a majority in the direct parliamentary elections, partial official results showed Sunday, and was heading for a landslide according to official trends. The 35-year-old's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was also leading in the proportional representation vote, according to results declared and election commission trends. The vote was the first since deadly September 2025 youth anti-corruption protests toppled the government. Shah himself had on Saturday defeated the veteran four-time prime minister KP Sharma Oli -- whose Marxist-led government was ousted in the violence last year -- in his own seat. His victory over the 74-year-old Oli, and his rise from the capital's mayor to potential prime minister, marks one of the most dramatic results in recent Nepali politics. 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. Elections on Thursday chose a new 275-member House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, with 185 seats chosen directly, and 110 by a proportional representation vote. Poll monitors, The Asian Network for Free Elections, said Sunday that voting had been "peaceful and orderly and reflected continued public engagement with democratic processes despite recent political instability". - 'Necessary action' - On Sunday afternoon, 153 of the direct elections had been declared: RSP dominating with 117, Nepali Congress 17, and the Marxists of now-defeated Oli trailing with seven. Former Maoist guerrilla commander Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a three-time prime minister, won his seat, with his party holding seven in total. Trends showed Shah's RSP was also leading in eight of the remaining 12 constituencies in the direct elections. In the proportional representation vote, RSP was leading with nearly half of the counted votes -- but final results could take several more days. Nepali Congress, the largest party in the past coalition government, also saw its new leader, Gagan Thapa, defeated by RSP. "Counting is moving forward smoothly in all remaining constituencies," Election Commission spokesman Narayan Prasad Bhattarai told AFP. "Results of all direct votes are expected by end of today, the PR (proportional representation) votes will take a few days more." The first-time parliamentary lawmaker Shah 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 more votes than Oli, who congratulated the winner, wishing him "a smooth and successful five-year tenure". Nepal's government-formed investigation commission to probe the deadly September 2025 violence also submitted its report Sunday. No one has been held accountable for the deaths as yet. Its findings have not yet been made public, but it was handed to Sushila Karki, the interim prime minister, Commission member Bigyan Raj Sharma told reporters the team had questioned more than 200 people, and had submitted a 900-page report -- with more than 8,000 additional pages. "We tried to conduct fact-finding for September 8 and 9," he said. "Based on what we saw, understood, and verified through the evidence, we have provided our opinions and recommendations. This is now the government's property, and the government will take the necessary action." Oli has denied ordering security forces to open fire on protesters, and has told AFP that he blames "infiltrators" for the violence. Swiss vote down proposal for massive 'climate fund' Geneva, March 8 (AFP) Mar 08, 2026 Swiss voters on Sunday rejected a proposal to create a multibillion-dollar climate fund aimed at combating global warming and its consequences, voting against it by a large margin. The vote against it was 70.7 percent according to official results in a referendum that had a 55.5 percent turnout. Under Switzerland's direct democracy system, 100,000 signatures are needed to put virtually any issue to a popular vote. That gives voters a say on a wide range of topics every few months at the national, regional and local levels. Under the initiative launched by the Social Democratic Party and the Greens, the country would have spent 0.5-1.0 percent of Switzerland's annual GDP -- around 4 to 8 billion Swiss francs ($5-10 billion) -- on fighting climate change. The idea was to move the country towards its target of carbon neutrality by 2050. Both the Swiss government and the parliament had urged voters to reject the initiative, arguing it would be too expensive. They pointed out that the country already spends around two billion francs a year -- from a budget of around 90 billion francs -- on climate protection. 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 Irish actor Jessie Buckley has spoken about her experience on BBC talent show Id Do Anything, which catapulted her to fame as she competed for the role of Nancy in a West End production of Oliver! In an interview with British Vogue in January, the Oscar-nominated Hamnet star opened up about being criticised for her appearance during her time on the show. Speaking to Lauren Laverne on Radio 4s Desert Island Discs, Buckley said: I don't like that part of it. I think that was a young woman who's trying to discover her body and herself, like we all do. And I wish that hadn't happened. I think I was putting a brave face on, because really what I wanted to do was sing and I wanted to act, and I wanted to be part of this industry, and all of a sudden you had to be a certain kind of person. And I just wasn't, I never will be. That's just not me. Buckley added: I'm so proud of that girl. I think she did great and I don't regret any of it. open image in gallery Buckley said she didnt regret appearing on Id Do Anything ( Getty/BBC ) The 36-year-old actor, from Killarney, Co Kerry, has been a juggernaut through awards season, receiving a string of awards for her performance as William Shakespeare's wife Agnes Hathaway, historically known as Anne, in Chloe Zhaos adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel, Hamnet. The Independents review singled out Buckley for particular praise, with critic Clarisse Loughrey writing: Like Mescal, shes well-placed to express Agness particular grief. When she speaks or cries or twists her mouth into a disbelieving smirk, its like peering into the mouth of a cave, all earthiness and unfathomable depth. She wails not only with her pain, but with her mothers, and her mothers mothers. Its through her we feel that quiet tether transcending all of human history. Because, while OFarrell notes there are many ways to grieve, it will still always seek out a hand to hold in the dark. open image in gallery Buckley is nominated for ( AP ) On Desert Island Discs, Buckley also spoke about her extraordinary mother, explaining: My parents are no longer together, and she lives in Dublin, and she's writing her own story right now at 60 years of age, and I'm so proud of her. She sounded emotional as she gave her first song choice, which was a rendition of her mother, Marina, singing O Holy Night in church. Buckley also recounted her struggle with her mental health as a teenager, crediting her love of music and theatre for helping with her recovery. She described acting as essential and said it is like water to me, adding that her passion for her craft helped her to overcome an eating disorder and depression during her school years. I didn't know how to be alive the way I wanted to be, and it was difficult, she said. But I do not for a second regret it, and I think I've been able to transform it and recognise our vulnerabilities as humans in the world. You can't walk through life not being affected, but you can transform that into something that allows you to be more human and alive in the way that you want to be. She continued: When I moved to London, I still wasn't out of the woods. I think there were moments where I was like, 'if I don't get better here, this music, this being part of theatre I'm not going to be able to do this any more, and I probably won't survive'. And that was the thing that turned it in my head, I was like, 'I don't want to sacrifice that, this is bigger than that', and won. open image in gallery Buckley feels that acting helps her transform into something that allows you to be more human and alive ( Getty ) The actor remembered the first time she performed on stage and said: It was like drinking water, you know? I just think, the more I did it, the more I realised this is essential to me. Listen to the full Desert Island Disc episode on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 4 from Sunday at 10am. Additional reporting by Press Association. 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 Vanity Fair is preparing to celebrate Hollywoods biggest night of the year the 2026 Oscars and will take viewers along for the ride. On Sunday, March 15, stars will descend on the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to honor the best films of the past year. Immediately after the ceremony, attendees will make their way to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to drink and dance the night away at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Other stars who did not attend the Oscars have also been known to join the festivities. This years event will mark the magazines 32nd Oscar Party. Past parties were held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California. While the afterparty is closed to anyone not on the guest list, fans will still be able to catch celebrity arrivals via Vanity Fairs designated red-carpet livestream. Where and when will the red-carpet livestream be available to watch? open image in gallery Vanity Fair will be on the Oscars red carpet to talk to the nominees ahead of the ceremony ( Getty Images ) The Vanity Fair Oscar Party red-carpet livestream will be available to watch on vanityfair.com and Vanity Fairs YouTube channel, directly after the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15 at 10:30pm ET/7:30pm PT. Who is hosting the red carpet? open image in gallery (L-R) Quenlin Blackwell, Brittany Broski and Jake Shane will co-host the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party red carpet ( Getty ) Internet sensations Quenlin Blackwell, Brittany Broski and Therapuss podcast host Jake Shane have been tapped to host this years Vanity Fair Oscar Party red carpet. Last year, The Independents Kevin E G Perry was invited inside the Vanity Fair Oscar Party to mingle with the stars. Of his once-in-a-lifetime experience, he wrote: Its the sort of party where even the very famous are likely to end the night starstruck. The vibe is highbrow meets low: the free bar serves old fashioneds, white negronis and margaritas, while In-N-Out servers in paper hats do the rounds with trays of burgers. When does the Oscar ceremony start? The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled to begin at 4pm PT/ 7pm ET, with official pre-ceremony red-carpet coverage kicking off at 3:30pm PT/6:30pm ET on ABC and Hulu. E! News will host its early red-carpet coverage beginning at 1pm PT/4pm ET. Who is nominated this year? The 2026 Oscar race is perhaps the tightest its been in recent years. Ryan Cooglers vampire horror Sinners starring Michael B. Jordan as twins leads the pack with 16 nominations, more than any film in Oscars history, while Paul Thomas Andersons revolutionary action drama, One Battle After Another, follows closely behind with 13 nominations. Guillermo del Toros take on Frankenstein and Josh Safdies ping pong drama, Marty Supreme, also lead the nominees with nine nods apiece, as Chloe Zhaos Shakespeare drama Hamnet heads into the competition with eight. 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 Irish comedian Vittorio Angelone has been praised by viewers for his merciless takedown of former Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt during an episode of The Last Leg. Mordaunt was on the Channel 4 comedy panel show discussing her role as an ambassador for the Music Man Project, a choir formed of people with learning disabilities. While going over the weeks headlines, host Adam Hills and his co-stars Alex Brooker and Josh Widdecombe turned their attention to a new disability storyline in the animated childrens programme Peppa Pig. I know disability representations a big thing for you, Penny, because you are an ambassador for something called the Music Man Project, which we had on the show last year, Hills said. After listening to Mordaunt talk about the project, Angelone sparked laughter and applause when he remarked: Pennys always been such a supporter of disabled people, youre very supportive of the prosthetics industry You were promoting on Twitter an arms fair in Saudi Arabia recently? Mordaunt who served as defence secretary for 85 days before being ousted by the then-prime minister Boris Johnson in 2019 shared a post to X on 16 February congratulating UK companies that exhibited at the World Defence Show in Saudi Arabia. Youve got to let me respond to that, the visibly unimpressed Mordaunt told Angelone in response, attempting to make a case for investing in British defence in this particular week, seemingly referring to the conflict between the US and Iran. Im on your side, Angelone said, to which Mordaunt responded: I dont think you are, sweetheart. Penny Mordaunt clashed with comedian Vittorio Angelone on 'The Last Leg' ( Getty ) After calling her remark patronising, the comedian shot back: As a positive thing I think its great, war-mongering has always been a male-dominated industry, youve smashed the glass ceiling. Mordaunt told Angelone she would like to introduce him to some other women that put their lives on the line to defend people like you being able to do what you want to do in your life, and make jokes about the government and all sorts of things, and enjoy the freedoms that we do in this country. Its a tough sell to a guy from Belfast, Angelone said in his parting quip, to more laughter. Penny Mordaunt is fuming on The Last Leg after being the butt of a joke by Vittorio Angelone, one viewer said on X. She was really not amused! It was hilarious! The episode marked Angelones debut on the show, appearing with Mordaunt and comedian Jamli Maddix, plus host Hills and his co-stars Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker. 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 Seth MacFarlane says there is no plan to make a third season of his Ted prequel series because production costs are too high. Ted follows an obnoxious teddy bear, voiced by MacFarlane, who was gifted sentience by a childs wish. The film partners the sleazy bear with a slacker played by Mark Wahlberg; Ted the series reimagines Wahlbergs foil as a misfit teenager in the 1990s, played by The Purges Max Burkholder. It returned for its second season on Peacock on March 5 to broadly positive reviews; however, it might be the last audiences see of this particular Ted iteration. What I kept hearing [from Peacock and Universal] was, Listen, the show is really expensive to produce and theres no way to do it at a lower cost. So I said, All right, I hear you loud and clear. So I wrote the last scene with Max [Burkholder] walking into a gym, presumably coming out as Mark Wahlberg in the first Ted film, MacFarlane explained. So [showrunners] Brad Walsh and Paul Corrigan and I kind of painted ourselves into a corner. Is there a way to do it? Theres always a way to do anything. But at the moment, it might take some narrative acrobatics. Theres no plan that Ive heard of at the moment to do Season 3. open image in gallery Max Burkholder plays John while Seth MacFarlane voices Ted in the live-action series on Peacock ( Peacock ) open image in gallery Seth MacFarlane is best known for creating and starring in Family Guy ( Getty ) TheWrap reports that Peacock has not decided on whether Ted will receive a third season. Universal did not immediately respond to The Independents request for comment. While the live-action Ted series may be ending, Peacock announced an animated spin-off in May last year, with Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried and Jessica Barth set to reprise their roles from the original film. Elsewhere in the interview with The Wrap, MacFarlane praised his production team for pulling off the first two seasons of the show. He compared the amount of CGI required to doing an Avengers movie every 22 minutes. Its very good that we had two Ted films under our belt, because the workload is something that, on a weekly basis, is just insurmountable. And its a testament to our production team, to our DP Jeff Mygatt, to our camera crew, to our visual effects crew and [visual effects supervisor] Blair Clark and our wonderful crew in Melbourne, Australia, at Framestore that this was able to be achieved on a weekly basis, MacFarlane said. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Its like youre doing an Avengers movie every 22 minutes with the amount of CGI that it takes, not only to animate the bear, but to act the bear. Its something we couldnt have done if we had not had the education of doing two films 10 years earlier. Ted season two is out now on Peacock. Following the United States intervention in Venezuela on 3rd January, which brought an end to President Nicolas Maduros 13-year dictatorship, all eyes have been on the South American countrys oil industry. Once one of the worlds biggest oil producers, output has waned in recent years. However, with U.S. President Trump setting his sights on Venezuelan crude, many are speculating just how quickly its resources can be tapped. While the focus is on Venezuelas potential as an oil power, others think that more immediate success may be seen in the exploitation of its gas fields. More from Yahoo Scout What role does Trinidad play in Venezuela's energy? How quickly can Venezuela restart its oil production? Which companies are investing in Venezuelan energy projects? Why focus on gas instead of oil development? Venezuela is home to the largest oil reserves in the world, with an estimated 300 billion barrels. However, years of underinvestment and mismanagement have led to a significant reduction in output. The recent U.S. intervention in the South American country has drawn new investor interest in its energy market, as President Trump vows to rapidly redevelop Venezuelas long-neglected oil resources. On 13th February, the White House published a press release that stated, The Trump Administration is rapidly implementing President Trumps vision to reopen and develop Venezuelas oil industry for the shared benefit of the American and Venezuelan people. Thanks to President Trumps leadership, the United States has already issued several general licenses at record speed for oil and gas companies?to make unprecedented investments in Venezuelas energy infrastructure. The statement went on to say, Venezuela holds tremendous economic potential, but years of instability, corruption, and economic mismanagement have limited?the nations?growth and prosperity. These general licenses invite American and other aligned companies to?play a constructive role in supporting economic recovery?and responsible investment. Related: Inside North Americas First Fully Integrated Rare Earth Facility While the world eyes Venezuelas untapped oil, some believe that there may be greater mid-term potential in exploiting its natural gas reserves. Most of Venezuelas gas is trapped deep beneath the seafloor. While these reserves were first discovered several decades ago, ago, off the countrys eastern coast, along the border with Trinidad and Tobago, the Venezuelan government left them largely untouched as it focused its attention on oil production. Several oil majors, such as Shell, have previously approached Venezuela for a stake in its gas business, even when interest in the countrys oil industry was waning due to geopolitical instability and U.S. sanctions. For years, U.S. sanctions on Venezuelas government and its state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, have restricted the development of its gas industry. In addition, developing its natural gas industry would require cooperation with neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago. Get our weekly Drive Smart newsletter for motoring news, reviews and advice from EV editor Steve Fowler Get motoring news, reviews and advice from EV editor Steve Fowler Get our EV editors weekly Drive Smart newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Following years of development and initial market entry, car manufacturers are now introducing a new wave of electric vehicles designed to better meet consumer demands. This year promises the arrival of EVs featuring enhanced range, more straightforward charging, reduced costs, and distinctive styling. Automotive experts at Edmunds have highlighted the five most compelling electric vehicles slated for a 2026 debut. BMW iX3 Most luxury electric SUVs to date have been either expensive, high-end offerings or entry-level models with limited appeal. The 2027 BMW iX3 has us excited because it hits the sweet spot of price and space that so many people like about the regular X3. The iX3 is designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle and prioritizes efficiency, interior space, and charging performance in ways earlier EVs could not. open image in gallery This photo provided by BMW shows the BMW iX3, a luxury electric SUV that should offer about 400 miles of range along with sporty performance. (Courtesy of BMW of North America via AP) BMW says the iX3 will offer about 400 miles of range, which is considerably longer than what many other current electric SUVs are capable of. That range is complemented by quick charging capability and compatibility with Teslas Supercharger network for easy long-distance driving. The new iX3 will also boast sporty performance, a classy cabin design and BMWs latest infotainment technology. Estimated release: summer 2026. Estimated starting price: $60,000 Chevy Bolt The return of the Chevrolet Bolt is significant because it reinforces the idea that EVs dont need to be expensive to be relevant. Chevy positions the new Bolt as a more refined, modern version of the original, produced from 2017 to 2023. The 2027 Bolt is more of an update than a completely new design. It primarily has refreshed styling and quicker charging capability. open image in gallery This photo provided by Chevrolet shows the 2027 Chevy Bolt, which will offer about 255 miles of range plus a Tesla-style charging port. (Courtesy of General Motors via AP) Range is expected to be 262 miles on a full charge, and the addition of a Tesla-style charging port gives the Bolt easy access to Teslas nationwide charging network. Thats a major upgrade for a vehicle aimed at affordability and daily usability. The new Bolt offers one of the clearest on-ramps into EV ownership: manageable price expectations, realistic range for commuting, and fewer charging headaches. Estimated release: spring 2026. Starting price: $28,995, including destination Rivian R2 The Rivian R2 is a hotly anticipated EV because it makes Rivians adventurous brand design accessible to a wider range of buyers. Rivian, a relatively new automaker that also builds the three-row R1S SUV and R1T, designed the R2 to compete directly with popular small electric SUVs such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y. The R2 seats five and has a promised range of more than 300 miles to complement Rivians focus on off-road capability and performance. It will come with a single electric motor for rear-wheel drive and offer all-wheel drive coming from two or three motors. If Rivian delivers on its promises, the R2 could become one of the most versatile EVs on the market for families, outdoor enthusiasts and urban drivers alike. open image in gallery This photo provided by Rivian shows the R2, a hotly anticipated small EV that promises more than 300 miles of range plus off-road capability, a signature of the automaker. (Courtesy of Rivian Automotive via AP) Estimated release: spring 2026. Estimated starting price: $45,000 Slate Truck Slate is a brand-new American automaker, and its first vehicle is unlike any other EV currently on sale. It starts out as a no-frills two-passenger electric pickup truck thats shorter than even a Ford Maverick compact pickup. Theres no standard audio system, no center touchscreen screen, or even power windows to start. Every Slate Truck comes off the assembly line exactly the same. open image in gallery This photo provided by Slate shows the Slate Truck, a barebones two-passenger electric pickup truck that the owner can extensively customize after it rolls off the production line. (Courtesy of Slate Auto via AP) However, Slate will let you extensively customize the vehicle after the fact. It will offer a kit to turn the truck into a five-passenger SUV, for example. There will also be different exterior wrap colors and various wheel-and-tire combinations to choose from. The Trucks standard battery is said to provide up to 150 miles of range on a single charge; an optional larger battery extends that to 240 miles. Estimated release: late 2026. Estimated starting price: $28,000 2026 Subaru Trailseeker The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker will be the brands second EV after the Solterra crossover SUV. Its longer than the Solterra, offering additional cargo and rear-seat passenger space. Its not too much of a stretch to say the Trailseeker is what the Outback would be if it were to become an EV. It has standard all-wheel drive and a slightly lifted stance to help it perform better on dirt roads and mild off-road trails. Subaru says the Trailseeker can drive up to 260 miles on a single charge. Thats not great for an EV in 2026, but it does offer standard all-wheel drive and quick acceleration. The Trailseeker shares many of its underpinnings with the similarly new Toyota bZ Woodland, so either EV could appeal to you if you like the idea of owning an electric SUV with an outdoorsy vibe. open image in gallery This photo provided by Subaru shows the 2026 Trailseeker, an EV that offers standard all-wheel drive and quick acceleration but only modest electric range. (Courtesy of Subaru of North America via AP) Estimated release: spring 2026. Starting price: $39,995, including destination These five vehicles illustrate a move in the right direction for EVs and why 2026 matters for shoppers. From luxury and affordability to utility and adventure, each addresses a different buyer need without asking for major compromises. This story is part of the March 8 edition of Sunday Life. See all stories . Being a beauty founder takes ingenuity, resilience and a large dose of creativity to make your brand stand out from the pack. Here are four women-owned brands setting the standard in Australian beauty. Pop star Dua Lipa is one of the celebs that have sat in Lauren Mackellars chair. Getty Images Vanessa Gray Lyndon The founder of skincare brand Vanessa Megan prides herself on being the mistress of natural skincare. Her beauty mantra for 2026: Support your skin, dont fight it. That means fewer products, thoughtful ingredients and consistent care that strengthens the skin barrier. Her hero product right now is the Rapadura and Wattleseed Body Buff ($60), to exfoliate and hydrate skin. This is a post-summer essential. Ava Matthews and Bec Jefferd The duo behind Ultra Violette endured a challenging 12 months after consumer group Choice published an investigation alleging one of the brands products failed to meet its stated SPF rating. The brand recalled the product and launched its own investigation. Meanwhile, Matthews and Jefferd weathered the storm, which later resulted in recalls across other popular brands, by doubling down on product development, releasing Disco Queen SPF50 Luminous Body Oil ($55) while maintaining their stance in favour of sun protection. Lauren Mackellar The founder of Robe Haircare has become one of Australias most requested hairstylists and is loved by celebrities (Zoe Foster Blake and Dua Lipa have both sat in her chair). Mackellars beauty mantra for 2026 is consistency over correction, adding, Theres a real shift towards working with your natural texture and features. That approach leads to healthier hair, less frustration and a much more grounded relationship with beauty. Mackellars current favourite product is Robe Leave-in Treatment ($70), which helps to restore balance and also acts as the perfect blow-drying balm. Advertisement Dicey Topics NationalGood Weekend Matt was 12 when he came home to find his mother collapsed in the shower. She died just weeks later Benjamin Law March 9, 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 This story is part of the March 14 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories . Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects were told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics theyre given. This week, he talks to Matt Okine. The comedian, actor, musician and author, 40, has won an ARIA award and been nominated for AACTA, Logie and Helpmann awards. He stars in the ABC TV comedy, Mother and Son. Matt Okine: Ive always assumed the worst will happen because Ive seen it happen. Giulia McGauran SEX When I say sex, whats the first thing that comes into your mind? Oh, God. I mean, Im 40 now. Whos got the energy, really? Are you at the stage where youd prefer a nap to sex? Yeah, I think of all of the effort required before and after. Its like throwing a party. Its fun when youre in the moment, but the organising and the clean-up are just not worth it when you hit my age. Its the opposite of Justin Timberlake. Hes like, Im bringing sexy back. Im putting sexy away for a little while. Im prioritising my daughter, Sofia, and making sure that everything is safe and happy in the household. Once all that sort of stuff has been nicely established, then I can go back to sexy times and the insatiable sex hero that I surely am. Advertisement How long have you and your partner, Belinda, been together? Ten years now. And weve got a seven-year-old, so weve done it once. [Laughs] At least! What attracted you to her initially? Her sense of humour: being able to have fun, have a laugh and not take yourself too seriously. I find that incredibly attractive and really sexy. What else? She also had quite interesting teeth Quite interesting teeth? Shell tell you that they werent exactly what would be the word? conventional. What are you talking about? Youre making it sound like she was like a shark with a second set of teeth. No, she had gaps between her teeth! That was a unique trait that I appreciated, although shes since had teeth-straightening treatment, so theyre gone. But she still has beautiful eyes, beautiful hair and I think she has a hot arse! DEATH Advertisement You got acquainted with death young, its fair to say? Yeah, my mum died when I was 12 years old, so Ive always been very aware of death. People whove never lost anyone close live with a sense of invincibility, almost, whereas Im the complete opposite: I always assume that the worst will happen because Ive seen it happen. Ive seen someone go from having a headache to dying in a few weeks. The good side of it is that I try to make the most of every moment when it comes to family and friends and my daughter especially. Related Article Literature 'Comedy equals tragedy plus time': Matt Okine finds humour in grief Christ, a few weeks Thats brutal. Yeah, my mum got a headache one day. I came home from school to find shed collapsed in the shower. My parents were living separately at the time, but we took her to hospital that night and she died a couple of weeks later. [Okines mother, Roslyn, had breast cancer that spread to her brain; although she had been ill for a while, her death was sudden.] Theres a lot of deep regret from that time. You blame yourself for not having done more, not realising sooner that something was wrong, and wondering if there was anything that you couldve done differently. When I hear you say that, I think, Far out. If a 12-year-old kid was telling me this, Id be like, Mate, theres nothing else you could have done. Of course. As an adult, its much easier to see the clarity of a situation with the benefit of wisdom. But when youre 12, you carry those doubts and those insufficiencies into your early adult years. Its a long journey to repair yourself and to learn to trust again not just people, but life. Tell me more about Roslyn. What do you remember of her? She died before I realised that she was a fallible adult. She made me feel as if I was her whole world. I couldnt have asked for a better mum. Theres this part of me thats almost glad that she died when she did: she was perfect to me. Advertisement POLITICS How would you describe your politics? Look, Im definitely left-leaning. Actually, I look at my local community and have questioned recently whether being a councillor would be something that Id like to pursue. What change do you want to see? Im really passionate about public transport. Its something that my mum instilled in me a lot: we used to catch the bus everywhere. I care about town planning, zoning and density: active frontages, shop facades and walkability. I drive around Brisbane, in particular, and just think it was let down by some really bad town planning and has never recovered. Wow, I didnt know this side of you. I know! As soon as I open my mouth about town planning, everyone honestly falls asleep. Now Ive got a vision of the future: your podcast co-host, Alex Dyson, who has run unsuccessfully for federal office several times, has a lower house seat in federal parliament and youre Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor. Yeah, thats it! Ive got the Brisbane Lord Mayor mantle in my sites for 2032. Adrian Schrinner, watch out! Advertisement Advertisement Get the best of Good Weekend delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Sign up for our newsletter. Advertisement Exclusive NationalNSWCity life Revealed: The developer supersizing tactic rewriting Sydneys skyline David Barwell March 9, 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 Developers are increasingly using the NSW governments fast-tracked Housing Delivery Authority pathway to revive or expand projects previously refused or constrained by local planning authorities often returning with proposals significantly larger than first planned. What was introduced as a response to the states housing crisis is now drawing criticism for enabling developers to increase the scale of projects that were previously approved at lower densities or rejected outright under long-standing planning controls. A concept image of the development at 1 King Street in Concord, which has increased in scale under the HDA. Since its establishment in January 2025, the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) planning pathway has declared 325 projects as state-significant developments, allowing developers to bypass local councils and seek approval directly from the NSW government. Many of the proposals are not entirely new. Instead, they are revised versions of earlier schemes some previously approved at lower densities, others refused reworked to deliver substantially more apartments and building height under the HDA framework. Advertisement From mid-rise to high-rise One of the most striking examples is at 1 King Street in Concord West. An earlier proposal sought approval for 698 apartments across buildings of four to 12 storeys. Under the HDA, developer Billbergia has returned with a new plan for a 1300-unit precinct featuring towers up to 38 storeys. Billbergia development director Saul Moran said the project had struggled to remain viable under the previous density settings, adding the HDA had removed local politics from the planning assessment and decision-making process. Without the HDA, this project was borderline unfeasible at the lower densities proposed by local planning authorities, which can be influenced by community sentiment rather than independently assessing proposals on merit, Moran said. In Campsie, developer HYG has submitted plans for a 26-storey, 425-unit complex under the HDA, exceeding previous council height limits, arguing a smaller development would severely underutilise the site. In Macquarie Park, a 21-storey, 231-unit development approved in late 2024 has been replaced by a 46-storey tower containing 438 apartments as part of a new HDA proposal. Advertisement A project on Anzac Parade in Kensington has increased from 197 to 357 apartments under the pathway. Planning documents for the site stated the redesign followed further design testing to maximise opportunities in response to the current NSW governments priority for additional housing density in well-located areas. The Eastlakes Shopping Centre site is also proposed for a 1000-unit redevelopment under the HDA, more than double the 428 apartments approved by the NSW government just three years ago. Resurrecting the refused Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the HDA is its use to revive projects previously rejected under local planning controls. Advertisement In Kellyville, a proposal for 826 apartments at 301 Samantha Riley Drive was refused in May last year by the Sydney Central City Planning Panel for breaching height limits and creating unreasonable visual amenity impacts on surrounding land. A concept image of the HDA development at 76-90 Evaline Street and 21-23 Claremont Street in Campsie. Under the HDA pathway, developer Level 33 has returned with a significantly larger proposal: 1208 apartments in towers up to 38 storeys. Level 33 managing director Eddy Haddad defended the revised proposal, arguing the sites proximity to public transport justified the greater density. Local government leaders say the system is effectively allowing developers to circumvent long-standing local planning laws by resubmitting larger proposals once they enter the HDA system. Advertisement Community backlash grows Matthew Stewart, chief executive of Canterbury-Bankstown Council, said developers often walk out of council negotiations after projects are rejected and head straight to the HDA, returning with larger proposals. His council alone has received 17 HDA proposals totalling more than 5200 apartments, with projects growing from 20 storeys to as high as 39. Weve spent years trying to get standards right on development sites and, after all that, developers have walked away, gone to the HDA and come back with double the yield, Stewart said. What its done is take voice from the community and take decision-making away from local government. Advertisement Eight buildings with apartments and a restaurant is proposed at this site at Narrow Neck Road in Katoomba as part of a HDA application. Wolter Peeters The rapid escalation in project scale has sparked opposition in several communities, particularly where tall buildings are proposed in areas that have historically been defined by low-rise housing density. In the Blue Mountains, a proposed 214-apartment HDA development at Katoomba has become a flashpoint for residents concerned about bushfire risks, environmental impacts and changes to the regions character. The Narrow Neck Road site, originally intended for a hotel, is now proposed as a residential complex of eight buildings. Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill described the proposal as an unprecedented threat to local planning controls, community safety and the landscape, citing its proximity to the World Heritage-listed national park. Advertisement Blue Mountains Conservation Society president Annette Cam opposes the development on Narrow Neck Road in Katoomba. Wolter Peeters Annette Cam, president of the Blue Mountains Conservation Society, said packed community meetings reflected concerns the development could set a precedent for taller buildings in the area. Theres nothing here of that height in the Blue Mountains and it would completely change the character of the area, she said. In the Hills Shire, Mayor Michelle Byrne questioned why recently introduced Transport Oriented Development controls were being superseded by even taller HDA proposals. In Bella Vista, a site identified for 22 storeys is now the subject of a proposal approaching 40 storeys. How can you spend all that time and money completing detailed planning studies, only to then throw everything out? Byrne said. Advertisement NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully said the HDA is a vital tool to boost housing. Sam Mooy NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully has defended the HDA as a key measure to address housing shortages and meet the states target of 377,000 new homes by 2029 under the National Housing Accord. He said more than 1000 expressions of interest had already been lodged under the HDA scheme to date, with the potential to deliver more than 102,000 homes. The impact of the HDA on the housing supply pipeline is undeniable, Scully said, adding that all projects undergo full merit assessment and community consultation. Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest backed the pathway, arguing opposition to higher-density housing in established suburbs had contributed to the current supply shortage. Advertisement Community concern is now rightly focused on the impact of undersupply rising rents and unaffordability, Forrest said. Approval is only the first hurdle Industry leaders warn, however, that planning approval alone does not guarantee projects will proceed to construction. Property Council NSW executive director Anita Hugo said developers still face major obstacles including rising construction costs, labour shortages, taxes and financing constraints. Even Saul Moran of Billbergia acknowledged that feasibility remains a challenge, particularly in western Sydney, where household incomes can limit borrowing capacity and affect pre-sales required to bankroll construction. Advertisement A photo of the planned ice-skating rink in Wolli Creek, which has been redesigned under the HDA to include 170 units. Under the HDA process, developers first submit an expression of interest, after which the planning minister determines whether to declare the project state-significant. Developers then have nine months to lodge a full development application, including an environmental impact statement, before the proposal is publicly exhibited and assessed. Related Article Planning This NSW housing authority has been inundated with proposals. Only two have been approved The pathway is also enabling developers to reimagine sites previously earmarked for other uses. In Wolli Creek, a proposal to build an ice-skating rink site on the former Legion Cabs site on the Princes Highway has now turned into a 22-storey, mixed-use development incorporating a ground-floor skating facility and 170 apartments. Advertisement Similarly, the Mortdale RSL site, once considered for medium-density housing, is now the subject of a 175-unit development as part of an application lodged with the HDA, despite earlier proposals deemed to lack strategic merit by the Sydney South Planning Panel. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. HP (NYSE: HPQ) is a household name, as just about every home has, or has had at one point, an HP computer, laptop, or printer. But the stock has struggled recently, trading down about 34% in the past 12 months and almost 13% year to date. Inconsistent earnings and flat revenue have led to several recent earnings misses for HP. While personal computer sales have been solid, HP has seen a drop in printer sales as people move toward digital. 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. In addition, HP has been saddled with higher expenses, in part due to tariffs on components, relocating manufacturing to lower-tariff areas, and rising costs for memory components. Due to the high memory demand from artificial intelligence (AI), memory accounts for more of the PC build than it has in the past, about 35%, double what it was just a few quarters ago. On top of that, the cost of memory components has been rising because of the demand and supply shortage. Combined, these factors have increased costs for HP and been a drag on earnings. They caused the company to project earnings to be at the lower end of its guidance range for this fiscal year. The bull case for HP These factors have soured not only investors on HP, but Wall Street analysts as well. The stock has a median price target of $19 per share, which is essentially where it is now. Further, some 32% of analysts say "sell," as opposed to just 21% who rate it as a buy. But there are a couple of reasons why the majority of analysts may be wrong. For starters, the stock is dirt cheap, trading at just 7 times earnings and 6 times forward earnings. Second, HP is an elite dividend stock. It pays out a super-high yield of 6.2%, which is about as high a yield as you'll find with any outfit that's not a real estate investment trust (REIT) or business development company (BDC). It has also been a consistent dividend payer, increasing its dividend annually for 15 years in a row. Further, it has an excellent payout ratio of 36%, so it's not extending to fund its dividend. In this difficult market environment, where many stocks are overvalued, the dividend alone would be a good reason to buy HP stock. But I also think that HP's earnings will start to turn upward toward the end of 2026 into 2027. Among the reasons, HP announced late last year a plan to reduce expenses by approximately $1 billion by the end of fiscal 2028, with about $250 million saved in fiscal 2026. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Save this article for later Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. A teenage boy is accused of possessing violent extremist material, months after he was arrested over other offences. The 15-year-old Gold Coast boy was arrested on September 8, in relation to alleged torture and indecent treatment offences. Police urged the community to report incidents of hate crimes and serious vilification. iStock On February 28, he was charged with one count of one possession of child exploitation material and possession of violent extremism material. The boy has been granted bail and was expected to appear in Southport Childrens Court on March 25. Advertisement NationalVictoriaCBD Footy great left slurring his words after suffering two mini strokes Fiona Byrne March 9, 2026 7:22am 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 Geelong great and former Footy Show controversy magnet Sam Newman was left slurring his words after suffering a mini-stroke. Newman, 80, spent 10 days in The Alfred hospital in Melbourne after experiencing a transient ischemic attack (TIA) last month. A screen grab from a video posted to Sam Newmans YouTube channel on Sunday. The Geelong team of the century member was out with his partner, former aerobics champion Sue Stanley, in Bay Street, Port Melbourne, when they had to call an ambulance. A little fleck of blood went into my brain, and I lost speech temporarily, and I lost strength in both my arms, but that was very short-lived, five minutes, Newman said in a video uploaded to YouTube on Sunday night. Advertisement I have had a stroke, I have had two little strokes. A TIA is a brief episode of neurological dysfunction after an interruption to the blood supply and is often referred to as a mini stroke. Newman admitted that without the quick actions of Stanley and medical staff, he might not be here. But in typical fashion, the TV personality filmed the whole experience keeping his sense of humour as he joked about drawing a crowd with the ambulances arrival and documenting his series of medical tests. Advertisement Newman underwent surgery to widen the carotid artery on the left side of his neck, which had thickened. He was released from the hospital on Sunday and continues to recover at home. He thanked the staff and medical team at The Alfred for their care and great work. Newman played 300 games for Geelong before a notable media career as one of the original co-hosts of The Footy Show alongside Eddie McGuire. 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 NationalVictoriaEducation They want to teach, but they say WorkCover claim delays are making them sicker Nicole Precel March 8, 2026 4:28pm 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 Stephanie Jandula had endured months of violent student attacks headbutting, biting, kicking but when one stomped on her head, things unravelled. On her way home, the Warringa Park School teacher blacked out and drove into her garage door, and she required a stay in hospital. Teacher Stephanie Jandula hasnt worked since 2023 due to a psychosocial injury. Jason South It resulted in an arduous back-and-forth for a WorkCover claim, which was granted in 2016. Jandula returned to work at the Hoppers Crossing specialist school in 2018 but put in another claim for a psychosocial injury in May 2023, which was denied because it was treated as an exacerbation of the first claim. Advertisement She ultimately managed to get the second claim approved, but says the fight further hurt her mental health. Since 2023, shes been off work. She currently doesnt have a return to work plan for the K-12 school. Since March 2024, Victorian workers are not eligible for compensation for stress or burnout as a result of usual or typical duties which teachers say means it has become much harder for them to be fairly compensated for bullying, overwork and stress claims. As The Age reported in August, workers claims for mental health compensation were being rejected at double the rate they were before the state government tightened eligibility requirements. Teachers say long waits for WorkCover claims has delayed treatment and exacerbated mental health problems. Teachers also worry whether a proposal for a WorkSafe code of claimants rights, which will be released in April for public consultation, will be legally enforceable. The Age has spoken with three women working in education who are on WorkCover who have waited months for conciliation or to have their cases heard by the systems medical panel. Advertisement Related Article Opinion Education I see the stress teachers are under every day. More teachers isnt the solution Alice Reid Contributor The teachers said their long waits for approval delayed their treatment, which exacerbated their problems or created secondary psychological injuries. More than 30,000 Victorian workers submit injury claims annually. Anyone whose claim is denied can go to the Workplace Injury Commission for a review and dispute resolution, a process which can end up going before a court. WorkCover Assist and Union Assist services provide free support to help workers navigate the process. If an employee is found to be unable to work, they will get 95 per cent of pre-injury average weekly earnings for 13 weeks, with the payment reducing after that time. In the 2023-24 financial year, slips and trips accounted for 28 per cent of accepted claims for the education sector, with mental injury at 27 per cent. Body stress injuries accounted for 18 per cent of claims, according to WorkSafes annual report. Advertisement In WorkSafes 2024-25 annual report, it committed to funding research because of an escalating problem of work-related violence in the public education sector. Arnold Thomas & Becker principal lawyer Joseph Ridley said the WorkCover changes had hit teachers particularly hard. In many ways, it has never been harder for a worker in Victoria to access their statutory entitlements, he said. The new WorkCover changes are failing teachers and educators. The new mental injury and usual or typical duties tests strip away supports that these workers need access to now more than ever. Ridley said changes to the system allowed claims agents to make hurried factual judgments on whether employees suffered from traumatic events, often without appropriate medical or investigative material. Advertisement We are seeing that unlike for what WorkCover calls frontline workers, teachers and educators start on the back foot in trying to show how their trauma matters too, he said. Dominique Elliott, of Chirnside Park, said the WorkCover claims process needed an overhaul. She is concerned about third parties taking advantage of the system or injured workers left languishing for months or over a year waiting for treatment. Lawyers and advocates say new WorkCover changes are failing teachers and educators. Penny Stephens Once a national programs manager in independent education, Elliott now struggles to leave the house and has been on WorkCover since June 2022. The 54-year-old said she experienced bullying and physical attacks at a charity that provided education support for disadvantaged children and young people. The charity has since closed. Elliott said she has PTSD and anxiety. Although her claim was accepted, after 18 months, the insurer stopped approving some treatments, despite practitioners saying shed benefit from them. Advertisement Its like being on a never-ending train or roller coaster. Its up and down constantly, she said. Jane Butler received workers compensation after a bullying incident at a primary school she taught at resulted in a psychosocial injury. Once she recovered, all she wanted to do was to get back to work. Its like being on a never-ending train or roller coaster. Its up and down constantly. Dominique Elliott has been on WorkCover since 2022 However, an inadequate return-to-work plan meant she is still out of work. She said the process was so drawn out and challenging, it worsened her mental health. Although shed love to be working, Butler said she was still without a return-to-work plan. Professor Alex Collie of Monash University, the chief investigator in the Workers Voice research study, said teachers were exposed to a larger range of risks to their mental health than workers in many other jobs, due to stress, burnout and students or teachers lashing out. Advertisement A 2024 OECD teaching and learning survey found more than 80 per cent of teachers in lower secondary and primary schools in Australia reported their job negatively affected their mental health and 64.6 per cent experienced high levels of workplace stress, compared to 43.4 per cent in other OECD countries. Collie said since December 1, new regulations meant employers had to control risks to ensure their workplace was safe, not just physically but also psychosocially. At the same time, he said, governments had made it more difficult for workers to receive compensation and rehabilitation for significant mental health problem they experienced at work. He said people who made mental health claims tended to be quite sick when they did and the process of applying for compensation could exacerbate existing problems. Advertisement The workers comp scheme was designed in the mid-1980s originally to deal predominantly with physical injury work ... the nature of work has changed significantly, Collie said. Related Article Opinion Teaching Nice bum, Miss: Why we need to get tough with boys at school Jenna Price Columnist Independent Education Union Victoria general secretary David Brear said more school staff were forced to rely on income protection insurance when they experienced burnout and stress at work, a deeply unfair situation to put an injured worker in. Monash University research found secondary psychological injuries can arise during a compensation claim from uncertainty around processes, financial pressures and unclear recovery expectations. The research recommends avoiding repetitive assessments. Vasalia Govender, an advocate for injured workers, has 565 members in her Injured Workers Support Team 32 of them educators and said legitimate claims were being rejected on technical or procedural grounds. Advertisement Injured workers are calling for a system that is transparent, consistent and focused on early assistance and recovery, she said. WorkSafe said that last financial year, it provided support to more than 109,000 workers and supported more than 26,000 injured workers return to work. A spokesperson said that between January 2021 and October 2025, inspectors conducted 641 workplace visits in the education sector to address psychosocial hazards. No one chooses to suffer an injury or illness at work and WorkSafe is making sure injured workers including, those in the education sector, get the best chance of recovery, the spokesperson said. WorkSafe has established Return to Work Victoria with a $50 million investment to work with partners and the community to find new and innovative ways to reduce the adverse health and social impacts associated with people being disconnected from work long term. The Department of Education said the health and wellbeing of government school staff was the governments priority, and it had invested $63.8 million over four years to improve it. Advertisement Related Article Education State school teachers threaten to strike as pay talks stall A spokesperson said for privacy reasons, the department couldnt comment on individual matters. Victorias 2025-26 budget included investing $9.3 million in a Keeping School Staff Safe from Violence initiative, which includes a return to work program, and expanding an early intervention program for school staff at risk of mental injury. 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 PoliticsFederalMiddle East at war Penny Wong: Australia could help defend gulf states against Iran Matthew Knott March 8, 2026 11:16am 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 Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia could help Middle Eastern nations defend themselves against attacks by Iran while declining to back US President Donald Trumps insistence that he play a role deciding the next Iranian leader. Wong declared it was up to the Iranian people to determine who leads their nation as she ruled out any role for Australian troops in an offensive action in the region. But in a new development, she flagged Australia could play a defensive role in helping protect nations in the Gulf from Iranian missile and drone strikes. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said it was up to the Iranian people to decide their leader. Alex Ellinghausen Weve had many countries which are non-participants [that] have been attacked, by Iran. You would anticipate as a consequence that we have been asked for assistance and we will work through that, Wong told the ABCs Insiders on Sunday. Advertisement We will work through that in accordance with the position I have outlined, which is we are not participating in offensive action against Iran. And weve made clear we would not participate in any ground troop deployment into Iran. Related Article Middle East at war Albanese confirms three Australians on US sub that sank Iranian ship Wong, who spoke to her United Arab Emirates counterpart Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed last week, continued: We have been asked, and we will consider, in accordance with those principles. Wong did not go into detail about exactly what Australias support could involve, saying the government would be transparent with the public about any decision to provide military assistance. Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson said the opposition had sought a briefing about any potential deployment of Australian personnel to the Middle East in defensive combat roles after Wongs comments. Advertisement Australia has a proud record of standing with our allies and friends in times of crisis, and the Coalition will carefully consider any deployment proposals in the national interest once briefed, he said. Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised on Saturday for attacks on regional countries even as its missiles and drones continued flying towards Gulf Arab states, indicating Tehrans political leadership may not be exercising full command over Irans armed forces. While avoiding direct criticism of Trump, Wong did not back his view that he should play a role in choosing who leads Iran. Trump has said in interviews in recent days that I have to be involved in the appointment of Irans next leader. Wong said that the future for Iran and its governance, ultimately, is a decision for the Iranian people, and thats not just a values judgment. Its also a pragmatic judgment. Advertisement We have seen regime change being sought by external parties historically, and I think we all know that for there to be a sustainable change of regime, it has to be something that the people of that nation back and seek. Wong repeated her view that Australia was not in a position to determine the legal basis for the US and Israeli strikes on Iran when asked whether they comply with international law. 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 What we can do is make a judgment about what is in our national interests, and what we support in order to keep Australians safe, she said. What weve said is we support action to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and we support action to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security. Advertisement Wong forcefully rejected the idea Australia was again backing the US in a misguided military adventure in the Middle East, as it did by participating in the war in Iraq in the early 2000s. This is not Iraq, and we are not the Howard government, she said. We are not asking Australians to fall to accept Australian where men and women being deployed into a ground war. We have made very clear the basis of the decision and the parameters of our engagement. Wong said the fact Australian troops were on a US submarine that destroyed an Iranian war ship last week did not mean the country was actively involved in the war, saying it was not new for military personnel to be involved in such deployments. When they are deployed in that way, we always have arrangements to ensure that any personnel comply with Australian law, Australian policy and Australian directives, she said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Ford Builds Pope Leo XIV A Custom Explorer From a Chicago Plant to a Chicago-Born Pope: Meet Leo XIV's Custom Explorer by Emily Olson From the Ford Road editor The Farleys personally delivered the car during a private audience at the Vatican on Feb. 28. He noticed and appreciated all the personal touches, Farley said of the Pontiffs reaction. We even took a quick drive, and I can confirm the Holy Father enjoys driving a sporty ride. According to Farley, what really stuck out from the conversation was the feeling of pride in the shared Chicago connection. Farley brought a photo of the Chicago Assembly plant team and handwritten letters from those who worked on the car. In return, the Pope blessed several rosaries to bring back to the staff. For those workers, pride is the word that comes to mind when they think about the Pope behind the wheel. I hope my letter gave the Pope a sense of how proud I am, said Barilovich, the electrical systems engineer. This is the highlight of my professional life so far. A Washington state man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after diverting $35 million from his employer to fund a personal decentralized finance venture that ultimately collapsed during the 2022 crypto market downturn. Key Takeaways: A former Washington CFO was sentenced to two years in prison for diverting $35 million in company funds into a failed DeFi investment scheme. The crypto strategy collapsed during the 2022 market downturn following the Terra ecosystem crash. The losses severely impacted the company, triggering layoffs and nearly forcing the business to shut down. Nevin Shetty, 42, was convicted of wire fraud in November after prosecutors showed he secretly transferred company funds into a crypto investment scheme tied to his side project, HighTower Treasury. The funds belonged to a private software company where Shetty served as chief financial officer. Prosecutors Say CFO Diverted Funds After Learning of Job Termination According to the US Department of Justice, Shetty drafted a conservative investment policy for the firm that limited how corporate funds could be used. Despite those internal guidelines, he moved tens of millions of dollars from the companys accounts after learning in April 2022 that his position would be terminated due to performance concerns. The money was routed to HighTower Treasury, where Shetty and a business partner invested heavily in decentralized finance lending protocols promising annual returns of 20% or more. Prosecutors said Shetty intended to return a fixed payment to the company while keeping the remainder of any profits generated by the crypto strategy. Initially, the scheme produced modest gains. Court filings show the operation generated roughly $133,000 in its first month. However, the broader crypto market soon entered a steep downturn following the collapse of the Terra ecosystem in May 2022. As the market fell, the value of HighTowers positions rapidly deteriorated. The investments tied to Shettys strategy plunged from approximately $35 million to nearly nothing during the subsequent crypto winter. After the losses became clear, Shetty admitted his actions to colleagues at the company. He was later dismissed from his role. During sentencing, US District Judge Tana Lin said the incident inflicted serious damage on the business. According to the court, the company faced significant and severe effects from the losses and was nearly forced to shut down. The financial damage also triggered layoffs, with about 60 employees losing their jobs as the company attempted to stabilize operations following the missing funds. Balendra Shah defeats 4-time PM Oli, RSP set to form next Govt in Nepal By Shirish B Pradhan : KATHMANDU RSPs 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 years violent Gen Z protests demanding generational change and corruption-free regime. Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah Balen, the prime ministerial candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) defeated 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 Jhapa-5 constituency. Balen, 35, secured 68,348 votes against 74-year-old Olis 18,734, the Election Commission (EC) said. He is expected to be the next Prime Minister of Nepal, reflecting a public mood of rejection of established parties. The RSP, which was formed in 2022 by Ravi Lamichhane, has won 72 seats out of the 90 seats for which results were declared by 9:30 pm, according to the Election Commission (EC). RSPs 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 failed to convince 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 10 and was leading in eight seats; the CPN-(UML) won just four 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 (RPP) 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 9:30 pm Saturday, counting was in progress in the remaining of the total 165 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. 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. Balen babu, congratulations for the victory. I wish your five year tenure be trouble free, successful and hearty congratulations, Oli wrote in his social media post and attached a 2022 photo showing him gifting a tabla to Balen after the rapper-turned-politician won Kathmandu mayors election as an independent. 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 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 two in Lalitpur district. The party is also leading in the remaining one seat 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. 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. The election also saw 10 women candidates win, nine of them from the RSP while one from NC. 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. Domestic LPG price hiked by Rs 60 per cylinder NEW DELHI : Domestic cooking gas LPG price was hiked on Saturday by a steep Rs 60 per cylinder, the second increase in rate in less than a year, as the spike in global energy rates following the West Asia crisis weighed on the worlds third largest energy consumer. Top Government sources, however, were quick to state that an increase in petrol and diesel prices is not in the offing as state-owned oil firms have enough financial muscle to absorb the warranted increase. Non-subsidised LPG -- the one that common households use in 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. Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries -- the over 10 crore poor who have got free LPG connections since 2016 -- will also have to bear the same amount of price increase. They will now pay Rs 613 per 14.2 kg cylinder after accounting for a subsidy of Rs 300 per bottle they get for up to 12 refills in a year. Alongside, 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 Rs 28 per 19-kg cylinder raise effected on March 1. Commercial LPG rate has risen by Rs 302.50 this year. Top Government sources said the increase was necessitated because of a spike in global energy prices. Despite the increase, the price is less than the Rs 1,050 per 14.2-kg cylinder rate required to breakeven at cost. They said considering an average consumption of 4-5 cylinders per year per household, the increase translates to 80 paisa per day for a family of four or just 20 paisa per person. Even at the increased prices, LPG in India is cheaper than most countries in the world, they said adding cooking costs Rs 1,207 per bottle in Katmandhu, Rs 1,241 in Sri Lanka and Rs 1,046 in Pakistan. Sources ruled out any immediate increase in petrol and diesel price as three fuel marketing companies - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) with bumper profits in earlier this year - had enough financial muscle to absorb such impact. Retail petrol and diesel prices have been on a freeze since April 2022, with fuel retailers absorbing losses when crude prices are high and making profits when rates are low. The LPG price rise of Saturday is the second increase in rate in 11 months. The price was last hiked by Rs 50 in April last year. Officials said the increase follows a steep rise in global energy prices since the US and Israel attack on Iran last weekend triggered a wider military conflict in the oil and gas-rich Middle East. The conflict has led to a near halt in tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz -- the narrow but critical sea lane between Iran and Oman used by Middle Eastern producers to export oil and gas to global markets. The disruption has sharply curtailed energy shipments from the region, triggering a spike in global oil and gas prices. Since the conflict broke out on February 28, the US crude soared 35.63 per cent for the biggest weekly gain in the history of futures contract dating back to 1983. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures closed at USD 90.90 per barrel. Brent jumped about 28 per cent for its biggest weekly gain since April 2020, to settle at USD 92.69 per barrel. Asian spot prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG) have also jumped to about USD 25.40 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) -- a three-year high and more than double of last weeks levels of around USD 10 per mmBtu amid fears of supply disruptions and halted exports from Qatar. LPG markets have also tightened as shipments from key Gulf exporters face logistical disruptions, pushing international propane and butane benchmarks higher and raising concerns over supply availability for major importers such as India. 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. The Strait of Hormuz is also a critical conduit for Indias energy imports, with roughly half of the crude oil the country buys from overseas transiting through the narrow waterway. In addition, nearly 40 per cent of Indias natural gas imports, largely in the form of LNG from Gulf suppliers like Qatar and the UAE, also pass through the strait. For LPG, the strait is more important. India consumed 31.3 million tonne of LPG in 2024-25, of which only 12.8 million tonne were produced domestically, with the remainder imported. Of the imported quantity, 85-90 per cent come from countries like Saudi Arabia that rely on the Strait of Hormuz for transit. The Strait has been effectively blocked following a week-old escalation in the region, after US and Israeli strikes on Iran prompted Tehran to retaliate against US bases in neighbouring countries. To augment domestic supplies, the Government on Friday invoked sparingly used emergency powers to direct oil refineries to ramp up LPG production. From Thinking To Knowing By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA : Yoga philosophy treats thinking as subtly different from knowing. In Yoga philosophy, thinking is the movement of the mind, while knowing arises from the stillness of awareness. Thinking involves a process where the mind travels through memories, analysis, and imagination. On the other hand, knowing has deeper dimensions. It arises from direct experience and it is a great transformation in human evolution. The human brain is designed to think constantly. The prefrontal cortex of the brain is always busy in planning, evaluating, and judging. This is mandatory for survival and decision making. But excessive thinking leads to stress and confusion. The nervous system is always in a state of alert. The body always releases stress hormones. Clarity is lost and the activity of the mind increases. Yoga calls it Chitta Vritti or the fluctuations of the mind. Too many thoughts cloud the perception. Yogic practices are not against thinking. On the contrary, Yoga refines thinking and helps the practitioner to go beyond it. Through Yogic postures, breathwork, and meditation the mind slows down and becomes steady. Neuroscience demonstrates that regular meditation strengthens the neural pathways associated with attention and emotional regulation. The amygdala which triggers fears and threats becomes less reactive. Parasympathetic nervous system becomes more active, bringing calmness to the body. When the nervous system settles down, awareness becomes clearer. This clarity is similar to what Yoga calls Viveka, the power of discrimination. Thinking works through language and concepts, while knowing arises from direct experience. For example, one can think about peace, but one experiences peace during meditation. Brain studies show that during such states, default mode network of the brain reduces. This is the self referential thinking. As it quiets, a sense of spacious consciousness appears. In Yogic traditions, the shift from thinking to knowing is not sudden. It happens gradually through inner discipline and surrender. Practices like Pranayama balance autonomic nervous systems and stabilise emotions. When breath slows down, thoughts reduce. The practitioner starts observing rather than reacting. Another important aspect in this regard is Swadhyaya, self study or self observation, the ability to witness ones own thoughts. When thoughts are observed without judgement, new neural pathways develop in the brain. This leads to reduction in impulsive behavior and builds emotional resilience. Yogic seekers realise that thoughts are temporary waves, not true self. Knowing is not anti -intelligence. It includes intelligence which is not limited by thought fluctuations. In the modern day life, information is available everywhere. AI can process unlimited data within seconds. But AI operates through algorithms and data. On other hands, human awareness has special qualities of presence and compassion. Yoga teaches that wisdom comes from balanced awareness, not from endless analysis and calculations. In daily life, transformation from thinking to knowing teaches how to respond to challenges rather than to react. Thus decisions become more integrated and less impulsive. Relationships become more emphatic. Actions align with Dharma as clarity replaces confusion. Neuroscience demonstrates that long term meditators show more activities in the brain areas which are linked to empathy, insight and compassion. Yoga provides the methods to quiet the brain and neuroscience explains them how they shape the brain and reset the nervous system. Both agree on the point that true knowledge does not come from accumulation of thoughts, but from the awakening of awareness. (The writer is Former DG Police & CG, Homeguards, Maharashtra) Iran rejects surrender demand President Pezeshkian apologises for strikes on neighbours DUBAI : IRANS President apologised on Saturday for attacks on regional countries even as its missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states, suggesting Tehrans political leadership could not exercise full command over the Islamic Republics armed forces as an intense campaign of US-Israeli airstrikes rocked the nation, marking one week of the war. The message from President Masoud Pezeshkian, one member of a tripartite leadership council overseeing Iran since a Feb. 28 airstrike starting the war killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, again underlined the limited powers being exercised by theocracys leaders over its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The Guard, which controls the ballistic missiles targeting Israel and others, answered only to Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets as the conflict widens. Pezeshkians message, seemingly filmed in a hurry without professional broadcast equipment, appeared aimed at assuaging growing Gulf Arab anger over the attacks. But Pezeshkian suggested an order to stop attacks came on Friday, hours before a wave of attacks disrupted flights at Dubai International Airport, targeting a major Saudi oil facility and sending people fleeing for cover multiple times in Bahrain. But Pezeshkian kept up his criticism of the United States, particularly of President Donald Trumps repeated demand that Iran unconditionally surrender to America. Thats a dream that they should take to their grave, he said. Pezeshkians statement on Saturday said the countrys three-man leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces over the attacks. 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. There was no foreseeable end to the fighting. Trumps administration approved a new USD 151 million arms sale to Israel after Trump said he would not negotiate with Iran without its unconditional surrender, and US officials warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign they said would be the most intense yet in the weeklong conflict. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a television interview on Friday that the biggest bombing campaign of the war was still to come. Irans UN ambassador said the country would take all necessary measures to defend itself. Associated Press video showed explosions flashing and smoke rising over western Tehran as Israel said it had begun a broad wave of strikes. 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 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. In a sign of the widening nature of the conflict, sirens sounded early 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. 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. Shortly after, the decision was reversed, and the Emirates said the airline would resume operations. The news brought cheers in Dubai International Airport, where passengers had been sheltering after hearing a large boom overhead. Authorities have not explained if there was an interception or damage at the airport, which is the worlds busiest for international travel. 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 USD 150 a barrel. The price for a barrel of benchmark US crude rose above USD 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, talked with Field Marshal Asim Munir in Riyadh about the Iranian attacks. Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan had signed a mutual defence pact that defines any attack on either nation as an attack on both. Also, early 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 Israels emergency services. 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 Saturday that at least 16 people were killed in subsequent Israeli strikes and another 35 were wounded. Israel did not acknowledge the fighting, and its military did not immediately respond to requests 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. Lebanons Health Ministry says over 200 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since Monday and over 800 wounded. Key insight: The latest fallout from the collapse of auto-parts company First Brands was unexpected, since Western Alliance had previously expressed confidence in its contract with Jefferies. Supporting data: A Jefferies affiliate had paid off more than $211 million of the $337 million debt since Western Alliance extended the loan last fall. Forward look: Western Alliance believes it will win its suit against Jefferies and recover the full $126 million, but said the legal process will take time to resolve. The high-profile bankruptcy of the auto-parts company First Brands Group has struck again. Western Alliance Bancorp. announced Friday that it is suing Jefferies Financial Group after Jefferies' affiliates backpedaled on previous assurances that they could pay off a large commercial loan balance. The loans were collateralized by accounts receivable purchased from the now-collapsed First Brands, which has been accused of fraud. Phoenix-based Western Alliance charged off the entire $126.4 million balance, a reversal of its prior confidence in its contract with Jefferies. On Friday, Western Alliance CEO Kenneth Vecchione said that Jefferies told his bank last week that it would cease making payments, which he called "shocking" and "highly unusual." "Plainly, in my entire banking career, I have never witnessed a breach of contract that so deliberately places the reputation and operating integrity of a counterparty at risk, forcing future banks, clients and counterparties to seriously reevaluate the dependability of that organization's commitments," Vecchione said on a Friday call with analysts and investors. Western Alliance's lawsuit, filed earlier in the day in New York state court, accuses Jefferies and several affiliates of breach of contract and fraud, alleging that the defendants "knew they did not intend to repay the loan in full." Jefferies said in a written statement that its loan from Western Alliance entitled the bank to conduct audits of the underlying receivables. Jefferies added that its affiliate "acted in good faith and with goodwill toward the bank at all times." "Unfortunately, First Brands and its leadership perpetrated a wide-ranging and well-concealed fraud," Jefferies said. Jefferies also said that it believes Western Alliance's suit is "without merit" and "will be defended vigorously." Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich acquired a new stake in Fabrinet (NYSE:FN Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 8,016 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $2,923,000. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of FN. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. increased its holdings in Fabrinet by 20.4% during the 3rd quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 171 shares of the technology companys stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the period. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. raised its position in Fabrinet by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 998 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $294,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares in the last quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Fabrinet by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 3,032 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $893,000 after buying an additional 31 shares during the period. Stephens Inc. AR grew its position in shares of Fabrinet by 4.4% during the third quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 782 shares of the technology companys stock worth $285,000 after buying an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Profund Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Fabrinet by 2.2% during the third quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 1,505 shares of the technology companys stock worth $549,000 after buying an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.38% of the companys stock. Get Fabrinet alerts: Fabrinet Price Performance Shares of Fabrinet stock opened at $489.66 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $495.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $438.28. Fabrinet has a 12 month low of $148.55 and a 12 month high of $632.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.90 and a beta of 1.01. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Fabrinet ( NYSE:FN Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 2nd. The technology company reported $3.36 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.10. Fabrinet had a net margin of 9.69% and a return on equity of 18.69%. The firm had revenue of $1.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.61 EPS. Fabrinets quarterly revenue was up 35.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Fabrinet has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.450-3.600 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Fabrinet will post 9.4 earnings per share for the current year. Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Fabrinet from a buy (b) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. B. Riley Financial boosted their price target on shares of Fabrinet from $366.00 to $452.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Rosenblatt Securities reissued a buy rating and issued a $550.00 price objective on shares of Fabrinet in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Susquehanna raised their price objective on shares of Fabrinet from $550.00 to $570.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Fabrinet from $537.00 to $548.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $541.25. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on FN Fabrinet Profile (Free Report) Fabrinet is a global provider of advanced optical packaging and precision optical, electromechanical and electronic manufacturing services (CEM). The company specializes in complex manufacturing processes for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in communications, data center, industrial, instrumentation and medical markets. Key capabilities include highprecision fiber alignment, microassembly, testing and diagnostics, and integration of electrooptic subassemblies. Incorporated in 2000, Fabrinet operates under a corporate structure headquartered in Singapore with additional regional offices and design centers in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Fabrinet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fabrinet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Capstone Copper Corp. (OTCMKTS:CSCCF Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the seven research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on CSCCF shares. Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating on shares of Capstone Copper in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Desjardins downgraded Capstone Copper to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Capstone Copper in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. BMO Capital Markets restated an outperform rating on shares of Capstone Copper in a report on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Capstone Copper in a research note on Sunday, December 7th. Get Capstone Copper alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CSCCF Capstone Copper Stock Down 2.8% Capstone Copper Company Profile CSCCF opened at C$8.22 on Thursday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$10.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$9.15. Capstone Copper has a 52-week low of C$3.51 and a 52-week high of C$13.32. (Get Free Report) Capstone Copper Ltd is a copper-focused exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Established through a corporate spin-off from Capstone Mining Corp, the company is dedicated to advancing copper resources across the Americas. Capstone Coppers portfolio comprises early- to mid-stage projects, with an initial emphasis on high-grade copper deposits in Chile and surrounding jurisdictions. The companys principal activities include geological exploration, resource definition, engineering studies, and environmental permitting. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Capstone Copper Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capstone Copper and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. YSS (NYSE:YSS Get Free Report) and Voyager Technologies (NYSE:VOYG Get Free Report) are both manufacturing companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk and earnings. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for YSS and Voyager Technologies, as reported by MarketBeat. Get YSS alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score YSS 0 3 8 0 2.73 Voyager Technologies 1 2 6 0 2.56 YSS presently has a consensus target price of $39.00, suggesting a potential upside of 82.07%. Voyager Technologies has a consensus target price of $44.88, suggesting a potential upside of 67.51%. Given YSSs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe YSS is more favorable than Voyager Technologies. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets YSS N/A N/A N/A Voyager Technologies -53.06% -37.90% -12.64% Valuation & Earnings This table compares YSS and Voyager Technologies net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This table compares YSS and Voyager Technologiess revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio YSS $357.46 million 7.61 N/A N/A N/A Voyager Technologies $144.18 million 9.99 -$62.07 million ($3.16) -8.48 YSS has higher revenue and earnings than Voyager Technologies. Summary YSS beats Voyager Technologies on 7 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. 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. 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. Receive News & Ratings for YSS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for YSS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Key Takeaways Taxes, market risk, longevity, and long-term care costs are key threats to retirement savings, according to one expert. Contributing to a Roth IRAs or doing a Roth conversion, if you're not eligible, can help reduce tax burdens in retirement. Some retirees may be in for a rude awakening when they start taking distributions from retirement accounts like traditional 401(k)s or IRAs and incur large tax bills. Investopedia spoke with Stephen Dissette, an investment advisor representative at Horter Investment Management, to discuss the steps people should take now to minimize taxes in their golden years. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. INVESTOPEDIA: What should people know or plan for when it comes to the tax hit that they experience when withdrawing from a 401(k) later in life? STEPHEN DISSETTE: There are four major threats to a successful retirement: taxes, stock market risk, longevity, and long-term care expenses. A lot of advisors talk about diversifying investmentsI talk about diversifying taxes as well. One of the best things people can do to supplement their retirement beyond a 401(k) is through a Roth IRA. What This Means For You It's important to look at your retirement plan holistically, considering the other investment accounts you might tap in retirement. Consult with a financial planner before determining whether a Roth conversion or opening a Roth account is the right choice for you. For Roth IRAs, you can contribute $7,500 if you're less than 50 years old. If you're over 50, an additional $1,100. There are limitations: if you make too much money, you can't contribute. If you're already retired, you can't contribute because you need earned income. I also think a lot of people do not understand the power of Roth conversions. I come across a lot of people who have seven-figure retirement accounts, but do they really have $1 million? They probably have $300,000 less [because that portion will go to taxes if in a 401(k) or tradition Roth account], so that's why it's important to diversify. INVESTOPEDIA: Why do you like Roth conversions? DISSETTE: The biggest advantage of a Roth account is that you have the ability to take withdrawals without having to pay Uncle Sam. The conversion is considered a taxable event. There are a couple things to consider. We have historically low tax rates and people think when they do a conversion, they have to do it all, but you can do it all at one shot or you can spread it out [over years]. I look at someone's income, see where they are in the tax bracket and then plan accordingly. I try to keep the conversions within their tax bracket. [The amount you convert is added to your taxable income.] Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. reduced its holdings in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 5.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 193,821 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 12,156 shares during the quarter. Exxon Mobil comprises 1.0% of Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $21,853,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of XOM. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System increased its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 215,892 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $24,342,000 after purchasing an additional 5,573 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 3.3% during the third quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 306,658 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $34,576,000 after buying an additional 9,831 shares in the last quarter. Capital Counsel LLC NY grew its position in Exxon Mobil by 0.9% during the second quarter. Capital Counsel LLC NY now owns 49,687 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,356,000 after buying an additional 460 shares during the period. HORAN Wealth LLC increased its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 78.3% in the third quarter. HORAN Wealth LLC now owns 13,180 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,486,000 after buying an additional 5,788 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New Age Alpha Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 166,547 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $18,778,000 after acquiring an additional 8,853 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Insider Activity In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,150 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.82, for a total transaction of $339,313.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 18,204 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,872,955.28. This trade represents a 10.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 16,380 shares of company stock worth $2,227,734. 0.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Trending Headlines about Exxon Mobil Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week: Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on Exxon Mobil from $145.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Exxon Mobil from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Citigroup upped their target price on Exxon Mobil from $118.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, March 2nd. BNP Paribas Exane cut Exxon Mobil from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $125.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Exxon Mobil from $137.00 to $134.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Exxon Mobil presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $143.41. View Our Latest Analysis on Exxon Mobil Exxon Mobil Price Performance Shares of NYSE:XOM opened at $151.31 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.15. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $138.89 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $123.22. The stock has a market cap of $630.47 billion, a PE ratio of 22.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 0.35. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a one year low of $97.80 and a one year high of $159.60. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $80.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $77.98 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.21% and a net margin of 8.68%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.67 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current fiscal year. Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be issued a $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is 61.58%. About Exxon Mobil (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) is an integrated oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, production, refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products and the manufacture and sale of petrochemicals. Its operations span the full energy value chain, including upstream exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas; midstream transportation and storage; and downstream refining, product distribution and retail. The company also produces a broad range of chemical products for industrial and consumer applications. ExxonMobil markets fuels and lubricants under well-known brands such as Exxon, Mobil and Esso, and its Mobil 1 motor oil is a prominent consumer product. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NL Industries (NYSE:NL Get Free Report) and Givaudan (OTCMKTS:GVDNY Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings, profitability, valuation and institutional ownership. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for NL Industries and Givaudan, as provided by MarketBeat. Get NL Industries alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score NL Industries 0 1 0 0 2.00 Givaudan 1 1 2 1 2.60 Volatility & Risk NL Industries has a beta of 0.24, meaning that its share price is 76% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Givaudan has a beta of 0.78, meaning that its share price is 22% less volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation and Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio NL Industries $145.90 million 2.04 $67.23 million $0.20 30.50 Givaudan $9.02 billion N/A $1.29 billion N/A N/A This table compares NL Industries and Givaudans revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Givaudan has higher revenue and earnings than NL Industries. Profitability This table compares NL Industries and Givaudans net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets NL Industries 6.10% 2.36% 1.83% Givaudan N/A N/A N/A Dividends NL Industries pays an annual dividend of $0.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.9%. Givaudan pays an annual dividend of $0.96 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.3%. NL Industries pays out 180.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. NL Industries has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years. NL Industries is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth. Institutional and Insider Ownership 10.7% of NL Industries shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of Givaudan shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of NL Industries shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. About NL Industries (Get Free Report) NL Industries, Inc., through its subsidiary, CompX International Inc., operates in the component products industry in Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company manufactures and sells mechanical and electronic cabinet locks and other locking mechanisms, including disc tumbler locks; pin tumbler locking mechanisms under KeSet, System 64, TuBar, and Turbine brands; and electronic locks under CompX eLock and StealthLock brands for use in various applications, such as mailboxes, ignition systems, file cabinets, desk drawers, tool storage cabinets, high security medical cabinetry, integrated inventory and access control secured narcotics boxes, electronic circuit panels, storage compartments, gas station security, vending and cash containment machines. It also offers original equipment and aftermarket stainless steel exhaust headers, exhaust pipes, mufflers, and other exhaust components; gauges, such as GPS speedometers and tachometers; mechanical and electronic controls and throttles; wake enhancement devices, trim tabs, steering wheels, and other billet aluminum accessories; dash panels, LED indicators, wire harnesses, and other accessories; and grab handles, pin cleats, and other accessories; primarily for performance and ski/wakeboard and performance boats. In addition, the company produces and markets value-added titanium dioxide pigments, a base industrial product used in imparting whiteness, brightness, opacity, and durability to a diverse range of customer applications and end-use markets, including coatings, plastics, paper, inks, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other industrial and consumer products. The company sells its component products directly to original equipment manufacturers, as well as through distributors. NL Industries, Inc. was founded in 1891 and is based in Dallas, Texas. NL Industries, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Valhi, Inc. About Givaudan (Get Free Report) Givaudan SA manufactures, supplies, and sells fragrance, beauty, taste, and wellbeing products to the consumer goods industry. The company operates through divisions, Fragrance & Beauty, and Taste & Wellbeing. The Fragrance & Beauty division offers fine fragrances; consumer products, such as personal, home, fabric, and oral care; fragrance ingredients; and active beauty products. The Taste & Wellbeing division provides beverages, such as fizzy drinks, bottled waters, ready-to-drink juices, alcoholic beverages, and others; dairy and cheese products, including dairy drinks, yoghurt, ice cream, chilled desserts, cream cheese, and spreads; snacks; givaudan flavour ingredients; savory, and supplements and nutraceutical products; and biscuits, crackers, and cereals, as well as confectionery products, such as chewing gums, chocolates, and sweets. It operates in Switzerland, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North America, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. Givaudan SA was founded in 1796 and is headquartered in Vernier, Switzerland. Receive News & Ratings for NL Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NL Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC reduced its stake in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report) by 22.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 529,886 shares of the companys stock after selling 155,437 shares during the period. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLCs holdings in Citigroup were worth $53,783,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC raised its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 87.6% during the third quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 257 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the period. Dunhill Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 92.2% in the third quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 319 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Guerra Advisors Inc acquired a new position in shares of Citigroup during the third quarter worth about $33,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new position in shares of Citigroup during the second quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Citigroup in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Institutional investors own 71.72% of the companys stock. Get Citigroup alerts: Insider Activity In related news, insider Cantu Ernesto Torres sold 43,173 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.09, for a total value of $4,796,088.57. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 45,835 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,091,810.15. This trade represents a 48.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Citigroup News Summary Citigroup Price Performance Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week: NYSE:C opened at $106.58 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $186.44 billion, a PE ratio of 15.29, a P/E/G ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.17. Citigroup Inc. has a 1-year low of $55.51 and a 1-year high of $125.16. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $115.67 and a 200 day simple moving average of $106.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63. Citigroup (NYSE:C Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The company reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.65 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $19.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.99 billion. Citigroup had a net margin of 8.50% and a return on equity of 8.28%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.34 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Citigroup Inc. will post 7.53 EPS for the current fiscal year. Citigroup Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 2nd were issued a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 2nd. Citigroups dividend payout ratio is presently 34.43%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have weighed in on C shares. Truist Financial upped their price target on Citigroup from $123.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Piper Sandler set a $135.00 price objective on shares of Citigroup in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $115.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of Citigroup from $118.00 to $131.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Citigroup in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $127.25. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on C Citigroup Company Profile (Free Report) Citigroup Inc is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City with roots tracing back to the City Bank of New York, founded in 1812. The modern Citigroup was created through the 1998 merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group and has since operated as a diversified bank holding company that provides a broad range of banking and financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments and institutions worldwide. Citis principal businesses include retail and commercial banking, credit card and consumer lending products, wealth management and private banking, and a full suite of institutional services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Citigroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citigroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Byline Bancorp (NYSE:BY Get Free Report) and Berkshire Bancorp (OTCMKTS:BERK Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, risk, earnings, dividends and profitability. Profitability This table compares Byline Bancorp and Berkshire Bancorps net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Byline Bancorp alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Byline Bancorp 20.54% 11.19% 1.39% Berkshire Bancorp N/A N/A N/A Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Byline Bancorp and Berkshire Bancorp, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Byline Bancorp 0 1 2 1 3.00 Berkshire Bancorp 0 0 0 0 0.00 Institutional & Insider Ownership Byline Bancorp presently has a consensus price target of $33.67, indicating a potential upside of 9.09%. Given Byline Bancorps stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Byline Bancorp is more favorable than Berkshire Bancorp. 67.7% of Byline Bancorp shares are held by institutional investors. 28.8% of Byline Bancorp shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 70.4% of Berkshire Bancorp shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Byline Bancorp and Berkshire Bancorps top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Byline Bancorp $441.51 million 3.19 $130.05 million $2.88 10.72 Berkshire Bancorp N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Byline Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings than Berkshire Bancorp. Summary Byline Bancorp beats Berkshire Bancorp on 9 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About Byline Bancorp (Get Free Report) Byline Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Byline Bank that provides various banking products and services for small and medium sized businesses, commercial real estate and financial sponsors, and consumers in the United States. It offers various retail deposit products, including non-interest-bearing accounts, money market demand accounts, savings accounts, interest-bearing checking accounts, and time deposits; ATM and debit cards; and online, mobile, and text banking services, as well as commercial deposits. The company also provides term loans, revolving lines of credit, and construction financing services; senior secured financing solutions to private equity backed lower middle market companies; small business administration and united states department of agriculture loans; and treasury management products and services. In addition, it offers financing solutions for equipment vendors and their end users; syndication services; and investment, trust, and wealth management services that include fiduciary and executor services, financial planning solutions, investment advisory services, and private banking services for foundations and endowments, and high net worth individuals. The company was formerly known as Metropolitan Bank Group, Inc. and changed its name to Byline Bancorp, Inc. in 2015. Byline Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. About Berkshire Bancorp (Get Free Report) Berkshire Bancorp Inc. operates as the bank holding company for The Berkshire Bank that provides community banking services primarily to businesses, professionals, and retail customers. The company offers statement savings, NOW, money market deposit, and checking accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. It also provides commercial and industrial, commercial and residential real estate, multi-family real estate, construction, and consumer loans, as well as mortgages and finance leasing services. In addition, the company offers ATM and debit cards; safe deposit boxes; bill pay, collection, remote deposit capture, and foreign exchange services; and mobile, telephone, and online banking services. It operates through two branches located in Manhattan; four branches located in Brooklyn, New York; four branches located in Orange and Sullivan Counties in New York State; and one branch located in Teaneck, New Jersey. Berkshire Bancorp Inc. was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Receive News & Ratings for Byline Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Byline Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA Get Free Report) and Two Harbors Investments (NYSE:TWO Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, risk, profitability and dividends. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for MFA Financial and Two Harbors Investments, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get MFA Financial alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score MFA Financial 0 4 2 0 2.33 Two Harbors Investments 2 6 0 0 1.75 MFA Financial presently has a consensus target price of $10.81, suggesting a potential upside of 7.05%. Two Harbors Investments has a consensus target price of $12.88, suggesting a potential upside of 39.04%. Given Two Harbors Investments higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Two Harbors Investments is more favorable than MFA Financial. Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio MFA Financial $745.06 million 1.38 $176.78 million $1.29 7.83 Two Harbors Investments $412.00 million 2.36 -$454.30 million ($4.89) -1.89 This table compares MFA Financial and Two Harbors Investmentss revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. MFA Financial has higher revenue and earnings than Two Harbors Investments. Two Harbors Investments is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than MFA Financial, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares MFA Financial and Two Harbors Investments net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets MFA Financial 23.73% 6.67% 1.01% Two Harbors Investments -109.90% 12.00% 1.29% Insider and Institutional Ownership 65.3% of MFA Financial shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 64.2% of Two Harbors Investments shares are held by institutional investors. 0.8% of MFA Financial shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Two Harbors Investments shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Dividends MFA Financial pays an annual dividend of $1.44 per share and has a dividend yield of 14.3%. Two Harbors Investments pays an annual dividend of $1.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 14.7%. MFA Financial pays out 111.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Two Harbors Investments pays out -27.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. MFA Financial has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years and Two Harbors Investments has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Two Harbors Investments is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Risk & Volatility MFA Financial has a beta of 1.57, meaning that its stock price is 57% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Two Harbors Investments has a beta of 1.18, meaning that its stock price is 18% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary MFA Financial beats Two Harbors Investments on 10 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About MFA Financial (Get Free Report) MFA Financial, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate investment trust in the United States. It invests in residential mortgage securities, including non-agency mortgage-backed securities, agency MBS, and credit risk transfer securities; residential whole loans, including purchased performing loans, purchased credit deteriorated, and non-performing loans; and mortgage servicing rights related assets. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is based in New York, New York. About Two Harbors Investments (Get Free Report) Two Harbors Investment Corp. invests in, finances, and manages mortgage servicing rights (MSRs), agency residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), and other financial assets through RoundPoint in the United States. The company target assets include agency RMBS collateralized by fixed rate mortgage loans, adjustable rate mortgage loans, hybrid mortgage loans, or derivatives; and other assets, such as financial and mortgage-related assets, including non-agency securities and non-hedging transactions. It qualifies as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, the company must distribute at least 90% of annual taxable income to its stockholders. Two Harbors Investment Corp. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Receive News & Ratings for MFA Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MFA Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Korea Investment CORP lowered its holdings in Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,232,507 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 57,754 shares during the period. Visa makes up about 0.9% of Korea Investment CORPs holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Korea Investment CORP owned about 0.07% of Visa worth $420,753,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Sagard Holdings Management Inc. bought a new stake in Visa during the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Bare Financial Services Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Visa by 287.0% in the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 89 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the period. Winnow Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Visa in the second quarter valued at $40,000. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Visa in the second quarter valued at $41,000. Finally, Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC raised its stake in shares of Visa by 344.8% during the 3rd quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC now owns 129 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. 82.15% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Visa alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently issued reports on V. HSBC raised Visa from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. Evercore set a $380.00 price target on Visa in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Piper Sandler set a $160.00 price target on shares of Visa in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Visa to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $385.00 target price on shares of Visa in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Visa currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $392.65. Visa News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Visa this week: Visa Price Performance Shares of NYSE V opened at $317.23 on Friday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $329.57 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $337.30. Visa Inc. has a twelve month low of $299.00 and a twelve month high of $375.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $575.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. Visa (NYSE:V Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The credit-card processor reported $3.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $10.90 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.69 billion. Visa had a return on equity of 61.74% and a net margin of 50.23%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 14.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.75 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Visa Inc. will post 11.3 EPS for the current fiscal year. Visa Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 10th were given a dividend of $0.67 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 10th. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. Visas payout ratio is presently 25.14%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 10,485 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $349.18, for a total value of $3,661,152.30. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 9,401 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,282,641.18. This represents a 52.73% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Visa Company Profile (Free Report) Visa Inc is a global payments technology company that facilitates electronic funds transfers and digital commerce by connecting consumers, merchants, financial institutions and governments. The firm operates one of the worlds largest payment networks, providing processing, authorization, clearing and settlement services for credit, debit and prepaid card transactions. Visas network-based model enables partner banks and other issuers to offer branded payment products while Visa focuses on the infrastructure, standards and technologies that move money securely and efficiently around the world. Visas product and service portfolio includes card-based payment products for consumers and businesses, real-time push-payment capabilities, tokenization and authentication services, fraud and risk-management tools, data analytics and APIs for fintech and merchant integration. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Visa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Visa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Marvin & Palmer Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund purchased 65,002 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $3,474,000. Bank of America comprises about 3.0% of Marvin & Palmer Associates Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Steph & Co. boosted its position in Bank of America by 224.3% in the third quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 548 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. Collier Financial bought a new stake in shares of Bank of America during the third quarter worth $30,000. Marquette Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America during the third quarter worth $30,000. Mountain Hill Investment Partners Corp. bought a new position in shares of Bank of America in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Bank of America by 48.7% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC now owns 681 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. 70.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bank of America alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently weighed in on BAC. HSBC boosted their price objective on Bank of America from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. TD Cowen dropped their target price on Bank of America from $66.00 to $64.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Evercore set a $59.00 price target on Bank of America in a report on Thursday, January 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Bank of America from $65.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Twenty-two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.30. Bank of America Stock Down 2.3% Shares of NYSE:BAC opened at $48.68 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $349.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. Bank of America Corporation has a 12-month low of $33.06 and a 12-month high of $57.55. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $53.27 and a 200 day simple moving average of $52.52. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $0.98 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.96 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $4.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $27.73 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.07% and a net margin of 16.23%.The businesss revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.82 EPS. Analysts predict that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 earnings per share for the current year. Bank of America Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued a $0.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is presently 29.24%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, insider Thomas M. Scrivener sold 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.82, for a total value of $2,491,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 227,973 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,357,614.86. The trade was a 17.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider James P. Demare sold 83,832 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $4,191,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 307,240 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,362,000. This represents a 21.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Corporate insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock. Bank of America News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Bank of America this week: About Bank of America (Free Report) Bank of America Corporation is a multinational financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It provides a broad array of banking, investment, asset management and related financial and risk management products and services to individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, governments and institutional investors. The firm operates through consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking and markets businesses, offering capabilities across lending, deposits, payments, advisory and capital markets. Its consumer-facing offerings include checking and savings accounts, mortgages, home equity lending, auto loans, credit cards and small business banking, supported by a nationwide branch network and digital channels. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Matthew 25 Management Corp grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 113.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 15,500 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 8,250 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company makes up 3.6% of Matthew 25 Management Corps portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. Matthew 25 Management Corps holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $11,826,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 78,621.2% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,552,336 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,005,392,000 after acquiring an additional 11,537,661 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the second quarter worth about $8,827,714,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.5% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 80,407,430 shares of the companys stock worth $62,680,004,000 after purchasing an additional 1,183,038 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 47.6% during the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,309,006 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,761,772,000 after purchasing an additional 744,868 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 13.4% during the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,766,865 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,715,913,000 after purchasing an additional 564,736 shares during the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 0.7% Shares of NYSE LLY opened at $990.58 on Friday. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $623.78 and a twelve month high of $1,133.95. The stock has a market cap of $934.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 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 companys fifty day moving average is $1,045.63 and its 200-day moving average is $940.90. 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 analysts consensus estimates of $7.48 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $19.29 billion during 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 firms quarterly revenue was up 42.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $5.32 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a $1.73 dividend. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 30.15%. Key Stories 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 subject of several research analyst reports. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. They issued an overweight rating and a $1,350.00 price objective for the company. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $976.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $1,260.00 target price on Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Two equities research 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 data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,229.59. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on LLY Eli Lilly and Company 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. Recommended 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. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report) by 163.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 69,020 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 42,852 shares during the period. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $5,785,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in WFC. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Marquette Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 472.4% in the 3rd quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 332 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 274 shares in the last quarter. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Kilter Group LLC bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Aventus Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the third quarter valued at $37,000. 75.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have issued reports on WFC. CICC Research initiated coverage on Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. They set a market perform rating and a $96.00 price target for the company. UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $113.00 price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $94.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $99.00 to $99.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Wolfe Research restated an outperform rating and set a $109.00 target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $97.03. Trending Headlines about Wells Fargo & Company Here are the key news stories impacting Wells Fargo & Company this week: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Kleber Santos sold 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.72, for a total value of $2,193,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 79,876 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,006,722.72. The trade was a 23.84% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Bridget E. Engle sold 30,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.10, for a total value of $2,613,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 83,478 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,270,933.80. The trade was a 26.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 115,000 shares of company stock valued at $10,050,000. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Wells Fargo & Company Trading Down 2.0% Shares of WFC stock opened at $80.44 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 0.90. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $89.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $86.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $248.21 billion, a PE ratio of 12.83, a PEG ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.08. Wells Fargo & Company has a 52-week low of $58.42 and a 52-week high of $97.76. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $21.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.63 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.90% and a net margin of 17.27%.The businesss revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.43 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 6th were paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 28.71%. Wells Fargo & Company Profile (Free Report) Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, U.S.-based financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, the firm has evolved from its origins in express delivery and pioneer-era banking into one of the largest full-service banks in the United States. The company provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial, and institutional clients. Charles W. Scharf serves as chief executive officer. Wells Fargo operates across several core business segments, including consumer banking and lending, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. lifted its holdings in Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL Free Report) by 42.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 124,379 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 37,056 shares during the quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd.s holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $9,943,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Copia Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the third quarter valued at $29,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC increased its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 86.1% in the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 335 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 155 shares during the period. Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. MTM Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Colgate-Palmolive during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, Louisbourg Investments Inc. boosted its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 94.7% in the 3rd quarter. Louisbourg Investments Inc. now owns 514 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.41% of the companys stock. Get Colgate-Palmolive alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, insider John Hazlin sold 20,989 shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total value of $1,978,213.25. Following the transaction, the insider owned 17,645 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,663,041.25. The trade was a 54.33% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Sally Massey sold 15,851 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.03, for a total transaction of $1,506,320.53. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 13,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,306,757.53. The trade was a 53.55% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 184,683 shares of company stock worth $17,486,693 over the last ninety days. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Colgate-Palmolive Stock Performance Shares of CL stock opened at $93.55 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $75.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.71, a PEG ratio of 4.22 and a beta of 0.28. Colgate-Palmolive Company has a 52-week low of $74.54 and a 52-week high of $100.18. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.82. The companys 50 day moving average is $88.98 and its 200 day moving average is $83.05. Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The company reported $0.95 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.04. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 353.72% and a net margin of 10.45%.The company had revenue of $5.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.13 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.91 earnings per share. Colgate-Palmolives revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Colgate-Palmolive Company will post 3.75 EPS for the current fiscal year. Colgate-Palmolive Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 21st were given a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 21st. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. Colgate-Palmolives dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 79.39%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently commented on CL shares. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $90.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Barclays raised their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada raised Colgate-Palmolive from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $88.00 target price for the company in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Evercore increased their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $94.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $93.00 price target on Colgate-Palmolive in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $94.75. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Colgate-Palmolive Colgate-Palmolive Company Profile (Free Report) Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company with a long history in household and personal care categories. The business traces its roots to the early 19th century and has evolved into a multinational manufacturer and marketer of everyday consumer goods focused on health, hygiene and home care. The companys core activities center on oral care, personal care, home care and pet nutrition. Its product portfolio includes toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash in oral care; soaps, body washes and deodorants in personal care; dishwashing liquids, surface cleaners and other household products in home care; and scientifically formulated pet foods under its pet nutrition business. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Colgate-Palmolive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Colgate-Palmolive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Norwegian Cruise Lines (NYSE: NCLH) rallied 12.9% in February, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Norwegian got a boost last month after activist hedge fund Elliott Management disclosed a near-10% stake in the company and published a presentation outlining how it could improve its results. 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 Investors initially responded positively to the prospect of needed changes; however, the stock has since fallen back to levels even below where it began February, following last week's fourth-quarter earnings release and the outbreak of war in Iran. On the positive side, this pullback may have given investors another opportunity to buy this value stock at lower levels, while also giving Elliott more leverage to advocate for changes. Elliott's case spurs the stock Norwegian has woefully underperformed relative to other large cruise company stocks for years, but Elliott's presentation claimed these are fixable problems, not structural problems. Specifically, Elliott pointed to years of executive mismanagement, exorbitant pay, related-party deals, and an insular board of directors as culprits. Perhaps anticipating the activist campaign, Norwegian had already replaced its Chief Executive Officer just days before Elliott's presentation. The company named board member John Chidsey as CEO, replacing outgoing CEO Harry Sommer, who had held the position since 2023. However, Chidsey might receive pressure from Elliott as well. After all, Chidsey served on Norwegian's board of directors from 2013 to 2022, and then again from 2025 onward. So, it's likely Elliott isn't enthusiastic about Chidsey's appointment, given that he was on the board during the time Norwegian's alleged mismanagement occurred. Still, investors initially cheered Elliott's involvement back in February. But when the company reported earnings on Monday of last week, results and guidance underwhelmed the market, sending shares into retreat. Combined with the fallout from the conflict in Iran, shares finished this week even lower than where they started February. Image source: Getty Images. Elliott still wants board seats To no one's surprise, Elliott jumped on Q4 results to pressure its way into nominating new board members, releasing a statement shortly thereafter, stating: Mizuho Bank Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 215,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $52,021,000. iShares Russell 2000 ETF comprises approximately 5.8% of Mizuho Bank Ltd.s portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Mizuho Bank Ltd. owned approximately 0.08% of iShares Russell 2000 ETF as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the third quarter valued at about $30,000. GGM Financials LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the third quarter worth about $35,000. Pingora Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the second quarter worth about $32,000. Beacon Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Caitlin John LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at about $40,000. Get iShares Russell 2000 ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 ETF Trading Down 2.3% Shares of NYSEARCA:IWM opened at $250.89 on Friday. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 12-month low of $171.73 and a 12-month high of $271.60. The company has a market cap of $71.47 billion, a PE ratio of 17.69 and a beta of 1.13. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $260.78 and a 200 day moving average of $249.34. iShares Russell 2000 ETF Profile iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC trimmed its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO Free Report) by 12.7% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 64,203 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,348 shares during the quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLCs holdings in Diageo were worth $6,127,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Arlington Trust Co LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 3,885.7% in the third quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC now owns 279 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 272 shares in the last quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc boosted its position in shares of Diageo by 94.7% during the second quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 292 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Diageo during the third quarter worth $29,000. Finally, HHM Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Diageo by 76.5% during the second quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 330 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Diageo alerts: Diageo Stock Performance Shares of DEO opened at $81.87 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average is $91.26 and its 200 day moving average is $94.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 1.60. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $80.79 and a fifty-two week high of $116.69. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In DEO has been the topic of a number of research reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a hold rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Friday, November 28th. HSBC lowered Diageo from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Zacks Research cut Diageo from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded Diageo from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $116.50. View Our Latest Analysis on Diageo Diageo Company Profile (Free Report) Diageo plc is a global producer, marketer and distributor of alcoholic beverages, headquartered in London, England. The company was created through the 1997 merger of Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan plc and is publicly traded on multiple exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange. Diageo operates a worldwide business, selling products in a broad range of markets across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Diageos core activities cover the production, marketing and sale of a diverse portfolio of spirits, beer and liqueurs. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DEO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Diageo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Diageo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC trimmed its stake in Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 8.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 60,563 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,252 shares during the quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $9,305,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of PG. Natixis Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 5.3% during the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 2,088,685 shares of the companys stock worth $320,926,000 after acquiring an additional 105,447 shares during the last quarter. Crabel Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Procter & Gamble by 107.9% in the 3rd quarter. Crabel Capital Management LLC now owns 3,501 shares of the companys stock valued at $538,000 after purchasing an additional 1,817 shares during the last quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC lifted its position in Procter & Gamble by 33.6% in the 3rd quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 548,025 shares of the companys stock valued at $84,204,000 after purchasing an additional 137,841 shares during the last quarter. Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich acquired a new position in Procter & Gamble during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,282,000. Finally, Ameriflex Group Inc. grew its position in Procter & Gamble by 89.2% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 21,631 shares of the companys stock worth $3,324,000 after purchasing an additional 10,200 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.77% of the companys stock. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Procter & Gamble Price Performance NYSE PG opened at $153.80 on Friday. Procter & Gamble Company has a 12 month low of $137.62 and a 12 month high of $179.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $357.43 billion, a PE ratio of 22.79, a P/E/G ratio of 5.13 and a beta of 0.37. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $152.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is $151.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.51. Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement Procter & Gamble ( NYSE:PG Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The company reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $22.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.36 billion. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.21% and a net margin of 19.30%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.88 earnings per share. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.090 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 23rd were issued a $1.0568 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $4.23 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio is 62.52%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In PG has been the topic of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Procter & Gamble from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the company from $157.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. UBS Group increased their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $161.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Dbs Bank upgraded Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. BNP Paribas Exane cut their target price on Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $164.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Erste Group Bank raised Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $168.33. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on PG Insider Buying and Selling at Procter & Gamble In other Procter & Gamble news, Chairman Jon R. Moeller sold 162,232 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.45, for a total value of $26,354,588.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman directly owned 319,385 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $51,884,093.25. This represents a 33.68% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Gary A. Coombe sold 36,093 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.33, for a total transaction of $5,858,976.69. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 34,994 shares in the company, valued at $5,680,576.02. This represents a 50.77% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 348,618 shares of company stock valued at $55,462,643. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Procter & Gamble this week: Procter & Gamble Company Profile (Free Report) Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is a multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, P&G has grown into one of the worlds largest producers of branded consumer packaged goods. The company focuses on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of household and personal care products sold to consumers and retailers worldwide. P&Gs product offering spans several core business categories, including Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Procter & Gamble Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procter & Gamble and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Victory Capital Management Inc. decreased its position in Bank of Hawaii Corporation (NYSE:BOH Free Report) by 1.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 588,947 shares of the banks stock after selling 7,564 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. owned 1.48% of Bank of Hawaii worth $38,658,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Bank of Hawaii during the second quarter worth approximately $30,569,000. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of Hawaii in the 2nd quarter valued at $6,879,000. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new position in shares of Bank of Hawaii during the 2nd quarter valued at $6,725,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership bought a new position in shares of Bank of Hawaii during the 2nd quarter valued at $5,860,000. Finally, Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. raised its position in Bank of Hawaii by 32.7% in the 2nd quarter. Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 339,540 shares of the banks stock worth $22,929,000 after purchasing an additional 83,621 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.18% of the companys stock. Get Bank of Hawaii alerts: Bank of Hawaii Trading Down 1.2% Shares of BOH opened at $75.70 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.39, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 0.73. Bank of Hawaii Corporation has a twelve month low of $57.44 and a twelve month high of $80.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $74.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $69.14. Bank of Hawaii Dividend Announcement Bank of Hawaii ( NYSE:BOH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, January 26th. The bank reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $189.65 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $184.83 million. Bank of Hawaii had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 14.42%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.85 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Bank of Hawaii Corporation will post 3.97 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. Bank of Hawaiis dividend payout ratio is presently 60.61%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have weighed in on BOH. Zacks Research raised shares of Bank of Hawaii from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. DA Davidson raised their price objective on Bank of Hawaii from $73.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Bank of Hawaii from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, January 31st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded Bank of Hawaii from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their target price for the company from $75.00 to $91.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Stephens restated an overweight rating on shares of Bank of Hawaii in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $81.80. View Our Latest Stock Report on Bank of Hawaii Insider Buying and Selling In other Bank of Hawaii news, CEO Peter S. Ho sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.87, for a total value of $1,018,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 156,774 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,640,251.38. This trade represents a 8.73% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 2.07% of the stock is owned by insiders. Bank of Hawaii Profile (Free Report) Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH) is a regional commercial bank headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, with roots tracing back to its founding in 1897 by Charles Montague Cooke and Peter Cushman Jones. As one of the oldest financial institutions in the U.S. West Coast region, the bank has built a reputation for stability and community focus. It operates as the principal subsidiary of Bank of Hawaii Corporation, a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. The bank offers a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking products and services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Hawaii Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Hawaii and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vinva Investment Management Ltd lifted its position in shares of Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT Free Report) by 16.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 91,624 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 12,909 shares during the period. Vinva Investment Management Ltds holdings in Vertiv were worth $13,181,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in VRT. Abundance Wealth Counselors lifted its holdings in shares of Vertiv by 313.7% during the third quarter. Abundance Wealth Counselors now owns 10,165 shares of the companys stock worth $1,533,000 after purchasing an additional 7,708 shares during the period. Plato Investment Management Ltd increased its holdings in Vertiv by 272.7% in the third quarter. Plato Investment Management Ltd now owns 8,825 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,321,000 after purchasing an additional 6,457 shares during the period. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA increased its holdings in Vertiv by 35.5% in the third quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA now owns 272,608 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,126,000 after purchasing an additional 71,361 shares during the period. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS raised its position in Vertiv by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS now owns 143,100 shares of the companys stock worth $21,588,000 after purchasing an additional 7,400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Westpac Banking Corp raised its position in Vertiv by 100.2% during the 2nd quarter. Westpac Banking Corp now owns 12,812 shares of the companys stock worth $1,645,000 after purchasing an additional 6,411 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.92% of the companys stock. Get Vertiv alerts: Vertiv Stock Down 3.1% Vertiv stock opened at $241.91 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $92.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 70.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 2.02. The firms fifty day moving average price is $203.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $175.76. Vertiv Holdings Co. has a 1-year low of $53.60 and a 1-year high of $264.86. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. Trending Headlines about Vertiv Vertiv ( NYSE:VRT Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $1.36 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.07. Vertiv had a net margin of 13.03% and a return on equity of 49.55%. The company had revenue of $2.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.89 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.99 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 22.7% on a year-over-year basis. Vertiv has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.950-1.010 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.970-6.070 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Vertiv Holdings Co. will post 3.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Here are the key news stories impacting Vertiv this week: Insider Buying and Selling at Vertiv In other news, Director Steven Reinemund sold 65,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $253.95, for a total value of $16,506,750.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 68,333 shares in the company, valued at $17,353,165.35. This trade represents a 48.75% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jan Van Dokkum sold 38,647 shares of Vertiv stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $254.87, for a total value of $9,849,960.89. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 25,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,371,750. The trade was a 60.72% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders have sold 412,467 shares of company stock worth $104,381,911. 2.63% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth VRT has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Roth Mkm reiterated a buy rating and issued a $275.00 price target on shares of Vertiv in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Vertiv from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Vertiv from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $285.00 target price on shares of Vertiv in a report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Mizuho increased their target price on shares of Vertiv from $198.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vertiv currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $230.28. Get Our Latest Analysis on VRT Vertiv Profile (Free Report) Vertiv is a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions for data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial environments. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the company designs, manufactures and services equipment and software that support power availability, thermal management and IT infrastructure management for a broad set of end markets, including hyperscale and enterprise data centers, colocation providers, telecom operators and industrial customers. The companys product portfolio includes uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power distribution units (PDUs), battery and DC power systems, precision cooling and thermal management equipment, racks and enclosures, and integrated modular infrastructure. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VRT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vertiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vertiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Planet Labs (NYSE: PL) stock jumped 7.2% through 12:55 p.m. ET Friday -- and no one seems to know why. There's no news from the company itself, no upgrades or price target changes on Wall Street. What there is, is a note from KeyBanc analyst Michael Leshock encouraging investors to buy defense stocks on the theory that the "conflict with Iran" might last a while longer and even turn into a "boots on the ground" situation. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue Image source: Getty Images. What KeyBanc says about Iran "As the first week of the Iran conflict draws to a close," writes Leshock, certain trends are becoming clear. One is the need to replace military drones expended early in the conflict by buying more of them. But there's a second need that KeyBanc did not address, and if you ask me, it's the reason Planet Labs stock is soaring today. Drones are used in conflict to damage enemy installations, and in the case of Iran, its command and control infrastructure and ballistic missile launching platforms in particular. Assessing the damage done from an attack after it's happened, however, requires taking pictures. And with approximately 200 Earth observation satellites offering "multiple revisits per day" to take and update photos, Planet Labs offers some of the best pictures available. All week long indeed, media stories on the conflict have featured images from Planet Labs. Is Planet Labs stock a buy? According to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the Iran war that began last week might ultimately last "four weeks, but it could be six, it could be eight." At the upper end of that range, that's almost a full quarter of heightened demand for images from Planet Labs. I have to imagine this will result in a revenue bump for the space stock. The stock price bump is already here. Dont miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then youll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a Double Down stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If youre worried youve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before its too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE:AI) is one of the cheap AI stocks to buy in 2026. However, due to their recent quarterly results, some analysts are cautious but still optimistic. On February 26, 2026, Wedbush analyst lowered its price target on C3.ai to $15 from $20 but maintained an Outperform rating. The Fly summary said Wedbush cited weaker-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results, broad misses, and guidance below street expectations, while noting the companys shift toward large-scale enterprise transformations. C3.ai had reported fiscal third-quarter 2026 results on February 25, 2026, for the quarter ended January 31, 2026. The company posted total revenue of $53.3 million, including $48.2 million in subscription revenue, with subscription revenue making up 90% of total revenue. Combined subscription and prioritized engineering services revenue was $51.5 million, or 97% of total revenue. C3.ai also reported GAAP gross profit of $9.2 million (17% margin), non-GAAP gross profit of $19.6 million (37% margin), and non-GAAP net loss per share of $0.40. Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled $621.9 million. Why Wedbush Stayed Bullish on C3.ai (AI) Despite a Weak Quarter Image by drobotdean on Freepik Management said it had reduced cost structure and cash burn, restructured and flattened the sales organization, focused on core applications, and shifted go-to-market efforts toward enterprise-wide transformations. The company also announced a restructuring plan expected to deliver about $135 million in annual non-GAAP operating expense savings and guided fiscal Q4 revenue to $48.0 million to $52.0 million. C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE:AI) is an enterprise AI application software company that offers the C3 Agentic AI Platform, industry-specific AI applications, and C3 Generative AI products for enterprise use cases. While we acknowledge the potential of AI 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. In every democracy, the government and the opposition stand in a deliberate balance, each accountable to the same constitutional order. One exercises authority and the other vigilance. Yet, both ultimately serve the same sovereign, the Republic of India. When that equilibrium weakens, when opposition begins to resemble agitation rather than responsibility, public debate loses discipline and politics descends into a spectacle. The office of the leader of the opposition was never conceived as a platform for perpetual outrage. It exists as a constitutional counterweight, recognised in statute but sustained by convention, credibility and conduct. I had the privilege of watching this office discharged with seriousness and grace. When my mother, Sushma Swaraj, served as the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and Shri Arun Jaitley held that responsibility in the Rajya Sabha, disagreement with the government was sharp yet never reckless. They prepared with meticulous care, verified facts before levelling allegations and treated Parliament as a forum for disciplined argument rather than political theatre. They understood that the authority to challenge a government is earned only when one demonstrates respect for the institutions that make that challenge possible. The contrast today is difficult to ignore. The present leader of the opposition has yet to exhibit the credibility, dignity and intellectual rigour that the office demands. Public interventions have too often appeared impulsive rather than researched, declaratory rather than substantiated. When rhetoric consistently outpaces evidence and contested material is elevated into parliamentary controversy, the authority of the office itself begins to erode. In 2025, during Operation Sindoor, when India mounted a calibrated response to cross border terrorism, the nation required steadiness, not sensationalism. At a time when misinformation was spreading rapidly and hostile propaganda networks were actively manufacturing narratives, the repeated public fixation on disputed claims of aircraft losses shifted attention away from the strategic objectives of the operation to the realm of speculative arithmetic. In matters of national security, emphasis carries the weight of the tricolour itself. It shapes the confidence of our soldiers, the faith of our citizens and the standing of Bharat in the community of nations. Those entrusted with constitutional office must ensure that their words fortify the nation, not fracture its resolve. The events of the recent budget session exposed a troubling disregard for parliamentary discipline. The Lok Sabha was disrupted over reliance on an unpublished memoir attributed to a former Army chief, material that had neither been formally released nor authenticated. Border policy deserves rigorous and informed scrutiny, but Parliament cannot be compelled to debate unauthorised and unverified text as though it were settled fact. Valuable parliamentary time was lost, and serious strategic discussion was displaced by preventable controversy. Equally concerning is the repeated portrayal of Indias democratic institutions as structurally compromised, including on international platforms. Criticism of policy is legitimate and often necessary, but broad indictments of institutional integrity carry consequences that travel far beyond domestic contestation. When the leader of the opposition speaks abroad, he does so not as a private partisan but as a constitutional office bearer of the very system he criticises. Such statements influence diplomatic perception, shape global narratives and, if made without proportion, risk undermining confidence in the republic itself. Experience in public life is not measured only in years. It is measured by judgment, restraint and proportion. The office of the leader of the opposition demands the ability to criticise without corroding, to challenge without destabilising and to disagree without diminishing the republic itself. India deserves a vigilant opposition. But vigilance without wisdom becomes noise, and noise, however persistent, is not leadership. Bansuri Swaraj is the Lok Sabha member from New Delhi. Give a dog a bad name and hang himso goes an English proverb. Thats whats happening to Iran now at the hands of Don Trump and Bibi Netanyahu. Iran once bore the bad name of being a bomb-maker, despite having signed the NPT in 1968. India and Pakistan got away because India had refused to sign a treaty that discriminated between the worlds five bomb-haves and the remaining have-nots, and Pakistan said ditto. Yes, there are issues on which India and Pakistan agree. Iran, indeed, was a bomb-maker. The ayatollahs did attempt to make atom bombs, apparently to guard Iran from the bombs that Bibi had kept hidden in his basement, till Barack Obama persuaded them against the bid in 2014. But come Donald Trump in 2018, the US went back on its promises of no-sanctions, and the ayatollahs returned to their bomb labs. Last July, Don and Bibi showered bunker-busters on Iran for 12 days just in the manner the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire and declared that all of Irans atom labs have been put out of business. Which means, Iran has been posing no nuclear threat to anyone in the neighbourhood since last July, both by Irans admission, and by the Don-Bibi duos claim. Then why are the two at war again with Iran? US President Donald Trump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu | Reuters Trumps charge is that Iran is developing long-range missiles that could threaten Europe, US troops overseas, and soon reach the American homeland. But as any cracker-crazy kid would tell you, a 3,000-km range ballistic missile is no big threat if it carries only a conventional TNT warhead. At the end of a 9,000-km flight from Tehran to New York (as a ballistic crow would fly), an ICBM would just coast and burst like a Sivakasi rocket somewhere in a pool in Queens or Brooklyn leaving no scratch on the Manhattan skyline. Leave alone distant New York, no mullah or ayatollah in his right senses would burn up ballistic hardware worth millions of rials just for sending burning Diwali crackers to ones bad neighbours courtyard. Didnt we see in the first Gulf war of 1991 how Saddam Husseins Scuds, those inaccurate tools of terror, as George Bush Sr called them, landed as damp squids in the sands of Israel and Saudi Arabia? They drew no blood or scald but only derisive laughter. And we are currently seeing how limited is the damage from Irans short-range darts that are falling in Israel, the UAE and Qatar. So what do they have against Iran? As Israels charge goes, Iran has been arming the Houthis and the Hezbollah militias who have been shooting darts at Israel now and then, and at other pro-American regimes in the neighbourhood. But thats no serious threat since Israelis have been used to life under iron domes. The real war aim is no longer hidden. Don and Bibi have stated that they want to effect a regime change in Iran. Dons predecessors bids in Afghanistan and Iraq ended up with hundreds of bodybags being sent back home. This time they want to effect a regime change from the air, leaving the dirty job of a street revolution to the Iranians themselves. All the same, any bid to change a regime, from the earth or airor from prithvi or akasa as Indian sages called them for DRDO to adopt names for their missileswould end up in pataals of chaos. After 20 years of a bleeding war, the yanks left Afghanistan back in the hands of the Taliban. After prosecuting a sand-grinding war in the Mesopotamian deserts, they left Iraq, till then a progressive country with a sound techno-scientific base, in the neolithic age. prasannan@theweek.in A new show starring Steve Carell is set to premiere on March 8 on HBO MAX. "Rooster" finds the actor returning to comedy after a hiatus. It will premiere on JioHotstar in India on the same day. Steve Carell is returning to TV comedy with a new series called Rooster, which premieres this Sunday, March 8. Created by "Ted Lasso" co-creator Bill Lawrence, the half-hour series is Carell's first full-fledged comedy role on television since "The Office" he has, of course, been part of several feature-length comedies since then. What Is 'Rooster' about? "Rooster" revolves around a complex father-daughter bond, and when he goes to her college campus, where she teaches. According to the official logline, Carell plays Greg Russo, a popular novelist known for writing adventure books about a bold hero named Rooster. Although his books are successful, Greg secretly doubts his own talent and wishes he had the confidence of his fictional character. Things take a turn when he visits his daughter Katie, a professor at a small liberal arts college. Katies life is already in turmoil: her husband Archie, who also works at the college, has left her for one of his graduate students. Furious about the betrayal, Katie burns down their house, which lands her in serious trouble at the university. To help her stay at the college, Greg strikes a deal with the dean. He agrees to stay on campus as a guest lecturer if Katie is allowed to remain without being expelled a situation that finds Greg in unfamiliar territory, as he struggles to understand the strange dynamics of academic life while also trying to repair his strained relationship with his daughter. Steve Carell's co-stars include Charly Clive, Phil Dunster, Danielle Deadwyler, Lauren Tsai, John C. McGinley, Annie Mumolo, and Rory Scovell, among others. Growing evidence shows that social media use can take a toll on mental health and concentration, according to two recent studies. A study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that taking a break from social media, even for just one week, can improve mental health outcomes in young adults. The study included a two-week observational period to establish baseline social media use and behavioural patterns, followed by a one-week social media detox intervention to assess the impact of reduced social media use on behaviour and mental health. A total of 295 young adults, ages 18 to 24, participated and agreed to limit their social media use for seven days. During the study, average daily screen time on platforms like Instagram and TikTok dropped from just under two hours to around 30 minutes. A one-week social media detox intervention significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety by 16.1 per cent, depression by 24.8 per cent, and insomnia by 14.5 per cent. The benefits were especially pronounced among participants who had higher baseline symptom severity. For your daily dose of medical news and updates, visit: HEALTH A separate study, published in Pediatrics Open Science, found that excessive social media use may affect childrens ability to focus. The Swedish study tracked 8,324 children aged 910 over four years. Children reported how much time they spent on social media, watching TV or videos, and playing video games, while parents provided information about their attention spans and levels of hyperactivity or impulsiveness. Social media use increased steadily from 30 minutes per day at age 9 to 2.5 hours by age 13, despite most platforms requiring users to be at least 13 years old. Children who spent more time on platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook showed a gradual decline in their ability to concentrate. Interestingly, no similar link was found for watching television or playing video games. Our study suggests that it is specifically social media that affects childrens ability to concentrate, the study author said. Social media entails constant distractions in the form of messages and notifications, and the mere thought of whether a message has arrived can act as a mental distraction. This affects the ability to stay focused and could explain the association. A class nine boy in a Karnataka school hostel went on a rampage with an iron rod on Saturday night, killing one and injuring about 8 others. The teen lived at a Gurukula International School hostel in Ballari. The student who died was from Andhra Pradeshs Vijayanagar. Two students are in critical conditions and six students are undergoing treatment. A female student was also among those who were injured. The boy also attacked the hostel warden, who tried to intervene, and a driver, before running away from the premises. He reportedly used an iron rod and a sharp weapon. The incident occurred at around 10:15 pm. Police said that the boy may have assaulted the students due to a minor dispute; the exact motive is still under investigation. Ballari Superintendent of Police, Suman D. Pennekar, told TNIE that the case will be handled under the Juvenile Justice Act as the accused is a minor. the SP said, "The perpetrator has escaped and is at large. We are trying to arrest him to find out more details." Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Ballari Range, P S Harsha, said that crime officers and a forensic team were rushed to the spot to collect evidence. Harsha told PTI, "This case will be considered under the law as one involving a juvenile who is in conflict with the law. So, the investigation should be done sensitively under the Juvenile Justice Act, keeping in mind the safeguards available for the accused. More information cannot be shared." The victim's parents have alleged that the accused student may have been addicted to drugs. An FIR has been filed under the appropriate sections against the accused and the educational institutions Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son, Nishant Kumar, formally joined the Janata Dal (United) on Sunday, just days after his father stepped down from the top post and filed his nominations for the Rajya Sabha elections. Nishant's entry into active politics has already created ripples in Bihar, with observers viewing it as a significant step in the party's power transition. "I thank everyone. I will try to live up to the trust you all have placed in me. I, the entire Bihar and the entire country are proud of what my father has done in the last 20 years, Nishant said, addressing the party workers. JD(U) MLA Hari Narayan Singh, a close aide of Nitish Kumar, had confirmed to a TV channel that the party has unanimously decided to make Nishant the deputy chief minister in the new government. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), being the single largest party, is expected to hold the chief minister's post for the first time in the key Hindi heartland state. Singh further explained that Nishant will be elected to the state legislative council next month, as he needs to be a member of the legislature to assume a constitutional role. The decision was made during a meeting at Nitish Kumar's residence, where the party supremo briefed colleagues about his decision to relinquish the CM post and move to the Rajya Sabha. Patna, Bihar: On CM Nitish Kumars son Nishant Kumar, JDU National General Secretary Manish Kumar Verma says, "For a long time, JDU workers have been urging that Nishant Kumar enter politics..." pic.twitter.com/ElGtimt8VC IANS (@ians_india) March 8, 2026 "At the legislature party meeting held at the CM's residence yesterday, a unanimous decision was made to appoint Nishant as the deputy CM in the new government," Singh said. He added, Since Nishant must become a member of the legislature to hold a constitutional post, he will be elected to the legislative council in April during the biennial elections for nine seats. However, he clarified that Nishant might not necessarily contest from the seat left vacant by his fathers resignation. JD(U) national working president Sanjay Jha had earlier announced that Nishant would formally join the party on Sunday at 1 pm and begin his political activities by meeting with party youth MLAs and MLCs to discuss future strategies. "It is Nitish ji's party, and it carries the legacy of his 20 years of work. Even though people may feel that he is heading to the Rajya Sabha, the Bihar government will continue to function under his guidance until 2025-30," Jha said. Nitish Kumar's resignation, just four months after being sworn in for his fifth consecutive term, has shocked many, with party workers staging protests across Bihar demanding his continued leadership. Speculation abounds that his resignation came under pressure from the BJP. Opposition leaders have alleged that Nitish Kumar is being driven out of Bihar, with the saffron party denying him an honorable exit. The Enforcement Directorate is likely to move the Delhi High Court, challenging the bail granted to Al Falah University group chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui by a local court. Siddiqui was granted two weeks of interim bail in a money laundering case linked to his Faridabad-based educational institution. Siddiqui is accused of misrepresenting the accreditation and recognition of his colleges, as well as generating illicit funds from student fees. The ED arrested him in November 2025. Siddiqui had applied for interim bail to take care of his wife, who is suffering from stage 4 cancer and is scheduled to undergo chemotherapy on March 12. However, the ED opposed the bail, arguing that Siddiqui could influence the investigation, as "more aspects" of the case are still under scrutiny. The agency is expected to move the high court, claiming its submissions before the local court were not "seriously considered." The ED will also inform the high court of an additional FIR filed against Siddiqui under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in connection with the November 10 Red Fort area blast, reported PTI. The Al Falah University had come under intense scrutiny from security officials after two doctors affiliated with the institution were arrested in a terror module case. The suicide bomber responsible for the car blast near the Red Fort was also linked to the university. The ED is expected to inform the High Court that Siddiqui appointed these doctors without any police verification or scrutiny. Furthermore, ED officials told PTI that they would highlight that Siddiquis wife, who has been undergoing cancer treatment for several years, appeared before the agency for a statement without any caregiver, emphasising that she is "stable" and does not require her husband's support. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday attacked PM Narendra Modi over a 2024 photo in which he was seen sitting while President Droupadi Murmu was left standing. The Mamata Banerjee-led party had been responding to allegations from the Centre over "insulting" President Murmu during her recent visit to the state. The photo from a March 2024 event, displayed at the TMC's sit-in protest against voter roll deletions in West Bengal on Sunday, shows President Murmu standing beside BJP veteran L.K. Advani after presenting him with the Bharat Ratna. PM Modi can be seen seated beside Advani, while she is left standing. The Prime Minister keeps making grand claims about respecting the President's office. Let us take a good look at this photo. The country's first tribal woman President stands while the Prime Minister sits comfortably in his chair. All proclamations of respect for the pic.twitter.com/LUzw5wW4dW All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 8, 2026 Notably, she can be seen seated in a photo taken a while after she presented Advani with the prestigious award. President Droupadi Murmu presented Bharat Ratna to L. K. Advani at his residence. The formal ceremony was attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and the family members of the veteran pic.twitter.com/awJ6Scp5CR DD News (@DDNewslive) March 31, 2024 CM Banerjee used the picture to attack PM Modi, blaming him of disrespecting President Murmu, and alleging that the BJP was playing politics in the poll-bound state. How the controversy began President Murmu had travelled to West Bengal's Darjeeling district on Saturday to attend the International Santhal Conference. However, she expressed disappointment at the change of the conference venue from Bidhannagar in the Phansidewa block to Gossainpur in the Bagdogra area, due to which she was forced to travel 30km to reach Bidhannagar to address local residents. "I don't know what went through the administration's mind that they chose a place for the conference where the Santhal people couldn't go ... I am very sad that the people here were unable to reach the conference because it was held so far away," she had said in her address. #WATCH | Darjeeling, West Bengal | President Droupadi Murmu says, "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 pic.twitter.com/zMYyvDo0Y2 ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2026 The president had also criticised the absence of ministers of the state government to receive her at the Bagdogra Airport. "If the President visits a place, the Chief Minister and the Ministers should also come. But she did not ... I don't know if she was angry with me, that's why this happened," she added. These comments soon snowballed into a political row over Mamata Banerjee and the state government allegedly insulting the president. PM Modi on Saturday attacked the West Bengal CM in a speech, calling the incident "shameful and unprecedented". "People who believe in the empowerment of democracy and the tribal community are all deeply hurt, Modi said, alleging that the pain expressed by President Murmuwho is also from a tribal communityhad saddened many people. One hopes better sense prevails among the West Bengal government and the Trinamool Congress, he added, declaring that the sanctity of the president's office must always be respected. A drone attack by Iran on a Kuwait targetted fuel tanks at Kuwait international airport, sparking a fire early on Sunday morning. Kuwait authorities said that firefighters were working to contain the blaze. The military said that it responded to a wave of hostile drones that violated the country's airspace on Sunday morning. About 15 drones were reportedly intercepted and destroyed in Saudi Arabia. Kuwaits Social Security building is engulfed in massive flames after reportedly being struck by an Iranian drone! The skyline of Kuwait City is lit up orange tonight amid escalating regional tensions. #kuwait #Iran #IranWar pic.twitter.com/Oq5b1ZvX91 Abhi (@KisanAbhi08) March 8, 2026 The Kuwait National Oil Company announced a precautionary cut to its crude oil production due to the attacks. It called the drone attacks "a direct targeting of vital infrastructure." Another statement by Kuwait said that civilian facilities suffered material damage due to falling fragments and debris. The Kuwait government also said that the country's Public Institution for social security was targetted in an attack. Visuals on social media showed a tall building on fire. Kuwait also said that two border security personnel were killed while on duty, and said attacks on its international airport and social security office caused fires. Attacks were also reported across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait. The UAEs defence ministry said that air defences were responding to incoming missiles and drone threats from Iran. Qatars defence ministry said 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. Dubai authorities said on Sunday that a Pakistani man was killed by debris from an aerial interception. The current escalation in the Middle East has once again brought the complex relationship between Iran and the Gulf Arab states to the forefront of regional geopolitics. The conflict intensified after large-scale military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets in February 2026, triggering retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran across the region. Irans response targeted Israel, the American military facilities, and strategic infrastructure in several Gulf states, heightening fears of a wider regional conflict. In this volatile context, the Gulf monarchies, particularly Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, find themselves caught between their security partnerships with the United States and the neighbouring Shia state i.e., Iran. The crisis illustrates both the enduring structural rivalry between Iran and the Gulf states, and the strategic dilemma faced by Gulf regimes attempting to avoid direct involvement in this regional confrontation. The strained relations between Iran and the Gulf states are a result of the historical experiences, ideological, and geopolitical rivalries. This ideological divide between Iran and Gulf monarchies due to the Iranian Revolution (1979) often framed through the lens of Shia-Sunni or sectarian competition, further escalated by the geopolitical competition for influence across the Middle Eastern region. Over the past two decades, this rivalry has manifested in several proxy conflicts, including in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. This has emerged as a direct challenge to their security and regional influence. At the same time, Gulf monarchies have sought to counter Iranian influence through alliances with Western powers and through support for opposing actors in regional conflicts. Despite these hostilities, the regional environment began to shift in the early 2020s. Diplomatic normalisation efforts, including the rapprochement facilitated by China between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, suggested the possibility of a gradual de-escalation in GulfIranian relations. However, the current crisis has exposed the fragility of this detente and demonstrated that the structural drivers of rivalry remain unresolved. The Gulf States strategic dilemma The ongoing escalation has placed the Gulf states in an extremely complicated situation. On one hand, most Gulf monarchies maintain strong security partnerships with the United States and host American military bases. On the other hand, their economic and strategic interests depend on avoiding a direct confrontation with Iran. Iranian missile and drone strikes have already targeted infrastructure and facilities in several Gulf states, including attacks linked to American bases and economic hubs. These strikes have intensified concerns about the vulnerability of Gulf cities and critical infrastructure. Yet Gulf states have largely avoided openly joining the conflict. Regional leaders recognise that direct involvement could transform the crisis into an unrestrained regional war, exposing their energy infrastructure, shipping routes, and urban centres to Iranian retaliation. However, the Gulf states have tried for coordinated responses primarily focused on protecting national sovereignty while avoiding escalation. This strategic caution also reflects the asymmetry of geography wherein Iran is a large state with extensive missile capabilities while Gulf statesdespite their advanced militariesremain vulnerable due to their proximity and concentration of economic assets. Perhaps the most immediate impact of the current crisis lies in the economic and energy domains. The Persian Gulf is the central artery of the global oil market, and any disruption in the region has profound global implications. The escalation has already increased the oil prices, reflecting fears that the conflict could disrupt energy exports. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil shipments pass has become a focal point of concern as Iranian forces threaten Western shipping and maritime traffic. For the Gulf monarchies, whose economic diversification programs still rely heavily on hydrocarbon revenues, prolonged instability poses serious risks. Vision-driven transformation agendas require stable regional conditions and sustained investor confidence. De-escalation and hedging In response to these pressures, Gulf states appear to be pursuing a strategy of cautious hedging. Rather than aligning fully with one side of the conflict, they are attempting to maintain diplomatic channels with all major actors while strengthening their defensive capabilities. Several Gulf states like Oman and Qatar have historically played mediating roles between Iran and the Western powers. In the current crisis, these states may once again try to facilitate de-escalation, particularly given their interest in preserving regional stability and protecting energy flows. At the same time, Gulf monarchies continue to rely on external security guarantees from the United States and other Western partners. The presence of American military bases across the Gulf provides deterrence against Iranian aggression but also increases the risk that Gulf territory could become a theatre for a wider conflict. Implications for the regional order The evolving crisis may reshape the regional security architecture of the Middle Eastern region. If the conflict escalates further, the Gulf states may be forced to reconsider their security arrangements and explore new forms of regional collective defence. At the same time, the crisis underscores the growing multipolarity of Middle Eastern geopolitics. External powersincluding China and Russia have increasingly become involved in regional diplomacy, reflecting broader shifts in global power dynamics. However, the relationship between Iran and the Gulf states remains one of competitive coexistence. While the current escalation has intensified tensions, neither side appears eager for a full-scale regional escalation. The Gulf monarchies seek stability and economic growth, while Iran, despite its confrontational posture, also faces significant economic and political constraints. For the Gulf states, the challenge lies in balancing their security partnerships with the West while maintaining a degree of strategic autonomy in dealing with Iran. In case the conflict escalates, their ability to navigate this delicate balance will play a decisive role in shaping the future stability of the Gulf region and the broader Middle Eastern order. The author is an Assistant Professor at Amity Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (AIDSS), Amity University, NOIDA. As US President Donald Trump seriously considers deploying his troops on the ground inside Iran, a report has emerged stating that the US and Israel are discussing the possibility of sending special forces into Iranian territory to take control of Tehrans 450 kilograms of enriched uranium stockpile. It is estimated that Iran possesses a stockpile of 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to a level of 60% at its underground nuclear sites. This can be enriched to 90 per cent, which can be used to make nuclear weapons. The US intelligence agencies believe that Iran can still access and move the fuel through a very narrow access point. The enriched uranium had previously been thought to have been buried underground by US strikes during last years strikes. The CIA is reportedly watching the facility keenly for any attempt on the Iranian side to retrieve the Uranium. However, as per a report that appeared in Axios, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about it during a Congressional briefing on Tuesday. On whether Iran's enriched uranium would be secured, Rubio said: "People are going to have to go and get it," he said, without specifying who. An Israeli defence official told Axios that Trump and his team were seriously considering sending special operations units into Iran for specific missions. One of the two options, removing the material from Iran entirely or bringing in nuclear experts to dilute it on-site, would be considered. However, an operation to seize the nuclear material is expected to be particularly complex as these are well-fortified underground facilities deep inside Iran. Such an operation would require the presence of American or Israeli forces on Iranian soil during the war. However, it is still unclear whether this would be an American, Israeli, or joint operation. According to estimates, such an operation would only be carried out after the United States and Israel are certain that Iran's military capabilities do not allow it to pose a significant threat to the forces operating on the ground. The report also quoted a US official who stated the operational challenge of securing Iran's uranium: "The first question is, where is it? The second question is, how do we get to it, and how do we get physical control? And then, it would be a decision of the president and the Department of War, CIA, as to whether we wanted to physically transport it or dilute it on premises," he added. There are other reports that Trump had discussed the possibility of deploying a small force of US troops in Iran, for limited strategic needs. Saudi Arabia had reportedly issued a stern warning to Tehran two days prior to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologising to neighboring Gulf countries for its strikes on their territories. The warning, according to Reuters, emphasised that continued attacks on the kingdom and its energy sector could compel Riyadh to respond in kind. In a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan clearly communicated Riyadh's position. He stated that neither Saudi Arabia nor other Gulf states had allowed the US to use their airspace or territories to launch airstrikes against Iran. Prince Faisal also reiterated that Saudi Arabia favours a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict and is open to any mediation efforts aimed at de-escalation. According to Reuters, Prince Faisal warned Araqchi that if Tehran's strikes on Saudi Arabia's critical energy facilities persisted, Riyadh would have no choice but to allow US forces to use its military bases. He also made it clear that Saudi Arabia, too, would retaliate if attacks on its vital infrastructure continued. On Saturday, in an apparent attempt to ease regional tensions, the Islamic Republic issued an unusual apology to its neighboring states for its actions, particularly the missile and drone strikes on civilian targets in the Gulf. "I personally apologise to neighboring countries that were affected by Irans actions," President Pezeshkian stated. The ongoing war in the Middle East, which began following joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, has now entered its second week, with casualties surpassing 1,500. Despite some notable successes, such as the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the conflict, reports suggest that the strategic objectives behind the airstrikes remain elusive for the US and Israel. In retaliation, Tehran has targeted US military bases and other infrastructure in neighboring countries, escalating fears of a wider regional war. Israeli forces expanded their bombardment of Iran overnight, striking fuel depots near Tehran, while Bahrain said an Iranian attack had damaged one of its desalination plants, signalling a widening assault on vital infrastructure across the region. As the fighting escalated on day nine of the USIsraeli assault on Iran, Tehran moved closer to naming a new Supreme Leader after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with every indication suggesting his powerful son could take charge. Israel's military threatened to kill any replacement for Khamenei, while US President Donald Trump said the war might only end once Iran's military and rulers had been wiped out. For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East From Iran having chosen their next Supreme Leader to the continuing attacks on the UAE, Bahrain, and other Arab states, here are five latest updates from the war zone to know this hour: 1. The successor to the late Ali Khamenei has been decided by the body of clerics entrusted to elect the next Supreme Leader of Iran, Western media reports claimed, citing their counterparts in the Islamic Republic. While Israel has vowed to target him next, whoever that may be, the name has not been disclosed by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, CNN said in a report. 2. Kuwait said that two Interior Ministry officers were killed in Iranian strikes while "performing duties". However, no further information was revealed, including whether they were killed by drone strikes or missiles, or where they met their end. Earlier reports had said that Kuwaits air defences have been intercepting Iranian missiles and UAVs that have breached the countrys airspace. 3. Following Israeli airstrikes targeting Irans oil refineries and storage facilities, black cloud formations were observed over Tehran, a report said. Residents of the capital told media that the raindrops which fell in the morning were blackish in colour with oil-like residues, Manorama Online reported, citing news articles. 4. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that they detected 17 ballistic missiles and 117 drones fired by Iran towards its territory, of which 16 missiles and 113 drones were intercepted. The remaining fell into the sea, the UAE said. The total casualties across the Emirates in the war now stand at four, who were identified as citizens of Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. 5. The United States and Israel have broken international law with their attacks on Iran, Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister said in an interview published on Sunday, becoming the latest European leader to raise concerns about the conflict. "The Federal Council is of the opinion that the attack on Iran constitutes a violation of international law," Pfister told SonntagsZeitung, referring to the Swiss cabinet. "In our view, it constitutes a violation of the prohibition of violence," he added, calling on all parties involved to halt the fighting to protect the civilian population. Two Iranian cargo ships departed a chemical storage port in southeast China earlier this week. The ships were heading towards Iran, the Washington Post reported, citing ship tracking data and satellite imagery. The two vessels are reportedly operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL). The state-owned carrier is under sanctions by the US, Britain, and the European Union. The vessels, the Shabdis and Barzin, were recently docked at Chinas Southeastern coasts Gaolan Port in Zhuhai, which experts say handles large volumes of industrial chemicals. One of the chemicals found at the port is sodium perchlorate, which is used to produce solid rocket fuel. Experts said that it would be notable if China allowed any ship laden with weapons-related material to set off from its ports, as they expected China to be wary of such actions during a period when there is direct combat between the US and Iran. Isaac Kardon, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that Beijing could have delayed the ship's departure. China could have held these vessels at port, imposed an administrative delay, invented a customs hold any number of bureaucratic tools, but didnt, he said. Thats a deliberate policy choice made during an active war in which Beijing publicly calls for restraint, he said. On Saturday, both vessels were spotted on the South China Sea, with the Barzin anchored off the coast of Malaysia and en route to Badddar Abbas. The Shabadis are headed towards Irans Chabahar. Both the destinations lie in the Strait of Hormuz. Since the beginning of the year, the IRISL vessels visited Gaolan port and departed carrying cargo. Some of the ships later unloaded at the Irans Shahid Rajee port in Bandar Abbas. Analysts said that the damages sustained after US and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian missile facilities and infrastructure may have increased the the countrys need for rocket fuel components. The United Arab Emirates has denied any involvement in launching a retaliatory airstrike on a water desalination plant in Iran amid the war between Tehran and US-Israel forces. According to a senior official from the UAE administration, the country did not launch retaliatory strikes on Iran as it would not strike civilian sites if it were to enter the war, only military ones, a Jerusalem Post report said. This comes amid earlier reports indicating that the UAE had launched an airstrike against Irana move that would exponentially add to the chaos in the Gulf. According to the latest update from the UAE's defence ministry, 16 ballistic missiles and 113 UAVs were destroyed by its air defences as of Sunday afternoon. UAE air defences intercept 16 ballistic missiles, 113 UAVs UAE air defences today (8th March, 2026) detected 17 ballistic missiles, of which 16 were destroyed, while 1 missile fell into the sea. A total of 117 UAVs were also detected, with 113 intercepted, while 4 UAVs fell pic.twitter.com/BTikC5pRyd |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 8, 2026 However, it also noted that four people had died since the start of the war a week ago, while more than 100 others have sustained injuries. However, Abu Dhabi is allegedly considering other ways of pressuring Tehran into stopping its attacks on the Gulf country, such as freezing billions of dollars worth of Iranian assets, a Wall Street Journal report claimed on Friday, citing officials in the know. This could even escalate into a wider crackdown on local currency exchanges, which are used to move money outside of formal banking channels, in addition to seizures of Iranian vessels, the report added. A UAE official also told Euronews that despite early preparations for the Gulf chaos, they were still overwhelmed by the scale of the attacks from Iran on its US basesespecially the Al Dhafra base in Abu Dhabi. The UAE wants the Iranian aggression against the non-combatant states, the Gulf states, to end immediately, the official said, adding that Abu Dhabi's focus was to defend its population and infrastructure while keeping the wider conflict contained. Any new negotiated settlement with Iran will no longer be confined to the nuclear aspect. Missiles are now centre stage, because missiles now are not seen as self-defence, the official noted. As Iran reels under the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Persian-language account of Mossad has put up a post that questions the alleged power struggles within the Supreme Leaders Office. Insinuating that the Supreme Leaders son and heir, Mojataba Khamenei, Irans presumed next Supreme Leader, is working to hide his fathers latest instructions, the post added: Why did Mojtaba burn his fathers will? According to Israeli media, this question is directly related to the hidden power struggles in Tehran, and to the possibility that Mojtaba destroyed the document detailing his fathers will. They believe there is a rift within the Supreme Leader's office, as Mojtaba Khamenei is determined to change the order of power and succession left by his father. Throughout his decades of rule, Ali Khamenei avoided naming an official and public successor, possibly to prevent rivalries while he was still alive. With his death, a dangerous leadership vacuum was created, according to the Mossad. Mojtaba is taking advantage of the situation to alter realities on the ground and to eliminate any original directives from his father that could stand in his way to the leadership, the agency believes. Speculations are that the main reason for the current struggle lies in Ali Khamenei's self -preservation strategy, who feared that a designated heir would challenge his rule while he was still alive. The question published by the Mossad, "Why was the will burned?", hints at intelligence information that there were heated debates in Tehran over the content of the last document. pic.twitter.com/iIxTmOT0pR Mossad Farsi (@MossadSpokesman) March 8, 2026 Mojtaba has reportedly been chosen as the successor, though Iran has yet to confirm it. However, Irans Mehr News said that the clerical body that will choose Irans next supreme leader has reached a majority consensus, though there is no mention of Mojtabas name. The general chatter is that Mojtaba, who was the most powerful man in the security apparatus and a preferred candidate for the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), will take over as the Supreme Leader. However, many claim he fact that his father did not declare him as heir during his lifetime has put him in a problematic starting position with the Assembly of Experts. The destruction of the will may indicate that Ali Khamenei has designated a different figure for leadership or has ordered the establishment of an expanded council, according to Israeli media Channel 14. Not just internally, Mojtaba also faces a hurdle in the form of the US, which has made it clear that Khamenei's son is an heir unacceptable to them. Trump even stated that he demands that he and his allies have influence in choosing Iran's next leader. While Mojtaba tries to consolidate his hold, Iran is officially run by a provisional council that includes President Pazakhian and the heads of authorities. US President Donald Trump has hit out at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not offering support initially to the military campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. In response to reports that the UK is considering sending aircraft carriers to the Middle East, Trump stated that the US no longer needs additional support in a war which it has already won. "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!," Trump posted on Truth Social. Trumps remarks followed an announcement from the British Ministry of Defense that one of its aircraft carriers had been placed on an increased state of readiness. Later, when asked by reporters aboard Air Force One about the UKs offer to make its military bases available, Trump reiterated that it was too late. "We dont need them. Its not the right time. It would have been nice to have had them two weeks ago," he remarked. Trump has frequently criticised Starmer for his lack of support for the war, claiming that the British prime minister has undermined the two nations' historically close relationship. In defense of his decision, Starmer has stated that he could not allow US forces to use British bases for the initial airstrikes on Iran without ensuring that any military action was legal and well-planned. The US embassy in the Norwegian capital of Oslo has been hit by an explosion in the early hours of Sunday morning, news reports said. No injuries were reported as a consequence of the explosion. However, it was not immediately known if the incident caused any damage to the embassy's property. JUST IN: Norway police CONFIRM that the US Embassy is Oslo was targeted by an EXPLOSIVE DEVICE, detonating around 1AM near the entrance Minor injuries and damage reported We're facing Islamic TERROR CELLS worldwide. Keep Americans safe at all costs!pic.twitter.com/6jzHlu9Kmv Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 8, 2026 It was not known what caused the explosion. However, reports of a blast at a US embassy amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East have raised eyebrows. West Asia is on the boil after an IsraeliUS joint offensive against Iran entered its eighth day. The Oslo Police reportedly deployed a helicopter, the bomb squad, the canine squad, and crime scene technicians after an area with a radius of around 700 metres from the embassy was cordoned off. According to local media reports, the Minister of Justice and Public Security claimed that the explosion at the US embassy in Oslo is being taken very seriously. Eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion near the embassy compound in western Oslo at around 1 am, CNN said in a report. Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying they saw a cloud of smoke at the compound. "We've determined that an explosion hit the American embassy," police spokesperson Mikael Dellemyr told Reuters, adding that the blast occurred at the entry to the consular section. "The police are in a dialogue with the embassy and there are no reports of any injured persons," the statement said. The embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of regular business hours. The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Interview/ Neerja Birla,, founder & chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust At a recent conference in Delhi, two strangers walked up to Neerja Birla, founder and chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, with a confession. They told her they had once been completely lost, overwhelmed, unsure and reluctant to seek help. Opting for counselling at Mpower, founded by Birla in 2016, they said, became the turning point. The hardest step had been acknowledging to themselves that they needed support. Once they did, there was no looking back. There is a huge stigma where people feel that if you are a high achiever or if you are doing well, then you cannot be dealing with a mental health issue. But the two can go together. I realised there was something called postpartum depression only after I started reading about it following my first pregnancy. So, just the knowled ge that something like this exists and validating my feelings helped me navigate it the second time. For Birla, such encounters are a reminder that mental health work is not abstract advocacy; it is about pulling someone out of what she calls a black hole and helping them find steadier ground again. For over a decade, Birla has worked to build that ground through Mpower. Just before we begin our conversation, she recounts a recent, almost comic, episode. Her daughter Ananya and she were photographed outside Mumbai airport as Birla bent down to hug her dog Snoopy, completely unaware of the paparazzi. It was suddenly all over [the media], she says with a laugh, adding that she doesnt follow everything that circulates online and uses social media sparingly. The anecdote becomes an easy bridge into a deeper discussion about visibility, perception and vulnerability, especially for women constantly navigating public scrutiny, private battles and cultural expectations. In this wide-ranging interview, Birla speaks candidly about why awareness without acceptance is not enough, why women are often conditioned to endure silently, her own experience with postpartum depression and how sisterhood, systems and self acknowledgement can together reshape Indias mental health narrative. Excerpts: Q/ You have said that in India the problem is that despite awareness regarding mental health issues, it is the acceptance that still has a long way to go. The awareness is better than what it was when we started. However, there is still a long way to go. But yes, there has been a mindset shift in a lot of pockets. I say acceptance is lacking because it is still very stigmatised.... As a result, though people are aware, they still hold back from seeking help. They prefer suffering in silence than owning up to it. From that point of view, mental health behaviour still needs a lot of change. And, as a community, if we are able to accept it better, it will automatically help in people opening up and seeking help. Very often in workplaces, people suffer in silence because of the stigma. They wonder whether their productivity and self-worth will be doubted if they come out with it. That stops them from seeking help. Q/ In such a scenario, do you feel women face unique challenges? Do you think our cultural narrative needs to evolve to treat women's mental health as a problem in itself? Yes. Along with stigma, there is also a lot of caring responsibility on womens shoulders. Added to that, there is financial dependency. Women are also dealing with hormonal changes and upheavals in cultural settings. You may be having a difficult time at office and then you have to look after your children at home and you may be going through premenstrual syndrome or a menopausal phase, and everything sort of always intersects and comes together. They do not happen in parts. And that makes it more difficult for women. Statistics show that women are more prone to anxiety than men, and then coupled with the fact that you are supposed to bear it all silently, the emotional labour is never acknowledged. Of course, it is great to be resilient, and resilience is often celebrated in a manner that even if you keep quiet about it, [it is assumed] that you are [being] very brave. But it is just normalised and that makes it even more difficult, because you always want to then reach that benchmark of being able to endure it quietly. Why should we endure it quietly? I think the narrative can change.... So nobody is shirking away from caregiving responsibilities, but at the same time one needs to acknowledge itthat yes, it is a difficult thing that I am doing and I am still doing my best but that does not mean that I cannot talk about it. Validating those feelings will really help women to seek help. Q/ And yet society is more likely to address men's mental health issues than women's? Men and women both go through mental health issues. I think both are dealing with stigmas and cultural narratives in their own spheres. Men are dealing with the fact that they are not supposed to show their softer side. They are not expected to cry, not supposed to be having mental health issues. So they deal with those stigmas. Women, on the other hand, deal with it but are expected to suffer quietly. So, I will not say that men's mental health issues are being dealt with more than women, but that both are dealing with their issues. On our helpline, about 78 per cent callers are men, which is very high. That tells me that men are willing to talk and like the fact that someone is there to listen to them and that they don't have to deal with gender bias and that they can freely talk about it. I also feel that there is a huge stigma where people feel that if you are a high achiever or if you are doing well, then you cannot be dealing with a mental health issue. But the two can go together. Very often, there are high-performing individuals who could be highly depressed or dealing with severe anxiety and panicthey have set standards for themselves, there are expectations, and yet they are fighting a daily battle within themselves. So that is a big myth that high achievers cannot have mental health issues. Breaking barriers: (From left) Eamon McCrory, CEO, Anna Freud, and professor of developmental neuroscience and psychopathology, UCL; Shweta Punj, editor, economic policy, Moneycontrol.com; and Neerja Birla during a fireside chat on What Women Carry and What Must Shift. Q/ Motherhood is another role that women are expected to take on naturally, without being depressed or feeling low. What is your take on postpartum depression? It is a reality. I have been through postpartum depression myself. The first time I went through it, after my first child was born, I didn't know what to do. I was riddled and saddled with so much guilt because we are expected to be happy, especially after your firstborn, as it is a great joy and it is. But you are also dealing with a low phase, which you are not able to explain to those around you. So creating awareness about it and talking about it is important because that is what helped me the second time. I realised there was something called postpartum depression only after I started reading about it following my first pregnancy. So, just the knowledge that something like this exists and validating my feelings helped me navigate it the second time. It didn't mean that I didn't go through it the second time, just that I knew how to deal with it. Q/ In cities, we are at least aware of terms like postpartum depression. But people in remote parts of the country are not even aware that it exists. We have seen women calling in with postpartum depression and maternal neglect. During pregnancy, women go through physical checkups. But I think mental health checkups, too, need to be embedded into the system, and which continues into the postnatal phase as well. Those checks and balances, once embedded into the community programme, will help normalise it. Q/ Do you think such interventions are also necessary at the perimenopausal and menopausal stages? Absolutely. I don't know how our mothers went through it because a lot of times they didn't even know what they were going through. So we don't have that advantage of lived experience. But the next generation, say, my daughters, they have already seen me go through it and they have that experience; they know what is to be expected. If we are able to put it into systems, have routine checkups, have more awareness, it will really help. Because wepeople of my ageare actually the first generation in a sense that is actually getting exposed to it without having the lived experience of the past. Q/ Women across age groups are battling social media pressures, albeit in different ways. How do we shift the social media narrative towards being supportive towards women's mental health? Social media is here to stay. Using it appropriately and in a balanced manner is what one should do. It will be very ambitious and utopian to say that the content that goes out on social media needs to be regulated. But if the content is regulated and balanced, then there will be no problem at all. However, in the absence of that, the trick lies in your being able to consume it in a balanced manner and not overdoing it. Personally, after having consumed it for a few minutes, I feel like I cannot have any more of it. That is my ceiling. Overdoing anything is detrimental to your health and I think it is the same with social media. The content on social media can be regulated if each person who is putting it out takes responsibility for it and puts out matter that we know is not going to harm people and that is not unreal. If, as a community, we can do that, it will be the best way. As of now, we need to self-regulate and have a check on ourselves and not overdo it. Q/ How do women get the community around them to be their mental health cheerleaders? When I realised that within my own ecosystem there were very few people talking about perimenopause, I started talking about it. I went through the journey myself. When it first hits you, it takes a little time to understand what is happening, because you are always attributing it to something. You do not realise the shift that is taking place inside your body. Then you are spending time getting adjusted to a new you because there is a shift in everything, right from your energy levels to the way you look, and brain fog is real. And I realised nobody was talking about it. I happened to talk about it to a friend of mine and it just so happened that even she felt the same. In that discussion, we realised that this was called perimenopause. And that conversation of 20 minutes made me realise that sisterhood is so important. I realised that there were so many other people facing the same issue. Even though it does not change what you are going through, it does help you sort of acknowledge it, and that in itself is a way of self care. Pertaining to the mental health of young women, we might be living in two Indias, with two distinct kinds of problems. In one, women are silent sufferers, with shame, disillusionment and depression being well-kept secrets. This is the India in which the gap between the onset of a mental health issue and the time it takes a person to seek help is eight to 10 years. This is the India in which women have been treated as second-class citizens for centuries. From the brutality of sati to the social exile of widows, womens suffering has often been ritualised, normalised and silenced, said child, adolescent and family psychiatrist Dr Zirak Marker during a session on the silent distress of young women at the second edition of the Mpowering Minds summit in Bengaluru. From barring menstruating girls from kitchens and temples to the crushing weight of the dowry system that still exists in our society, distress has been inherited silently. So why do women still feel shame in voicing that distress, which manifests as depression, anxiety and self-harm? Why this stigma in reaching out for professional help? Women have to conform to a certain role where their feelings cannot be expressed. Dr Shyam Bhat, psychiatrist According to Dr Shyam Bhat, psychiatrist and founder of the Nirvikalpa Foundation, this gap is a result of young women not being able to articulate what they are feeling. There may be feelings of dissociation, numbness, irritability and fatigue, but a lot of this is normalised, attributed to adolescence and hormones. In male mental health circles, we talk about stoicism, but I actually see a lot of that in women, he said. They have to be the good person and conform to a certain role where their feelings cannot be expressed. And these are critical years of identity formation. So, it can take a long time before the person admits to something being wrong. The problem might even be systemic, said Dr Jasmine Kalha, co-director and senior research fellow at the Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune. I think it is a mental health sector problem, and we are to be blamed, she said. Help has become extremely inaccessible, and we are not providing the solutions that people want. As a result, said Kalha, part of her work involves co-designing solutions with people from the community who dont want to accept the help of professionals. But there is another India that is silently growing in significance, an India that takes its cues from the west. This is the India in which girls want to be woke and, instead of being silent, take pride in diagnosing their own mental health conditions. There is much over-labelling and over exposure. Marker spoke about a 12-year-old girl coming to him and expressing her dissatisfaction with her body. She wanted to know about breast reduction surgery. She knew about gender terminology and the dynamics of being transgender. This is, of course, nothing new in the west. According to one study published in JAMA Pediatrics, one in four US adolescents in grades 9-12 reported their sexual identity as non-heterosexual. Another survey found high rates of sadness, bullying and suicide attempts among transgender and gender questioning teenagers. Bhat said that this western concept of labelling your gender at a young age is dangerous, and something we should dissuade our young people from copying. From his 12 years of experience working as a therapist in the US, he is of the view that the American mental health system is a failed one. Lets be clear, America spends more on mental health than anyone else, he said. There is accessibility to mental health services and no treatment gap. They have plenty of psychiatrists and therapists, but suicide, homicide and divorce rates are at an all-time high there. So, lets not replicate their system which is essentially about paying a lot of money and getting poor results. What you call hope I call the toxicity of hyper individualism that has seeped into the therapeutic language. It tells young people to quickly define themselves. The last thing you want is to intrude on their sense of being. Let them be who they are without having to hyper-label themselves even before they have any idea of who they are. The western idea of liberation is to label the hell out of yourself. They believe that inflexible, rigid identity is their highest self. That will never work for our country, and we are in danger if we adopt that system of psychotherapy. Dr Meenakshi Kirtane, founder and director of Maanas The Inside Story and founding president, Indian Psychodrama Association, added that India should follow its own example. As a culture, we have always been rooted in wisdom, she said. We should be attuned to our own existence and celebrate ourselves just as we are. Body image issues, just like social media and the cosmetics industry, are an absolutely fabricated problem. If we can make every girl child feel that she is beautiful as she is, half our population wont need to go to social media for validation. One afternoon, Raina Sethi, 42, a mother to a cheerful 10-year-old girl in New Delhis Lajpat Nagar, found herself googling, Why am I angry all the time? India has just 0.75 psychiatrists per one lakh people, and the economic cost of untreated mental illness is projected to cross $1 trillion by 2030. The possibility of being pregnant again was gnawing at her. Her husband and in-laws had been hinting at a second child. She regretted not speaking her mind earlier, when the conversation might have been easier. Now, just as her career had stabilised and her daughter had grown a bit independent, the pressure resurfaced. Every day between her last period and the next was clouded in anxiety and uncertainty. To the outside world, her marriage appeared secure and comfortable. But within the privacy of her home, expectations lingered. There is no one I can say this to without being judged, she said. Everyone assumes this is normal. Hundreds of kilometres away, a woman in her late 50s from Madhya Pradesh attempted suicide in her sons apartment in Bengaluru. She had moved in with him and her daughter-in-law after her husbands retirement. One afternoon, she swallowed two bottles of prescription pills. In a telephonic conversation with THE WEEK, she described the act as the culmination of months of feeling unseen. I suddenly felt invisible in my own house, she said. It felt like a mans world. Both my son and my husband would slight me for little things. I had no voice. For decades, she had run her household and raised her children. But in recent years, as she began experiencing menopause, she found herself struggling with mood swings, irritability, crying spells and insomnia. She did not have the language to articulate what was happening to her body and mind. When she tried, she was told she was overreacting. She survived the attempt but the loneliness, she said, remained. She has since moved back to Madhya Pradesh and now lives alone. Trimester tales: (From left) Seema Kumar, founder editor at 90CAPS and The Mind Diaries; Dr Padmaja Samant, head of gynaecology, KEM hospital; psychiatrist Dr Ruksheda Syeda; Dr Meghna Singhal, founder & CEO, Raising Family Academy & Partners to Parents; Dr Janhavi Nilekani, founder & chairperson, Aastrika Foundation & Aastrika Midwifery Centre during a session at the summit. Anaaya B., 17, a first-year college student from Pune, began skipping lunch during her second semester. At first, it was subtle. She would tell her mother Kranti she had eaten at the canteen. Soon, dinner portions shrank, too. She began spending more time in front of the mirror and adjusting camera angles before posting photographs online. Kranti noticed the shift. Her friends, all teenage girls, were discussing calorie counts and clean eating, posting gym selfies and what I eat in a day videos, she said. Instead of focusing on studies, she became obsessed with skin, thighs, jawlines, waistlines. If a photo didnt get enough likes, she assumed it was because she looked bad. Baby blues: Laveena Sharon with her husband and infant after a session on post-partum at the Mpowering Minds Summit 2026 | Bhanu Prakash Chandra The anxiety escalated into panic attacks before social events and intense guilt after meals. She felt like her entire worth was her body, her mother said. Laveena Sharon, a budding lawyer, gave birth to a baby boy three months ago. At the Mpowering Minds Summit 2026 in Bengaluru, which was organised by Mpower, an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, Sharon spoke about how society and people around you want to play a role in your family planning. Three years into her marriage, her mother-in-law told her not to wait and plan for a baby but rather to let it happen naturally. In mid-2024, we decided to have a baby and I conceived naturally the very next month, she said. Unfortunately, I ended up having a miscarriage after seven weeks. The baby didnt develop a heartbeat. I didnt have any symptoms. I just had cramps and when I went to the scanning centre, they told me the baby was no longer there. And then came a barrage of I told you so. It took a couple of challenging months for her to get over it. These women do not know one another. They differ in age, geography and circumstance. Yet their distress is not incidental. Across India, women are disproportionately vulnerable to and affected by common mental health issues and disorders, often triggered or compounded by gendered violence, hormonal and biological transitions, societal expectations and social invisibility. According to the National Mental Health Survey conducted by NIMHANS in 2019, mental health disorders are more prevalent among women than men. Women in India are found to be more prone to conditions like depression, anxiety and physical complaints compared to men. Globally, the World Health Organization has consistently found that depression is about 1.5 times more common among women than among men. Worldwide, more than 10 per cent of pregnant women and women who have just given birth experience depression. Shruthi Viswanathan (in pic with her children) At the Mpowering Minds Summit, some stark statistics came to light. Women aged 15 to 34 years account for more than 63 per cent of female suicide deaths in the country, and 39 per cent of maternal deaths are linked to suicide. One in five mothers experiences a perinatal mental health disorder. Among women aged 18 to 49 years, anxiety and depression are the most common mental health conditions, and burnout has doubled in the years following the pandemic. Data from the AIMA-KPMG Women Leadership in Corporate India 2026 report show that 43 per cent of women have stepped back from leadership roles owing to work-life imbalance and burnout, and 38-40 per cent cite caregiving responsibilities, while 70 per cent continue to face bias and inclusion gaps. Yet, 70 to 80 per cent of Indians who need mental health support never receive it. India has just 0.75 psychiatrists per one lakh people, and the economic cost of untreated mental illness is projected to cross $1 trillion by 2030. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, family problems and marriage-related issues were routinely listed among the leading causes of suicide deaths among women. The 2020 NCRB report stated that 22,372 housewives had died by suicidean average of 61 suicides every day or one every 25 minutes. How do you regulate your emotions when you are going through hormonal changes and everything in your body feels out of shape? For months, I felt like I wanted to jump out of my own skin. I had forgotten who I was. Shruthi Viswanathan (in pic with her children), who has battled depression Behind these numbers are women navigating layered roles, while absorbing emotional labour within deeply patriarchal structures that normalise their caregiving while overlooking their need for care. Mental health professionals argue that factors such as chronic stress, invisibility within households, reproductive pressures, domestic conflict, hormonal transitions and economic dependence are the reasons that trigger women towards taking drastic measures. Also, men and women experience mental health challenges differently, not because one is stronger or weaker, but because their social realities are different, say experts. Women are uniquely positioned at the intersection of biological transitions, caregiving responsibilities, economic vulnerability and deeply ingrained societal expectations, said Dr Padmaja Samant, professor and head of department, gynaecology and obstetrics, KEM hospital, Mumbai. From adolescence through motherhood and midlife, they navigate hormonal shifts alongside emotional labour that often goes unacknowledged. Men, on the other hand, are often socialised to suppress vulnerability, which can manifest as irritability, substance use or risk-taking, she added. The difference is not in resilience, but in how society permits or denies emotional expression and support, explained Samant. Shruthi Viswanathan, 36, remembered exactly when she first found herself slipping. She had married at 25 and moved from Jabalpur to Bengaluru, her first time living in a metro. She was expected to slip seamlessly into her roles of wife, daughter-in-law and new bride in a big city. Instead, she felt unmoored. I was overwhelmed, recalled Viswanathan. It was emotional turmoil, navigating new relationships, a new city, domesticity. But nobody really understood. It is so normalised for girls to get married and immediately feel comfortable in the other house. Soon, she was diagnosed with clinical depression. I did once attempt extreme self harm, she said. Thankfully, my husband came in at the right moment. Viswanathan sought psychiatric help and slowly learnt to recognise her warning signsthe sudden emptiness, the self-harm impulses, the inability to function. Sadness is very different from depression, she said. You can be laughing in a room full of people and suddenly feel completely empty. Motherhood brought both joy and relapse. Her first pregnancy, said Viswanathan, was a breeze. But after the second child was born, the ground shifted again. The guilt of not being able to give my elder one the same attention was always there, she said. Her younger son was intensely clingy for nearly a year, refusing to go to anyone else. How do you regulate your emotions when you are going through hormonal changes and everything in your body feels out of shape? For months, I felt like I wanted to jump out of my own skin. I had forgotten who I was, she said. The turning point came unexpectedly, when a friend noticed her standing blankly at a play-date and later asked gently, Is everything really okay? Certain patterns repeat in women across age groups, from adolescents to those in their 50s, said psychiatrist Dr Ruksheda Syeda. When I see a woman, I routinely ask about traumaverbal, physical, sexual, financial, social, said Syeda. Unfortunately, the majority report at least one incident of inappropriate touch, harassment or violation at some point in their lives. While not every experience results in a psychiatric disorder, the cumulative impact is undeniable. Clinically, Syeda sees disproportionately higher rates of depression and anxiety among women, along with rising recognition of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, body image distress among adolescents, low self-esteem and non-suicidal self-injury. There is also a gradual but significant shift, she said, that of greater awareness around perinatal mental health, more referrals from gynaecologists and increasing conversations around perimenopausea phase when anxiety and depressive symptoms often intensify or resurface. Earlier, psychiatric medication would simply be stopped during pregnancy, leading to relapses. Now we are seeing more collaborative care, noted Syeda. Early recognition and support can completely change the trajectory. But for Kalpana Swamy, in her 40s, the support never came. I hardened myself; I learnt how to laugh off toxicity surrounding my body type and colour, said Swamy, founder and curator, Muzicalli Music Appreciation Community. Initially, she, too, struggled with acceptance. Throughout my life, there have been instances when I wanted to abandon myself. I had come to hate myself, she said. From friends to in-laws, everyone always had something to say about the way I looked and so I was always conscious about my body. A long-term relationship ended partly because of social prejudices, when conversations around whether a dark girl would be accepted into a north Indian family began to surface. Marriage and immediate motherhood brought a new set of negotiations. Raising a daughter in a society still fixated on fairness and slimness meant the scrutiny did not end. Now, as she watches her teenage daughter navigate bullying in school for not fitting narrow beauty standards, the cycle feels painfully familiar. But I have made sure that what happened with me does not happen to her, said Swamy, who lives in Maharashtras Thane. I have made her very headstrong. She is comfortable in her own skin and will not let body shaming get to her. A 2023 study published in the International Journal of Indian Psychology shows how deeply gendered the experience of body shaming among adolescents is. By way of a cross-sectional study conducted among 155 adolescents in Mysuru (aged 1019 years), 23.2 per cent of female participants reported high levels of body shaming compared to just 7.1 per cent of boys. There is a very close relationship between a womans mental and physical health, said Prathima Murthy, director, NIMHANS. We, as a society, must integrate them with social well-being. And that is why the empowerment of women in society becomes so critical. The next decade, said Murthy, demands structural embedding of early intervention, accessible counselling, workplace reform and public policy support, so that women are not forced to perform resilience while enduring in silence. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (NYSE:ZIM Get Free Report) is expected to announce its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Monday, March 9th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of ($1.01) per share and revenue of $1.5381 billion for the quarter. Parties can find conference call details on the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning report page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM ET. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Stock Performance NYSE:ZIM opened at $27.83 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $23.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $18.62. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12. The stock has a market cap of $3.35 billion, a PE ratio of 3.34 and a beta of 1.57. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services has a fifty-two week low of $11.03 and a fifty-two week high of $29.97. Get ZIM Integrated Shipping Services alerts: Institutional Trading of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Graham Capital Management L.P. increased its stake in shares of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services by 50.4% during the 4th quarter. Graham Capital Management L.P. now owns 19,686 shares of the companys stock worth $418,000 after purchasing an additional 6,595 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in ZIM Integrated Shipping Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $294,000. WINTON GROUP Ltd grew its holdings in ZIM Integrated Shipping Services by 57.3% during the 3rd quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd now owns 20,258 shares of the companys stock valued at $274,000 after buying an additional 7,383 shares during the last quarter. Lighthouse Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in ZIM Integrated Shipping Services during the 3rd quarter valued at $231,000. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC purchased a new position in ZIM Integrated Shipping Services during the first quarter worth $210,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 21.42% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets ZIM has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Fearnley Fonds upgraded shares of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on ZIM Integrated Shipping Services from $15.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 8th. UBS Group set a $9.70 price target on ZIM Integrated Shipping Services in a report on Monday, November 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on ZIM Integrated Shipping Services from $9.70 to $8.70 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Finally, Citigroup raised ZIM Integrated Shipping Services from a sell rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $11.50 to $31.80 in a report on Thursday, February 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $17.21. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on ZIM Integrated Shipping Services ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Company Profile (Get Free Report) ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE: ZIM) is a global container shipping company specializing in the transportation of dry cargo, refrigerated goods and special project cargo. The company operates a modern fleet of container vessels that call at major ports worldwide, offering scheduled liner services and tailored logistics solutions to exporters, importers and freight forwarders. Founded in 1945 in Haifa, Israel, ZIM has grown from a regional carrier into a worldwide operator through a series of strategic partnerships, fleet expansions and network enhancements. Read More Receive News & Ratings for ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ZIM Integrated Shipping Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Edgewell Personal Care Company (NYSE:EPC Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the eight analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have assigned a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $23.6667. Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company set a $24.00 price target on Edgewell Personal Care in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Edgewell Personal Care in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Edgewell Personal Care from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Edgewell Personal Care from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Edgewell Personal Care in a report on Monday, December 29th. Get Edgewell Personal Care alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Edgewell Personal Care Edgewell Personal Care Stock Up 0.0% Shares of NYSE:EPC opened at $21.11 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $986.26 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -24.84 and a beta of 0.59. Edgewell Personal Care has a 12 month low of $15.88 and a 12 month high of $32.96. The company has a current ratio of 2.12, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $19.88 and a 200 day moving average price of $19.73. Edgewell Personal Care (NYSE:EPC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 9th. The company reported ($0.16) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.18) by $0.02. The company had revenue of $422.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $476.48 million. Edgewell Personal Care had a positive return on equity of 7.16% and a negative net margin of 1.76%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.07 earnings per share. Edgewell Personal Care has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.700-2.100 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Edgewell Personal Care will post 3.16 earnings per share for the current year. Edgewell Personal Care Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. Edgewell Personal Cares payout ratio is -70.59%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Edgewell Personal Care Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of Edgewell Personal Care during the third quarter worth $2,290,000. Nicola Wealth Management LTD. grew its holdings in shares of Edgewell Personal Care by 80.8% in the third quarter. Nicola Wealth Management LTD. now owns 199,200 shares of the companys stock worth $4,055,000 after purchasing an additional 89,000 shares during the last quarter. Edgestream Partners L.P. bought a new position in shares of Edgewell Personal Care in the second quarter worth about $1,690,000. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC increased its stake in Edgewell Personal Care by 327.9% in the 2nd quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 52,759 shares of the companys stock worth $1,235,000 after buying an additional 40,429 shares during the period. Finally, Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH increased its stake in Edgewell Personal Care by 45.4% in the 2nd quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 68,693 shares of the companys stock worth $1,608,000 after buying an additional 21,449 shares during the period. 91.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Edgewell Personal Care Company Profile (Get Free Report) Edgewell Personal Care Inc, incorporated in 2015 and headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, is a global consumer products company specializing in personal care, sun care, shaving and feminine care solutions. The company emerged as a spin-off from Energizer Holdings personal care division, listing its shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker EPC. Edgewells portfolio comprises well-known brands that cater to everyday personal grooming and protection needs. In the shaving segment, Edgewell markets razors and refill blades under brands such as Schick and Wilkinson Sword, targeting both mens and womens grooming categories. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Edgewell Personal Care Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edgewell Personal Care and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY Get Free Report) is expected to be issuing its results before the market opens on Tuesday, March 10th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.5940 per share and revenue of $84.9249 billion for the quarter. Volkswagen Stock Down 2.1% Volkswagen stock opened at $10.62 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $11.99 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.66. The company has a market cap of $53.24 billion, a PE ratio of 7.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.14. Volkswagen has a twelve month low of $9.20 and a twelve month high of $12.83. Get Volkswagen alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have weighed in on VWAGY. Zacks Research raised Volkswagen from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Volkswagen in a report on Sunday, November 23rd. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Volkswagen in a report on Friday, January 16th. Finally, HSBC reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Volkswagen in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold. Volkswagen Company Profile (Get Free Report) Volkswagen AG is one of the worlds largest integrated automakers, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Founded in 1937 to produce a mass-market peoples car, the company expanded through the post-war period into a global automotive group. Volkswagens operations encompass the design, engineering, manufacture and distribution of a broad range of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, and the companys consolidated brand portfolio includes Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, Porsche, Skoda, SEAT, Bentley, Lamborghini and other marques operated across its group structure. In addition to vehicle production, Volkswagen provides a range of automotive-related products and services, including powertrain technologies, component manufacturing, mobility services and vehicle financing and leasing through its Volkswagen Financial Services unit. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Volkswagen Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Volkswagen and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AMN Healthcare Services (NYSE:AMN Get Free Report) and Zicix (OTCMKTS:ZICXD Get Free Report) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends and risk. Volatility & Risk AMN Healthcare Services has a beta of 0.23, indicating that its stock price is 77% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Zicix has a beta of 0.53, indicating that its stock price is 47% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get AMN Healthcare Services alerts: Institutional and Insider Ownership 99.2% of AMN Healthcare Services shares are held by institutional investors. 0.9% of AMN Healthcare Services shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio AMN Healthcare Services $2.73 billion 0.30 -$95.70 million ($2.49) -8.55 Zicix N/A N/A N/A ($100.14) -0.02 This table compares AMN Healthcare Services and Zicixs top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Zicix has lower revenue, but higher earnings than AMN Healthcare Services. AMN Healthcare Services is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Zicix, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for AMN Healthcare Services and Zicix, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score AMN Healthcare Services 2 3 4 0 2.22 Zicix 0 0 0 0 0.00 AMN Healthcare Services currently has a consensus price target of $22.64, suggesting a potential upside of 6.35%. Given AMN Healthcare Services stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe AMN Healthcare Services is more favorable than Zicix. Profitability This table compares AMN Healthcare Services and Zicixs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets AMN Healthcare Services -3.51% 8.05% 2.38% Zicix N/A N/A N/A Summary AMN Healthcare Services beats Zicix on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About AMN Healthcare Services (Get Free Report) AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. provides healthcare workforce solutions and staffing services to healthcare facilities in the United States. It operates through three segments: Nurse and Allied Solutions, Physician and Leadership Solutions, and Technology and Workforce Solutions. The Nurse and Allied Solutions segment offers travel nurse staffing, labor disruption staffing, local staffing, international nurse and allied permanent placement, and allied staffing solutions. The Physician and Leadership Solutions segment provides locum tenens staffing, healthcare interim leadership staffing, executive search, and physician permanent placement solutions. The Technology and Workforce Solutions segment offers language services, vendor management systems, workforce optimization, and outsourced solutions. The company also provides allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, medical and radiology technologists, lab technicians, speech pathologists, rehabilitation assistants, and pharmacists. It offers its services under the brands, including AMN Healthcare, Nursefinders, HealthSource Global Staffing, O'Grady Peyton International, Connetics, Medical Search International, DRW Healthcare Staffing, and B.E. Smith. AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. About Zicix (Get Free Report) Zicix Corporation, through its subsidiary, Texas Mobile Health, Inc., provides diagnostic medical imaging services in Houston, Texas. It offers cardiac diagnostic services, including echocardiogram, stress testing, carotid ultrasound, and halter and event monitoring services; medical services, such as general medical care, medical care for home health patients, general and immigration physicals, weight reduction, cold laser pain relief treatment, physical therapy, and anti-aging treatment; and MRI, CT, and X-Ray services. The company was formerly known as Bederra Corporation and changed its name to Zicix Corporation on February 8, 2011. Zicix Corporation was founded in 1979 and is based in Houston, Texas. Receive News & Ratings for AMN Healthcare Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AMN Healthcare Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Quantbot Technologies LP trimmed its holdings in ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE Free Report) by 70.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,299 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 27,442 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LPs holdings in ONEOK were worth $824,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Assetmark Inc. lifted its holdings in ONEOK by 84.0% during the 2nd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 4,047 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $330,000 after purchasing an additional 1,848 shares during the last quarter. National Pension Service increased its stake in ONEOK by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 857,949 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $62,605,000 after acquiring an additional 24,003 shares during the period. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. grew its holdings in shares of ONEOK by 34.1% during the 3rd quarter. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. now owns 87,667 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $6,397,000 after purchasing an additional 22,282 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its stake in ONEOK by 7.5% during the third quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 777,262 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $55,885,000 after buying an additional 54,444 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tectonic Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of ONEOK by 41.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 188,842 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $13,780,000 after acquiring an additional 55,024 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.13% of the companys stock. Get ONEOK alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In OKE has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $104.00 price objective on shares of ONEOK in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on ONEOK in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. They set a hold rating and a $80.00 target price on the stock. Scotiabank reiterated an outperform rating and set a $91.00 price objective on shares of ONEOK in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Mizuho set a $89.00 price objective on shares of ONEOK in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of ONEOK from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $87.00 to $83.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued 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 $86.47. ONEOK Stock Performance NYSE:OKE opened at $86.95 on Friday. ONEOK, Inc. has a 52-week low of $64.02 and a 52-week high of $103.64. The businesss fifty day moving average is $79.43 and its 200 day moving average is $74.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 0.71. The firm has a market cap of $54.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.04, a PEG ratio of 5.13 and a beta of 0.93. ONEOK (NYSE:OKE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The utilities provider reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.50 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $9.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.77 billion. ONEOK had a net margin of 10.09% and a return on equity of 15.29%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.57 EPS. ONEOK has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.040-5.870 EPS. Research analysts predict that ONEOK, Inc. will post 5.07 EPS for the current year. ONEOK Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 2nd were paid a $1.07 dividend. This is an increase from ONEOKs previous quarterly dividend of $1.03. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 2nd. ONEOKs payout ratio is currently 78.97%. About ONEOK (Free Report) ONEOK, Inc (NYSE: OKE) is a publicly traded midstream energy company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company owns and operates a portfolio of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) pipelines, processing facilities, fractionators and storage and terminal assets. Its operations are focused on gathering, processing, transporting, fractionating and marketing NGLs and interstate natural gas, providing critical infrastructure that connects hydrocarbon production to refineries, petrochemical plants and other end markets. ONEOKs asset base includes pipeline systems and processing plants that move and condition natural gas, along with infrastructure for the transportation, storage and fractionation of NGLs such as ethane, propane and butane. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for ONEOK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ONEOK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Siemens Healthineers AG (OTCMKTS:SMMNY Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Buy from the seven brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, two have assigned a buy recommendation and three have assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. Several brokerages recently commented on SMMNY. Zacks Research raised Siemens Healthineers from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Royal Bank Of Canada started coverage on shares of Siemens Healthineers in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. They set a moderate buy rating on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Siemens Healthineers to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Siemens Healthineers from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Siemens Healthineers in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Get Siemens Healthineers alerts: View Our Latest Report on SMMNY Siemens Healthineers Stock Performance Siemens Healthineers Company Profile Shares of OTCMKTS SMMNY opened at $23.48 on Friday. Siemens Healthineers has a one year low of $23.19 and a one year high of $29.00. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $25.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $26.23. (Get Free Report) Siemens Healthineers AG is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and distributes a broad range of products and services for the healthcare sector. Headquartered in Erlangen, Germany, the company focuses on diagnostic and therapeutic imaging, in vitro diagnostics and advanced digital health solutions. As a spin-off from Siemens AG, Siemens Healthineers has leveraged decades of engineering expertise to establish a comprehensive portfolio that addresses critical needs in modern healthcare. The companys core offerings include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), X-ray and molecular imaging systems, as well as laboratory diagnostics equipment and point-of-care testing devices. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Siemens Healthineers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Siemens Healthineers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Korea Investment CORP trimmed its stake in McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK Free Report) by 2.8% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 107,201 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,076 shares during the quarter. Korea Investment CORPs holdings in McKesson were worth $82,817,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. GGM Financials LLC acquired a new stake in shares of McKesson in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. State of Wyoming acquired a new position in McKesson during the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Hopwood Financial Services Inc. bought a new position in McKesson in the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in McKesson in the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Abound Wealth Management increased its stake in shares of McKesson by 104.3% in the third quarter. Abound Wealth Management now owns 47 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.07% of the companys stock. Get McKesson alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Maria Martinez sold 349 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $939.87, for a total value of $328,014.63. Following the sale, the director directly owned 301 shares in the company, valued at $282,900.87. The trade was a 53.69% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Michele Lau sold 2,725 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $990.00, for a total transaction of $2,697,750.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 3,247 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,214,530. This represents a 45.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 3,868 shares of company stock worth $3,743,820 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Key Stories Impacting McKesson Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and dividend: Several sell?side firms have raised price targets or reiterated buy ratings and McKesson recently declared its quarterly dividend (payable April 1). That continued analyst backing and a steady payout help underpin investor confidence. 3 Dividend Growth Stocks Quietly Raising Payouts Analyst support and dividend: Several sell?side firms have raised price targets or reiterated buy ratings and McKesson recently declared its quarterly dividend (payable April 1). That continued analyst backing and a steady payout help underpin investor confidence. Neutral Sentiment: CFO transition announced: Longtime CFO Britt Vitalone will retire and McKesson named Kenny Cheung as incoming EVP & CFO effective May 29, 2026. The advance naming of a successor reduces leadership uncertainty but still warrants monitoring during the handover. McKesson Announces Planned CFO Transition CFO transition announced: Longtime CFO Britt Vitalone will retire and McKesson named Kenny Cheung as incoming EVP & CFO effective May 29, 2026. The advance naming of a successor reduces leadership uncertainty but still warrants monitoring during the handover. Neutral Sentiment: Q4/FY?2026 earnings date and webcast set for May 7; company says management will host the call and reiterated FY?2026 outlook. The scheduled release and affirmed guidance reduce near?term uncertainty but make the May 7 print a key catalyst. Earnings Release Date and Conferences Q4/FY?2026 earnings date and webcast set for May 7; company says management will host the call and reiterated FY?2026 outlook. The scheduled release and affirmed guidance reduce near?term uncertainty but make the May 7 print a key catalyst. Neutral Sentiment: Heightened retail/institutional attention: McKesson has been a trending stock in screens and writeups (Zacks, Yahoo/Zacks summaries), which can amplify volatility as traders reposition ahead of the earnings/counsel changes. Zacks Trending Stock Summary Heightened retail/institutional attention: McKesson has been a trending stock in screens and writeups (Zacks, Yahoo/Zacks summaries), which can amplify volatility as traders reposition ahead of the earnings/counsel changes. Negative Sentiment: Insider sale: EVP Michele Lau disclosed a sale of 2,725 shares (filed with the SEC). Executive stock sales can be perceived negatively by some investors, adding downward pressure amid the other headlines. Insider Sale Filing Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Here are the key news stories impacting McKesson this week: MCK has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on McKesson from $914.00 to $925.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Weiss Ratings downgraded McKesson from a buy (a-) rating to a buy (b+) rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $966.00 price target on shares of McKesson in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Raymond James Financial set a $970.00 price target on McKesson in a research note on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of McKesson from $983.00 to $1,107.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $960.93. View Our Latest Stock Report on McKesson McKesson Price Performance MCK opened at $918.37 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $882.53 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $816.72. The company has a market capitalization of $112.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.38. McKesson Corporation has a 1-year low of $633.53 and a 1-year high of $999.00. McKesson (NYSE:MCK Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $9.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $9.19 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $106.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $105.98 billion. McKesson had a negative return on equity of 338.97% and a net margin of 1.09%.The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $8.03 EPS. McKesson has set its FY 2026 guidance at 38.800-39.200 EPS. Equities analysts expect that McKesson Corporation will post 32.77 EPS for the current fiscal year. McKesson Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a $0.82 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. McKessons payout ratio is 9.43%. McKesson Company Profile (Free Report) McKesson Corporation (NYSE: MCK) is a global healthcare services and distribution company that supplies pharmaceuticals, medical-surgical products and health care technology solutions. Founded in 1833 and headquartered in Irving, Texas, McKesson operates across the drug distribution and healthcare services value chain, connecting manufacturers, pharmacies, hospitals and health systems to help manage the movement of medicines and clinical supplies. The companys core activities include pharmaceutical wholesale distribution and logistics, specialty pharmacy services, and the provision of medical-surgical supplies to acute and non-acute care providers. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for McKesson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McKesson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eye health is often overlooked. Tons of Americans skip their annual eye exams: Of those who are considered to be at high risk for vision loss, which is roughly 4 in 10 Americans, 40% didnt get their eyes checked out in the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its not until you have [a] problem with your eyes that you really become grateful for your vision, said Dr. Michelle Holmes, an optometrist at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California. Health: 9 Things Eye Doctors Would Never, Ever Ignore Theres a lot you can do to protect your eye health. You can keep up with your annual eye exams, wear sunglasses to shield your eyes from the suns harmful ultraviolet rays, and avoid wearing contacts to bed or in the pool, to name a few. Advertisement But is there one habit you should never do, even though it may seem like eye care: Dont use eye-whitening, or red-eye relieving, drops. My concern with those types of eye drops is that eye-whitening drops can be used by someone to mask redness, and, oftentimes, that redness is a symptom of some more serious underlying condition, Holmes told HuffPost. Heres why you may want to steer clear of redness relief eye drops. When your eye is irritated, as it may be with pink eye or certain allergies, the blood vessels located in the front of the eye will dilate and engorge. Thats what causes the white part of the eye to look red and angry, Holmes explained. Health: 9 Things Eye Doctors Say You Should Never, Ever Do Those blood vessels serve an important purpose when inflamed, they indicate something is wrong, Holmes said. This could be due to a mild problem, such as a cold or dust in the eye, or it may be a symptom of a more serious health condition like an infection, glaucoma or a corneal abrasion. Advertisement Advertisement Its not normal to have a red, angry-looking eye, Holmes said. Red-eye relieving drops target these blood vessels to constrict and minimize their appearance. Temporarily, this makes the eyes white again, however, these drops could mask the problem at hand. It may make you think everything is OK with your eyes when really the can be something quite serious going on, Holmes said. Its a bandaid, not a fix, she added. Finds: If Dry Eyes Are Making You Miserable, Try These Doctor-Recommended Products Right Now That redness can help your eye doctor detect eye diseases. With certain eye conditions, time is of the essence. Left untreated, they can worsen and lead to complications, including infections, and, in serious cases, vision loss. Advertisement Advertisement Not to mention, these drops may cause a rebound effect. As the eye drops wear off and nutrients and oxygen start to flow back through those blood vessels, they actually will dilate and engorge more than initially, Holmes said. People can then get trapped in a cycle: their eyes appear red and irritated, they use redness-relieving drops that provide temporary relief, but then the redness comes back this time, even worse and they use the drops again. In some cases, people become dependent on red-eye relieving drops and the underlying health issue is never addressed, Holmes said. Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Your eye health can be a window into other potential conditions. Anastassiya Bezhekeneva via Getty Images There are other remedies you can use instead. Whenever a patient tells Holmes they use eye-whitening drops, she recommends they opt for lubricating artificial tears instead. Her advice: use preservative-free drops theyre gentler on the eyes, she explained. These products are generally thought to be the safest type of preservative-free eye drops. Advertisement Advertisement The Food and Drug Administration recently issued a warning against 26 over-the-counter eye drop products due to the risk of eye infections that may cause partial vision loss or blindness. Health: These 8 Common Habits Could Increase Your Risk Of Dementia Finally, if your eye is red and irritated, talk to an eye care provider. Even if you give your local eye clinic a call, the front desk should be able to triage the redness and determine if you need follow-up care or testing and recommend safe, effective eye drops. Oftentimes, the cause of the redness can be determined and more effectively addressed when the reason why is known, Holmes said. Advertisement Advertisement The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in HDFC Bank Limited (NYSE:HDB Free Report) by 109.0% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 4,998,806 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 2,607,367 shares during the quarter. Natixis Advisors LLCs holdings in HDFC Bank were worth $170,759,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of HDFC Bank by 104.4% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 19,204,783 shares of the banks stock valued at $656,035,000 after acquiring an additional 9,808,890 shares in the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its stake in shares of HDFC Bank by 150.1% in the third quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 11,601,628 shares of the banks stock valued at $396,312,000 after buying an additional 6,963,646 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Group raised its position in shares of HDFC Bank by 19.0% during the second quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 10,614,708 shares of the banks stock worth $813,830,000 after acquiring an additional 1,692,243 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in shares of HDFC Bank by 89.1% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 10,209,034 shares of the banks stock worth $348,741,000 after acquiring an additional 4,810,042 shares during the period. Finally, C WorldWide Group Holding A S lifted its position in shares of HDFC Bank by 133.0% in the 3rd quarter. C WorldWide Group Holding A S now owns 9,362,828 shares of the banks stock worth $319,834,000 after purchasing an additional 5,345,005 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 17.61% of the companys stock. Get HDFC Bank alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings downgraded HDFC Bank from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d+) rating in a research note on Friday. Wall Street Zen raised shares of HDFC Bank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, HDFC Bank presently has a consensus rating of Reduce. HDFC Bank Trading Down 2.9% HDB stock opened at $29.50 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $33.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $34.83. The stock has a market cap of $150.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.56. HDFC Bank Limited has a 1-year low of $29.23 and a 1-year high of $39.81. HDFC Bank Company Profile (Free Report) HDFC Bank Limited is one of Indias leading private sector banks, headquartered in Mumbai. Incorporated in 1994 and promoted by Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), the bank provides a full range of banking and financial services to retail, small and medium-sized enterprises, and corporate customers. It is publicly listed and also accessible to international investors through American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HDB. The banks core activities include retail banking (deposit accounts, personal loans, home loans, auto loans, and credit cards), commercial and corporate banking (working capital finance, term lending, trade finance and treasury services), and transaction banking (cash management and payment solutions). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HDB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for HDFC Bank Limited (NYSE:HDB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for HDFC Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HDFC Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Parallel Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report) by 10.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 168,359 shares of the companys stock after selling 20,203 shares during the period. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF makes up about 0.6% of Parallel Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest position. Parallel Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.06% of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF worth $32,746,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of QUAL. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. raised its position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. now owns 13,062 shares of the companys stock worth $2,541,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 2,517 shares of the companys stock valued at $460,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the period. Atlas Brown Inc. increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Atlas Brown Inc. now owns 2,889 shares of the companys stock valued at $562,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the period. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 4.4% during the third quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 1,375 shares of the companys stock worth $269,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GFG Capital LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 4.3% during the third quarter. GFG Capital LLC now owns 1,442 shares of the companys stock worth $280,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Stock Down 1.5% Shares of QUAL opened at $198.66 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $202.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $197.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.60 billion, a PE ratio of 25.59 and a beta of 1.05. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a 12-month low of $148.34 and a 12-month high of $205.65. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, selected and weighted by high ROE, stable earnings growth and low debt\u002Fequity, relative to peers in each sector. QUAL was launched on Jul 18, 2013 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QUAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Quality 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 Quality Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Regal Partners Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE:INSP Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 101,714 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,547,000. Inspire Medical Systems accounts for approximately 0.5% of Regal Partners Ltds investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest position. Regal Partners Ltd owned 0.35% of Inspire Medical Systems as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp boosted its stake in shares of Inspire Medical Systems by 42.2% during the 2nd quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 40,042 shares of the companys stock worth $5,196,000 after acquiring an additional 11,892 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd raised its stake in Inspire Medical Systems by 553.1% in the 3rd quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 99,049 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,349,000 after acquiring an additional 83,883 shares during the period. CW Advisors LLC raised its stake in Inspire Medical Systems by 45.3% in the 2nd quarter. CW Advisors LLC now owns 49,960 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,484,000 after acquiring an additional 15,576 shares during the period. Capital Fund Management S.A. lifted its holdings in Inspire Medical Systems by 44.1% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Fund Management S.A. now owns 68,663 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,910,000 after purchasing an additional 21,021 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Inspire Medical Systems during the 2nd quarter valued at $31,066,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.91% of the companys stock. Get Inspire Medical Systems alerts: Inspire Medical Systems Stock Performance INSP stock opened at $63.01 on Friday. Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. has a 52 week low of $53.11 and a 52 week high of $189.49. The company has a market capitalization of $1.80 billion, a PE ratio of 12.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 0.74. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $77.16 and its 200 day simple moving average is $87.18. Analyst Ratings Changes Inspire Medical Systems ( NYSE:INSP Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $1.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.96. The business had revenue of $269.08 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $264.02 million. Inspire Medical Systems had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 10.96%. The businesss revenue was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.15 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. will post 2.16 EPS for the current year. Several equities analysts have commented on INSP shares. Morgan Stanley set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Inspire Medical Systems in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Oppenheimer downgraded shares of Inspire Medical Systems from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Inspire Medical Systems in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on shares of Inspire Medical Systems from $95.00 to $85.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $70.00 target price on Inspire Medical Systems and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $104.24. Check Out Our Latest Report on INSP About Inspire Medical Systems (Free Report) Inspire Medical Systems, Inc is a medical technology company specializing in implantable neurostimulation devices for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The companys flagship offering, the Inspire system, delivers targeted stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve to maintain airway patency during sleep, providing an alternative therapy for patients who are intolerant of or inadequately managed by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. The Inspire system comprises an implantable pulse generator, a sensing lead that monitors breathing patterns, and a stimulation lead that activates the hypoglossal nerve. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding INSP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE:INSP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Inspire Medical Systems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Inspire Medical Systems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co., Intuit, Bank of America, Coinbase Global, and Robinhood Markets are the five Financial stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Financial stocks are shares of companies whose primary business is providing financial services for example banks, insurers, brokerages, asset managers, exchanges and other financial institutions. They generate revenue from lending, interest margins, fees, underwriting and trading, and tend to be particularly sensitive to interest-rate moves, credit conditions and regulatory changes, which investors watch when assessing risk and return. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Financial 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. Intuit (INTU) Intuit Inc. provides financial management and compliance products and services for consumers, small businesses, self-employed, and accounting professionals in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Small Business & Self-Employed, Consumer, Credit Karma, and ProTax. Read Our Latest Research Report on INTU 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 Coinbase Global (COIN) Coinbase Global, Inc. provides financial infrastructure and technology for the crypto economy in the United States and internationally. The company offers the primary financial account in the crypto economy for consumers; and a marketplace with a pool of liquidity for transacting in crypto assets for institutions. Read Our Latest Research Report on COIN Robinhood Markets (HOOD) Robinhood Markets, Inc. operates financial services platform in the United States. Its platform allows users to invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), American depository receipts, options, gold, and cryptocurrencies. The company offers fractional trading, recurring investments, fully-paid securities lending, access to investing on margin, cash sweep, instant withdrawals, retirement program, around-the-clock trading, and initial public offerings participation services. Read Our Latest Research Report on HOOD Featured Stories Vinva Investment Management Ltd boosted its position in Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX Free Report) by 83.2% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 124,760 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after buying an additional 56,645 shares during the period. Vinva Investment Management Ltds holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $12,107,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 138,249,447 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $13,497,294,000 after acquiring an additional 1,115,337 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in Boston Scientific by 1.1% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 65,191,864 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $7,002,258,000 after purchasing an additional 713,379 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Boston Scientific by 2.0% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 32,424,982 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $3,466,320,000 after purchasing an additional 622,602 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Boston Scientific in the second quarter worth $2,089,937,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in Boston Scientific by 1.4% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 16,851,518 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $1,810,022,000 after purchasing an additional 226,578 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.07% of the companys stock. Get Boston Scientific alerts: Key Boston Scientific News Here are the key news stories impacting Boston Scientific this week: Boston Scientific Stock Down 2.4% Boston Scientific stock opened at $71.24 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.62. Boston Scientific Corporation has a one year low of $70.75 and a one year high of $109.50. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $85.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of $94.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $105.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 0.69. Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.80 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.78 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $5.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.29 billion. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 14.44% and a return on equity of 19.63%. Boston Scientifics quarterly revenue was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.70 EPS. Boston Scientific has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.780-0.800 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 3.430-3.490 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Boston Scientific Corporation will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have weighed in on BSX shares. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $125.00 to $94.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $120.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Oppenheimer dropped their price objective on shares of Boston Scientific from $125.00 to $100.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 16th. National Bank Financial set a $115.00 target price on shares of Boston Scientific in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, BTIG Research restated a buy rating on shares of Boston Scientific in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $108.36. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BSX Insider Buying and Selling at Boston Scientific In other news, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 160,901 shares of Boston Scientific stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.49, for a total transaction of $15,042,634.49. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 1,411,735 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $131,983,105.15. The trade was a 10.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.50% of the companys stock. About Boston Scientific (Free Report) Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) is a global medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of products used in less-invasive medical procedures. Founded in 1979 by John Abele and Peter Nicholas, the company is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and focuses on technologies that enable physicians to treat a wide range of cardiovascular, digestive, urologic, pulmonary and chronic pain conditions without open surgery. Boston Scientifics activities span product development, clinical research, regulatory affairs and commercial sales. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BSX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Boston Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rathbones Group PLC increased its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 6.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 941,576 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after purchasing an additional 53,073 shares during the period. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing makes up 1.1% of Rathbones Group PLCs portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest position. Rathbones Group PLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $262,973,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Childress Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 145.3% during the 3rd quarter. Childress Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,192 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $891,000 after purchasing an additional 1,891 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC lifted its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 9.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 101,876 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $28,470,000 after acquiring an additional 8,738 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. increased its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 28.6% in the third quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 37,216 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $10,394,000 after acquiring an additional 8,284 shares during the last quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management increased its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 125.3% during the third quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 5,216 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $1,457,000 after buying an additional 2,901 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cherokee Insurance Co bought a new stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,248,000. 16.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing this week: Positive Sentiment: TSMC is accelerating construction of a large mega fab in southern Taiwan to add AI-focused capacity, signaling management expects sustained demand for advanced nodes and positioning TSM for long?term revenue growth. TSMC Speeds Southern Taiwan Mega Fab TSMC is accelerating construction of a large mega fab in southern Taiwan to add AI-focused capacity, signaling management expects sustained demand for advanced nodes and positioning TSM for long?term revenue growth. Positive Sentiment: Broadcom locked in HBM and foundry capacity through 2028, implying multi?year wafer/bookings for TSMC (a committed customer is more revenue visibility and less near?term booking risk). This strengthens the narrative of sticky AI demand. Broadcom Locks Key AI Chip Supply Through 2028 Broadcom locked in HBM and foundry capacity through 2028, implying multi?year wafer/bookings for TSMC (a committed customer is more revenue visibility and less near?term booking risk). This strengthens the narrative of sticky AI demand. Neutral Sentiment: Nvidia has stopped production of China?destined H200 chips and reallocated TSMC capacity toward its next?generation Vera Rubin hardware. That move keeps demand at TSMC but shifts which products/markets drive near?term volumes leaving some short?term uncertainty about node mix and customer concentration. Nvidia refocuses TSMC capacity Nvidia has stopped production of China?destined H200 chips and reallocated TSMC capacity toward its next?generation Vera Rubin hardware. That move keeps demand at TSMC but shifts which products/markets drive near?term volumes leaving some short?term uncertainty about node mix and customer concentration. Neutral Sentiment: Institutional flows: coverage of billionaire managers trimming positions in names like Meta and rotating into other AI plays is broader market color on AI positioning, not TSMC?specific, but it can affect sector momentum and share?price volatility. 7 Preeminent Billionaire Money Managers Dumped Shares of Meta Institutional flows: coverage of billionaire managers trimming positions in names like Meta and rotating into other AI plays is broader market color on AI positioning, not TSMC?specific, but it can affect sector momentum and share?price volatility. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst/market wrap: recent coverage noting TSMC outperformed peers in the latest session and remains valued on strong margins and ROE a reminder that fundamentals are solid even as near?term headlines drive volatility. TSMC (TSM) Exceeds Market Returns Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently weighed in on TSM. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $325.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an outperform rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Friday, January 2nd. UBS Group set a $330.00 price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Sunday, December 7th. Argus raised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research report on Thursday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $391.43. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Price Performance Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing stock opened at $338.27 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $343.05 and a 200-day moving average price of $302.06. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a one year low of $134.25 and a one year high of $390.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.75 trillion, a P/E ratio of 31.76, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 2.62 and a quick ratio of 2.42. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The semiconductor company reported $3.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $30.65 billion during the quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 34.89% and a net margin of 45.13%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 11th will be issued a $0.9503 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 11th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings payout ratio is currently 23.57%. About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (Free Report) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a leading pure-play semiconductor foundry that provides wafer fabrication and related services to the global semiconductor industry. Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, TSMC manufactures integrated circuits on behalf of fabless and integrated device manufacturers, offering contract chip production across a broad set of technologies and products. TSMCs service offering covers logic and mixed-signal process technologies, specialty processes for radio-frequency, power management and embedded memory, and advanced nodes used in mobile, high-performance computing and AI applications. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rathbones Group PLC decreased its position in shares of Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH Free Report) by 9.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 2,968,161 shares of the electronics makers stock after selling 314,695 shares during the period. Amphenol accounts for approximately 1.5% of Rathbones Group PLCs portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest holding. Rathbones Group PLC owned approximately 0.24% of Amphenol worth $367,310,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in APH. Grant Private Wealth Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Amphenol in the 3rd quarter worth about $515,000. DSG Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Amphenol by 230.9% in the 3rd quarter. DSG Capital Advisors LLC now owns 10,688 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $1,323,000 after purchasing an additional 7,458 shares during the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Amphenol by 10.7% during the third quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 271,766 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $33,631,000 after acquiring an additional 26,175 shares during the period. Estate Counselors LLC acquired a new position in Amphenol during the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,831,000. Finally, Regents Gate Capital LLP grew its holdings in Amphenol by 54.8% in the 3rd quarter. Regents Gate Capital LLP now owns 96,908 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $11,992,000 after buying an additional 34,289 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.01% of the companys stock. Get Amphenol alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently commented on APH. US Capital Advisors set a $165.00 price objective on shares of Amphenol in a research note on Friday, January 9th. UBS Group restated a buy rating and issued a $174.00 price objective (up from $152.00) on shares of Amphenol in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $183.00 price objective on shares of Amphenol in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Evercore reissued an outperform rating and set a $165.00 price objective on shares of Amphenol in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on Amphenol from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Amphenol presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $151.38. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Richard Adam Norwitt sold 515,281 shares of Amphenol stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $147.27, for a total transaction of $75,885,432.87. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,927,507 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $283,863,955.89. This trade represents a 21.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 1.67% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Amphenol Stock Down 3.2% NYSE:APH opened at $131.86 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $144.44 and a 200 day simple moving average of $133.79. Amphenol Corporation has a 52-week low of $56.45 and a 52-week high of $167.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 2.48 and a current ratio of 2.98. The company has a market cap of $162.08 billion, a PE ratio of 39.48, a PEG ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 1.20. Amphenol (NYSE:APH Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The electronics maker reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.04. Amphenol had a net margin of 18.49% and a return on equity of 35.57%. The company had revenue of $6.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.55 EPS. Amphenols quarterly revenue was up 49.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Amphenol has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.910-0.930 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Amphenol Corporation will post 2.36 EPS for the current fiscal year. Amphenol Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 23rd will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 23rd. Amphenols dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.94%. Amphenol Company Profile (Free Report) Amphenol Corporation (NYSE: APH) is a leading global manufacturer of electronic and fiber optic connectors, interconnect systems, and related components. The company designs, engineers and produces a broad range of products including electrical connectors, cable assemblies, fiber optic solutions, sensors, antennas and electromechanical devices used to transfer power, signal and data across complex systems. Its product portfolio spans ruggedized connectors for harsh environments to high-speed solutions for data centers and telecommunications networks. Amphenol serves a diverse set of end markets, including automotive, broadband and telecom, data communications, mobile devices, industrial, energy, and military/aerospace. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Amphenol Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amphenol and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rathbones Group PLC cut its holdings in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 5.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 801,879 shares of the companys stock after selling 48,779 shares during the period. Rathbones Group PLCs holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $148,684,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in JNJ. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd raised its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 632.0% during the third quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd now owns 89,183 shares of the companys stock worth $16,536,000 after purchasing an additional 77,000 shares in the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 130,934 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,278,000 after buying an additional 2,769 shares in the last quarter. Guinness Asset Management LTD grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Guinness Asset Management LTD now owns 1,383,195 shares of the companys stock valued at $251,216,000 after buying an additional 5,994 shares during the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 8.3% in the 2nd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 1,234,945 shares of the companys stock valued at $188,638,000 after buying an additional 94,957 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service lifted its position in Johnson & Johnson by 3.2% in the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 4,926,569 shares of the companys stock valued at $913,484,000 after acquiring an additional 151,707 shares during the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 22,623 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $244.33, for a total value of $5,527,477.59. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 26,769 shares in the company, valued at $6,540,469.77. This trade represents a 45.80% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 6,197 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.39, for a total transaction of $1,508,287.83. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 23,003 shares in the company, valued at $5,598,700.17. This represents a 21.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders sold 30,142 shares of company stock worth $7,360,528. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the companys stock. Johnson & Johnson Price Performance Shares of NYSE:JNJ opened at $240.57 on Friday. Johnson & Johnson has a one year low of $141.50 and a one year high of $251.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $579.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.77, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $228.36 and a 200-day simple moving average of $204.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.03. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Saturday, January 31st. The company reported $2.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $24.28 billion for the quarter. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 33.04% and a net margin of 28.46%. On average, analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 EPS for the current year. Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 24th will be paid a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 24th. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 47.06%. Key Headlines Impacting Johnson & Johnson 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 Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $205.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Barclays boosted their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $197.00 to $217.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, December 30th. Leerink Partners raised their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $201.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn boosted their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $180.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $234.87. View Our Latest Report on JNJ Johnson & Johnson Company 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 Stories 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. Vinva Investment Management Ltd increased its holdings in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report) by 19.2% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 90,357 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after buying an additional 14,560 shares during the quarter. Vinva Investment Management Ltds holdings in TJX Companies were worth $12,968,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Lavaca Capital LLC bought a new position in TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in TJX Companies by 102.2% in the third quarter. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC now owns 182 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares during the period. GGM Financials LLC bought a new stake in shares of TJX Companies during the third quarter worth $27,000. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new stake in shares of TJX Companies during the second quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of TJX Companies during the second quarter valued at $32,000. 91.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get TJX Companies alerts: TJX Companies Stock Down 0.8% NYSE:TJX opened at $159.61 on Friday. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $112.10 and a 1-year high of $162.68. The company has a 50-day moving average of $155.30 and a 200 day moving average of $148.65. The firm has a market cap of $177.24 billion, a PE ratio of 32.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.67 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 0.59. TJX Companies Dividend Announcement TJX Companies ( NYSE:TJX Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $17.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.36 billion. TJX Companies had a net margin of 9.10% and a return on equity of 57.70%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.23 EPS. TJX Companies has set its FY 2027 guidance at 4.930-5.020 EPS and its Q1 2027 guidance at 0.970-0.990 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 12th were paid a dividend of $0.425 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 12th. This represents a $1.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 34.84%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently commented on TJX. Wells Fargo & Company restated a positive rating and issued a $150.00 price target (up from $145.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $162.00 price objective (up from $159.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b+) rating on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Telsey Advisory Group upped their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Guggenheim raised shares of TJX Companies to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty-two have given a Buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, TJX Companies currently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $167.55. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on TJX Companies Insider Transactions at TJX Companies In related news, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 30,000 shares of TJX Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.95, for a total transaction of $4,828,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 479,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $77,145,910.20. This trade represents a 5.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About TJX Companies (Free Report) TJX Companies, Inc is a leading off-price retailer of apparel, footwear, home fashions and other consumer goods. The company operates multiple retail concepts that offer discounted brand-name and designer merchandise, including well-known banners such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls in the United States, HomeGoods for home furnishings, TK Maxx in parts of Europe, and Winners and Homesense in Canada. Merchandise categories span womens, mens and childrens apparel, accessories, beauty, home decor, kitchenware and small furniture, with frequent changes in assortment that create a treasure-hunt shopping experience for consumers. The companys business model centers on opportunistic buying, purchasing excess, irregular or out-of-season inventory from manufacturers, department stores and other suppliers, and passing savings to customers through lower prices. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TJX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TJX Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TJX Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Context . . . Actually, the comparison might not be apt because some of the most memorable and powerful civil rights era protests were from ADULT COLLEGE STUDENTS OVER 18 and the Kansas crackdown is aimed at high school student youngsters. But here's the question posed by prog bloggers . . . DOES THE PROPOSED KANSAS CRACKDOWN AGAINST STUDENT WALKOUTS VIOLATE FREE SPEECH?!?! There actually is a bit of precedent for this and it's worth considering . . . TKC isn't a lawyer but we have some knowledge about free speech issues and we'd advise anyone who wants to engage in reasonable debate to look up two legal contradictions . . . A case that seems to affirm student expression . . . Tinker v. Des Moines - Landmark Supreme Court Ruling on Behalf of Student Expression And then a more recent setback for student expression . . . Supreme Court rejects appeal of Massachusetts student who wanted to wear only two genders T-shirt And then before JoCo parents get too worked up . . . Any walkout ban might earn an injunction and the issue probably won't be settled until current student protesters are already out school and looking for their first barista job. Here's the progressive sentiment on the topic after some parents are more concerned about safety than drumming up support for the midterms . . . "Its easy to recognize some aspects of those 1960s student protests in the anti-ICE protests of today. When power seems indifferent to justice, one recourse is to take to the streets with signs and bullhorns in the hope of creating enough visual and aural noise to make a difference in the things that matter. You know, the things that are supposed to matter in a democracy justice, equality, fairness and an end to foolish wars. Its a lesson each generation must learn for itself, or else risk losing the freedom to speak and act. "That kind of freedom makes the would-be despots among us nervous. "Now let us to turn to the Kansas Senate, which may be free of would-be despots but has plenty of confirmed quislings among the GOP supermajority. On March 3, the Senate voted 21-18 in favor of an amendment to punish school districts for student walkouts. The amendment, tacked onto a 364-page appropriations bill, would require parental permission for students to participate in protests and would impose harsh financial penalties for school districts found to have improperly encouraged or facilitated a walkout. The fine would be equivalent of the district superintendents salary for each day of a walkout, which for larger districts could be more than $200,000." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . 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 8. President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the conditions created for the evacuation of French citizens from Iran via Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Macron said this during a telephone conversation with President Ilham Aliyev. President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the phone call and the solidarity shown. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 9. Azerbaijans national judo team has delivered an outstanding performance at the Grand Prix Upper Austria 2026 held in the city of Linz, securing a total of four medals, Trend reports. On the final day of the competition, heavyweights Dzhamal Gamzatkhanov (+100 kg) clinched a bronze medal, after a decisive victory over Georgian representative Irakli Demetrashvili. Earlier, Ruslan Pashayev earned the top podium spot in the mens 66kg weight division, while Vusal Galandarzade (81kg) won a silver, and Omar Rajabli (81kg), added another bronze to the tally. With one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, Azerbaijan secured third place overall among 59 countries. Notably, the mens squad led the field, finishing first in their division. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. A delegation from Azerbaijan has visited the city of Abidjan in the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan was led by Deputy Minister Yalchin Rafiyev, while the delegation of SOCAR was headed by the companys President Rovshan Najaf. As part of the visit, Yalchin Rafiyev held a one-on-one meeting with Niale Kaba, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Diaspora of Cote d'Ivoire. During the meeting, the sides noted that relations between Azerbaijan and Cote d'Ivoire are developing in the spirit of partnership, highlighting broad opportunities for expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Subsequently, the first political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries took place. The consultations, held under the leadership of the deputy ministers, were attended by the respective ambassadors and representatives of both sides. During the political consultations, reference was made to the effective and constructive relations within international platforms, and the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation was emphasized. The sides also exchanged views on their foreign policy priorities, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. It was noted that the developing political relations between the two countries create a favorable basis for strengthening cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, digital technologies, agriculture, and humanitarian and cultural spheres. During the visit, SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf also held meetings with the leadership of Cote d'Ivoires Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, as well as with the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons and the national oil company PETROCI. The discussions focused on prospects for cooperation in the energy sector, including the implementation of joint projects in the oil and gas industry, investment opportunities, and energy security issues. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. Chairman of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has telephoned Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova, the parliamentary press service told Trend. The telephone conversation addressed the processes taking place in the region. Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani expressed concerns over the drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran on Azerbaijan and let it be known that he condemns these assaults. He said that the State of Pakistan always stands with Azerbaijan. Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova expressed gratitude for the support and solidarity. There was also an exchange of views during the telephone conversation as to deepening the co-operation between the parliaments further in the context of the tense processes unfolding in the world. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8.On March 8, Ahmed Attaf, Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethnic Communities Abroad and Africa of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, called Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. During the talks, the ministers exchanged views on regional and international security issues and addressed Iranian drone attacks on Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani side condemned the attacks as unacceptable and directed against the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, providing details on measures taken in response. Algerian Minister Ahmed Attaf expressed concern over the situation, underlined the unacceptability of escalating tensions, and emphasized the importance of resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with international law. He also reaffirmed Algerias solidarity with Azerbaijan. The ministers also discussed prospects for the further development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Algeria. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. On March 8, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neinski called Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The ministers discussed the recent security situation in the region, including Irans drone strikes on Azerbaijani territory. Minister Neinski condemned the attacks, expressed concern over the situation, and stressed the importance of maintaining regional stability. She also thanked Azerbaijan for its assistance in the transit of Bulgarian citizens from Iran. During the call, the ministers reviewed the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, and exchanged views on energy security, regional relations, and collaboration within international organizations. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. On March 8, Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen called Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. During the telephone conversation, the ministers exchanged views on growing regional tensions. Minister Bayramov provided detailed information on Irans drone attacks against Azerbaijan and the security situation, emphasizing that these actions are unacceptable and violate the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity. Minister Berendsen expressed concern over the situation, strongly condemned the attacks, and stressed the importance of maintaining regional stability. He also thanked Azerbaijan for its assistance in the prompt evacuation of Dutch citizens. The ministers discussed prospects for further development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands, as well as other regional and international issues of mutual interest. At work, Joey Wat is known as the Chief Executive Officer of Yum China. At home, shes known as the chicken killer by her son. In reality, its a monicker that has to do with the success of KFC Chinaone of the companys many fast food brands including Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. Speaking at the 2024 Fortune Global Forum, Wat said KFC China kills 1 billion chickens per year. To put that figure into context, the country is home to 1.4 billion people, and according to Wat, they eat 8 billion chickens per yearmeaning KFC China accounts for a substantial part of the lean protein consumed. The secret behind its popularity isnt just a slick marketing team or even AI. Instead, Wat revealed that she personally sits in KFC restaurants for two, three hours watching customers eatand its inspired some of the companys biggest hits. So apparently, when kids eat the fried chicken, they eat it with the mashed potato, she said, adding that Gen Zers were literally dipping their drumsticks into the side dish and then again into the gravy pot. What we can do with that insight is get rid of the bone, she said, adding that they went on to launch a boneless mash potato burger. Oh my God, it was selling so well because this is (the) kids way. Putting smelly fruit on pizza Its not the first time watching customers eating habits turned out to be fruitful: The best-selling pizza for Pizza Hut in China right now is not Supreme (loaded with pepperoni, pork, beef, mushrooms, peppers and onions). Its durian pizza with cheese. The Southeast Asian fruit is so pungent that its banned in many areas on public transportation, hotels and airports. It has such [a] strong smell, Wat said. [If] you come to the store [and] you dont like the durian pizza, our solution is, please go out. Thank God we did not need approval from Yum! the brand owner, she added. Becoming an independent company in 2016, meant that Wats team didnt need to convince people in New York or Texas or Kentucky that the grassroots idea would take off. You can imagine it [would] be absolutely impossible. The real-time insight again, proved to be valuable. One in every four pizzas sold at Pizza Hut right now is the durian-kind. Last year alone, it sold 30 million pies. Just watch with heart, Wat concluded. Some things you can observe directly from the customer and sometimes talking to the store manager helps. This discussion was presented by Insigniam. Discussion leaders included: Patrick Geraghty, President and CEO, GuideWell Javier Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer, DaVita Nathan Rosenberg, Founder, Insigniam; Partner, Elixrr Joey Wat, Chief Executive Officer, Yum China Moderator: Matt Heimer, Executive Editor, Features, Fortune and Co-Chair, Fortune Global Forum 30 BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. On March 8, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his visit to the Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan to offer condolences over the passing of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, and numerous civilians, as well as for his intention to provide humanitarian aid to Iran. Noting that the incident involving airstrike on Nakhchivan had no connection with Iran, President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that the incident would be investigated. President Ilham Aliyev once again expressed his condolences over the death of numerous civilians in the recent events in Iran. The Azerbaijani President underlined the importance of investigating the incident that occurred in Nakhchivan. During the telephone conversation, the heads of state exchanged views on the development prospects of joint economic projects. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. Due to the temporary suspension of flights at Nakhchivan International Airport, trips from Baku to the Turkish city of Igdr are being organized to ensure Azerbaijani citizens can travel between the capital and Nakhchivan, the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency told Trend. According to the agency, passenger transportation between Igdr and Nakhchivan is being provided free of charge on specially designated buses operated by the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency. Seven large-capacity buses are being used to transport passengers between the Nakhchivan bus station and Igdr Airport in both directions. Reserve vehicles have also been allocated for the service. From March 5 to the present, a total of 34 flights have been operated, transporting 1,442 passengers between Nakhchivan and Igdr. The process is ongoing. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Science and Education department tenders enterprise IT setups The Department for Informatization of the Education System under Azerbaijan's Ministry of Science and Education has announced a tender for the procurement of Enterprise IT infrastructures. Companies interested in participating must submit their proposals by the specified deadline. Access to paid information is limited If You already have an account, please log in Login Register 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 8. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a missile attack on US forces at the Arifjan air base in Kuwait, Trend reports. The IRGC stated that several precision-guided missile strikes were carried out on the American contingent at the Arifjan base. There are no reports of possible material damage or casualties as a result of the attack. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched a new series of large-scale attacks on targets in Tehran and other areas of Iran, Trend reports citing the IDF press service. In a statement, the Israeli military said it carried out extensive strikes against facilities belonging to the Iranian regime in Tehran and several other regions of the country. Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East. The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive. In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family. Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. Iran reportedly fired on the U.S. Al-Adiri helicopter base in Kuwait, Trend reports, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the IRGC, the attack, carried out using ballistic missiles and drones, targeted the base's fuel depots, aircraft and helicopters, and a command center. Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East. The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive. In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family. Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. The Iranian Assembly of Experts has reached a consensus on the appointment of the Supreme Leader, Seyed Ahmad Alamol-Khoda, a member of the Assembly, announced, Trend reports. According to Alamol-Khoda, the election of the Supreme Leader was conducted by the Assembly of Experts. He added that all current responsibilities lie with the Secretariat of the Assembly, headed by Seyed Hashim Husseini Bushehri, who will formally announce the Assemblys decision. Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East. The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive. In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family. Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. Since February 28, U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran have damaged 9,669 non-military facilities, Trend reports citing Iranian Red Crescent Chairman Pirhossein Kolivand. According to Kolivand, the attacks affected 7,943 apartments and 1,617 commercial properties. The strikes also damaged 32 medical facilities and treatment centers, 65 schools, 15 rescue vehicles, and 13 ambulances. A local government official reported that 11 health workers were killed and 33 others were injured during the attacks. Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East. The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive. In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family. Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. Over the past several hours, the Iranian military has reportedly used drones to strike the American Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, an ammunition depot, air defense systems, and designated targets in the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, Trend reports. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has fired missiles at various targets in the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Beersheba, as well as at the U.S. Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, Trend reports citing the IRGC. According to available information, the IRGC has begun implementing the 28th phase of Operation True Promise 4. Following the 2nd round of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S. increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East. The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations were viewed as the final chance to strike a deal diplomatically. However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country's Defense Minister Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive. In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Irans Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family. Additionally, several of Irans most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had detected new missile launches from Iran, Trend reports citing the IDF press service. According to the statement, the central part of the country came under shelling for the first time since the start of the day, with air raid warnings issued in many areas. Sirens were heard in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas. Shortly after the alarm was sounded, reports of an explosion were received. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The US administration has no plans to send ground troops to Iran yet, US President Donald Trump said in response to a journalist's question about the possibility of using the US military to seize Iranian oil facilities or nuclear fuel storage facilities, Trend reports. He added that this could happen in the future. "We won't do this now, but maybe we will later," he said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 8. US President Donald Trump considers it possible to change Iran's borders after the end of the conflict, Trump says to reporters on board his plane, Trend reports. Asked whether the map of Iran would look the same after the conflict ended, the American leader replied: "I can't tell you that. Probably not." Russians are currently on a cautious pause in the northern Kharkiv region. According to Ukrinform, Viktor Tregubov, head of the Communications Department of the Joint Forces Task Force, announced this on television. It is in the northern Kharkiv region that they are currently on a cautious pause. In the northern Kharkiv region, Russian forces are attempting to advance in Sotnytskyi Kozachok and other areas. That is where they are still active, he noted. Responding to a question about the overall operational situation in the Kharkiv region, the spokesman said that on Saturday, there were no clashes in most areas. Regarding the Russians' operational pause, he said they are currently experiencing a quiet period that the enemy is using, in particular, to restore its offensive potential. The fact that the Russians are currently unable to carry out any effective offensive actions or even attempt any effective infiltrations is evidence that they are either taking a pause to regroup or that they have suffered certain losses and are now trying to recover, Tregubov said. The spokesman said that personnel and equipment are now being accumulated in the Velykyi Burluk, Southern, and Northern Slobozhanshchyna sectors. He separately noted that the situation in Lyptsi actually has almost no impact on the overall situation in that sector. The intensity there is low now; they are trying to renew it from time to time, Tregubov said. As reported by Ukrinform, the number of combat clashes in the Kharkiv region and in the Lyman sector has significantly decreased in recent weeks. Photo: Facebook\Tregubov On the night of March 8, unmanned aerial systems (SBS) struck a number of enemy targets in the Russian-occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson regions, including warehouses, Tor air defense systems, and R-330Zh Zhytel electronic warfare systems. According to Ukrinform, SBS Commander Robert Madiar Brovdi reported this on Facebook and released a video of the combat operation. Tor is no longer Zhytel. Air defense systems, R-330Zh Zhytel electronic warfare systems, and UAV warehouses. On the night of March 8, SBS birds were non-stop, Brovdi said. Original source: Official channel of the Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine According to him, "the Special Operations Forces spent the night hunting targets in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson regions. TOR air defense systems, R-330Zh Zhytel electronic warfare systems (detection and correction of the Skhid rocket system), enemy UAV depots, fuel and lubricant depots, and Logistical support (LS) depots... the list of night targets is endless." The targets were engaged by pilots of the 1st Separate SBC Center and the 9th Battalion Kairos of the 414th Separate Brigade Madiar Birds using Ukrainian-made FP-2 middle strike missiles with a warhead weighing 60-100 kg. Read also: Air Defense Forces destroy 98 drones used by Russians to attack Ukraine As reported by Ukrinform, fighters of the Raid regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck a North Korean M-1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery unit in the Oleksandrivka direction. Illustrative photo: mod.gov.ua Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Heorhii Tykhyi responded to Peter Szijjarto, Hungarys foreign minister, who had questioned whose interests Ukrainian cash collectors were serving while transporting funds in transit through Hungarian territory. According to Ukrinform, Tykhyi wrote about this on the social media platform X. In Ukraine we say: . Meaning A guilty conscience needs no accuser. This is exactly the case, the post reads. Earlier, Szijjarto suggested in his own post that the funds might have been intended for someone in Hungary, hinting at the Hungarian opposition. We are waiting for the return of the stolen funds and are preparing concrete legal action. And we will also demand justice and accountability, Tykhyi wrote. Read also: Oschadbank demands Hungary return its illegally seized assets and valuables As reported, on the night of March 6, Andrii Sybiha, Ukraines Foreign Minister, said that Hungarian authorities in Budapest had taken seven Ukrainian citizens employees of Oschadbank hostage and seized the money they were transporting. According to him, the seven Oschadbank employees were traveling in two bank vehicles in transit between Austria and Ukraine, carrying cash as part of routine servicing between state-owned banks. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. Wang answered questions of journalists from home and abroad on China's foreign policy and external relations. Here are some highlights from the press conference. On head of state diplomacy Heads-of-state diplomacy is the anchor of Chinese diplomacy. On China-Russia ties China-Russia relations remain "as steady as rock" despite test of winds, rains. On APEC China is committed to translating the goal of building an Asia-Pacific community into concrete action and turning the blueprint into reality as it hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, this year. On U.S.-Iran conflict China calls for an immediate stop to military operations in the Middle East to prevent further escalation and avoid the spillover of the conflict. On global governance Over 150 countries and international organizations have voiced support for the Global Governance Initiative; Leading status of the UN must be strengthened, not weakened. On China-U.S. ties China and the U.S. can't change each other, but can change how they get along; China is always committed and open to cooperation with the U.S.. On neighborhood diplomacy China always places neighboring region a priority in its diplomatic agenda. On China-Europe ties China-Europe relations have been regaining strength; China is not a competitor but a global partner. On China-Africa ties For 70 years, China-Africa friendship has withstood changes in international circumstances. On globalization Pursuing protectionism is akin to locking oneself in a dark room; Principle is to leave no country behind, pathway is for countries to draw on each other's strengths. On China-Japan ties The future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan's choice On South China Sea Peace, cooperation and friendship should be the new narrative in the South China Sea. On China-India relations SCO Tianjin Summit brought about further improvement in China-India relations On Taiwan question Taiwan has been an integral part of China since ancient times; Taiwan's DPP is the root cause of disruption to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. On community with shared future for mankind Our enemies are not each other, they are poverty, war, hunger and injustice. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home How Masjid Nabawi expansions boosted comfort, capacity for millions of visitors Since the beginning of the Saudi era, Masjid e Nabawi, the Prophets Mosque, has undergone a series of major expansions aimed at facilitating the movement of worshippers and visitors. Madinah al Munawwarah: Since the beginning of the Saudi era, Masjid e Nabawi, the Prophets Mosque, has undergone a series of major expansions aimed at facilitating the movement of worshippers and visitors. The Masjid Nabawi expansion provided larger spaces for prayer while preserving The Prophet Mosques Islamic architectural character and spiritual atmosphere. Masjid Nabawi Expansion Timeline 1. The first Saudi era expansion of Masjid Nabawi began in 1952 (1372 AH) that continued until 1955 (1375 AH). During this period, around 16,326 square meters were added to the mosque, increasing its capacity to nearly 28,000 worshippers to accommodate the growing number of visitors. 2. The second expansion of Masjid Nabawi by the current government was launched in 1985 (1406 AH) and completed in 1994 (1414 AH). It encompassed the main building, the roof, and the surrounding courtyards. Upon completion, the total area of the mosque reached roughly 300,000 square meters, with a capacity of around 698,000 worshippers, enabling the mosque to welcome large crowds during peak seasons. 3. In the modern era, the largest expansion to the Prophets Mosque since the start of the Saudi era, was launched in 2012 (1433 AH) as part of the third Saudi expansion of the two holy mosques. The third expansion has marked the biggest development in the history of both the Grand Mosque and the Prophets Mosque. This project has elevated the capacity of the Prophets Mosque to around 1.8 million worshippers. It included the development of surrounding courtyards, infrastructure, and service facilities in accordance with the latest engineering standards. The expansion added wide corridors, modern amenities, shaded areas and prayer spaces to enhance the comfort and convenience of worshippers, including people with disabilities. Under the reign of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Kingdom has continued its dedicated care for the Two Holy Mosques, including his directive to complete the third Saudi expansion of the two mosques and his inauguration of major development projects. His ongoing support, care, and continuous oversight reflect the commitment of the Kingdoms leadership, upheld since the founding of the nation, to the maintenance and development of the two holy mosques. This ongoing attention reflects Saudi Arabias long-standing care for the Two Holy Mosques since the era of the founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, and carried forward by his sons to serve Islam and Muslims worldwide. These successive expansions demonstrate Saudi Arabias commitment to serving pilgrims and visitors through expanded prayer areas, upgraded infrastructure, and enhanced services. Today, the Prophets Mosque stands as one of the largest mosques in the world, welcoming millions of worshippers and visitors throughout the year, and embodying a harmonious blend of historical depth and modern development. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic The Rome Life Hack You Need to Know: Free Bikes and Scooters with Your ATAC Annual Pass. If you hold an annual ATAC Metrebus pass and you are not already using Lime, Dott and Bird for free, you are leaving significant money on the table every single day. The scheme, which has been running since 2023 but remains surprisingly little known among both expats and long-term residents, entitles annual pass holders to up to three free rides of thirty minutes each, per operator, per day. That is a potential nine free rides daily across the three operators combined, covering electric scooters and e-bikes in virtually every neighbourhood of the city. The initiative is part of a broader push by Roma Capitale to integrate shared micromobility with the public transport network, reducing reliance on private cars and filling the gaps that buses, trams and metro lines cannot realistically cover. In urban planning terms it is called last-mile coverage. In practical terms, it means you can walk out of Termini, unlock a Lime e-bike, and ride to your front door without paying a cent beyond your annual subscription. Up to nine free thirty-minute rides per day are available to annual Metrebus pass holders across Lime, Dott and Bird combined. Most people in Rome do not know this exists. What You Get and Who Qualifies The benefit is available exclusively to holders of an annual Metrebus pass, either the Rome Zone A annual pass or the broader Metrebus Lazio annual pass. Monthly pass holders are not eligible for the free rides under this scheme, though the city council approved a separate voucher arrangement for monthly subscribers in mid-2025 worth 35 euros per month to be spent with a single sharing operator of their choice. For annual pass holders, the benefit across each of the three operators is the same: three free rides per day, each lasting up to thirty minutes. Rides beyond thirty minutes, or a fourth ride in a single day with the same operator, are charged at standard rates. The benefit runs for the full duration of your annual pass and renews when your pass renews, subject to the activation procedures described below. Important: The current rules cap free rides at three per day per operator as a result of negotiations between Roma Capitale and the three operators in 2024. Earlier versions of the scheme offered unlimited free rides, but that was revised after operators flagged sustainability concerns. In central Rome, between 60 and 70 percent of all sharing rides were being made by pass holders under the unlimited model. The Three Operators: What Each Offers and How to Activate 1. Lime: Bikes and Scooters, Activate Once for the Year Lime operates both electric scooters and e-bikes in Rome, identifiable by their distinctive green and white livery. For annual Metrebus pass holders, Lime offers the most convenient activation process of the three operators: you do it once, and it covers you for the entire year of your pass. To activate the Lime benefit, you need to apply through the Lime Transit Program, which is Lime's dedicated scheme for public transport pass holders in cities around the world. You will need to provide your annual Metrebus pass documentation including a photo of the pass and the purchase receipt, along with a valid identity document. Lime reviews applications and, once approved, activates the benefit on your account. From that point, your three daily free thirty-minute rides are available automatically every day until your pass expires. 1. Download the Lime app or ensure you have an existing Lime account. 2. Visit the Lime Transit Program application page. 3. Submit your annual Metrebus pass documentation: a photo of the pass, the purchase or renewal receipt, and a valid identity document showing your name. 4. Wait for Lime to review and approve your application. Approval is typically within a few days. 5. Once approved, your free rides activate automatically. No further action needed until your annual pass expires. Lime Transit Program application Lime app (App Store) Lime app (Google Play) 2. Dott: Bikes and Scooters, Activate Monthly Dott operates both electric scooters and e-bikes and is the second of the three operators available to Metrebus annual pass holders. The Dott activation process is the most involved of the three because it must be renewed each month. You fill in the form, wait for activation (which can take anywhere from one day to a week depending on demand), and then enjoy free rides for that calendar month. When the month ends, you repeat the process. The monthly renewal requirement is the main drawback of the Dott scheme compared to Lime. However, once you are in the habit of renewing at the start of each month, the process takes only a few minutes. Dott also has an active presence across Rome's neighbourhoods and its e-bikes in particular are well regarded by regular users. 1. Download the Dott app and create an account if you do not already have one. 2. Visit dottpartners.com/user/home or open the Dott app and navigate to active agreements for your city. 3. Select the ATAC option under active city agreements. 4. Enter your personal details and your Metrebus pass information, including a photo of the pass number and the purchase or renewal receipt. 5. Submit the form. You will receive updates by email. Activation typically takes between one and four working days. 6. Once activated, your three daily free rides are available for that month. Repeat the process at the start of each new month. Dott partners activation portal Dott app (App Store) Dott app (Google Play) 3. Bird: Scooters Only, Activate Once then Renew with One Tap Bird operates electric scooters only in Rome and does not offer e-bikes. Its activation process sits between Lime and Dott in terms of convenience. Like Lime, the initial setup is done once. Unlike Lime, the benefit requires a single tap at the end of each month to renew, rather than being entirely automatic. The renewal takes seconds and does not require re-submitting any documentation. Bird's scooter-only limitation means it is less flexible than Lime or Dott for riders who prefer e-bikes. However, for scooter users Bird is a reliable option and the one-tap monthly renewal makes it significantly less cumbersome than Dott's full monthly reactivation process. 1. Download the Bird app and create an account. 2. Navigate to the ATAC Metrebus pass holder scheme within the app or via Bird's support page. 3. Submit your annual pass documentation: pass photo, purchase receipt and identity document. 4. Wait for activation. Once confirmed, your three daily free rides are available. 5. At the end of each month, open the app and tap once to renew. No form to resubmit. Bird ATAC Metrebus scheme details Bird app (App Store) Bird app (Google Play) A Word of Warning: The Scheme Has Had Problems This would not be a complete guide without an honest account of the difficulties that have plagued the scheme since its launch. The initiative has been the subject of an investigation by Italy's competition authority, the Autorita Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato, which launched a formal inquiry in late 2025 after large numbers of users reported difficulty activating the benefit. Lime, Dott and Bird were all inspected by the authority, with the Guardia di Finanza attending the raids. The most common complaint has been account deactivation. Users who believed they had parked correctly reported having their accounts suspended by operators citing improper parking, a pattern that Roma Servizi per la Mobilita investigated after it became too widespread to ignore. Additionally, activation requests have at times taken far longer than the published timelines, and some users have reported applications being rejected without clear explanation. The situation has improved since the formal investigation began, but it is worth being persistent if your activation is delayed. The Roma Mobilita website and the operators' own support channels are the first ports of call for problems. If your account is deactivated without a clear or valid reason, you can file a complaint directly with Roma Servizi per la Mobilita. Worth knowing: the current concession awarded to Lime, Dott and Bird expires in autumn 2026. The terms of any new tender may change the structure of the free rides benefit significantly. The scheme as described in this article reflects the rules currently in force. Official Resources and Further Information The official Roma Mobilita page covering shared micromobility in Rome is the most reliable source for up-to-date information on the scheme, including any changes to activation procedures or operator rules. Roma Mobilita sharing page (official) Official PDF guide for annual Metrebus pass holders ATAC annual pass purchase and renewal Rome has 13,500 shared scooters and e-bikes on its streets. If you hold an annual Metrebus pass, a significant portion of those rides are already paid for. It takes twenty minutes to set up all three operators. After that, getting around the city will never feel quite the same. Ph: BalkansCat / Shutterstock.com Last year marked the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel OConnell. Born at Carhen, near Cahirciveen, County Kerry, on August 6, 1775, he was to dominate Irish politics from the 1820s until his death in May 1847. His greatest achievement was securing, after many years of political campaigning, Catholic Emancipation in 1829, by which Catholics were admitted to offices of state from which they had been excluded because of their religious beliefs. These offices included senior government positions, judgeships and membership of Parliament. It was an important milestone in the attainment of equality by Irelands predominantly Catholic population and for this OConnell was hailed as The Liberator. In the 1840s, he turned his attention to Repeal the restoration of an Irish Parliament, which had been abolished by the Act of Union in 1800. It was his deeply held conviction that only a native Irish Parliament could address the countrys many economic and social problems. OConnell declared that 1843 would be the Year of Repeal. His intention was to intimidate the British government into conceding his demands by organising a series of huge political gatherings around the country. This would show the queens ministers the immense popularity that he and his cause enjoyed. Between March and October, he spoke at 31 of them. They quickly became known as monster meetings, such were the crowds in attendance. Waterford monster meeting Waterford was the venue for one of these assemblies on July 9, 1843. It was, almost certainly, the biggest gathering ever witnessed for a single event in the citys long history. The inhabitants of city and county were joined by vast crowds from adjoining counties. Boats of every description ferried people from New Ross, Duncannon and Carrick-on-Suir. Representatives from Kilkenny City arrived with three bands. They joined people from Callan, Stoneyford, Carrigeen and Mooncoin. Alderman Thomas Meagher was Mayor of Waterford in 1843. Five thousand men came from Castlecomer, led by a band. Supporters from Wexford Town arrived in very large numbers. The city was en fete, with decorations and displays throughout. Triumphal arches of the most colossal proportions were constructed at the principal entrances and thoroughfares. One stood at the entrance from the Manor to Beresford (now Parnell) Street. Two enormous trees composed the pillars, which were wreathed from the base upwards with laurels, relieved at intervals with garlands of roses and flowers. On the Hill of Ballybricken, the actual site of the meeting, stood a splendid may-pole, over 100 feet high, on top of which there was a green flag with the word REPEAL emblazoned on it. Pre-meeting procession Historian Gary Owens has described every monster meeting as nothing less than a dramatic performance in three acts, the first one of which was a huge procession. At the Waterford meeting, such a procession left the city to meet OConnell halfway between Waterford and Kilmacthomas, from where The Liberator had set out at 10 oclock that morning. The vast concourse was led by the various trades of the city, including bricklayers, stone cutters, coopers, tailors and ship wrights. Each group marched behind a banner with an inscription on it. The salters, who played a pivotal role in the bacon trade, had a banner of green satin, trimmed in white, on which was written this (unexceptional) verse: We tread the land that bore us The green flag flutters ore us The friends we tried are by our side And Repeal is on before us. The procession also included over one hundred vehicles of many sorts and 30 bands. On meeting OConnell, the crowd marched back to the city. Such were the crowds and attendant excitement that OConnell did not arrive at the meeting place in Ballybricken until five in the afternoon. Pre-democratic age The overwhelming majority of those who participated in the procession, either as participants or observers, did not have the right to vote. In the 1841 general election, there were 2,040 (male only) electors in Waterford, in a city and county recording a population of 198,187 in that same year. In a pre-democratic age the procession allowed non-voters to engage in the Repeal campaign and thus show their support for OConnell. The procession was street theatre, with a serious purpose. Politics met Spraoi in a dramatic and massive manifestation of loyalty to the Liberator. By such manifestations, did he intend to intimidate the government into restoring Irelands Parliament. Meeting at Ballybricken The meeting at Ballybricken was the second act in the drama that was a monster meeting. A number of local speakers addressed the crowd. The most important was the mayor, Alderman Thomas Meagher (father of Thomas Francis Meagher). In his speech he repeated a key message of the Repeal campaign: the poverty and degradation of Ireland would only be mitigated by the restoration of an Irish Parliament. Unsurprisingly, OConnell was greeted by enthusiastic and prolonged cheering and applause when he rose to speak. In the course of his words to his adoring followers he emphasised another key element of the Repeal movement: the strict adherence to peaceful means. There could never be any recourse to violence, declaring that the surest way to carry Repeal was to be always in the right. Banquet in City Hall When the meeting was over, it was time for the third act of the political drama of the monster meeting the banquet. This was held in the Large Room (now the Dr Mary Strangman Large Room) of City Hall. The Dr Mary Strangman Large Room at Waterford's City Hall - venue of the banquet held in 1843. This venue was lavishly and dramatically decorated for the occasion. Laurel arches, festooned with roses, lilies and other flowers stood along the walls. And from these same walls hung banners. Over the door were huge flags bearing various inscriptions, including: Waterford 1826, a reference to the famous election of that year in which Henry Villiers Stuart, a supporter of Catholic Emancipation, defeated a candidate in opposition to it, Lord George Beresford. Clare 1828, remembered OConnells election to Parliament, while another inscription proclaimed, Repeal 1843. The Liberator sat beneath a canopy of laurel wreaths and roses, bearing the word Repeal, and constructed under the rooms great window. He once again delivered a speech, affirming that 1843 would see the restoration of an Irish Parliament. Read More Waterford neglected by foreign direct investment The banquet had, by far, the smallest attendance in comparison to the other elements of the monster meeting the procession and the gathering in Ballybricken. It was composed of the principal middle class supporters of OConnell in Waterford and adjoining counties. In a time before universal suffrage, men engaged in land ownership, the professions and business, and, crucially, with the right to vote, gave leadership at local level to the Repeal movement. Their involvement was crucial to any prospect of success. Without them, and the Catholic priesthood, there would have been no meaningful political structures that were essential to the organisation of monster meetings throughout the country. The banquet afforded an opportunity for local cadres of middle-class leaders to engage with The Liberator and for him to affirm the importance of their role. Clontarf meeting However, 1843 was not to be the OConnells self-proclaimed Year of Repeal. A monster meeting planned for Clontarf, near Dublin, in October, was banned by the British government. Fearing bloodshed, and consistent with his belief in peaceful methods, OConnell called it off. The governments action confirmed its resolution, reiterated at intervals during the year, not to concede Repeal. Such a concession would have altered dramatically the constitutional architecture between Ireland and Britain, constructed by the Act of Union. This was a vista the queens ministers considered too appalling to contemplate. How many attended the meeting? How many people actually attended the monster meeting in Waterford on July 9, 1843? According to the Waterford Chronicle, 500,000 people were present. This is an extraordinary and exaggerated figure. The Chronicle is not an entirely reliable source: it was an ardent supporter of OConnells Repeal campaign and consequently partial in its coverage of all matters relating to the Liberator. It stated that eight hundred attended the banquet in the Large Room. While the newspaper admitted that the event was inconveniently crowded, this number is also an exaggeration. Figures were inflated to present OConnell and the support he enjoyed in the most favourable light. The actual number in attendance was certainly very significant. It attracted attendees not only from Waterford City and County, but from Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford. This made the meeting a regional affair. A more reasonable and correct figure for the attendance at the monster meeting is one likely between 250,00 and 300,000, though it is still an estimate. The fact is that the actual number will never be known. Whatever the exact attendance, the monster meeting in Waterford attracted the greatest crowd in the citys long history. The year 2025 marked the 100-year anniversary of the election of the first Labour Mayor of Waterford. Richard Keane was elected as mayor in 1925 and his descendants have kept his memory alive by researching his life and celebrating his mayoral role since. Two of his grandchildren, Marie and Tony, sat down with Waterford News & Star to tell us about this amazing Waterford man and his enduring legacy. Childhood When Richard Keane was four months old, his family moved to 126 Morrissons Road, where he spent his life. He lost his mother when he was five and at the age of nine, his father. He went to work at the Post Office before taking employment as a labourer on the Waterford-Limerick railway. And it was this work that led him to what might be his most well-known role as a trade union organiser in the infant labour movement. Labour Movement in Ireland Workers like dockers and railwaymen in Ireland began organising from 1889 onwards with the establishment of the Irish Trade Union Congress (ITCU) in 1894. The Irish Transport and General Workers Union was founded in 1909. ITCU formed a political wing in 1912 and became the Irish Labour Party and Trade Union Congress, with the two separating in 1930. But it was in 1911 when Richard Keane found himself leading the charge. Activist Richard Keane was a hard worker and that quality led him to rise through the ranks at the railway to become a Yard Foreman in the traffic department, middle management, Tony explains. And somehow or other, he got involved in the early trade union movement. (Marie said he brought it in) which was in its infancy. He actually hosted a man called Kier who founded the union the British Prime Minister is named after him, said Tony. In 1894 he helped found The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (later The National Union of Railwaymen). In 1911, the workers from his yard joined an ongoing dispute, and Keane was one of the leaders in Waterford. It started on the Dublin side and spread across the country, and was in response to workers being brought in to do the work of the strikers. The railway was run by a man called William Goulding and he intended to wait the works out and got covered. Those men crossed the picket line and took up the work left by the striking labourers. The labourers along the line, including those in Waterford, called them blacklegs and scabs and refused to handle goods transported by those who crossed the picket. The strike was resolved, but Goulding would only take back 75% of the labourers. Keane had been at the forefront of the Waterford strike and Goulding intended to move him to Wexford but stories were to follow that he was in fact a blackleg. Because my grandfather was on both sides of the fence, because the workers trusted him and management wanted him as well, they said you can come back, but we are going to transfer you to Wexford and they would send stories down there to the effect he was a scab that he passed the pickets, said Tony. But Keane went down an entirely different route. Coal and Family Man Tony said that his grandfather saw a gap in the market for a local coal yard and he took it. And when he retired, his eldest daughter took over the family business. I remember going down to get the coal. Never brought money I presume someone paid for it. But Id go down in a little broken down tan a pram and I would collect two stone of coal, the equivalent of a big sack of potatoes, said Tony. Marie recalls her mother telling her that her grandfather had four horses and carts. I remember them. And on Easter Monday, he packed up all the children around the whole place and brought them out to the picnic field, which was the Six Cross Roads, said Marie. But Marie does have some memory of her grandfather and his fondness for reading the newspaper. Read More Council-owned apartment block in Waterford met with multiple complaints about chronic leaking He married a Dublin woman, Margaret Dowling from Capel Street and they had seven daughters, of which her mother was the seventh, and two boys. Marie and Tony recall that their mother travelled with her father on his many trips as part of his trade union work. His eldest daughter inherited the coal business. One of his sons, Joe, moved to London and worked for the council as an overseer for road crews. He passed away only died two years ago at the age of 105. A lovely gentleman the most gentlemanly man I ever met, said Tony. Billy became an artist and cabinet maker in Wexford. Billy was an artist, a superb artist. He did woodcarvings, he was a cabinet maker and moved to Wexford. So they were the youngest two beautiful people to be honest, said Tony. Alderman Even though Keane now worked for himself, he remained a strong representative for workers in Waterford. Marie said he would attend meetings in John Norriss pub. They would come up looking for him and he would leave down the coal shovel and he would head down the road to the pub, said Marie. According to the Munster Express in 1954, Keane was prominent in the foundation of the Trades and Labour Council, which became the Waterford and District Council. In a small feature the Waterford News in a small feature on his election to mayor, Keane was known for his belief that one does a fair days work for a fair day's wages and that one takes pride in their work. In 1912 he was elected to Waterford City Council on the Labour ticket and spent many years as a senior alderman, known as being dedicated and diligent. Mayor In 1925 Keane was elected as mayor. Tony explained that mayors were not elected in the same way they are today and he needed the backing of the elite. So, for a working-class man and one known for his work in the trade union movement, this was some achievement. It was a testament to his reputation in Waterford that he received that backing. Mayor Richard Keane. When he became mayor at that time, (it was) not like the situation now, where everyone has a vote. Back then, only the elite and rate payers could elect him, so not everyone was entitled to vote. Not everyone was entitled to vote in municipal elections. And I find it astonishing that he was the first, say, non-establishment figure to be a mayor of Waterford, said Tony. According to the reports on his election in the Waterford News and Munster Express, Keane said: I thank God for having spared me to this day, which sees me elected Mayor of my native city. Keane spent just six months as mayor, sharing the Mayoralty that year with Alderman Vincent White. In 1927, he was selected to run in the Dail elections but was ultimately unsuccessful. Keane used his influence in politics to not only benefit ordinary workers but also his family too. Marie said that when her mother was married in the 1940s, she was given the pick of houses on Leamy Street. She said her grandfather was later accused at a public council meeting of nepotism, to which he replied: Only a gire wouldnt look after his own. Legacy Keane died in May 1954 and the obituaries for him in the local newspapers, including Waterford Newswere very complimentary. Former mayor Thomas Dunne told the Waterford News at the time: Dick Keane was in every way a fine gentleman. He was an excellent mayor and discharged his duties in a very efficient manner. He was exceptionally keen on the procedure of the council and was most active in looking after the welfare of workers. The Munster Express wrote: During his Mayoral term, he proved himself an efficient chairman. His strict adherence to the rules of debate, coupled with, of course, impartiality, winning him golden opinions of his colleagues. He was unswerving in his loyalty to Labour as he was forthright and outspoken when it came to matters of expressing his opinions in public or private. In company he was most congenial to meet and this trait, as well as the others to which he could claim, won him the regard of the citizens. But that is not where his legacy ended. In 1984, his family decided to contribute a medallion to the Waterford City municipal chain. The chain isnt used anymore, but it does sit in City Hall as a display piece. And in 2025, his family celebrated the 100th anniversary of his election in the Mayors Parlour in Waterford City, hosted by the last Mayor, Cllr Jason Murphy. There his many descendants included not only grandchildren but great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. One of those great-grandchildren is Maries daughter, Suzanne Parker of Parker Law on The Quay. At this years celebration at the Mayors Parlour, the then mayor, Jason Murphy, and the current mayor, who is himself from the Labour Party, Seamus Ryan, spoke eloquently about the family and the honourable role of mayor. Mayor Murphy (2024-2025) said he was honoured to host the family and see how Keanes legacy had inspired them through the generations. Current Mayor Ryan told the family gathered that it is a great honour to be elected mayor and that they should be proud. The then mayor of the Metropolitan area, Joe Kelly, called Richard Keane a colleague through time. And perhaps one of the young guests in attendance might one day grow up to follow in his footsteps. There is something special about this occasion. To see so many members of the one family is fantastic, said Cllr Kelly. Advertisement BusinessMarketsBillionaires Screw with me: Americas richest prisoner opens up David Yaffe-Bellany and Mattathias Schwartz March 8, 2026 10:14am 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 Changpeng Zhao was in a bind. Federal prosecutors had threatened to bring charges over a flood of criminal activity taking place on Binance, the giant cryptocurrency exchange that Zhao founded. During legal negotiations in 2023, they accused him of money laundering and terrorist financing, and demanded that Binance pay $US6.8 billion ($9.7 billion), one of the largest corporate penalties ever. Changpeng Zhao and Binance have been key supporters of some of the Trump familys crypto enterprises. Bloomberg Zhao, cryptos wealthiest billionaire, consulted more than a dozen high-priced lawyers, who often gave conflicting advice, according to a draft of his unpublished memoir, Freedom of Money, which was obtained by The New York Times. He thought the Justice Departments demands were unreasonable and mentally prepared for life as a fugitive, unable to travel without risking arrest. The D.O.J. prioritised victory over justice, Zhao wrote. At times, he added, he worried that prosecutors would pull tricks and screw with me. Advertisement Related Article Billionaires The Trump familys $10 billion fortune is getting more complicated In the end, Zhao, 49, cut a deal and pleaded guilty to a single count of violating an anti-money-laundering statute. In 2024, he was sentenced to four months in prison; President Donald Trump pardoned him last fall. Now Zhao is back on top of the crypto industry and preparing to tell the story of how he rose, fell and rose again. Last month, he said on social media that he would self-publish the book in February or March. The draft reviewed by the Times may not be the final version. But the nearly 300-page manuscript offers a vivid, albeit one-sided, account of the secret negotiations leading to his guilty plea, a rare window into one of the most complex white-collar prosecutions in recent years. Zhao also details his brief stint as the wealthiest inmate in US history, a humbling comedown for a jet-setting tech mogul accustomed to meeting with world leaders. He takes potshots at his former rival Sam Bankman-Fried, who ran the FTX crypto exchange, and describes a previously unreported run-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement that almost forced him to stay in US custody beyond the end of his sentence. Zhao is worth more than $US60 billion, according to Forbes, and remains a powerful crypto figure. Binance, the industrys largest trading platform, has forged a business relationship with the Trump familys crypto startup, even as the exchange faces new scrutiny for possible sanctions violations by its customers. Advertisement The memoir draft does not shed light on Zhaos campaign for a pardon or Binances links to the Trumps. But it is full of attacks on the Justice Department that echo some of Trumps rhetoric, as well as stories about Gary Gensler, the former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In one chapter, Zhao wrote that he was appalled that Trump had been prosecuted for keeping classified files at his club at Palm Beach, Florida. If an employee took company files to read in the bathroom, I would be inclined to give him a bonus, Zhao wrote. Binance did not respond to a request for comment, and the Justice Department declined to comment. Were thrilled The New York Times is so interested in CZs personal memoir, Freedom of Money, which is one of the years most anticipated books even if theyre writing based on material that is neither in CZs book nor in his words, Zhaos lawyer, Teresa Goody Guillen, said in a statement. Advertisement Were excited for readers to experience CZs real words once the finished book is published soon. In the draft, Zhao describes his upbringing in China, where he lived until age 12, before his family moved to Canada. As an adult, Zhao returned to Asia and joined the crypto industry, starting Binance in 2017. The company soon became the worlds most popular exchange, allowing customers to convert traditional currencies into digital coins. In 2018, Zhao wrote, he was introduced to Gensler, who was teaching a class about crypto at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Zhao offered him a job as a Binance adviser, which Gensler declined. In March 2019, Zhao and Gensler met for sushi at the Okura, a hotel in Tokyo. When Zhao learned that Gensler was expected to become the SECs chair, he sent him a congratulatory email. Advertisement Related Article Opinion Bitcoin Fools gold: Trumps bitcoin dream is turning into a nightmare Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist Thank you, Gensler responded, according to the manuscript. I hope all is well with your family and you, particularly in these unusual times. That was the end of the cordiality. Gensler went on to start an enforcement campaign against the crypto industry that included a lawsuit accusing Zhao and Binance of securities violations. (The case was withdrawn last year after Trump took office.) In the lead-up to those legal battles, Zhaos biggest industry rival was Bankman-Fried of FTX. They met in 2019 at a conference in Singapore, where Bankman-Fried hosted a dinner at an aquarium, followed by an after-party. Advertisement I left early due to the loud atmosphere, Zhao wrote. At first, Zhao thought Bankman-Fried, who is about 15 years younger, seemed like a smart young kid. But their relationship frayed. One of Bankman-Frieds allies in Washington was disparaging Binance in political circles, Zhao wrote. He also heard that Bankman-Fried had attacked Binance at a private retreat with US policymakers. Zhaos relationship with Samuel Bankman-Fried frayed over the years. AP It was a battle that Zhao won. After concerns surfaced over FTXs finances in 2022, Zhao wrote a series of social media posts that set off the equivalent of a bank run, exposing a hole in FTXs accounts. Advertisement Bankman-Fried turned to Zhao for help. Did our relationship deteriorate to such a point that we dont talk anymore? Bankman-Fried wrote to him, according to the manuscript. Seeming nonchalant, Bankman-Fried asked for a couple of billion dollars as if he were asking for a bologna sandwich, Zhao recalled. Zhao briefly agreed to bail his rival out, before withdrawing from the deal. FTX declared bankruptcy, and Bankman-Fried was eventually sentenced to 25 years in prison for fraud. A representative for Bankman-Fried declined to comment. Advertisement Meanwhile, Zhaos own legal problems mounted. US authorities were investigating whether Binance allowed criminals to transact on the platform, financing terror groups and channelling funds to sanctioned countries. Related Article Exclusive Cryptocurrencies Bullet dodged: Aussie investors spared as US crypto giant freezes funds Zhao put together a legal team to negotiate with the Justice Department. By then, he had settled in the United Arab Emirates, where he was granted citizenship in 2023. It was a useful passport for visa-free travel, Zhao wrote, not to mention it was a non-extradition country. The prosecutors wanted Binance to pay a $US6.8 billion fine. Binance countered with $US500 million, Zhao wrote, before settling on a $US4.3 billion penalty. After assurances from his lawyers, the manuscript said, he accepted that returning to the United States would resolve his legal issues for good. Final details were under negotiation until the last minute, even as Zhao prepared to board a flight to the United States. He sat outside the gate, the draft said, waiting for the go-ahead. Advertisement Ultimately, Zhao received a four-month sentence, far lighter than the penalties imposed on some other high-profile executives in the governments crypto crackdown. Showing glints of humour, Zhao devoted more than 20 pages to his time at the low-security prison in Lompoc, California, about 150 miles from Los Angeles. The guards asked him for bitcoin investment advice, he recalled, and he shared a cell with a man who had been convicted of a double murder. The most lethal thing about him wasnt his murder conviction, it was his snoring, Zhao wrote. In prison, Zhao, who is not a US citizen, became preoccupied with a new legal threat. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it would take custody of him after his release, which could force him to spend months in a detention centre at the end of his sentence. Zhao was released to a halfway house in Southern California in August 2024. A few weeks later, he wrote, the local police showed up to arrest him. Advertisement They put him in handcuffs and ankle cuffs, he wrote, and took him to a holding facility. Soon he learned the reason: ICE had put Zhao under a so-called detainer, saying he had overstayed his visa while he was in prison. ICE lifted the detainer after Zhaos lawyers intervened, according to the manuscript. But he spent the last two weeks of his sentence under police custody. ICE did not respond to a request for comment, and the Times could not independently confirm the details of Zhaos detainment. The next chapter is titled simply GTFO. On the day of his release from custody in September 2024, Zhaos sister, who is based in California, picked him up. They drove to a nearby airport, where a private plane was waiting to whisk him out of the United States. Advertisement From when he left detention to when his plane took off, only 26 minutes elapsed, Zhao wrote. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Billionaires Bitcoin Advertisement CultureBooksLiterature Writers paid as much as politicians? Once upon a time, it was a possibility Jane Sullivan March 4, 2026 9:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A Pay writers like politicians says the essay title. We know thats not going to happen, at least not in Australia. But not so very long ago it was a serious proposition. Back in 1973, members of the Literature Board were talking about a guaranteed minimum income for writers. They canvassed an increased grant program for selected writers worth $9000 a year, about the same as was then paid to federal backbenchers. Board member Thomas Shapcott wrote: We proposed that our writers were worth at least as much as a parliamentary drone. That sentence made Catriona Menzies-Pike gasp when she was researching her essay for the current Griffith Review. The editor and literary critic writes that shes become so used to abysmally low rates of pay for writers that she wouldnt dare to suggest matching politicians salaries today. Woman Writing (1894) by Federico Zandomeneghi. But how much was she paid? Wikimedia Commons The Literature Board proposal wasnt taken up. But as Menzies-Pike demonstrates, both the expectations and the reality of writers incomes have been on a long downward slide with no end in sight. She says the base salary for a federal backbencher is now $239,270. A 2022 survey found that Australian writers earn an average of $18,200 each year from their creative work. I suspect that figure is now lower. Advertisement The present economic climate and changing reading habits are making things increasingly tough for the publishing industry. We talk about money all the time, writes Menzies-Pike: broke writers, publishers and editors; the cost of books and paper; who cant afford to write, and so on. At our most ambitious, we talk about a living wage. The market cant be trusted to fund our national literature, so theres long been an expectation that governments should help out. Yet thats done nothing to stop the trend. One estimate is that in the past decade, federal funding for writers has dropped 43 per cent in real terms. A grant of $50,000, say, sounds quite generous. But it may be to support a project that will take several years and incur heavy expenses, so the governments contribution works out as way below a living wage. Related Article Review From pulse-pounding thrillers to a centenarians guide to happiness: 10 new books There is hope on the horizon in the shape of Labors Writing Australia, with its pledge of $26 million in new funding over three years. But where exactly will that money go? And is it enough? Menzies-Pike doesnt think so. And new challenges are bobbing up, particularly the rapid rise of AI and its threat to writers copyright and livelihoods. So writers are never going to get a living wage, right? Some countries have been much more realistic about the difficulties writers face in contributing to their national literature. Ireland is installing a permanent basic income support for artists, from this year onwards. The Norwegian government buys 1000 copies of every new title to give to public libraries. In Australia, as Menzies-Pike points out, a writer is understood to have hit the big time if they sell a thousand copies of their book. Advertisement When I Google pay for writers, just about everything that comes up is side hustles: freelance journalism, festival appearances, teaching and judging gigs. Very little of it pays well and all of it takes authors away from their main task: writing books. When I talk to writers about this, they get grumpy or wistful, and none can see any solution. Menzies-Pike may not literally mean the title of her essay, but its still a rallying call. Once upon a time, she concludes, just for a flicker of history, policymakers talked about paying writers like parliamentarians. That wont happen again. But we must set our sights higher than scraping by. Janesullivan.sullivan9@gmail.com The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A The ABCs new discussion show ABC National Forum is not a replacement of Q+A, says host David Speers. Inevitably, that comparison [to Q+A] will be made, but its quite different in terms of its format, says Speers. Its not the audience asking questions, so its quite different to that. But look, it is a discussion program, and frankly, the ABC, I think, does have a responsibility to be a bit of a town square and provide a forum for community engagement and understanding each other in a forum like this. Nor is it a platform for politicians, says Justin Stevens, the ABCs news director. This is not a political program, and its not a program to hold politicians to account in that sense. And its not a copy of SBS debate forum Insight, which covers a wide variety of topics and is also filmed in front of a studio audience. Were both public broadcasters, says Stevens, and we can complement what each other are doing. Theres definitely room and space for both [of] them. ABC News director Justin Stevens and journalist David Speers, who will host the new discussion show ABC National Forum. Sitthixay Ditthavong So, what is ABC National Forum? Yes, its a discussion show, but unlike Q+A, the once-popular political panel show that was axed by the ABC last year, it does not have a fixed time in the ABC schedule. It will be pulled together as and when is needed, say Speers and Stevens, and feature a mix of community leaders, experts and policymakers, as well as ordinary citizens to discuss an agreed topic. The first and only episode announced so far will focus on the lives and experiences of Jewish Australians, not just in the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack, but more generally. Advertisement Editor's pick Australian TV It could have been our Jerry Springer. But this current affairs show is much more radical We want it to be a respectful dialogue, says Speers. Certainly, other programs have, and do, focus on the contest of ideas. Certainly, there are plenty of programs where political debate can be combative. Were deliberately trying not to be combative. Were trying to help our audience, and all of us, better understand the nature of this problem of antisemitism. Listen to each other more, I suppose. Filmed at the ABCs Sydney studios in Ultimo, the show will be presented as an in the round format, with audience members on one side, and then two panels made up of people with first-hand experience of the topic, while the second panel will comprise community leaders and policy experts who will provide ideas to how we can do a better job of supporting Jewish Australians, says Stevens. ABC National Forum is the idea of the ABCs new managing director Hugh Marks. Alex Ellinghausen Guests will include author and former editor of The Age Michael Gawenda; Alex Ryvchin, from the executive council of Australian Jewry; Kate Rosenberg, the executive director of the New Israel Fund; social entrepreneur Ronni Kahn; and the principal of Bialik College in Melbourne, Jeremy Stowe-Linder. Questions from the audience will also not be vetted beforehand, says Stevens. Were being proactive in making sure weve got people in the audience who have something to add to this discussion. The first topic was chosen, says Speers, not just because of the Bondi terror attack, but because of the build-up of everyday antisemitism. Advertisement Related Article Opinion Media & marketing ABC to take revenge on Sky News, challenge its name Calum Jaspan Media Writer What we saw at Bondi, I think, stopped so many Australians, says Speers. Its, I think, a timely discussion around not just what happened at Bondi, necessarily, but what everyday anti-semitism looks like for Jewish people and what theyre experiencing. Its not the only form of discrimination, of course, in Australia, [but its] one thats absolutely been on the rise for the last two and a half years, and the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil, 15 lives lost. Its a good time, I think, to have a good discussion around what the nature of this problem is and what we can do about it. Does Stevens feel they need to balance this episode out with one focusing on Muslim Australians, for example? They have also experienced a rise in discrimination over the past few years, particularly recently with comments by One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson, who said on Sky News, How can you tell me there are good Muslims? A memorial vigil at Bondi Beach in December was held one week after the terror attack. Edwina Pickles This isnt about debating the merits of discrimination in different parts of the community, says Stevens. This is about, very specifically, in this program, elevating the lived experience of what it means to be Jewish in Australia in 2026 that is not defined by Bondi. It is defined by a great deal more. And its really important that we give that full picture and a better understanding of what that means ... Certainly in our journalism, news and coverage, we are talking elsewhere a lot about the discrimination faced by other elements of the community. So its not a binary sort of consideration of whats being debated. Its more about, Are we sharing the experiences of different Australians? and really endeavouring to make sure were elevating the voices of those who havent had much of a voice in recent times. Advertisement 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 Advertisement Sensitive content LifestyleLife & relationshipsSunday Life Mum sacrificed everything for us. After she died at 41, I honoured her lifelong wish Sheryle Bagwell March 8, 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 This story is part of the March 8 edition of Sunday Life. See all stories . My mother was trapped in a bad marriage, or rather, she was anchored to it. Marriage was the only vessel that Mum felt could keep her afloat. The two of them, my mother and father, were always ricocheting back and forth, between conflict and reconciliation, defiance and contrition. They were seen as a well-matched couple with three healthy, blonde-haired children. The sad fact was that they were really like two scorpions in a bottle. After each violent clash, usually fuelled by alcohol and frustration, they would once again sail forth together as if thered never been a tempest. But as a teenager I was always on the lookout, trying to read the domestic mood. When would the next storm hit? In between, there were some calm times, indeed many good times: family outings, holidays up the coast, barbecues in the backyard. But in rough weather, when the anger between them spilled over into physical violence, our home felt like a shipwreck. Im amazed that any of us managed to survive. In the end, only one of us went down with that ship. Ive been thinking about my mother a lot lately, here in Provence. Dreaming about her, even. Maybe reading the letters of Madame de Sevigne has stirred things up. Or maybe its just the culture shock or the jet lag. My mother died more than 45 years ago shes now been dead longer than she was alive. Yet, I still see her in my minds searching eye. Her lovely face framed with her permed dark-blonde hair. Her broad smile. Her curvaceous figure, which often saw her compared to Marilyn Monroe and which only made my jealous father even more so. Advertisement Her last job was on the process line of the Yardley cosmetics factory in Chullora, in western Sydney, a big employer in our neighbourhood in those days, but now long gone. Mum loved that job. Her mother, our Nan, worked there too, and during my university vacations, so did I. One day, the boss offered me a full-time job in the office. Imagine, three generations working under the one roof? he added, with a smile. No, I didnt want to imagine it. Sheryle Bagwell, as a child, and her mother on a cruise from Sydney to Melbourne. Mum could, though; she called us the three musketeers. I soon found a better-paying vacation job. But Mum stayed put. She loved to laugh and gossip with Nan and the other women on the process line, which they called the belt. I marvelled at how they could have intense conversations while stuffing powders and lipsticks and creams into the hundreds of little boxes that passed by them every hour. They were also deft at stuffing a few of those boxes into their coat pockets to take home. Theyd take a smoko break and gossip even more. Someone would have brought in some Arnotts biscuits to have with a cup of tea. The women would chat about what they might do with what was left of next weeks pay, after theyd bought the kids school shoes and paid the grocery bill. I remember Mum mentioning to the women that she was saving up to buy a plane ticket to Paris. Where? they asked, laughing. Mum said, I hear the women are given French perfume for free in Paris! More laughter. Then it was back to the belt. Advertisement Looking back now, I realise that her minimum-pay job gave my mother maximum freedom to dream. At least, until she became too sick to work. My mother would come home from that job on a fragrant cloud of lily-of-the-valley and English rose. She left a trace of herself in every room she entered, including the kitchen. Nan did the same. This was suburban Australia in the early 1970s. No one divorced back then, or at least no one we knew. Funny how we remember smells more than sounds, or at least some smells. Sitting here in my little yellow attic room in Provence, I can still smell her scent, as if it were one of Prousts madeleine cakes. Or maybe I prefer to remember that sweet fragrance of her life rather than the oppressive odour of her long illness. What I cant recall any more is the exact sound of her voice. I cant remember the rhythm of it, whether she had a broad Australian accent or not. I have no recordings of her. I dont even have any letters that might offer some hint of how she expressed herself. Advertisement I can clearly hear in my mind, though, my own imploring voice, in a memory Ive replayed many times. A night, a lifetime ago, when I pleaded: Mum, lets just get in the car and leave. Yellow and blue bruises on her arm, her eye ballooning into a nasty, irregular lump. My two younger siblings asleep, oblivious to the furniture smashing around them. No such luck for me. I was a teenager, old enough to hear the shouts, to feel the fear, to dread the inevitable. I cant go, I recall Mum telling me, as we huddled together after the fight. How would we get by? I cant support all four of us. And so she, my brother, my sister and I stayed on in that house, where we kept our secrets. This was suburban Australia in the early 1970s. No one divorced back then, or at least no one we knew. Domestic violence wasnt even grounds for divorce. As a teenager, I felt alone and ashamed, as if ours was the only family experiencing such turmoil. Until I was old enough to notice the faces of my aunties and older cousins at family gatherings. The thick make-up covering strange blemishes. The sunglasses worn inside during the day. Hushed conversations when children came into the room. Husbands eyes downcast, some defiant. The cycle of violence and contrition repeated itself like the cycles on our mothers washing machines. A cycle turbocharged by alcohol. In my parents case, the drinking seemed to keep them sane, while sending them insane. It aggravated the petty grievances, the jealousies, the penury of their lives. They would drink to remember; they would drink to forget. This was Australia, so there was always booze. When our extended family got together to celebrate an event, they did so around the backyard beer keg, even for childrens birthday parties. The keg was their working-class altar, at which they worshipped, even as it destroyed them. The 70s would eventually bring much change. Feminism would create more options for women like my mother. A new left-leaning government promised to rebalance the scales. Prime Minister Gough Whitlam made divorce easier, with no grounds needed. Single mothers got government support. Activists opened the first womens refuges. Advertisement Related Article Sunday Life Belle always thought her marriage was solid. Then she got a call that ripped her apart But it all came too late for my mother. If she had lived long enough, perhaps she would have grabbed that hand up, that hand out. She wasnt smart about relationships, but she wasnt a fool. She had ambitions. She wanted to become her own boss, open a hairdressing salon. She wanted me, and my sister, to join her in this endeavour. My mother never understood my desire to go to university. No one had studied past high school in our family before; I would be the first. Dont you want to earn some money? she would ask me, mystified. Dont you want to get out of this place? It was a reasonable question at the time. I was equally mystified by her dream of visiting Paris, of walking down the Champs-Elysees, of climbing the Eiffel Tower. But she was serious. Paris would eventually change me. Would it have changed my mother, too? Who might she have become? I can only imagine. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Advertisement Letter from Provence (Allen & Unwin) by Sheryle Bagwell is out now. Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter. 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 2:00am March 8, 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 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. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Save this article for later Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. The homicide squad has upgraded charges against a man who allegedly carried out a one-punch attack in Perth city at the weekend, after the victim died in hospital. Officers will comb through CCTV footage of the incident. Hannah Murphy Police say the man was in the Perth CBD about 8pm on Friday night when he stole a bank card off a stranger and used it to make a purchase. Just two hours later, it is alleged he punched a 62-year-old man in the head. Police said the man stumbled and fell to the ground, before his alleged attacker left the scene. Advertisement Exclusive PoliticsFederalFederal budget Red light for new green investment slows race to renewable target Mike Foley March 8, 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 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 Updated WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Iran announces new supreme leader as US-Israel strike key infrastructure Jon Gambrell and Sam Metz Updated March 9, 2026 6:51am ,first published 3:53pm 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 Jerusalem/Dubai: Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader of Iran, has been appointed his successor to take charge of the theocratic regime under assault by the US and Israel for over a week. The name of Khamenei will continue, said Ayatollah Hosseinali Eshkevari, a member of the clerical council charged with electing a new leader, in a video published earlier by Iranian media. Mojtaba Khamenei pictured in 2018. The 56-year-old cleric, who had not been seen or heard from publicly since the war started, had long been considered a contender for the post. He has never been elected or appointed to a government position but he maintains close ties to the countrys paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which continues to fire missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states. The war has shaken global energy markets, pushing oil prices above $US100 a barrel. US President Donald Trump on Sunday (US time) said the surging prices were a small price to pay for the eradication of Irans nuclear program. As the crisis entered its 10th day, Trump on his Truth Social platform said prices would fall again once the conflict was over. Advertisement Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace, he said in his post. Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war as it happened: Ali Khameneis son Mojtaba Khamenei named new Supreme Leader; Acid rain falls in Tehran; Almost $90 billion wiped off ASX; Iran death toll rises The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei has also antagonised Trump, who said the US should have a say in the selection of the next leader of Iran. He has described the late Khameneis son as unacceptable. If he doesnt get approval from us, hes not going to last long, he told ABC News. Israel has previously said it will continue to pursue every successor to the late ayatollah. Advertisement As Irans powerful paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard answers to the supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei will now have the central say in war strategy. He has also gained control of Irans stockpile of highly enriched uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon should he choose to decree it. Meanwhile, Israel confirmed it had struck a hotel in central Beirut on Sunday, killing five senior Revolutionary Guard commanders while they were hiding in a civilian hotel. Ten people were wounded in the attack, Lebanons Health Ministry said. With the conflict spreading, Israel said Lebanon would pay a very heavy price if it did not rein in Iran-allied Hezbollah militants, as it continues to pound the groups strongholds with airstrikes and as it mounted a deadly airborne raid in the east. The death toll from Israels attacks on Lebanon since Monday rose to about 300. Israel said the commanders served in the Guards Quds Forces Lebanon and Palestine corps and were involved in funding, arming and providing intelligence to Hezbollah and Hamas. Advertisement The Israel Defence Force also said it had destroyed military command centres in Iran, where airstrikes hit the headquarters of Irans regional corps, its internal security forces command centre and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps police headquarters, rocket engine production facilities and launch sites for ballistic missiles. Tehran struck again Tehrans residents woke on Sunday to a skyline shrouded in black smoke and acid rain clouds after Israeli airstrikes set ablaze key fuel depots serving one of the Middle Easts largest cities. It appeared to be the first time civilian industrial facilities had been targeted in the war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a US airstrike had damaged an Iranian desalination plant on Qeshm Island, saying the US set this precedent, not Iran. Meanwhile, neighbouring Bahrain said an Iranian strike had damaged one of its desalination plants. Loading Advertisement Desalination facilities are critical for drinking water supplies in the parched deserts of the Gulf. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also reported Iranian drone attacks in their countries over the weekend. A huge fire engulfed a government office block in Kuwait. The US embassy in Norways capital, Oslo, was hit by an explosion early on Sunday, causing minor damage but no injuries, police said. It was not immediately clear what had caused the blast or who was involved. Meanwhile, a newly released video has added to the evidence that a US missile probably hit an Iranian elementary school where 175 people, many of them children, were reported killed. Advertisement The video, uploaded on Sunday by Irans semiofficial Mehr News Agency and verified by The New York Times, shows a Tomahawk cruise missile striking a naval base beside the school in the town of Minab on February 28. The US military is the only force involved in the conflict that uses Tomahawk missiles. The Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school building was severely damaged by a precision strike that occurred at the same time as attacks on a Revolutionary Guard naval base. The Pentagon has said it is yet to determine what happened, while Trump has said it was Iran, not the US, that had hit the school. On Sunday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, standing behind Trump aboard Air Force One, said the matter was still under investigation. Trump then cut in. We think it was done by Iran because theyre very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions, he said. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran. No. In my opinion and based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran. Theyre very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions, he told reporters. Advertisement Apart from rattling global markets, the conflict has disrupted air travel and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised many surprises for the next phase of the conflict. Photo: Matt Golding Israel said it had continued to target senior Iranian figures, including Abolqasem Babaian, the recently appointed head of the military office of the supreme leader, killed in a strike on Saturday. Trump has said he is not interested in negotiating with Iran and he has raised the possibility that the Iranian war will end only once Tehran no longer has a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said: At some point, I dont think there will be anybody left maybe to say, We surrender, Trump said. Advertisement The US and Israel have discussed sending special forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium at a later stage of the war, news website Axios reported, citing four people with knowledge of the discussions. Asked on Saturday about the possibility of sending ground troops to secure nuclear sites, Trump said it was something they could do later on. The US-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Irans UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. Iranian attacks have killed 10 people in Israel. The US military has announced that an American service member has died of injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia, bringing the number of US service members killed in the war to seven. The service member died on Saturday from injuries sustained during a March 1 Iranian attack on the kingdom. Iran on Sunday said it had struck US bases in Kuwait. Advertisement Reuters, AP and staff reporter 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. A man in his 40s has been killed by an Iranian missile strike in central Israel, emergency service Magen David Adom said on X. The death comes after an 8.08pm (AEDT) alert by the Israel Defence Forces on Telegram warned that an Iranian missile strike had been detected heading for Israeli territory and that the public should enter a protected space. That warning came just 12 minutes after the IDF said it was safe for sheltering Israelis to leave bunkers. This is believed to be the 13th Israeli death in the war. Some 1300 Iranians have died, according the UN, and more than 300 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, according the Lebanese health minister. Israeli troops have continued to bombard Iran. Soldiers also raided areas in southern Lebanon to locate and eliminate terrorists and dismantle Hezbollahs infrastructure, the IDF said. Advertisement WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war What the US and Israel have targeted in their Iran blitz Adam Goldman , Samuel Granados , Ronen Bergman and Eric Schmitt March 8, 2026 10:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A A week into their war on Iran, the United States and Israel have attacked a vast array of targets about 4000 in all from the land, air and sea. The bombing campaign, one of the most intense periods of strikes involving US forces in decades, reveals a broad strategy. The United States and Israel are seeking to loosen the grip of Irans repressive security and intelligence services and possibly topple its authoritarian government. They are also trying to eliminate Irans ability to produce and launch missiles, seriously degrade its navy and prevent the country from being able to produce nuclear weapons. US President Donald Trump said on Friday (Washington time) that the conflict would continue until Irans unconditional surrender, indicating that the war may just be getting started. But so far, Iran has not folded. A week into their war on Iran, the United States and Israel have attacked a vast array of targets about 4000 in all from the land, air and sea. Satellite images by Vantor (first three images) and Planet Labs (bottom right). New York Times The bombing has killed the countrys supreme leader and other top officials, but the Islamist government that has ruled the country since 1979 remains in place. Advertisement Although it has been weakened, Irans military is still firing missiles and drones at Israel and at countries in the region where US troops are deployed. The vast Iranian security forces also appear to be intact. And while the United States and Israel have struck at least one site at the heart of Irans nuclear program, the extent of the damage is unclear. Leadership In the first minutes of the war, Israel sought to paralyse the chain of command in Iran. Israeli warplanes fired a barrage of missiles that struck the Iranian leadership compound in central Tehran. At the time, senior Iranian national security officials had gathered in one building at the compound. The supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was in another building. Advertisement Among those who died in the attack last weekend was Khamenei. Israel later hunted down the highest-ranking Iranian commander responsible for operations in Lebanon, killing him in Tehran. This image provided by Airbus shows the strike on the Iranian supreme leaders compound. AP Trump has said that several potential successors to Khamenei are now dead and that he wants a say in the selection of Irans next leader. The United States and Israel are undoubtedly looking for opportunities to kill more Iranian officials they want out of the picture. Intelligence and security Advertisement The bombing campaign has targeted the security and intelligence agencies responsible for the repression of dissent in Iran. The aim is to weaken the regimes grip on power. This satellite image provided by Vantor shows the Bushehr naval base after airstrikes. AP Among the targets is Irans most powerful military force, the Revolutionary Guard, and the Basij, a plainclothes militia affiliated with the Guard. Israel said it had used dozens of warplanes in one attack to blast a compound in eastern Tehran that served as the headquarters for the Basij, the Guard and the Quds Force, the arm of the Guard responsible for foreign operations. The smoking remains of Irans largest warship were revealed on satellite imagery from earlier this week. Plant Labs PBC Israel estimates that hundreds of Basij and Guard personnel have been killed, along with thousands of other security personnel. The Pentagon said it had bombed sites linked to the Guard, which, along with its proxies, has targeted Americans in numerous attacks over the decades. Advertisement In addition, the United States and Israel have struck detention centres and television and broadcasting facilities. Missiles and defence Perhaps the most vital part of the US-Israeli campaign has been the effort to establish air superiority with attacks on Iranian air defences, missile depots and launchers, and air bases. The Israeli military says that more than 300 Iranian missile launchers and about 150 air defence systems have been disabled, and that it was continuing to target the countrys ballistic missiles and launch sites. Satellite images showing collapsed tunnels at a missile base in Tabriz. Planet Labs PBC Advertisement The United States says it has crippled Irans navy, destroying 30 vessels, including a submarine. The US military used a submarine to fire a torpedo and sink an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean and also struck an Iranian drone carrier ship. The aim of the naval operations is to weaken Irans capacity to menace shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a fifth of the worlds oil exports and significant quantities of natural gas. Nuclear program Advertisement The United States and Israel say they are determined to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons. In June, the two nations carried out attacks in Iran that Trump said had destroyed the countrys nuclear potential. The US and Israel have been attacking the Natanz site, where Iran has produced a vast majority of its nuclear fuel. Planet Labs PBC But US and Israeli forces have resumed striking the Iranian nuclear infrastructure, attacking the Natanz site, where Iran has produced a vast majority of its nuclear fuel. The site is considered the heart of the countrys nuclear program. Satellite imagery shows that the new strikes destroyed the entrances to an underground cavern at Natanz that held centrifuges for uranium enrichment. Advertisement LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) Time to grab those aprons as the finalists of the 2026 Derby Burger Challenge have been announced. More than 55,000 people voted online for the top 4 finalists: Jeny Fernandez, of Louisville, with the Canonero II burger; returning champion Ira Mowman, of Louisville, with the Smoke Show Slaw Cheeseburger; Jason Thrasher, of Columbia, with The Goober Burger; and Greg Yopp, of La Grange, with The Jerk burger. Several original recipes were submitted for the challenge, using a variety of ingredients from peanut butter to plantain chips. The winner of the 2026 Derby Burger Challenge will be decided at a final cook-off on Thursday, March 12. The burgers will be judged on taste, appearance, creativity and ease of preparation. The winning burger will be featured at Kroger's Fest-a-Ville during the Kentucky Derby Festival and inside Kroger stores. The winning chef will receive an official 2026 Derby Festival poster, two tickets to the Louisville airport Thunder Over Louisville VIP Rooftop Party, two VIP tickets to Republic Bank BourbonVille, a $100 gift certificate to Kroger, and a grilling price package from Kentucky Beef Council. Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) The sky was the limit for some of the best breweries in the country while showcasing some unique airplanes. More than 50 breweries gathered at Bowman Field in Louisville Saturday for the annual Tailspin Ale Fest. Guests could sample more than 250 beers, many of them from right here in Kentuckiana. There was live music, a silent disco, OVW wrestling, and a cigar lounge. Although a lot of people had raincoats or ponchos, it didn't stop them from having a good time. "If you love beer, this is the place to be," attendee Luke Bradshaw said. "It's good vibes and good people out here. If you love Kentucky and love beer this is the place to be." The rain did cause the event to start about 30 minutes late. Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) A man was hospitalized after being shot in the Highlands early Saturday morning. Dwight Mitchell, a spokesperson for Louisville Metro Police, said officers responded to the 1000 block of Bardstown Road just before 3:30 a.m. on a reported shooting. Police said a man who was shot in the leg was taken to UofL Hospital by private means. In an update Sunday, police said a second victim was taken to the hospital by private means after she was shot and then hit by a car during the shooting. Police said the victim sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, but she was left in critical condition after being hit by a car. According to police, she is suffering from multiple broken vertebrae and spinal fractures, broken ribs, a right clavicle fracture and abdominal hemorrhaging. The victim has undergone multiple surgeries, police said. Israyel Archie, 24, was arrested for allegedly driving the vehicle that hit the victim. She was charged with leaving the scene of an accident/failure to render aid involving death or serious physical injury. According to court documents, surveillance video shows the vehicle fleeing the scene after running over the woman who was shot. The vehicle then stopped a short distance away and another person got inside. Police were able to identify the vehicle and found Archie in the passenger seat. She identified herself, and officers said she admitted to them she was driving the vehicle at the time of the hit-and-run. In an interview, Archie admitted to police she heard shots and attempted to leave the area but felt a bump while pulling out of the parking lot. She said the person who got into the vehicle told her she might've hit someone, but she still drove away from the area and didn't call authorities. The shooting suspect has not been arrested as of this writing. Archie is expected to appear in court Monday. Anyone with information is asked to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at (502) 574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the department's Crime Tip Portal. Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) The StrEatery is hosting a two-day pop-up shop to raise money for Kiwami Ramen. The owner of StrEatery, Dung Tran, worked with his brother, Duc Tran who owns Kiwami, to organize the pop-up after a crash left the ramen restaurant severely damaged. Kiwami set up shop inside of StrEatery serving foods from its menu on the first day of the pop-up shop Saturday. "Anything that he needs, we're scrambling to get," Dung said. Last week, a driver rammed into Kiwami Ramen just before closing time. "There was a full entire car inside the restaurant," Kiwami's co-owner Duc said. According to LMPD, the driver, Alexis Cavillo, was under the influence. Cavillo faces a DUI and several other charges. Duc said knowing that the driver was under the influence makes him upset. "It's a really selfish thing to do to not think about who you're affecting," Duc said. It will take about a month to repair the damages from the crash. Duc said he's concerned about how his employees will make ends meet while the restaurant is temporarily closed. "I'm really just worried for my employees. Can they really miss two weeks, three weeks, four weeks without a paycheck? That's one of the first things I thought of when this incident happened. How can I take care of my employees so they're able to eat able to pay their rent," Duc said. The proceeds from the two-day pop-up shop will go towards supporting Kiwami employees. The first day of the pop-up was Saturday from 4 to 9pm at StrEatery located at 304 West Woodlawn Ave. The pop-up continues Sunday at the same location from 4 to 8 pm. Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran's late supreme leader, has been named as the Islamic Republic's next ruler, authorities announced Monday, as Tehran widened its attacks across the Mideast to strike oil and water facilities crucial to its desert sheikdoms. With Iran's theocracy under assault by the U.S. and Israel for more than a week, the country's Assembly of Experts chose as the next supreme leader a secretive, 56-year-old cleric who maintains close ties to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The Guard has been firing missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states since the younger Khamenei's father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed Feb. 28 during the war's opening salvo. The war has shaken global energy markets, pushing oil prices above $100 a barrel and leading to tighter supplies of natural gas after Qatar turned off its production. The younger Khamenei, who had not been seen or heard from publicly since the war started, had long been considered a contender for the post. That was even before the Israeli strike killed his father, and despite never being elected or appointed to a government position. There appeared to be some dissension over his selection. Political figures within Iran criticized the idea of handing over the supreme leader's title based on heredity and thereby creating a clerical version of the rule of the shah, who was toppled during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. But top clerics in the Assembly of Experts likely wanted Khamenei to prosecute the war. Khamenei, who is believed to hold views that are even more hard-line than his late father, now will be in charge of Iran's armed forces and any decision regarding Tehran's nuclear program. While the country's key nuclear sites are in tatters after the United States bombed them during the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June, there's still highly enriched uranium in Iran that's a technical step away from weapons-grade levels. Khamenei could choose to do what his father never did pursue the bomb. Israel has already described him as a potential target, while U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the idea of Khamenei taking power. Khameneis son is unacceptable to me, Trump has said. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump told ABC News on Sunday he wants a say in who comes to power once the war is over; a new leader is not going to last long without his approval. Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a statement expressing support, as did the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, speaking to Iranian state television, praised the Assembly of Experts for courageously convening even as airstrikes continued in Tehran. He said the younger Khamenei had been trained by his father and can handle this situation. Regional anger grows and oil rises above $100 a barrel Oil depots in Tehran smoldered following overnight Israeli strikes. In a sign of rising regional anger, the Arab League chief lashed out at Iran for its reckless policy of attacking neighbors, including ones that host U.S. forces. The U.S. military said a service member died of injuries from an Iranian attack on troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1. Seven U.S. soldiers have now been killed. Saudi Arabias Defense Ministry said Monday it intercepted a drone attacking the countrys massive Shaybah oil field. The kingdom followed the alleged drone attack with sharper warnings to Iran that it would be the biggest loser if it continued to attack Arab states. It dismissed comments by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday that Iran had halted its attacks on Gulf Arab states. The kingdom affirms that the Iranian side has not implemented this statement in practice, neither during the Iranian presidents speech nor afterward, Saudi Arabias Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Iran has continued its aggression based on flimsy pretexts devoid of any factual basis. It added the Iranian attacks mean further escalation which will have grave impact on the relations, currently and in the future. Two U.S. officials say the State Department will order nonessential personnel and families of all staff to leave Saudi Arabia as Iran escalates its attacks. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement. Eight other U.S. diplomatic missions have ordered all but key staff to leave: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the consulate in Karachi, Pakistan. The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, at least 397 in Lebanon and at least 11 in Israel, according to officials. Israel reported its first soldier deaths Sunday, saying two were killed in southern Lebanon, where its military is fighting Hezbollah. Desalination and oil facilities attacked Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online. Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region and thousands of stranded travelers, raising new fears of catastrophic risks in parched desert nations. The strike came after Iran claimed a U.S. airstrike damaged a desalination plant there. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had cut into the water supply to 30 villages. He warned that in doing so the U.S. set this precedent, not Iran. In response, U.S. Central Command spokesperson Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins said that "U.S. forces do not target civilians period. The Iranian Red Crescent Society warned Tehran residents to take precautions against toxic air pollution and the risk of acid rain from the oil depot attack. It also said about 10,000 civilian structures across the country had been damaged, including homes, schools and almost three dozen health facilities. Lebanon says a half-million people displaced Lebanon said over a half-million people have been displaced in the week of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The actual number is likely higher. Lebanons count of 517,000 refers to those who registered on the governments online portal. Israel over the past week has called on residents in dozens of villages across southern Lebanon and the entirety of Beiruts southern suburbs to evacuate. In Beirut, sheltering families crammed into schools, slept in cars or in open areas near the Mediterranean Sea, where some burned firewood to keep warm. Israels renewed offensive began last week after Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel during the Iran war's opening days. Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank, Chehayeb from Beirut and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press journalists Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Matthew Lee in Washington; Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; and Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida, contributed reporting. ARCADIA, La. As a Bienville deputy shone a light on a visible knot on Jasmine Millicans forehead, he asked how she was injured. The mayor, responded Jasmine Millican as she stood outside Arcadia Town Hall on July 5 talking to the deputy and two Arcadia police officers. The mayor is her brother, OLandis Bubba Millican. Jasmine Millican, who also goes by Jazz, said it happened during what she described as a family gathering at her brothers home. Everyone attending was a family member, she said. She described what led to the alleged battery between her and her brother. Another woman provided an eyewitness account, too. To get OLandis Millicans side, the law enforcement officers drove to his home on College Street. They are met by him and his wife. We was having a family reunion, Millican said, adding, I had all kind of alcohol, beer, moonshine. I had everything. Then the discussion turns to Jasmines allegations, which Millican refutes, saying he didnt hit her; she fell down. Eventually, he grows frustrated with the continued questioning. At one point he gestures to the two Arcadia officers, saying, I sign these guys checks, and they aint doing nothing. The deputy continues to ask about the alleged battery of his sister, but thats when Millican says, Can yall step off my property? Im going to get my attorney involved. Fast forward to Feb. 26 when the state attorney generals investigator arrests Millican, 33, on four counts of malfeasance in office and one count of felony theft. His arrest is not related to the incident involving his sister. In fact, Arcadia police did not file charges against either one. But its what can be seen in the bodycam videos worn by two deputies that plays a role in the AGs investigation into Millican. Visible in the mayors yard are two white tents used for the family event. Attorney General Liz Murrills office says Millican didnt pay for those tents or the portable chillers and lights that came with them. Instead, the town did. In an affidavit outlining the criminal charges against Millican, the AGs office says more than $7,800 in public funds from the towns Industrial Inducement Fund were used in 2024 and 2025 to pay for the tents and other supplies for Millicans personal events. Then there were repairs to Millicans personal vehicle, which the AG also says the town paid for. In total, Millican is accused of misusing over $30,000 in public funds. Millicans attorney told KTBS last week his client will fight the charges, and he expects vindication at trial. An arraignment date has not been set in Bienville Parish District Court. The arrest does not affect Millicans position as mayor. He would only have to resign if convicted of a felony. The arrest also doesnt stop Millican from performing his other job as a school bus driver. Details and tent rentals Details of the charges filed against Millican are included in a seven-page affidavit that AG Special Agent Jeff Brown presented to a Bienville Parish judge to get the arrest warrant. Brown said the investigation into Millican began in April after a complaint was received from the Louisiana Legislative Auditors Office. Police reports, interviews, search warrants, subpoenas and personal investigation led to the probable cause for the mayors arrest. Brown learned there was video evidence of the tent rentals after contacting the Bienville Parish sheriff to ask if deputies made any calls to Millians house in July. The sheriff provided three videos from the deputies bodyworn cameras. (Sheriff John Ballance told KTBS separately his deputies were there to back up Arcadia police and neither witnessed an arrest or a summons being issued.) For his investigation, Brown obtained documents from Terzias Rentals, which invoiced the town on two occasions July 2024 and July 2025 -- with both equipment rental packages being delivered to Millicans home. In July 2025, $4,626 was billed to the town for the rental of five cool box fans, six bistro tent lights, two 7,500-watt generators, seven extension cords, one PortaCool fan, two 20-by-40 white tents, tent setup labor, labor for light installation and delivery and pickup charges. An invoice on July 3, 2024 for $3,209 was for the rental of five Portacool fans, 50-foot water hose, a Mr. Splitter, one 20-by-40 white tent and one 19-foot waterslide. Delivery, pickup and labor were included. Records indicate checks written to pay for the rentals came from the towns fund. Millican signed the checks, and the amount matched the invoice received from Terzias in response to a court subpoena, Brown said. An auditing firm told Brown the towns industrial account is funded by designated sales taxes. The fund receives a portion of a voter-approved one-cent sales tax, of which 10% of that is designated for industrial construction and inducement. Personal car repairs Tent rentals are not the only alleged misuse of public funds lodged against the mayor. In his arrest affidavit, Brown lists six separate checks written on town accounts and used to pay for repairs and service to Millicans personal vehicle. The total: $21,793. The 2018 Chevrolet Suburban was serviced three times in 2024. The work included shock absorbers, wheel alignment, installation of a transmission, water pump replacement, sparks plugs and wires and new tires. On one occasion, Millican told the repair shop he heard a tapping coming from the engine, which led to a major repair for engine failure. Millican is alleged to have written checks from the towns street, sewer and general funds to pay for the work. On Nov. 21, when Brown went to pick up documents from the town's CPA, he was told a check in the amount of $21,793 had just been delivered by Millican. It was written from the account of LJ Enterprises of Arcadia, which has the same address as Millican. The business is registered with the state in Millican's name. Brown said the CPA firm's partner told him Millican said he "realized he owed the town that amount for services at Courtesy Chevrolet." Who was the whistleblower? Brown said in his affidavit the initial complaint about Millican came from the Arcadia police chief after she discovered the mayor used public funds for his vehicle. Chief Ciera Murphy, who is not identified by name in the affidavit, told state auditors she discovered funds from the police department budget were used. The chief said her department received a bill from Courtesy Chevrolet in Ruston. She reviewed it since she knew no police units were sent there. The bill instead listed a charge for a Chevrolet Suburban, not a police vehicle. It also listed Millican and his phone number. The chief said she called Courtesy Chevrolet and was told the bill was correct. She asked for the billing documents. Thats when she contacted the LLA and turned over the paperwork. The police chief is also the one who reported the tent rentals. The town attorney told the investigator he was not aware of any town rules, regulations, special provisions or laws that would allow an elected official to use public funds to pay for repairs to a personal vehicle. Brown also interviewed an unidentified Arcadia town councilman about town operations. The councilman said the mayor has a set salary listed by the LLA as $64,032 annually -- with health insurance as his only benefit; he does not receive a vehicle allowance. The affidavit states the belief that Millican intentionally illegally obtained personal benefits and personal gain by means of fraudulent conduct and misappropriation from the publicly funded Town of Arcadia treasury. By Rebecca Black, Press Association There were relieved family reunions at Dublin Airport after the Governments first chartered flight from the Middle East touched down. The flight from Muscat in Oman landed just before 5am, several hours after its scheduled midnight arrival. It made a stop in Cairo and was carrying around 194 people. The flight was chartered to bring stranded, vulnerable Irish citizens home amid escalating scenes of hostilities between Israel, the United States and Iran. Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said it had been a challenging journey. Family members wait for loved ones at Dublin Airport in the early hours of Sunday. (Evan Treacy/PA) I am pleased to confirm the arrival into Dublin of a chartered repatriation flight from Oman. I want to welcome home all those who travelled on the flight we have chartered to assist those stranded in the Gulf region, she said. I know their return will be an enormous relief for themselves and for their families and friends. It was a challenging journey, in particular for those who travelled over land to Muscat, but I am glad that we have been able to directly facilitate the return of nearly 200 people, including a number of children and infants. Hundreds of Irish citizens returned recently from the region via commercial Emirates flights from Dublin. Another is due to land at 6.55pm on Sunday. Other Irish people have managed to get indirect flights to Ireland from Abu Dhabi or Dubai through London or Paris. McEntee said around 1,500 people have returned home to Ireland in recent days. I would encourage all those still in the UAE and who want to leave to avail of commercial options where those are available, she said. The last week has been incredibly distressing for our citizens in the Gulf. The situation remains volatile, with further attacks on the UAE and other Gulf countries today, and on Iran. I would ask any Irish citizens in the Gulf to register their presence in order to give my Department the clearest information possible of the situation on the ground. More than 18,000 people have done so since last weekend. Any citizen in the Gulf seeking assistance is encouraged to call the Consular Crisis Team in Dublin directly. The Governments chartered flight, which reportedly cost 800 a seat, departed Muscat in Oman on Saturday. I want to welcome home all those who travelled on the flight we have chartered to assist those stranded in the Gulf region. Helen McEntee There are about 24,000 Irish citizens across the region who have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs. An estimated 14,000 Irish people are living in Dubai, a further 2,000 in Abu Dhabi and more than 2,000 in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia. On Friday, it was indicated that the consular crisis team had responded to more than 2,300 queries since last weekend. On Saturday, a Government spokesperson said: The Governments charter flight to assist citizens in the Gulf region has departed Oman. It will make one stop in Cairo and is due to arrive in Dublin later tonight. Dublin Airport said on Saturday that disruption to flights from the Middle East had continued for the eighth consecutive day, with just two scheduled flights to the Middle East operating, one inbound and one outbound Emirates flight to and from Dubai. All other flights to Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi have been cancelled by airlines, they said. Further disruption is likely in the days ahead. As always, passengers due to fly should contact their airline directly for the latest updates on the status of their flight. People check the damage left by Israeli airstrikes, Saturday, March 7, 2026, in the village of Nabi Chit, eastern Lebanon late Friday, where Israeli forces landed overnight and dug a grave in a cemetery searching for Israeli co-pilot Ron Arad who was captured and then went missing after his fighter jet crashed over south Lebanon in 1986. (AP Photo/Ali Salem) Weather Alert ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT /11 AM EDT/ SUNDAY TO 7 AM CDT /8 AM EDT/ MONDAY... * WHAT...South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From 10 AM CDT /11 AM EDT/ Sunday to 7 AM CDT /8 AM EDT/ 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. && Deutsche Bahn freight train The collective agreement negotiated by the German Train Drivers Union (GDL) with the German rail company Deutsche Bahn (DB AG) on February 26 amounts to a real wage cut that stabs local transport workers, who are also engaged in collective bargaining negotiations, in the back. With this agreement, the GDL is providing the German government, which owns Deutsche Bahn, an indispensable service against the working class. First, the agreement includes a real wage cut. The new contract, which begins with a six-month wage freeze and a 5 percent wage increase in two steps starting in August 2026, will not compensate for the real wage losses during this period. Two linear wage increases of 2.5 percent each are planned, the first on August 1, 2026 and the second on August 1, 2027. The new agreement also includes a one-time payment of 700 for employees and 350 for trainees and student trainees (as well as for employees who have been with the company for 35 years, the new pay grade 8). However, the one-time payments are only intended to ease the pressure in the short term. They are not included in the pay scale and therefore do not represent a permanent improvement in purchasing power. The Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw) recently calculated the real wage cuts based on the wage agreement negotiated with Verdi, the German services union. Verdi had accepted a 5.8 percent wage increase for state employees over 27 months. As stated in the idw declaration, due to the significant increase in social security contributions and the progressive effect of income tax in 2026, the real net wage is likely to be lower than in the previous year (Emphasis added). Professor Oliver Holtemoller from the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research in the city of Halle explained: Although the agreed wage increases raise the wage table, employees will still have to make do with less disposable income in real terms. This is precisely what has come to pass with the new wage agreement for train drivers and conductors. Although the GDL claims in its latest circular that the agreement includes structural adjustments to the pay scales and improved pay grades, these are not specified. What is particularly striking is that the GDL is concluding negotiations and agreeing to a two-year strike ban at a time when anger and militancy among colleagues are growing. Deutsche Bahn is in the process of launching a massive attack on jobs and working conditions. Just last week, the Deutsche Bahn executive board announced that thousands of jobs would be cut at DB Cargo. According to internal sources, only 8,000 of the 14,000 jobs in the freight division will remain by 2030. This will inevitably affect many train drivers and massively increase the work pressure for the rest. In addition, the latest sell-off comes at a time when the German Merz-Klingbeil government is planning far-reaching social attacks to finance its war policy. It is attacking the eight-hour working day, continued pay in the event of illness, protection against dismissal and pensions. Last year, Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared: We can no longer afford the welfare state. In this situation, the GDLs agreement has deprived train drivers and conductors of the opportunity to effectively fight for better conditions and against the governments war policy in a joint struggle with tram, bus, light rail drivers, pilots, flight attendants and other sections of the working class. Local public transport has held its third warning strike of its current wage dispute, and the GDL is stabbing these workers in the back with its agreement, making it easier for the Verdi service union to sell out all these struggles and push through real wage cuts so that the federal governments insane war policy can be financed. When news of the GDL agreement reached the Verdi warning strikes on Friday, discontent spread among the strikers. We could have struck together to achieve more, said a striking tram driver in front of the Munich tram depot. Sixteen years ago, it was the other way around; back then, the GDL went on strike and Verdi didnt. Others said that Verdi could not be trusted either and that nothing would come of it in the end. But its not true that theres no money, said one striker. The money is just going to the war in Ukraine. The GDL agreement confirms what the World Socialist Web Site has been writing for years: The GDL, which initially presented itself as more militant than the other German Trade Union Confederation unions representing rail workers, EVG and Verdi, has proven to be just as compliant a prop of management and the government against workers. It has repeatedly called off strikes prematurely out of deference to the federal government and German business. The GDL has even set up its own temporary employment agency for train drivers, Fair Train, and elected the ultra-right-wing Rainer Wendt as its supervisory board chairman. After the last wage agreement, the WSWS wrote: The GDL is following the same path as all the trade unions. Deprived of the opportunity to negotiate limited reforms within a national framework by the dominance of global financial institutions and corporations, they have turned into company policemen. While asset values and share prices are rising, they are responsible for falling wages, job cuts and increasing workloads. They are fully behind the governments pro-war policy and help it to pass the costs of rearmament and war onto the working class. This has been clearly confirmed by the latest collective agreement with its real wage cuts. It effectively separates train drivers and conductors from other employees and is proving to be a strike breaker. With its gag clause stipulating a two-year ban on strikes, the GDL is tying the hands of train drivers and conductors in an explosive political situation. The attacks on wages, working hours and public services are international, as are the increasingly threatening preparations for war. Train drivers, train attendants and all workers must counter the nationalist policies of the GDL, EVG and Verdi with international cooperation among the working class. The working class can only defend itself by building independent rank-and-file committees and uniting with their colleagues in local and long-distance transport, workshops, on-board staff, public transport depots and other public services. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) networks these committees worldwide, jointly prepares new and effective measures of struggle and clarifies the political issues involved. Sign up using the form below to participate in building further independent rank-and-file committees! The School District of Philadelphia headquarters are shown in Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. [AP Photo/Matt Rourke] A $2.8 billion Facilities Master Plan for the Philadelphia School District proposes the closure of 18 schools across the district as part of a sweeping restructuring of facilities. District officials argue that the closures are necessary to fund and enable the plans other measures, including modernizing 159 schools, maintaining more than 120 facilities and expanding access to Algebra 1. The changes would not begin until the 202728 school year and would be implemented gradually over a 10-year period. The plan was presented on Thursday, February 26 by Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington Sr. to the Philadelphia Board of Education, which is expected to vote on the proposal in the coming months. Under the banner of modernization, the district intends to shutter neighborhood schools, redraw catchment boundaries and compel students to travel farther from their communities. Experience has shown that such closures disproportionately impact working-class neighborhoods. The loss of a local public school destabilizes entire communities, eliminating not only classrooms but vital social hubs that provide meals, counseling and after-school programs. The schools slated for closure include Blankenburg, Fitler, Ludlow, Robert Morris, Overbrook, Pennypacker, Waring and Welsh elementary schools, as well as multiple middle and high schools such as Harding, Tilden, Wagner, Parkway West and Penn Treaty, as well as the only environmental school in Philadelphia, Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School. Under the plan, the district would commit roughly $1 billion in bond funding and seek an additional $1.8 billion from state, federal and philanthropic sources to complete the projects. The proposal marks a decisive stage in the restructuring of public education in Philadelphia and a continuation of policies that subordinate the educational and social needs of working-class youth to the imperatives of austerity and real estate interests. While officials speak of equity and 21st-century learning environments, the plan avoids the fundamental issue: the chronic diversion of public funds away from education and into corporate subsidies, tax abatements and debt service. School officials present the plan as a pragmatic response to declining enrollment, aging infrastructure, underutilized facilities, high maintenance costs and budgetary constraints. Yet the very conditions invoked to justify these cuts are themselves the outcome of decades of systematic underfunding and the expansion of charter schoolspolicies supported by Democratic and Republican administrations alike. The original version of the facilities plan called for the closure of 20 schools, but a subsequent revision reduced the number to 18. Russell Conwell Middle School in Kensington and Motivation High School in Southwest Philadelphia were removed from the closure list after intense community backlash. The revised proposal was unveiled during a public meeting of the Philadelphia Board of Education that drew a crowd of more than 1,000 people, with additional space opened to handle the overflow. Before the session began, parents and other community members assembled outside the districts headquarters, chanting save our schools, while board members inside prepared to consider the updated plan. Students and teachers from schools slated for closure warned that the plan would destabilize communities and accelerate the crumbling of city neighborhoods. One student addressing the board urged officials not to sell us out to pay your debts. A second town hall has been scheduled for March 12 with representatives from all affected schools, featuring 60 speakers from the general public and 30 student speakers. Residents will also be able to submit their comments online. Residents have also raised concerns about what will happen to school buildings once they are closed, with several properties slated for transfer to the city for redevelopment or other uses, fueling fears that public school buildings will ultimately be converted into private real estate projects. These concerns are compounded by a lack of transparency in the process, with serious questions remaining about behind-the-scenes involvement of real estate developers in decisions that will reshape neighborhoods across the city. This tension reflects a broader contradiction at the heart of Philadelphia: a city home to immense wealth concentrated among developers, finance capital, and major health and education corporations, yet one where students continue to endure deteriorating buildings, asbestos exposure and overcrowded classrooms. The last major wave of school closures in Philadelphia, carried out in the early 2010s, demonstrated the consequences of such policies. Roughly 30 neighborhood schools were shut down, displacing thousands of students. Research later found that displaced students experienced increased absenteeism, higher suspension rates and declines in academic performance after being reassigned to new schools. Despite widespread opposition among parents and educators, and the fact that many of its members will lose their jobs in school consolidation, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) has offered no genuine resistance to the plancomplaining only about the manner in which it has been presented. PFT President Arthur Steinberg wrote to city officials that the plan does not provide sufficient detail or data to justify closures. The union has organized no protests, much less strike action or a citywide campaign to mobilize educators and parents against the plan. The fact that there is no opposition from the PFT is not a mystery. The union is an adjunct member of the same Democratic Party that controls the mayors office and 14 of the 17 seats on city council, which in turn appoints the school board, which in turn appoints the very school administration that is imposing the closures. The entire set-up is controlled by the Democratic Party from beginning to end. The treacherous role of the PFT bureaucracy was demonstrated during last years contract struggle between teachers and the district. Philadelphia educators voted overwhelmingly to authorize strike action after months of negotiations over wages, staffing levels and deteriorating working conditions. The vote reflected deep anger among teachers over chronic underfunding and increasing workloads. Yet just days before the start of the school year, union leaders reached a tentative agreement with the district that halted preparations for a strike. The contract included modest wage increases while leaving many of the underlying issues confronting teachers unresolved. The unstated quid pro quo between the PFT and the city administration was that the union would not oppose school closures in any restructuring plan. By presenting the agreement as necessary to maintain labor peace, the union leadership shut down the possibility of a broader struggle that could have united educators, parents and students against austerity policies in the school system. The lesson must be drawn: The defense of public education in Philadelphia cannot be entrusted to the union apparatus or the Democratic Party that controls both it and the school board. Teachers, school staff, parents and students must organize independently to oppose school closures and demand full funding for public education. Rank-and-file committees formed in every school can unite educators with broader sections of the working class confronting austerity measures in transportation, healthcare and other public services. Teachers forming such committees would not be starting from scratch. During last summers powerful strike by Philadelphia municipal workers, which nearly brought the city to a standstill before being sold out in the dead of night by AFSCME District Council 33 and the Democratic Party, the Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee was founded to demand the resumption and expansion of the strike, including to public school teachers. The defense of public education, like municipal services, transit and living standards, requires that workers organize together in rank-and-file committees, independent of the trade union apparatus that works to block and betray their struggles. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article Unregulated botanical products: the hidden risks of convenience store supplements. Muhamad explores the dangerous misconception that natural equals safe, revealing how consumers unknowingly ingest substances with opioid-like effects sold as wellness products. He highlights the conflict between Americans fear of addiction and their trust in sleek, unregulated marketing that promises relief without consequences. The conversation examines the regulatory mixed signals and the critical need for clinicians to screen for these products during visits. Muhamad advocates for intellectual honesty in medicine and clearer governance to protect families from the spiral of dependence. Discover why addiction often walks through a wellness door and how to spot the risks before it is too late. 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 Muhamad Aly Rifai, psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist. Todays KevinMD article is Unregulated botanical products: the hidden risks of convenience store supplements. Muhamad, welcome back to the show. Muhamad Aly Rifai: Thank you very much for having me to talk about this timely topic. The unregulated botanical products are a concern. As a psychiatrist, an internist, and somebody who deals with addiction medicine, I deal with these products on a daily basis. I feel it is very important to talk to the public about these products and the hidden dangers. We must discuss how we can alert the public and alert our patients about the dangers of some of these products. Kevin Pho: All right, so tell us more. What products are we exactly talking about? Muhamad Aly Rifai: We have seen an explosion of botanical products that are available in convenience stores, gas stations, and vape shops. These come in a variety of formulations. You see these sleek bottles that are energy bottles. You see gummies, shots, pills, and powders. These are all products that are marketed to adolescents and adults as something that would give them more energy. Basically, you see a convenience store clerk acting as an advisor for unknown botanical and natural products. Sometimes we see patients trusting that convenience store or vape shop clerk more than their physicians about these products that they use on a regular basis, sometimes with catastrophic consequences. Kevin Pho: It is funny you say that. Sometimes when I try suggesting a prescription medication to patients, they would rather not take the prescription medicine. They will take something over the counter or something they find at a grocery store. Just because it says it is natural doesnt mean it is safe, right? Muhamad Aly Rifai: Yes. As a psychiatrist, I know Americans have two competing beliefs at once. They fear addiction. They dont want to be addicted to something. But they also romanticize the next shiny alternative things. They distrust institutions. They distrust us as physicians, but they also will trust a stranger who is behind a counter and who speaks with a cocky confidence. People will listen to that. They will doubt our prescriptions, but they will believe a shiny bottle that they drink for five-hour energy, concentration, or to help pain. These are things that have zero clinical trials, but people do trust them. The American Psychiatric Association actually conducted a national poll that showed that only 19 percent of Americans even recognize a widely sold botanical product called kratom. So only one out of five even recognize what that product is. Less than 8 percent of adults really felt any familiarity with other substances that are being sold in vape shops or convenience stores. Basically, there is no knowledge whatsoever. I think that it is very important for us physicians to educate our patients not to engage with these products because they carry significant adverse effects. Kevin Pho: So in these energy shots that you find in convenience stores, I have always thought that it was just caffeine. But if you look at the ingredients, there is more than just caffeine in them. So what exactly is in the shots that you find in convenience stores? Muhamad Aly Rifai: There is a variety of products. Some of them they call kava. We are finding out that a lot of these products have either kratom, mitragynine, or 7-hydroxymitragynine, known as 7-OH. I find it hard to believe, but there is some data showing that even my colleagues who are physicians engaged in the treatment of individuals with pain conditions permit their patients to utilize kratom products with opiates. I have seen several patients who are on opiate products, and because of a lack of knowledge or a lack of understanding, their pain management doctors allowed them to transition or supplement with kratom or 7-OH. This created a significantly dangerous situation because we now have two medications that are affecting the opiate receptors. Basically, what ends up happening is these people develop dependence on opiate products. It is very hard for us to get them off these opiate products. They require maintenance with buprenorphine, for example, for a long period of time for us to be able to get them off the kratom and the 7-OH. Kevin Pho: So you are saying that sometimes with these energy shots that you could get in a drugstore or a convenience store, they have kratom and kratom-based derivatives that are habit-forming. So conceivably, these patients can take a daily energy shot and find it difficult to stop that habit. Muhamad Aly Rifai: Absolutely. It is not just drinks. It comes in powders, pills, and leaves. Sometimes people just utilize them as teas and as pills and products where they dont understand what it is doing to them. We are seeing a significant increase in the number of people who are calling poison control and who are struggling with these medications. I see that as someone who treats individuals with addiction. Basically, we have to treat them in an addiction unit to be able to wean them off these medications. Kevin Pho: What kind of regulations are there surrounding these types of supplements? How do we know what is inside these energy shots is safe? Muhamad Aly Rifai: We do not know what is inside these products. That is the problem. We have a lot of companies that are marketing these products and making a significant amount of money from these products, and we dont know what is in them. Some of them will say kratom. Some of them will say 7-OH. We know that there are many states, up until now it is around ten states, that have banned 7-OH. That is a difficult situation because people view kratom and 7-OH similar to a product like cannabis, which also has a hybrid place. It is approved in many states for adult use, recreational use, and medicinal use, but continues to be on a Schedule I basis for the federal government, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the FDA. Now, the White House, to its credit, has talked about a path to move marijuana from Schedule I toward Schedule III, but that has not happened. The general public is really confused. They see these products in gas stations. They are unregulated, they utilize them, they are labeled safe, and they are labeled as giving energy, and then they become hooked on them. Not everybody becomes dependent on them. I think that there may be some genetic predisposition that makes people actually susceptible to becoming dependent on them. While not everybody becomes dependent, I think that we need to be careful and talk to our colleagues about counseling patients on these unregulated botanical products that they use on a regular basis. Kevin Pho: Are any of them safe? I think that in the exam room, when I am talking to patients about smoking and the use of illicit drugs, is there any over-the-counter botanical product that you feel comfortable recommending or feel comfortable with if a patient tells you they are taking it? Or are they under one blanket where we just dont know? Muhamad Aly Rifai: I put them under one blanket. I mean, I dont know what is in them. That is the problem when you just take that shiny bottle or shiny pill box or shiny leaves and you dont know what is in them. Companies will tell you: Well, we have third-party testers and we know this is going to be safe for you. But we dont know, and they are unregulated. The FDA has chosen not to regulate them. So I think that we need to alert our patients not to utilize anything. But our patients seek help and they want to use things that can help them with energy, concentration, and sleep, and that is why they end up with these products. Kevin Pho: And to be clear, other than a cup of coffee, there really isnt anything over the counter or supplement-based that could help with things like fatigue and concentration. There is no unicorn supplement that is out there. Muhamad Aly Rifai: There is no unicorn supplement. This is a wake-up call to us physicians and to our colleagues that we really need an updated operating model. We want to start asking our patients whether they are taking any over-the-counter unregulated products. We need to document them and screen for their use. You would be surprised. The thought is around 30 to 40 percent of our patients are using some over-the-counter unregulated product on a regular basis, whether it is vitamins or some of these other products. If we are not asking about them, we are missing them. I can tell you so many times we see that a lot of our patients are taking things that are not listed on their medication lists and that have significant drug-drug interactions. Kevin Pho: We are talking to Muhamad Aly Rifai, psychiatrist, internist, and addiction medicine specialist. Todays KevinMD article is Unregulated botanical products: the hidden risks of convenience store supplements. Muhamad, as always, lets end with take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience. Muhamad Aly Rifai: I wrote this piece because I want a different future. I want a culture where our patients understand that there are over-the-counter addictive products that are engineered experiences. They are not harmless lifestyle changes; they are harmful. I also want my fellow clinicians to lead with curiosity and ask their patients about their utilization of over-the-counter botanical products. Every patient who brings a bottle to a visit should do that without fear and talk to their physician about it. Show it to your physician and have a discussion because I think these are dangerous products and we need to alert our patients because they will cause significant addiction issues for the future. Kevin Pho: Muhamad, thank you so much again for sharing your perspective and insight. Thanks again for coming back on the show. Muhamad Aly Rifai: My pleasure. Thank you. When it comes to the royal family, theres never a shortage of photos. Between official outings, milestone celebrations and birthday portraits, Buckingham Palace does a pretty great job of keeping royal watchers in the loop. And their recent post is no exception. The palace recently shared a carousel of photos from Duchess Sophies outing and the first image in the set is especially striking. The lead photo shows the Duchess of Edinburgh seated between two young boys, looking ahead with a huge smile across her face. Her mouth is open mid-laugh, her cheeks lifted high, and the whole moment feels refreshingly candid. Its the kind of spontaneous snapshot we dont always see in official royal photography, and the joy practically jumps off the screen. The rest of the carousel highlights moments from Sophies one-day visit to Northern Ireland. During the trip, the duchess stopped by a newly opened autism center in Randalstown, County Antrim, and also attended a Women in Leadership event held at the towns library. Advertisement Advertisement "The Duchess of Edinburgh has visited Northern Ireland!," the palace captioned the post. "As Patron, HRH opened the new @nationalautisticsociety_ni centre and heard from families about the support this special space will provide," the caption continued. "At Randalstown Library, The Duchess met community groups and those who have taken part in a Women in Leadership Programme. HRH learnt about local initiatives to encourage wellbeing and connection at Walkways Community Centre." The post concluded, "As Patron, The Duchess also met @guidedogsni volunteers who are celebrating 40 years of the charity in Northern Ireland." The visit marked a notable return for Duchess Sophie, who hadnt traveled to the region in nearly a decade. Advertisement Advertisement And, of course, the royal didnt disappoint in the style department either. For the outing, Sophie opted for a nearly monochromatic look, pairing a maroon dress with matching pointed-toe heels and a coordinating handbag, all topped off with a classic brown blazer. Effortless, polished and perfectly royal. Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Subscribe here. Duchess Sophie Stuns in Chic Separates & Its the Perfect Inspo for a Winter Wardrobe Refresh 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. NEED TO KNOW Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to visit Australia in mid-April, a spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE The couple last visited the continent in 2018 and announced on the trip that Meghan was pregnant with their son, Prince Archie The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hinted at returning to Australia in a letter written to a celebrity astrologer in November Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are returning to Australia for the first time since they stepped down as working royals. On Sunday, March 8, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they will be visiting Australia in mid-April, marking their first visit to the continent in over seven years. Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the couple said in a statement to PEOPLE, "Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will visit Australia in mid-April to take part in a number of private, business, and philanthropic engagements. Further details will be shared in due course." While the official engagements Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, will attend have not been shared publicly at this time, it is believed that they will visit Sydney and Melbourne during their trip, News.com.au reported. The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, will not be joining them in Australia. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, in October 2018 Credit: Paul Edwards - Pool/Getty Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Prince Harry and Meghan last visited the country in October 2018 as the Invictus Games were held in Sydney. During the trip, which came five months after their wedding, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child. Advertisement Advertisement They stepped down as working members of the royal family 18 months later and moved from the U.K. to California. In November 2025, Prince Harry and Meghan hinted that they would be returning to Australia soon in a letter written to Australian celebrity astrologer Angela Pearl, whom they visited while in New York City. In the partially redacted letter, shared by Pearl on Instagram, the couple wrote, Dear Angela. We wanted to thank you for joining us(redacted). Your energy and insight were such a welcome addition ... we hope your family in Ukraine remain safe, and we look forward to staying in touch especially as we look to visit Australia again." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit Amman, Jordan, on Feb. 26 Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Prince Harry and Meghans upcoming trip to Australia comes after they went to Jordan in February. The two-day humanitarian visit was made in partnership with the World Health Organization, not on behalf of the U.K. government. Advertisement Advertisement During their trip, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex met with medical evacuees from Gaza and visited a refugee camp. They also visited the King Hussein Cancer Centre, which focuses on comprehensive cancer care, research, early detection and prevention. The couple's Jordan visit came nearly one week after the arrest of Harrys uncle, ex-Prince Andrew. Prince Harry and Meghan previously visited Nigeria and Colombia for philanthropic causes in 2024. The couple was invited to Nigeria by Nigeria's Chief of Defense Staff, where they met with service members and participated in a variety of cultural activities, which were poignant for Meghan, who has 43% Nigerian heritage. Advertisement Advertisement The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Colombia at the invitation of Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez, where they met with activists and community members, along with Colombia's Invictus Games competitors. Read the original article on People The Gist Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced their next international visit. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit Australia in April, according to a spokesperson for the couple. The two just returned in late February from a two-day humanitarian visit to Jordan. Fresh off of a two-day humanitarian trip to Jordan in late February, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced where theyre headed nextand its a place theyve been before. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to visit Australia in April, a spokesperson for the couple confirmed, over seven years after they last visited in October 2018just months after their royal wedding that May. As that trip kicked off, Harry and Meghan announced that they were expecting their first child; Prince Archie would make his debut on May 6, 2019. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Sydney, Australia on October 16, 2018 Credit: Getty Though in 2018 they undertook a tour of the country as working members of the royal family, The Telegraph reported that Harry and Meghan will head Down Under this time as private citizens to take part in business and philanthropic engagements. Advertisement Advertisement Harry and Meghan will visit both Sydney and Melbourne, and their trip has the potential to overlap with King Charles and Queen Camillas planned state visit to the U.S., which will also take place in April. The Telegraph reported that Harry and Meghans visit will likely coincide with the King and Queens visit to the country where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Sydney, Australia on October 19, 2018 Credit: Getty The Telegraph reported that Harry and Meghans visit has been in the works for around a year, and a spokesperson added that Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, will not join their parents in Australia, as they will be in school at the time. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Sydney, Australia on October 27, 2018 Credit: Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on October 17, 2018 Credit: Getty Among the couples appearances Down Under include a rumored appearance for Meghan on the Her Best Life podcast, and Harrys likely focus on Australias armed forces and veterans communities. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on October 17, 2018 Credit: Getty Advertisement Advertisement In 2018, Harry and Meghan visited not just Australia but also New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga on a two-week tour, and Harry spoke at the time of his joy at being able to announce their baby news in Australia, saying he could not think of a better place to tell the world, The Telegraph reported. Read the original article on InStyle China is committed to pushing forward its high-quality development, with a focus on economic structural optimization and quality enhancement as outlined in the country's new five-year plan, the nation's top economic regulator said on Saturday. Zheng Bei, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, made the remarks at a news conference in Beijing while elaborating on the key points of the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development. Highlighting the strong focus on high-quality development, Zheng said the draft outline describes the GDP growth target set for the next five years as staying "within a reasonable range, with annual adjustments based on circumstances". This target is designed to steer all stakeholders toward pursuing tangible growth, thereby leaving necessary policy space for shifting the growth model, making structural adjustments and deepening reforms, she said. As a pivotal step in China's pursuit of high-quality growth, the development of new quality productive forces is prioritized in the draft outline, with policymakers emphasizing the integration of technological and industrial innovation. Bai Jingyu, director of the NDRC's department of innovation and high-tech development, said the country will strengthen fundamental research and adopt a strategic, forward-thinking and systematic paradigm. "We will enhance the involvement of enterprises in national major technological innovation decisions, focusing on the key common technological needs of businesses in national science and technology programs," Bai said, underscoring the efforts to solidify the central role of enterprises in technological innovation. Against the backdrop of an accelerating technological revolution and industrial transformation, the emergence of new technologies, industries and business models presents China with "unprecedented opportunities" for advancing its modernization drive, Bai added. According to the draft outline, authorities will fully implement the "AI Plus" initiative, fostering the deep integration of artificial intelligence with scientific innovation, industrial development, culture, public welfare and social governance. The goal is to "seize the commanding heights of AI industrial applications" and comprehensively "empower a wide range of sectors", it said. Pan Jiaofeng, a deputy to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institutes of Science and Development, said the rise of emerging sectors has given China significant global advantages. "We've seen the booming development of the 'new trio' electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products. In the next five years, another 'new trio' is expected to emerge," he said. Yuan Da, secretary-general of the NDRC, said that strengthening the domestic market will be among priorities, with policies aimed at expanding domestic demand, optimizing supply and streamlining domestic circulation. He highlighted the importance of improving and expanding the service sector, refining the policy support system and addressing weak points in the productive services industry. Carl Fey, a professor of strategy at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway, said that China has "room to increase domestic consumption, because Chinese people save a larger percentage of their income than people in many other countries". Today co-anchor Savannah Guthries mom, Nancy Guthrie, remains missing more than a month after the abduction from her Tucson, Ariz., homeand recently, the Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) weighed in on a new piece of evidence. On Sunday, Mar. 8, Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiztook to X with an update on the 84-year-old's missing case. SIGN UP for Parades Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox "It's now been five weeks since Nancy Guthrie's suspected abduction," he began the post. "A PCSD spokesperson tells me investigators are aware of this damaged utility box around the corner from her home." Advertisement Advertisement Ruiz then quoted the spokesperson, writing, "It is being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation. At this time, we do not have any additional details to release. Additionally, Ruiz shared a photo of the damaged utility box in question. Good morning from Tucson, Its now been five weeks since Nancy Guthries suspected abduction. A PCSD spokesperson tells me investigators are aware of this damaged utility box around the corner from her home. It is being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation. https://t.co/GKLBkBgjwU Michael Ruiz (@mikerreports) March 8, 2026 Related: Savannah Guthries Mom Nancy Update: Ring CEO Faces Backlash After Bold Claim Body Found at Phoenix Canal On Mar. 6, Ruiz reported via X that the PCSD "has not been advised of any law enforcement activity at the canal in Phoenix this morning being connected to the Nancy Guthrie case." That day, police in Phoenix announced the investigation of the death of a woman found along a canal, Fox 10 Phoenix reported. The department received a call at roughly 7:40 a.m. local time on Friday, Mar. 6, about the body. Advertisement Advertisement Details on the call indicated that an adult female was on the nearby canal bank and was unresponsive, a police statement said. When officers arrived, they located the woman, who was ultimately pronounced deceased on scene. PCSD says it has not been advised of any law enforcement activity at the canal in Phoenix this morning being connected to the Nancy Guthrie case. Michael Ruiz (@mikerreports) March 6, 2026 When Did the Police Begin Searching for Nancy Guthrie? On Feb. 1, the PCSD began its search for Nancy after she was last seen at her Catalina Foothills home in Tucson on Jan. 31. Savannah and her siblings, Annie and Camron, have since posted several video messages to the potential captor(s) after receiving multiple alleged ransom notes. Most recently, Savannah offered a $1 million reward for any information leading to Nancys return. Those with any information about Nancys missing case are advised to contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Related: Savannah Guthrie's Mom Nancy Update: New Search Plans Revealed This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Bill Maher pulled a fast one on California Sen. Adam Schiff while discussing the attacks on Iran leading the Democrat to inadvertently throw shade at the Obama administration. On his show Real Time Friday, Maher read a 2011 quote from the Obama camp about presidential power in authorizing military strikes without naming the former commander-in-chief. 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. Thats too vague for you? Maher asked Schiff, who has loudly opposed Trumps decision to strike Iran without congressional approval. Maher disguised a 2011 quote from the Obama administration on Libya as the Trump administrations justification for their involvement in the Iran conflict. Totally vague, the senator replied confidently. Advertisement Advertisement OK. Because thats from Obama about Libya, the host revealed. Well, Obama made the argument, um, initially that he could go into Syria without an authorization, the senator said while trying to gather himself, adding that he opposed the move. I and many others pushed back on that argument. Ultimately, he did not go forward with going after [former Syrian President] 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, uh, that was important to [Obama], and the fact that he did not have the support of Congress meant that we werent going to go forward, Schiff concluded. Adam Schiff crosses his hands while speaking on Bill Mahers show. The senator said earlier this week that he was going to force a vote in Congress to prevent Trump from abusing his power, after joint US-Israeli strikes last week killed Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with 40 top security and regime officials. There was no imminent threat to justify starting a war with Iran, he said. Instead, Donald Trump chose the path of more chaos with American lives on the line. Im joining my colleagues in forcing a vote to stop the president from abusing his power. FAIRFIELD - Tomas Koeck was in Rhode Island on a family trip in 2019 when his cousins asked if he wanted to go snorkeling off the coast of the Ocean State. "Diving in New England," said Koeck, of Fairfield. "Is that something that we can do? Is that something that's even worth it?" Then he jumped into the water, which he said was so clear he could see up to 30 feet in front of him. Flounder, striped bass and schools of smaller fish swam around him while blue crabs sat beneath him. Advertisement Advertisement "I couldn't get that out of my head," he said. That snorkeling trip is what inspired Koeck to create the four-part docuseries "Ocean State: Rhode Island's Wild Coast" which aired its first episode on PBS Jan. 9 and will continue to release until 2027. It's available to stream online on www.oceanstatemedia.org and PBS. His docuseries explores the "the rich marine life, coastal communities, and conservation efforts that define the Ocean State," according to PBS' website. The first episode features seagrass meadows in the region. Koeck has been involved with other PBS projects, including going on assignment with PBS Nature and Natural Geographic while a student at Sacred Heart University. He graduated in 2022 and earned a master's degree in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement "They let me do what I wanted to do," Koeck said. Koeck has also created his own documentaries focused on the environment, through his film production company, SilentFlight Studios. He has gone on assignments in the Arctic and Costa Rica. However, the "home front" is something Koeck said was "largely unobserved, unrecognized and uncelebrated." "We need to make sure we protect our own backyards," Koeck said. To film the episodes, he hopped aboard vessels belonging to different environmental and conservation organizations while members of those organizations went out to do their own research projects. Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes, though, getting a shot he needed is a game of luck and patience, no matter how many backup plans he has if something doesn't pan out. On a fortuitous trip, Koeck was interviewing the director of the Atlantic Shark Institute when a fishing line began to go out, indicating a shark was on the line. Some days Koeck wasn't so lucky, though, and he and the crew would wait hours and sometimes return to shore with nothing to show for it. "We're constantly figuring out how to catch the wildlife in a moment where they're doing something interesting or if we're just getting lucky," Koeck said. Advertisement Advertisement Koeck studied at Penn State for two years, but realized in State College that he'd much rather be out in the world and "showcasing nature" instead of sitting in a lab. That's when he went to Sacred Heart University. Koeck said he wants his studio and films to help get more young people interested in the environment. "Numbers don't lie," he said, lamenting that the number of species becoming at risk or extinct are growing. To that end, Koeck said he hoped the docuseries fights the notion that New England is tame or "over explored." "The wild is not as far away as you think," Koeck said. This article originally published at Fairfield native's nature docuseries airs on PBS: 'The wild is not as far away as you think'. Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments spinoff is set in the Republic of Gilead but is it a real place? Based on Margaret Atwoods novel of the same name, The Handmaid's Tale, which aired from 2017 to 2025, took place in a dystopian future where low fertility rates led women to be assigned to men for bearing children. The series starred Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, O-T Fagbenle, Max Minghella, Samira Wiley and Amanda Brugel. On screen, the show explained Gilead as an area formed following a Second American Civil War. Advertisement Advertisement The Republic of Gilead covered parts of what used to be the U.S. with complete occupation taking place in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Meet the Cast of Hulus Spinoff The Testaments Including The Handmaids Tale Alums Other areas are considered disputed territory while the remaining American government fled to Canada with some American refugees. Off screen, filming on the series largely took place in Toronto, Mississauga, Brantford, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville and Cambridge, Ontario. The second season featured many of the same locations while season 3 included scenes in Washington, D.C. Disney/Steve Wilkie The Handmaid's Tale is expanding its TV universe with The Testaments, which is narrated by Ann Dowd's Aunt Lydia as viewers are thrust back into the dystopian future with characters such as Agnes from Gilead and Daisy from Canada as they secretly gather and smuggle incriminating information about Gilead's regime out of the country. Agnes and Daisy pose as "Pearl Girls" to infiltrate Canada, while Aunt Lydia acts as a covert source within Gilead. Advertisement Advertisement "We are making The Testaments, and its not going to track precisely, creator Bruce Miller told TVLine in 2022. Margaret writes these absolutely deliciously specific characters. We had to go away from that in Handmaids, and were going to have to go away from that in Testaments. Testaments is certainly going to be a sequel to the show. What to Know About The Handmaids Tale Spinoff The Testaments: Returning Cast Members, Release Date and More More recently, The Handmaid's Tale showrunner Yahlin Chang teased how the show set up spinoff The Testaments, telling TV Insider in March 2025, "For sure, there will be cliffhangers for The Testaments, so it doesnt conclude everything." The sixth season of The Handmaid's Tale wrapped up certain plot points in some very satisfying ways. Advertisement Advertisement "Any fans that are left wanting more are going to get more in The Testaments, which will be great for them," Chang continued. "But it does conclude in some very satisfying ways many of the story lines, but not every single one." The Testaments premieres April 8 on Hulu. Late-night comedian Bill Maher said hes cautiously optimistic about President Trumps ongoing military operation against Iran, unless he puts boots on the ground. I just dont get what liberals dont get about liberation, he said during Fridays episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, adding that he sees so much happiness from the Iranian people. How about this? This was a fascist theocracy, and nothing in the Middle East was ever going to get better while they were still there fing everything up, he said. Advertisement Advertisement The comedian also ridiculed former Vice President Harriss opposition to regime change in Iran during his monologue. Donald Trump is dragging the United States into a war the American people do not want, Harris posted last week on social platform X. Maher quipped, And who knows more about what the American people dont want? Joint strikes launched by the U.S. and Israeli militaries on Iran have bombarded Tehran and killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump said Saturday that the country will be hit very hard as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian continues to resist U.S. demands for an unconditional surrender. Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has not ruled out launching ground operations in Iran as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the U.S. currently does not have troops in the country during a press briefing on Monday, but he said, were not going to go into the exercise of what we will or will not do. I think its one of those fallacies for a long time that this department or presidents or others should tell the American enemies, by the way, heres exactly what, heres exactly how long well go, heres exactly how far well go, heres what were willing to do and not do its foolishness, the secretary added. Maher during his show acknowledged that some viewers probably expected him to oppose the strikes, like many Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Now, have you expected me to say I hate it? I dont! Sorry! he said, reiterating, When he puts boots on the ground, yeah, then Ill hate it. On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that sending in U.S. troops would be a big disaster for them. We have prepared ourselves to confront with any scenario, with any eventuality, with any possibility, and we know that we can handle that, Araghchi told NBCs Tom Llamas. Additionally, Aragchi dismissed concerns that the Iranian regime would target the American homeland, saying they are focused on targeting U.S. bases in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Trump did less to assuage such concerns, saying I guess in response to a question from TIME Magazine journalist Eric Cortellessa about whether Americans should fear retaliatory strikes on the U.S. But I think theyre worried about that all the time, he continued. We think about it all the 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. Six U.S. service members were killed during Iranian counter drone strikes in Kuwait last weekend, the State Department confirmed. Trump will participate in a dignified transfer ceremony commemorating these soldiers later on Saturday. 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. "Saturday Night Live" went straight for the jugular, opening with a brutal send-up of President Donald Trump's decision to boot Kristi Noem from her post as Homeland Security secretary. Colin Jost played Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a mock press briefing, casually informing reporters that Noem had been "reassigned under the bus." Moments later, Ashley Padilla strutted in as Noem to set the record straight. "I just want to make it clear that I didn't get fired," she insisted. "I self-deported." Advertisement Advertisement Padilla's Noem called her DHS exit "bittersweet," joking she had to turn in her "badge, gun, lips, lashes, teeth and forehead." She added her new office would be in a WeWork outside Denver. TMZ As we reported ... Trump announced Noem's termination last week in a social media post, tapping Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as her replacement. The shake-up followed a tense Senate hearing where Noem faced tough questions from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who criticized her leadership. Toxic bosses or any type of person in a leadership position are like the flu we've probably, unluckily dealt with once or twice. Research has shown that more than 70% of employees have suffered through a toxic boss at some point. A toxic boss is more than just strict or demanding; they usually also make their employees feel inferior, manipulate them, and ultimately damage the workplace culture. Sadly, not all leaders inspire and uplift as they should. Instead, some create negativity that turns a good work environment into a stressful, miserable, and anxious place for everyone. How you get along with your boss can impact your career growth, daily happiness, and even how well you get along with others at work and, sometimes, in life. Recognizing the signs of a toxic boss is helpful when navigating one's career and maintaining personal well-being. You will recognize toxic bosses by both their actions and words in the workplace. Advertisement Advertisement Here are the tell-tale signs that your boss is positively toxic. 1. They Thrive on Micromanagement Image Credit: Shutterstock. Have you had a boss who hovers over your shoulder when trying to complete a task or requires a minute-by-minute report of your progress? That is typical micromanagement, and it's a hallmark sign of a toxic boss. If your boss obsesses over your work to the extent that you feel you have no freedom or autonomy, it's a red flag. This behavior squashes creativity and significantly impacts your confidence and job satisfaction. Micromanagement shows a lack of trust in employees. It also hinders creativity and productivity, causing employees to feel like they are constantly walking on eggshells. 2. Constant Criticism Image Credit: Deposit Photos. Criticism, unlike revenge, is best served warm and friendly. Toxic bosses often resort to negative criticism, constantly criticizing their employees' work without offering constructive feedback. They may also belittle their employees, making them feel incompetent and worthless. Advertisement Advertisement This constant criticism can cause low self-esteem and a lack of confidence in one's abilities. Employees may start to doubt themselves and feel unmotivated, leading to a decline in job performance. A good boss should offer constructive feedback and support to help employees improve, not constantly tear them down. 3. Lack of Communication Image Credit: Deposit Photos. Communication is a crucial aspect of any workplace, and a toxic boss often lacks transparency and fails to communicate effectively with their team. A boss who withholds important information or makes decisions without consulting their employees is toxic. This leads to confusion among employees, who may feel left in the dark and unimportant. It can cause misunderstandings and mistakes, which could be avoided with better communication. A good boss communicates openly with their team, ensuring everyone is on the same page and feels valued. 4. They Show Favoritism Image Credit: Deposit Photos. A toxic boss often plays favorites, showing preferential treatment to certain employees. They will make others feel left out on purpose to give those they like a head start. This will most likely cause resentment and division among team members. Advertisement Advertisement A good boss treats all employees fairly without favoritism or bias towards certain individuals. They recognize the strengths and contributions of each team member and provide equal growth opportunities. 5. They Have Double Standards Image Credit: Deposit Photos. Have you met a boss who requires everyone to be in the office at a certain time, only for them to stroll in when they feel like it? A toxic boss often holds their employees to a different standard than themselves. They may expect their team to work long hours and complete tasks quickly, but they themselves constantly take time off or fail to meet deadlines. Such behavior may even make employees defiant when they know the boss doesn't do as he says. A good boss leads by example and holds themselves accountable for the same standards they set for their team. 6. They Lack Empathy Image Credit: Deposit Photos. The office isn't a place where people hang their personal lives at the door when they get in; some of life's problems follow us there. A toxic boss will display no empathy towards their employees' struggles or personal issues. They might ignore their employees' worries or feelings, or even demand that they don't show their heartaches. Advertisement Advertisement This can lead to a negative and unsupportive work environment where employees feel unheard and unvalued. A good boss recognizes that the employees are humans with personal lives outside of work. 7. They Bully Others Image Credit: Shutterstock. Some bullies left middle school and became bosses. A toxic boss may engage in bullying behavior towards their employees, both verbally and emotionally. They may use verbal abuse, intimidation tactics, or even threats to get what they want from their team. This type of behavior can cause immense stress and anxiety for employees. A leader at work should lead respectfully and treat their team with dignity. Having a title isn't a right to behave like a slave driver. 8. They Steal Credit Image Credit: Deposit Photos. You come up with all the ideas and make a mind-blowing presentation, only for James, the operations manager, to take all the credit. A bad boss might claim your efforts and successes as their own, causing you to feel discouraged and unmotivated. Advertisement Advertisement This behavior can diminish your enthusiasm for taking on new projects or initiatives. A good boss gives credit where it's due and recognizes their team's contributions. They understand the importance of uplifting and acknowledging their employees' efforts. 9. They Overwork Employees Image Credit: Shutterstock. Regularly insisting that employees work long hours, skip breaks, or take work home without concern for their work-life balance is a sign of a toxic boss. They may not care about their team's well-being and prioritize their own goals above everything else. Overworking employees can lead to burnout, fatigue, and an unhealthy work-life balance. A good boss respects their employees' time and emphasizes the importance of balancing work and personal life for everyone on the team. 10. They Lack Appreciation Image Credit: Shutterstock. The employees are getting paid to do the job, but a simple "thank you, well done" makes a huge difference in their morale. A toxic boss often fails to acknowledge their employees' hard work or offer any appreciation for their efforts. They don't recognize accomplishments and milestones, leaving employees feeling undervalued and demotivated. Advertisement Advertisement This can lead to a lack of job satisfaction and even cause talented employees to seek opportunities elsewhere. A good boss recognizes the importance of regularly expressing gratitude and appreciation to their team. 11. They Like Gaslighting Employees Image Credit: Deposit Photos. Have you been manipulated into questioning your own reality or judgment? This is called gaslighting, and it's a form of emotional and psychological abuse. A toxic boss may use gaslighting tactics to avoid accountability or make employees feel incompetent or crazy. A boss who denies facts, blames others for their mistakes, and makes employees doubt their perceptions is most likely toxic. A quality leader owns their decisions and engages transparently with their team. They prioritize trust and honesty in the office and foster a nurturing work environment. 12. They Resort to Public Humiliation Image Credit: Deposit Photos. If an employee makes a mistake, the humane way to handle it is to call them privately and admonish or find out what happened. Criticizing or berating employees in front of their colleagues is humiliating. A good boss will seek solutions to issues and maintain an employee's dignity while doing so. Advertisement Advertisement Public humiliation can destroy an individual's confidence and create a workplace culture of fear and silence. A good boss values their employees' reputation and ensures that mistakes are handled respectfully and professionally. 13. They're Unapproachable Image Credit: Deposit Photos. A toxic leadership style is indicated by employees feeling unable to approach their boss with questions, concerns, or ideas for fear of criticism or dismissal. An unapproachable boss creates an environment where problems go unsolved and innovation is stifled. A good boss fosters an open-door policy where employees feel comfortable approaching them with any issues or suggestions. 14. Lack of Professional Development Support Image Credit: Deposit Photos. A toxic boss not only overlooks the immediate needs of their employees but also neglects their long-term career growth and professional development. They may withhold opportunities for training, fail to provide mentorship, or keep their team members stuck in the same roles for years without the chance for advancement. Advertisement Advertisement Being stagnant is demoralizing and detrimental to ones professional trajectory. A good boss acts as a champion for their employees and encourages continuous learning. They provide their team with the necessary resources and support to develop new skills and progress in their careers. Source All systems were green for the annual St. Patricks Day Parade, a 2-mile procession that wanders down the Atlantic City Boardwalk to celebrate Irelands favorite saint and to shake off the tourist economy's winter doldrums. This year's parade, held March 7, was the 38th to be held since its advent. This years event was expected to be the largest. Members of the volunteer parade committee counted more than a dozen bands from around the Delaware Valley, more than 100 groups, such as Knights of Columbus members from the area, and tens of thousands of spectators. Advertisement Advertisement More: Bridgeton woman misses court hearing, may be in ICE custody Mayor Marty Small Sr. and his wife had their own float, but spent a lot of time walking, swinging from sideline to sideline to greet spectators. The town is packed, Small said. The weather held up. Can we say, Great day?' The pre-parade work typically starts on St. James Place, at or near the Irish Pub. Longtime owner Cathy Burke is a past parade grand marshal and a parade committee volunteer. The St. Patrick's Day Parade includes the popular tradition of tossing candy and souvenirs to spectators. The 2026 parade was held Saturday on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. March 7, 2026. For this parade, members of the Atlantic County chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a centuries old-Irish fraternal organization, gave Burke a plaque recognizing her efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Committee Vice President Trish Mooney also received one. Her father and brother are past grand marshals. St. Patricks Day is special every year, at any location, wherever you have it," Burke said. "But we are especially privileged to be here on this magnificent boardwalk. I mean, there is no greater place in the world to have a parade than the boardwalk in Atlantic City. More: South Jersey sheriff sees strong demand for church security training Ive been on the parade committee for several years, Mooney said. And the Irish Pub, Cathy Burke? Family to me. The parade raises money through a 50-50 raffle, with the drawing usually at the Irish Pub. The pub was closed for this parade, however, for renovations. Advertisement Advertisement The raffle tickets cost $100, and the payouts that come out of pot are handsome. Mooney said $30,000 was raised, with $10,000 put aside as a first prize. Ventnor resident Erin Mooney, a nurse at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, won the $10,000. Second-place and third-place prizes were $3,000 and $2,000, respectively. Many generations, much fun at St. Patrick's Day Parade on the Atlantic City Boardwalk on Saturday. March 7, 2026. Mooney said committee members last year had a trip to Ireland as the top prize. A 30-year-old city resident was the lucky one in that drawing. Fun and some candy were effective lures for families with children. Tossing candy from floats is a tradition, with some participants doing distribution runs on foot. Advertisement Advertisement Egg Harbor residents Jordan and Jessica Crawford brought their next generation in a stroller: daughters Regina and Grace, and son, Lou. Jordan Crawford said theyve come to the parade for a couple years now. They (kids) will tell you the candy thats tossed out, he said. But its always fun seeing all the floats and everything. How everybody does everything up. And its for the community. "Thats what its about. Mike Monichetti of Sea Isle City came with one of his sons. Mikey Jr. is autistic and loves the pageantry and music, his dad said. Mikeys big into music, he said. Like a lot of autistic children are. Advertisement Advertisement The music delivery on Saturday came from many sources, including the Duffy String Band, Brian Boru Pipe and Drums, Galena Brass Band, Fralinger String Band and the South Philly String Band. The grand marshal baton went to Daniel Gallagher, a local lawyer with deep family roots here. Gallagher, also a parade committee member, and his wife Denise walked together for the parade. The parade route started at 500 Boardwalk, near Ocean Resort, and ended at Albany Avenue. Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on housing, real estate, business, and development in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times. Have a tip? Support local journalism with a subscription. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Atlantic City opens boardwalk to St. Patrick's Day Parade Students searching for the perfect college may want to consider the availability of co-ops and internships. A co-op is a structured program in which students alternate academic semesters with full-time, paid work in their chosen field. This often extends college beyond a four-year time frame. The benefits, however, are many, including opportunities to gain real-world experience, develop professional skills and build career connections. Internships differ in that they are typically part time and can be incorporated into a students academic schedule. Students frequently receive college credit, so their graduation timeline is not delayed. Advertisement Advertisement Experience gained through co-ops and internships can be invaluable when students graduate and begin launching their careers. As a result, U.S. News & World Report conducted a survey asking college presidents, chief academic officers and deans to nominate institutions with outstanding co-op and internship programs. The results named several universities popular with New Jersey students. More: Colleges turn to AI to help decide who gets in | College Connection Northeastern University in Boston and Drexel University in Philadelphia earned the top two spots. Both are highly ranked national universities No. 46 and No. 80, respectively and have long been recognized for their extensive co-op programs. Georgia Tech, which placed third in nominations, offers hundreds of opportunities through its Global Research and Internship Program. The program facilitates work and research experiences in countries around the world with prestigious firms such as Amazon, Apple, Bayer, Bosch, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Google, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase and others. Advertisement Advertisement At American University in Washington, D.C., more than 86% of undergraduate students complete at least one internship before graduation. Students are allowed to be paid while also earning college credit. Popular options include placements with the federal government, such as the White House, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Department of Justice, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, international embassies and the National Park Service. More: Strategies to avoid crushing college debt | College Connection Bentley University, a business-focused institution just outside Boston, provides career-oriented internships to 95% of its students. Internships are reported to be the largest source of full-time employment for each graduating class. Its Office of International Education hosts programs in more than 25 countries, many of which include internships. Other colleges nominated for their co-op and internship programs include the University of Cincinnati, Rochester Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Berea College, Carnegie Mellon University, Elon University, Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Duke University, Agnes Scott College, Clemson University, Arizona State University, Endicott College, Berry College, Kettering University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Harvard University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Advertisement Advertisement Susan Alaimo is the founder & director of Collegebound Review, offering PSAT/SAT preparation & private college advising by Ivy League-educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: The best colleges for internships and co-ops About the event What: Claremore Coin Club show. When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 20 and 21. Where: Claremore American Legion Post 141, 2141 N. State Highway 88 in Claremore. Event highlights 1. Claremore started its own coin-collecting club last year through the Oklahoma Numismatic Association. Tim O'Keefe of Sand Springs, secretary-treasurer of the state association and board member of the Claremore club, said Claremore numismatist Richard McPheeters asked O'Keefe to help organize it. O'Keefe said the club, which has grown to about 30 members, meets the first Tuesday of the month at Claremore Community Center. Advertisement Advertisement 2. O'Keefe said the club will hold its first coin show March 20-21. He said to keep the first show at a manageable size, the club will offer only 20 tables to vendors. Vendors can reach the club by calling President Kelly West at 918-404-0729 or emailing arrcoofoklahoma@yahoo.com. 3. Admission to the show is free, O'Keefe said. People may buy, sell or trade with the vendors, he said, and may also ask vendors and coin club members to appraise the value of coins they've collected. 4. O'Keefe recommended people take cash to the coin show because the coin-collecting world is relatively low-tech. He said the American Legion will provide concessions. Why attend? Advertisement Advertisement Many people have coins lying around their home but don't know what they're worth, O'Keefe said. He said the coin show is a good chance to get their value appraised for free. O'Keefe has been building his coin collection nearly his whole life. He said when he and his brother were 8 and 9 years old, their father required them to find jobs and spend what they earn either on stamps or coins. He said he is fascinated both by the coins themselves and the stories fellow collectors have to share. "You'll learn stuff, you'll see some really cool stuff," O'Keefe said. "You'll see coins from all over the world up there. We've got dealers from Tulsa, and a few out-of-state dealers are coming in. ... It's an event to get out there and talk to people. It's very low-key." In California, retirement could mean coastal breezes, desert sunsets, mountain views, bustling city life - or a combination of those things. In addition to its natural beauty, the state offers a wealth of arts and culture, outdoor recreation, a vibrant food scene and top-tier hospital systems. Meanwhile, longtime homeowners can carry their property tax base with them, giving them added flexibility in deciding where to settle. So it's no surprise that rankings of "best places to retire" in the Golden State abound. My own recent online search turned up 10 solid sets of rankings, each offering its own take on which California cities make the cut. Advertisement Advertisement Each one uses its own mix of criteria to define what "best" really means. Most weigh multiple factors - common ones include housing affordability, health care, amenities, transportation options, retiree density (the percent of the total population in that area that's age 65 or older) and safety - but the exact formula varies from list to list. Some cities show up on multiple lists, like San Diego, Sacramento, Palm Springs, Roseville and Eureka. Contributing factors to their high placements included comparatively affordable housing, proximity to medical care, nearby amenities and a high proportion of senior population. Rodney Harrell is the vice president of family, home and community for the AARP Public Policy Institute. He and his team put together the Livability Index, which publishes annual rankings of the top 100 communities in America for older adults. (California cities are well represented, of course - including San Francisco, which ranks as the top big city in the latest edition.) Harrell said that when he first began work on the Livability Index in 2013, the team put together a conceptual framework and a technical advisory committee that conducted survey analysis to determine what seniors really care about when they choose where to live. From there, they determined which criteria were measurable at a national level. Some important factors didn't make that cut, like sidewalk quality and homelessness levels. Advertisement Advertisement "If there's no data to track that thing, and I can't track it across the country, then it can't work for an index," he said. At retirement planning platform Retirement Living, Jailyn Rodriguez said her team focused on objective conditions like housing affordability, poverty, and sales tax rates, and didn't include more subjective things like happiness or weather, which people may view differently. Of course, just because a California city is at the top of a ranking, that doesn't necessarily mean it's hands-down the best place for you to retire.Your needs, interests, budget, and location of your kids and grandkids will probably inform your decision a lot more than a list in the newspaper. But if you're open to ideas, here's a good place to start. (In the coming months, the San Francisco Chronicle will put together its own rankings of the best places in California to retire. If there are criteria you'd like us to consider, or if you believe you live in one of the best cities to retire in California and want us to know about it, email me at jessica.roy@sfchronicle.com with the subject line "retirement cities.") Advertisement Advertisement This article originally published at These California cities show up again and again on best places to retire' lists. Your tumor is about the size of a watermelon, my oncologist said. I had met him just five minutes earlier. I was sitting in an ER hallway, waiting to be told when I would have surgery to remove the watermelon-sized tumor. The good news is, tumors this large are rarely cancerous, he added. Also Read: I Was Skeptical Of Going On A Bravo Reality Show To Find Love. I Had No Idea How Radically It'd Change Me. Famous last words. Advertisement Advertisement Two days later, I woke up from a surgery in which my oncologist removed an eight-pound tumor and one of my ovaries. It was cancer. I lost nearly three pints of blood during the operation, along with the life I had previously known. In 2020, I woke up one morning with the unshakable feeling that I had cancer. I had no real symptoms beyond fatigue, and who wasnt exhausted in 2020? Still, the feeling was so persistent that I scheduled an appointment with my primary care physician. That was significant, as I used to avoid doctors visits. Im a nurse, and were notoriously the worst patients. The bloodwork they performed came back normal. Relieved, I dismissed my fear as paranoia. But, deep down, I still felt that something was wrong. Read: Sending Boob Videos Is My Act Of Community Care For years, I returned to doctors, convinced that each new symptom would finally explain what I felt. It never did, and eventually, I felt too embarrassed to keep going back to the doctor and stopped. Advertisement Advertisement But then my symptoms worsened, and I could no longer ignore them. Extreme fatigue. Severe acid reflux. Pelvic and abdominal pain. Constant bloating. Irregular periods. I felt so unwell that I finally decided to see my doctor again. She took one look at me and sent me straight to the ER. One pelvic ultrasound and abdominal CT scan later, my watermelon-sized tumor was discovered. After the tumor was removed, an important question remained: Where had it come from? Two pathology reports and a dilation and curettage (D&C) helped doctors determine it was likely originating in my uterus. I was told it would need to be removed along with everything else. Everything else meant my fallopian tubes, cervix and remaining ovary. Also Read: My Grandmother Was Once Barred From Setting Foot In A Pool. Now My Daughter Sets Records In One. At 28 years old, I underwent a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. I was immediately thrown into surgical menopause. The hot flashes, insomnia and depression that started immediately following the surgery were some of the worst symptoms I had experienced. Advertisement Advertisement Until that point, I had been able to stay pretty optimistic. Finding the tumor had felt like progress. Treatment felt like action. Cancer, to me, felt like a temporary obstacle. Menopause felt permanent. Accepting this part of my treatment has taken time. It was necessary to save my life, but that knowledge doesnt erase the grief. The author after postponing her third round of chemotherapy to be able to go to The Eras Tour in Nashville. Photo Courtesy Of Casey Halterman Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. A few weeks later, though it felt much longer, I received my third and final pathology report. I was officially diagnosed with stage 3A endometrial adenocarcinoma, a type of uterine cancer that begins in the endometrium, or the tissue that lines the uterus. Its the most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S. My oncologist recommended chemotherapy and pelvic radiation in addition to my two previous surgeries. Advertisement Advertisement After my diagnosis, I learned that endometrial cancer most often affects women over 45, but that anyone with a uterus is at risk as my diagnosis in my 20s could attest to. Also, the most common symptoms are irregular or postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. While I did have irregular periods, I hadnt connected them with my other symptoms. Also Read: When I Got Aggressive Cancer At 29, I Couldn't Believe What My Friends Began To Imply About My Diagnosis I wanted to begin treatment feeling informed and prepared, so I looked to social media. As I searched for support, I found many people online sharing their cancer stories. Very few, however, spoke about endometrial cancer. I wondered if it was because they felt embarrassed or even ashamed to be associated with gynecologic cancer. Either way, I decided to share my own story with endometrial cancer. Advertisement Advertisement At first, I didnt expect anyone to watch my videos. Posting was simply a way to process what I was going through. One of my first videos was a Get Ready With Me (GRWM) as I prepared for my hysterectomy party. I gathered my friends and we ate pizza, danced, sang and said goodbye to my uterus. That video really resonated with people, and the response to it encouraged me to keep sharing to spread awareness and help break some of the stigma around gynecologic cancers. I posted videos documenting every round of chemotherapy, my unexpected symptoms, my small victories and practical tips that helped me get through treatment. Over time, an online community formed. One that supported me and each other, and ultimately carried me through some of the hardest months of my life. The author ringing the bell after finishing 6 rounds of chemotherapy Photo Courtesy Of Casey Halterman After five months of chemotherapy, two months of radiation, two bell ringings and countless GRWM videos, I completed treatment. My final scan showed no evidence of disease. I was done. Or so I thought. Advertisement Advertisement One of the hardest lessons I learned after cancer treatment is that you are never truly finished. I often joke that while I was done with cancer, cancer wasnt done with me. Also Read: I Thought Adventure Was Over When I Became A Mom. Then I Moved My Family Abroad. Learning how to live after treatment has been one of the most difficult challenges of my life. I dont have the language to describe it, only that I felt other. While my friends were getting married, buying homes, and having babies, my life revolved around clean CT scans and staying cancer-free. I tried to reassemble the pieces of who I was before, but they had been surgically cut and radiated into something that no longer fit. I wasnt the carefree woman in her 20s anymore, even though all I wanted was to feel like her again. Advertisement Advertisement It has taken time to understand who I am in the after. I am learning to accept, and even love, this version of myself, shaped by trauma and survival. While part of me still misses who I was before, most of me doesnt. I believe I went through this for a reason. By sharing my story, I hope to encourage others to advocate for themselves when something doesnt feel right. I want women to feel empowered to speak up about their symptoms, even when its uncomfortable or feels embarrassing. I want them to know that their health matters, and that we all deserve answers. Endometrial cancer is most treatable when caught early, so trust yourself. If something doesnt feel right, start the conversation with your doctor. Ask the questions. Speaking up today could mean more tomorrows. And, for anyone navigating your own cancer journey, I want you to know this: You are not alone. Casey Halterman is a South Carolina-based nurse, endometrial cancer survivor, and paid spokesperson for GSKs Dont Be Embarrassed endometrial cancer awareness campaign. Learn more at DontBeEmbarrassed.com and follow Casey on Instagram and TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com. Raw & Real Read the original on HuffPost A growing number of farmers are dovetailing their harvests with a lucrative second "crop," and the public radio show Science Friday recently profiled the practice. At the beginning of the segment, host Ira Flatow noted that American farmers, seeking ways to make farmland "more economically and environmentally stable," were turning to solar panels. "Agrivoltaics" is a portmanteau combining "agriculture" and "photovoltaic," the latter referring to the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Though conceptualized in the 1980s, agrivoltaics only began drawing widespread interest over the past decade. Advertisement Advertisement As Flatow noted, solar panels provide needed shade to many crops, and evaporation "cools the panels," a microcosm of how agrivoltaics work symbiotically in farm environments. KBIA news producer Jana Rose Schleis appeared on Science Friday to discuss agrivoltaics, having covered the topic in depth through real-world applications in the Midwest. Flatow asked Schleis whether farmers were "making money" on two harvests the crops they grew and the energy their farms drew from the sun and Schleis concurred. "A farmer has said to me in the past, it's sort of like farming the sun," she recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Linda Hetzel has farmed the same land in Missouri for three decades, and she installed solar panels after first experimenting with shading her plants using leaves during a 2012 drought. According to Schleis, Hetzel's crops weren't alone suffering in the heat; as temperatures have risen, she has had to adapt her practices to avoid dangerous midday temperatures. Hetzel saw a "change in the intensity of the heat she's experiencing each summer, to the point where she's getting up at first light to harvest before it gets too hot, both for herself as a human working into those outside conditions, but also for the produce," Schleis said. Later in the segment, Flatow spoke with University of Illinois professor of environmental economics Madhu Khanna about the feasibility of solar arrays on farmland, barriers to adoption, and farmers' feedback about renewable energy and their own land. Advertisement Advertisement Flatow told Khanna that several farmers and ranchers had come on Science Friday to discuss their direct experience, with at least one reporting higher profits on the energy side than the crop side. "I remember, years ago, talking to a rancher in Oklahoma who had one of the first wind farms, very small wind farms. And he said, 'I make more money doing renewables than I do ranching,'" he said, asking Khanna whether agrivoltaics could be a steady fallback source of income. "[Energy] is a much higher-value commodity and less risky than crop farming," Khanna noted. 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. NAUGATUCK - A Naugatuck family got more than it bargained for when a Siberian husky they bought from an Alabama breeder gave birth to five puppies within two days of arriving. The incident offers lessons about vetting breeders and rescue organizations and easing the crisis of overflowing pet shelters in Connecticut, according to Naugatuck Animal Control. The family had been searching for a new dog to add to its home, the agency posted on Facebook. They were scrolling and found "Good Dog," an app/website full of "breeders," the post said. Advertisement Advertisement The family fell in love with a photo of a 1-year-old husky named Jenny and sent money for a non-refundable purchase. They were told Jenny had all her vaccines and would be transported to Connecticut with all necessary paperwork, animal control said. Within two weeks, however, the dog arrived at the family's door from a "civilian transporter" with no paperwork, according to the post. "The breeder was now unreachable, and within the next 48 hours, Jenny gave birth to 5 beautiful puppies on their kitchen floor," the post said. The family immediately contacted animal control, knowing they could not provide for the the unexpected offspring, animal control posted. Mother and pups were taken to a local shelter, where they were "doing amazing," the post said. Advertisement Advertisement Police and animal control officers throughout Connecticut regularly report abandoned dogs, and shelters in the state have had trouble keeping up with the influx. Dog buyers should research the breed and the seller. All breeders and rescue organizations that ship dogs into Connecticut from out of state must have an importers license, and all dogs must be accompanied by a health certificate and valid vaccinations. Check on necessary licenses at https://www.elicense.ct.gov/ "But most of all," Naugatuck animal control posted, "let's start normalizing Adopting/Purchasing LOCALLY - we have tons of 'purebred,' wanted breeds sitting in our shelters. We are all receiving calls and emails for owner surrenders daily." The agency also said people should have the dog meet the family before adopting to first to ensure it's the good fit. People should also check all paperwork. Advertisement Advertisement "Most out-of-state breeders/rescues do not take their dogs back if it doesn't work out, which then adds to the stress of our local shelters," animal control posted. Naugatuck Animal Control could not be reached Sunday for an update on Jenny and her puppies. This article originally published at Husky arrives for CT family from Alabama with no papers and unexpectedly gives birth days later. Anat Mastor, head of perfusion at Save A Childs Heart, recalls childhood under the Islamic regime. Escaped in 1987 as a Jewish teen, she now saves children globally while hoping for Iranian freedom. Watching Irans brutal suppression of protesters has revived memories and fears from her own childhood under the Islamic Republic, Anat Mastor, the head of perfusion for the charity Save a Childs Heart, told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. Demonstrations broke out across Iran in late December in response to the countrys dire economic condition. The Islamic regime responded with a brutal crackdown, killing and imprisoning thousands for their alleged roles in what Tehran described as foreign-backed riots. Advertisement Advertisement Its very hard for me to see everything thats going on there, the violence, Mastor said, going on to say that what she was seeing resembled the same sort of aggression she witnessed as a child during the Iranian Revolution in 1979. I feel the same.... Its coming back to me again, and its very hard to see. They are killing the people there, and almost all of them (the victims) are very young. Its making me very sad. I hope the war [Operation Roaring Lion] is successful, and the Iranians get their freedom back; they need it. And I hope the country can return to the same beautiful country I remember, she continued. Im very glad Israel and the US are helping [the Iranian people], but its not enough. I think they have to make a move and bring the change... One day, I hope the people of Iran will live with dignity and freedom, and that I will be able to visit again. Advertisement Advertisement Mastor was only 11 when the Iranian Revolution saw the secular, pluralist country she had grown up in switch to one of Islamist extremism. She departed Iran in 1987, leaving her parents and the life she had known behind to pursue higher education in Israel. She did so, Mastor said, since the lack of opportunities in her homeland made her realize there was no place for her there as a Jew or as a woman. Anat Mastor and one of the child patients after surgery in Zambia last year. (credit: Save a Child's Heart) As a Jewish girl, I was required to wear a long black dress and a hijab a head covering worn by Muslim women, Mastor recounted. English classes were canceled, and although I was Jewish, Quran and Islamic religious studies were imposed on us. The discrimination and persecution of religious minorities left her fearful, with the anxiety becoming so severe that rumors of incoming violent pogroms led her to go to bed fully dressed and prepared to run. Journey to escape Iran As a Jew, Mastor was also barred from attending college, which was what eventually led her to decide to escape only months after finishing high school. Her brother had made the same journey five years before she did. Nevertheless, her parents were reluctant to see her go. Advertisement Advertisement My parents didnt want me to do it, but I was very stubborn, Mastor said, as she went on to describe the dangerous journey she took from Tehran to Karachi, Pakistan. According to Mastor, to reach Israel, she was forced to rely on smugglers, traveling between eight and 10 hours with other families through the mountainous border. It was very dangerous, but I was desperate, she continued. It was very hard for me to be in the country (Iran) without hope. Once in Karachi, she spent months waiting for a visa while the Jewish Agency processed her documents. In 1987, Mastor finally arrived in Israel and was reunited with her brother, who helped her begin a new life in Kibbutz Beerot Yitzhak. Advertisement Advertisement Within a year of her arrival, she enrolled in a medical biotechnology course at the Afeka Academic College of Engineering in Tel Aviv, specializing in perfusion. Soon after, Mastor began her internship at Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva and started working as a perfusionist at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon. Working to save children's hearts Only a few years after her graduation, Mastor joined the newly founded Save a Childs Heart, where she has helped the organization treat more than 8,000 children from 75 countries, operating a heart-lung machine to keep patients alive while doctors perform surgeries on critical organs. I truly love being a perfusionist. Operating the heart-lung machine is a big responsibility, and it feels like part of my DNA. Treating Muslims, Christians, Jews it doesnt matter to us. We have treated all of them, even children from Iraq and Afghanistan, Mastor said, wondering if someday she would also help treat Iranians. There is no greater satisfaction than seeing a child leave the operating room healthy, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Mastor has also made waves in the global medical community by mentoring Sophia Mlanzi Josephat Lukonge, the first female perfusionist in Tanzania; Tigist Tesfaye Hailemariam, the first female perfusionist in Ethiopia; and Felix Kamuchungu, the first perfusionist in Zambia. While Mastor has found fulfillment in her career and joy as a mother of three, the realities of what she escaped and what she lost have stayed with her. After leaving Iran, Mastor never saw her father in person again. He died a year after she left, and her mother lived only two years in Israel before passing away after she fled the Islamic Republic in 1999. My mother finally escaped Iran by posing as a tourist traveling to Turkey and using the opportunity to flee to Israel, Mastor said. She passed away two years later. Although her time in Israel was short, I am grateful that we were able to spend that time together. After a decade of selling French pastries, popular East Bay bakery La Noisette Sweets is closing. La Noisette's last day at 2701 Eighth St. in Berkeley will be April 1, owner Alain Shocron announced on Instagram. He plans to retire to spend more time with his family and focus on his health, which has fallen by the wayside after years of getting to the bakery at 2 a.m. to make pastries. It's a bittersweet end for Shocron, who said La Noisette has been his haven for a decade. Advertisement Advertisement "My problem is I love this business," he said at La Noisette on Saturday. "I love the creation." La Noisette has operated at Berkeley Kitchens for 10 years. (Elena Kadvany/S.F. Chronicle) Shocron is a native of Morocco who went on to live in Canada before coming to the United States. Popular items at the bakery include a pistachio-strawberry croissant, inspired by his childhood memories of eating a pistachio-strawberry ice cream in Morocco, and custardy caneles, which Shocron said one loyal customer drives from San Jose to purchase weekly. La Noisette sold more than 200 caneles on Saturday, Shocron said. La Noisette's pastry case is often full of more than 15 kinds of baked goods, from danishes with a Thai coconut filling to ham and cheese croissants. Advertisement Advertisement Shocron described himself as a perfectionist who bakes only with the highest-quality products, from hazelnuts sourced from Farmacopia Farms in Oregon folded into croissants with chocolate or Valrhona chocolate for a pudgy, triple chocolate cookie with smoked Maldon salt. La Noisette also drew a following at the Kensington Farmers Market. Caneles de Bordeaux at La Noisette in Berkeley. (Elena Kadvany/S.F. Chronicle) On Saturday, a customer shook Shocron's hand and thanked him for years of pastries, particularly a laminated cinnamon roll inspired by Shocron's early visits to American chain Cinnabon as a transplant to the U.S. "I'll miss it," Shocron said of the bakery. Advertisement Advertisement When La Noisette first opened at Berkeley Kitchens, a shared commercial space, the warehouse at the corner of Carleton and Eighth streets was "dead," Shocron said. In the ensuing decade, it's become a food destination, home to notable businesses including the recently closed, lauded Standard Fare, newly occupied by masa specialist Cafe Bolita; artisan jam company Saba Jam; and popups including Chinese American favorite Year of the Snake Foods and flour tortilla artisan Xulo. This article originally published at Popular East Bay bakery closing after decade of serving croissants, caneles . During a visit to the Pentagon in 1997, Gen. George Joulwan handed sculptor Marty Heffron a challenge coin. In the military, a challenge coin is a small, highly-prized medallion that symbolizes pride, affiliation and camaraderie. Heffron, who sculpted the bust of Joulwan thats outside the Schuylkill County Historical Society, has never forgotten the honor accorded him by the now-retired Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, a Pottsville native. Advertisement Advertisement In much the same vein, Heffron has sculpted a challenge coin that can be given to anyone the gifter considers worthwhile. The Salvation Savior Challenge Coin, Heffron says, can be given to anyone who performs selfless service that often goes unrecognized. The inspiration for the coin came largely from the late William G. Beadle, who had anonymously underwritten Heffrons sculpture The Life of Christ and other good works. This coin stands as a tribute to Beadle, a selfless soul, who consistently shared his high ideals and good deeds throughout his life, Heffron said. The face of the coin is a replica of The Life of Christ sculpture, a 400-pound circular relief crafted from anthracite coal. A bronze of the sculpture hangs in St. Stanislaus Polish National Cathedral in Scranton. Advertisement Advertisement Beadle lived to see The Life of Christ being mounted in St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Minersville in October 2025. He died in early November, just about the time Heffron began designing the challenge coin. Inscribed on the outer rim of the coin are the Latin words for inspiration, holiness, fortitude and strength. The reverse side depicts the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove grasping an olive branch, symbolic of insightful guidance and spiritual strength. The symbols of alpha and omega, the beginning and end of all things, are inscribed on the doves chest. At 3-inches in diameter, the nickel-plated bronze coin is about twice the size of the typical military challenge coin. The intricate detail of The Life of Christ sculpture required a larger size. Advertisement Advertisement The first 100 coins are being cast by Coins For Anything Inc., a veteran-owned company in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Heffron has pre-orders for more than half of the coins, which are expected to be ready by Easter. Heffron has made arrangements for up to 500 to be struck. The coins cost $50, with a portion of the proceeds going to support alternative treatment therapies for veterans. Heffron, who served in the Pennsylvania National Guard, is involved in hiking and equine therapies for veterans. Military tradition The idea of rewarding troops with coins dates to the time of the Roman Empire. While there are various stories, the prevailing version is that the practice began in the U.S during World War I. Advertisement Advertisement According to the U.S. Department of Defense, a wealthy Army lieutenant who wanted to give everyone in his unit a memento to remind them of their service had coin-sized bronze medallions minted with the units insignia on them. He was captured by the Germans, and was stripped of everything but the medallion, which he carried in a pouch around his neck. Escaping, he sought refuge in a French outpost, where he was suspected of being an enemy soldier and was in danger of being executed. The medallion, with the insignia of his unit on it, proved he was an American and saved his life. Tom Drogalis, one of the early supporters of Heffrons initiative, said the coins are ideal mementos to give as inspiration to friends, colleagues and family members. Advertisement Advertisement One never knows when someone is going to do something that goes above and beyond, said Drogalis, former executive director of the Schuylkill County Historical Society. Its a beautiful way to honor them, and hope that they will pass it on to someone else. Lifes work A Duncott native, Heffron began sculpting around 30 years ago when he was a student at Keystone College in LaPlume, Lackawanna County, where he earned an associate degree in fine arts. He continued his education at Alfred College in New York, securing a bachelors in fine arts. Motivated by deep spirituality, his work includes The Sacred Heart of Jesus. a relief in the chapel at Simon Kramer Institute in New Philadelphia; a statue of St. John the Baptist in St. Patrick Catholic Church in Pottsville and a relief dedicated to anthracite miners in the Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton. The Salvation Savior Challenge Coin can be ordered at Miners8@verizon.net, 570-691-6404 or by mail at Martin Heffron, 63 Stines Mill Road, Pottsville, PA 17901. It started with a mysterious slack from our editor-in-chief, Jamie Heller: Can you talk now? It was the kind of urgent message you never want to get from your boss' boss. What did I do? Am I in trouble? Is she laying me off? I scoured my brain for all the ways I'd probably disappointed her and the correspondingly appropriate ways I could apologize for those offenses. Then she called me to give me the news: She wanted to send me to Davos in January. I've known about Davos, the World Economic Forum's annual conference that gathers the global elite, for my entire 16-year career as a business journalist. As a young reporter at Bloomberg, I remember watching our TV anchors banter so effortlessly with CEOs, all in their puffy jackets against the backdrop of the snowy Swiss mountains. I wondered if one day I would get to join their ranks. On our call, Jamie tried to warn me about the whole ordeal. I would be expected to take 30 meetings over the course of four days and mingle and write dispatches, and I would need to buy a very warm pair of snow boots. "It's a lot of work," she kept saying, but it went right over my head. I was already imagining all the executives I would run into, charming them so thoroughly that they would tell me their secrets for the rest of my career. I would never have to worry about my job security again. Yes, I told her. It was an honor. I was in. Advertisement Advertisement That high lasted for the next several weeks. I browsed what must have been over 100 different blazers and blouses and pants and heels (I was going for chic-intellectual), and shelled out for a brand new check-in suitcase to replace my old battered one. But as December rolled around, reality sank in. My colleague Dan DeFrancesco, our lead newsletter writer who attended last year, told me about the long, icy walks home. And those walks would take place after back-to-back meetings with executives from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., after which I'd attend a few happy hours, a dinner, and then a nightcap that would mercifully end at 11:30, although there were still after-parties that would run later if I got in with the right crowds. Our internal meetings made it all seem very mandatory, the imperative for us to squeeze out every possible minute we were there to get inside the minds of the world's most powerful business leaders. Dan showed me his Fitbit data from the previous year, when he averaged 4.5 hours of sleep a night. Most business reporters would have been thrilled to get the assignment. But in the weeks before my flight, a terrible realization dawned on me: I, an introverted writer who likes warm weather and sleeping, had signed up for my own personal hell. The official conference wouldn't start until Monday morning, January 19. But by the time I arrived on Sunday via two flights and a train, Davos was already humming with titans-of-industry energy. Once a poor, remote village hidden in the Swiss Alps, Davos first became famous as a destination for tuberculosis patients in the mid-19th century. These days, it's a ski resort. On this sunny afternoon, men in suits and snow boots were walking by the train station with purpose. I dragged my heavy suitcase up a steep hill in the snow, and then, once I got to my apartment, up three flights of stairs. A little sweaty, I entered my humble studio for the week. The vibe along the streets of Davos was less summit and more Disneyland if you swapped all the kids for middle-aged powerbrokers. Jason Sanchez/BI Every year for this one week during the conference, most of the locals clear out. They leave on their own vacations and make a fortune renting out their places. I unpacked my suitcase, steamed all my clothes, charged my devices, and then got ready for my first Davos engagement: a fancy dinner co-hosted by a CEO and a well-known founder. Advertisement Advertisement It was all the way on the other end of Davos, so I decided to pick up my credentials at the World Economic Forum's registration center along the way. The badge I put around my neck would be my ticket for the week, determining which buildings, rooms, and even streets I could and couldn't access. Mine was orange, signifying my status as a journalist, which in Davos' pecking order meant I was below the white badges issued to heads of state and CEOs, and the gray badges issued to other top executives. And yet even with my lower status, having a forum badge at all still meant I was inside an exclusive club of about 3,000 attendees this year. An estimated 20,000 more people descend on Davos during World Economic Forum week without an official invite. They're here for the side panels and the parties and the vibes. Because I knew I'd need every last bit of mental clarity I could muster, I had resolved not to drink for the week. But ahead of the dinner, the wife of one of its hosts held a soft launch of her own brand of a tequila-like spirit. She offered me a shot as soon as I walked in. An hour later, with my second drink in hand, I walked over to a man standing alone, and introduced myself as a workplace reporter. He happened to sit on the boards of multiple organizations and offered to clue me in on what he believed was the most underreported workplace story right now: that the employers he knew were avoiding hiring 23- to 30-year-olds because this generation of young adults was unhirable. Don't name me, he warned. I felt like I was already in the inner circle. Aki Ito Aki Ito At dinner, I sat between two nonprofit executives, both of whom were repeat Davosians with mixed feelings about being there. One confessed Davos wasn't a great venue for fundraising, despite all the billionaires something that made the $100,000 she and her colleague were paying for their three-bedroom suite difficult to justify. The other executive felt morally compromised. He came every year in the hopes of influencing the minds of business leaders, but he worried he was actually perpetuating a broken system by schmoozing with them. He was losing hope that they could be convinced to care about anything other than their shareholders. Next year, he said, he might return as a protester. We were so deep in conversation that by the time I looked up, I realized all my colleagues had already left. A giddy thought occurred to me: Had Davos turned me into an extrovert? I slept well that night. Why do the global elite spend such exorbitant sums for the privilege of spending a week in the frigid Alps during the coldest time of the year, in peak flu season, in a ski town that refuses to salt its icy streets? It would have saved everyone a lot of trouble if the forum had picked, say, Hawaii instead. It all began with Klaus Schwab, a German economist who started hosting the conference here in 1971. His goal was to get businesses to think a little more about generating long-term value for society and a little less about wringing out short-term profits to shareholders, an idea known as stakeholder capitalism. "We can't continue with an economic system driven by selfish values," Schwab later wrote. "We need a society, economy, and international community that is designed to care for all people and the entire planet." The icy streets forced me to walk like a constipated duck. Jason Sanchez/BI On Monday morning, as I walked down the main street that connects Davos, people looked a little cold but otherwise happy to be there. The vibe was less summit and more Disneyland if you swapped all the kids for middle-aged powerbrokers and the rides for branded "houses" that line the Promenade. Normally, these storefronts are luxury watch retailers and souvenir shops and outdoor gear providers, but just for this week, they put everything in storage to make room for multinational conglomerates to set up shop. These corporate houses serve a few functions: to host panels and parties; to provide meeting rooms for executives; to scream in neon lettering to passersby that their companies are all in on AI; and to give out free things that have absolutely nothing to do with their business. Pinterest House served miso ramen. Uber House stocked giant bars of premium chocolate. Meta House offered orange-flavored hot chocolate but only after its patrons scanned a QR code that led them into a conversation with a bot on WhatsApp. Advertisement Advertisement I didn't have time to stop for a warm beverage because I had packed my calendar to the brim that day with meetings with four senior corporate advisors and five C-suite executives. All of these meetings were quite far from each other, and the icy streets forced me to walk like a constipated duck, and there were TSA-level security checks backed up by TSA-level lines to get to a lot of these places. Whenever I could, I shoved bites of protein bars into my mouth but I kept having to empty my thermos at security, which meant I never had water on me. Workday's Haus Aki Ito With every meeting, I became more depleted physically, mentally, emotionally, and, towards the end, existentially until I arrived at my last one-on-one of the day. It was with a CFO who also happened to be a fellow Davos newbie. We chatted about his company for a while, and then traded notes on how bizarre this whole thing was. Throughout his career, he told me, he had never understood the point of Davos. "I would read the headlines and think about it as big leaders from all over the world solving big problems like global hunger," he said. But now that he was here, he got it. Because everyone of importance had gathered here, they could entertain their existing customers and woo new ones in one tiny town, instead of on 30 trips to cities around the world. The genius of Davos, therefore, was entirely accidental: The forum's conference had become a hyper-efficient vehicle for the stewards of global capitalism to do business with each other. "Companies," the CFO said, "come here to sell." For this access, businesses are charged a hefty membership fee, as well as a per-person entrance fee. All in all, companies that send a large delegation of executives pay more than $1 million a year to the forum. Too tired to change, I ate my grocery-store dinner of grilled chicken and a box of olives in my underwear. After the CFO left, I typed out my first blog post of the day, and then forced myself to trek 15 minutes across town to attend a women's leadership reception. The room was so packed it looked as though every woman who had ever received a promotion in the history of corporations had shown up. I squeezed my way to the bar, took one sip of sparkling water, and made my way back to the entrance. "Back so soon?" the guy at the coat check said. Advertisement Advertisement It was 7:20 p.m. I had a dinner at 8 that was a 45-minute walk away, with an attendee list of 150. There was nothing in the world that could have convinced me to talk to one more person that night, so I walked back to my apartment. Too tired to change, I ate my grocery-store dinner of grilled chicken and a box of olives in my underwear. Then I tried and failed to fall asleep a hundred different times. I lay awake, my mind still racing from the day, my calves aching from the 21,000 steps I'd taken. Clearly, I had neither the mental fortitude nor the physical stamina to hang with the global elite. The next morning should have been a train wreck a 7:30 a.m. roundtable I was hosting for Business Insider on exactly zero hours of sleep. This event was what I was most nervous about ahead of Davos, and I spent weeks preparing for it. I was moderating a conversation with 15 chief people officers and other senior executives from some of the largest companies in the world. If companies were willing to cut workers today, what would stop them from cutting far more once they figured out how to truly harness AI? Like my other meetings in Davos, the roundtable also revolved around AI. A central theme was beginning to emerge: Companies just weren't seeing the big gains in employee productivity that AI had promised, and they were figuring out what came next. The HR executives around the table were now deep in the weeds of that investigation inside their organizations. What drove adoption and what backfired? Did employees have the skills to use these new tools? And how do you overhaul the way work gets done inside teams to fully capitalize on AI? As the executives recounted what worked and what didn't, I saw several of them avidly taking notes. They nodded and laughed and groaned at one another's observations, like a group therapy session, comforted by the shared reality that they were all wrestling with the same questions. Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the roundtable, Francine Katsoudas, the chief people, policy, and purpose officer at Cisco, shared that she had been at a dinner the previous night. Half the group believed their workforces were going to get smaller because of AI, and the other half believed they would get bigger. "It's just a reminder that it will be what we design it to be," she said. "When I think about Davos and the conversations we're having, we are at a moment where we have the opportunity to change just about everything that we do." At a roundtable I led, executives wrestled with AI's impact on their workforces. Riana Daehler By Wednesday, I'd found my Davos groove. I discovered the free lunch buffet at the forum's media center, which meant I was eating real food. I learned to chug all my water before they made me pour it out at security. I was even getting used to the back-to-back meetings. If Davos were a verb definition: to power through a barrage of engagements as if it were totally normal because everyone else is doing it I was getting better at Davosing. One of the stranger perks of Davosing is running into the random celebrities who show up. This year, that list included Katy Perry, David Beckham, Jon Batiste, and Billy Idol. Matt Damon is a Davos regular, and I would have canceled pretty much any of my meetings to go see him speak. But it clashed with the roundtable I was moderating. Robbed of my Jason Bourne sighting, my biggest celebrity encounter was with the organizational psychologist and author Adam Grant. Which, yes, not quite a movie star though to the Davos crowd, something akin to royalty. It was his 10th time there, and throughout our conversation at a hotel bar, people kept interrupting us to say hi. His tone turned somber when I asked him what he thought companies were getting wrong as they deploy AI. "I'm discouraged and disturbed by how few leaders are thinking about the long-term implications of AI for jobs, and what this means for employment and social unrest," he said. "If a lot of knowledge work is disruptable by AI, if a growing amount of service work is disruptable by AI, and if manufacturing work is going to be increasingly done by robots, what are we going to do to make sure that people are employable? Matt Damon Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images Throughout the week, executives kept saying that AI hadn't yet proven to be as labor-saving as they'd hoped. Most of the changes they were discussing would take years. It was also clear that they were committed to bringing about this AI transformation; displacement was coming. What would happen once they succeed? I found it hard to get many of them to engage on that question. Perhaps they just didn't know. But I was skeptical of their pledge to use AI to empower rather than replace their employees, given how common layoffs had become in recent years. If they were willing to cut workers today, what would stop them from cutting far more once they figured out how to truly harness the potential of AI? Advertisement Advertisement "I'm shocked that there's not more conversation about that," Grant told me. That afternoon, Trump gave his keynote speech, where he promised not to use force in his quest to acquire Greenland. By that evening, the mood had shifted. At a couple of the cocktail parties I attended, people seemed more relaxed perhaps because we'd just averted World War III. One CFO told me he worries about his three Gen Z sons' dating lives, now that young people aren't meeting at work as much. I also spoke to a CRO who beamed as he talked about the conversation he just had with his pre-teen daughter on FaceTime. They both seemed like good dads. Our team dinner at 8 p.m. got pushed to 9, and by the time we all arrived from our various functions, it was past 10. Over fondue and wine, we reveled in the realization that we had survived. It had been an exhausting, nerve-racking, and ultimately exhilarating week one of the most productive weeks I've had in a long time. My notebook was full of leads. A few of us writers shared the train home with our CEO, and to my surprise, I blurted out that I wanted to come back next year. Would she put in a good word for us with our editor-in-chief? Yes, she said, laughing. We hugged goodbye. As Davos wound down, a thought crept in: If I lost this job, would I be able to find another one? Jason Sanchez/BI As I walked back to my apartment, I started thinking about how I'd do Davos differently next time. Then, a different thought crept in: Would I even have this job in the future? If I lost this job, would I be able to find another one as a reporter? Being a journalist has been the one constant of my adult life stretching across two continents, four cities, and 11 apartments. In the darkest months of that time, when my marriage was falling apart, and in the difficult years I've spent rebuilding my life since, I've still had this this job that not only puts a roof over my head but makes me feel competent and useful, like I belong in this world. Advertisement Advertisement AI is leaving more and more of us wondering where our place is. A few weeks after Davos, Block eliminated nearly half its 10,000-plus workforce. "Within the next year," its CEO told investors, "I believe the majority of companies will reach the same conclusion and make similar structural changes." Other CEOs may prove him wrong, but the markets sent a clear message: Block's shares jumped 22%. It's not a good sign for the stakeholder capitalism that the World Economic Forum was founded to promote. As Davos wound down, I finished up the rest of my meetings, attended a few parties, and packed my things. I then began the long journey back to California, and 21 hours later, I was home. I still had a story to file, a thousand texts and emails to reply to, a dog to pick up. But for the moment, I was back in my own bed. I slept for 10 hours straight. Aki Ito is a chief correspondent at Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Editor's note: Scroll down for the poll This week's TCPalm Teacher of the Week is Tyler Wilson, physical education teacher at Mariposa Elementary in St. Lucie County. TCPalm wants to recognize Treasure Coast teachers making a difference for their students and schools. Readers parents, administrators, students, community members and other teachers nominate their favorite teachers each week. TCPalm lists four nominated teachers, and asks readers to vote for their favorite to be named Teacher of the Week. Advertisement Advertisement TCPalm invites you to support your favorite teacher by voting in this poll. And then revisit it to learn about the amazing teachers on the Treasure Coast. Voting began 5 a.m. Sunday and ended at noon Friday. Visit this page after voting closes to find out who won. Scroll down below the poll to see information about each of this week's teachers. Teacher was previously featured in another TCPalm Teacher of the Week poll. More: Nominate a favorite teacher for TCPalm's Teacher of the Week poll Florida most alligator-infested river flows near Vero Beach Having trouble with the poll? Click here to go directly to the poll. Kelly Coleman, Hidden Oaks Middle, Martin County What the nominator said: "Ms. Coleman has truly made a difference in my life. Shes kind, supportive, and always encourages us to do our best. Her civics class is one of the strongest, with high EOC scores because she takes the time to help everyone understand. Shes also a strong leader on campus and always stands up for whats right. She helped make eighth grade unforgettable, and Im so grateful to have had her as a teacher this year." Jodi Hargreaves, Vero Beach High School Freshman Learning Center, Indian River County What the nominator said: Mrs. Hargreaves is loved by all of her students. She goes above and beyond in her class making sure each student feels cared for. I have watched the students in her class thrive this year. The notes they wrote at the end of the year were an anthem to Mrs. Hargreaves' limitless support. Students have made gains and found that they can reach their goals thanks to this wonderful educator." Maria McCadden, John Carroll High, St. Lucie County What the nominator said: "Maria McCadden is a beloved art teacher who brings Catholic identity to life in all she does, inspiring students through faith and creativity. Her impact spans generations, she has taught many of our current teachers, including members of administration. She also leads the Multicultural Club and organizes Christmas Around the World, uniting our school as students celebrate global cultures and enjoy traditional foods." Tyler Wilson, Mariposa Elementary, St. Lucie County What the nominator said: "I would like to nominate Coach Tyler Wilson from Mariposa Elementary. My child absolutely loves having him for P.E. Coach Wilson is kind, patient, and really cares about students. What really stands out is that Coach Wilson is more than just a coach, he is a mentor. He even attends their activities outside of school to cheer them on, which means a lot to the student. My child gets excited every time they know its 'Coach Wilson Day.'" This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Winner announced in the TCPalm Teacher of the Week poll (March 8-13) About 10 vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz have come under attack since Iran blocked the strategic waterway in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, data analysis groups report. The attacks throughout the week following the outbreak of war on February 28 almost completely halted traffic through the strait, a crucial route for oil and other goods. Britain's maritime security agency UKMTO has issued around 10 alerts for attacks as well as warnings of suspicious activity, but has released few details on the vessels involved. Advertisement Advertisement The International Maritime Organization (IMO) listed on its website Friday a total of nine attacks on ships in the strait in one week, including four incidents that killed a total of seven people. - Seven reported killed - The IMO said one person was killed in each of three attacks on the vessels Skylight, MKD Vyom and the Stena Imperative on March 2, when the Hercules Star was also hit. Between March 3 and 5 four more vessels were struck: the Libra Trader, Gold Oak, Safeen Prestige and the Sonangol Namibe. On March 6, four people were killed when the Mussafah 2 was struck. Indonesia announced Sunday that a vessel whose characteristics and last known position matched those of the Mussafah 2 sank two days earlier, but with a different toll. Advertisement Advertisement Jakarta reported three Indonesian crew members missing, one injured Indonesian survivor and four survivors of other nationalities. The strait normally sees 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas transit it, but tanker traffic there has dropped by 90 percent in a week, according to analysis firm Kpler, which operates the MarineTraffic platform. According MarineTraffic data analysed by AFP on Friday, only nine commercial ships -- tankers, cargo vessels and container ships -- had been detected crossing the strait since Monday, with some intermittently masking their position. - Rescuers targeted - Advertisement Advertisement Maritime security firm Vanguard said the Mussafah 2 was hit by two missiles as it tried to assist the container ship Safeen Prestige, which had been struck by a missile two days earlier. "Recent incident reporting... indicates that vessels providing assistance or salvage operations to previously targeted vessels may also face elevated risk of follow-on strikes," the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC), run by a Western naval coalition, warned in a note Saturday. "The observed pattern of strikes against anchored vessels, drifting ships, and assistance vessels indicates a campaign focused on creating operational uncertainty and deterring routine commercial movement rather than a sustained attempt to sink vessels." Drone and missile attacks claimed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards are not always confirmed by independent sources -- some are confirmed only after several days, and the vessels involved are not always identified. Casualty tolls can vary. Advertisement Advertisement - Iran's mixed messages - Iran exports its own oil via the Strait of Hormuz and its intentions remain unclear. A Revolutionary Guards general warned on March 2 that Iran would "burn any ship" attempting to cross the strait and block all Gulf oil exports. But Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday it had "no intention" of closing the Strait of Hormuz. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday it would escort merchant ships attempting to transit the strait "as soon as it's reasonable to do it". French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday he was seeking to build a coalition to secure the "sea lanes essential to the global economy" in the region. bur-ang/rlp/jj Houston police said an 18-year-old suspect is now charged with capital murder after a woman was shot and killed early Saturday morning. PREVIOUS REPORT: Woman shot and killed in Houston Heights, person in custody after hours long standoff, HPD says Investigators said they identified the suspect as Darius Hall, 18, after he was taken into custody after an hours-long standoff on Saturday. According to the Houston Police Department, officers responded to a call about a shooting that happened around midnight on Saturday on 20th Street near Lawrence Street. When officers arrived, they said they found the woman lying on the sidewalk after being shot in the neck, allegedly by Hall during an attempted robbery. Advertisement Advertisement Officials said first responders took her to the hospital, where the victim was later pronounced dead. According to court documents, the victim was identified as Marietta Allison. According to police, Hall stole the victim's car after the shooting. He then crashed it near the Southwest Freeway feeder at Buffalo Speedway before hiding in a vacant townhome apartment unit, investigators said. Police said Hall then barricaded himself in the unit for several hours during a standoff with authorities. Hall was later apprehended by SWAT officers and taken into custody, HPD said. According to court documents, Hall is charged with capital murder, evading arrest, and tampering with evidence, all of which are felony charges. Records also revealed that Hall is under juvenile supervision for four previous charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. For news updates, follow Brianna Willis on Facebook, x and Instagram. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department just charged an 18-year-old with murder following a deadly crash in January involving a stolen car. The crash happened on Shamrock Drive near Eastway Drive on Jan. 4. Police say Ronny Briones-Melgara was driving a stolen Kia Forte before he lost control and crashed into a telephone pole and a tree. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 1 killed, 2 injured after driver loses control, crashes stolen car in east Charlotte One of the passengers, Anthony Santos, died on the scene. Briones-Melgara is charged with murder, larceny and possessing a stolen car. VIDEO: DoorDash driver pleads guilty in fatal shooting of teen The Pierce County Sheriffs Office (PCSO) says detectives are investigating a homicide after an 18-year-old man was found dead on Saturday morning. At around 9 a.m., deputies responded near 112th Street East and 6th Street East in Parkland, PSCO said. Authorities found the victim with a gunshot wound, and the suspect left the scene and has not been caught, according to the sheriffs office. This is a developing story. A 19-year-old died after being struck by a vehicle that fled the scene of the crash in Clermont County early Sunday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Around 4 a.m., Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Troopers with the Batavia post were dispatched to Bethel-New Richmond Road east of US 52 on reports of a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, troopers found an unresponsive person, identified as 19-year-old Jayden Nelson of New Richmond, on Bethel-New Richmond Road. It is believed that Nelson was struck by an unidentified vehicle, according to the OSHP. Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation, and the OSHP is seeking the publics help. Anyone who may have witnessed or has information regarding the crash should contact the Batavia Post at 513-732-1510. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] UPDATE: This story has been updated to include the identities of the people who died in the crash and details of the crash provided by the Nevada Highway Patrol. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Two people were killed in a three-vehicle crash Saturday evening in Nye County, according to the Nevada State Police. The crash happened around 6:37 p.m. on March 7 on State Route 160 near mile marker 2, just south of Manse Road, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Troopers with the Nevada Highway Patrol, a division of the Nevada State Police, responded to the scene. Investigators said the crash involved three vehicles: a sport utility vehicle, a hatchback, and a passenger sedan. The Highway Patrols preliminary investigation indicated that a 2006 white Nissan X-Terra utility was traveling northbound on State Route 160. The driver of the Nissan tried to pass a 2023 black Chevrolet Camaro Coupe at a high rate of speed and crossed the centerline into the southbound lane, striking a 2021 Chevrolet Spark Hatchback traveling southbound head-on. The collision caused the Nissan to rotate, and overturn, striking the Chevrolet Camaro in the left front. Rhiannon Nicole Folsom, 21, of Pahrump, who was driving the Chevrolet Spark hatchback was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities also said Carlos Alfredo Gurry-Rubio, 62, of North Las Vegas, of the Nissan X-Terra SUV died at the crash site. Advertisement Advertisement Download the 8 News Now streaming app The driver of the Camaro was not injured and was not transported from the scene, according to investigators. The crash prompted the closure of both northbound and southbound lanes of State Route 160 near mile marker 2 while troopers conducted an investigation. Drivers traveling from Las Vegas were advised to take U.S. 95 north and then connect to State Route 160 into Pahrump as an alternate route. Another option for motorists heading north from Las Vegas was Tecopa Road to California Highway 178, which turns into Nevada Highway 372 toward Pahrump. Authorities said the investigation into the crash is ongoing, and additional information will be released once it becomes available. 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 KLAS. Two state lawmakers are calling on the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office to investigate rising gas prices. In a joint statement, democratic state representatives Joe Ciresi and Jim Haddock alleged that gas prices started rising in Pennsylvania as soon as the first bomb struck in Iran, even though gas flowing at the pumps had already been paid for. Now, Pennsylvanians will have to figure out not only how to put food on the table, but how to get to the grocery store in the first place and this is after costs have been rising faster than worker pay, the joint statement continues. Advertisement Advertisement Gas prices have risen rapidly nationwide in the last week, according to AAA. Data released Thursday said that the national average price for a gallon of gas rose nearly 27 cents in a week, to $3.25. AAA says the last time prices made a similar jump was in March of 2022, during the start of the Russia/Ukraine war. By Sunday morning, the national average price for a gallon of gas rose another 20 cents to $3.45. And, AAA data shows prices are even higher in Pennsylvania. As of Sunday morning, the average cost for a gallon of gas in the state was $3.57. In the Pittsburgh region, the average reached $3.73, up 50 cents from the week before. Advertisement Advertisement The lawmakers want Attorney General Dave Sunday, along with the state Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Consumer Advocate, to investigate the price hikes. Taking advantage of Pennsylvanians is never right, and in these times its even worse - and deserves an independent investigation to determine if laws were broken, the statement says. Ciresi and Haddock say theyll push for new laws to address price gouging and consumer protection. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW The 23rd Judicial District Attorney's Office, which includes the parishes of Ascension, Assumption and St. James, reported guilty pleas during the week of Feb. 23-27. The information has been obtained through the office of 23rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky Babin. Ascension Parish Dryan Dupre, 1378 Windsor Dr. Baton Rouge, LA, age 37, pled guilty to Theft Valued At $5,000 or More, but Less than $25,000 and was sentenced to 8 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 5 years supervised probation. Rustin Wheat, 43502 Oak Ln Gonzales, LA, age 34, pled guilty to Domestic Abuse Battery Child Endangerment and was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation. Advertisement Advertisement The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Carter and Blake Sheets. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Cody Martin. Assumption Parish John Thibodeaux, 6706 Hwy 308 Belle Rose, LA, age 45, pled guilty to Theft Valued at $5,000 or More, but Less than $25,000 and Promoting Pyramid Promotional Scheme. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Victoria Courville, 2815 Lafiton Lane Port Allen, LA, age 29, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation. Arian Wiggins, Baton Rouge, LA, age 28, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation. Ronald Vallejo, 187 Violet St. Labadieville, LA, age 35, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Demetres Miller, 3376 Back Marais Napoleonville, LA, age 52, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Jeremy Dipuma, 14165 Jefferson Hwy Baton Rouge, LA, age 42, pled guilty to Distribution, Manufacture, or Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation. Erick Brunner, 107 Melissa St. Labadieville, LA, age 41, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts) and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 18 months supervised probation. The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney, and presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Keyojuan Turner. Advertisement Advertisement Rico Askins, 253 Hwy 400 Napoleonville, LA, age 32, pled guilty to Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Strangulation and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. The above case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Thomas Daigle, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jason Verdigets. St. James Parish Alajuwon Jackson, 14401 Courtney Rd. Walker, LA, age 36, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana or Synthetic Cannabinoids and was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation. Casper LeBlanc, 3355 Amy St. Paulina, LA, age 27, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation. Colen Johnson, 1521 Grant St. Laplace, LA, age 38, pled guilty to Distribution of Crack Cocaine and was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation. Kalvin Scioneaux, 6278 Burtin Ln. St. James, LA, age 71, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Shantell Scott, 9649 Jefferson St. Laplace, LA, age 41, pled guilty to Automobile Insurance Policies Fraud and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation. Tyrean Harry, 7354 Freetown St. St. James, LA, age 29, pled guilty to Attempted Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Keith Southerland, 8209 Mill St. St. James, LA, age 55, pled guilty to Failure to Register and Notify as a Sex Offender or Child Predator. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Mandarrel Walter, 2542 East Lebray St. Lutcher, LA, age 21, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Illegal Carrying of Weapons Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts). Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Wilson Gaines, 2428 W Lebray St. Lutcher, LA, age 64, pled guilty to Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Djwauna Early, 225 East 14th Gramercy, LA, age 34, pled guilty to Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation. Advertisement Advertisement The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Koenig, and presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge John Smith. This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: Court news for Ascension, Assumption and St. James parishes Tens of thousands took to the streets of Germany to mark International Women's Day on Sunday. By late morning, a rally in Berlin's Kreuzberg district was already crowded, as a broad alliance of trade unions, associations, initiatives and women's centres all invited people to join in. The Berlin police said 27,000 had joined the event that organizers expected would draw some 10,000. The organizers put the number of attendees at 30,000. There were no incidents, a police spokeswoman said. Advertisement Advertisement "Equality is not rocket science," one poster read. Another said, "Men don't kill for love." Speakers criticized the fact that violence against women is part of everyday life in Germany and also slammed discrimination against women in the workplace. As Germany mulls reintroducing conscription to boost its armed forces, speakers also opposed the possible introduction of compulsory military service for women. From war to part-time work, many issues in focus As war rages in the Middle East, some posters called for "solidarity with the resistance in Iran." The district chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) in Berlin-Brandenburg, Katja Karger, accused the government of attacking the welfare state. Advertisement Advertisement She called for better protection of women from sexual violence in the workplace, no restrictions on the right to part-time work and the retention of the eight-hour working day. Anyone who wants to abolish it has no idea about the world of work, she said. The DGB led the march with the other groups under the banner "Feminist, in solidarity, with the trade union." It planned to head to the City Hall, where Mayor Kai Wegner has his official residence. Berlin City Hall is popularly known as Red City Hall, not because of its politics, but for the colour of the bricks it is built from. Incumbent Mayor Wegner is a conservative. Equality is often still lacking in everyday life, Labour Minister Barbel Bas told dpa on the occasion of the holiday. Advertisement Advertisement "Almost three-quarters of mothers still work part-time, often not voluntarily," said Bas, also noting the gender pay gap. "Women earn on average 16% less than men and are still under-represented in many areas of technology." However, she said this is not due to a lack of ability, but too often to conditions that force women to take a back seat. Equality remains a question of respect and one "for the future of our country," said the minister. Minister for Women Karin Prien added: "In terms of equality between women and men, Germany is doing quite well in a global comparison. But there is still room for improvement." Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to the Rheinische Post newspaper, Prien said implementing equality is not a "nice concession" to committed women's rights activists, but a constitutional mandate. Large rallies were also expected in several German cities, including Hamburg, Munich, Hanover and Leipzig. Further rallies staged on Sunday The Berlin march coincided with other planned events championing women's rights, but also peace and disarmament and other issues. Other planned events in Berlin included the traditional "Purple Ride" bicycle tour organized by left-wing and lesbian women's groups, with 2,000 participants expected to take part. Advertisement Advertisement In the afternoon, left-wing groups were to march to the central square named after Polish-German Marxist revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg under the banner "Feminism Unlimited." A total of 3,000 demonstrators were registered to take part. Another demonstration with 1,200 participants under the slogan "March 8 International" was planned for the afternoon. Radical left-wing groups are also calling for marches under the slogans "Freedom for Palestine" and a "Revolutionary March 8 Demonstration." Three people were arrested after authorities discovered $1.2 million worth of methamphetamine during a drug bust operation in Northern California. Following an investigation by federal and state authorities, agents served a search warrant at a Turlock property where 280 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and eight firearms were found. Three suspects were arrested at the scene, the California Attorney Generals Office announced on March 5. The meth lab on site was dismantled and processed by lab-certified California Department of Justice (DOJ) special agents and task force officers. Advertisement Advertisement Inside a wooden structure, agents found various common items associated with methamphetamine conversion laboratories including propane tanks, propane burners, acetone containers and fans. Three people were arrested after authorities discovered 280 pounds of crystal methamphetamine worth around $1.2 million during a drug bust operation in Turlock, California. (California Attorney Generals Office) Agents with the DOJs Merced Area Gang & Narcotic Enforcement Team (MAGNET) obtained forensic samples of various liquids and recovered several fingerprints for analysis. The California Department of Toxic Substances was contacted for the destruction of hazardous materials and equipment related to the lab. This is truly an example of the good work that happens when multiple agencies come together for one, unified mission, said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Stopping the production of illegal drugs isnt just about law enforcement, it is about protecting families, saving lives, and defending the future of our communities. Public safety is job number one, and the California Department of Justice will continue to work for it, both in the courtroom and on the ground in our communities. Thank you to our state, local and federal partner agencies for their collaboration. Advertisement Advertisement The significant bust was part of a larger operation led by the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office SAINT (Sacramento Area Intelligence Narcotics Team) and Calaveras County Sheriffs Office CNEU (Calaveras Narcotics Enforcement Unit). The search warrant was executed by personnel with the California DOJ, Sacramento Area Intelligence and Narcotics Team (SAINT), Calaveras County Sheriffs Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). As part of California DOJs task force program, the participating agencies of MAGNET work in collaboration to combat drug trafficking organizations, violent repeat offenders and organized crime, the attorney generals office said in a statement. 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. The powerful storms that hit southwest Michigan on Friday, spawning four confirmed tornadoes, claimed the lives of four people. Three victims were killed in Branch County, with another victim, a 12-year-old boy, died in southern Cass County from a suspected tornado. The names of four victims of the storm have been confirmed by authorities or the funeral home handling the arrangements for families of some of the victims. Advertisement Advertisement Here's what we know about the four confirmed victims: Penni Jo Guthrie, 65 Penni Jo Guthrie Penni Jo Guthrie, 65, of Union City, was killed after the tornado destroyed her home on Union Lake, according to a brief obituary posted online. More: What we know about the deadly tornadoes that hit Michigan She was one of at least two victims killed who lived on Prairie Rose Lane on the northern side of Union Lake. William Andrew Akers, 63 William Andrew Akers was 63 years old, according to the Branch County Sheriff's Office. Akers lived on Tuttle Park Drive in Sherwood Township on the west end of Union Lake, according to public records. The Branch County Sheriff's Office released Akers' name on Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement More: How one Michigan family survived the Union Lake tornado Keri Ann Johnson, 54 Keri Ann Johnson, 54, of Union City, died as a result of injuries sustained from the tornado, according to a brief obituary. An address for Johnson lists her on Prairie Rose Lane, near the home of Guthrie. According to a GoFundMe, Johnson was married to her husband, Scott. Through a friend, he declined to comment. Archer Lake Watersports, based in Quincy, posted on Facebook that Johnson was an employee there, and that they had lost a "great friend." "YOU WILL BE MISSED," the post read. More: No tornado watch issued or sirens available for Union Lake before tornado Silas Anderson, 12 Silas Anderson, 12, died in Cass County. Sheriff Clint Roach said he was from the Edwardsburg area. Advertisement Advertisement He was taken to South Bend Memorial Hospital, where he died of 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," the Cass County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Saturday. Courtney Szucs, superintendent of Edwardsburg Public Schools, released a statement and letter to parents confirming the death of a student who was in the sixth grade. "It is with a very heavy heart that I share the tragic passing of one of our 6th grade students," the statement said. "Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the student's family, friends, classmates, and all who knew and cared about him. He was a bright and meaningful part of our Eddie community, and we know his loss is deeply felt by many. There are truly no words that can fully express the sadness and loss our Eddie family is experiencing." jpignolet@detroitnews.com Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here. This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: 4 victims of Friday's tornado outbreak in Michigan identified Two Pennsylvania men arrested outside the residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a counterprotest on Saturday told investigators they watched ISIS videos and confronted the far-right, anti-immigrant provocateur Jake Lang, law enforcement sources told ABC News. Emir Balat of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and Ibrahim Kayumi of Newton, Pennsylvania, are expected to face federal charges after they allegedly threw possible explosive devices during the counterprotest, the sources said. The devices they allegedly threw, at first thought to be smoke bombs, were tested by the New York Police Department's bomb squad and determined to have been possible explosive devices, according to the sources. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: An activist holds a homemade explosive device before throwing it towards police during a protest organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang against alleged "Islamification," in front of Gracie Mansion, on March 7, 2026, in New York. The devices are being sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, for additional testing, according to the source. Advertisement Advertisement NYPD police Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said earlier Sunday that one of the suspicious devices thrown during an anti-Muslim protest outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor's residence, was an improvised explosive device. Man arrested for 'assaulting' cops in snowball incident amid rift between Mayor Zohran Mamdani, NYPD Tisch said the city's Bomb Squad had conducted a preliminary analysis of the device that was ignited and "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. Further analysis will be conducted, including on a second device." New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also released a statement Sunday, denouncing the protest and thanking the police officers who responded to the incident. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: An activist flees after throwing a homemade explosive device towards police during a protest organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang against alleged "Islamification," in front of Gracie Mansion, on March 7, 2026, in New York. "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," Mamdani said. "It is an affront to our citys values and the unity that defines who we are. What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are." Advertisement Advertisement He went on, "I want to thank the brave men and women of the NYPD who acted quickly to keep New Yorkers safe. Our officers ran toward danger without hesitation, demonstrating once again the courage and dedication it takes to protect this city every single day."Overall, police arrested six people in connection with the dueling protests. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: An activist is handed a homemade explosive device by a fellow activist before throwing it towards police during a protest in front of Gracie Mansion, on March 7, 2026, in New York. About 20 organizers "associated with far-right provocateur Jake Lang" took part in the anti-Muslim protest while 120 counterprotesters gathered outside the mansion around noon, Tisch told reporters on Saturday. Tensions flared, and one of the members of the anti-Muslim group allegedly used pepper spray on a counterprotester and was arrested, Tisch said. Shortly after that, an 18-year-old counterprotester was seen lighting and throwing a device, Tisch said. Advertisement Advertisement "Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke as it traveled through the air before it struck a barrier and extinguished itself a few feet from police officers," she told reporters. Mamdani, in emotional speech, decries Islamophobia in New York City mayor's race The suspect allegedly got another device from a 19-year-old suspect, lit it and ran with it before he dropped it, Tisch said. Officers arrested both suspects, according to the commissioner. The commissioner said the two suspicious devices appeared to be "a jar wrapped in black tape, with nuts, bolts and screws, along with a hobby fuse that could be lit." Advertisement Advertisement No injuries were reported during the incident and the investigation was ongoing. Joe Calvello, a spokesman for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, said the city's first Muslim mayor, and his wife, Rama Duwaji, were safe when the incident unfolded outside Gracie Mansion. It was not immediately clear if they were inside the mansion. Calvello called Lang a "vile white supremacist" and condemned the protest as "despicable and Islamophobic." Ryan Murphy/Getty Images - PHOTO: A man is arrested after throwing a hand-made smoke grenade at a protest near Gracie Mansion, on March 7, 2026, in New York. "Thankfully, the Mayor and the First Lady are both safe, though the events are a stark reminder of the threats they both face regularly," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Lang has not commented on the incident or the arrests. In addition to the arrest of the suspects who allegedly used the devices and the suspect who used the pepper spray, three others were arrested for disorderly conduct and blocking traffic, Tisch said. The commissioner on Saturday commended the actions of officers on the scene who rushed to action when they saw the smoking devices. "I always speak about the police running toward the danger when everyone else runs away. Let me be clear, that happened today," Tisch said. Four Georgians were indicted Friday on accusations they forged checks from a state agency and stole tens of thousands of dollars. On Friday, Attorney General Chris Carrs office said four people were facing charges of fraudulently creating and forging checks from the Georgia Department of Driver Services. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Ashanti Asberry of Lawrenceville, Aieriana Turner of Columbus, Nakesha Bryant of Richland and Daria Martin of Bremen are accused of using fake checks to steal more than $53,600 from the state. Advertisement Advertisement The Georgia Attorney Generals Office said the indictments against the four were secured for DeKalb, Fulton, Muscogee and Stewart counties. TRENDING STORIES: According to officials, the four wrote bogus checks from DDS and did not have any employment or business relations with the state agency. Were fighting to ensure every tax dollar is protected not pocketed by criminals, Carr said in a statement. Let me be clear if you steal from the State and hardworking Georgians, you will be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Fraud and theft wont be tolerated, no matter the amount. Advertisement Advertisement Here are the charges each faces. Ashanti Asberry, 26, of Lawrenceville, indicted in Fulton County for: 1 count of Theft by Taking 1 count of Forgery Aieriana Turner, 25, of Columbus, indicted in Muscogee County for: 2 counts of Theft by Taking 2 counts of Forgery Nakesha Bryant, 40, of Richland, indicted in Stewart County for: 1 count of Theft by Taking 1 count of Forgery DeKalb County Indictment Daria Martin, 25, of Bremen, indicted in DeKalb County for: 1 count of Theft by Taking 1 count of Forgery [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] An American government contractor who stands alledgely stole more than $46 million in cryptocurrency from the U.S. Marshals Service was recently arrested on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin in an international takedown. Last night, John Daghita a U.S. government contractor who allegedly stole more than $46 million in cryptocurrency from the U.S. Marshals Service was arrested on the island of Saint Martin by the French Gendarmeries premier elite tactical unit in a joint operation with the FBI, Director Patel announced via X on March 5. At the time of his arrest, officers recovered several physical cryptocurrency wallets and a briefcase containing cash. From the images provided by the FBI, it appears Daghita was holding a large chunk of the stolen funds in Trezor crypto-only hardware wallets (small devices that securely store your cryptocurrency private keys offline). Advertisement Advertisement The FBI will continue working 24/7 with our international partners to track down, apprehend, and bring to justice those who attempt to defraud American taxpayers no matter where they try to hide, Patel added. An Inside Job Daghita, 21, has been identified as the son of Dean Daghita, President of Command Services & Support (CMDSS), a Virginia-based IT firm, according to an original thread posted by blockchain investigator and X user ZachXBT. CMDSS holds an active contract with the U.S. Marshals Service to help with the custody and disposal of certain types of seized cryptocurrency meaning the firm had exclusive access to wallets holding billions of dollars in government-related digital assets. Advertisement Advertisement However, It still remains unclear at this point how John obtained access from his dad, according to ZachXBT. The U.S. Marshals Service manages digital assets seized during criminal investigations, including some of the most high-profile cases in recent years. Among the wallets allegedly targeted were assets tied to the 2016 Bitfinex hack, one of the biggest crypto-theft schemes, as previously covered by DX. The total suspected theft may even exceed $90 million when accounting for additional suspicious activity from Daghita that was observed in late 2025, according to BitCoin Magazine. Caught Bragging Online The investigation was set in motion not by a government audit, but by ZachXBTs independent investigation, which uncovered the scheme in late January 2026 after Daghita allegedly flaunted his holdings in a Telegram group chat pretty brazenly. Advertisement Advertisement While using the alias Lick, Daghita reportedly screen-shared a crypto wallet containing roughly $23 million, directly tied to government seizure addresses. ZachXBT then traced the funds from that screenshot through the blockchain, identified Daghita, and reported his findings to law enforcement officials. A formal investigation opened in January following the tip. Within weeks, American feds and French agents worked together to locate and lock up the 21-year-old crypto thief. As of the time of reporting, there are no reports of recovered funds being returned or additional arrests. NEW ORLEANS Immigrants detained in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas now have fewer ways to seek release while their cases are pending after a recent appellate court decision. In early February, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a split decision that the Trump administration has the authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to hold any immigrant who entered the country without inspection in detention without bond, regardless of how long theyve been in the country. The decision came at a time when the majority of judges around the country were ruling against the Trump administrations decision to lock up immigrants and deny them the chance to be released by immigration judges through a bond hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Its taken the ability to pursue your immigration case and claims without being detained off the table for thousands of people, said Sarah Whittington, advocacy director at the ACLU of Louisiana. Before, a bond hearing process could be one pathway an attorney could use in Louisiana to get qualified people released from immigration detention. Even if someone eligible for bond was denied a hearing, they could file a habeas petition to request release from detention. A habeas petition is a form of legal protection that gives people detained by the government a chance to argue for their freedom in front of a judge. This was how a Maryland man was able to get out of Louisiana detention in October last year. The population that this actually impacts are folks that have probably been living here for more than five to 10 years, and so they have probably built lives and have family and have deep community connections, Whittington said. The case that the 5th Circuit ruled on, Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi, involved two Mexican nationals who had been living in Texas for years. According to the decision, Victor Buenrostro-Mendez and Jose Padron Covarrubias entered the country in 2009 and 2001 respectively, and they both have a similar legal story. In 2025, immigration officers detained both men. Buenrostro-Mendez and Covarrubias subsequently filed to get bond hearings, were denied and then filed a habeas petition. Advertisement Advertisement They filed petitions in the summer of 2025, and district courts ruled that they should be entitled to bond hearings. The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security appealed the district courts rulings. Bad, but not impossible The restricted access to bond hearings began last July. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, released a memo saying the government reviewed its authority to arrest and detain people who immigrated without inspection. The agency determined that these people would now be considered an applicant for admission to the U.S. and subject to mandatory detention. Previously, this reason for mandatory detention would have been reserved for certain people arriving at the border. But, under the Trump administration, immigrants already inside the U.S. who entered without inspection face the same type of enforcement. This means people who came into the country more than a decade ago, like Buenrostro-Mendez and Covarrubias, at least as far as the Trump administration was concerned, could be held in immigration detention without an opportunity for a bond hearing. Generally, a bond hearing offered one way people detained by ICE could seek release. At the hearing, an immigration judge would determine whether the individual is eligible for bond. The judges decision can also be appealed. And the federal Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) would hear that appeal. Advertisement Advertisement The change in ICEs policy was met with a flurry of legal challenges across different jurisdictions. In September, federal officials doubled down. In an appeals case, the BIA concluded that an immigration judge did not have the authority to hold a bond hearing for Venezuelan citizen Jonathan Javier Yajure Hurtado. The federal board said Yajure Hurtado was subject to mandatory detention removing bond as an option under the new interpretation of the Immigration Nationality Act. In Louisiana, a district judge went against the Hurtado decision in the Western District. In October, Carlos Ventura Martinez, a Salvadoran man who had been living in Maryland for years, was released on bond from the Jackson Parish Correctional Center in Jonesboro, La. U.S. District Judge Jerry Edwards had ruled that Ventura Martinezs detention was unconstitutional and should be released. Now, four months later, because of the 5th Circuit ruling, the bond relief that had been granted to Ventura Martinez in Louisiana is no longer an option. Whittington described the situation as bad, but not impossible. Whittington helps the ACLU of Louisianas Justice Lab: Liberating Immigrants from Unlawful Detention, a program that includes volunteer and immigration attorneys working to free immigrants from detention through habeas corpus filings. She said attorneys from across the country call the lab to understand how to help the people theyre serving detained in Louisiana get out of detention. Sometimes, she said, theyre not even aware of the recent 5th Circuit decision and the limitations that it brings. Advertisement Advertisement Bond is not the only be-all, end-all way to get out, Whittington said. According to Whittington, there are still a number of paths by which someone in immigration detention can try to get out. Filing a habeas petition after prolonged detention and challenging the constitutionality of warrantless arrests are other avenues to release those detained while their immigration cases are underway, if those circumstances apply. Immigration attorneys also think that this issue will likely get referred to the Supreme Court because of the magnitude of cases being raised that address bond eligibility across the country. So while the decision has been made in the 5th Circuit, it may not always be the law of the land. Its still in flux, Whittington said, but for all intents and purposes, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi 5th Circuit Courts have put into place the belief that you do not have a right to bond. This article first appeared on Verite News New Orleans and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. In the streets of Nuuk, Aaja Chemnitz normally goes almost unnoticed. But in recent days, locals have been stopping the Greenland MP to congratulate her on her Nobel Peace Prize nomination -- though some fear it could rekindle Washington's interest in the Arctic island. Norwegian lawmaker Lars Haltbrekken announced on March 4 that he had nominated Chemnitz, along with US Senator Lisa Murkowski, for the prestigious prize for their role in de-escalating tensions between the US, Denmark and Greenland over President Donald Trump's threats to take over the Danish autonomous territory. It was not known whether he submitted the nomination ahead of the January 31 deadline for the 2026 prize, to be announced on October 9. Advertisement Advertisement Chemnitz, 48, who represents Greenland in the Danish parliament as a member of the left-green IA party, was instrumental in bringing a group of US senators to Copenhagen and Greenland earlier this year to try to mend relations shattered by Trump's threats. Since returning to the White House just over a year ago, Trump has insisted Washington needs control of Greenland for national security. Murkowski, a Republican senator from Alaska, has visited the Arctic island several times. During her latest visit in early February, she said the US and Denmark needed to "rebuild the trust" that had been "eroded and degraded" in just "a few sentences and words". Advertisement Advertisement - Strong Arctic women - Chemnitz met with AFP for an interview at the Nuuk cultural centre, where exhibits highlighted Inuit culture and the role of women in Greenlandic society in honour of International Women's Day on March 8. "If you take all the strong women out of the Arctic, it would just collapse. We have so many strong women here in the Arctic and in Greenland," she said. "A female collaboration on peace is quite beautiful," Chemnitz said, "especially when we know we have an American president who is also interested in the same prize". On a wall behind her hung pictures drawn by children of Greenland's red-and-white flag, some peppered with insults directed at Trump. Advertisement Advertisement In January, at the height of Greenland tensions, Trump linked his threats against the island to his failure to win last year's Nobel. "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace," he wrote in a message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Norway's government has repeatedly stressed that it does not award the Nobel Peace Prize, an independent Nobel committee does. Chemnitz said she and Murkowski would do their best to walk away with the honour. "I can assure you, if we have just the slightest chance of getting the prize, we won't give it away to anybody else." Advertisement Advertisement - 'A catastrophe' - While the pair will face competition for the prize -- in 2025, there were 338 candidates -- some in Greenland fear the nomination will rekindle tensions with Washington at a time when discretion has been Denmark's and Greenland's diplomatic strategy in recent weeks. "That would be a catastrophe. He's going to be so furious," Aqqaluk Lynge, a founder of IA, said of Trump. "Just give him the Nobel Peace Prize and he'll leave us alone!" While Trump climbed down in January from his threat to take over Greenland by force, Lynge worried about the US leader's unpredictable leadership style. Advertisement Advertisement "We can't rule out any possibility. It's simple: the security we used to have in the West is over now." Asked about the risk of an angry reaction from the White House, Chemnitz retorted that "as an American president, you have more important things to focus on." She expects the US interest in Greenland to continue "like a wave", ebbing and flowing. "It's going to be very important in the lows that we make sure that we have a good collaboration between Greenland and Denmark, so we don't encourage the US" to seize on the "challenges between Greenland and Denmark". Advertisement Advertisement After more than 10 years as one of the two Greenland MPs in Denmark's parliament, Chemnitz will not stand for re-election in Denmark's March 24 legislative elections. But, she stressed, "I'm sure I'm going to play a role" in the future of Greenland. fv/cbw/po/rlp (NewsNation) As the conflict between the U.S. and Iran continues, several Americans are sharing their perspective on being abroad in the Middle East after the attacks began. The State Department said Saturday that 28,000 Americans have returned home from the region since the strikes. Additionally, the Department of State has completed more than a dozen charter flights and safely evacuated thousands of Americans from the region. Those transiting through major international hubs like Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Doha, Qatar; or Amman, Jordan whose flights were grounded by the fighting were initially told by the State Department not to rely on the U.S. government for assisted departures or evacuations for four days. Advertisement Advertisement Almost 20K US citizens returned from Middle East: State Department The State Department also issued urgent warnings for Americans in at least 14 countries to depart immediately. American student: State Department didnt assist me to get home An American student says the State Department didnt assist him in returning home after the strikes started. It was absolutely insane, Georgetown Universitys Ethan Hill told NewsNation. Hill, who was traveling to Armenia for an educational spring break, said he had a layover in Doha, Qatar, which was supposed to be a three-hour layover. The airline overbooked his flight to Armenia, leaving him there for an extra day. The following day, the attacks began. Advertisement Advertisement Six US soldiers killed in Kuwait to be honored in dignified transfer I was there for maybe three to five days and contacted the embassy and got no help. And eventually, I was evacuated by Georgetown and the University in Qatar. And theyre the ones who got me out. When asked about the communication with the State Department, Hill said they didnt pick up the phone despite several phone calls. He noted the person who was coordinating the trip to Armenia was in contact with the agency. We were told that we have nothing to worry about, said Hill. They encourage us to go on this trip and everythings going to be fine. So that was the first thing. The next thing is, while we were there, the girl I was with called the embassy and said, Hey, heres who we are. Were staying. Heres where were staying. What can you do? And the response was we cant do anything. The airspace is closed to just stay and shelter in place. We cant help you. Airlines upcharging to get out of region: Traveler Louise Herrle, who was travelling in Dubai when the attacks began, stated that airlines were up charging for flights to leave the region. Advertisement Advertisement Yeah, it is true, she told NewsNation. We actually had reservations and we were told that we were going to be leaving on the 11th. And as you can imagine, weve been here a long time. We just want to get out. Herrle said she was hoping she would hear from the State Department, as many of her fellow travelers did get taken out by the agency. Trump, defense company leaders meet at White House as strikes on Iran continue We just havent been called, noted Herrle. And what happened was I basically spent all day yesterday talking to Emirates Airlines, and it was just a fluke that we found out that there were economy seats available for the 9th. Advertisement Advertisement But when the booking agent tried to move our 11th reservation to the open seats on the 9th, they were closed to existing booking. Emirates Airlines is holding those tickets or holding those seats for new bookings. And as you can imagine, the new bookings are much more expensive. So, we are actually paying the additional money to get out two days later. The New York native acknowledged the most frustrating part of her experience is trying to get the accurate information you need to make the best decision for you to leave the country. Demand is surging for people wanting to leave: Security Services VP Colin OBrien, the Deputy Vice President of Operations at Global Guardian, who has been helping evacuate thousands of people from the area, shared that the demand has not slowed down for people needing assistance with leaving. Its been nonstop continuing this weekend as people are still trying to work their way out of the region, out of the countries that are most affected, such as Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and moving them to places where they can be safe and they can leverage the fact that were moving in additional aircraft, whether privately or now that the U.S. government is getting involved, said OBrien. Advertisement Advertisement The constant airspace closures along with some intermittent openings OBrien pointed out, have only made the mission more intense and challenging. Trump on Iran leadership: Clean out everything It is a constant battle of where to take people, he said. Its working, which country can I go to? But youre also playing a jigsaw puzzle of what nationalities people youre trying to rescue are and the visa restrictions they have. Americans have a little bit better freedom of movement throughout the region. For other nationalities, its a lot harder and theres delays. So its moving someone away from the downtown areas, trying to get them a visa and then moving them again. 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 NewsNation. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Dona Ana County has a new chief deputy assessor, who brings more than two decades of County experience. Karen Archuleta has been officially sworn in as the new chief deputy assessor, the County said. Archuleta began her career in Dona Ana County in August 2004 and served the organization for more than 20 years across multiple departments, including the Legal Department, Human Resources and Assessors Office. Advertisement Advertisement During her time in the Legal Department, she worked as a legal administrative assistant and later advanced to paralegal where she earned her certified paralegal designation through the National Association of Legal Assistants. She later joined the countys Human Resources Department, where she served as the ADA/EEO coordinator and HR administrator in the Benefits Division and Human Relations, which is now known as Talent and Culture. Archuleta eventually transitioned to the Assessors Office, where she served as a personal property document technician and supported the Appraisal Department with data entry and administrative functions. She also holds an Appraiser I certificate. Before joining Dona Ana County, Archuleta worked in police administration in Pennsylvania, served as a federal contract data specialist supporting a missile defense system in New Mexico and worked as a state clerk in Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Archuleta holds a bachelors degree in paralegal studies with a minor in sociology form Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. As chief deputy assessor, Archuleta will assist in overseeing the operations of the Assessors Office and support the offices mission to provide fair and accurate property valuations for Dona Ana County residents, the County said. 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. ANDERSON Anderson police offered a behind-the-scenes look at daily operations Saturday to a small group of interested locals. Officers took turns talking to an audience of about 10 at the Citizens Academy, explaining the department's various divisions, including K-9, SWAT and Criminal Investigations. Detective Matt Jarrett, an Anderson officer who works with the Indiana Crimes Against Children Task Force, explained how he and his police dog Buck work together. Advertisement Advertisement Buck has been trained to detect the sent of a glue used for devices such as cellphones and USB drives. This is useful when police believe that the device might contain evidence of child sex abuse. Jarrett recalled that officers found a thumb drive that had been hidden in the ceiling of a home, after Buck parked himself underneath that area of the ceiling. Buck loves to work, Jarrett said. He gave attendees a demonstration; Buck detected a phone that Jarrett had set on a nearby cabinet during his lecture. Police dogs can also put children in a home during a search more at ease by lying on his side and letting the children rub his belly. Advertisement Advertisement Assistant Chief John Konkle showed how officers determine whether a suspect is telling the truth during interviews by detecting stress in their voice. If someone's voice registers as the shape of a Christmas tree on a polygraph test, they are likely telling the truth. If their voice register looks like a mountain, they're likely lying. Konkle spends time with a suspect before a lie-detector test to relax them. Prepping the person, he said, is key for avoiding false results, which is often a complaint about polygraphs. Konkle acknowledged that lie-detector tests are "too sensitive." Advertisement Advertisement Anderson Police Chief Mike Lee talked about the SWAT team and the different types of surveillance technology used to solve cases, including drones and cameras that can read car license plates. Lee noted that in December, Chinese drone maker DJI and other foreign drone manufacturers were banned by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission because of national security concerns. "This could be a great industry for Indiana," an audience member interjected. Lee cautiously agreed but said the cost for U.S.-made drones are triple the cost of those manufactured elsewhere. For some, Saturday's presentation made the police department seem less institutional and more personal. "Officers are people too," Rachel Landers said succinctly. One picture shows a man who looks like Andrew Mountbatten -Windsor with a young woman on his lap A photograph that appears to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with a young woman on his lap has been published by the US Department of Justice (DoJ). A man wearing a blue shirt and grey hooded jacket with his arms around a blonde woman appears to resemble the former Duke of York. A second photograph uncovered by The Telegraph shows the same man, this time with a different young woman standing behind him, her arms wrapped around his neck. Advertisement Advertisement Both womens faces have been redacted. The second picture, apparently taken in Jeffrey Epsteins Manhattan apartment, shows the same man with a different woman The two pictures, which are small and low-resolution, appear to have been taken in the New York dining room of Jeffrey Epstein, the paedophile and financier who died in 2019. The undated images are among the 180,000 photographs released by the DoJ under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is known to have visited Epsteins Manhattan property for a week-long stay in December 2010. The disgraced prince claimed in a 2019 Newsnight interview that he only made the trip because he was too honourable not to say goodbye to the convicted paedophile in person. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor visited Epsteins Manhattan property for a week-long stay in December 2010 - Jae Donnelly However, correspondence and other documents disclosed by the DoJ show the pair spent the trip socialising and remained in contact afterwards. Advertisement Advertisement One photograph, which shows Mr Mountbatten-Windsor on all fours leaning over a young woman, appears to have been taken in the same dining room of Epsteins New York home during the 2010 trip. The former duke was pictured in a similar pair of jeans to those he wore while walking in Central Park on December 2, 2010, and a distinctive red-and-white striped tablecloth can be seen on the dining table behind him. A picture released in the Epstein files shows Mr Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling over a woman in front of a distinctive tablecloth - Reuters Mr Mountbatten-Windsors public downfall began when he was accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexually abusing her when she was 17 after she was introduced to him by Epstein, a claim the former prince has always robustly denied. Last year the King removed Andrews remaining royal titles. Following the release of 3.5 million Epstein files, he was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Advertisement Advertisement Thames Valley Police are investigating allegations that he passed sensitive information to Epstein while serving as UK trade envoy. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor leaves Aylsham police station after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office - Phil Noble/Reuters A number of emails released in recent months also appear to suggest that Epstein introduced Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to young women following his 2008 Florida conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. In an email sent in August 2010, Epstein appears to offer to introduce the then-prince to a beautiful 26-year-old Russian. In a later email, the woman appeared to confirm the meeting went ahead, telling Epstein she had an amazing night. The next month, Epstein can be seen telling Mr Mountbatten-Windsor that he would bring several women to a dinner at Buckingham Palace, including one woman he described only as Romanian, very cute. Advertisement Advertisement Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has been contacted for comment. He has always denied all allegations of wrongdoing. 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. Jennifer Keenan was on the trip of a lifetime when everything fell apartquite literally. The 32-year-old from Queensland, Australia had been traveling across Asia from Japan to the Philippines when tragedy struck. She was island-hopping in the Philippine archipelago, returning to a boat from a village tour in the scenic Palawan province, and thats when a makeshift bridge collapsed. It nearly took her legs, and her life. Now, Keenan is on the mend following the accident. But she has a long road to recovery. According to a GoFundMe account, created to support Keenan, heres what happened: Advertisement Advertisement While on the final stop of an island boat tour, Jennifer was walking across a bridge when it suddenly collapsed beneath her. She was thrown into the water and pinned between large, sharp concrete blocks. Unable to move and in severe pain, she was trapped as people rushed to help free her. It took multiple people to pull her out, revealing the extent of her injuries including a pole that had pierced through her leg and severe damage to her ankle. With limited access to immediate medical care, it took hours for Jennifer to reach a hospital while bleeding and in significant distress. After some effort, Keenan was pulled from the ocean and rubble. But her injuries were severe. They took her to the nearest hospital, a two-and-a-half-hour boat ride away. And now, shes recovering in a different hospital in Manila, still suffering from severe pain. Related: Piper James Shock Cause of Death Revealed in Australia Speaking with news.com.au through tears, Keenan told her tale: Advertisement Advertisement It was like a war zone, she said. Ive needed three surgeries and to clean my wounds, since there was a parasite in my leg from the pole. My right ankle is cracked where all the skin came back and I am just on antibiotics non-stop to kill this thing [parasite] inside me. Now, shes working on getting home for proper care. Jennifer has always been a kind, adventurous, and generous person, and now she needs our support more than ever, the crowdfunding effort continued. Support her via GoFundMe here. Related: Is That a Tsunami? Typhoon Waves Slam Philippines (Video) This story was originally published by Surfer on Mar 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Surfer as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Australia is considering a request by Gulf states for assistance against Iranian attacks, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Sunday. Speaking to broadcaster ABC, Wong said many countries which were non-participants in the war had been attacked by Iran. "You would anticipate as a consequence that we have been asked for assistance and we will work through that carefully," the minister said. Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether that meant assistance in protecting Gulf states from Iranian drone and missile attacks, Wong said "correct." "We are not participating in offensive action against Iran, and we've made clear we would not participate in any ground troop deployment into Iran," she added. The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran a week ago, killing supreme leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Tehran has been attacking a number of Arab countries where the US maintains military bases. Wong said Australia was not in a position to determine the legal basis of decisions that the US and Israel made in launching the strikes. Advertisement Advertisement "But what we can do is make a judgement about what is in our national interests and what we support in order to keep Australians safe," she said. "So, what we've said is we support action to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and we support action to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security," Wong said. Australia had more than 100 personnel across the Middle East, with most stationed in the United Arab Emirates. Its operational headquarters, the Al Minhad air base near Dubai, was hit by a drone during the first day of the conflict. Elephant seal pups chubby from nursing snorted through snotty noses on Thursday at the Piedras Blancas rookery but not because they were sick. In San Luis Obispo County, the elephant seals appeared to be healthy, despite a small outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza among elephant seals at Ano Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County, Cal Poly biology professor Dr. Heather Liwanag said. As of Thursday, none of the elephant seals at the Piedras Blancas rookery displayed symptoms of the virus, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Luckily, mucus production is not a sign of illness in elephant seals. In fact, its a sign of good health, as the seals create a lubricant called surfactant to help reinflate their lungs after deep dives in the ocean, Liwanag said. Instead, seals infected with the avian flu tend to suffer from tremors or neurological symptoms like seizures, she said. A pup and adult elephant seal have a conversation near the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse on March 3, 2026. (David Middlecamp/dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com) Research suggests that the sick Ano Nuevo elephant seals were directly infected by birds carrying the virus. So far, scientists havent seen this virus passed between seals at the State Park which means that the risk of contracting the avian flu hasnt changed much for San Simeons seals, Liwanag said. Birds in California have been testing positive for the avian flu for two or three years, so her team already monitored the seals for the virus before the Ano Nuevo outbreak. Advertisement Advertisement We have been on alert for this for some time, she said. Because seals are unlikely to transmit the virus to each other, Liwanag thinks the Piedras Blancas seals are at the same risk of infection as they were before the Ano Nuevo outbreak. The real danger is exposure to infected birds a risk that hasnt changed, she said. It is a little bit nerve-wracking, Liwanag said of the outbreak. But it seems like were in the same place we were before, which is good news. Looking a little like an evil Bond villain plotting her next move, a female northern elephant seal rubs her flippers together on the beach near the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse on March 3, 2026. (David Middlecamp/dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com) Sick elephant seal pups die at Ano Nuevo State Park On Feb. 19 and 20, researchers collected samples from seven sick and dead elephant seal pups who were recently weaned from nursing at Ano Nuevo State Park, UC Davis reported. Advertisement Advertisement All seven samples tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza, known also as influenza A, subtype H5. The live elephant seals who were tested died within 24 hours of the onset of their symptoms, Liwanag said. As of Monday, researchers had taken samples from 35 marine mammals but UC Davis had not yet confirmed whether those samples tested positive for the virus. So far, the virus doesnt appear to be spreading among the Ano Nuevo population, and its even less likely to spread by seal to Piedras Blancas, Liwanag said. Young elephant seals often travel between Piedras Blancas and Ano Nuevo before they start breeding, but Liwanag doesnt see this as a risk. An adult male northern elephant seal sleeps in the sun surrounded by females near the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse on March 3, 2026. (David Middlecamp/dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com) The known infected seal pups at Ano Nuevo already died, and even if an infected seal swam to San Luis Obispo County, the virus doesnt yet seem able to transfer between seals, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Its an avian flu, so its most adapted to infect birds, Liwanag said. The jump to a different species its possible, but its not common. If the Piedras Blancas seals did get sick, it would more likely be from exposure to infected bird guano, she said. A wave splashes a juvenile elephant seal near the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse on March 3, 2026. Adult females are leaving behind weaned pups who will learn to swim in the near-shore waters. Molting season, when the seals shed old fur and skin, will begin at the end of the month. (David Middlecamp/dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com) Monitoring elephant seals at Piedras Blancas rookery Liwanag and her team have kept an eye out for the avian flu for about three years. In 2023, an outbreak of the virus killed about 17,500 southern elephant seal pups at the Valdes Peninsula in Argentina, according to an article published by the news outlet Mongabay. The incident triggered alarm bells in the labs of elephant seal researchers across California, as southern and northern elephant seals have similar physiologies and many of the birds in Argentina migrate through the Golden State. Advertisement Advertisement We were really, really worried because northern elephant seals are their closest relatives, generally, she said. This could devastate them similarly. Since then, avian flu outbreaks among marine mammals in the United States were small. The avian flu infected a few marine mammals in Florida and Maine in 2022 and in Washington in 2023, UC Davis said. An adult female elephant seal throws sand on her back near the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse on March 3, 3036. The females are leaving behind weaned pups who will learn to swim in the near-shore waters. (David Middlecamp/dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com) This is the first time the avian flu infected seals in California, and researchers dont know why, Liwanag said. I think its just random chance, to be honest with you, she said. Why now? Who knows. When conducing research at the rookery, Liwanags team disinfects their equipment and shoes between beaches to prevent carrying disease from one spot to another. They also disinfect their nitrile gloves between handling seals and switch out gloves between beaches. Advertisement Advertisement The team scans the beaches for signs of the flu, like clusters of dead birds or symptomatic seals with tremors, seizures or lethargy. Were totally keeping an eye on our seals, and were paying extra attention, looking out for anything unusual, she said. Luckily, the researchers hadnt seen any avian flu warning signs at Piedras Blancas. An adult male elephant seal sleeps in the sun near the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse on March 3, 2026. (David Middlecamp/dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com) Meanwhile, another biologist is monitoring dead elephant seals for the avian flu. As of Tuesday, Central California Marine Animal Response Team executive director Barbie Halaska had sampled one dead elephant seal pup at Piedras Blancas for the avian flu. She planned to send the sample to a lab for testing by the end of the week. Advertisement Advertisement A handful of elephant seal pups recently died at the Piedras Blancas rookery, but Halaska said this doesnt necessarily indicate that the seals have the flu. Right now, mother seals are leaving the beaches leaving weaned elephant seal pups to fend for themselves and learn to swim. Malnourished pups who didnt get enough nutrients while nursing often die, and healthy pups can also die if they struggle to find food, she said. Its really very normal for this time of year to have dead elephant seal weened pups, she said. Still, shes taking samples from the corpses to test for the avian flu just in case. Advertisement Advertisement Were just keeping an eye on everything, Halaska said. The only think that we can really do is active surveillance. For safety, Halaska urged people to stay 150 feet away from live or dead marine mammals. If you see a dead seal, call Central California Marine Animal Response Team at 805-242-3560. If you see a live seal that appears to be in distress, call the California West Coast Stranding Hotline at 866-767-6114, she said. The elephant seal rookery was thinning out near the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse on March 3, 2026. Adult females were leaving behind weaned pups who will learn to swim in near-shore waters. Molting season, when seals shed old fur and skin, will begin at the end of the month. (David Middlecamp/dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com) Is it safe to visit the Piedras Blancas Rookery? With no active avian influenza outbreak at the Piedras Blancas rookery, Liwanag said its safe for people to watch the elephant seals from the viewing platform. Like always, people should not venture onto the beaches where the elephant seals are. Advertisement Advertisement So far, researchers dont think the virus is airborne, so visitors dont need to wear masks when watching the seals. Come appreciate these amazing creatures, she said. They normally spend most of their life underwater, but we get a quick chance to see them on land where were most comfortable and thats pretty amazing. The Piedras Blancas Light Station first illuminated the shoreline in 1875. The lighthouse is just north of the elephant seal rookery, seen here on March 3, 2026. (David Middlecamp/dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com) A docent at the elephant seal rookery near the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse holds a replica skull of an adult male northern elephant seal on March 3, 2026. A female skull sits on the table to the right. (David Middlecamp/dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com) Channel 2 Action News was the first to report when Qcells, a solar panel manufacturer with two facilities in Georgia, had to cut work hours and furlough employees due to supply chain issues. On Friday, the company announced a return to normal production, with the customs clearance process that impacted supply now resolved. By the end of 2026, Qcells said their two facilities in Cartersville and Dalton will employ almost 4,000 people. We are proud to be back to work manufacturing the American-made energy the country needs right now. Like any company, hurdles have and will occur, which requires us to adapt and be nimble, but our overall goal remains the same to build a complete American solar supply chain. To achieve this, we are excited to welcome hundreds of new, talented people into our workforce as we finalize our one-of-a-kind factory in Cartersville, Georgia. By the end of 2026, well have nearly 4,000 people manufacturing panels and components that America hasnt made in a very long time. Marta Stoepker, Head of Communications at Qcells As part of the pause in production last year, Qcells previously told Channel 2 Action News that the company had retained its workforce, with full benefits at both of its Georgia facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Of the companys more than 1,000 employees impacted, Qcells said no layoffs would occur. A staffing agency Qcells was working with had 300 employees who were released from work for the company as part of its operation reduction efforts. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] An Ohio legislator is proposing a $1 million study on the feasibility of reintroducing elk back into Ohio. They are interested mostly in the habitat of Southeastern Ohio. What is to keep the elk in that part of Ohio? During the bad weather in January some people felt sorry for the deer and bought food for them. Since the snow has thawed we have seen 18 deer at one time and 10 at another time so it seems enough of them survived. Deer do millions of dollars of damage to field crops, orchard trees and young pine trees, besides automobile and human life damage on the highways. It would seem the presence of elk would multiply the crop damage problem because of their size. Also the damage from collisions to cars and people would be more severe. Advertisement Advertisement And speaking of animals, the first day of March was a beautiful Lamb Day, then the second was a snowy Lion Day. March is like a mischievous and unpredictable child. We can expect any kind of weather in March. In the middle of March, we will have days when the daylight and dark hours will be equal. Then comes days of longer daylight and the promise of spring. Iris Eppley lives on a farm in Muskingum County and is a member of the Farm Bureau Council. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: $1M elk study raises questions about habitat and human impact in Ohio ICEs plan to vastly expand its national detention network has faced a wave of bipartisan blowback, scuttling multiple planned warehouse conversions across the country. Rumored sales or leases to Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been abandoned in places such as Mississippi, Tennessee and New Hampshire in part due to local elected Republicans urging the Trump Administration to look elsewhere. But so far in Orlando, theres no similar movement on ICEs plans to create a detention center in a warehouse park off of State Road 528. The site here is farther from population centers than some of the proposals that have failed, and the opposition has been more muted. Advertisement Advertisement The Orlando facility is among several dozen the Department of Homeland Security would like to purchase around the country to greatly increase federal detention space for President Trumps mass deportation agenda. The investment is part of about $45 billion allocated to the agency under Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and could help achieve top ICE official Todd Lyons goal to make the agency into the Amazon Prime for human beings. The warehouse would be a so-called processing center capable of holding about 1,500 detainees at a time, held for an average of one week. While the reaction has been quieter compared to other states, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost believes local opposition has been enough to keep the federal agency from moving forward for now. Advertisement Advertisement I think its still in a bit of limbo. Weve made great efforts both on the official side and the advocacy side, said Frost, D-Orlando. As a result of that advocacy, it hasnt gone anywhere as of yet. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and the Board of County Commissioners are expected to formalize their opposition this coming week in the form of a resolution. The statement argues a facility would burden the countys infrastructure, public resources and municipal services. It also notes that such a facility could be harmful to the regions reputation as an international tourism destination. The Orange County Board of County Commissioners hereby unequivocally and categorically opposes the conversion of any existing industrial warehouse(s) within Orange County for the establishment of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility or detention facility it reads. ICE didnt respond to questions about whether the Orlando location is still under consideration. Nor did the Georgia-based TPA Group, which owns the property, nor did HLI Partners, the Winter Park real estate company that was marketing the site. Advertisement Advertisement Local officials have struggled to get intel about the plan from the property owner or from the feds. Several have unsuccessfully tried to contact TPA or HLI, which for a period last month played a Rick Astley song if its listed number was dialed. City Commissioner Roger Chapin last month sent an email to Republican U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, as well as U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, urging them to ensure the federal government respects local regulations and processes. A facility of this nature, if it were to bypass local zoning laws, located within Orlando could raise important procedural questions under local zoning codes, land-use regulations, infrastructure capacity and public safety planning, he wrote. About two weeks later, Moodys office sent only a brief reply, acknowledging the note. Advertisement Advertisement In all, 10 warehouses across the U.S. have been purchased by the federal government for a collective $894 million, according to Project Salt Box. But 12 sales have been canceled, with at least seven more, including in Orlando, still under consideration. In many of the canceled sales, advocacy from coalitions of officials, including members of congress, governors and local leaders both Republicans and Democrats has been critical. For instance, in Merrimack, N.H., town manager Paul Micali said ICEs proposal to open a detention center there sparked an uproar in the residential community of about 30,000. He said when the town got word that ICE was considering it, they immediately contacted their state and federal representatives, as well as Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte, to oppose it. Advertisement Advertisement The first thing that worked is we got on it right away, he said. We got our state delegation, our federal delegation and our governor involved right away. This was a bipartisan effort by everybody. Ultimately, Ayotte met with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and on Feb. 24 announced that the facility wouldnt move forward. In Mississippi, Republican Sen. Roger Wicker wrote a letter to Noem opposing a potential warehouse conversion in Byhalia, Miss., because it would harm economic development and potentially overwhelm infrastructure. DHS ultimately decided not to pursue that site any further. In Oklahoma City, Republican Mayor David Holt announced a property owner there wouldnt sell to the feds after local opposition, and in Texas, a billionaire Trump donor also decided against selling his property to the Department of Homeland Security. Advertisement Advertisement Amid the blowback, the Trump administration has worked behind the scenes throughout the country to bolster support for the facilities, the Washington Post reported. DHS has distributed talking points to some local Republicans in places like New Hampshire and Maryland, and also held closed-door meetings with members of congress from Pennsylvania and Mississippi. Its unclear if such an effort has been made in Florida. Orange County faces a different political reality than many of the places with bipartisan opposition. The local power structure at the city and county level is mostly Democratic, and unlikely to influence the Trump administration. Meanwhile, local and state Republicans have been either quiet or gung-ho on the warehouse idea. Gov. Ron DeSantis hasnt weighed in on the Orlando site, but he has fervently spearheaded the states own detention facility at Alligator Alcatraz in South Florida. And Byron Donalds, the Republican front-runner in the contest to succeed DeSantis, has enthusiastically supported the Orlando warehouse plan, while blasting governors race rivals Demings and Democrat David Jolly for their opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Jerry Demings & David Jolly are fighting to block this facility were not going to let that happen, Donalds, R-Naples, posted on X in January after appearing with about a dozen GOP activists at the warehouse. The location itself is also much farther away from residential areas than some of the other sites, located about 8 miles east of the Orlando International Airport in an isolated warehouse park. The large Sunbridge development is planned nearby, but there are no current residents anywhere near it to complain. Opponents still have one major card to play. Frost and other Central Florida officials such as Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson have cited the potential impacts to the regions all-important tourism economy such a facility could have. Frost said local hotels heard from travelers earlier this year as rumors swirled that ICE had booked hundreds of hotel rooms for a potential enforcement operation here. Its going to be a thing that all tourists hear about when they come to Central Florida, he said. People have to throw everything they can at this to try to oppose this. _____ Blue Island city officials approved a lease agreement with OmniTRAX, a private railroad transportation company, to create city revenue and jobs on 90 acres of city-owned land near 119th & Division streets that has remained vacant for decades. The company agreed to share 8% of its net revenue generated from the property each year with the city and to pay $200,000 in rent every year for the first five years. If the lease extends beyond that, the rent would increase to $207,000 for the next five years and continue increasing every five years, according to the lease agreement. The property is located South of 119th Street and Division Street and southeast of 119th Street and Vincennes Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement The site will feature bulk commodity rail to truck transloading, secure truck and trailer storage and secure container storage, according to an OmniTRAX news release. Blue Island Mayor Fred Bilotto said in a statement Friday the property sat idle and generated no tax revenue for decades, contributing nothing to the local economy. He said turning around sites like this are a major priority. The logistics hub, he said, will bring in revenue, create jobs, attract new business activity and strengthen the citys regional transportation network. This project represents exactly the kind of economic development our community needs taking land that produced nothing for generations and putting it back to work for our residents and taxpayers, Bilotto said. That kind of transformation doesnt happen by accident; it happens through persistence, partnership, and a commitment to growing Blue Islands economy. Advertisement Advertisement Blue Island City Administrator Thomas Wogan said the land had been unused for decades due to environmental conditions that limited land use. He said it was difficult to find a use for the land because a warehouse could not be built on the property, but that OmniTRAX can use the land as storage for their clientele who are moving a variety of goods around the country. Wogan said the company expects to build out the property and complete environmental remediations by the end of 2026. Wogan said company officials told him they are eager to get moving on the project, with the property property undergoing a due diligence period. Initial discussions for the property began in 2024, Wogan said. This is an extremely rare rail-served industrial site in the heart Chicago that offers unparalleled market access, OmniTRAX Senior Vice President Chris Tecu said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement OmniTRAX affiliate Chicago Rail Link has operated in Blue Island since 1992. OmniTRAX is affiliated with The Broe Group, a Denver-based private, multi-billion dollar investment firm. The Broe Group attempted to negotiate a deal with the Illinois International Port District to privatize the Port of Chicago in 2013, but that fell through. awright@chicagotribune.com Body camera shows home where woman died, son speaks to police DEL CITY, Okla. (KFOR) Full body camera footage gives a closer look into the living conditions of an elderly woman who was found dead inside a Del City home. Duane Valentine, 52, Image Oklahoma County Detention Center. The womans son, Duane Valentine, was arrested after she was found, and is now facing 2nd degree murder and abuse by a caretaker charges. The woman is named Deborah Valentine. ORIGINAL STORY: Son arrested after mothers body found in filthy home Advertisement Advertisement News 4 originally reported on this case in February. Police released two minutes of the footage. The entire video is over an hour long. It shows the moments after police rushed to the home, where a son found his mother. I did check on her a couple of times a day, and she was breathing, and she was fine, but I let her sleep Sunday and went to check on her today and got no response from her, Duane Valentine told police. The son is 52-year-old Duane Valentine, he says he has been his mothers caretaker for the past nine years. He told police his mother had been sick for days. When officers went into the home, they found his mother in her bed. Officers say there was roughly two feet of trash and rodents in the room. Advertisement Advertisement Duane told police the last time he spoke with his mother was three or four days prior to her being found dead. Like I said, shes been really sick, and shes just been sleeping, Duane told police. From what the officers were seeing, they believed Deborah had been dead for days. Hes saying that shed been sick, but that he recently checked on her, like in the day or two. Shes like sunk into the bed, a mouse was eating on her face when I came in, the officer says to another officer. As the officer continued looking around, he went further into the house, finding the state of the kitchen and other rooms in disarray. Advertisement Advertisement Family later arrived at the home and asked Duane why he didnt call them. I didnt know bud. I didnt, I didnt think she was gone, Duane told his family. Police eventually took Duane to the station for questioning. So Im going to have to call a lawyer? Duane said to the officer. Duane later stated he did not kill his mom. Come right now, lets talk about this because I didnt kill my mother, alright. My mother was stubborn didnt like to be left, messed with when she sleeps, Duane said to the officer. Duane is out on bond with conditions, including a GPS monitor. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has confirmed it is assisting in an investigation for possible financial abuse. 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. A body was found floating in Lake Erie after a woman allegedly jumped off the MacArthur Bridge in Detroit. According to a release from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, a 911 call on Saturday morning around 11:30 a.m. reported a body was floating just offshore in the are of Bolles Harbor on the 13000 block of Shady Lane. The body was identified as 34-year-old Jeanne Renee Peterson of Sterling Heights who was reported missing on December 19, 2025 when she was last seen jumping off the bridge in Detroit, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Peterson was transported to the Lucas County Coroner's Office for an autopsy. The Michigan State Police assisted with making notification to the victim's family. The case remains under investigation by by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at 734-240-7530 mjohnson@detroitnews.com This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Body of missing Sterling Heights woman found in Lake Erie The Boston Police Department is warning residents about a new scam involving fraudulent court notices designed to look like official parking violation documents. The fake documents claim to be a Notice of Hearing | Parking Violation from the Boston Municipal Court. According to police, these notices were not issued by the City of Boston or any government agency. The fraudulent notices often contain a case number, a judges name and signature, a Boston Municipal Court address, and a specific hearing date. The documents also feature a Massachusetts state seal and a QR code designed to prompt immediate payment. Advertisement Advertisement Do not scan the QR code or submit any payment based on an unsolicited notice without first verifying it through official channels, Boston police wrote. Legitimate parking violations can be verified through the City of Bostons official parking website. The Boston Police Department suggests residents visit the citys official payment page to check the status of any suspected ticket before taking action. Officials noted that these fraudulent notices were not issued by the City of Boston or any other government agency. Residents who receive one of these fake notices or believe they have been victimized should report the incident to the Boston Police Department. 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 Despite gradual progress in recent years, women remain significantly under-represented across the global energy workforce. According to the International Energy Agencys (IEA) 2025 World Energy Employment report, women account for roughly 20% one in five jobs of the energy sector globally. In the wider global economy, women make up double that share. What is striking is that this ratio has remained largely static in recent years, partly because the fastest job growth in the sector has been in occupations such as welders, electricians and line workers, in which women make up less than 5% of workers. Advertisement Advertisement So while the industry grows, those gains have not necessarily translated into broader gender representation. In comparison, womens representation in energy is much higher in areas like scientific research and electrical equipment manufacturing, where they account for around 45% and 27% of positions, respectively. Share of women in energy and energy-adjacent sectors, 2023. Source: IEA analysis based on data from ILOSTAT. Womens participation also varies across energy subsectors. The International Renewable Energy Agency reports that around 32% of full-time roles in renewable energy are held by women, with solar leading the charge at roughly 40% and wind lagging behind at around 21%. In nuclear, women represent around 25% of the workforce. Elsewhere, in oil and gas, the number drops to approximately 22%, and the IEA points to pipeline transportation in particular as one of the least represented areas in energy, with women accounting for less than 5%. Advertisement Advertisement Mining remains one of the most male-dominated sectors in the broader energy value chain, with women representing just 15% of the global mining workforce, according to the World Bank. The IEA also highlights metal ore mining (11%) and coal and lignite mining (7%) as some of the least female-represented areas in the sector. Signs of progress: women in energy leadership The good news is that, according to the IEA report, womens share of senior leadership positions in the energy workforce since 2015 has risen faster than the economy-wide average. As of 2024, women held around 18% of senior leadership roles in energy, up from 13% in 2015. Some sectors are outperforming. Renewables have seen steady gains, with women now accounting for around 30% of senior leadership roles. Nuclear has progressed even faster at a compound annual growth rate of more than 4% between 2015 and 2024, reaching 29% in terms of representation. The grid sector has also seen improvement, although with more modest gains, reaching just under 18%. Change in the share of women in senior leadership positions in the economy and by energy subsector, 201524. Source: IEA Gender and Energy Data Explorer, 2025. However, despite this progress, the share of women in energy leadership still falls short of the broader economy-wide average of 25%. Advertisement Advertisement Plus, progress has, again, not been even across the industry. In oil and gas, growth over the past decade has been marginal, and the share of women in senior leadership positions remains below 1%. Meanwhile, 2023 analysis by White & Case found that 42% of the worlds top 100 listed mining companies had no women in executive management positions as of 2023 an improvement from 55% in 2012 but still leaving nearly half of mining majors without C-suite women in sight. In the coal sector, representation has gone backwards. According to the IEA, womens share of leadership roles in coal declined by around 20% between 2015 and 2024, dropping to just over 10%. Voices behind the statistics: Shell, Scatec and Rebel Energy Behind the numbers are individual experiences that reflect the systemic barriers women still face in energy careers. Advertisement Advertisement Sabine Hauser, managing director of Shell Austria, began her career at the company in 1994 as a trainee and eventually worked her way into senior leadership. Looking back at her early career, she says: When I was younger, I was a little more insecure and didnt speak up like my male counterparts, and I found myself getting overlooked. Kine Ardal, chief digital and information officer at Scatec, reflects on a similar sentiment: I dont have the loudest voice in the room and if you dont have the most assertive voice, you might not be heard. Difficulties in energy entrepreneurship for women are akin to those climbing the career ladder. In fundraising, the statistics are stacked against women, and confidence is the key difference I have observed not ability, says Penelope Hope, co-founder and former chief operating officer of Rebel Energy. Advertisement Advertisement Women, even while equally capable, tend to be highly conscientious and very aware of risk and responsibility. When you are raising money, you are asking people to trust you with their capital, and that weighs heavily. Men, in contrast, often appear more comfortable with risk-taking, which translates into bolder pitches and decision-making abilities. The IEA report points to a range of drivers contributing to the gender imbalance in the sector, including negative perceptions of women in certain occupations, workplace cultures and limited exposure to career pathways. The agencys Educators Employment Survey indicated that insufficient flexible work arrangements and childcare policies both relevant to parenthood were the most frequently cited challenges among women in the energy workforce. Reasons for under-representation of women reported by training and education providers. Source: IEA Educators Employment Survey, 2025. Indeed, both Hauser and Ardal faced challenges in their careers when childcare entered the picture. After returning to work shortly after giving birth, Hauser found herself in unideal circumstances spending hours in the office bathroom to pump milk, as if it was not difficult enough to leave behind her three-month-old. Ardal, on the other hand, was on track for a leadership programme when she was told that she was no longer fit for the role after she became pregnant. It was one of those moments where I wondered whether it would have been easier if I were a man, Ardal admits. Advertisement Advertisement Hauser emphasises that government and corporate support for working mothers is one thing, but societal perception is another. While her company and country (Austria) had supportive frameworks for her to take a longer maternal leave, she struggled to cope with the judgement of not taking full advantage. I could have stayed home for a year or even two but decided to return to work in three months, and I was told why arent you staying home with your kid? that hurt the most, she says. What energy companies can do differently A growing number of initiatives are working to close the energy gender gap. Some governments have introduced scholarships for fields of studies in which women are under-represented, established gender targets for hiring and expanded childcare policies, among other efforts. However, arguably the most important change is required at the workplace level. Lucy Webb, head of people partnering at So Energy, says that recruitment practices can make a significant difference in whether women apply for roles in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Gender-neutral job descriptions are important, Webb notes. If there are more masculine-coded words, it can detract women from applying. So, ensuring your advert is attractive to all is really important to increase female applicants. She stresses that having a diverse hiring panel is equally important: If you are a female candidate and see gender balance at the interview stage, especially at different seniority levels, that is powerful. Also, seeing women in roles beyond traditionally female positions not just people director, for example is important. Programmes such as Chicago Women in Trades in the US, Build Together in Canada and Women in Trades Roadmap in Australia have been helpful in recruiting and training women for energy roles. However, Webb argues that besides recruitment, retention is key. If you see women join as graduates or apprentices and progress into management and senior leadership, that is a strong signal the organisation is doing something right. Advertisement Advertisement According to Webb, companies that successfully retain female talent often have solid leadership development programmes and partnerships with organisations that offer training for women. These [frameworks] show that the company is investing in the progression of women. From a governance perspective, she adds, inclusive policies are critical: flexible working, enhanced parental leave not just maternity but paternity too and menopause policies. Webb concludes: Organisations that actively promote and support these initiatives tend to be inclusive across the board ethnic minority groups, neurodiversity groups, well-being groups. That holistic inclusion shows genuine commitment to a diverse workplace. Encouraging the next generation Beyond fairness and equality, increasing womens participation is critical for the energy sectors future. The global energy transition will require millions of new workers across the value chain, and many companies are already reporting labour shortages in specialised fields. Expanding the talent pool to include more women could help address those shortages while also bringing broader perspectives into problem-solving and innovation. Advertisement Advertisement Research across multiple industries has also linked more diverse teams to stronger financial performance and risk management outcomes that could be particularly valuable in a sector navigating rapid technological and regulatory change. Women bring emotional intelligence and awareness of impact, which can be incredibly powerful in attracting more talent, motivating teams through tough periods, and fostering creativity and resilience, Hope notes. For women considering careers in energy, industry leaders say confidence and preparation are key. Women will often see a job advert and feel they have to hit every single point to apply, whereas men tend to think, I hit a couple, I may as well try, says Webb. Her advice for female applicants: apply anyway. You dont have to tick every box. Do your research. Showcase your transferable skills. Reach out on LinkedIn. Show passion and understanding of the sector. Ultimately, just shoot your shot. Speak up. Be confident, Hauser advises. You can do training like how to speak in front of an audience or make your voice heard but also, be the source of knowledge, so that people have no choice but to listen. Knowing my material gave me confidence. When building on facts and research, I came across with credibility, and people listened, Ardal echoes, suggesting being honest with oneself: Ask yourself, what do I need to learn? and work on those aspects... You dont need to do it yourself. Get feedback from your network and your managers on what you need to improve on to prepare for a leadership role. Hope agrees that increasing women's participation in the sector starts with speaking up, regardless of seniority. Women can have the most influence from exactly where they are right now. Whether at the most junior or C-suite executive level, influence begins with voice and conviction. "Breaking the glass grid: women in the energy workforce" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. A British aircraft carrier may need to be escorted by a French warship if it is deployed to the Middle East. HMS Prince of Wales has been placed on advanced readiness, with the crew told it must be ready to sail with five days notice. However, with most of the Royal Navys major warships unavailable or undergoing maintenance, protection would probably need to be provided by allies such as France, the US and other European countries. Advertisement Advertisement A typical carrier escort group includes two to three destroyers or frigates and an attack submarine. The Royal Navy has six destroyers, but only HMS Dragon is known to be ready for action and is due to sail to the eastern Mediterranean very soon to protect the British sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus. HMS Dragon will arrive in Cyprus soon protect the British sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia - Chris Gorman / Big Ladder Of the fleets seven frigates, only HMS Somerset and HMS St Albans are understood to be available. The rest are undergoing maintenance or struggling with defects. Britain also has six attack submarines, but only HMS Anson is active and she is deployed in Australia. James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said: Labours talk of putting a carrier on greater readiness is a distraction from the real question: why didnt Starmer plan properly and move naval assets weeks ago, when a major US operation was clearly coming? Advertisement Advertisement The truth is Labour have prioritised welfare over defence, leaving an under-funded Ministry of Defence forced to make 2.6bn in cuts this year. Thats why there are no Royal Navy warships in the Middle East and why even if a carrier were deployed, there would be serious questions about escort ships. In addition to responding to the crisis in the Middle East, the Royal Navy also has to maintain other Nato commitments, such as countering the threat from Russia. Earlier this year, Sir Keir Starmer pledged to send HMS Prince of Wales to the north Atlantic and the high north Arctic region as part of Operation Firecrest following the US presidents threats to Greenland. Advertisement Advertisement Ben Obese-Jecty, the Conservative MP for Huntingdon, said: If we were to deploy, how would we cover Operation Firecrest and how would we fulfil our Nato Standing Maritime Group One flagship commitment? Britains other aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is currently undergoing a dry-docking period in Rosyth, Scotland. If deployed, HMS Prince of Wales would most likely be sent to the eastern Mediterranean, where a drone believed to have been fired by Hezbollah, Irans proxy, hit RAF Akrotiri on March 1. Protection could be provided by HMS Dragon when it arrives, but it would also need help from warships sent by France and other European countries. Advertisement Advertisement The nuclear-powered French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its escorts entered the Mediterranean on Friday. Charles de Gaulles Rafale fighter jets and Hawkeye radar aircraft could provide a defensive screen for HMS Prince of Wales, as could air defence systems on board the two destroyers and one frigate accompanying the carrier. The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is to be accompanied by the Spanish frigate Cristobal Colon - Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty France also sent the frigate Languedoc to Cyprus in response to the attack on RAF Akrotiri and has begun deploying land-based missile defence systems on the island. Spain has announced it will send the frigate Cristobal Colon to accompany the Charles de Gaulle, while the German frigate FGS Nordrhein-Westfalen arrived at the Cypriot port of Limassol on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Italy has said it will send the frigate Federico Martinego to the island, Greece has sent two frigates and four F-16 fighter jets, and a total of six Turkish F-16s are due to arrive on Monday. The USS Gerald R Ford and its escorts had been in the eastern Mediterranean launching aircraft in support of US-Israeli attacks on Iran but it has now transited through the Suez Canal and entered the Red Sea. Tom Sharpe, a former Royal Navy officer, said deploying HMS Prince of Wales to the Mediterranean now that the USS Gerald R Ford had left the area would make me nervous. Removing the protective blanket the USS Ford provides makes me less comfortable sending Prince of Wales there, he said and added: We should still do it though. Advertisement Advertisement If deployed to the Gulf of Oman or the Arabian Sea, HMS Prince of Waless protection would likely need to be provided by US assets in the region, such as the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group. Lord West, the former head of the Royal Navy, warned that Britain should be concerned about the size of the Navy. He told The Telegraph: It is ridiculous how few ships we have. We have cuts to defence for years and years and years, and now it has come home to roost. We have not built ships quickly enough so inevitably we have gaps in what weve got. The Ministry of Defence declined to comment on escorts needed to protect HMS Prince of Wales. Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman added: 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. Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays. A man suspected of fatally shooting two teenagers in Brockton in March of 2025 faced a judge, and his alleged victims family and friends, for the first time as he was arraigned in Brockton Superior Court on two murder charges. Davinci Leonard, 23, of Brockton is accused of killing 15-year-old Tymari Albertson and 18-year-old Cevannah Alvarez near Brocktons Westgate Mall. Stanley Bauman's iconic Brockton Blizzard of '78 payphone photo was recreated in 2026 storm. Noting the similarity between the blizzards of '78 and '26, Brockton resident Teresa Gonzalez reached out to The Enterprise and asked if we could recreate an iconic photo. Here's who won Brockton's best Brazilian food. Their menu's packed with mouthwatering dishes. Here's the most popular, how to get it made to order. Advertisement Advertisement In case you missed it, here are five stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area that resonated with our readers. Brockton double murder suspect arraigned. New details revealed A man suspected of fatally shooting two teenagers in Brockton in March of 2025 faced a judge, and his alleged victims family and friends, for the first time as he was arraigned in Brockton Superior Court on two murder charges. Davinci Leonard, 23, of Brockton, was captured in Mexico on Feb. 12, nearly 11 months after he is accused of killing 15-year-old Tymari Albertson and 18-year-old Cevannah Alvarez near Brocktons Westgate Mall. Brockton double murder suspect arraigned Brockton double murder suspect arraigned. New details revealed Davinci Leonard, left, was ordered held without bail at his arraignment in Brockton Superior Court on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, on two counts of murder and other charges. His attorney, Thomas J. Iovieno, is on the right. Mother of murder victim Catlin Alvarez holds a bottle and wears a shirt memorializing her daugthter Cavannah while standing just outside Brockton Superior Court on Tuesday, March 2, 2026. Fired Brockton cop who worked at VA sentenced for exploiting veterans A former Brockton police officer and federal employee of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was ordered to pay back funds he accepted from veterans and their families to approve and expedite benefits and disability claims, according to court records. Advertisement Advertisement Michael Darrah, of Taunton, a former benefits service representative at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Rhode Island, was sentenced Thursday, Feb. 26, to pay back nearly $30,000 in restitution to the veterans and families he is accused of extorting as part of a bribery scheme, court records show. Fired Brockton cop sentenced: Fired Brockton cop who worked at VA sentenced for exploiting veterans The Providence VA Medical Center serves 35,000 veterans from Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Iconic Brockton Blizzard of '78 photo recreated almost 50 years later Days after the legendary Blizzard of 78 buried the Brockton area, renowned Brockton Enterprise photographer Stanley A. Bauman captured an image that would become a widely remembered photograph Mike Barron sitting atop a phone booth nearly buried in snow, using the phone, with snow piled high around him. Recognizing the similarities between the 1978 and 2026 storms, a Brockton resident contacted Enterprise photographer Marc Vasconcellos to ask if he could recreate Bauman's iconic photo. Advertisement Advertisement Iconic Blizzard of '78 photo recreated: Iconic Brockton Blizzard of '78 photo recreated almost 50 years later Photo on left: Mike Barron uses the phone while sitting atop a phone booth buried in snow after the Blizzard of '78 in this iconic photo by former Enterprise photographer Stanley A. Bauman. Photo on right: A Brockton resident sits on top of an old pay phone outside the Brockton Food Mart on Main Street on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, to help recreate Enterprise photographer Marc Vasconcellos recreate Bauman's photo. Bridgewater Fire hosts benefit for firefighter's daughter. How to go A local fire department is stepping up to support one of their own. Benjamin Garlington, a firefighter with the Bridgewater Fire Department, is facing an unimaginable challenge. The Bridgewater Fire Department is having a fundraiser for Mia Garlington, the daughter of one of the firefighters, who is in need of a liver transplant. His 14-month-old daughter Mia has been diagnosed with a serious liver disease and needs a life-saving transplant. Now the department is rallying around the family, raising funds to help cover medical expenses and support them during this difficult time. Bridgewater Fire to host benefit: Bridgewater Fire to host benefit for firefighter's daughter. How to go Who won Brockton's best Brazilian food? Why the devoted following? Leals Kitchen, on Warren Avenue in Brockton, is the winner of The Enterprises best Brazilian food poll as voted on by readers. The counter-service joint finished first with 61.84% of the vote. Mainha in Avon finished second with 21.26%, while Brocktons Brazil Grill took third with 12.08%. Advertisement Advertisement Best Brazilian food poll winner: Who won Brockton's best Brazilian food? Why the devoted following? See inside Leal's Kithcen in Brockton: See authentic Brazilian food made inside Leal's Kitchen in Brockton Keith Souza of Brockton looks forward to enjoying his steak with rice meal prepared by Leal's Kitchen in Brockton, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Leal's Kitchen of Brockton owner, Vera Leal, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Murder arraignment; Brazilian food poll among top stories last week Residents of the county's unincorporated areas should be careful during the state's burn ban, which is in effect until May 31. The ban is in effect every spring from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. between March 1 and May 31. It is in place because of the abundance of dry grass, weeds and leaves on the ground, according to a press release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. "Gusty winds and low humidity can make a seemingly safe fire burn more intensely and escape control," the release said. "If a fire does escape control, contact the local fire department immediately. An escaped wildfire, even one burning in grass or weeds, is dangerous." Advertisement Advertisement The ODNR provided safety tips for burning debris outdoors in the release, saying people should know weather conditions, have water and tools nearby, never leave burning debris unattended, be informed of burning regulations and consult with their local fire department. The ODNR advised people to consider alternative debris disposal methods, like composting. "If you choose to burn during unrestricted hours, use a 55-gallon drum with a weighted screen lid to provide an enclosed incinerator," the release said. State residents are encouraged to consult the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's website for more advice and guidance on open burning. Advertisement Advertisement "Debris burn piles must be located at least 1,000 feet from a neighbors inhabited building," the release said. "Food waste, dead animals, and materials containing rubber, grease, asphalt, or petroleum should never be burned." Saybrook Township Fire Chief Dave Whitaker said his department dealt with 37 total brush fires during the spring and fall burn ban periods last year. "Some were a little more effective than others," he said. Whitaker said the Saybrook Fire Department had to reach out for mutual aid a few times, but not too often. He said most of the fires were started by slab wood burn pits that were left unattended. Advertisement Advertisement Fires can spread extremely quickly under the right circumstances, Whitaker said. "If [a burn] gets away from you, call us soon," he said. While the county got a lot of snowpack over the winter and has had a decent amount of rain recently, it will not take long for things to dry out, Whitaker said. "Once things start to green up, it is a little less likely," he said. When the weather gets hotter and drier at the end of the summer, brush fires will become more likely again, Whitaker said. Monroe Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jason Coy said they had around six to seven brush fires during the Fall 2025 burn ban. He said people should make sure to watch where the wind is blowing when burning debris, and not leave burn pits unattended. "You need to pay attention," Coy said. WASHINGTON - A Republican House member from Northern California is formally distancing himself from the GOP to boost his underdog bid for reelection in a district redrawn to favor Democrats. Shortly after the candidate filing deadline Friday evening, Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin (Placer County), announced that he was "removing partisanship from the equation" and running for a third term without party affiliation. Advertisement Advertisement "Gerrymandering is a plague on democracy, one that Gavin Newsom has brought back to California," Kiley said in a video posted to social media. "But there's a way we can fight back and protect our democracy from his partisan games." Kiley is one of the targets of Proposition 50, the Democratic gerrymander approved by California voters in November to flip five Republican-held House seats. Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed the plan to counter a similar move in Texas intended to shore up the GOP's historically narrow majority in Congress. Kiley is one of the targets of Proposition 50, the Democratic gerrymander approved by California voters to flip five Republican-held House seats. (Andri Tambunan/For the S.F. Chronicle) The redrawn map split apart Kiley's conservative district along the eastern border of California. After months of deliberation, he announced last Monday that he would instead run in a new suburban Sacramento seat where he lives. Advertisement Advertisement But that district has a considerable Democratic voter registration advantage and backed former Vice President Kamala Harris over President Donald Trump in the 2024 election by about 8 percentage points, making it a longshot for a Republican even in favorable conditions. And the 2026 midterms are not expected to be favorable for the GOP, which is bogged down by Trump's persistently low public approval ratings. Running with no party preference is an attempt to shake off that baggage and bolster Kiley's standing with moderate voters wary of the president. He has already tacked to the center on key issues since last fall, criticizing Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson's handling of an extended government shutdown and proposing bipartisan legislation to extend expiring health insurance subsidies. "We need to find ways for politics to bring us together as Americans rather than tear us apart as partisans," Kiley said in his announcement video. "I answer to you, not party leaders." Yet it's far from a surefire bet in this highly partisan political climate. Few independents are elected to Congress; there are only two others among more than 530 current members: Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, both of whom caucus with Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement A little-known Republican, Michael Stansfield, has also filed to run in the district and could siphon away votes from Kiley. All candidates will appear on the same ballot in the June primary, regardless of party, and the top two will advance to November. "Republicans are very loyal. Republicans don't like to cross over," GOP political consultant Jon Fleischman said. "It's very easy to imagine Republicans feeling betrayed, even though Kevin Kiley hasn't changed, only his voter registration has." Kiley faces a crowded field of Democrats in his effort to hold onto his House seat. (Nell Redmond/Associated Press) The party affiliation on a ballot is also not the only factor that defines a politician's image. Though a spokesperson confirmed that Kiley changed his voter registration to no party preference, he has not decided whether he will continue to caucus with Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement "That's still being ironed out," spokesperson John Pirsos said in an email. However he proceeds, a crowded field of Democrats challenging Kiley - including former state Sen. Richard Pan, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero and Planned Parenthood executive Lauren Babb Tomlinson - will be eager to remind voters of his past connections to Trump. "This strategy could backfire," Fleischman said. "At the end of the day, I don't think it's much of a strategy at all. I think he's made it much harder for himself." This article originally published at California Republican ditches party to save reelection bid in gerrymandered district. Friends, family members and community members gathered Saturday evening in Mesa to honor the life of a mother of seven who was fatally shot last week. RELATED: Mesa police release more details on shooting death of mother of 7 The candlelight vigil commemorated 32-year-old Maria Lewis, known to loved ones as Mia, who was killed after taking a walk shortly after 2:30 a.m. Attendees in the Eastmark community lit candles and shared memories of Lewis, describing her as a devoted mother and friend. Donations helped provide pre-lit candles for those who attended the vigil, allowing the crowd to gather together in remembrance. Advertisement Advertisement Alexandra Chavez, a close friend who said she had known Lewis since high school, spoke during the event and shared stories about their friendship. She said she hoped Lewis children would one day understand how deeply their mother was loved by those around her. Lewis family did not speak publicly during the vigil, as many remained overcome with emotion while standing alongside close friends and supporters. Authorities say a member of the Arizona Attorney Generals Office is involved in the shooting that led to Lewis death. The Mesa Police Department is investigating the case and said the matter remains active and ongoing. >> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app Watch 12News for free You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! Advertisement Advertisement The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. 12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX." Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12+ app to add to your account, or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app. The head chef at the worlds most prestigious restaurant has issued a grovelling apology after dozens of former employees accused him of physical, verbal and psychological abuse just days before the opening of his highly anticipated $1,500-per-person pop-up in Los Angeles. Rene Redzepi, who founded Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark, became a culinary superstar after opening his eatery in 2003. It was ranked best in the world by Restaurant magazine a record five times between 2010 and 2021, and was awarded three Michelin stars. While whispers of bullying and bad behavior have long threatened to overshadow his glittering career, the star chef has previously denied physically abusing staff, instead claiming he may have bumped into them. Advertisement Advertisement But in a bombshell investigation published by The New York Times on Saturday, 35 former employees say they witnessed Redzepi punch workers in the face, jab them with kitchen implements and slam them against walls. Going to work felt like going to war, one ex-employee told The Times. You had to force yourself to be strong, to show no fear. Redzepi responded to the claims in a statement, saying: Although I dont recognize all details in these stories, I can see enough of my past behavior reflected in them to understand that my actions were harmful to people who worked with me. To those who have suffered under my leadership, my bad judgment, or my anger, I am deeply sorry and I have worked to change. Rene Redzepi, who founded Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark, became a culinary superstar after opening his eatery in 2003. Getty Images Noma was ranked best in the world by Restaurant magazine a record five times between 2010 and 2021, and was awarded three Michelin stars. Corbis via Getty Images After opening Noma, Redzepi won instant accolades for his New Nordic cuisine, with a focus on hyper-local foraged foods, including wild berries and forest mushrooms. Advertisement Advertisement The restaurant once served reindeer brain custard covered in bee pollen, which garnered international headlines and made the restaurant a bucket-list destination for the wealthiest and most powerful people on the planet. But in the back kitchen, chefs say they were terrified and traumatized by Redzepi, who also allegedly engaged in body shaming and public ridicule. Staff are seen in the Noma kitchen in 2021. Acts of alleged abuse took place between 2009 and 2017, 35 former employees told The Times. AFP via Getty Images Inside view of the Noma restaurant, featuring a dining room with wooden tables, chairs, and light fixtures. The restaurant became a bucket-list destination for the worlds richest and famous, thanks to dishes such as reindeer brain custard. AFP via Getty Images One female chef told The Times that Redzepi punched her in the ribs so hard that she fell against a metal counter, cutting her hip on its corner. The incident left her bleeding and crying on the floor. A male chef said Redzepi would often take his anger out on all staffers, even if they had not made any mistakes. Advertisement Advertisement He just went down the line and punched us in the chesteven the interns who had been upstairs picking elderflowers, the ex-employee alleged, recalling one particular instance. 30 former employees said physical abuse carried out by Redzepi and other senior chefs was routine. As a boss, Redzepi purportedly presided over a kitchen in which senior chefs would intimidate and abuse their subordinates. Many were scared to leave or speak out for fear that they would be blacklisted from working at other exclusive eateries. He raised a generation of bullies, and they bullied us, Mehmet Cekirge, who worked as a Noma intern in 2018, told The Times. Advertisement Advertisement The Turkish native said supervisors mocked his accent, called him a donkey and made gobbling sounds as he walked by. Ex-employees interviewed by The Times said they witnessed the abuse occur between 2009 and 2017. Redzepi offered up an apology in a statement to The Times, after previously denying that he had physically abused any of his employees. AFP via Getty Images The Times report comes after a whistleblower website, noma-abuse.com, was set up last month by former Noma fermentation lab lead Jason White. White compiled a digital dossier of horror stories from 56 staff and the site has received more than 9 million page views in two weeks. A Noma spokeswoman said the company has been overhauled and now has formal HR systems and management training in place. Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Redzepi announced he planned to close Noma to devote attention to other projects, including global pop-ups. Next week, Redzepis Los Angeles pop-up will open at the historic Paramour Estate in Silverlake. A 16-week stint running from March 11 through June 26 sold out in minutes despite the eye-watering price tag of $1,500 per person. However, a protest held by former employees is planned outside the event on opening night, with participants purportedly set to call for accountability and a re-evaluation of Nomas reputation. It threatens to overshadow the fine dining festivities and rattle the deep-pocketed diners who paid four figures for the coveted cuisine. Advertisement Advertisement In his interview with The Times, Redzepi attempted to distance himself from the upcoming pop-up, saying he stepped away from leading day-to-day service. He added that he has undergone therapy and has found better ways to manage his anger. Growing up in the era of pagers and pay phones, I survived cell phone-free until college. As a mom to a teenage boy, I tried to stave off phone use as long as possible. Debates on appropriate screen time, talks about cyberbullying and warnings about predators have become the norm. For most students, cell phones are an integral part of everyday life, and thus, their use in school has become a contentious issue. Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming are each addressing cell phone usage in schools a little differently, as outlined in the policy responses below. Washington is currently in a study and build phase with Senate Bill 5346. The bill does not impose an immediate statewide ban on student cell phones, but the text repeatedly points to the negative effects cell phones have on student performance and mental health. Lawmakers cited research showing that even the presence of a nearby smartphone can lower a students test performance and that it can take significant time for students to refocus after a phone interruption. Advertisement Advertisement Rather than mandating a single statewide policy, the bill directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to continue work on its online resource hub, which includes research and best practices around digital citizenship and responsible mobile device use. If the bill passes, OSPI must also submit reports to the Legislature in 2026 and 2028 summarizing what districts are doing, what barriers they face and what evidence-based recommendations should guide future action, with a long-term goal to include each district creating a bell-to-bell cell phone policy by 2030. Idaho has taken a more direct path. In 2024, Gov. Brad Little and the Idaho State Department of Education launched the Phone Free Learning Act. While not enacted as a sweeping statewide statutory ban, the initiative strongly encourages districts and charter schools to adopt comprehensive cell phone restriction policies. The state provided a structured checklist to guide districts in drafting policies that spell out when phones are allowed, what activities are prohibited during instructional time, how emergencies are handled, and how rules will be enforced. To encourage participation, Idaho offers a one-time $5,000 incentive to districts that implement cell phone restriction policies. Clear expectations plus financial support led many districts to adopt restrictions that require phones to be silenced and kept out of sight during class and, in some cases, for the entire school day. Wyoming remains the most decentralized of the group, with no statewide law requiring districts to restrict student cell phone use. In 2025, lawmakers introduced Senate File 21, which would have required districts to adopt policies limiting cell phone and smartwatch use during instructional time. The bill advanced out of committee but ultimately failed on the Senate floor. As a result, Wyoming has largely centered on maintaining local control, and policies vary widely across the state. Some districts have implemented strong classroom restrictions, while others leave more discretion to teachers or students. Advertisement Advertisement Montana sits somewhere between Wyomings local-control model and Idahos more coordinated push. There is currently no blanket statewide ban on student cell phone use in Montana public schools. Instead, policies are largely set by individual districts and school boards. However, lawmakers have increasingly debated the issue during the session. While no sweeping mandate has passed, the discussion reflects growing concern among educators and parents about distractions and student well-being. Many Montana districts have already adopted policies that restrict phone use during class, often requiring devices to be silenced and stored away unless a teacher authorizes their use for educational purposes. The states approach reflects its broader education governance style: significant local authority, but with ongoing legislative interest in setting clearer expectations. None of the four states has enacted a strict, one-size-fits-all statewide prohibition on student cell phones throughout the entire school day. Yet all are responding (in different ways) to mounting evidence that unlimited phone access during school hours can undermine learning and contribute to social and emotional challenges. Washington is studying the issue and building toward possible statewide alignment by the end of the decade. Idaho is incentivizing immediate district action through executive leadership. Wyoming continues to rely primarily on district-level decision-making. Montana also emphasizes local control, though legislative conversations are anticipated next year. Advertisement Advertisement The broader debate isnt really just about phones. Its about how schools create environments that promote focus, academic growth and healthy relationships in a digital world. As research continues and more districts experiment with restrictions, these states may revisit whether voluntary policies are enough or whether more consistent statewide standards will eventually take shape. Meg Goudy is director of the Bill and Milly Kay Baldwin Center for Education at the Mountain States Policy Center, an independent research organization based in Idaho, Montana, eastern Washington and Wyoming. Online at mountainstatespolicy.org. Arizonas Democratic Governor has turned down proposals for a new state license plate featuring Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, saying it would not bring people together. Charlie Kirk's assassination is tragic and a horrifying act of violence. In America, we resolve our political differences at the ballot box, Governor Katie Hobbs said in a statement Friday. No matter who it targets, political violence puts us all in harm's way and damages our sacred democratic institutions. I will continue working toward solutions that bring people together, but this bill falls short of that standard by inserting politics into a function of government that should remain nonpartisan. Advertisement Advertisement Right-wing commentator Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at an event on the Utah Valley University campus, in Utah on September 10. He lived in Arizona with his children and wife, Erika Kirk. Since her husbands death, Erika Kirk has become the CEO of TPUSA and vowed to carry on his legacy. The Governor of Arizona has turned down proposals for a new state license plate that would feature Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk (Jake Hoffman/ X) The suggested plate, known as the Charlie Kirk memorial plate, featured a photo of Kirk with his fist raised alongside the TPUSA logo in front of the American flag. Below the license number are the words For Charlie. According to the proposal SB 1439 the legislation that would have authorized an optional specialty license plate recognizing Charlie Kirk and supporting civic engagement efforts. Advertisement Advertisement According to the legislation, $17 of the $25 plate fee would be designated as an annual donation to the Conservative Grassroots Network Special Plate Fund. The recipient of the fund was not specifically named in the legislation. However, the bill noted that the funds must be allocated to a non-profit founded in 2012 that aims to restore traditional values, has a grassroots activist network on high school and college campuses, and helps college students with voter registration and absentee ballots. Turning Point USA was founded by Kirk in 2012. Hobbs decision to veto the plate caused outrage among Republican lawmakers who blasted it as grotesque partisanship. Right-wing commentator Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at an event on the Utah Valley University campus, in Utah on September 10. He lived in Arizona with his wife and children (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Arizona Senator Jake Hoffman, who co-sponsored the bill, wrote: Even in the wake of a global civil rights leader an Arizona resident and her own constituent being assassinated in broad daylight for his defense of the First Amendment, Hobbs couldnt find the human decency to put her far-Left extremism aside simply to allow those how wish to honor him to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Katie Hobbs will forever be known as a stain on the pages of Arizonas story. The speciality plate is not the only example of state-specific memorials to Kirk. In Florida, several roads have been renamed after the commentator, including one in Miami-Dade County, which is set to become Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue." In October, Collier County Commissioners designated a stretch of road Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway, though they classed it as a memorial designation. The speciality plate is not the only example of state-specific memorials to Kirk. Others have renamed roads after the commentator while others have suggested the construction of memorial plazas (Melissa Majchrzak/AFP via Getty Images) Last week, the Florida House passed a bill designating every October 14 as Charlie Kirk Day. In addition, multiple states, including Tennessee and Oklahoma, have introduced legislation to construct memorial plazas in honor of Kirk. Advertisement Advertisement One Tennessee proposal, HB 2025, would require every public university in the state to erect a 40-by-40-foot courtyard on its main campus in order to encourage civil discourse among students, staff and visitors, according to WZTV. Such courtyards would display the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Tennessee Constitution, and the Ten Commandments. They would also feature Kirks name and date of death. China's top diplomat urged the United States Sunday to iron out its differences with Beijing, as the world's two largest economies lock horns over trade tariffs and geopolitical issues. Ties between China and the United States have been strained since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year, followed by a trade war that saw the two countries impose tariffs on each other's products. While the US-China trade war has uprooted the global economy, Beijing has sought to profit off Trump's mercurial policies by positioning itself as a reliable alternative partner. Advertisement Advertisement "We observe a certain country erecting tariff barriers and pursuing decoupling and supply chain disruption," Wang told a press conference on Sunday. "These actions are akin to trying to extinguish a fire with fuel. Ultimately, they will backfire." He was speaking during China's annual political gathering, which began this week, known as the "Two Sessions". The parallel meetings of China's parliament and political consultative body are closely watched for clues as to the priorities of China's leaders in the face of a precarious geopolitical landscape. Wang addressed a range of issues, including the US-China relationship, tensions in the South China Sea, as well as wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement "This year is indeed a big year for Sino-US relations," Wang told reporters. While China and the United States "cannot change each other", he said, adding "we can change the way we interact with each other". Wang urged both sides to "manage existing differences and eliminate unnecessary interference". - Middle East war - But a wide range of disagreements remain. Beijing has blasted US and Israeli military strikes on Iran, which sparked the war in the Middle East. China has diplomatic and trade ties with Tehran, and has condemned the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Advertisement Advertisement Wang said on Sunday the war "should never have happened". "A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle," he told reporters. At the same time, he maintained that China's relations with Moscow, which have been criticised by Western countries for sustaining the war in Ukraine, remained "steadfast and unshakeable". Beijing has sought to position itself as a neutral player in the Ukraine war, but Western leaders say China is supporting Moscow through imports and by helping the Kremlin to avoid sanctions. - EU ties improving - Advertisement Advertisement Leaders from France, Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom, among others, have flocked to Beijing, recoiling from Trump's bid to seize Greenland and tariff threats against fellow NATO members. Wang welcomed the visits, saying "more and more insightful Europeans agree that China is not a competitor, but a global partner". Relations between China and the European Union had seen "a steady improvement" in the last year, he told reporters. In the spirit of warming relations, China has doled out visa-free travel agreements to around 50 countries and reduced tariffs on exports from Canada and the United Kingdom, among others. Advertisement Advertisement - Taiwan 'red line' - The issue of self-ruled Taiwan, however, remains a red line which threatens to worsen China's relationship with the United States. Beijing views democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking it by force. Trump has floated the idea of sending more US weapons to Taiwan despite warnings from China's leader Xi Jinping. The two leaders are due to meet in Beijing in April. Wang reiterated on Sunday that Beijing "will never allow anyone or any force to separate Taiwan... from China once again". The issue has also caused a rift between China and Japan after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on the island. bur-dhw/fox China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has criticized the US-Israeli attack on Iran, arguing that there was no popular support for regime change. Power does not give anyone the right to act, and the world must not return to the "law of the jungle," said China's chief diplomat on Sunday on the sidelines of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) in Beijing. China is calling for a ceasefire and an end to the war. Advertisement Advertisement "This is a war that should not have happened it is a war that does no one any good," an official write-up of Wang's comments in English read. China, major importer of Iranian oil, had already condemned the attack, calling for an end to military operations and security in the Strait of Hormuz for the sake of the global economy. Wang's comment at the annual press conference during the NPC offered journalists a rare opportunity to ask the minister questions. Without mentioning the US, Wang also called for the sovereignty of countries in the Middle East to be preserved, the use of force to be avoided, non-interference in the affairs of other countries and the political resolution of conflicts there. Advertisement Advertisement Seeking regime change will find no popular support, Wang said. Wang, who also sits on the powerful Politburo of the Communist Party, spoke on the phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other top diplomats shortly after the US attack. FILE In this April 9, 2009 file picture Iranian technicians work at a new facility producing uranium fuel for a planned heavy-water nuclear reactor, just outside the city of Isfahan. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi,File) U.S. intelligence believes Irans store of highly-enriched uranium that kind used to manufacture nuclear weapons could still be retrieved, despite President Donald Trumps assertion that U.S. strikes wiped out Irans nuclear capabilities, The New York Times reported Sunday. Times reporters spoke to multiple officials familiar with the classified reports who said Iran or potentially another group can still get to the uranium through a very narrow access point, even though the material was entombed under the countrys nuclear site at Isfahan. Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear how quickly Iran could move the uranium, which is in gas form and stored in canisters, the report said. Last June, Trump bragged that the U.S. did monumental damage to all nuclear sites in Iran, following strikes by bunker-busting bombs on nuclear sites at Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz. Obliteration is an accurate term! Trump posted on Truth Social at the time. The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame. The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!! International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi confirmed that Fordow suffered direct kinetic impact, but said the agency was still waiting for a full damage assessment. Advertisement Advertisement The Times report continued, U.S. officials have said that American spy agencies have constant surveillance of the Isfahan site and have a high degree of confidence they could detect and react to any attempt by the Iranian government or other groups to move it. The report said Trump chose not to try to retrieve the uranium last year after the 12-day war after determining that doing so at that time would be too dangerous. Trump was asked Saturday on Air Force One if he would now consider sending in ground forces to secure the uranium. Trump responded, Right now were just decimating them, but we havent gone after it, according to The Times. But something we could do later on. We wouldnt do it now. The post Classified Reports Shows Irans Weapons-Grade Uranium Could Be Recovered Despite Trump Claims Nuke Site Was Annihilated: NYT first appeared on Mediaite. Daylight saving time is officially back to snatch the annual hour of sleep from the masses in March. Are your clocks set for the time change to spring forward this Sunday? Here's what you need to know about the 2026 daylight saving time change: When is daylight saving time 2026? Does time change spring forward in USA today? 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 tonight? When does DST spring forward start this weekend? In the U.S., daylight saving time will begin and clocks will officially spring forward at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8, 2026. 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. What time is it in Indianapolis currently? Visit timeanddate.com to see the current time in Indianapolis. Indiana daylight saving time alcohol laws: spring forward time change extends alcohol service hours on March 8 Indiana will allow bars and restaurants to sell alcohol for an extra hour to accommodate the start of daylight saving time on Sunday, March 8 allowing service to continue until 4 a.m. instead of the usual 3 a.m. The one-time extension does not affect Sunday alcohol sale hours for liquor, grocery or convenience stores. 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Why does the time change in Indiana? The time changes in Indiana because it observes daylight saving time. Daylight saving time is meant to provide extra sunlight during the spring, summer and fall seasons, but in Indiana, there's a very complicated past with DST. While Indiana has spent some time without switching clocks, Hoosiers currently turn their clocks forward an hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall. 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement There were no trains leaving the station at 2 a.m. on Sundays in New York City when Daylight Saving Time was established. "Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was when they would interrupt the least amount of train travel around the country, Downing said. When does 2026 daylight 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement "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." 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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 Indianapolis Star: Daylight savings 2026: time change to spring forward for DST today, March 8 CNNs NewsNight spawned a heated discussion Friday about President Donald Trump and his purported objectives in the war on Iran, which started last week with joint U.S. and Israel strikes and has since cost six U.S. military servicemembers and more than 1,000 Iranians their lives. MS NOW political analyst Charles Blow noted that the Trump administration has given many contradictory reasons for the war, including that Iran posed imminent threats which isnt backed up by any evidence and that its nuclear weapons program was being rebuilt. He also argued that the aim of destroying this program for good would require troops or weapons inspectors on the ground to confirm success, an action many Republicans actually oppose. Politics: CNNs Jake Tapper Issues Defiant Response To WHs War Reporting Complaints How do you even get there? he asked. Its an impossible thing. Advertisement Advertisement Conservative talk radio host Jason Rantz countered that the objectives are clear: ensuring that Iran is not capable of developing nuclear weapons, eliminating production of ballistic missiles and stopping the country from funding various terrorist proxies. This led Blow to demand clear answers from Rantz about exactly how the Trump administration plans to satisfy its ever-shifting rationales for the war. Were going to stop them from getting nuclear weapons, right? Blow asked Rantz. So you have to have inspectors on the ground to figure out, did they have them or not, right? Do you agree with that? Politics: Democrats Raise Alarms About Trumps War In Iran After Classified Briefing Rantz said he generally agrees that stopping a country from developing nuclear weapons requires the U.S. to inspect facilities on the ground, but said this wont be necessary in Iran because the White House already knows where some of their locations are. Advertisement Advertisement You think you can just, from the sky, figure [that] out? Blow inquired. Rantz argued satellite confirmation would only be a start, but then claimed not to understand Blows point, asking the Harvard fellow if he disagrees with the objective of stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Do you believe what the president said the first time they attacked Irans nuclear weapons? Blow replied. Saying that they had completely obliterated the Iranian campaign, which would have meant that they would not have had to do this? Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Advertisement Advertisement Rantz then echoed the Trump administration narrative that Iran had secretly been rebuilding its program when the U.S. launched strikes last week, despite Trump himself announcing just last year that Irans nuclear facilities had been totally obliterated. I think they were trying to, and we also dont have all of the intel as to whether or not there were other sites specifically for this purpose, said Rantz. Politics: Trump Faces MAGA Backlash Over Iran War Blow continued grilling Rantz by asking if he actually believes there was an imminent threat from Iran that justified U.S. strikes, prompting the right-wing radio host to argue that Irans ballistic missile capabilities inherently are one such imminent threat. Advertisement Advertisement You recognize that an ambient threat is not the same as an imminent threat, right? Blow asked. That doesnt take an English professor to know the difference between those two terms. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Mar. 8On Tuesday, the Lawrence County Commissioners followed their yearly tradition of proclaiming March as DD Awareness Month with staff and students from the Open Door School in attendance. Commissioner Colton Copley read the proclamation, which pointed out that President Ronald Reagan established in 1987 to bring awareness to the contributions and challenges of millions of Americans with developmental disabilities. Lawrence County DD serves over 600 people and their families through a number of services. Advertisement Advertisement "Our community is better when all people contribute and support the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community living," he said. "It's a joy to have this group here with us this morning," said Commissioner DeAnna Holliday. "It is day we look forward to every year." Tanner Huff, a member of the Lawrence County DD board since 2021 and a recipient of the agency's services, said it was great that March is recognized as DD Awareness Month because as someone with a disability, it is often hard to get access to resources. He said he has vision issues and 75 percent of his brain is damaged. "So, to be here is a godsend," he said. "Just knowing that you are trying to spread the word for the disability community and just bringing awareness to anything and everything disability-wise is a great thing. It has been a fight that I have fought now for 45 years and I am going to continue to the rest of my life. Thank you for the opportunity to accept the proclamation." Advertisement Advertisement Holliday said they could not be more honored to have Huff and his friends at the meeting and added that she has seen him serve his DD community for years. "I admire your strength and your bravery and everything you do to help people understand what the disabled community looks like and what their needs are," she said. "That is what we all want to do today is to encourage others to get involved and understand the disability community and how we can participate as individuals." In items on the agenda, the commissioners took the following actions: Approved the following floodplain permits submitted the Soil and Water Conservation District: New: Billy Back, filling and grading project located at 4025 State Route 378. Renewal: Columbia Gas of Ohio, pipeline replacement project located on Conner Street (Township Road 1208) and Richard L. Ingles, stream maintenance project located at 23219 State Route 141. Advertisement Advertisement Accepted and signed the bid documents for 2026 Courthouse Repair Project and award the bid to Mi-De Con Inc., pending prosecutor approval. Approved and signed the liquor permit request for Walmart #1478, located at 354 Private Drive 288, South Point. Approved and signed the Rumpke service agreement for the courthouse. Appointed J.T. Holt to the Rural Water District Board and accept the resignation of Dave Lucas. The commissioners meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday on the third floor of the Lawrence County Courthouse. The meetings are open to the public. Democracy is built on a simple but powerful premise: that a diverse array of voices deserve to be heard. Independent journalists, corporations, governments, and civil society each occupy their own space in the public square and the health of that ecosystem depends on no single actor commanding too much of it. Yet in America today, that ecosystem is under strain, and the culprit, many argue, is the quiet consolidation of nearly all major media under a handful of conglomerations. Around 90% of media in the United States is controlled by just six corporations. Known collectively as the "Big Six," these are Comcast, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Global, Fox Corporation, and Sony. Their reach extends beyond the newsroom, spanning television, film, streaming services, online, and print journalism. Advertisement Advertisement The implications are significant. According to Harvard University's Index of U.S. Mainstream Media Ownership, Wikipedia is the only nonprofit among the top 40 mainstream media platforms in the country. Every other outlet in that ranking is publicly traded, with owners ranging from Comcast executives to the CEO of Disney. The news is largely a product, and like any product, it answers to shareholders and investors. One of the most tangible consequences of media consolidation has been the decline of local journalism. As these conglomerates absorbed local news stations, investigative reporting has declined sharply. The result is what media researchers call "news deserts": communities with little to no reliable local coverage. When local journalists disappear, so does accountability at the level where most people's daily lives are actually governed. Research from Northwestern University in 2025 states that news deserts have hit a new high, and 50 million people have limited access to local news. Consolidation doesn't happen in a vacuum. It is enabled, in part, by audiences who consume without questioning, and that habit can be unlearned. Advertisement Advertisement The consolidation of traditional media has unfolded alongside a profound generational shift in how news is consumed, and whether it is consumed at all. According to a December 2025 Pew Research Center report on young adults and the future of news, only 15% of adults under 30 say they follow the news all or most of the time. Compared to adults 65 and older, who say they follow the news 62% of the time, the gap becomes stark. Attention to news has declined across all age groups since 2016, but young people have consistently sat at the lowest end of that spectrum. When young people do encounter news, they are increasingly doing so passively, stumbling across it on social media rather than seeking it out. The platforms doing the most to fill that void are not the New York Times or CNN. TikTok news consumption among adults under 30 has surged from just 9% in 2020 to 43% in 2025. Meanwhile, about one in five Americans overall say they regularly get news from social media influencers, people who, as one Pew researcher noted, largely have no background in journalism at all. Advertisement Advertisement "Journalism now doesn't exist in the same capacity as it did 20 years ago. The readers incentivize increased media output, so there's quantity over quality. The speed of journalism and article output is also increasing, which doesn't encourage long and thorough investigations," FSU physics major Noah Frank said to the FSView. Beyond the economic arguments, there's a philosophical one. "Monopolies are bad because rhetoric reduces the diversity of thought," FSU communications major Chloe Herd said to the FSView. This is not an abstract concern. Trust in national news organizations now sits at 56%, down 11 percentage points from just earlier in 2025. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, that figure falls below 44%. The erosion of trust is uneven and has complex causes. Yet a media environment perceived as homogenous and out-of-touch with ordinary communities is not innocent in that decline. The picture is not entirely bleak. Independent journalism, nonprofit outlets, and community-based reporting are growing in pockets across the country, filling some of the gaps left by consolidation. Reader-supported models, local news cooperatives, and investigative nonprofits represent real alternatives, but they remain fragile and underfunded relative to the giants. Advertisement Advertisement The question for audiences, especially young ones, is what they choose to do with their attention. The first step is simply to be a conscious consumer: to ask who made this, who paid for it, and whose interests it serves. In a democracy that depends on an informed citizenry, those may be the most important questions anyone can ask. Kayra Serpenguzel is a political science and creative writing major at Florida State University and a Staff Writer for the Views section of the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at contact@fsview.com. This article originally appeared on FSU News: Should news media be controlled by big companies? A British couple have said they feel "totally abandoned" as they attempt to get home from Dubai amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Tony Church, 56, and his wife Cynnamon, 52, had flown to the United Arab Emirates to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. Their journey home to Goonhavern in Cornwall on Wednesday was disrupted when their flight back was cancelled, leaving them stuck in a hotel. At one point, they were woken by a missile alert. Advertisement Advertisement The couple said a lack of communication from the UK government and their tour operator, Etihad Holidays, has left them feeling "jettisoned". Both have been contacted for comment. On its website, Etihad Holidays said it was working "with the highest priority to arrange the earliest possible and safe return travel for all". Tony and Cynnamon said they have paid 1,000 for seats on a government repatriation flight, but have not heard when it might be leaving. Tony said he was running out of medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and blood thinning. Advertisement Advertisement He said Etihad Holidays had told them it can no longer pay for the hotel they are being put up in. "They've emailed us and said from 9 March, we're no longer paying for your accommodation. "So we're kind of stuck here and nobody is trying to help us." 'Abandoned' Cynnamon said the couple just wanted to get home to see their three children and grandchild. She added: "I think we just feel completely abandoned and there's no support here for us at all." Cynnamon said Etihad Holidays had stopped replying to her emails. Thousands of British nationals have been stranded in the UAE and other Middle East countries since the war began. Advertisement Advertisement Many Britons have desperately been trying to find seats on flights home in the region. Iranian retaliatory attacks have hit a number of neighbouring countries and an RAF base at Akrotiri in Cyprus. The couple were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary in Dubai [Tony Church] Officials in the UAE said it had detected 238 ballistic missiles from Iran in the past week. One drone landed near Dubai Airport on Saturday. Tony said that, at one point, he and his wife were woken by an alarm telling them to take shelter due to an incoming attack. "We're sat here in the room in the early hours of the morning thinking, 'Is a missile going to hit our balcony now are we going to die?'," he said. Advertisement Advertisement "That's how it feels out here at the moment." Tony added it was a "disgrace" that they were having to pay 1,000 for a repatriation flight. 'Exceptional circumstances' A message on Etihad Holidays' website said a large number of its customers were affected by flight cancellations caused by the conflict. "We are working with the highest priority to arrange the earliest possible and safe return travel for all affected travellers," the message said. "However, given the exceptional circumstances and the number of people involved, coordination with airlines, authorities and partners requires additional time and effort." Advertisement Advertisement The Foreign Office has been pointing British nationals to its travel advice web page, where Britons can register their presence in the Middle East and receive direct updates from the government. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Related internet links KIRO 7 is digging deeper into the background of Mark Alexander Adams, the man accused of murdering a woman in an alleged intentional hit-and-run outside a YMCA in Bellevue. The murder charge is not Adams first run-in with the law. He was accused of domestic violence over a decade ago, found unfit to stand trial and moved to Western State Hospital. According to the Department of Corrections, he escaped from alongside another inmate in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement The escape prompted a statewide manhunt. Officials blamed a loose window in their room. A camera on a bus spotted Adams in Des Moines and he was recaptured. He is now back in jail, charged with first-degree murder. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man accused of lying in wait before running over, killing a woman outside the Bellevue YMCA This is incredibly difficult for the victims family, Casey McNerthney of the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office said. To have to go through this just sounds awful. Prosecutors claim Adams was lying in wait outside the YMCA before he drove into an 88-year-old woman, killing her. They allege he hit two other people in Tacoma before being arrested in Port Townsend the next day. Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said his cell phone location data connected him to all three crime scenes. Court records obtained by KIRO 7 detail some of what happened over the decade between Adams escape and the Bellevue murder. His mother, sister and brother-in-law all filed restraining orders against him. Adams sister claims in one filing that Adams took a knife from her while she was cooking and used it to threaten both her and her husband. She further alleges he once physically picked her up and threw her out of the house. I cannot take his abuse anymore. I am terrified that he is going to act on his many threats to kill me, she wrote in a legal filing. He has tried to purchase a gun for protection and I am concerned that he will use this on me. Adams bail is set at $5 million. He is due back in court on Monday. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Residents of a low-income apartment complex across the street from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Building are reacting after a court ruled to limit federal agents use of tear gas during protests. On Friday, a federal judges ruling in Oregon was part of a lawsuit filed on behalf of tenants of Grays Landing in South Portland following months of repeated exposure. While some Grays Landing residents said theyre overjoyed, others are said they dont think it will make much of a difference in the long run. Advertisement Advertisement I feel like its like a really good break for all of us, because the tear gas is just. It induced a lot of suffering, Steve Squire, a Grays Landing resident, told KOIN 6 News. One night, a canister landed directly under our air conditioning, and it just flooded the entire thing with teargas. I was sick, my cats were sick. It causes diarrhea. Its horrible. 1 dead after 2-car crash in Gresham 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 Some residents remain skeptical that the court order will truly stop the tear gas from flowing in the future. I hope and pray that the injunction will stop them, but I think they might find an excuse to do it anyway, said Cherilyn Kowalski, a tenant at Grays Landing. In her opinion, Judge 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. Advertisement Advertisement Her order restricts agents from using chemical munitions in quantities likely to reach the 209-unit Grays Landing, which is catty-corner from the ICE facility, unless needed to respond to an imminent threat to life. I think the whole building is just thrilled, said Ann Teresi, a Grays Landing resident. And there was a long procedure. Weve been waiting for months and, theres something that we all were suffering from that will be gone now. Its wonderful. 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. OR financial wellness report shows people struggling Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt just us being tear-gassed in our apartment, said Mercedes Moreno, another Grays Landing resident. There is mental health issues, people having to leave their homes. Kids being taken to the hospital. Theres been a lot of layers that needed to be addressed. 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. 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 Portlands 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. Grays Landing is home to families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who have experienced repeated exposure and real harm, said Margaret Salazar, CEO of REACH Community Development, which manages the building. This is an important step toward accountability and the protection of residents rights in their homes. Coast Guard swimmer dies of injuries from rescue Advertisement Advertisement 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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 KOIN.com. A federal judge has given Immigration and Customs Enforcement a deadline of midnight on Monday to file a written justification for the arrest and continued detention of a Nashville journalist. Estefany Maria Rodriguez Florez, whose job with the Spanish-language outlet Nashville Noticias has included critical reporting of ICE activities, was detained Wednesday by ICE agents as she rode in a vehicle marked with the media outlets logo. Rodriguez had reported on ICE arrests in Nashville as recently as the day before her own arrest. Her attorneys wrote in court filings Friday that Rodriguez arrest, denial of bond and swift transfer to an Alabama detention center indicated retaliation against Rodriguez in violation of the First Amendment due to her work as a journalist, including reporting on ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez, 35, is accused of illegally overstaying a visa, a claim her attorneys deny. Estefany Maria Rodriguez Florez pictured with her husband. Her arrest by ICE agents has sparked national attention. (Photo: courtesy of Nashville Noticias) Her arrest has received widespread attention. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists condemned the arrest as dangerous precedent for journalists covering immigration. On Friday, the Tennessee Democratic Party issued a statement saying Rodriguezs detention raised serious concerns. Nashville Noticias, in its statement, expressed hope the situation will be resolved favorably for our colleague so that she can be released soon, as she needs to reunite with her young daughter and husband to continue her legal process within the framework permitted by law. Rodriguez entered the United States from her native Colombia on a tourist visa five years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Before the visa expired, she filed a claim for political asylum. She had been subject to death threats for her reporting in Colombia, her attorneys wrote. Asylum seekers must be in the U.S. to apply. Rodriguez subsequently married a U.S. citizen and filed a petition to adjust her status to lawful permanent resident. She has a work permit valid through 2029, government documents filed in court show. In January she received unexpected notice from ICE to appear for a meeting. The meeting date coincided with an ice storm in Nashville that shut down much of the city. Ahead of her next appointment, reset for Feb. 26, Rodriguez husband and attorney visited ICE offices to try and learn more about the purpose of the meeting. ICE officials could find no record the Feb. 26 meeting had been set, and scheduled another meeting for March 17, attorneys wrote. ICE officials now say Rodriguez is a flight risk for missing two appointments. U.S. Department of Homeland Security records filed in court show that, on the day of her arrest, Rodriguez was the subject of a targeted early morning surveillance and enforcement operation. Attorneys for Estefany Maria Rodriguez Florez, a Nashville reporter arrested by ICE, are questioning the validity of a crumpled and incomplete administrative warrant filed in federal court. An Enforcement and Removal Operations Nashville Fugitive Operations Team trailed Rodriguez, her husband and seven-year-old daughter as they left their home early Wednesday morning, the records show. Officers waited until after the girl had been dropped off before pulling the couple over at approximately 7:15 am, according to a government report filed in court. Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez attorneys said that the stop was made without a warrant, a claim federal attorneys countered in legal filings on Friday. In the filings, government attorneys attached an image of an administrative warrant for Rodriguez dated March 2, two days before her arrest. The document appears wrinkly and photographed, rather than flat and scanned, and its certificate of service section listing the name and location of the person served by the warrant is blank, Rodriguez attorneys noted. Federal officials do assert the unserved, unexecuted and evidently crumpled-into-a-ball warrant makes a difference, attorneys Michael Holley, Julio Colby and Joel Coxander wrote. The attorneys argued that it did not. Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez, they said, was not served with the warrant from the time ICE agents observed her at her home until she was taken to a Nashville hold room. The attorneys, with Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition and MIRA Legal, are seeking Rodriguez immediate release. They are also asking the court to expressly declare her arrest was unconstitutional. A court hearing could take place as early as Tuesday, the deadline United States District Judge Eli Richardson set for Rodriguezs attorneys to respond to the governments filing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Police are on the scene of a crash Sunday morning at a busy intersection in Virginia Beach. According to the Virginia Beach Police Department, officers responded to the 4300 block of Holland Road at the intersection of South Independence Boulevard. Authorities say the intersection is currently closed while crews respond to the scene. Drivers are being asked to avoid the area and use alternate routes until further notice. Police also urged motorists to drive safely while traveling through nearby roadways. Additional details about the crash, including whether anyone was injured, have not yet been released. This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. The BMC has decided to shut down its only International Baccalaureate (IB) school in Vile Parle and shift it to the CBSE curriculum, asking parents to sign consent forms acknowledging the change. The decision has shocked many parents, especially those who withdrew their children from private schools to enrol them in the civic-run institution because it offered an internationally recognised curriculum close to home at a far lower cost. Several parents told Mumbai Mirror they were not consulted before the decision was taken. They fear the abrupt shift will disrupt their childrens education and say they are exploring legal options. Sandip Ambekar, whose son studies at the school, said the announcement came during a meeting that parents believed was related to ongoing examinations. I live in Vile Parle. During the pandemic we were stuck in our native place. When we returned to Mumbai, we learnt that a civic-run IB school had opened near our home and I enrolled my son there in 2022, he said. There were some issues over the years, but as long as the authorities assured us things would improve, we continued. Ambekar said about 180 parents attended Thursdays meeting, which was attended by officials from the K East ward, the school administration and teachers. They told us they were facing issues with continuing the IB curriculum and were considering shifting to ICSE or CBSE. Some parents said they would prefer ICSE. But it seems the decision was already made because the consent forms we received say we agree to switch to CBSE. It all feels pre-decided, he said. Another parent, Rajan Shukla, alleged that parents were effectively being forced to sign the forms. There have been several issues at the school and we have repeatedly complained to the BMC. The school was promoted as an IB institution, but the standards have been poor. Now they say they do not have enough trained staff to run the IB curriculum, he said. They have told parents that if we do not sign the consent letters, the school will be shut down. How can they threaten something like that? Shukla added. Parents also questioned why the civic body introduced an international curriculum if it did not have the resources to sustain it. Ishwar Shekle, another parent, said standards declined after the schools first year. When the school started, I enrolled my daughter in Class I. Initially everything looked promising. But within a year it became clear that standards were not being maintained. There were too few teachers, no CCTV cameras, and other infrastructure issues. Now they say they cannot afford the IB curriculum, Shekle said. If the government did not have the funds to run the IB programme, why start it in the first place? Nearly 200 students will now face uncertainty, he added. Parents have previously raised concerns about the lack of teachers, the absence of a principal and inadequate facilities such as CCTV cameras and water purifiers at the civic-run Mumbai Public School (IB) in Vile Parle East. They also pointed out that the IB affiliation on the schools signboard has been covered with duct tape since 2024, raising doubts about the schools affiliation status. The issue had already created uncertainty among parents, as IB affiliation was a key factor in admissions. BMC officials had earlier told parents that the affiliation could not be displayed on the signboard until the school received the official letter. Some families have begun discussing legal options if the decision goes ahead. One parent, requesting anonymity, said parents may approach the court citing the constitutional guarantee of quality education. Article 21A, the Right to Education, is not just about access but also about the quality of education, as the Supreme Court has observed. We will first approach the administration and the BMC to understand their plan, the parent said. If our concerns are ignored and we are forced to sign consent forms under the threat of closure, we will move the high court to protect our fundamental rights, the parent added. The IB school was launched as part of the BMCs push to modernise civic education and attract more students to municipal schools. To reduce dropouts and encourage enrolment, the BMC Education Department began introducing non-state board curricula in civic schools, starting with the CBSE board in 10 schools in the 202021 academic year. The initiative began in 2021 and has since expanded. As of 2026, the BMC runs 22 non-state board schools including 19 CBSE schools, one ICSE school, one IGCSE school awaiting affiliation and one IB school, which is also awaiting affiliation. For many parents, the proposed closure of the IB programme raises a broader concern: Whether the civic body can sustain the ambitious education reforms it once promised. Rashmi Desai, a senior teacher at the school, told Mumbai Mirror that the proposal is under process. Yes, we have given consent forms to parents and asked them to sign and submit them by Monday. Once we receive the consent, the school will shift to the CBSE curriculum, she said. Asked why the school plans to discontinue the IB board, Desai said: There are several technical issues related to affiliation, and therefore it has been proposed to move to the CBSE curriculum. When contacted, Prachi Jambhekar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Education), said she was unaware of the issue. No parent has approached us. I am not aware of this, she said. D51 Foundation awards over $10K for professional learning GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) The District 51 Foundation announced the recipients of its 17th round of Professional Learning Grant Award, which supports staff members seeking to participate in additional training opportunities and educational conferences. The D51 Foundation believes that exceptional professional learning is essential to advancing the academic growth of every D51 studentits central to our mission. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, were able to make these opportunities possible and continue investing in excellence across our schools, said D51 Foundation Executive Director Angela Christensen. Over $10,000 will be awarded to 48 D51 staff members to support a variety of professional learning opportunities, including: Advertisement Advertisement Ellen Balzer with Independence Academy Charter School received $500 for a 2026 ArtSource Colorado Residency. Julie Blevens with Fruita Monument High School received $1,190 to attend the 2026 California Association of Directors of Activities Convention. Kara Felton with Taylor Elementary received $400 for training with Grand Valley Behavior Services and Consulting. Katelyn Collins with BTKs Special Education Department received $210 to attend the Colorado Society of School Psychologists Conference. Kim Smith, who is a D51 math specialist at the Emerson Building, received $1,000 for Teaching Six Through 12 Mathematics: A Practical Framework to Engage Students Who Struggle. Kimberly Popick with Palisade High School received $2,574 to attend the 2026 IB Global Conference in Denver. Mandy Beilman with Central High School received $1,590 to attend the 2026 California Association of Directors of Activities Convention. Mira Hurshman with Fruita Middle School received $479 to attend the 2026 Council for Exceptional Children Convention and Expo. Nina Incorvaia with West Middle School received $379.22 for the Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Education Training Bundle: Part One and Two. Ryan Crabtree with Fruita Monument High School received $325 to attend the Colorado Music Educators Association Clinic/Conference. Summer Jones, who is a D51 Science Specialist at the Emerson Building, received $1,600 for the Professional Development Provider Institute. Since 2018, the foundation has awarded over $180,000 to 638 staff members for professional learning. The money for the grants is raised from the D51 Foundations annual White Iced Celebration and other fundraising efforts. In 2026, alongside funding for professional learning opportunities, the foundation aims to invest in technology, innovation, and wellness for both staff and students. To learn more about the D51 Foundation, visit d51foundation.org. 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 WesternSlopeNow.com. As most Americans turn their clocks forward, one new study challenges a long-standing concern: that daylight saving time disrupts sleep enough to trigger a surge in heart attacks. In a sweeping analysis of nearly 170,000 patients over about a decade, researchers at Duke University School of Medicine found no significant increase in heart attacks during the weeks surrounding daylight saving time transitions, either in spring or fall. The findings were published in JAMA Network Open. Earlier, smaller studies had suggested the springtime change might lead to a temporary rise in cardiovascular events. Advertisement Advertisement "We had a really nice, large data set," Dr. Jennifer Rymer, a cardiologist at Duke Health and a co-author of the study, told Straight Arrow News. "It's the largest data set of all heart attacks in the United States, so it's pretty much all U.S. hospitals." The research drew on the American College of Cardiology's Chest Pain MI Registry, examining cases of acute myocardial infarction from 2013 through 2022. Researchers analyzed the timing of heart attacks in the weeks before and after both the spring and fall clock changes. One advantage of the dataset was the ability to compare states that do not observe daylight saving time, including Arizona and Hawaii, with those that do. "We were lucky and fortunate to have a lot of data from Arizona and Hawaii that, of course, don't participate in daylight saving time," Rymer said. "So, we were able to use them as controls." Advertisement Advertisement The results showed no meaningful increase in heart attacks linked to the clock changes. The only notable exception was a spike in cases following the spring 2020 transition, coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings may offer reassurance to people worried about the health effects of losing or gaining an hour of sleep. "There's quite a bit of evidence that disruptions in sleep schedules can increase cardiovascular risk," Rymer said. "So, it was nice to see that over this very large population of patients, we didn't see a clear association between these time changes and that risk." Sleep disruption remains a concern for heart health, however. Cardiologists have long observed that heart attacks frequently occur during overnight hours, when changes in the body's stress hormones and sleep patterns can trigger plaque rupture in arteries. Advertisement Advertisement Still, Rymer said the one-hour shift may not be enough to meaningfully affect cardiovascular risk, especially as Americans' work schedules have evolved. "I think the premise is that this is a short burst - a one-hour change in one direction or the other," she said. "The way we live and work has changed a lot over the last decade." The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated shifts toward remote work and more flexible hours, potentially making it easier for people to adjust to the time change, she added. Rymer said improving awareness of sleep health is an ongoing focus for researchers and clinicians. "As clinicians, we're not always good about talking to our patients about sleep hygiene and sleep health," she said. "Understanding the risks of poor sleep and conditions like sleep apnea is really important for preventing heart attack and stroke." Advertisement Advertisement Still, Rymer said the new findings help answer a question that has lingered for years. "This study had the largest population of the ones previously done," she said. "I think it finally really answers this question." Related Links Climate change may threaten tens of millions more people than had been believed, according to a new study that says earlier research used incorrect information about water levels along the worlds coastlines. The research, published March 4 in the peer-reviewed British journal Nature, found that more than 90% of the existing sea-level studies use a reference sea level that is lower than the actual sea level along the coast. That means already dire projections about sea level rise might be underestimating the risk. Our calculations show that measured coastal sea levels in many places on Earth are higher than is often assumed in coastal impact studies, study lead author Katharina Seeger of the University of Padua in Italy said in a statement. Our findings make it necessary to re-evaluate and, in most cases, update the underlying methodology of all existing coastal hazard studies." What is sea level rise? The rise of sea levels, one of the clearest signals of human-caused global warming, is driven by warming and expanding ocean water, as well as the melting of mountain glaciers, ice caps and the vast Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Advertisement Advertisement Seas have risen nearly 8 inches worldwide since 1880, but unlike water in a bathtub, they don't rise evenly. In the past 100 years, for example, water has climbed about a foot or more in some U.S. cities because of ocean currents and the natural settling of land. Scientists said global warming will be the primary cause of sea level rise. The greatest uncertainty is how quickly the massive West Antarctic ice sheet will melt. Hurricane Dorian makes impact at the Avalon Fishing Pier at Kill Devil Hills, N.C. on the Outer Banks on Sept. 6, 2019. What causes global warming? Human-caused climate change is caused by the burning of fossil fuels such as gas, coal and oil, which release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane into the atmosphere. This extra CO2 causes temperatures of the atmosphere and oceans to rise to levels that cannot be explained by natural causes. Why is sea level rise important? Rising seas increase the risk of coastal flooding, putting tens of millions of people in the United States and hundreds of millions worldwide at risk. About 40% of the worlds population lives within 62 miles of a coast. As climate change persists, sea level rise has become a pressing problem for many coastal communities. Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, in the new study, the authors found that compared with previous estimates, a hypothetical 1 meter of sea level rise, or a little more than 3 feet, could place up to 37% more land below sea level, affecting 77 million to 132 million people across the globe. What does the new study show? According to the study, most earlier sea level studies do not reflect reality because they either lack direct sea level measurements or incorrectly combine sea level and land elevation data. Study coauthor Philip Minderhoud, a hydrogeology professor at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, said, We seem to be dealing with an interdisciplinary blind spot between sea level science on one hand and continent-based coastal hazard impacts science on the other. One simple way to understand this is that many studies assume sea levels without waves or currents, when the reality at the waters edge is of oceans constantly roiled by wind, tides, currents, changing temperatures and weather patterns like El Nino, Minderhoud and Seeger told The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement "We hope that this approach can become a new standard for more accurate assessments of future coastal impacts," the study authors conclude. What regions are most at risk? Underestimations of sea-level rise were particularly noteworthy in the global south, specifically in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. Underestimates also were observed in Latin America, the west coast of North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. What do others think of the study? "I do think the new Nature sea level rise article is significant," said Michael Mann of the University of Pennsylvania, who was not part of the study. "It does look as if the entire community has overlooked the key distinction they draw and that this does mean we might be underestimating the potential sea level rise in many key regions. "There is still quite a bit of uncertainty because of complications due to changing ocean currents, etc., but this study does seem significant to me," Mann told USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A deadly climate change effect has been underestimated, study finds TOPEKA Three Democratic candidates for governor highlighted their experience and concerns they say Kansans want addressed by their states next leader affordability, health care and supporting rural areas. Sen. Ethan Corson, Sen. Cindy Holscher and Marty Tuley took the stage at the close of the Kansas Democratic Partys three-day annual convention on Sunday, held at Townsite Topeka, to convince attendees they are the partys best bet for hanging onto the office. While Corson and Holscher bring experience as state legislators to the race, Tuley acknowledged he was a third wheel. Advertisement Advertisement Im a different kind of Democrat, he said. Ive got a very different kind of background than most traditional politicians. Its probably my best attribute. Tuley, a Lawrence personal trainer, said his entrepreneurial business background he took out his first Small Business Administration loan at age 23 and early life as the son of two public school teachers and working on his grandparents farm give him an understanding of what Kansans need and want. Corson touted his government experience, pointing to a stint in Washington, D.C., as chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Commerce, and then heading up the Kansas Democratic Party when U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids and Gov. Laura Kelly were elected in 2018. They showed that Kansas voters will elect moderate leaders who are focused on getting results and working across the aisle, Corson said, adding that he has endorsements from Kelly, former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and organized labor. Advertisement Advertisement Holscher, who said she had more than 150 endorsements from leaders throughout the state, shared details of her political career, including the fact that she has consistently won in a red district. I have very humble beginnings, she said. Im the granddaughter of tenant farmers and very proudly say to you that Im a first-generation college graduate. Because of that, because of public education, a strong union job, that is what enabled my family to rise up out of poverty. She also highlighted the importance of the upcoming election cycle. Weve got to flip some seats. This is unsustainable, this supermajority, she said, referring to the GOP stronghold on the Legislature. They are working to take away voting rights, reproductive health care. Theyre working to take away our schools. And every day that they are in power and control this Legislature, we are getting closer to them reaching their agenda. Sen. Ethan Corson, right, says his experience at the U.S. Department of Commerce, along with serving as a state senator, prepares him to be the next Kansas governor. Event moderator Adam Orduna is pictured to the left. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector) Affordability Each candidate stressed the need to make life more affordable for Kansans, from taxes to housing to raising wages to increasing access to child care. Advertisement Advertisement Weve got to lower housing costs, Holscher said. We have an affordability crisis when it comes to housing, and Ill tell you, there are nuances to it. In particular, in Wichita, we have a landlord that owns a third of the property there, and there are no caps on late fees when someones late on their rent. She also cited reducing health care costs as a priority, raising the minimum wage and making child care more affordable. Corson talked about the working families agenda he introduced this session and criticized the Republican-led Legislatures focus on other topics. In Topeka there were so many folks focused on these culture war issues and not focused on how to help working families, he said, adding that his agenda proposes tax cuts that affect working families, including renters and homeowners, young couples starting out and vehicle owners. Advertisement Advertisement Tuley said he supports paying for school lunches, which would lighten the burden on families, and wants to see teachers paid more. We also have to focus on small business, he said. Affordability and small business go hand in hand. This is a small business state, and small business is how we rebuild rural Kansas. Sen. Cindy Holscher talked about her youth growing up on a farm and roots that give her a close connection to everyday Kansans at the Kansas Democratic Partys annual conference on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector) Health care The candidates expressed concern about Kansas rural health system, where hospitals are in the red and see little hope for coming out of the losses with federal government cuts and the states failure to expand Medicaid. Kansans should be able to get the care that they need without going broke and without driving for hours to see a doctor, Corson said. Right now, we have major challenges in our health care system because of the failures in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Kansans have lost health insurance and the state has the largest number of hospitals that are at a high risk of closure, he said. While campaigning across the state, he said, he met with a hospital official in southwest Kansas who said the hospital hasnt been profitable since 2017. All three candidates said they would fight for Medicaid expansion. Corson said he would make sure rural hospitals and care systems receive needed dollars from the federal Rural Health Care Transformation Program and work on ways to get more providers to rural Kansas. Politicians are making dangerous cuts to our programs, Medicaid and Social Security. Thats hurting us, and with the expiration of ACA tax credits, thats a huge threat, Holscher said. As governor, I will push back and pull every lever out there to protect our people and to bring health care and what we need across the state. Advertisement Advertisement She also said its important to address issues like maternal and infant mortality, and health disparities in Kansas, such as Black women experiencing higher maternal morbidity rates. Tuley, in talking about womens health care issues, said the upcoming election is critical to protecting the vote Kansans made in 2022 to retain a womans constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. If we dont elect a Democrat in the governors big chair, that legislation is going to come under attack right from the get go, and its going to be vicious, and its not going to stop, he said. Republicans will try their damnedest to legislate it so much that itll be impossible to get an abortion in this state. Gubernatorial candidate Marty Tuley tells how his experience as an entrepreneur and problem-solver in multiple business roles prepares him to lead the state at the Kansas Democratic Partys annual convention on March 8, 2026. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector) Rural Kansas All three candidates talked about how tariffs levied by President Donald Trump increased costs for farmers and ranchers and eliminated product markets. Advertisement Advertisement If the federal administration had just done nothing, it would have been a good year for most farmers, Corson said. This is a completely self-inflicted wound that the federal government has put on Kansas farmers and farmers around the country. He said his skills with international markets at the U.S. Commerce Department would be an asset as it is critically important for the governor to understand the ins and outs of the international market. Holscher mentioned legalizing medicinal cannabis, which could allow a new crop to bolster state agriculture, as well as developing strategies for new markets and product development. A Babson College student deported to Honduras during Thanksgiving saw her civil lawsuit against the Trump administration dismissed after she declined a flight back to the United States. Any Lucia Lopez Belloza was taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at Logan Airport on Nov. 20, 2025, before she boarded a flight to Texas to surprise her family over the holiday break. She was deported to Honduras, a move the government called a mistake, and a federal judge ordered her return scheduled last month. Advertisement Advertisement Lopez Belloza did not board a flight back to the U.S., however, after receiving conflicting information from federal officials, according to her attorney Todd Pomerleau. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns granted the governments motion to dismiss her lawsuit on Friday, stating that the court no longer had jurisdiction since Lopez Belloza declined the flight. "The sad truth is that when Any declined the flight she also waived this courts only remaining basis for jurisdiction," Stearns wrote. Any civil contempt dissolved when the government complied with the facilitation order. Lopez Bellozas lawsuit, a habeas corpus petition, sought to challenge her detention by ICE. Advertisement Advertisement The judge also wrote that her legal team missed a window to file her lawsuit in Massachusetts before she was moved to a detention facility in Texas. Counsel was hired the same day she was detained and had ample opportunity to file a petition in Massachusetts, the judge wrote. Pomerleau filed a notice to appeal the judges ruling. Lopez Belloza came to the U.S. when she was 8 and was unaware there was a final order of removal for her when she was 11, according to her attorney. The day after her detention, she was flown to Texas with ICE agents. That evening, a federal judge in Massachusetts ordered ICE not to remove her from the U.S. for at least 72 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Despite that order, on Nov. 22, 2025, Lopez Belloza was placed on a flight to Honduras, where she was dropped off on the tarmac and left to locate family she hadnt seen in over a decade. Lopez Belloza, her attorney and advocates described the governments attempts to return her to the U.S. as a trap to re-detain her and deport her again a claim that the federal judge rejected. "The court does not credit the suggestion that respondents, having just remedied their prior violation of the courts order by returning Any to the United States, would have immediately violated the order again by removing Any from the country without the requisite advance notice," Stearns wrote. More News Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The defense establishment hopes to reduce missile fire sufficiently that Iran no longer succeeds at causing casualties, more similar to the Yemeni Houthis' missiles. Although there was a spike in Iranian ballistic missile threat sirens on Saturday, sending millions of Israelis into their safe rooms and bomb shelters throughout the day, the IDF said that it had destroyed 75% of Iran's missile launchers. The 75% number is a jump from 65% just two days ago, showing continued progress. Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, IDF sources have not expressed any certainty about fully stopping Iranian missile fire in the near future. A more modest hope may be to reduce missile fire sufficiently that Iran no longer succeeds at causing casualties, more similar to Yemen Houthi missiles, which disrupted daily life from 2023 to 2025, but rarely caused casualties. Further, IDF sources said that Saturday saw a continued drop in the number of missiles fired to below 15, possibly close to 10, from a rate of 100 on the first day of the war and 20-25 in recent days. Anti-missile batteries fire interception missiles toward incoming ballistic missiles launched from Iran, as seen over Tel Aviv, during the war with Iran and ongoing missile fire toward Israel, March 7, 2026. (credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90) There were also no reported massive hits in Israel on Saturday, in contrast to the early days of the war when there were multiple such hits. Advertisement Advertisement The IDF updated that over 200 ballistic missiles have been fired on Israel since the start of the war. While the latest update said 80 missiles were fired on the first day, earlier top IDF sources had put the number at around 100. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy. On the second day of the war, missile fire dropped to 60. From the third day of the war onward, the latest IDF update said fewer than 20 missiles have been fired on Israel per day, though an earlier senior source had said the numbers were between 20 and 25. 3,100 residences have been sufficiently damaged to require evacuation. IDF destroys between 300 and 415 Iranian missile launchers There is still some confusion about how many missile launchers Iran had at the start of the war to fire their estimated 2,500 missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Data collected by The Jerusalem Post would put the number at between 400 and 550 launchers. This would mean that between 300 and 415 launchers have been neutralized, with an estimated half of those destroyed and half cut off from use, such as caving in their launch areas. Hezbollah has also launched around 200 threats, including over 160 rockets, with 42 drones launched from Iran and 43 drones launched by Hezbollah. IDF Chief Spokesman Brig. Gen. Efi Deffrin said that there is no clear coordination between Iran and Hezbollah regarding their aerial attacks, but that they are trying to coordinate to some extent, and have sometimes succeeded. Advertisement Advertisement Deffrin said that the IDF started the war targeting air defenses, top Iranian leaders, and ballistic missile sites, but then moved on to targeting a wider array of the missile apparatus, and then moved on to striking a wider range of regime forces and command centers. IDF targets IRGC, Hezbollah in massive air raid A fleet of over 80 Israel Air Force fighter jets completed another wave of strikes targeting infrastructure belonging to the Iranian regime in Tehran, which included the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Air Force situation room, which was key to the air defense systems in Iran and was located in the heart of Tehran, the IDF announced early Saturday. The strikes also targeted 16 aircraft belonging to the elite Quds Force that were being used to transfer weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the military said. An earlier IDF statement said that several military sites were struck, including the main IRGC military university, the Imam Hossein University, which was used for the training of IRGC officers and as an emergency asset, and, most recently, an IRGC assembly compound during Operation Rising Lion. Advertisement Advertisement The IDF also revealed that it had struck sites in Parchin and Shahrud, the two main areas where the regime produces its ballistic missiles and additional weapons. "Over the past week, hundreds of Israeli Air Force fighter jets, acting on IDF intelligence, struck two of the Iranian terror regime's main production sites," the military said. Among the targets were 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. Tobias Holcman contributed to this story. Sunny Naqvi, a 28-year-old U.S. citizen, is now back at home after spending about 43 hours in Department of Homeland Security custody. Naqvi was born in Evanston and raised in the Chicago suburbs. A few weeks ago, she was set to travel overseas for a work trip with five other people. That group included three U.S. citizens and three green card holders, all in the U.S. legally. That trip ultimately fell through at the last minute, so the group went on to continue traveling. On Thursday, Naqvi and her colleagues arrived back in Chicago, where DHS suddenly detained her for what her attorney says was a "curious travel history." Advertisement Advertisement Naqvi's family says she was detained for 30 hours at Chicago O'Hare International Airport before being sent to Broadview. At some point, the family said, they lost Naqvi's location that was being shared from her phone. Relatives said federal agents continued to tell them that Naqvi was not in custody, despite her location previously showing her at the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. "The cops were lying to our faces," said Sarah Afzal, Naqvi's sister. "We were asking them, 'Hey, her location is here. We were in contact with her,' and they kept being like, 'I don't know what to tell you.'" ABC7 saw a pretty large crowd join some elected officials on Sunday in front of the Broadview facility, saying this was an unlawful detainment. Advertisement Advertisement "They asked for Sunny's phone number so they can search the facility for her phone. About 10 minutes later, the phone was opened, text messages were read and the phone was turned off, and we lost her location," said Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison. The family said Naqvi was later sent to a facility in Dodge County, Wisconsin, where she was later released early Saturday morning. They said her phone was dead, so she had to hitch hike with a person driving nearby to a hotel, where her family was able to pick her up. "It was just really scary to me, and I think it's really scary to know that this can happen to someone born here," Afzal said. "This whole morning was about just kind of getting it together. She doesn't want this to be about her. This is about everyone that is illegally detained." Advertisement Advertisement Naqvi is back at home now. She was too shaken to speak with ABC7 on Sunday. ABC7 is still waiting to hear on the status of the five others that were detained with her. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Just 14 months ago, attorneys for a group of foster children contended the state Children, Youth and Families Departments compliance with agreed-upon reforms was so dismal, the agency should be placed into receivership. Four years of broken promises, they argued in December 2024, were putting abused and neglected children at great risk of harm. Lawyers for CYFD and the state countered that it was much easier to stand on the outside and criticize those working every day to serve children in state custody. Advertisement Advertisement It is easy for critics and those with a financial interest in this case to describe CYFD as a building on fire, stated attorney Eric Loman back then. Last week, the intense dispute of recent years seemed dissolved. Both sides issued a first-ever joint news release announcing progress, such as the high percentage of children now receiving medical visits within 30 days after entering custody. Theres also a new agreement on a way forward, including the creation of a foster parent advisory board that will report back by Dec. 31. I think everybody wants to have a more collaborative relationship realizing that we all have the same goals here, said Loman, an Albuquerque attorney representing the state in the settlement in 2020 of the so-called Kevin S. civil rights case, which sought to improve the well-being of the 2,000 or so children in state custody each month. Advertisement Advertisement We are at an important crossroads, Tara Ford, an attorney for the foster children plaintiffs, announced Monday. "The work is not finished and so we are really, really pleased that the state has come together to work with us to continue to move forward. The progress comes after three CYFD Cabinet secretaries have come and gone since 2019, with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham putting a new leadership team in place in September. That included former New Mexico Health Secretary Kathyleen Kunkel, a seasoned adviser who helped oversee the states response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Brenda Donald, who came to CYFD as chief operating officer after serving in leadership roles in the Maryland Human Services Department and as director of Washington, D.C.s child welfare agency. We want to continue to work together to make meaningful and long lasting improvement to the child welfare system, Ford said, changes that will sustain beyond the end of the current administration. As weve seen in recent years, changes in leadership can greatly impact the states progress. Advertisement Advertisement The latest agreement, hammered out by both sides, comes after more than a year of oversight by an arbitrator, Albuquerque attorney Charles Peifer. In January 2025, Peifer rejected the receivership idea but instituted two remedial orders with short timelines to resolve issues, such as directing CYFD to seek adequate legislative funding for caseworkers and case aides. Peifer, at a Monday meeting, congratulated both sides on the latest agreement. I think it is significant, he said. I think it is significant in large part because it shows a return to the collaborative efforts to improve the system for all kids. Advertisement Advertisement The agreement also recognizes the significant progress that the state has made, Peifer told the group, particularly in the area of well-child checks. Based on recent reporting, compliance is as high as 80%, he said. The state is required to conduct the checks within 30 days of taking a child into custody. The progress in that area was very much was based on very concentrated effort by senior officials at CYFD and HCA (the state Health Care Authority) that produced real, real results, Peifer said. As of March 1, Lujan Grisham ended the yearslong controversial practice of housing children taken into state custody at CYFD offices because of a lack of foster homes. CYFD and the HCA, also a defendant in the Kevin S. case, have committed to expanding the types of home-based services for foster children, building out foster care and adopting a model of enhanced foster care that provides additional training, supervision, support and care. Advertisement Advertisement Recently, CYFD had 51 foster children in a group home shelter or setting; 47 in a treatment facility or hospital setting; and 16 foster children were living in small family-run community homes, said an agency spokesman. In addition to responding to foster family concerns, the foster parent board will recommend strategies to improve resource family training, the licensing process and respite opportunities, among other issues. As to caseloads, the latest agreement states that by July 1, at least 50% of all types of caseworkers will have caseloads that comply with set caseload standards. New Mexico consistently ranks among the top six states for repeat maltreatment of abused or neglected children occurring within 12 months of the initial allegation, according to the state Legislative Finance Committee. In the first quarter of the 2026 fiscal year, the states reported rate of repeat maltreatment reached almost 16%, almost twice the national average. Advertisement Advertisement The repeat maltreatment rates are often a reflection of the success of CYFDs intervention and prevention efforts with families whose children have been deemed abused or neglected, the LFC has stated. These changes in the field are going to take some time and we want to say that employees at CYFD have been carrying a very heavy load, even as they strive to provide safety net services to children and families in the child welfare system, Ford said. Asked about what will happen to the reform efforts after Lujan Grisham leaves office Dec. 31, CYFD spokesman Jake Thompson told the Journal, CYFDs leadership team is working hard every day to make systemic and durable changes recruiting, hiring and training more professional staff; reducing caseloads to give families more attention; improving the array of services and care for children in our care; recruiting more foster parents; and more that will last well beyond this administration. Ford said the plaintiffs, which include Pegasus Legal Services for Children, Disability Rights New Mexico and the Native American Disability Law Center, will engage the new administration and provide information and expertise. The state is responsible for paying the plaintiffs' attorneys' fees and costs along with the defendants' attorneys' fees and costs. Plaintiffs are concerned that if new leadership is not prepared to assume its responsibilities promptly, the parties risk undermining any progress made, Ford told the Journal on Friday. On behalf of the children in State custody, we want and need the State to be successful." A man driving a semitruck who led law enforcement officers from three different departments on an almost 40-minute chase from Springfield Township to Akron crashed into vehicles, including police cruisers, before two Akron Police Department officers and a Summit County sheriff's deputy fired at the man about 20 times. The chase ended at 6:33 p.m. on Feb. 28 after the shooting at West Market Street and Innovation Way in Akron. The driver, identified as Jeffrey Latson, is accused of then driving into a parking lot and crashing into multiple parked vehicles, where officers waited 10 minutes for a ballistic shield before approaching the truck. The man had told Springfield police officers he had "no weapon," and a police dispatcher told officers the man did not mention having a weapon, according to police scanner traffic. Advertisement Advertisement Body-worn camera footage from APD and the Summit County Sheriff's Office, APD dashcam footage and security video from nearby apartments were released by the two law enforcement agencies on March 7. The videos shed light on what led to the shooting and show how the Akron chase began and ended. The Springfield Township Police Department released bodycam and dashcam footage on March 2, which showed the semi driving off with an officer on the side of the truck. The officer fell off and was injured. Chase: Police radio traffic, bodycam footage detail harrowing chase with semi Chase ends in Akron with about 20 shots fired Akron Police Lt. Michael Murphy said officers responded to a call for assistance about 6:14 p.m. that a semitruck had been involved in a chase with Springfield police and was believed to be on East Market Street. Body-worn camera footage from Feb. 28 police shooting shows the moment a Summit County sheriff deputy shoots at 34-year-old Jeffrey Latson. Latson had just driven a semitruck into the deputy's cruiser. The Summit County Sheriffs Office also responded. Advertisement Advertisement When officers found the driver, he was parked among several semitrucks between Vans Tire Pros Auto Service Center and Azteca Mexican Restaurant. Sometime after fleeing Springfield Township police and being located by Akron police, he had attached a trailer to the truck. When law enforcement officers shined a flashlight into the semitruck, the driver pulled forward and sped westbound on Market Street. Dashcam footage shows Akron police pursuing the truck. As the truck turned south onto Innovation Way, it appeared to hit a stopped vehicle at the light. Security footage from nearby apartments shows the truck backed up and moved forward, hitting a Summit County sheriffs cruiser that had just pulled in front of it. Advertisement Advertisement He is ramming my car, the deputy radioed, according to his body-worn camera footage. Backing up again, the truck pushed a second cruiser backward. It then pulled forward as more cruisers converged on the truck. The deputy, still in his cruiser, then drew his handgun and fired about four shots into the truck. Body-worn camera footage from two Akron police officers showed the two officers exited the cruiser in a field adjacent to the truck. The passenger APD officer drew his firearm, aimed it at the truck and shot about seven times. The driving officer, just before exiting, is heard saying, This man is about to be f******. Outside the vehicle, he aimed his department-issued firearm and fired about six times. Body-worn camera footage from Feb. 28 police shooting shows the moment an Akron police officer shoots at 34-year-old Jeffrey Latson during a chase. As Akron officers opened fire, the deputy fired three more times. Advertisement Advertisement Hold your fire, one officer then yelled. The two Akron officers got back in the cruiser and are heard saying, I shot, and So did I. Units watch your crossfire, hes going into the parking lot, the driving Akron officer then radioed other units. The truck pulled around the civilian traffic stopped at the light. Security footage showed the truck then drove over the curb next to a downed street sign and into a parking lot, where it struck multiple parked vehicles. The Akron chase, including the shooting, lasted just over two minutes. Stand-off caps chase, shooting The scene of an officer-involved shooting on Akron's east side Saturday night. After shooting stopped, officers exited their vehicles and ran toward the stationary truck. A deputy had to climb through the driver's side window to exit his cruiser. Advertisement Advertisement The driving APD officer parked the cruiser and ran toward the truck with his rifle, joining other officers who aimed their weapons at the semi driver. He yelled at other officers, I got rifle. Show us your [expletive] hands! an officer yelled. Akron Police, show us your hands! another officer yelled. Body-worn camera footage from Feb. 28 show law enforcement officers staging behind a cruiser as they urged 34-year-old Jeffrey Latson to exit the truck. Suspect, we want you alive, another yelled. We will not shoot. We need you to show us your hands. Let us know you are alright. We are going to get you help. We need to get a shield, one officer said. Hes lying down in the front cab. Hes going in the back. Officers are heard discussing what to do next before they walk in unison toward a Summit County Sheriffs Office cruiser. Seconds later, an officer yelled that he saw the semi driver raise a hand with blood on it. Advertisement Advertisement An officer used a loudspeaker multiple times, telling the man to exit the truck on the passenger side and to show his hands. Jeffrey, open the door with your hands out, the officer yelled over the loudspeaker. Its the first time officers used his name in the footage. After 10 minutes of waiting behind the cruiser, officers walked toward the truck. The officer with the rifle told the semi driver, Just stay there, brother. With the truck passenger door locked, officers are seen climbing onto the passenger side of the truck and unlocking it through the broken window. At the same time, officers repeatedly ask for medical aid. Advertisement Advertisement Latson was taken to an area hospital, Murphy wrote in a news release. He is in serious but stable condition. Body-worn camera footage from Feb. 28 police shooting shows an Akron police officer aiming a rifle at 34-year-old Jeffrey Latson over 10 minutes after the same officer shot at Latson. Woman reports threats by ex-boyfriend The incident began when a woman called Springfield Township police to report that Latson, her former boyfriend, had made prior threats to shoot her, her childs father and her other child. Latson then showed up at the IHOP on South Arlington Road in Springfield on the evening of Feb. 28, threatening to shoot her and another woman who was with her, according to a Springfield incident report. Latson claimed he would put a bullet in their foreheads and threatened another female witness, according to the report. Man first fled Springfield police When officers arrived about 5:55 p.m., Latson left the restaurant, entered a semitruck and pulled onto South Arlington Road before immediately turning into the Walmart parking lot behind the IHOP, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Latson drove the semitruck to the rear of the Walmart property and then proceeded westbound toward South Arlington Road, according to police. Officers positioned a marked cruiser in front of the semitruck to try to stop it from leaving. The suspect stopped but refused repeated commands to exit the vehicle. As officers tried to remove the driver from the semitruck, he suddenly accelerated. The semitruck went around the cruiser and continued toward South Arlington Road. One officer safely jumped from the semitruck, while the second officer was thrown from the vehicle and sustained injuries from the fall. Body-worn camera footage shows a Springfield Township police officer hanging off a semitruck moments before the officer falls off and is injured. The truck driver led officers on a chase into Akron, where he was shot by law enforcement. The injured officer was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment. He struck his head on the pavement and fractured the tibia and fibula in his right leg, according to the incident report. The uninjured officer initiated a pursuit of the semitruck, which headed north on Interstate 77. The officer stopped the pursuit after the vehicle entered Akron. Jeffrey Latson faces numerous felony and misdemeanor charges Latson faces separate charges filed by Springfield and Akron police. Advertisement Advertisement The Springfield charges are: felonious assault on a police officer, a first-degree felony; willful fleeing, a fourth-degree felony; obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony; and two counts of aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor. The Akron charges are: three counts of felonious assault, one first-degree and two second-degree felonies, and willful fleeing the signal of police, a third-degree felony. Latson is scheduled to be arraigned on March 9 in Akron Municipal Court. Officers who fired shots are on paid leave The officers who fired shots are on paid administrative leave, per Akron Police Department policy. One officer involved in the shooting has about six years of experience, while the other has three years on the force. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is heading the probe into the shooting. After BCI wraps up its investigation, Murphy said, the case will be reviewed by the Ohio Attorney Generals Office before being presented to a Summit County grand jury. A separate internal investigation by the city's Office of Professional Standards and Accountability will also be conducted. Murphy said those results will be provided to the police chief and the city of Akron police auditor. This story has been updated. Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjounal.com or 330-996-3705. Bryce Buyakie is an Akron-based reporter who covers the courts and public safety for the Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at bbuyakie@usatodayco.com or on X @bryce_buyakie. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: What Akron police, Summit deputy BWC shows in Feb. 28 chase, shooting Daylight saving time has arrived and for those of us who hate losing sleep, the countdown to it ending has begun. As we "spring forward" from winter, American clocks will move ahead one hour. The dark winter hours will give way to evenings full of more light, but pushing time forward also means losing an hour of sleep, which can be an unpleasant adjustment. The United States has tried to do away with daylight saving time more than once, proposing bills that have stalled over the century the country has observed the practice. So far, no luck, but lawmakers are still trying. Advertisement Advertisement Already looking forward to the day daylight saving ends and we "fall back?" Here's what to know. A girl smeared with colored powder celebrates the Hindu spring festival of Holi in Chennai, India on March 4, 2026. Hindu devotees attend Holi celebrations inside a temple in Ahmedabad, India on March 3, 2026. Hindu devotees are daubed in colored powder in a temples premises during Holi celebrations in Ahmedabad, India on March 4, 2026. Revelers celebrate Lathmar Holi, the Hindu spring festival of colors, next to a wall mural of Lord Krishna in Barsana, India on Feb. 25, 2026. Revelers celebrate Lathmar Holi, the Hindu spring festival of colors, in Nandgaon near Mathura, India on Feb. 26, 2026. A woman smeared with colored powder celebrates Holi, the Hindu spring festival of colors at the Durbar square in Kathmandu, Nepal on March 2, 2026. A woman is smeared with colored powder as she celebrates Holi, the Hindu spring festival of colors in Kolkata, India on March 3, 2026. A woman smeared with coloured powder celebrates the Hindu spring festival of Holi in Kolkata, India on March 3, 2026. A woman smeared with colored powder celebrates the Hindu spring festival of Holi in Mumbai, India on March 3, 2026. Women smeared with coloured powder celebrate the Hindu spring festival of Holi in Mumbai, India on March 3, 2026. A reveler wearing a mask of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi dances during celebrations on the occasion of Holi, the Hindu spring festival of colours at Assi Ghat in Varanasi, India on March 4, 2026. Revelers smeared with colored powder celebrate on the occasion of the Hindu spring festival of Holi in Pushkar, India on March 4, 2026. Holi captures the spirit of spring in brilliant color 1 of 12 A girl smeared with colored powder celebrates the Hindu spring festival of Holi in Chennai, India on March 4, 2026. When does daylight saving time end in 2026? When will we 'fall back'? In 2026, daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 1. At 2 a.m. local time, Americans will set clocks back one hour to 1 a.m. Moving the clock back one hour means more light in the morning and less in the evening - and an extra hour of sleep. When do we 'spring forward'? We will "spring forward" at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8. Americans should set their clocks forward one hour, to 3 a.m., to account for the change. That day, sunrise and sunset will be about one hour later than the previous day, and there will be more light in the evening and less light in the morning. We "fall back" and get an extra hour of sleep on Sunday, Nov. 1 this year. What is daylight saving time? Why do we have it? Daylight saving time was first introduced in the United States during World War I to make better use of natural daylight. It entails setting the clocks forward one hour during part of the year: in the Northern Hemisphere, that's currently between the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November. Advertisement Advertisement While the idea came from an essay by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, it wasn't adopted in the United States (and other countries, including Australia, Great Britain and Germany) until WWI necessitated the conservation of fuel used for artificial lighting, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 made daylight saving a uniform, federal matter. Previously, the Standard Time Act of 1918 established time zones but left the timing of DST to the states, some of which weren't consistent even within states themselves, according to National Geographic. Subsequent laws and amendments changed the start and end times of DST until the current dates were established in 2007. Does every state observe daylight saving time? Nope! Currently, the following states and territories do not observe daylight saving time. Hawaii Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Most Americans want to say goodbye to daylight saving time Polls have shown that the majority of Americans are on board with changing DST. A 2023 YouGov poll found that 62% of respondents agreed that they want to stop changing the clocks twice yearly. A 2025 Gallup poll found that 54% of Americans also wanted to see the demise of DST; however, 48% preferred standard time year-round, while 24% wanted permanent daylight saving time. Advertisement Advertisement Several laws proposing an end to the practice have been introduced. The most recent, the Daylight Act of 2026, introduced to Congress in February, proposed permanently shifting all U.S. time zones forward 30 minutes. If passed by Congress, the time change would kick in 90 days after President Donald Trump signs it into law. Contributing: Julia Gomez, Emily Vetter, Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When does daylight saving time end? See when clocks go back an hour. Missiles streaked across the Middle Eastern sky as 45-year-old Ram Iyer told his five-year-old daughter Amaya they were just shooting stars. She used to get excited whenever she saw something in the sky. We had to keep telling her to stay indoors, but she has adapted now, says the Thane-based executive search consultant, who was meant to return to Mumbai yesterday. Iyer, his wife and their child had travelled to Dubai to celebrate his birthday and visit cousins. They arrived on February 28, the night hostilities between Iran, Israel and the US began, and a short holiday quickly turned into an ordeal. The Iyers are among hundreds of Indians caught in the turmoil. By Thursday, Dubai International was limping at quarter-capacity, leaving more than 200 people from Maharashtra stuck in the city. While Iyer now hopes to board a flight on March 9, others have flooded social media with pleas for help, prompting NCP MLA Supriya Sule to petition the External Affairs Ministry for their safe return. For Dubai residents, the shock was just as visceral. Aashlesha Potdukhe, a skincare executive who divides her time between Mumbai and Dubai, heard the blasts from her Meydan home. The windowpanes were vibrating, says the 31-year-old. Across the region, those still stranded describe a frantic cycle of calls and cancellations, battling dwindling cash and medicine supplies. To escape, some have shelled out lakhs for detour-heavy seats, while many others remain confined in travel limbo, their schedules entirely abandoned. I was ready to pray in any faith Sarika Ramteke, a Bengaluru-based relationships head at a social enterprise, had travelled to Dubai on February 24 with 13 relatives from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, a rare family holiday finally aligned across calendars. After days spent marvelling at the Burj Khalifa and the citys famed hospitality, the group headed to Abu Dhabi on February 28 for their March 2 flight home. Instead, the conflict began. We later heard there were attacks in Dubai and loud booms, Ramteke, 56, recalls. Anxiety peaked as family members diabetic medicine supplies dwindled and a nephews school exams neared. Ultimately, the family had to split up to secure seats. It was very jittery... I was ready to pray in any faith, she says. Sarika and her son finally reached Hyderabad on March 5. Until the flight took off, my heart was in my mouth. People on the plane were clapping when we landed. Stranded from Sharjah to Siberia This desperate fragmentation of families was mirrored across the citys corporate sectors, where even organised tours were forced to disintegrate into smaller, frantic parties. Kundalik Kolpe, 38, arrived in Dubai on February 26 with a 383-member group from CareHealth Insurance. When his March 2 flight to Mumbai was cancelled, he used video calls to reassure his frantic wife in Pune of his safety. The massive group eventually splintered, scrambling for repatriation slots out of Sharjah and Fujairah. Kolpe finally reached home on March 5 via a circuitous route through Sharjah, Hyderabad, and Pune. Meanwhile, for 32-year-old Vasai marketer Sunil Gupta, a trip to Russia to view the northern lights turned into a nightmare. Stranded in Moscow after his March 2 transit through Abu Dhabi collapsed, Gupta took to X: ZERO cash left. Not even for food or water. While his post secured an accommodation extension, the Embassy could only provide travel agent contacts. Faced with return fares soaring to Rs 2 lakh and expired insurance, Gupta eventually shelled out Rs 78,000 per person for a gruelling flight to Delhi via Tashkent on March 7. Costs and uncertainty For some travellers, the disruption meant days of uncertainty and mounting costs before they could finally head home. Deep Thelasaria, a 25-year-old consultant at an MNC, had arrived in Dubai on February 24 with his family of four, planning to return on March 1. When airspace closures triggered a wave of cancellations, their exit plan quickly unravelled. Thelasaria recalls hearing blasts on the night of February 28. My parents were scared. However, besides occasional sounds, the city seemed safe, he says. That reassurance did little to calm relatives back home, who kept calling to check on them. The extended stay drove up costs for accommodation and rebooking flights. The family approached the tourism board, which had announced support for stranded visitors, but Thelasaria says officials declined assistance and instead instructed hotels to honour pre-agreed room rates. The family eventually secured seats home at Rs 54,000 per person. Bhavik Doshi, founder of Saarthi Holidays, says such crises expose how vulnerable travellers and operators are to sudden disruptions. A client visiting Abu Dhabi and Dubai cut their trip short amid closed attractions and uncertainty over their March 6 return. The trouble with airlines is that they inform you at the last minute, leaving passengers in limbo, Doshi says. He eventually booked the client on an Air India charter flight from Ras Al Khaimah, about 130 kilometres from Dubai, to Mumbai, at an additional cost of around Rs 1.4 lakh. Doshi adds that with multiple vendors and intermediaries involved in most tours, disruptions ripple across the entire chain. Credit vouchers, widely introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, allow rebooking within a limited window but are of little use to travellers who have no intention of returning to the same destination. Insurance coverage is another weak link. It varies widely between plans, and payouts dont come when you are stuck abroad. What we need is a mandate between the government and travel associations for insurance that actually covers such exigencies, he says. With tensions still rippling across Middle Eastern airspace, flight boards continue to flicker between delays and cancellations. Airlines, including Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet, have begun operating special flights to move stranded passengers out, while advisories urge travellers to keep checking their status before heading to airports. For those who have finally made it back, the relief is unmistakable, but for many still waiting, the crisis has stripped travel down to its simplest hope: a confirmed seat and a safe way home. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Homicides related to domestic violence are down across Nevada, according to a report from the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCEDSV). The report states that 45 total homicides related to domestic violence happened in 2025. That number is down from 49, according to NCEDSV. 40 of 2025s homicides happened in Clark County. This number is still excessively high, according to Liz Ortenburger, CEO of SafeNest. Advertisement Advertisement This is the largest single volume of homicides that Metro deals with. Its the most consolidated category of 911 calls that officers respond to. And yet, it gets very little attention from our city and county leadership, Ortenburger said. Although the number decreased in recent years, families of domestic violence victims said theres still a bigger picture. Download the 8 News Now streaming app The number to me doesnt really make a difference if its down, up, or whatever, said Robert Wolfe, father of Renise Wolfe. If its one, its too many because that one person could be your child or someone in your family. Advertisement Advertisement Renise Wolfe was killed in 2024 in a suspected domestic violence-related homicide. Her boyfriend and accused killer, Markeem Benson, died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial. Wolfes family said in the wake of her death, theyve been working to get the number of domestic violence related homicides down to zero. Theyve since been advocating for an easy-to-use, publicly accessible website or system that allows people to look up domestic abusers. They referred to a recently launched website in Tennessee that serves this exact purpose. Youre murdered by somebody that you potentially live with and youve trusted. And sometimes, like my daughter, shes only been with him for 3 or 4 months and there was no indication of violence before, said Tracy Coleman, Renises mother. And if we would have known he had several domestic violence charges already, this could have gone down differently. Benson had a criminal history and pleaded guilty in 2024 for attempted robbery, according to Clark County District Court records. Advertisement Advertisement These are all things I wish we would have known. I wish I would have known how to look this up. I wish it was easier for everybody to protect their own children, protect their parents, just to protect people in general. The government needs to step up, and thats what were going to try and do. Have a program that a person can just type that persons name in, and get that type of information, like the pedophiles website, Robert Wolfe said. Wolfes family said it should not take 40 lives each year for the proper officials to create this system. They referred to a recently launched website in Tennessee that serves this exact purpose. Advertisement Advertisement How much would a website cost compared to the amount of money we spend prosecuting or trying to prosecute these people? Coleman asked. Like, how much did this man cost the state already with being housed for a year, being fed, going back and forth to court, transportation, and then he ends up killing himself? Wolfes family said they felt failed by the justice system, which Ortenburger said can become overwhelmed with these kinds of cases. Between 70% and 80% of our population lives in Clark County, but we also have three major police departments operating sometimes together, sometimes siloed in a pretty small geographic area, Ortenburger said. We have a completely overrun court system, and then we have a very separated court system. We have family court doing one thing, weve got justice court and municipal courts doing different things. And so we have a very fragmented approach to how were dealing with domestic violence. What that creates is places for highly lethal offenders to not be caught, or caught and then pled down and released. Ortenburger also said Clark County does not have a sophisticated system to track a domestic abusers patterns for lethality. Advertisement Advertisement What we dont talk about enough is that domestic violence abusers that murder or have a lethality marker to murder are also your mass shooters and your cop killers. They are very highly correlated, Ortenburger said. LVMPDs Violent Gun Crime Unit recovers over 45 firearms, made over 50 arrests in 2026 so far Robert Wolfe said that despite the decreasing annual numbers, hes seen countless domestic violence deaths in his career in law enforcement. This old adage about people need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps is BS to me. Sometimes people need help, Robert Wolfe said. Our governor is a former sheriff. I worked directly for him when I was on the department before I retired. He knows all the numbers. Hes the governor now. He cant forget about where he came from. Advertisement Advertisement 8 News Now reached out to Governor Joe Lombardos office on Saturday afternoon seeking a response to Robert Wolfes comments. As of Saturday evening, no response was received. Im angry about it. And I get more angry when nothing is being done about others getting beat up, getting killed. And its just a slap in the face to me and our family, Robert Wolfe said. And the 40 numbers are down, so you should be happy? No. Our daughter is gone. And were going to have to deal with this the rest of our lives. 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. March 7 (Reuters) - Since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office last year, he and his allies have derided federal judges who ruled against his policies as "rogue," "crooked," "lunatic" and more, casting their actions not only as incorrect but illegitimate as well. Beyond the Republican president's vitriol in speeches and social media posts, his administration has launched a more systematic effort at the U.S. Supreme Court to diminish the power of the federal judiciary, a Reuters analysis shows. The administration in the past year has raced to the Supreme Court with dozens of emergency requests to green-light policies impeded by lower-court judges who questioned their legality. Advertisement Advertisement The administration includes in its written filings multiple legal arguments, but to a remarkable degree it has used these requests to question the very authority of the judges whose decisions are being challenged. Of the 31 emergency requests Trump's Justice Department has filed at the Supreme Court since February 2025, nearly all - 97% - claim the judge is improperly interfering with the president's power under the U.S. Constitution and various laws, according to the analysis. By contrast, in the 19 emergency requests filed by Trump's Democratic predecessor Joe Biden's administration over four years, just 26% suggested judicial interference with presidential authority. 'MORE UNILATERAL POWER' Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration's approach reflects a concerted effort to diminish the power of judges to restrain the president and his agenda, according to legal experts and former judges. The arguments go beyond outlining why a judge reached what the administration considers an incorrect legal conclusion, according to Payvand Ahdout, an expert on presidential power and the federal courts at the University of Virginia School of Law. "The administration is attacking the ability of federal judges to question or review the executive actions," Ahdout said. "As the administration seeks to assert more unilateral power, robust judicial review is a problem for them," Ahdout added. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has aggressively tested the limits of presidential powers during his second term in domestic affairs and foreign policy, drawing hundreds of legal challenges on numerous fronts. The Supreme Court, whose 6-3 conservative majority includes three justices Trump appointed, has backed him in most of these emergency cases, letting him fire federal employees, take control of independent agencies, ban transgender people from the military and deport migrants to countries where they have no ties, among other actions. Unlike its usual work, the court typically handles emergency requests quickly, without extensive written briefing or oral arguments. 'NO SURPRISE' A Justice Department official with knowledge of the legal strategy, speaking on condition of anonymity, said any suggestion that its arguments are unusual is misleading. Advertisement Advertisement Pointing to its high win rate at the Supreme Court, the official noted that many of the department's requests involve areas where the justices traditionally have deferred to the president, such as immigration and the federal workforce. "It should come as no surprise that this department is more forceful in defending Article II prerogatives," the official said, referring to the constitutional provision vesting executive power in the president. In addition to claiming judicial interference, Trump's emergency requests challenge the power of judges in other ways. Among these requests, 68% argue that the judge had no power to review Trump's action or jurisdiction over the case, according to the analysis. Among Biden's emergency requests, only 16% made such an argument. Advertisement Advertisement And 71% of Trump's requests argue the judge had no power to provide the relief - such as a court order freezing a policy - granted to the plaintiffs. Under Biden, that figure was 63%, reflecting frustration by presidents of both parties with judicial orders they consider overbroad. The Justice Department under both Biden and Trump urged the Supreme Court to curtail so-called "universal" injunctions that blocked their policies nationwide. The court finally tackled that issue last June in a case brought by Trump, not Biden, handing him a landmark victory reining in judges. Though that case involved Trump's bid to restrict automatic birthright citizenship, the ruling did not involve the legality of that directive. The court will hear arguments on that question on April 1. LITTLE EXPLANATION Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court's decisions in emergency cases often come with little explanation, making it hard to assess which of the administration's arguments, if any, have carried the day. For example, Trump sought Supreme Court intervention after judges at the district court level blocked his firings of multiple Democratic members of independent federal agencies, including two labor boards, a consumer-safety watchdog and the Federal Trade Commission. The Justice Department argued that those judicial actions intruded on the president's power and that courts cannot review the firings or reinstate the officials. The court's conservative majority allowed the removals but provided little reasoning, briefly referencing in one of the cases its prior rulings endorsing a president's authority to fire agency officers wielding executive power. In three 5-4 decisions in which they provided a rationale, the justices lifted decisions by lower courts that blocked federal grant cuts and Trump's use of an 18th-century law meant for use during wartime to speed deportations. In doing so, the justices appeared to agree with the administration that the judges lacked jurisdiction to review the dispute because it should have been before a different court. Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department's bid to undermine the power of judges comes amid concerns by Trump's critics and some judges that administration officials are sometimes defying district court orders, as well as continuing verbal attacks on the judiciary. Trump has even directed his ire at the Supreme Court, last month calling justices who ruled against his sweeping global tariffs "lapdogs" swayed by foreign interests. "The administration's position stated in briefs and argument is for a very narrow view of judicial review and judicial power. And that then manifests itself in the public square as: if judges move out of that more limited role, they're crooks and corrupt," said Barbara Lynn, a former federal judge in Texas who retired last year. "That is a sad, inappropriate development, and runs the risk of there being, essentially, no checks and balances in this country if that view prevails," said Lynn, an appointee of Democratic former President Bill Clinton. 'POWER GRAB' Advertisement Advertisement The administration's claims of judicial interference variously describe judges as seizing, usurping or grabbing power rightfully belonging to the president. For instance, in a case concerning Trump's effort to fire thousands of federal employees, the Justice Department warned of an "ongoing assault on the constitutional structure," telling the Supreme Court: "Only this court can end the interbranch power grab." When a judge blocked Trump's bid to cut teacher-training grants as part of his campaign against diversity initiatives, the administration asked the Supreme Court to end judges' "unconstitutional reign as self-appointed managers of executive branch funding." A judge's moves restricting the administration's plan to deport migrants to countries where they have no ties were "wreaking havoc" and "usurping the executive's authority over immigration policy," the Justice Department said. Advertisement Advertisement Some legal experts said it is not surprising that Trump's administration would seek to extend to novel disputes the kind of deference that the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, has already given to presidents in areas such as immigration, foreign affairs and firings. "They are trying to accelerate things that the Roberts court itself had already started, which is to narrow judicial involvement in ... the president's management of the executive branch," said University of California, Berkeley law professor John Yoo, who worked as a Justice Department official during Republican George W. Bush's presidency. The administration's arguments reflect a change in approach for the Justice Department, Georgia State University College of Law professor Eric Segall said. "They make it sound like every case is a five-alarm fire that will destroy the presidency of the United States if judges get involved," said Segall, who worked in the department during Republican George H.W. Bush's presidency. Philip Pro, a retired federal judge from Nevada, said the administration's legal strategy appears to view judges as an obstruction. "If I don't agree with you as a member of the judiciary, then you're an obstruction because I want to do what I want to do, whenever I want to do it, wherever I want to do it, and you can't tell me otherwise," said Pro, an appointee of Republican former President Ronald Reagan. LISA COOK FIRING In the case involving Trump's attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, the justices signaled the administration's views on judges may go too far. Despite protections provided by Congress for Fed officials, Trump has sought to remove Cook - an unprecedented move that threatens the independence of the world's most important central bank - based on unproven mortgage fraud allegations that she denies. A federal judge blocked the firing. The Supreme Court scheduled a rare oral argument in January before it decides Trump's emergency request to lift the judge's order. During the arguments, some justices balked at the administration's contention that courts are limited in their ability to review Trump's stated cause for the termination, or to reinstate her. "If there is any level of cause ... then you can't be right about the idea that courts can't order anybody who's been removed to be reinstated," Roberts told Solicitor General D. John Sauer, arguing for the administration. A decision in the Cook case could come at any time. (Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Amy Stevens and Will Dunham) Iraq has recently become a target of interest for Iran since Kurdish opposition groups began a ground offensive against Iran near the Iraqi border on Wednesday. A drone struck on Saturday a UN building in Sulaymaniyah in northeastern Iraq, the second-largest city in Iraqi Kurdistan, security sources told Reuters. Iraq has recently become a target of interest for Iran since Kurdish opposition groups began a ground offensive against Iran near the Iraqi border on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement The groups maintain thousands of fighters, and are considered one of the most prominent armed opposition groups confronting the regime in Tehran. Early on Sunday, Iran launched an attack on an Iranian Kurdish opposition camp east of Sulaymaniyah that left one dead and two wounded, according to security sources. Iran targets US, Israeli sites in Gulf states Iran has launched numerous drone strikes on targets in Mideast countries since the war broke out last Saturday, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. A fighter from the Iranian Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) takes part in a training exercise at a base near Erbil, Iraq February 12, 2026. (credit: THAIER AL-SUDANI/REUTERS) Debris from an intercepted drone damaged an Abu Dhabi complex housing the Israeli embassy and several other international missions. The attack prompted a worldwide shortage of Israeli embassies on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, an Iranian terror plot on the Israeli embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan, was foiled on Friday, days after an Iranian drone strike on the countrys exclave of Nakhchivan. Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi threatened on Wednesday that all Israeli embassies around the world would become targets in the event of an Israeli strike on Iran's embassy in Beirut. Iran has reiterated that its attacks aren't aimed at Gulf states themselves, but rather at US and Israeli targets of interest hosted on their territories. Mar. 7Alaska has seen this movie before: oil prices spike, politicians celebrate and Juneau starts figuring out how fast it can spend the money. The U.S. attack on Iran has pushed global oil prices higher, rattling energy markets and sending crude prices upward as supply fears ripple through the global economy. Energy markets surged as tanker disruptions and facility shutdowns across the Middle East threatened supply a reminder that geopolitical shocks can move oil prices overnight. For Alaska, that means something very specific: more money. But before Gov. Dunleavy and the Alaska Legislature start eyeing a fresh pile of cash like kids staring at a cookie jar, let's get something straight. This is not prosperity. This is a temporary windfall driven by war. Advertisement Advertisement And if the past is any guide, Juneau has a good chance to screw it up. [Related news coverage: Spike in oil prices will boost Alaska revenue, but not enough to cover projected deficit] Oil prices jumped sharply after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, and analysts say prices could climb even higher if the conflict drags on. Some forecasts suggest oil could exceed $100 per barrel, which could mean roughly $1.5 billion more in revenue for Alaska in the coming year, according to reporting by the Juneau Empire. That kind of money would erase much of the state's budget deficit and could even fund a dividend north of $3,000. Advertisement Advertisement Cue the political stampede. In an election year especially, there will be lawmakers eager to promise giant Permanent Fund dividends fueled by this sudden surge in oil revenue. Expect campaign ads. Expect grandstanding. Expect speeches about "returning the wealth to the people." And even before the attack on Iran, Gov. Dunleavy was already pushing an unsustainable full dividend for each Alaskan. It's a stupid idea not because Alaskans don't deserve dividends but because temporary revenue should never be used to make permanent promises. War-driven oil money is the worst possible revenue on which to build promises. Alaska should know better by now Advertisement Advertisement Alaska's finances remain wildly exposed to oil price swings. A single dollar change in oil prices can move the state budget by roughly $25 million to $35 million, according to Alaska Public Media. That volatility is exactly why treating a war-driven price spike as stable revenue is fiscal stupidity. Even lawmakers watching the markets closely say the state should not assume the spike will last. As legislative leaders told Alaska Public Media, Alaska cannot build its spending plans around overly optimistic oil prices. Yet history tells us that when oil money shows up unexpectedly, discipline in Juneau disappears faster than reindeer sausage at the Tanana Valley State Fair. The last time a global conflict sent prices soaring was after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Oil shot above $100 a barrel for months. What did Alaska do? The Legislature and governor approved a massive dividend and energy payments totaling more than $2 billion. The state spent the money almost as fast as it arrived don't we wish we had those billions today? Advertisement Advertisement Like any temporary high, it felt good at the time, and politically, it was wildly popular. It also did absolutely nothing to solve Alaska's long-term fiscal problems. The temptation is coming The state's spring revenue forecast arrives in about two weeks. If oil prices remain elevated, the numbers will suddenly look far healthier than they did a month ago. That's when it gets tempting. Lawmakers will start talking about "surplus revenue." Candidates for public office will promise bigger dividends. The governor's allies will argue the state can suddenly afford everything. Don't fall for it. Advertisement Advertisement As longtime Alaska fiscal analyst Larry Persily recently wrote in the Alaska Beacon, rising oil prices quickly create a long list of spending ideas in Juneau. But the real question isn't how much money might arrive it's how long it will last. And nobody knows the answer to that. War-driven oil spikes can disappear just as quickly as they arrive. If Alaska receives a revenue windfall from this conflict, the state should treat it for what it is: a one-time shot in the arm. That means save it, invest it and strengthen the state's fiscal stability. Deposits into reserves like the Constitutional Budget Reserve or even better, the Permanent Fund would help rebuild the savings Alaska burned through during the last decade of deficits. Strategic investments in infrastructure, education and economic development would strengthen the state long after oil prices fall again. Advertisement Advertisement What Alaska should not do is hand the entire windfall to voters as a massive dividend. That's not fiscal policy. That's a sugar rush. A simple message for Juneau There is nothing wrong with Alaskans benefiting when oil prices rise. Oil built this state, and its revenues still help pay for essential services. But relying on war-driven price spikes to fund giant dividends is reckless. This moment will test the discipline of Alaska's leaders. The attack on Iran may deliver Alaska a sudden burst of revenue. But the state's long-term problems structural deficits, unstable revenue and growing needs will still be there long after oil prices settle down. Advertisement Advertisement So here's the message the governor and the Legislature need to hear: If this windfall arrives, don't blow it the way you did last time. Save it. Invest it. And for once, resist the urge to torch the cash in the middle of an election year. Education Minister Paul Givan has said he is "sympathetic" to calls for social media to be banned for under-16s in Northern Ireland. The UK government recently launched a public consultation on whether to ban social media for under-16s ahead of a government decision on the proposal. The debate over a minimum age for social media use has been fired up by Australia's decision last year to ban children from a range of platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Any decision to enact a ban in Northern Ireland lies with Westminster, not Stormont, as regulation of social media is not devolved. Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) minister Givan said his party has not made a "clear policy decision" on the issue. In September 2025, Givan began a phone-ban pilot in nine schools in Northern Ireland. "I introduced a clear policy for all schools that we shouldn't have smart phones being accessed in our post-primary settings from when you arrive in school until you leave school," he told BBC News NI's Sunday Politics. "We need to see effective implementation of that policy." Advertisement Advertisement The pilot scheme, which aimed at restricting pupils from using their mobile phones during school hours, was hailed as "very beneficial" among those participating in the scheme in September. The pilot, which will aim to explore the benefits of a phone-free school day, runs until March. Last September, Fiona Kane, principal at St Ronan's College, said the scheme had "transformed learning and teaching". "Phones are a massive distraction during the day and there would have been incidents where pupils would have a sneaky look during lessons," she added. What have they done in Australia? The government took action, it said, in order to reduce the negative impact of social media encouraging young people to "spend more time on screens, while also serving up content that can harm their health and wellbeing". Advertisement Advertisement Its ban covers 10 platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit and streaming platforms Kick and Twitch. YouTube Kids, Google Classroom and WhatsApp have not been included as they were not deemed to meet criteria laid down by the Australian government. The ban is enforced on social media companies, who face fines of up to A$49.5m (25m) for serious or repeated breaches. The government says firms must take "reasonable steps" to keep kids off their platforms, and should use multiple age assurance technologies. 'Important to keep close eye on Australia' In January 2026, First Minister Michelle O'Neill said there are both positive and negatives regarding the impact social media has on young people and that it was important to keep a "close eye" on the laws introduced in Australia. Advertisement Advertisement "If there are positive outputs from that, and it actually improves young peoples' lives and takes them out of the murky world that can be sometimes online, then that's something I think we have to keep under review." Givan said he has been observing the impact of the social media ban in Australia, but added that a similar policy in Northern Ireland does not "strictly sit" within his "ministerial remit in terms of taking this policy forward". "We would need to look at the detail of exactly how this would work." The Department of Justice told BBC News NI: "Telecommunications legislation, including the regulation of social media platforms, are reserved matters and the responsibility of the UK government." Advertisement Advertisement You can watch the interview with the Education Minister on Sunday Politics at BBC iPlayer. The case of a Babson College student deported to Honduras has been dismissed by a federal judge in Boston. The judge said the court does not have jurisdiction over the case. Attorney Todd Pomerleau, who represents now 20-year-old Any Lucia Lopez Balloza, said hes already filed an appeal. If you cant figure out where your client is, it makes sense to sue where they were arrested, where their lawyer is, where their witnesses are and thats exactly what we did here, Pomerleau said. Advertisement Advertisement Pomerleau said he filed suit in Boston after Babson College student, Lopez Balloza, was detained at Logan Airport while visiting family in November. He said Boston was the only court that made sense to file the case because his team didnt know where Lopez Balloza was after being detained by ICE. ICE wouldnt tell us where she was, they wouldnt answer the phone, they wouldnt respond to any of our requests to find out where she was, Pomerleau explained. Federal authorities have acknowledged Lopez Balloza was wrongfully deported to Honduras and offered her a flight back to the United States last month. Advertisement Advertisement However, she declined over fears she would be detained again. If she came back, it would have jeopardized her future as far as her school, Pomerleau said. She probably would have flunked out of her freshman year because she would be in a jail cell. I mean were not going to have her traumatized anymore, enough is enough. According to court documents, Judge Richard Stearns said when Lopez Balloza didnt get on the plane, she waived the courts only remaining basis for jurisdiction. Now, Pomerleau said hes added a corporate law firm of 1,300 lawyers to his team to help fight for his client and others in similar situations. Advertisement Advertisement We really have great litigation opportunity now for Any and many others who are facing these dire circumstances given the way the government is behaving these days, Pomerleau said. Boston 25 News has reached out to ICE for comment and has not yet heard back. 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 United States and Israels war with Iran has entered its eighth day, with Washington and Tehran appearing further apart than ever and neither side signaling any willingness to de-escalate Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a remarkable televised address apologizing to neighboring Gulf nations and promising not to strike them unless their territories are used to attack Iran. And yet fresh blasts rocked Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates hours later. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump threatened to escalate the conflict, saying the US will strike Iran very hard. Ali Larijani, Irans top security official, vowed to retaliate against Trump, saying Iran will not let Trump go, and that the US president must pay the price. Advertisement Advertisement The remarks come amid reports that Iran could choose its new supreme leader within the next 24 hours, a member of the countrys Assembly of Experts told Fars. Heres what you need to know. What are the main headlines? US President Donald Trump pictured in the White House in Washington, DC on March 6, 2026. - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Trump signals escalation: Trump wrote today Iran will be hit very hard in a Saturday morning post on Truth Social. He also indicated that Washington would widen its targets in the country, saying certain areas and groups of people are now at risk of complete destruction and certain death. In response to the warning, a senior Iranian official told CNN that Iran is looking for new US assets to strike. Iranian presidents address: Pezeshkian gave a defiant speech on state media earlier Saturday, saying Iran would never surrender, as its military continued to trade strikes with Israel, and aim fire at a number of Gulf nations. Firm response: Iran has also pledged a decisive response to any aggression from US bases in the region, after Pezeshkian apologized to Arab Gulf nations and said Tehran would stop its attacks on neighboring states unless strikes against Iran originated from those countries territories. Unconditional surrender: Pezeshkians defiance came less than a day after Trump said there would be no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender, but didnt lay out any specific demands. Trump also told CNN hes not concerned whether Iran becomes a democratic state, as long as the new leader treats the US and Israel well contrasting with his previous calls for the Iranian public to take over your government and gain their freedom. Fresh strikes: Israel and Iran have launched fresh strikes. Israel on Saturday deployed 80 jets to launch a broad-scale wave of strikes it said targeted military infrastructure in Iran. It comes after a heavy night of bombardment on Iran, with a Tehran resident describing recent attacks as really intense. Fallen soldiers to return home: A dignified transfer for six US service members killed in the conflict with Iran took place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance attended the event. Speaking from Florida beforehand, Trump said he intends to keep US deaths in the Iran war to a minimum. Israel vows to continue attacks: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will continue to strike Iran with all our might. We will destabilize the regime and enable change, he said. Shortly before his statement was released, Israel announced a new wave of strikes on Tehran. Netanyahu directly threatened members of Irans elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, saying, You are in the crosshairs. Iran vows retaliation against Trump: Irans top security official Ali Larijani accused Trump of seeking to destabilize the country and warned that the US must pay for its actions. During his speech, Larijani said Iran will not let Trump go until there is retaliation. He must pay the price, he has martyred our leader and our people. Whats happening in Iran and Lebanon? People inspect destruction at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Mar Mikhael neighborhood in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on March 6, 2026. - AFP/Getty Images Onslaught on Iran: Explosions were reported in the eastern and western parts of the capital with dramatic footage showing Tehrans Mehrabad airport on fire. The Israeli Air Force said it struck 16 Iranian military aircraft there. The US has struck more than 3,000 targets inside Iran in the past week, according to US Central Command. Growing toll: So far the US-Israel attacks have killed more than 1,230 people in Iran, including children, according to Iranian state media. Calls for new leader: Several prominent clerics in Iran have urged the swift election of a new Supreme Leader, one week after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes. A member of Irans Assembly of Experts told Fars that the new supreme leader could be chosen during the next 24 hours. Chaos and fear: Iranian residents have described living in constant terror, with streets deserted as people hide at home or flee their villages. The fear is amplified by an internet blackout leaving many with no access to news or warning systems before the bombs come. Strikes on Lebanon: Nearly 300 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel began strikes Monday, the Lebanese health ministry said. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday warned Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that Lebanon will pay the price for failing to disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. Residents of the Lebanese village of Nabi Chit endured a night of hell after Israeli commandos raided the border area hunting for the remains of a long-missing airman. Mass displacement: Israels far-reaching evacuation orders and strikes in Lebanon have displaced nearly half a million residents, the Norwegian Refugee Council estimated. Official figures suggest around 100,000 are in government shelters, but this is likely a fraction of the real figure. Israels new target: Israel has begun striking fuel storage sites in Iran as part of the next phase of the war, an Israeli source told CNN. The Israeli military said it struck fuel sites in Tehran on Saturday evening that distribute fuel to various consumers, including military entities in Iran. Beirut under fire: The IDF is now striking Hezbollah infrastructure in the Dahiyeh area in Beirut. CNN team saw smoke rising over southern suburbs. Whats happening in the rest of region? People take shelter as air raid sirens warn of incoming Iranian missiles in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 6, 2026. - Ohad Zwigenberg/AP Gulf states under attack: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE saw fresh drone and missile attacks overnight on Friday into Saturday morning. Witnesses reported hearing a series of loud explosions in Bahrain late Saturday local time; it was not immediately clear whether they were caused by impacts or interceptions. Blasts were also heard in Abu Dhabi and Qatar late Saturday. Earlier, Dubais international airport came under drone attack several times. Saudi Arabias Defense ministry said 16 drones heading toward one of the largest oil fields in the Middle East, Shaybah, had been intercepted in the early hours of Saturday. Israel under fire: Iran and Lebanon are firing back at Israel with drones and missiles, with fragments falling in various parts of the country on Saturday. Israel repeatedly raised its air defenses and issued alerts to the public instructing residents to shelter in a safe place. And on Friday, eight Israeli soldiers were wounded by Hezbollah fire, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Dubai flights resume: Flights to and from Dubai resumed Saturday after a brief suspension, with Dubai Airports saying this was for the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew. Emirates said it would resume operations. Airports in the UAE are key nodes for connecting flights all over the world. Foreign investments reviewed: Some of Trumps oil-rich Gulf Arab allies are reviewing overseas investments as the war in Iran strains their economies, a Gulf official said, just months after the president secured trillions in investment pledges from the region. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar collectively pledged to invest around $3 trillion in the US economy when Trump visited the region on his first foreign trip abroad last year. Any changes could put pressure on him to end the war. Kurdistan hotel: Hours after the US Embassy in Baghdad warned Americans to leave Iraq, saying that hotels in Iraqi Kurdistan could be targeted by pro-Iranian militias, a drone exploded near a hotel in Erbil. A pro-Iranian Islamist militant group claimed responsibility, warning American troops and contractors that it would continue to target hotels across the country. Water supply concerns: Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a US attack on a desalination plant which turns sea water into drinking water off the southern coast of Oman impacted the water supply in 30 villages. Kuwait cuts oil production: The Gulf nation has made precautionary reductions in crude oil production, according to the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. It marks another disruption to the global energy industry as US gas prices soar. Fatal strike in Iraq: An unidentified airstrike killed a member of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces a predominantly Shiite, Iranian-backed paramilitary force and wounded three others, according to the countrys Joint Operations Command. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An explosion on Sunday outside the U.S. embassy in Oslo, Norway, may be linked to the ongoing Middle East security situation, police have said said. As of Sunday afternoon, no suspects had been identified, Norwegian police added. "It's natural to see this in the context of the current security situation and that this could be an attack deliberately targeting the U.S. embassy," police spokesperson Frode Larsen told a news conference. Advertisement Advertisement A loud explosion occurred at the entrance to the U.S. embassy in the city in the early hours of Sunday morning. The incident reportedly did not cause any deaths and resulted in minor damage at the scene. "A loud bang/explosion was reported at the scene," Oslo police told CBS News in a statement. Around 1 a.m. we received several reports of explosions. We arrived after a short time and determined that there had been an explosion that had hit the American embassy, police incident commander Michael Delmer told public broadcaster NRK, in comments via Google translate. An explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo early Sunday caused minor injuries and damage, according to police (via REUTERS) He added that there had been minor injuries, and that police had used dogs, drones, and helicopters to investigate what happened. Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has contacted the embassy and the U.S. State Department for comment. "There was a very thick layer of smoke on the street," said Sebastian Toerstad, 18, a high school student who drove past the embassy at the time of the incident. "There was some damage to the entrance," Toerstad told Reuters. Authorities have not said what caused the explosion nor whether any potential suspects have been identified or arrested. Norways national civilian police agency described the events slightly different in a police log. The police have large resources in the area around the US embassy, the log reads, via Google translate. At approximately 0100, a loud bang/explosion was reported at the scene. The police are in dialogue with the embassy and no injuries have been reported. There is currently no information about exactly what happened or who may be involved. No injuries were reported at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, Norway after what the city's police called a deliberate attack on the building. Oslo police officials suggested at a news conference that the loud explosion, heard early on the morning of March 8, could be connected to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. "It's natural to see this in the context of the current security situation and that this could be an attack deliberately targeting the U.S. embassy," Frode Larsen, head of the Oslo police investigation, said during a press briefing. Advertisement Advertisement No suspects have been identified, but Larsen said that police are searching for one or several perpetrators. "One of our hypotheses is that this is terrorism, but we are also exploring other options," Larsen told public broadcaster NRK. Forensic experts and a police officer stand in front the entrance of the US embassy after a loud bang was reported during the night with no injuries reported in Oslo on March 8, 2026. Damages at the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway, are pictured on March 8, 2026, some hours after a loud bang was reported at the site. The US embassy in Oslo was hit by an explosion in the early hours of Sunday, March 8, 2026, but no one was injured, police in the Norwegian capital said, adding the cause was not immediately known. Police cars stand in front of the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway, on March 8, 2026, hours after a loud bang was reported at the site. Oslo police said an explosion at the US embassy in Norway overnight that caused no injuries and minor material damage may have been an act of terror, but stressed police were also investigating other motives. The US embassy in Oslo was hit by an explosion in the early hours of Sunday, March 8, 2026. Police vehicles park outside the US embassy after a loud bang was reported during the night but no injuries were reported in Oslo on March 8, 2026. Damages at the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway, are pictured on March 8, 2026, some hours after a loud bang was reported at the site. The US embassy in Oslo was hit by an explosion in the early hours of Sunday, March 8, 2026, but no one was injured, police in the Norwegian capital said, adding the cause was not immediately known. The area outside U.S. embassy is cordoned off, after the Norwegian police said that the embassy was hit by a loud explosion, in Oslo, Norway, March 8, 2026. No injuries after explosion at US embassy in Oslo,Norway 1 of 6 Forensic experts and a police officer stand in front the entrance of the US embassy after a loud bang was reported during the night with no injuries reported in Oslo on March 8, 2026. While embassies usually have strong security protocols, it is unclear exactly what protection the Oslo embassy had at the time of the explosion. Larsen said police are cooperating closely with the embassy. The blast occurred at 1 a.m. local time, sending thick smoke into the street by the entrance of the consular section, eyewitnesses said. Police said no further explosive devices had been found in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Kristian Wendelborg Einung, a woman who was waiting for a taxi with friends near the explosion, told Norwegian television station TV2 that there were "three 'bangs' that made the ground shake." "There was a very thick layer of smoke on the street," Sebastian Toerstad, a high school student who drove past the embassy at the time of the explosion, said. More: Trump says Iran bombed girls' school. 'They have no accuracy whatsoever' A State Department spokesperson said in an email to USA TODAY that the department was investigating the bombing and thanked Norwegian authorities for supporting its investigation, but had no further comment. The department has previously warned all Americans to exercise increased caution while traveling abroad in the wake of the continuing war. Advertisement Advertisement USA TODAY has also reached out to the embassy for comment, which referred back to the State Department. Norway's government was in contact with officials at the U.S. embassy to convey that this was "an unacceptable act that we take very seriously," Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement. "The security of diplomatic missions is very important to us," he said. This story has been updated with new information Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Explosion at Oslo US embassy may have been deliberate attack Oslo police said Sunday an explosion at the US embassy in Norway overnight may have been an act of terror, but stressed they were also investigating other possible causes. The blast, which caused no injuries and minor material damage, occurred around 1:00 am (0000 GMT) at the entrance to the embassy's consular section. Police said an "explosive device" had caused the blast that targeted the embassy, but did not provide any other details. Advertisement Advertisement Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store called the incident "very serious and completely unacceptable". In a statement, he said he had spoken with the head of the US embassy in Oslo on Sunday. Shattered glass could be seen in the snow outside the building's entrance, as well as cracks in a thick glass door. Overhead lamps dangled from wiring, and there were black marks on the ground at the foot of the door, presumably from the blast. "One of the hypotheses is that it is an act of terrorism," Frode Larsen, the head of the police's joint unit for investigation and intelligence, told public broadcaster NRK. "But we are not completely stuck on that. We have to be open to the possibility that there may be other causes behind what has happened," he said, speaking on the sidelines of a news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Police were searching for the perpetrators but had "no suspects" yet, Larsen told journalists. Oslo police official Grete Lien Metlid appeared to confirm that an explosive had been thrown at the embassy. Asked by a reporter if the device used was a hand grenade, she replied: "We haven't said anything about what was thrown." - Link to Middle East war? - US embassies have been placed on high alert in the Middle East over American military operations in Iran and several have faced attacks as Tehran hits back at industrial and diplomatic targets. Investigators in Oslo have not ruled out a possible link to the war in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement "It is natural to see this in connection with the current security policy situation," Larsen said, adding that police had increased security at the scene after the attack. Prime Minister Store said security had also been beefed up at "at other American, Israeli, and also Jewish targets" in Norway, but stressed that "nothing indicates that the situation is dangerous for people in Oslo or elsewhere in the country." The Norwegian security service PST told AFP it had called in extra staff to assist police with the investigation. Spokesman Martin Bernsen stressed there had been "no change" to the threat assessment level in the Scandinavian country, which has been at three on a five-point scale since November 2024. Advertisement Advertisement He did not say if any threats had been made against US interests in Norway prior to the explosion. Investigators examined the scene overnight, while dogs, drones, and helicopters were brought in to search for the perpetrators, Oslo police said in a statement. Security is normally high outside US embassies worldwide. It was not immediately known what security the Oslo embassy had at the time of the incident. The US embassy in neighbouring Sweden meanwhile issued a security alert after the Oslo incident, urging Americans to "exercise caution around the vicinity of the US embassy" due to sudden demonstrations, and to "keep a low profile". Advertisement Advertisement A 16-year-old identified only as Edvard told TV2 that he had been watching television when he heard the blast in Oslo. "My mother and I first thought it came from our house so we looked around a little, but then we saw the flashing lights outside the window and a ton of police," he said. "There were police dogs and drones and police with automatic weapons and helicopters in the air," he said. bur-po/yad In the sweltering heat of 1938, amidst a sprawling political gathering of the Indian National Congress in the village of Haripura in Gujarat, artist Nandalal Bose staged a visual coup. A central presence at Tagores Santiniketan, Bose believed art should be as common as the air we breathe. So, he dragged it out of the galleries and into the dust, painting the life of the soildrummers, weavers, and cobblerson 77 posters meant to be seen by the masses under the open sky. To reach the crowds, Bose turned to the Pata tradition, the visual language of Indias wandering storytellers, creating bold works with lampblack, lime and crushed minerals on handmade paper mounted on straw boards and bamboo. Thick, calligraphic outlines gave a village grain-grinder the same monumental grace as a temple carving, effectively thumbing his nose at an elite art establishment that reserved grandeur for kings. Those 77 panels will now be on display at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) from March 9 to April 9. But this journey from a dusty political stage to a museum raises a delicate question: how should art created for the masses be experienced today? Nidhi Choudhari, Director of NGMA Mumbai, acknowledges the paradox. The Haripura panels were never intended to be museum objects in the conventional sense, she says. While the setting has changed, the aim is to retain their spirit. Through immersive interpretation and archival narratives, we try to recreate the moment when art, politics and everyday life converged, allowing visitors to encounter them as living expressions of a nation defining itself. Tempera and pixels To bridge the gap between 1938 and 2026, the exhibition Colours of Swades employs a tool that Bosethe pioneer of Visual Swadeshimight have found curious: Artificial Intelligence. For Bose, Swadeshi wasnt just about boycotting British cloth; it was a crusade to decolonise the Indian mind. He believed that if Indians kept painting in the heavy oil styles taught in British academies, they would remain mentally colonised. Collaborating with filmmaker Ebyug Akhil, the curatorial team has translated Boses works into subtle motion. The intention was never to alter the original artworks, but to extend their narrative, Choudhari says. Technology is a tool of interpretation. It helps visitors step closer into the world Bose imagined. Deputy curator Shruti Das adds that the research required a deep dive into archives, as photographic references from the 1930s are sparse. The result is a series of moving narratives that allow a younger generation to see the vitality and rhythm of Boses figures. Bose was known to walk through the village with a sketchbook, recording the specific tilt of a farmers head or the tension in a musicians hands, treating these everyday movements with a reverence usually reserved for royalty. A civilisational journey The exhibition moves beyond the rural idyll, linking these images of everyday labour to Boses later role in shaping the visual design of the Constitution of India.If Bose celebrated the lived realities of the farmer in Haripura, in the Constitution, he traced a civilisational arc from the Indus Valley to the Mughal era. Whats striking is the lack of the heroic in these works. There are no grand battles, only the dignity of a vegetable vendor or a musician. As Das points out, Boses work was a rejection of colonial academic naturalism. Instead, he looked to the Ajanta murals and Kalighat paintings, creating a language deeply rooted in Indian civilisation yet profoundly modern. The digital frontier Experimental AI works reimagining Boses association with Gandhi and his design of Indias national medals mark a new chapter for NGMA. Through QR codes and immersive reconstructions, the museum attempts to revive the original public spirit of the works. Visitors can also explore the symbolic geometry behind the Bharat Ratna and Padma awards, tracing how Bose used motifs like the peepal leaf and the lotus to depart from British-style heraldry such as the Star of India and Victorian crosses. The most exciting aspect is the integration of original artworks with contemporary digital interpretations, says Das. In this collision of tempera and pixels, the Haripura panels become, once again, a conversation with the public. The exhibition serves as a reminder that during the struggle for independence, art was a functional, breathing part of the movementa journey, as Choudhari suggests, from the cultural imagination of the freedom struggle to the making of the Republic. A restaurant that opened with optimism in a newly redeveloped Whaley Street shopping strip couldnt survive the areas student-driven boom-and-bust seasons, says the property owner who now plans to expand an existing liquor store into the vacant restaurant space. Vietnamese sandwich shop Bahn Mi Boys opened in a Whaley Street storefront in June 2023. The business did well for about a year and a half, but struggled during student breaks, said property owner Hashmukhbhai Parekh. By August 2025, the restaurant had announced its closure on Instagram. Despite the storefront being just across the street from the busy Olympia Mills student apartments, Parekh said he couldnt find a new restaurant tenant because business is so slow when students leave for the summer. Advertisement Advertisement I tried, for one year to put [a] restaurant ... but nobody wants to come, because from May to August, no students, so theyre having problems, Parekh told the Columbia Board of Zoning Appeals Thursday. Because no restaurant operator wants the site, Parekh said, he is planning to expand his existing Tonys Liquor Store into the former Bahn Mi Boys storefront at 625 Whaley, Suite C. The Columbia Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception to allow that expansion March 5. Parekh operates the Shiv Mart convenience store on the corner of Whaley and Wayne streets, and he has operated a convenience store on the corner since 2004, he told the board. In 2020, he remodeled, building a new, modern store with two retail spaces, explained attorney Jake Moore, who was representing Parekh at the hearing. Moore also stressed that Parekh had wanted the second storefront to remain a restaurant space, but that the economics havent seemed to work. Summer hits, and the students leave for about four months in the summer, and the restaurant went dead, Moore told the board. As a result, the restaurant could not survive. Advertisement Advertisement A portion of the vacant storefront will be used for storage, with the remaining 1,000 square feet of the unit expected to be occupied by the expanded liquor store. The zoning board approved the expansion 4-1, with board chair Kathryn Fenner voting against the plans, saying she felt there were already too many liquor stores in the area. There are two other liquor stores within about 1.5 miles of the existing store. Greens Beverages on Assembly Street is about .7 miles from the Whaley Street liquor store, and about a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute car ride. Tillys Warehouse in Five Points is a roughly 1.7 mile, 40-minute walk or an 8-minute drive from the Whaley Street store. One member of the public spoke against the liquor store plans. Advertisement Advertisement Viola Hendley, representing area neighborhoods through the Mill District Alliance said she was concerned about the level of traffic that can often back up Whaley Street during peak times. Whaley Street is a very, very, very busy street taking on 22,000 vehicles a day during the school year, Hendley said. Several board members, and attorney Moore, disagreed that the expanded liquor store would create a traffic issue. If we did find a restaurant to go in there, theres going to be a whole lot more traffic associated with the restaurant than there would be with 1,000 extra feet of retail space in the liquor store, Moore said. KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Reuters) - Families of those aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on Sunday urged the Malaysian government to extend a contract it signed with deep-sea exploration firm Ocean Infinity to continue a search for the aircraft that disappeared 12 years ago. The Boeing 777 was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew when it vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, becoming one of the worlds enduring aviation mysteries. Multiple search operations for the plane have been conducted in the southern Indian Ocean since then but all have proved fruitless. Advertisement Advertisement Malaysia in March last year agreed to allow Ocean Infinity to resume the hunt under a no find, no fee principle, with the firm to be paid $70 million only if the wreckage was successfully located. Malaysias Air Accident Investigation Bureau said on Sunday, however, that operations had not yielded any findings so far, after two search phases covering 28 days and around 7,571 square kilometres (2,923 square miles) of seabed. Operations were periodically disrupted by weather and sea conditions, with the second phase ending on January 23, the AAIB said. The government remains committed to keeping the families informed and will continue to provide updates as appropriate, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Voice370, a group representing families of those onboard, said it was unlikely for Ocean Infinity to resume the search before its contract ends in June, due to the coming winter months in the southern hemisphere and deteriorating sea conditions. It urged the government to grant any request for Ocean Infinity to extend its agreement, as well as expand the same terms to other interested exploration firms. A simple addendum extending the contract period without altering the core terms of the agreement would allow the search to continue without delay, it said. Ocean Infinity had conducted prior searches for the plane but failed to find substantive wreckage. Advertisement Advertisement Malaysian investigators in a 2018 report drew no conclusion about what happened aboard the flight, but did not rule out the possibility that the aircraft had been deliberately taken off course. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Sonali Paul) A multi-alarm fire broke out on Friday night in a two-story apartment building in Dunellen, displacing 15 people from four families, borough officials said. The fire was reported at 9:54 p.m. in the 300 block of Front Street, according to a Facebook post by Dunellen Defender Fire Company 1. CREDIT: Caleb Maistrow @cwm201125 Mayor Jason F. Cilento said Saturday that three families were displaced by the fire. Advertisement Advertisement All of the occupants were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported, officials said. Cilento said The Carol Fund, a local nonprofit, and the Dunellen Parent-Teacher Organization are working with the boroughs Office of Emergency Management to coordinate donations. Families were relocated by the Red Cross, the mayor said. I want to thank our firefighters, police officers, rescue personnel, and all of the first responders who worked through the night. I think they did a terrific job, Cilento said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Middlesex County Fire Marshal. More than a half dozen fire companies responded to the blaze, including Green Brook, Middlesex, New Market, South Plainfield, North Stelton, Arbor, River Road, Metuchen, Holmes Marshall and Milltown fire departments. More New Jersey news Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. A cat was rescued, and a family was displaced after a fire tore through a townhouse in Ipswich on Saturday night. According to the Ipswich Fire Department, calls came in at approximately 5:56 p.m. reporting an outside fire that was threatening a structure at 5 Rosewood Drive. Crews from both the Ipswich and Rowley Fire Department responded immediately and arrived to find heavy fire spreading on the front of a five-unit row of attached townhouses. Advertisement Advertisement A working fire was declared, and firefighters immediately attacked the flames on the front of the building using a handline. Flames on the front of the building were knocked down quickly, but they had already begun to spread into an attic space. Firefighters helped keep flames from spreading through the inside of the building by making an aggressive, interior attack, and thankfully the sprinklers inside the buildings had gone off. The unit where the fire originated sustained significant fire damage. Residents of that unit were displaced and are receiving assistance from the Red Cross of Massachusetts Advertisement Advertisement According to the Ipswich Fire Department, residents of the buildings other four units were able to return once the fire was out and carbon monoxide was ventilated. There were no reported injuries. There were no injuries, however a cat was rescued. The fire does not appear to be suspicious; however it remains under investigation at this time. 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 A Pennsylvania family of beekeepers is devastated after a horrific, mysterious act of arson led to the deaths of tens of thousands of their bees, according to CBS News. What's happening? The Pittsburgh-area Bedillion Honey Farm, owned and operated by Mark and Sara Bedillion, is a "family-run apiary" in the Southwestern Pennsylvania town of Industry. On Feb. 26, Bedillion Honey Farm (@BedillionHoneyFarm) shared a shocking, harrowing update on Facebook. "Today our hearts are heavy," it began. "Mark and [his daughter] Lily were out doing routine checks on the hives, as well as providing pollen substitute patties, when they came across our bee yard at Industry burnt to the ground." Advertisement Advertisement Alongside the post, images of fully charred hives, caked in incinerated honey, illustrated the devastation. Photo Credit: Facebook "Tens of thousands of honey bees turned to ash," the Bedillions wrote, lamenting both the "significant loss of animal life" as well as damage to their family business. Sara Bedillion told WTAE that finding their beloved bees had been senselessly killed felt like "getting punched in the gut." "It was heartbreaking. They killed our bees, killed them. We're estimating about 50 hives out of the bunch, so tens of thousands of bees," she added. The couple's daughter, Lily, admitted that her "heart dropped" when she and her father discovered the aftermath. Why is this concerning? Commenters on Bedillion Honey Farm's post offered sincere condolences to the Bedillion family, but the farm's patrons knew exactly why the loss was even worse than it appeared. "Bees are so important in the food chain of many species, including humans. Honey is just a small part of the big picture. It's horrible that people destroyed what benefits so many things around us," one wrote. Advertisement Advertisement "It's not just your small business this impacted but the livelihood of these creatures and our planet," another correctly observed. As the United States Department of Agriculture has long emphasized, pollinators like bees are critical pillars of the food chain: "one third of all agricultural output depends on pollinators." Pollinators are crucial for maintaining biodiversity, which, again, ultimately supports all life on Earth. Moreover, pollinators are indicator species, wildlife whose welfare provides important early warning signals about the health of their ecosystems, highlighting environmental problems before humans notice them. Advertisement Advertisement Pollinators like honeybees have long been under threat, with factors like rising temperatures and pesticide use facilitating colony collapse. What's being done about it? Concerned commenters advised the Bedillion family to position trail cameras around their surviving hives after the attack, and the business offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Individuals can support pollinators by planting native plants, rewilding, or even switching to a natural lawn. Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club. A Bangladeshi national extradited from Malaysia this week is accused of carrying out one of the most prolific online child exploitation schemes the United States has ever seen in a wide-ranging alleged sextortion operation. Prosecutors allege Zobaidul Amin posed as a teenager on Instagram and Snapchat and coerced hundreds of minor victims some as young as 11 into producing sexually explicit images and videos. Authorities said he then threatened to share those images with friends, family and classmates unless the victims sent more. Many of his victims were located in Alaska, while others were targeted across the United States and abroad, the Department of Justice said. Advertisement Advertisement High School Senior Facing More Than 300 Felony Charges In Alleged Sextortion Scheme Targeting Minors: Reports Prosecutors further allege Amin demanded specific numbers of sexually explicit photos and videos each day, continued threatening victims for months even after his accounts were deleted, worked with others to store and distribute the material online and used multiple fake accounts to evade social media platform bans. "This FBI is back to doing what it does best, locking up predators, dismantling violent gangs and holding criminals accountable no matter who they are," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement "In just 24 hours, our agents captured a fugitive accused of running an international child exploitation ring, took down the 18th Street Gang in Los Angeles and arrested a contractor who allegedly stole more than $46 million from the U.S. Marshals Service. Criminals everywhere should understand the message: This FBI is coming for you." Amin appeared in federal court Thursday in Alaska, a day after arriving in the United States. He pleaded not guilty during his initial appearance in Anchorage, according to Bloomberg. Amin faces 13 federal counts, including conspiracy to produce child pornography, conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, child exploitation enterprise, production of child pornography, cyberstalking, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. 'Sadistic' Man Linked To Nihilistic Violent Extremism Charged With Grooming Child Into Sexual Acts, Self-harm Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Amin used more than 80 Snapchat accounts and 40 Instagram accounts to evade bans. Court documents say he and co-conspirators organized images in Dropbox folders by victim and shared links to extort more material. The indictment also alleges he placed at least one victim in fear of serious bodily harm and used false pretenses to obtain explicit images, forming the basis for cyberstalking and wire fraud charges. Prior to the U.S. charges, Amin was living in and attending medical school in Malaysia. In September 2022, he was charged by the Attorney Generals Chambers of Malaysia with 13 counts related to the possession and production of child pornography. The FBI and the Justice Department worked in coordination with Malaysian authorities, and Amin was transferred from Malaysia to Alaska March 4. Advertisement Advertisement "The impact of this case is that of international magnitude. It stands as one of the most prolific cases of alleged online child exploitation the United States has ever seen," said Michael Heyman, U.S. attorney for the District of Alaska. "We are grateful for the steady, strong collaboration among the Justice Departments Office of International Affairs, law enforcement agencies and Malaysian partners that made this transfer possible, enabling us to move forward and seek justice for victims." Click Here To Download The Fox News App U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon ordered Amin held without bail as the case moves forward. Amin waived his right to a speedy trial and requested a jury trial. Original article source: FBI captures Bangladeshi fugitive extradited in massive online child sextortion case Last month, a U.S. district judge granted a request to pause the termination of Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S. The Trump administration has lost in court once more in its attempt to remove Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from Haitians living in the U.S. Per the Associated Press, a federal appeals court sided with U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes of Washington, D.C, who last month granted a request to pause the termination of TPS for Haitians right before the deadline. On Friday (March 6), the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. issued a 2-1 ruling upholding Reyes decision. Advertisement Advertisement The court said, The governments failure to meet its burden of demonstrating irreparable harm alone justifies denying emergency relief that would upend the status quo and increase uncertainty while this appeal proceeds. TPS, which is given to countries designated by the Department of Homeland Security as unsafe for nationals to return to, currently applies to around 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S. It gives those protected under the policy the ability to live and work in the U.S., but does not provide a pathway to legal citizenship. Reasons for countries receiving the designation include the prevalence of armed conflict or environmental disaster. Haiti received the status in 2010 following the devastating earthquake that, according to the UN, killed over 220,000 people. It has been extended several times since, including in 2021 after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. As of now, there are 15 countries designated under TPS, including Venezuela, Somalia, Ukraine, and Lebanon. Under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who was fired this week, the agency announced it was removing those protections from hundreds of thousands of migrants from Haiti, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nepal, Honduras, Ukraine, and Cameroon. Advertisement Advertisement Reyes noted in her decision last month that Noem had referred to Haitians seeking refuge as killers, leeches, or entitlement junkies, and wrote in a separate opinion that the former DHS head had a hostility toward nonwhite immigrants. According to The New York Times, the Trump administration is likely to file an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court as its next move. Haitians have long been a target of President Donald Trumps anti-immigration rhetoric and actions since his first administration, when he used a slur to refer to Haiti and countries in Africa, calling them sh*thole countries. While he was campaigning for president in 2024, he made false claims about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, saying they were destroying the towns way of life, and abducting and eating peoples pets. More must-reads: Retired federal judge John E. Jones III, a Schuylkill County native, stands by his recent allegations that the Trump administration has created an atmosphere thats exposing judges to harassment, personal harm and death threats. This is such a toxic environment, where people are taking arms and can identify where a judge lives, and can strike out against a judge or a judges family, Jones said in a report aired last Sunday on CBS News 60 Minutes. In very plain English, if were not careful were going to get a judge killed. Its just that stark. Jones is a member of the Article III Coalition, a group of about 60 retired federal judges who have appealed to the White House to tone down incendiary rhetoric thats putting judges lives in danger. Advertisement Advertisement When court rulings have gone against the administrations interest, such as in the case of birthright citizenship, the president has called judges lunatics, monsters and communists intent on assuming powers that belong to the president. Its alarming to me, and to all judges, whatever their political background, to see the judiciary so misrepresented by the current administration, Jones said in a recent telephone interview with the Republican Herald. And, you have members of Congress doxing judges, revealing their family members and their names, and publicly calling them out in a way that I think can lead to those judges being targeted. This is serious stuff, and I would be remiss in not speaking out, he added. I meant what I said. Not an R or D issue Advertisement Advertisement President George W. Bush appointed Jones to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in 2002. He was chief judge of the court when, in 2021, gave up a lifetime appointment to become president of Dickinson College. John G. Roberts, chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed Jones to the Judiciary Security Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States. As a member of the principal policy-making body of the federal court system, Jones said, he was intimately familiar with the threats facing judges. Asked by 60 Minutes reporter Bill Whitaker what the president was up to when he characterized judges as deranged and corrupt, Jones said he thinks Trump is out to delegitimize the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Its a presidency sort of on steroids, Jones said. And you have, I think, a very dormant United States Congress and a president who means to really say what the law is. Jones, a Republican, said the issue transcends political affiliations. Retired judge John Coughenour of Washington state, appointed by President Ronald Reagan, received bomb threats after overturning the presidents executive order denying birthright citizenship, Jones noted. I dont see this as an R or D issue, he said. Party affiliation is not an impediment to speaking out on issues I feel are important, no matter who is president. Advertisement Advertisement Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie was chief judge of the federal court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania when Jones was named to the court in 2002. A Lackawanna County resident and fellow member of the Article III Coalition, Vanaskie served on the federal court for 16 years and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit for eight years before retiring in 2019. Im impressed by what Judge Jones had to say, Vanaskie said Friday after viewing a clip of the 60 Minutes report. I admire him for doing that. He is also familiar with judges John Coughenour and Ester Salas, with whom he participated in legal affairs programs. Advertisement Advertisement Both of Coughenour and Salas spoke out in the 60 Minutes report. Im glad theyre standing up, said Vanaskie, who chaired a statewide task force on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on legal services. Theres some scary stuff going on out there. Vanaskie was especially supportive of Jones, a long-time defender of an independent judiciary. Judge Jones applies the law as he sees fit, Vanaskie said, which is what a judges role is. Schuylkill Connection Jones, now 70, grew up in Orwigsburg. A Blue Mountain High School graduate, he attended Mercersburg Academy for two years and entered Dickinson College in 1977. After graduating from Dickinson Law School in 1980, he clerked for then-president judge Guy Bowe in the Schuylkill County Courthouse. Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Tom Ridge named him a trustee of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board in 1995, where he subsequently became chairman. He continued practicing law in Pottsville until 2002, when he was named to the federal bench. In 2006, Time Magazine named Jones one of its 100 most influential people in the world. He also received a Rave Award for Policy from Wired Magazine and was the first recipient of the John Marshall Judicial Independence Award presented by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. As a federal judge, Jones presided over several high-profile cases. In 2003, he struck down portions of Shippensburg Universitys speech code on the basis it violated the First Amendments free speech guarantee. Advertisement Advertisement In Kitzmiller v. Dover School District, a 2005 case, he found that it was unconstitutional to teach intelligent design within a public school science curriculum. In accepting the American Humanist Associations Religious Liberty Award in 2008, Jones revealed how he was blasted by Bill OReilly, Phyllis Schlafly and Ann Coulter for his ruling in Kitzmiller v. Dover School District. In Whitehead v. Wolf, a 2014 case, Jones ruled Pennsylvanias ban on same-sex marriages infringed on the plaintiffs rights to due process and equal protection under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Long Road Traveled Advertisement Advertisement Sitting in a studio in London some years ago, waiting to be interviewed by the BBC, Jones was struck by the course his life journey has taken. London is a long way from Orwigsburg, he thought, wondering how it all had happened. I never lost that sense of wonderment about how my life has taken me in these different directions, he said. I really appreciate that. No matter how far he traveled, Jones bears the indelible mark of growing up in Schuylkill County. I think what Schuylkill County teaches you is to stay as humble as possible, its kind of in our DNA, he said. You dont want to get too high in the saddle because thats just not our way. Whatever job hes had, Jones said, hes been privileged to have had. Ive kind of remained a regular guy, he said, and Im proud of my coal region roots. CORYDON, Iowa Authorities say a large fire late Saturday prompted several blocks to be evacuated in southern Iowa. The Wayne County Sheriffs Office pushed an alert at 9:52 p.m. on Saturday asking all residents within a three-block radius of the City Shop and Southern Iowa Oil near Ideal Ready Mix, located on N Lincoln Street on the northwest side of Corydon, to evacuate. There is a large fire on and around the large gas and propane tanks in that area. We are asking all residents that live in that area to please evacuate until further notice, the push alert read. A few hours later, just after 11:15 p.m., the sheriffs office issued an update stating that the evacuation order for Corydon had been lifted. Advertisement Advertisement Residence may return to their home, however, please be advised emergency personnel will remain in the area for sometime still. But the eminent threat due to fire has expired, the latest alert reads. WHO 13 New has reached out to the Corydon Fire Department for details, but has not heard back. This is a developing story; stay tuned to www.who13.com for the latest details. Iowa 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 who13.com. The Florida House of Representatives unanimously approved a scaled-back bill Wednesday to create a special district around the booming University Town Center area a proposal that would still give one of the regions largest developers significant influence over the new entity spanning more than 1,400 acres across Sarasota and Manatee counties. If the bill becomes law, Manatee County-headquartered Benderson Development Co., which owns much of the land inside the proposed district, would hold a majority voting interest in the new government entity, according to the developers Tallahassee lobbyist. Initially, the bill, which was introduced by state Rep. Bill Conerly, R-Lakewood Ranch, in January, would have allowed the district to levy property taxes and exercise broader government powers across the area. Advertisement Advertisement But lawmakers narrowed its scope as it moved through subcommittees. Among the changes: Land owned by Sarasota Memorial Hospital was removed from the district, though Sarasota County-owned Nathan Benderson Park which makes up about a third of the districts footprint remains included. Lawmakers also stripped the district of its ability to levy property taxes on landowners. Instead, it would be limited to charging non-ad valorem assessments fees added to property tax bills to fund stormwater infrastructure. Other amendments removed powers not directly related to drainage and water control, including the authority to condemn property, according to the bills latest House analysis. Advertisement Advertisement The revised bill still allows the district to construct and operate systems for conservation areas, mitigation sites and wildlife habitats. In all, its boundaries would stretch beyond the 3-million-square-foot UTC shopping corridor, reaching from University Park in Manatee County south to Fruitville Road in Sarasota County, all west of Interstate 75. Suncoast Searchlight has been examining the growing use of special districts, which allow developers to finance infrastructure through tax-exempt bonds that are later repaid by residents and property owners. The new UTC improvement district would join nearly 90 such districts across the Suncoast, many in the form of the more commonly known community development districts, according to a Suncoast Searchlight review. These districts have fueled an explosion of new development in both Sarasota and Manatee counties. A recent Suncoast Searchlight investigation found these hyperlocal government entities bonded out $2.9 billion in recent years. The developers can then dictate terms on how the residents and business owners who buy into those developments will pay back the debt, covering the cost of infrastructure historically handled by developers themselves. Advertisement Advertisement An economic impact statement prepared by Benderson Director of Development Todd Mathes estimates the district will spend $440,000 in its first year on hiring staff and conducting engineering studies. During its second fiscal year, the district will spend $2 million. The bill was initially written by Dave Ramba, Bendersons Tallahassee lobbyist, who told reporters in January the measure was aimed at improving stormwater infrastructure following the devastating flooding that impacted the region in 2024. The bill, which did not require a Senate companion, moved quickly through the full House vote with no debate. It now heads to the Senate, where it will require support from three-fifths of senators. Typically local bills require only a majority vote, but this bill incorporated powers more commonly held by water management districts. If the bill passes the Senate and receives the governors signature, landowners within the district will schedule a meeting requiring a majority vote to form the new government. This story was produced by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom of the Community News Collaborative serving Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Learn more at suncoastsearchlight.org. Sacramento The California Museum has announced the 19th class of the California Hall of Fame, whom Governor Gavin Newsom calls trailblazers whose achievements embody Californias spirit of resilience and creativity. The governor and first partner, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, while celebrating the honorees accomplishments, noted that this class also shines a spotlight on Los Angeles as a global hub of culture and innovation. From the State Capitol to Los Angeles, from bestselling books to Olympic triumphs, the inductees of the 19th class of the California Hall of Fame have reshaped our culture and our communities, praised Governor Newsom. Resilient and innovative, these leaders and luminaries represent the best of the California spirit. The inductees will be enshrined into this elite California group on March 19, 2026, at a ceremony held at the California Museum in Sacramento to honor their contributions to civic life, creativity, and social advancement. The governors office provided this list of California Hall of Fame 19th class inductees: Featured Video: Tampa Bay Headlines MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) Two people were taken to the hospital Saturday morning after officials said a woman stabbed a State Trooper, who subsequently shot her in Miami-Dade County. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, troopers responded at 5:30 a.m. to calls of a reckless driver traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of State Road 836 near NW 107 Ave. Advertisement Advertisement A trooper found the vehicle in the grassy center median of State Road 836 and approached the woman, who had a young child in the vehicle. While interacting with the woman, FLHSMV said she brandished a knife and stabbed the trooper in the head, neck, and shoulder. The trooper then discharged his firearm and shot her. The trooper and the woman were both taken to the hospital for their injuries. It was later determined that the woman had active arrest warrants for child neglect, child abuse, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement, FLHSMV said. The Department of Children and Families has taken the child into its care. The woman will be booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail after she is released from the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement FLHSMV did not share any information regarding the current status of the troopers injuries. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is reviewing the troopers use of force in the incident. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. FOND DU LAC As spring temperatures rise and snow melts, Fond du Lac County is warning residents to prepare for potential flooding. Flooding can happen in several ways, including snow melt, ice jams or heavy rains, according to a community announcement. Those living near waterways or in low-lying areas are at higher risk. Fond du Lac County Emergency Management is encouraging residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their property. Wisconsin officials warn residents to prepare for spring flooding caused by snowmelt, ice jams, and heavy rain. Here are key safety steps. Have a plan Create an emergency plan so everyone knows what to do and where to go in case of a flood. Practice the plan and make a list of emergency numbers and important contacts. Advertisement Advertisement Most homeowners, renters and business insurance policies do not cover flooding. Flood insurance typically requires 30 days to take effect, so consider purchasing it now. More information about flood insurance options is available at floodsmart.gov. Protect your home To keep water away from your home, clean gutters regularly and direct downspouts away from the foundation. Repair cracks in the foundation and improve grading so water flows away from the house. Cover window wells to prevent water from entering. Move valuables out of the basement and elevate or flood-proof appliances such as the washer, dryer, water heater and HVAC systems. Relocate electrical outlets to 3 feet above the floor, according to the announcement. Stay informed Monitor weather forecasts, especially during heavy rain or warmups that can cause snowmelt. Have more than one way to receive weather warnings, such as enabling Wireless Emergency Alerts on cell phones. Never drive or walk through flooded areas It takes just 12 inches of water to carry away a small car and 6 inches of fast-moving water to sweep adults off their feet. Floodwater may also be contaminated by sewage or chemicals and can hide downed power lines or debris. Protect your health If your home floods, follow cleaning and disinfection guidelines to avoid mold growth. If the power goes out for more than four hours, throw out refrigerated food or any food that came into contact with floodwater. Advertisement Advertisement If your drinking water well is flooded, disinfect the well and test the water before drinking it. If you use a generator, keep it outside at least 20 feet from your home to avoid illness or death from carbon monoxide. More information is available through FEMA's ready.gov website and Wisconsin Emergency Management's Ready Wisconsin website. This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com , with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct. This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac spring flooding risk county shares warning and tips Macron will meet Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Paphos to show "solidarity" and detail moves to "strengthen security around Cyprus and in the eastern Mediterranean", the Elysee said on Sunday. The visit will take place as the war pitting US and Israel against Iran is in its second week, affecting much of the Middle East. Cyprus, an EU country, on Monday was targeted by Iranian-made drones, leading Macron to order France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean and a frigate and air defence units to Cyprus. Advertisement Advertisement France lets US planes use its bases for non-combat missions in Iran "This trip is intended to demonstrate France's solidarity with Cyprus, a member state of the European Union with which we have a strategic partnership" and which was recently hit "by several drones and missile strikes", the Elysee said. The visit to Cyprus will also allow Macron "to emphasise the importance of guaranteeing freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, in particular through the European Union's Aspides maritime operation," it added. There have been numerous attacks on ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint in the Gulf, since the US-Israeli war on Iran started on February 28. Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 20 percent of the world's crude oil and about 20 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually transit through the key shipping lane. France ramps up military aid to Lebanon as Macron calls for halt in attacks The Cyprus meeting is also set to focus on the safety of European nationals in the region and support repatriation operations, the French president's office said. Nearly 400,000 French nationals either living in or visiting countries affected by the conflict that has spread across the Gulf region as well as to Lebanon and Iraq. At least 4,300 people have been able to return to France since the start of hostilities, according to France's foreign ministry. Britain and Italy have also dispatched a warship each to Cyprus to boost the island's defences. (AFP) Germany's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) were reeling on Sunday after plunging to their worst ever result in a German state election. Projections showed the party falling to a distant fourth place in the prosperous south-western state of Baden-Wurttemberg with just 5.4% of the vote, barely scraping over the 5% threshold needed to enter the regional parliament in Stuttgart. German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, the party's co-leader at the national level, described the result as a "bitter evening." Advertisement Advertisement The party's lead candidate in Baden-Wurttemberg, Andreas Stoch, announced his resignation shortly after exit polls were released. The vote was the first of five state elections to be held this year in Germany, with the SPD facing an intense battle to retain its hold on power in neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate on March 22. Historically one of the top two parties in Germany alongside the Christian Democrats (CDU), the SPD has declined in popularity in recent years, tumbling to 16.4% in last year's parliamentary election. However, the party has been in government in Berlin since 2013, having led an unhappy three-way coalition under ex-chancellor Olaf Scholz between 2021 and 2025. Advertisement Advertisement The SPD's downfall in Baden-Wurttemberg may have benefited the Greens, which mounted a surprise comeback to surpass the CDU according to the latest projections. Before Sunday, the SPD's worst result in a state election came in the eastern state of Thuringia in 2024, where the party received just 6.1% of the vote. Fuego, a trendy gift shop at the Tacoma Mall, is set to close March 17. The chain store sells a variety of T-shirts, accessories, jewelry and toys. Everything is 50% off until the last day, and clearance items are an additional 50% off. Fuego has just over a dozen other locations, mostly across the West Coast, Colorado and Texas. The first Fuego store opened about two decades ago, and the chain eventually changed its name to Attic Salt, but is still known as Fuego across multiple locations, according to Fuego-Attic Salt human resources. Advertisement Advertisement The chain is now owned by Go! Retail Group, which also owns Toys R Us. Fuego-Attic Salt is closing a few of its stores, according to its website, but the locations at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup and the Redmond Town Center remain open, store associates told The News Tribune. A location at the Westfield Southcenter Mall in Tukwila closed about a month and a half ago, according to store associates at the Tacoma location. Representatives for Fuego-Attic Salt did provide more details to The News Tribune. Fuego is located in between Pop Mart and Torrid at the Tacoma Mall. Its open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. We understand that the citizens of Hall County may have concerns regarding the operation of the Hall County Sheriffs Office following last Fridays arrest of Sheriff Gerald Couch. Please be assured that the Hall County Sheriffs Office continues to operate normally and remains fully committed to serving our community. While the agency operates under the direction of the Sheriff, if he is absent or unable to perform his duties, command of the office automatically falls to the Chief Deputy. As Chief Deputy, I am currently in command of the Hall County Sheriffs Office. In my established role, I already oversee the day-to-day operations of the agency, and I will continue to ensure there is no disruption to law enforcement services or public safety operations. Because the position of Sheriff is a constitutionally established elected office under Georgia law, any decision regarding suspension from office falls under the authority of the Governor. The Governor has been notified of Sheriff Couchs arrest, and the Sheriffs Office will fully cooperate with any review or action initiated by the Governors Office. We will not comment on matters related to Sheriff Couchs personal life, including his health. Any questions regarding those matters should be directed to him. Finally, I want to emphasize that other than those personnel required to carry out their professional duties in this past Fridays incident, the majority of our deputies, detention officers and civilian staff of the Hall County Sheriffs Office had no involvement in this incident. These men and women continue to report to work each day dedicated to protecting the citizens of Hall County. I respectfully ask that they be treated with the same professionalism and respect they show the community and that the actions of one individual not diminish the integrity and commitment of the entire agency. The Hall County Sheriffs Office remains focused on its mission to serve and protect the people of Hall County. The Office of Chief Deputy Kevin Head AT&T customers, church leaders and community members organized a peaceful protest at a Nashville store, saying consumers may cut the cord with AT&T until the telecommunications giant cuts the cord on its government contracts. Dozens of faith leaders and community members gathered at AT&T, 1900 West End Ave., in Nashville around 1 p.m. March 7 to call on the company to end its contracts with the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. If AT&T refuses, participants said they are prepared to begin moving their services elsewhere, according to a release. Advertisement Advertisement "Todays action was about corporate accountability," Nashville Organized for Action and Hope Transformational Justice Task Force Chair Rev. Alisha Haddock said. "The same technology that connects our homes and neighborhoods is also being used to strengthen the infrastructure of surveillance and the kidnapping of our neighbors. When corporations profit from policies that produce fear and separation, communities have a responsibility to organize and respond." Organizations such as Tennessee for All, Nashville Organized for Action and Hope, Chattanooga in Action for Love, Equality and Benevolence and Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope were on hand to train and mobilize community leaders to take collective action. Charter buses brought them from St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, 1700 Heiman St., in Nashville to the AT&T store. Organizers say the rally is part of a growing effort across the state and country to challenge corporate support for large-scale immigration enforcement, a news release states. Advertisement Advertisement According to the release, faith leaders, labor and community members said theyre appalled by current agency operations and by the support of a previously local service provider who has turned away from serving communities and toward enabling systems that monitor and endanger them. "Corporate collaboration is what makes large-scale enforcement possible," the release states. "Tennesseans concerned about privacy, civil liberties and immigrant rights may be questioning whether their monthly phone bill aligns with their values." Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville AT&T store sparks protest, what faith leaders are asking Remarks by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the American press emphasizes U.S. casualties in the Iran war because it wants to make the president look bad are a reminder of something that has endured across many decades and conflicts: the tension and trepidation about news that reminds Americans of the human cost of war. During his Pentagon briefing on the war on Wednesday, Hegseth bashed fake news while addressing the six U.S. Army reservists killed in an Iranian attack on an operations center in Kuwait. When a few drones get through or tragic things happen, its front-page news, Hegseth said. I get it. The press only wants to make the president look bad. But try for once to report the reality. The terms of this war will be set by us at every step. Advertisement Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when questioned about the remark by CNNs Kaitlan Collins at her own news conference later, doubled down. You take every single thing this administration says and try to use it to make the president look bad, Leavitt said. Thats an objective fact. Memories of night after night of graphic images beamed into homes through a then-recent invention television were hard to shake for those who lived through the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Many believed the cumulative impact of seeing that suffering night after night turned Americans from supporters to skeptics. Such vivid, intimate scenes of military action by Americans haven't been seen to that extent since, a legacy still in place with the war that President Donald Trump and Hegseth are waging right now on behalf of the United States. For many presidents, the lesson seemed to be: Don't allow the realities of war into people's living rooms if you can help it, said Timothy Naftali, senior research scholar at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. Coverage of war and access to it have changed Today, the images the public sees of warfare can resemble a video game explosions seen lighting up the sky from afar with the pain much more private. Advertisement Advertisement Generations ago during World War II, journalists were embedded with the military, and many became household names reporters Ernie Pyle and Walter Cronkite, photographers Robert Capa and Margaret Bourke-White. Those were the days before television, however. Vietnam was arguably the most accessible American war for reporters. Journalists stationed in the country sent back a steady stream of death and destruction. Cronkite, by then a CBS-TV anchorman of the most popular evening news program in the U.S., reported from Vietnam in 1968 and concluded the only rational way out was a negotiated peace. If Ive lost Cronkite, President Lyndon Johnson said, Ive lost Middle America. During the Gulf War in 1991, President George H.W. Bush was angered by split-screen television images that showed the coffins of U.S. service members being returned to the United States while he, apparently unaware of the timing, was joking with reporters about another subject at the White House. The Pentagon banned coverage of these ceremonies, saying it was to protect the privacy of family members of the dead, although critics said it was to avoid showing pictures of coffins. Advertisement Advertisement That ban, with a few exceptions, stayed in place until it was lifted by President Barack Obama in 2009. Reporters who approached the battlefield in wars fought by the U.S. military in the 2000s were likely to have their movements restricted, if they were allowed at all. Jessica Donati, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and Reuters who covered the war in Afghanistan, wrote for the Modern War Institute in 2021 that its easier these days for journalists in Afghanistan to embed with the Taliban than with the U.S. military. Reporting on casualties predates Trump's presidency The nature of this war fought thousands of miles from the American homeland and not yet on the ground in Iran has limited the number of American casualties and thus made them more newsworthy. Several journalists have pointed out that reporting about military casualties predates Trump's presidency. Hegseth's statement is a warped way of looking at the world, said CNN's Jake Tapper. Ahistorical. The news media covers fallen service members because they have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, he said. It's a tribute. It's an honor. Advertisement Advertisement There has been relatively little coverage from the ground in Iran. A CNN team led by Frederik Pleitgen on Thursday became the first journalists from a U.S.-based television network to enter the country, and he spent the day racing across the country to Tehran. Dan Lamothe, military affairs reporter for The Washington Post, posted on social media that Hegseth's comments won't stop him from continuing to cover the casualties of war as has been done under presidents of both major political parties. These efforts havent always been perfect, Lamothe wrote. But theyve highlighted sacrifices by American servicemembers and their families, and shortcomings that sometimes allowed these deaths to happen. Well continue to do so. Its too important to stop. When Robert H. Reid was a top editor at Stars and Stripes between 2014 and 2025, he found that the newspaper's audience, primarily service members, wanted more than raw numbers when Americans were killed in military action. They wanted to know details about the lives of the people who served where they grew up, who they left behind, what their passions were, he said. Advertisement Advertisement In 10 or 20 years, many of these people will be forgotten by all but those who loved them. But for what they gave for their country, they deserve recognition for their lives, said Reid, an Associated Press international correspondent for most of his career. The public needs to know that war is not a video game, Naftali said. It affects people. ___ This story has been corrected to show Obama lifted the Pentagon ban in 2009, not 2019. ___ David Bauder writes about the media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social. By Laila Bassam, Maya Gebeily and Maayan Lubell BEIRUT, March 5 (Reuters) - Lebanese armed group Hezbollah spent months restocking its arsenal of rockets and drones, using support from Iran and its own weapons factories to prepare for a new war with Israel, six sources familiar with the group's preparations said. Down but not out after its devastating 2024 conflict with Israel, Hezbollah had concluded that another round of fighting was inevitable - and that this time, it could face an existential threat, according to the sources. Advertisement Advertisement Reuters spoke to three Lebanese sources briefed on Hezbollah's activities, two foreign officials in Lebanon and an Israeli military official, who all spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the press. The details of Hezbollah's recent efforts to rearm have not been previously reported. The head of Hezbollah's media office, Youssef al-Zein, told Reuters that Hezbollah would not comment on its military operations, though he said the group had decided to "fight to the last breath." PAYING SALARIES, REPLENISHING STOCKPILES Founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at Israel on Monday to avenge the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, pulling Lebanon into the war raging across the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Although the decision caught some of its own officials off guard, Hezbollah had been readying its military stockpiles and its command-and-control structure for an eventual rematch with Israel, the six sources said. To do so, it had drawn on a monthly budget of $50 million, most of it from Iran and earmarked for fighters' salaries, according to one of the Lebanese sources, who has been briefed on the group's finances and military activities. One of the foreign officials confirmed the $50 million budget. It was not immediately clear how long the group had been relying on that monthly budget and how it compared to its previous financial resources. The group has said funds from Iran helped finance rents for people displaced by the 2024 war. Around 60,000 Lebanese, most of them from the Shi'ite Muslim community from which Hezbollah draws its popular support, remained displaced over the last year, with their homes still in ruins. Advertisement Advertisement Hezbollah had also worked to replenish its drone and rocket stashes through local manufacturing, the first Lebanese source, the foreign officials and the Israeli military official said. The Israeli military official said Hezbollah had used Iranian funding both to smuggle arms and make its own weapons, but added that its manufacturing capability had been diminished. The second foreign official said the group had stationed new rockets and Iranian-made logistical materials in southern Lebanon before the latest war began. Hezbollah's media office did not immediately respond to questions on its rearmament and Iranian support for it. Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told Reuters that Hezbollah "had a lot of arms left" and was also seeking to rearm. "They were trying to smuggle and we were preventing that," Shoshani said. Advertisement Advertisement PACE OF FIRE BUILDS UP In 2024, a punishing two-month war with Israel ended with a ceasefire brokered by the United States. Hezbollah halted its attacks on Israel, which continued strikes on what it said were Hezbollah's efforts to rebuild military capabilities. Israel also kept troops in five hilltop positions in southern Lebanon. Last year, Lebanon also began confiscating Hezbollah weapons in the country's south - but Israel said the group was rearming faster than it was being disarmed. Speaking to Reuters weeks before Hezbollah entered the regional war, the first Lebanese source confirmed that the group had been rebuilding its military capabilities "in parallel" with Israel's campaign to destroy them. Advertisement Advertisement The pace of Hezbollah's attacks this week provides clues about its weapons stocks. The group launched 60 drones and rockets on March 2, the first day it attacked Israel, and a similar number the following day, said the second foreign official, who tracks Hezbollah's activities closely. But on March 4, Hezbollah launched more than double that number of projectiles, a sign it had been able to draw from its larger caches, the official said. ALMA, an Israeli think tank that monitors security on Israel's northern border, said it assessed that Hezbollah's arsenal on the eve of its attack included approximately 25,000 rockets and missiles, most of them short- and medium-range. Advertisement Advertisement A video published by Hezbollah on March 4 showed a fighter setting up a drone in a wooded area. Riad Kahwaji, a Dubai-based defence analyst and founder of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, identified the drone in the video as a Shahed-101, which he told Reuters could be produced locally. HEZBOLLAH EXPECTED A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL Hezbollah has also dispatched fighters from its elite Radwan force back to southern Lebanon, Reuters reported this week. They had been withdrawn from the area after the 2024 conflict. Israeli strikes after the 2024 ceasefire included the targeting of what Israel said were Hezbollah training camps. In late February, the Israeli military said it struck eight military compounds used by the Radwan force to store weapons and prepare for a confrontation. Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli official and the first foreign official said Hezbollah had been struggling to recruit new operatives as a result. The group lost 5,000 fighters in the 2024 war, an unprecedented blow to its fighting force, though the second Lebanese source said it still had some 95,000 fighters left. In the lead-up to its entry into the current regional war, Hezbollah had become convinced Israel would carry out a major strike on the group that would seek to "disable its ability to retaliate," the first Lebanese source said. A third foreign official familiar with Hezbollah's thinking said that assessment had driven the group's decision to launch the first salvo, fearing Israel would eventually turn its attention from Iran to Hezbollah. Advertisement Advertisement "They knew they were next on the list," the official said. (Reporting by Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily in Beirut and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; additional reporting by Catherine Cartier in Beirut; Editing by Aidan Lewis) TSA wait times soared to two hours at William P. Hobby Airport on Sunday morning, while they remained around 30 minutes or less at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, according to the Houston Airport System. Lines were seen twisting through the airport as travelers waited to reach TSA checkpoints, where longer than average waits have been a possibility in Houston during the Department of Homeland Security's shutdown. Houston airport officials said they expected more than 2 million passengers from March 5 to 16 during a spring break travel rush. On Friday, Hobby Airport was bracing for the spring break surge. They advised travelers to budget extra time as they headed to their terminal. Advertisement Advertisement "Be patient," a social media post by the airport reads. "With yourself, other people, TSA agents, and our staff. Everyone is trying their best." New Orleans resident Jessica Alexie said she and her two children missed their flight home while standing in Hobby's CLEAR line for more than 2.5 hours. She said the TSA PreCheck line shut down, even though federal officials last month said they would keep it open. It's not clear why the PreCheck lines were closed. Alexie, a frequent flyer, called the scene "organized chaos" and unlike anything she'd seen before. In a call with the Chronicle, she said she moved about 5 feet in the span of seven minutes. "The line goes all the way down to the other side of the airport by the blue garage, wraps back around, and when I tell you there's zigzags everywhere, it's everywhere," she said. "It's unbelievable." Advertisement Advertisement LESSONS FROM THE PAST: Houston airport TSA delays: A list of things to do if you're flying during the government shutdown Alexie was able to cancel her Southwest Airlines flight and rebook another for 9 p.m. She was thankful that she'd brought the chargers for her children's devices, but wasn't too optimistic about the hours ahead. "It's going to be horrible ... there's going to be people waiting in line at restaurants, there's not going to be places to sit," she said. "It's not going to be fun." This is a developing story. This article originally published at Hobby Airport travelers wait hours in TSA lines Sunday as some report missing flights. Sunday is International Women's Day, and it was a packed house at Hofstra University on Long Island to commemorate the occasion. Eyewitness News Reporter Chantee Lans hosted the eighth annual International Women's Conference at the school's campus in Hempstead. This year's keynote speakers included the Queen of Ghana and New York State Senator for Long Island Siela Bynoe. More than 500 people attended the annual conference. Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Neva Alexander started the International Women's Conference at Hofstra University. This year's theme is "Her Voice, Her Power, Her Culture, Her Legacy." The goal of the event is to encourage leadership, entrepreneurship and public service among women. ---------- * Get Eyewitness News Delivered * More Manhattan news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. A human head was discovered in a Queens bird sanctuary this week, believed to belong to a Guyanese woman whose torso was shockingly found in a trash bag six months ago, police sources said Saturday. Homicide detectives found the severed head at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Thursday while tracking a suspects cellphone tower hits in the torso case, the sources said. The dismembered torso was located on Sept. 23, 2025, near Idlewood Park roughly 10 miles from the bird sanctuary a marshland near JFK Airport, the sources said. Police believe the head that was found Thursday night belongs to a womans torso discovered in September about 10 miles away, sources said. Obtained by NY Post Two city Sanitation Department workers made that grisly discovery while picking up trash near 149th Avenue and Brookville Boulevard., according to the NYPD. Advertisement Advertisement The employees had loaded the covered remains into the hopper of a vehicle before noticing a foul odor, sources said. The head was found at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge near JFK Airport in Queens. Jessica Kirk stock.adobe.com The torso was missing its head, arms, and legs and was wrapped in tape and rope, said cops, who believe a saw and a knife were used. The partially decomposed body had several visible tattoos including a flower and three names, cops have said. The city Medical Examiners Office is investigating the remains to confirm the victims identity and cause of death, officials said. The 6,500 bombs surpassed the 4,500 dropped during June 2025's 12-day war, with the numbers being even more enhanced when taking into account that the US has already struck 3,000 targets. IDF sources said on Saturday that the air force has killed thousands of Iranian regime forces, especially in its internal repression apparatus, with some of the 6,500 bombs it has dropped on the Islamic Republic. The 6,500 bombs have blown past the 4,500 bombs Israel dropped in 12 days in June 2025 and are enhanced even more by the US Air Force striking over 3,000 targets, which is believed to be equal to or greater than the 6,500 Israeli bombs, given that Israel uses more bombs per target. Advertisement Advertisement This comes amid one of the most significant strikes of the current war, as the IDF on Saturday night announced it had destroyed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force headquarters. An F35 plane flies in the Israeli airspace. (credit: IDF SPOKESMANS UNIT) The role of the feared and notorious Quds Force has been to destabilize the entire region and foment pro-Shiite and anti-Sunni movements in several countries. Another major role until the Israel-Hamas War was to build a ring of fire around Israel, including through Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Gaza, the West Bank, and other places. The IRGC's responsibility for October 7 The IRGC Quds Force took a major blow in 2020 when its chief, Qasem Soleimani considered number two in power in Iran at the time to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated by the US. Advertisement Advertisement Since then, his predecessor, Esmail Qaani, has been viewed as less visionary and having less influence. However, Qaani, who appears to be one of the highest Iranian military officials still alive, has still been a major force, directing terror against Israel on several fronts. Qaani and the Quds Force can be said to be the most responsible Iranian bodies for Hamass invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, in terms of funding, logistics, and training, though they did not give a direct order to attack on that date. Destroying the Quds Force headquarters marks another major shift in Irans threat capabilities post-war, regardless of whether the regime is toppled or not. Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israel and the United States had nearly achieved total control over Iranian airspace in a Saturday evening address to the nation. He asserted that the military operations, in coordination with the US, came with understanding from US President Donald Trump regarding the magnitude of danger Iran posed not only to Israel but to the broader international community. Netanyahu said, As I promised two days after October 7, we are changing the face of the Middle East. But its not only the face of the Middle East; its also us. Our initiative and surprising actions are dramatically changing the balance of power between our enemy and us. The IDFs declaration of the number of Iranian regime forces killed was a major announcement, as unlike on all other fronts over recent years, where the military has given a constant update of the numbers of enemy forces killed, no broad announcements on Iranian regime forces had been made until Saturday. IDF not sure if hitting officials or just empty buildings Until Saturday, IDF updates had flagged over 50 senior Iranian officials killed and many regime buildings bombed, but it was unclear if rank-and-file regime forces were being hit in significant quantities or mostly empty buildings. Advertisement Advertisement The militarys numbers are still in flux, given that there is no large ground force present in Iran like there have been in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, but IDF sources estimated the numbers may be even higher than currently thought if hundreds of regime forces are buried under rubble. Although even thousands are small in relative terms compared to the full scale of the IRGC, the Internal Security Ministry, and the Basij militia, IDF sources were hopeful that the numbers were large enough to start causing a significant desertion, which could possibly eventually pave the way for regime change. Despite that optimism and tens of millions of ethnic Iranian minorities who hate the regime, most analysts view regime change as still an uphill battle, given the multiple complex trends currently at play in Iran and the vast numbers of regime supporters. Meanwhile, although there was a spike in Iranian ballistic missile threat sirens on Saturday, sending millions of Advertisement Advertisement Israelis into their safe rooms and bomb shelters throughout the day, the military said that it has destroyed 75% of Irans missile launchers. The 75% number is a jump from 65% just two days ago, showing continued progress. At the same time, IDF sources have not expressed any certainty about fully stopping Iranian missile fire in the near future. A more modest hope may be to reduce missile fire sufficiently that the Islamic Republic no longer succeeds at causing casualties, more similar to Yemens Houthis missiles, which disrupted daily life from 2023 to 2025 but rarely caused casualties. Drop in Iranian missile fire Further, military sources said that Saturday saw a continued drop in the number of missiles fired, from between 10 and 14, down from 100 on the first day of the war and 20-25 in recent days. Advertisement Advertisement There were also no reported massive hits in Israel on Saturday, in contrast to the early days of the war when there were multiple such hits. The IDF updated that over 200 ballistic missiles have been fired at Israel since the start of the war. While the latest update said 80 missiles were fired on the first day, earlier top IDF sources had put the number at around 100. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy. On the second day of the war, missile fire dropped to 60. From the third day of the war onward, the latest IDF update said fewer than 20 missiles have been fired on Israel per day, though an earlier senior source had said the number was between 20 and 25. Advertisement Advertisement There have been 3,100 residences damaged sufficiently to require evacuation. There is still some confusion about how many missile launchers Iran had at the start of the war to fire their estimated 2,500 missiles. Data collected by The Jerusalem Post would put the number at between 400 and 550 launchers. This would mean that between 300 and 415 launchers have been neutralized, with an estimated half of those neutralized destroyed and half cut off from use, such as caving in their launch areas. Hezbollah has also launched around 200 projectiles, including over 160 rockets and 43 drones, with 42 drones also launched from Iran. Advertisement Advertisement IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin said that there is no clear coordination between Iran and Hezbollah regarding their aerial attacks but that they are trying to coordinate to some extent and have sometimes succeeded. Defrin said that the military started the war targeting air defenses, top Iranian leaders, and ballistic missile sites, but then moved on to targeting a wider array of the missile apparatus and striking a wider range of regime forces and command centers. A fleet of over 80 Israel Air Force fighter jets completed another wave of strikes targeting infrastructure belonging to the Iranian regime in Tehran, which included the IRGC Aerospace Force situation room, which was key to the air defense systems in Iran and was located in the heart of Tehran, the IDF announced early Saturday. The strikes also targeted 16 aircraft belonging to the elite Quds Force that were being used to transfer weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the military said. Advertisement Advertisement An earlier IDF statement said that several military sites were struck, including the main IRGC military university, Imam Hossein University, which was used for the training of IRGC officers and as an emergency asset, and, most recently, an IRGC assembly compound during Operation Rising Lion. The military also revealed that it had struck sites in Parchin and Shahrud, the two main areas where the regime produces its ballistic missiles and additional weapons. Over the past week, hundreds of Israel Air Force fighter jets, acting on IDF intelligence, struck two of the Iranian terror regimes main production sites, the military said. Among the targets were 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. Tobias Holcman contributed to this story. The Israeli military said it had carried out a "precise strike" on key commanders of Iran's elite Quds Force in Beirut, following reports of casualties from an Israeli attack early on Sunday. The commanders "operated to advance terror attacks against the state of Israel and its civilians," the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Telegram. "The Iranian terror regime operates systemically in the heart of the civilian population in Iran and Lebanon, cynically exploiting the civilian population as human shields to advance terror attacks." Advertisement Advertisement The IDF did not state the specific location of the attack. Earlier, Lebanese authorities said at least four people had died in an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut. As least eight others had been injured, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. IAF also struck Iranain jets based in Isfahan, 50 ammunition bunkers and a command building for the Khayyam satellite, which the IDF said had been used for surveillance of Israel. The IDF confirmed that a senior Iranian military official tasked with coordinating regime operations against Israel was killed in a precision Israeli strike in the heart of Tehran on Saturday. The military identified the target as Abu al-Qassem Babaiyan, who it said served as head of the military bureau of Irans supreme leader and chief of staff of the regimes emergency command. Advertisement Advertisement According to the IDF, Babaiyan was responsible for coordinating between different branches of the Iranian regime to advance operations against Israel and to activate the regimes emergency mechanisms amid the ongoing conflict. Babaiyan had also been appointed to head the office of Irans next supreme leader, who has not yet been confirmed, after Mohammad Shirazi, the military bureau chief of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was killed in the opening strike of Operation Roaring Lion. He was also appointed head of the regimes emergency command after his predecessor, Ali Shademani, was killed by the IDF during last year's conflict. "His elimination joins a series of eliminations of senior figures in the Iranian terror regime conducted by the IDF since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion and constitutes the degradation in the Iranian leadership to advance military activities," read an IDF statement. Former commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Ali Shademani, killed by IDF strikes on June 17, 2025 (credit: OFFICIAL KHAMENEI WEBSITE/KHAMENEI.IR) IDF strikes Iranian satellite used for surveillance In a statement issued later Sunday by the IDF, the military said it struck some 50 ammunition bunkers and additional regime targets in Tehran throughout Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Among the targets hit was the Revolutionary Guards space and satellite headquarters, which the military said served as a reception, transmission, and research center for the Iranian Space Organization. The site also included the command and operations building for the Khayyam satellite, launched in August 2022, which the IDF said had been used by the IRGC for surveillance of Israel and other countries in the region. IDF takes out several Iranian fighter jets in Isfahan The IDF struck over 400 targets throughout Iran over the past day, a military spokesperson announced on Sunday. Among the targets the IDF successfully took out were several of Iran's F-14 fighter jets, along with detection and air defense systems which posed a threat to IDF aircraft. The jets were located at the airport in Isfahan, the city where Israel had previously destroyed Ghadr-class ballistic missiles and their launch platforms. Another strike conducted on Friday by the IDF destroyed 16 'Quds Force' aircraft at the Mehrabad airport in Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement Some 19 people were killed in airstrikes near Isfahan on Sunday morning, Iranian media later reported. A F-14 Tomcat is being repaired at an overhaul hangar in Mehrabad airport in Tehran, Iran, on December 18, 2012. (credit: MOHAMMADALI NAJIB/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images) Iranian F-14's received in 1976 Iran received 79 of the US-made F-14's in 1976 when the country was still ruled by theIranian Shahs. These were taken by the Islamic Republic after the 1979 Revolution. The F-14 was retired by the US Navy in 2006, being replaced by the F-18. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the only country that still uses the twin-engine fighter jet. The headquarters had been used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to promote its aerospace efforts, including the 2022 launch of the Khayyam satellite. The IDF on Sunday attacked Irans Aerospace Headquarters, used for launching satellites, which could potentially be incorporated in future attempts to develop nuclear weapons that could be fired into space and hit the US. The headquarters had been used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to promote its aerospace efforts, including the 2022 launch of the Khayyam satellite, which was successfully launched by Iran using a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Advertisement Advertisement When that satellite successfully launched into space, it presented serious national security and intelligence concerns for Israel and the West. Until Sundays attack on the site, Israeli officials were concerned that both the Khayyam and the latest space cooperation between Moscow and Tehran would increase Irans capabilities to launch ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles), as well as improve its monitoring of targets in the Jewish state and throughout the region in the short term. An additional concern for Jerusalem was that Khayyam and future Russian-Iranian satellites could reduce Israeli spies ability to penetrate the Islamic Republics border with operations that hold back Tehrans nuclear progress. Smoke rises following an explosion, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 7, 2026 (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER) Israel strikes Iranian satellite program site Earlier in 2022, The Washington Post reported that Russia was preparing to provide Iran with an advanced satellite that would enable it to track potential military targets across the Middle East, sending shudders through much of the region. Advertisement Advertisement The report had said that the new satellite would allow continuous monitoring of facilities ranging from Persian Gulf oil refineries and Israeli military bases to Iraqi barracks that house US troops, citing three unnamed sources a current and a former US official and a senior Middle Eastern government official briefed on the sale. On December 28, 2025, just before the protests in Iran began, Tehran simultaneously launched three domestically developed satellites into space from a Russian launch site, just as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on his way to meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss the Iranian threat and other regional issues. Israeli officials interpreted the launches, which were announced multiple times in advance, as a show of the Islamic Republics defiance of attempts by Jerusalem and Washington to impose a new balance of power on it following the 12 Day War in June. Prior to the June war, Tehran managed numerous satellite launches, some on its own and some in conjunction with Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement During that period of time, both Israel and America viewed these satellite launches as immensely dangerous due to the potential dual-use threat and Irans move toward producing nuclear weapons. However, following the June war, Irans nuclear program was left in shambles. This left the significance of the satellite launches as more of an open question. There are still three ways that the launches could pose a threat to Israel and the US. The first would be that, even if other aspects of Irans nuclear program were destroyed or frozen, progress for ICBM technology would mean that if the Islamic Republic were to make progress in other areas, this aspect of the program might be more advanced and ready. Second, Iran has attacked Israel with three massive barrages of ballistic missiles multiple times since 2024, raising awareness of the extent of its conventional missile threat separate from the nuclear threat. If Tehran improved its ICBM capabilities, its ballistic missiles may eventually pose a direct threat to Washington and Western Europe, as they already do to Jerusalem, the Saudis, and Eastern Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Third, some satellites are used for surveillance, and along with Russia, Iran might significantly up its game in being able to spy on Israel and its military units. Up until now, Jerusalems major advantage over Iran has been intelligence from its surveillance satellites. There were concerns that Iran could even the score in that arena. Vahid Yazdanian, head of the Iranian Space Research Center and a deputy communications and information technology minister at the time, said the three satellites Paya (Tolu-3), Zafar-2, and the second prototype of Kowsar-1.5 were built by the private sector. Despite Iranian progress, Israel has been highly successful in achieving surprise attacks against the Islamic Republic during the current war, and the latest attacks may remove or heavily delay any potential ICBM in the future. It is unclear why the site had not been attacked earlier during this war. Numbers just released from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul list the biggest complaints in 2025, and the number one issue may not surprise you. It's motor vehicle and used auto sales. There were more than 2,100 complaints, many involving "as-is" cars, financing, and warranties. When buying a used car, always get an independent mechanic inspection and review the vehicle history report. Number two on the list is construction and home improvement rip-offs. From roofing to plumbing disputes. If hiring a contractor, check references, verify their city or village license, and never pay the full amount upfront. Advertisement Advertisement In 2025, the attorney general's Consumer Fraud Bureau saved consumers more than $9.4 million through mediation and secured more than $120.9 million through enforcement actions, Raoul's office said. The office received a total of 19,763 written complaints in 2025, in addition to tens of thousands of phone calls. Full list of top 10 complaints: Every year, millions of Americans face life-altering civil legal crises such as eviction, domestic violence, or losing custody of a child. Despite tireless efforts from South Dakota organizations, 92% of civil legal crises faced by low-income individuals still go unaddressed due to chronic underfunding. Funding from the Legal Services Corporation is essential to South Dakotas legal aid organizations staying operational and serving the states most vulnerable residents. In September, Dakota Plains Legal Services helped a domestic violence survivor obtain a divorce that had been pending for nearly four years. The husband had evaded service, moved out of state, and made it impossible to finalize the divorce. Dakota Plains refiled the case in the wifes current county, located the husbands address, and successfully served him with the necessary papers. Without the help of Dakota Plains, the wife may not have been able to move forward and finally be free from a life-threatening situation. Cases like this are not uncommon. Family law matters, divorces, custody disputes and protection orders make up most of the work handled by South Dakotas legal aid organizations. In 2024, approximately 57% of East River Legal Services cases were family law-related, and 25% were housing-related. Approximately 32% of Dakota Plains cases were family-related and 14% were housing-related. Each one represents a life changed and a barrier to justice overcome. Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The importance of legal aid is made stark by the imbalance in eviction cases. Landlords have an attorney in 83% cases. Tenants have legal assistance in 4% of cases. This gap of underrepresented tenants leaves families in demanding situations. Dakota Plains has helped individuals avoid eviction by contacting their landlords and establishing agreements. Without the assistance of the Dakota Plains staff, these individuals would have faced eviction on their records, making it difficult to put a roof over their familys heads. Federal funding from the Legal Services Corporation is helping South Dakota legal aid organizations keep people and families off the streets and in safe homes. The Legal Services Corporation is a key national funder of 133 civil legal aid programs. The corporation has been funding these crucial services for low-income Americans since 1974. In South Dakota, the corporation distributes federal support to East River Legal Services and Dakota Plains Legal Services. In 2025, South Dakota received nearly $2.7 million in civil legal aid funding to be distributed between the two organizations. As a result of this funding, South Dakota legal aid organizations helped over 7,000 people, including children, facing civil legal crises. Advertisement Advertisement A legal needs assessment was conducted in South Dakota, in partnership with East River and Dakota Plains. The study revealed that nearly one in five civil cases between 2018 and 2021 were rejected, leaving people without access to legal help as they navigated the civil court system. A rejection can take many forms, including not meeting the poverty threshold, insufficient funding, inadequate staff due to funding constraints, and case priority policies. The rejections stem from South Dakotas inability to financially support its legal organizations, leaving our vulnerable population feeling abandoned. The poverty threshold is generally set at around 125% of the poverty line. For a family of four, qualifying for legal aid often means earning less than $39,000 annually. Legal Services Corporation funding impacts South Dakotans every day. A Sioux Falls woman had lived in the same apartment for 17 years. She always paid her rent on time and relied on a housing voucher that kept her afloat. She had a medical setback, which caused her to fall behind on rent. Her landlord filed for an eviction. The woman was terrified of losing her home and the voucher that kept a roof over her head. This eviction could have ended both of those. She reached out to East River Legal Services for help, and an attorney stepped in. The attorney contacted opposing counsel, and both sides reached an agreement. The agreement allowed the landlord to receive payments on a payment plan and to waive all late fees and attorney fees. Thanks to East River Legal Services, the eviction was dismissed. The woman was able to keep her voucher, remain in the home, and avoid the devastating impacts of an eviction. Advertisement Advertisement Although it might seem like a large amount, $2.7 million in funding is insufficient to meet the legal needs of vulnerable South Dakotans. Increasing federal funding by even 10% nationwide would have a significant impact on South Dakota. The Legal Services Corporation website has created a funding calculator that shows how increased funding can impact your state. In South Dakota, this increase in funding would help roughly 988 more people, solve 742 civil legal problems, provide 246 more individuals with access to legal information and self-help resources, and help 309 more children. Applications for legal assistance have continued to rise in recent years. East River Legal Services received over 3,000 applications for assistance in 2025. This was an increase in applications over 2024. The people of South Dakota have stepped in to help close the justice gap for their community members, and it is deeply appreciated by those who receive services, but more is needed. Increasing the federal funding is essential to maintain access to justice for vulnerable and underrepresented populations in South Dakota. When the United States-Israeli attack on Iran was launched last weekend, an unexpected peace broker stepped forward in the form of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, leader of the worlds largest Muslim country. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on social media: Indonesia calls on all parties to exercise restraint and to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy. If agreed by both parties, the President of Indonesia is prepared to travel to Tehran to carry out mediation, it said. Advertisement Advertisement But President Prabowos offer to help mediate between the sides has provoked debate across Indonesia, coming at a time of increased criticism of his approach to foreign policy and warm ties with the Trump administration. Im puzzled as to why this idea wasnt vetted before being made public, Dino Patti Djalal, Indonesias former deputy foreign minister and former ambassador to the US, said in a statement on Instagram. It is highly unrealistic, Djalal said. Others agreed, adding that the offer could further alienate Indonesians already wary of the presidents perceived cordial relationship with US President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement It is clear that any negotiations between Iran and the US have completely ended, so to propose this seems to be not reading the room, Ian Wilson, a lecturer in politics and security studies at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, told Al Jazeera. Domestically, people are likely to interpret this as a further alignment with Trump and therefore Netanyahu, Wilson said. In recent months, Prabowo has faced domestic scrutiny after volunteering to deploy 8,000 Indonesian troops to Gaza as part of an International Stabilization Force under the umbrella of Trumps Board of Peace (BOP) a so-called international peacekeeping organisation of which Israel is also a member. Indonesia does not have any formal diplomatic relations with Israel, and has long supported an independent Palestine. Advertisement Advertisement Joining Trumps board and offering to participate in the US presidents plan for Gaza has not gone down well domestically. Indonesia is being used to legitimise the BOPs dystopian plan to divide Gaza into quadrants and bypass the role of the United Nations, Wilson said. For Indonesia to be involved fundamentally betrays its longstanding tradition of being a principled voice for the Global South, and its approach to foreign policy, which historically has been deeply respected, he said. Bebas-aktif independent and active Indonesia was one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War, which saw the country adhere to a bebas-aktif or independent and active approach to foreign policy for decades, avoiding the major power blocs while actively working for peace and the national interest. Advertisement Advertisement Over the years, this has included Indonesias attempts to broker peace in a number of global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war. But Indonesias membership of Trumps Board of Peace amid Israels genocide in Gaza, and now the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, could present an unprecedented test for Prabowos approach to foreign policy, experts said. The Foreign Ministrys statement on the attack was regrettably naive, said Sarbini Abdul Murad, director of the humanitarian group, Indonesia for Peace and Humanity. While the president had offered to mediate, little was said about the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sarbini said, pointing out that neighbouring Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had condemned the assassination of Khamenei by US and Israeli forces. Advertisement Advertisement The death of Ali Khamenei went unanswered, he said Indonesia is at a crossroads in its foreign policy, Sarbini added. Indonesias Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono who, like many Indonesians, uses a single name said in a post on social media on Wednesday that Prabowo had expressed his deepest condolences to Iranian President Masoud Pezehkian on the passing of Khamenei. Received H.E. Mohammad Boroujerdi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran (4/3). We discussed the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East. I underscored the importance of respect for international law and the UN Charter, and the urgent need to prevent further escalation pic.twitter.com/xsxYn0c8XK Menteri Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia (@Menlu_RI) March 4, 2026 Many Indonesians sympathise with Iran While Indonesia has entrenched support for Palestine, the relationship with Iran is rather more complicated. About 87 percent of the countrys 270 million population follows Islam, and the majority of Indonesias Muslims are Sunni. Advertisement Advertisement Iran has the worlds largest Shia population, which follows a different branch of Islamic theology with differing views on aspects of Islamic political theory and history. Previously, there was anti-Shia sentiment among Sunni in Indonesia, said Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow with the Indonesia Studies Programme at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. However, many Indonesians sympathise with Iran. This is not always out of solidarity with fellow Muslims, but rather because of anti-Israel and anti-American sentiment, which has long been high, Supriatma said. Though many Indonesians support Iran, it is not on the same scale as Palestine, when thousands of people attended demonstrations across Indonesia at the start of the genocidal war on Gaza. Protests against the current war on Iran are mostly confined to chatter on social media, Supriatma said. Advertisement Advertisement Many Indonesians have expressed sympathy for Iran and anger towards the US for what they see as an unprovoked attack on Iran, said Yohanes Sulaiman, a lecturer in politics, security and foreign policy at Indonesias Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani. A mourner poses next to a portrait of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israel strikes, during the signing of a petition committing to international justice values, held at the Iranian ambassadors residence in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 5, 2026 [Bay Ismoyo/AFP] But many are likely unaware of what is taking place inside Iran, including the anti-regime protests that recently shook the country, Sulaiman said. Indonesian housewife Arisha Ishana said she had indeed not heard about any demonstrations in Iran. Despite this, Ishana told Al Jazeera that she supported Iran in the conflict because they are fellow Muslims. Ramadhan, a barista, said he supported Irans right to defend itself. Advertisement Advertisement This conflict was not started by Iran, but by the US and Israel, he told Al Jazeera, adding that his feelings were not guided by his faith as a Muslim. For me, it is not about religion, but about humanity, he said. He added that he had been particularly upset by the bombing of a girls school in Minab in southern Iran on Saturday, which killed 165 students and staff. Prabowo to evaluate Indonesian role in Gaza plan Neither the US nor officials in Iran have publicly commented on Prabowos mediation offer, although the Iranian ambassador to Indonesia expressed diplomatic appreciation. Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Ambassador Mohammad Boroujerdi welcomed the offer of mediation but explained that no steps had been taken to make it a reality, and lamented that negotiations would likely be fruitless. Advertisement Advertisement We believe that currently, no negotiations and discussions with the American government will be useful, because they are not bound and do not adhere to any outcomes, Boroujerdi said. With growing resentment towards the US among Indonesians generally, and Trumps Board of Peace and Prabowos role in it specifically, researcher Supriatma said the president appeared to be trying to garner support from members of Indonesias political elite. On Tuesday, Prabowo convened a meeting attended by former presidents, vice presidents and political leaders, reportedly to assess the geopolitical and economic impact of the Iranian conflict. Following the meeting, which ran for more than three hours, according to official reports, Indonesias former Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told local media that Prabowo was willing to evaluate Indonesias role in Trumps peace board, following the latest events in Iran. Supriatma said the president appears cornered by his own foreign policy decisions. He cant explain why Indonesia needs to join the BOP and, in my view, he doesnt have a clear stance on Indonesias position on the United States and Israel, Supriatma said. His pro-American position and seemingly tolerant approach to Israel is indeed not popular in Indonesia, he said. But how long will this last? That is the question, he added. Can Prabowo maintain his current stance when footage of children dying from Israeli and American bombs is being widely circulated? A Los Angeles courtroom is hosting what may become the most consequential legal challenge Big Tech has ever faced. This is an inflection point in the global debate over Big Tech liability: For the first time, an American jury is being asked to decide whether platform design itself can give rise to product liability not because of what users post on them, but because of how they were built. As a technology policy and law scholar, I believe that the decision, whatever the outcome, will likely generate a powerful domino effect in the United States and across jurisdictions worldwide. The case The plaintiff is a 20-year-old California woman identified by her initials, K.G.M. She said she began using YouTube around age 6 and created an Instagram account at age 9. Her lawsuit and testimony allege that the platforms design features, which include likes, algorithmic recommendation engines, infinite scroll, autoplay and deliberately unpredictable rewards, got her addicted. The suit alleges that her addiction fueled depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia when someone see themselves as ugly or disfigured when they arent and suicidal thoughts. Advertisement Advertisement TikTok and Snapchat settled with K.G.M. before trial for undisclosed sums, leaving Meta and Google as the remaining defendants. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before the jury on Feb. 18, 2026. Zuckerberg testified in court in a lawsuit alleging that Instagram is addictive by design. The stakes extend far beyond one plaintiff. K.G.M.s case is a bellwether trial, meaning the court chose it as a representative test case to help determine verdicts across all connected cases. Those cases involve approximately 1,600 plaintiffs, including more than 350 families and over 250 school districts. Their claims have been consolidated in a California Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding, No. 5255. The California proceeding shares legal teams and evidence pool, including internal Meta documents, with a federal multidistrict litigation that is scheduled to advance in court later this year, bringing together thousands of federal lawsuits. Legal innovation: Design as defect For decades, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shielded technology companies from liability for content that their users post. Whenever people sued over harms linked to social media, companies invoked Section 230, and the cases typically died early. Advertisement Advertisement The K.G.M. litigation uses a different legal strategy: negligence-based product liability. The plaintiffs argue that the harm arises not from third-party content but from the platforms own engineering and design decisions, the informational architecture and features that shape users experience of content. Infinite scrolling, autoplay, notifications calibrated to heighten anxiety and variable-reward systems operate on the same behavioral principles as slot machines. These are conscious product design choices, and the plaintiffs contend they should be subject to the same safety obligations as any other manufactured product, thereby holding their makers accountable for negligence, strict liability or breach of warranty of fitness. Judge Carolyn Kuhl of the California Superior Court agreed that these claims warranted a jury trial. In her Nov. 5, 2025, ruling denying Metas motion for summary judgment, she distinguished between features related to content publishing, which Section 230 might protect, and features like notification timing, engagement loops and the absence of meaningful parental controls, which it might not. Here, Kuhl established that the conduct-versus-content distinction treating algorithmic design choices as the companys own conduct rather than as the protected publication of third-party speech was a viable legal theory for a jury to evaluate. This fine-grained approach, evaluating each design feature individually and recognizing the increased complexities of technology products design, represents a potential road map for courts nationwide. What the companies knew The product liability theory depends partly on what companies knew about the risks of their designs. The 2021 leak of internal Meta documents, widely known as the Facebook Papers, revealed that the companys own researchers had flagged concerns about Instagrams effects on adolescent body image and mental health. Advertisement Advertisement Internal communications disclosed in the K.G.M. proceedings have included exchanges among Meta employees comparing the platforms effects to pushing drugs and gambling. Whether this internal awareness constitutes the kind of corporate knowledge that supports liability is a central factual question for the jury to decide. Tobacco companies were eventually held to account because what they knew and hid about the addictiveness of their products came to light. (Getty Images) There is a clear analogy to tobacco litigation. In the 1990s, plaintiffs succeeded against tobacco companies by proving they had concealed evidence about the addictive and deadly nature of their products. In K.G.M., the plaintiffs here are making the same core argument: Where there is corporate knowledge, deliberate targeting and public denial, liability follows. K.G.M.s lead trial attorney, Mark Lanier, is the same lawyer who won multibillion-dollar verdicts in the Johnson & Johnson baby powder litigation, signaling the scale of accountability they are pursuing. The science: Contested but consequential The scientific evidence on social media and youth mental health is real but genuinely complex. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) does not classify social media use as an addictive disorder. Researchers like Amy Orben have found that large-scale studies show small average associations between social media use and reduced well-being. Advertisement Advertisement Yet Orben herself has cautioned that these averages might mask severe harms experienced by a subset of vulnerable young users, particularly girls ages 12 to 15. The legal question under the negligence theory is not whether social media harms everyone equally, but whether platform designers had an obligation to account for foreseeable interactions between their design features and the vulnerabilities of developing minds, especially when internal evidence suggested they were aware of the risks. First, a manufacturer has a duty to exercise reasonable care in designing its product, and that duty extends to harms that are reasonably foreseeable. Second, the plaintiff must show that the type of injury suffered was a foreseeable consequence of the design choice. The manufacturer doesnt need to have foreseen the exact injury to the exact plaintiff, but the general category of harm must have been within the range of what a reasonable designer would anticipate. This is why the Facebook Papers and internal Meta research are so legally significant in K.G.M.s case: They go directly to establishing that the companys own researchers identified the specific categories of harm depression, body dysmorphia, compulsive use patterns among adolescent girls that the plaintiff alleges she suffered. If the companys own data flagged these risks and leadership continued on the same design trajectory, that would considerably strengthen the foreseeability element. Why it matters Even if the science is unsettled, the legal and policy landscape is shifting fast. In 2025 alone, 20 states in the U.S. enacted new laws governing childrens social media use. And this wave is not only in the U.S.; countries such as the U.K., Australia, Denmark, France and Brazil are also moving forward with specific legislation, including mandates banning social media for those under 16. Advertisement Advertisement The K.G.M. trial represents something more fundamental: the proposition that algorithmic design decisions are product decisions, carrying real obligations of safety and accountability. If this framework takes hold, every platform will need to reconsider not just what content appears, but why and how it is delivered. Carolina Rossini, Professor of Practice and Director for Program, Public Interest Technology Initiative, UMass Amherst This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The post Inside the Lawsuit That Could Reshape Social Media appeared first on Katie Couric Media. I spend a lot of time studying package managers, and after a while you develop an eye for things that quack like one. Plenty of tools have registries, version pinning, code that gets downloaded and executed on your behalf. But flat lists of installable things arent very interesting. The quacking that catches my ear is when something develops a dependency graph: your package depends on a package that depends on a package, and now you need resolution algorithms, lockfiles, integrity verification, and some way to answer what am I actually running and how did it get here? Several tools that started as plugin systems, CI runners, and chart templating tools have quietly grown transitive dependency trees. Now they walk like a package manager, quack like a package manager, and have all the problems that npm and Cargo and Bundler have spent years learning to manage, though most of them havent caught up on the solutions. GitHub Actions Registry: GitHub repos GitHub repos Lockfile: No No Integrity hashes: No No Resolution algorithm: Recursive download, no constraint solving Recursive download, no constraint solving Transitive pinning: No No Mutable versions: Yes, git tags can be moved. Immutable releases lock tags after publication but can still be deleted I wrote about this at length already. When you write uses: actions/checkout@v4 , youre declaring a dependency that GitHub resolves, downloads, and executes, and the runners PrepareActionsRecursiveAsync walks the tree by downloading each actions tarball, reading its action.yml to find further dependencies, and recursing up to ten levels deep. Theres no constraint solving at all. Composite-in-composite support was added in 2021, creating the transitive dependency problem, and a lockfile was requested and closed as not planned in 2022. You can SHA-pin the top-level action, but Palo Altos Unpinnable Actions research documented how transitive dependencies remain unpinnable regardless. The tj-actions/changed-files incident in March 2025 started with reviewdog/action-setup, a dependency of a dependency, and cascaded outward when the attacker retagged all existing version tags to point at malicious code that dumped CI secrets to workflow logs, affecting over 23,000 repos. GitHub has since added SHA pinning enforcement policies, but only for top-level references. Ansible Galaxy Registry: galaxy.ansible.com galaxy.ansible.com Lockfile: No No Integrity hashes: Opt-in Opt-in Resolution algorithm: resolvelib resolvelib Transitive pinning: No No Mutable versions: Yes, no immutability guarantees Ansible collections and roles install via ansible-galaxy from galaxy.ansible.com, with dependencies declared in meta/requirements.yml . When you install a role, its declared dependencies automatically install too, and those dependencies can have their own dependencies, forming a real transitive tree with collections depending on other collections at specific version ranges. The resolver is resolvelib, the same library pip uses, which is a backtracking constraint solver and more sophisticated than what Terraform or Helm use. A lockfile was first requested in 2016, that repo was archived, and the request was recreated in 2018 where it remains open. The now-archived Mazer tool actually implemented install --lockfile before being abandoned in 2020, so the feature existed briefly and then disappeared. ansible-galaxy collection verify can check checksums against the server and GPG signature verification exists, but both are opt-in and off by default. Published versions on galaxy.ansible.com can be overwritten by the publisher, since theres no immutability enforcement on the registry side, and roles sourced from git repos have the same mutable-tag problem as GitHub Actions. Roles execute with the full privileges of the Ansible process with become directives escalating further, and there are open issues going back years about the inability to exclude or override transitive role dependencies. Terraform providers and modules Registry: registry.terraform.io registry.terraform.io Lockfile: .terraform.lock.hcl .terraform.lock.hcl Integrity hashes: Yes Yes Resolution algorithm: Greedy, newest match Greedy, newest match Transitive pinning: Yes, for providers; no, for modules Yes, for providers; no, for modules Mutable versions: Providers immutable; modules use mutable git tags Terraform actually learned from package managers. .terraform.lock.hcl records exact provider versions and cryptographic hashes in multiple formats, terraform init verifies downloads against those hashes, and providers are GPG-signed. The version constraint syntax ( ~> 4.0 , >= 3.1, < 4.0 ) looks like it was lifted straight from Bundler. The resolver collects all version constraints from root and child modules, intersects them, and picks the newest version that fits, with no backtracking or SAT solving. Modules can call other modules which call other modules, creating transitive trees, and the lock file captures the resolved state. The lock file only tracks providers, not modules though, so nested module dependencies require cascading version bumps with no lockfile protection. Git tags used to pin modules are mutable, meaning a tag-pinned module can be silently replaced with different content. Researchers demonstrated registry typosquatting ( hashic0rp/aws with a zero), and a live supply chain attack demo at NDC Oslo 2025 showed this working in practice. The provider side is solid, but the module side of the transitive tree has the same mutable-reference problems as GitHub Actions. Helm charts Registry: Chart repos / OCI registries Chart repos / OCI registries Lockfile: Chart.lock Chart.lock Integrity hashes: Opt-in Opt-in Resolution algorithm: Greedy, root precedence Greedy, root precedence Transitive pinning: Yes Yes Mutable versions: Depends on registry; OCI digests are immutable, chart repo tags are not Kubernetes Helm has more package manager DNA than most things here. Chart.yaml declares dependencies with version constraints, Chart.lock records the exact resolved versions, and subcharts can have their own dependencies, building out genuine transitive trees. The resolver picks the newest version matching each constraint, with versions specified closer to the root taking precedence when conflicts arise. Chart repositories serve an index.yaml that works like a package index, and OCI registries work too. Mutability depends on which backend you use: OCI digests are content-addressed and immutable, but traditional chart repos let publishers overwrite a version by re-uploading to the same URL, and nothing in Chart.lock will catch the change since it records version numbers rather than content hashes. Helm supports provenance files for chart signing, though adoption is low. helm dependency build only resolves first-level dependencies, not transitive ones, so subchart dependencies need manual handling. You cant set values for transitive dependencies without explicitly listing them, and theres no way to disable a transitive subcharts condition. A symlink attack via Chart.lock allowed local code execution when running helm dependency update , fixed in v3.18.4. Malicious Helm charts have been used to exploit Argo CD and steal secrets from deployments. If it has transitive execution, its a package manager Once a tool develops transitive dependencies, it inherits a specific set of problems whether it acknowledges them or not: Reproducibility. The tree can resolve differently each time, so you need a lockfile to record what you got. The tree can resolve differently each time, so you need a lockfile to record what you got. Supply chain amplification. A single compromised package deep in the tree can cascade outward through every project that depends on it. A single compromised package deep in the tree can cascade outward through every project that depends on it. Override and exclusion. Users need mechanisms to deal with transitive dependencies they didnt choose and dont want. Users need mechanisms to deal with transitive dependencies they didnt choose and dont want. Mutable references. Version tags that can be moved, rewritten, or force-pushed mean the same identifier can point at different code tomorrow. Version tags that can be moved, rewritten, or force-pushed mean the same identifier can point at different code tomorrow. Full-tree pinning. Pinning your direct dependencies means nothing if their dependencies use mutable references. Pinning your direct dependencies means nothing if their dependencies use mutable references. Integrity verification. You need to know that what youre running today is the same thing you ran yesterday. If your tool has these problems, its a package manager, and no amount of calling it a plugin system or marketplace will stop the supply chain attacks from quacking at your door. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran forces have soldiers who are capable of fighting on the ground if President Donald Trump chooses to send American soldiers into the country. In an interview with NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday, Araghchi appeared unconcerned by the presidents considerations. We have very brave soldiers who are waiting for any enemy who enters into our soil to fight with them and to kill them and destroy them," Araghchi said. Advertisement Advertisement The war with Iran has been through aerial strikes, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week said the U.S. has nearly total control of Iranian airspace. Still, Trump told the New York Post that he has not ruled out sending U.S. troops to the region if they were necessary to prevail. 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 said. I say probably dont need them, [or] if they were necessary.' Araghchi had another message for Trump on Sunday: Iran will not allow the U.S. to choose their next Supreme Leader. The foreign minister said Irans interim leadership council is currently running the country following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in last weeks strikes. The council, Araghchi said, will elect a new leader soon. Advertisement Advertisement There are lots of rumors around but, you know, we have to wait for the assembly of experts to convene and vote for the new Supreme Leader, Araghchi said. Despite Trump saying the U.S. must have a say in who that next leader is, Araghchi rejected the idea Sunday. We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs, he said. This is up to the Iranian people. Iran has chosen the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the countrys next supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, a mid-ranking cleric, was elected by the decision-making council despite lacking the senior religious credentials typically required. His appointment signals a willingness to continue the war with the US and is likely to anger Donald Trump, who previously said Khamenei is a lightweight. Advertisement Advertisement He added on Sunday that any new leader who does not have his approval will not last long. Thousands of supporters of the Islamic Republic rallied after midnight in Tehran and other cities, pledging allegiance to the new supreme leader. The appointment came on the same day that Israeli and American forces struck oil depots in and around Tehran, sending plumes of smoke billowing across the capital and streams of burning petrol running through the streets in apocalyptic scenes. The appointment came on the day that Israeli and American forces struck oil depots in and around Tehran, leaving the capital in flames - Hassan Ghaedi/Getty Iran said it had expanded its list of targets in retaliation, adding that civilian infrastructure could be hit in return. Advertisement Advertisement The attacks reportedly prompted tensions with the US, which had not expected them to be so extreme. American officials are said to be considering seizing Kharg island, a strategic oil terminal in the Persian Gulf about 24 miles from the Iranian coast, as the cost of oil is expected to soar. Iran struck a desalination plant in Bahrain, marking Tehrans first attack on water supplies, a key pressure point in the region. Mr Khamenei is close to the IRGC, the powerful elite military force close to the hardcore establishment of the Islamic Republic. The new supreme leader was elected by informal consultations among 88 clerics of the Assembly of Experts over nine days. Advertisement Advertisement After extensive and precise investigations and using the capacity of Article 108 of the constitution, in accordance with religious duty and belief in the presence of Almighty God, in todays extraordinary session, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has been determined and introduced as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a spokesperson for the Assembly said in a statement. Members said Israeli and US air strikes had prevented them from convening an in-person session to formalise the choice in official minutes. On Friday, Assembly member Ayatollah Abdullah Kiyvani urged leadership to expedite the process. The external pressure from senior clerics indicated the delay had created uncertainty, not just politically but also religiously. The longer the vacuum persisted, the more it would empower military commanders to make decisions that would risk either escalating the conflict or contradicting what civilian leadership eventually decides. Advertisement Advertisement The Islamic Republic is a complex web of power centres the IRGC, the regular military, the presidency, the judiciary, the clerical establishment, intelligence services, the Basij militia all with overlapping jurisdictions, rival interests, and independent capabilities. The supreme leaders essential function is not just symbolic religious authority but practical political arbitration: when these institutions disagree, he decides. Without that arbiter, Irans system defaults to fire at will each power centre pursuing its own interpretation of national interest. A supreme leader would provide what Iran needs right now: unity of command, clarity of strategy, and authority to make decisions without endless consultation. Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military, meanwhile, said on Sunday that it would pursue every successor and every person who seeks to appoint a successor for Khamenei, suggesting strikes on civilian clerics. The Assembly of Experts said strikes against regime members, such as the one that killed the Ayatollah, had prevented them from meeting Mr Khamenei has grown support within the IRGC, replaced hundreds of Friday prayer leaders with loyalists, and exercised significant behind-the-scenes influence over appointments and policy during his fathers final years. The IRGC and National Police Command pledged allegiance to Mr Khameini as the countrys new supreme leader and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The National Police Command issued a separate statement pledging sincere allegiance until death to the new commander-in-chief, saying forces would be obedient and ready to implement the orders and wishes issued by him, just as during the leadership of the martyred Imam of the nation and leader. The pretence of clerical rule continues, but actual power stays with IRGC commanders who will elevate the new leader as a figurehead while making decisions through military councils. Advertisement Advertisement As Khameneis son, he carries dynastic legitimacy. Mr Khamenei has managed his fathers office and networks for years, he understands the systems mechanics. As a figure acceptable to IRGC commanders who want revenge for dead colleagues, he provides military backing. The appointment of the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei means the pretence of clerical rule continues - Atta Kenare/AFP However, Mr Khameneis religious credentials are thin by supreme leader standards. He holds the rank of hojjatoleslam, several levels below the grand ayatollah [marja] status that Ayatollah Rohullah Khomeini, the Islamic Republics founder, possessed and that many assumed would be required for supreme leadership. He has published no major theological works, leads no significant following as a source of religious emulation, and is not recognised by senior clerics as having the scholarly depth for this position. Advertisement Advertisement His father also lacked grand ayatollah status when selected in 1989 he was hastily promoted from hojjatoleslam to ayatollah to meet minimum requirements, a move that led to controversy among senior clerics who viewed him as religiously unqualified. But at least the late Khamenei had decades of political experience, a close association with Ayatollah Khomeini, and revolutionary credentials from the 1979 uprising. Selection is purely political His son has none of these compensating factors. His selection is purely political enabled by IRGC support, family loyalty networks, and institutional control built during his fathers lifetime not religious. This matters because it strips away the theological legitimacy that made the supreme leader position distinct from secular dictatorship. Advertisement Advertisement If the supreme leader is just whoever the IRGC backs rather than the most qualified religious jurist, then velayat-e faqih, guardianship of the jurist, becomes meaningless as governing philosophy. Mr Khamenei inherits a country at war, potential economic collapse, and enemies who killed his father, wife, and son in the strikes that triggered the succession crisis. The military command structure is shattered. Tehrans 10 million residents are breathing toxic air from burning oil facilities while being warned of acid rain. Bombs are falling across the country. The succession process itself is procedurally compromised and hereditary rather than meritocratic, guaranteeing internal opposition from clerics who view his selection as illegitimate. Advertisement Advertisement And perhaps most critically, he has no personal authority independent of his fathers legacy - no religious credentials that command respect, no political achievements that demonstrate leadership, no charisma that inspires loyalty. He is a supreme leader mainly because he is his fathers son. Legitimacy determines whether orders are followed. When Ayatollah Khomeini spoke, millions mobilised because they viewed him as divinely guided. Mr Khamenei has an institutional position through IRGC backing and Assembly selection, but he lacks every other form of legitimacy. This makes him simultaneously the most powerful person in Iran and potentially the weakest supreme leader the Islamic Republic has ever had. 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. The Gulf countries are trying to put on a brave face of resilience in the face of the threat. While there has been some talk of retaliation, it would likely require Riyadh to lead the way. Iran continues to launch hundreds of drones towards the Gulf nations, including new rounds of attacks on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain over the last few days. This comes despite a claim by Irans president that Tehran might cease these attacks, with Saudi Arabia considering joining in on the strikes against Iran, according to commentary online. Bahrain is one country that has been subject to numerous attacks. US Central Command said that on Thursday, 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) Defense Working Group. Advertisement Advertisement The report noted that the meeting included Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, national security advisor and secretary-general of the Supreme Defense Council of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, chief of the defense staff of the United Kingdom; and Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command. It added that the leaders discussed the current regional security environment and the Iranian regimes deliberate aggression and attacks on innocent civilians across the Middle East. They also expressed the importance of working together to ensure peace and stability. An Emirati Air Force F-16 performs a display flight at Al-Maktoum International Airport during the Dubai Airshow 2025 in Dubai, November 17, 2025 (credit: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images) Saudi Arabia under attack, crown prince 'has no love for Iranian regime' In comments at Bloomberg, Near Eastern Studies professor Bernard Haykel, an expert on Saudi Arabia, noted that Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has no love for the Iranian regime. However, Riyadh is concerned that the Islamic Republic could become a failed state. Meanwhile, Arab News in Saudi Arabia said that 13 drones [were] downed east of Riyadh city and eight [were] destroyed upon entering Saudi airspace. The report added, Drone attacks continue despite an apology given by Iranian officials to Gulf states. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Saudi Arabias air defenses neutralized a fresh wave of drone attacks on Sunday, the Defense Ministry announced, as Iranian strikes on Gulf states showed no signs of abating despite Tehrans conciliatory gestures a day earlier. Iran also targeted Aramcos Shaybah oil field with 21 drones. This comes around 7 years after the Houthis targeted the same site in 2019. Arab News wrote that on Saturday, Saudi defenses intercepted five ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj, an important industrial zone approximately 80 kilometers southeast of Riyadh. It was the third attempted strike in three consecutive days on the base. A single drone was also intercepted east of Riyadh. The UAE is also being targeted with around 120 drones a day. Reports said on Saturday that 121 drones targeted the UAE, and one got through, landing near the airport. An earlier report on Thursday had said that three missiles and 120 drones targeted the UAE. This means Iran has attempted to maintain a daily barrage against the UAE. This has included around a dozen ballistic missiles a day and dozens of drones. Advertisement Advertisement The Gulf countries are trying to put on a brave face of resilience in the face of the threat. While there has been some talk of retaliation, it would likely require Riyadh to lead the way. Saudi Arabia is the country with the largest army in the Gulf. Riyadh is also a key US partner, and it would discuss any decisions to retaliate with the White House. The question for Saudi Arabia is whether retaliation would lead to a widening of the war and escalation. The kingdom likely wants the war to wind down, not escalate, but it has an opportunity to strike Iran. Tehran has been attacking Saudi Arabia for years. In 2019, it used drones and cruise missiles to strike the Abqaiq energy facility. In this round, it has also targeted many energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, including Ras Tanura. Riyadh would therefore have ample reason to finally hit back. Other Gulf states have similar reasons. However, they usually follow Riyadhs lead. Bahrain and the UAE host US military bases, as does Qatar, which was still being targeted on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Kuwait was also targeted on Sunday. Its Defense Ministry said air defense systems intercepted seven Iranian drones, according to Syrias SANA. Qatars Defense Ministry said its air defense systems intercepted an Iranian attack involving ballistic and cruise missiles targeting Qatari territory. The ministry said the Qatari Armed Forces intercepted and destroyed six ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles. Two other ballistic missiles fell into territorial waters, while two landed in uninhabited areas, according to a statement carried by the Qatar News Agency, SANA said. The Iran-backed Houthi terrorist movement has yet to enter the conflict on Iran's side but in recent days has been ratcheting up its rhetoric in support of Tehran, with its leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, declaring that it was prepared to enter the war against the U.S. and Israel if necessary. "Regarding military escalation and action, our fingers are on the trigger, ready to respond at any moment should developments warrant it," al-Houthi said on Thursday. "The reason why the Houthis have not intervened is they are last line of resistance for the axis. Especially after other axis members were degraded," Nadwa Al-Dawsari, an expert on Yemen and an associate fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital. Advertisement Advertisement Iran Proxies Wage War On Israel, Threaten Us Interests As Iraq Slammed For Not Disarming Them Thousands of people gather at Sabeen Square, under the control of the Tehran-backed Houthis in Yemen, to protest the killing of Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Sanaa, Yemen on March 06, 2026. (Getty Images) The official slogan of the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) reads, "Allah is Greater. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam." Al-Dawsari, who has written extensively about Yemen and the Houthis, said: "I think the Houthis will intervene at some point. The longer the war continues, the more likely the Houthis will intervene. I think what the Houthis want to do and they have been itching for a while to do is to attack the Saudis. If the Saudis intervene, the Houthis will find a reason to attack the Saudis." Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth Blasts Brits, Says Iran's Chaotic Retaliation Has Driven Its Own Allies 'Into The American Orbit' Houthi terrorists walk over British and U.S. flags at a rally in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, on Feb. 4, 2024, near Sana'a, Yemen. The Islamic Republic of Iran formed an "Axis of Resistance" prior to Hamas invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Irans axis coalition of Shiite and Sunni terrorist proxies, includes the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis, Shiite militias in Iraq, and the now-defunct Baathist regime in Syria. Within the first few weeks of his administration, President Joe Biden launched a reset with the Houthis and pressured the Saudis to end the war against the bellicose Houthi movement. "The war in Yemen must end," Biden declared in his first major foreign policy speech about the Mideast in February 2021. Trump Urged To Aid Yemens Anti-houthi Forces As Terror Group Escalates Attacks On Shipping Smoke over Tehran, Iran, after explosions were reported on March 2, 2026. Bidens reversal of American support for the Saudi-led allies in their war against the Houthis was also coupled with his administration de-listing the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization. President Donald Trump swiftly reimposed the terrorist designation for the Houthis at the start of his second term and launched military strikes against the terrorists in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Al-Dawsari said another reason why the Houthis have yet to join the conflict is that it's not in the interests of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) "to drag the Houthis into a suicidal war." She argues "If the Iranian regime collapses, and if a new regime emerges, I think the IRGC will regroup in Yemen or Somalia. Yemen is the key ally." Israel Pounds Hezbollah Targets, Daring Lebanon To Reclaim Sovereignty From Iran-backed Terror Proxy There has been discussion between the IRGC and Houthis about why the "Houthis' continued existence is of strategic importance to the IRGC," she said. "The IRGC cant afford to lose the Houthis. Yemen is so important to them. They need to preserve the Houthis for tomorrow for the IRGC to continue even after the regime," Al-Dawsari continued. Advertisement Advertisement She noted that "Houthis have established themselves in the Horn of Africa. The IRGC is behind the Houthis. Intervention might be symbolic by the Houthis." She continued that Iran's "tactic now is to prolong the war and widen it across the region and to put more pressure on the U.S." In May 2025, Trump announced that the U.S. would stop its air bombing campaign against the Houthis because, he said, the Houthis "don't want to fight." "They just don't want to, and we will honor that. We will stop the bombings," Trump said. The Houthis had launched attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea, as well as the Jewish state, to support their ally Hamas in Gaza. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Al-Dawsari said after the Trump announcement the Houthis did not attack American ships. "They know Trump does not joke. They know they will suffer consequences." Original article source: Irans last line of resistance holds back but Houthi terror group warns its ready to act DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran's late supreme leader, has been named as the Islamic Republic's next ruler, authorities announced Monday, as Tehran widened its attacks across the Mideast to strike oil and water facilities crucial to its desert sheikdoms. With Iran's theocracy under assault by the U.S. and Israel for more than a week, the country's Assembly of Experts chose as the next supreme leader a secretive, 56-year-old cleric who maintains close ties to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The Guard has been firing missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states since the younger Khamenei's father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed Feb. 28 during the war's opening salvo. The war has shaken global energy markets, pushing oil prices above $100 a barrel and leading to tighter supplies of natural gas after Qatar turned off its production. Advertisement Advertisement The younger Khamenei, who had not been seen or heard from publicly since the war started, had long been considered a contender for the post. That was even before the Israeli strike killed his father, and despite never being elected or appointed to a government position. There appeared to be some dissension over his selection. Political figures within Iran criticized the idea of handing over the supreme leader's title based on heredity and thereby creating a clerical version of the rule of the shah, who was toppled during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. But top clerics in the Assembly of Experts likely wanted Khamenei to prosecute the war. Khamenei, who is believed to hold views that are even more hard-line than his late father, now will be in charge of Iran's armed forces and any decision regarding Tehran's nuclear program. While the country's key nuclear sites are in tatters after the United States bombed them during the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June, there's still highly enriched uranium in Iran that's a technical step away from weapons-grade levels. Khamenei could choose to do what his father never did pursue the bomb. Advertisement Advertisement Israel has already described him as a potential target, while U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the idea of Khamenei taking power. Khameneis son is unacceptable to me, Trump has said. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump told ABC News on Sunday he wants a say in who comes to power once the war is over; a new leader is not going to last long without his approval. Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a statement expressing support, as did the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, speaking to Iranian state television, praised the Assembly of Experts for courageously convening even as airstrikes continued in Tehran. He said the younger Khamenei had been trained by his father and can handle this situation. Regional anger grows and oil rises above $100 a barrel Oil depots in Tehran smoldered following overnight Israeli strikes. Advertisement Advertisement In a sign of rising regional anger, the Arab League chief lashed out at Iran for its reckless policy of attacking neighbors, including ones that host U.S. forces. The U.S. military said a service member died of injuries from an Iranian attack on troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1. Seven U.S. soldiers have now been killed. Saudi Arabias Defense Ministry said Monday it intercepted a drone attacking the countrys massive Shaybah oil field. The kingdom followed the alleged drone attack with sharper warnings to Iran that it would be the biggest loser if it continued to attack Arab states. It dismissed comments by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday that Iran had halted its attacks on Gulf Arab states. Advertisement Advertisement The kingdom affirms that the Iranian side has not implemented this statement in practice, neither during the Iranian presidents speech nor afterward, Saudi Arabias Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Iran has continued its aggression based on flimsy pretexts devoid of any factual basis. It added the Iranian attacks mean further escalation which will have grave impact on the relations, currently and in the future. Two U.S. officials say the State Department will order nonessential personnel and families of all staff to leave Saudi Arabia as Iran escalates its attacks. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement. Eight other U.S. diplomatic missions have ordered all but key staff to leave: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the consulate in Karachi, Pakistan. The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, at least 397 in Lebanon and at least 11 in Israel, according to officials. Israel reported its first soldier deaths Sunday, saying two were killed in southern Lebanon, where its military is fighting Hezbollah. Desalination and oil facilities attacked Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online. Advertisement Advertisement Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region and thousands of stranded travelers, raising new fears of catastrophic risks in parched desert nations. The strike came after Iran claimed a U.S. airstrike damaged a desalination plant there. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had cut into the water supply to 30 villages. He warned that in doing so the U.S. set this precedent, not Iran. In response, U.S. Central Command spokesperson Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins said that "U.S. forces do not target civilians period. The Iranian Red Crescent Society warned Tehran residents to take precautions against toxic air pollution and the risk of acid rain from the oil depot attack. It also said about 10,000 civilian structures across the country had been damaged, including homes, schools and almost three dozen health facilities. Lebanon says a half-million people displaced Lebanon said over a half-million people have been displaced in the week of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Advertisement Advertisement The actual number is likely higher. Lebanons count of 517,000 refers to those who registered on the governments online portal. Israel over the past week has called on residents in dozens of villages across southern Lebanon and the entirety of Beiruts southern suburbs to evacuate. In Beirut, sheltering families crammed into schools, slept in cars or in open areas near the Mediterranean Sea, where some burned firewood to keep warm. Israels renewed offensive began last week after Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel during the Iran war's opening days. ___ Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank, Chehayeb from Beirut and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press journalists Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Matthew Lee in Washington; Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; and Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida, contributed reporting. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty / Anadolu Drone strikes damaged three Amazon Web Services data centers in the UAE and Bahrain on Sunday, March 1, knocking two of the ME-CENTRAL-1 region's three availability zones offline and triggering outages across EC2, S3, DynamoDB, Lambda, RDS, and other core services, thereby marking the first confirmed military attack on a hyperscale cloud provider, according to Uptime Institute. AWS confirmed on its health dashboard that two facilities in the UAE were "directly struck" and that a third site in Bahrain sustained damage from a nearby explosion. The strikes caused structural damage, disrupted power delivery, and, in some cases, triggered fire suppression systems that produced additional water damage, according to the AWS Health Dashboard. Amazon told customers it expects recovery to be prolonged "given the nature of the physical damage involved". Advertisement Advertisement Go deeper with TH Premium: AI and data centers Microsoft data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin Each AWS region is built around multiple availability zones, which are physically separated data centers, each with independent power, cooling, and networking, designed so that the loss of one zone does not take a region offline. ME-CENTRAL-1 has three availability zones; the strikes took out two of them (mec1-az2 and mec1-az3), leaving the region significantly impaired. The Bahrain region (ME-SOUTH-1) lost one zone (mes1-az2) to a localized power issue. AWS's redundancy model is designed to survive the failure of a single zone, but not a coordinated attack across multiple sites within the same region. These outages then cascaded into consumer-facing services across the Gulf. Ride-sharing and delivery platform Careem, payments firms Hubpay and Alaan, data management company Snowflake, and several major UAE banks including Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank all reported disruptions. AWS advised customers to activate disaster recovery plans and migrate workloads away from the affected Middle East regions. Advertisement Advertisement Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated it targeted the Bahrain facility specifically because AWS hosts U.S. military workloads there; AWS declined to comment on that claim. Sean Gorman, Air Force contractor and CEO of Zephr.xyz, told DefenseScoop on Tuesday that classified government workloads at Impact Level 4 and 5 are held in U.S.-only facilities, but acknowledged that contractor and non-operational data may have been impacted, at the struck sites. The attacks followed joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran over the last week. AWS urged customers with workloads in the region to migrate to unaffected regions while repairs continue. Google Preferred Source Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds. Shipping companies are already heeding Iran's warning, and the price of a gallon of gas is rising, most notably in California. When Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned this week that ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz would be "set ablaze," alarm set in with government and industrial leaders all over the world. They have good reason to be alarmed: Whoever controls the strait controls nothing less than the sole maritime gateway for most of the Persian Gulf's oil riches to the world. Advertisement Advertisement Shipping companies are already heeding Iran's warning, and the price of a gallon of gas is rising, most notably in California. Here's a closer look at the strait and how the US-Israeli war on Iran will have effects far beyond Iran's borders. Why is the strait important? Located between Iran's southern coast and a peninsula shared by Oman and the United Arab Emirates, the strait is a tiny section of sea connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. It's roughly 100 miles long and, at its narrowest, just 21 miles wide. It has two 2-mile-wide shipping lanes allowing for traffic in opposite directions, separated by a 2-mile-wide median. Advertisement Advertisement Yet the small size belies its importance. On any given day, an armada of some 80 tankers - laden with roughly 16 to 18 million barrels, or around a third of all oil transported by sea - traverses the waterway, delivering around 20% of the world's crude and a large portion of its gas. Iranian tanker in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz on May 2, 2017 near Hormuz Island, Iran. (credit: Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images) But the strait's importance goes beyond energy. It handles a significant amount of container traffic, with gulf countries being an important hub for containers bringing consumer goods from Asia to Europe. What's the reaction to Iran's warning? In effect, the strait has turned into a parking lot, with an almost complete cessation of ships going through, experts and marine traffic monitoring services say. Advertisement Advertisement "Tanker traffic has fallen by around 90%. And you have laden oil tankers still waiting outside of Hormuz and unwilling to cross to global oil markets," said Noam Raydan, a maritime risk expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Shipping industry leaders also say roughly 10% of container ships operating around the world are stuck in the strait, while United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which tracks security at sea, said in an advisory note Thursday that only two cargo vessels had passed in the 24 hours prior. That's far below the 138 per day historical average, the UK group said, representing "a near-total temporary pause in routine commercial traffic." On Saturday, Kuwait announced that it was curtailing oil production, joining several other Persian Gulf nations that have cut back or shut down operations. Kuwait lies on the western end of the gulf, so all its oil must pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Two days earlier, Danish shipping giant Maersk suspended new cargo bookings to parts of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, and many ports in Oman "until further notice." Advertisement Advertisement Similar measures were taken by other shipping firms, including Hapag-Lloyd and Cosco Shipping. The Mediterranean Shipping Co. announced that it would levy fuel surcharges on shipping clients until April. In a statement, Maersk added that "exceptions will be made for critical foodstuff, medicine and other essential goods." Although Iran has not made the closure official - the ban was announced by a Revolutionary Guard representative on national TV - its threats have proved to have teeth. Since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began February 28, at least nine vessels have been hit by projectiles, according to Lloyd's list on Thursday; most of the attacks - which killed three seafarers and two port workers - have been claimed by Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, insurers are pulling coverage. What's the effect on prices? On Saturday, the AAA auto club said the average price of a gallon of regular gas in the United States rose to $3.41. That was a 43-cent increase from a week earlier. Price jumps have been more pronounced in California. The average price was $4.91, according to AAA, and motorists in some parts of the state found gas prices heading toward $6. Costs are soaring already in the maritime transport industry, with leasing rates for tankers rising from $100,000 to $400,000 per day; some companies have mentioned going as high as $700,000, observers say. An Aframax-sized oil tanker is seen in Bushehr coast, Iran, June 8, 2022 (credit: SADRA COMPANY/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY)/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS) Those increases have passed on to energy markets, with jet fuel being the most affected, potentially leading to a rise in ticket prices later in the year. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Brent price of oil, considered the most important price marker for the global oil trade, surged past $90 on Friday to $92.69. That was a 27% increase since the week before. Even so, the reaction of the market has been relatively subdued, said David Butter, an energy expert on the Middle East at the Chatham House think tank. "From the way prices have moved, there seems to be a reaction in the market based on an expectation that things are going to wind down in a few weeks," Butter said. He added that the large amount of oil in storage, whether in land depots or the hundreds of tankers floating in the strait, have acted as a kind of backstop. But it's unclear how long that backstop can last. Advertisement Advertisement And even if Persian Gulf nations resume production of oil and natural gas, getting fully back online can take weeks, experts say. Robin Mills, chief executive of Qamar Energy, a consulting firm in Dubai, said there was a disconnect between the price and the geopolitical situation. "Given what's going on, it's surprisingly relaxed. And I would say it's incorrectly relaxed," Mills said. He compared the disruption to the market at the beginning of Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022, which sent prices soaring to around $120 a barrel. "This is far more serious and the long-term consequences could be a lot worse, and yet the price has only gone up bit by bit." Advertisement Advertisement Qatari Energy Minister Saad Al-Kaabi told the Financial Times that, depending on how long the war goes on, oil prices may reach $150 a barrel. "GDP growth around the world will be impacted," he said. "Everybody's energy price is going to go higher. There will be shortages of some products and there will be a chain reaction of factories that can't supply." What is Trump doing in response? This week, US President Donald Trump said the US government could offer insurance to commercial vessels and provide US Navy escorts to ensure traffic continues. At least one part of that plan has come to pass: On Friday, the US International Development Finance Corp. announced that it would insure losses of up to $20 billion for oil tankers and other maritime traffic. Advertisement Advertisement But many ship owners, Mills said, wouldn't be interested in putting ships at risk, insurance or not. "They don't want the ships damaged and crews killed, or the vessels stuck," he said. He added that there was skepticism about whether the Navy could actually protect shipping. "Are there enough vessels to escort every ship?" he asked. "And they're currently fighting a war, so they might not be available." In his messaging, Trump has been characteristically blase. In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, he seemed unconcerned by the rise in gas prices. "They'll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise," he said. "But this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit." The first Irish government chartered flight to bring home stranded Irish citizens from the Middle East has landed at Dublin Airport. The flight carrying 194 passengers left Oman on Saturday afternoon (local time) and arrived in Dublin at about 05:00 (local time) . The Irish embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said earlier this week that elderly citizens or those with medical conditions would be prioritised and that children under 16 years would be able to travel for free. Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of people from the UK and Republic of Ireland have been unable to leave the region after US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted retaliatory strikes by Tehran across the region. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, Helen McEntee, defended the charge saying the price of the flight was "substantially reduced compared to the overall cost" [Getty Images] The Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, Helen McEntee said it was a "challenging journey", but she was "glad that we have been able to directly facilitate the return of nearly 200 people, including a number of children and infants". She said: "I welcome the fact that flights from Dubai have returned some 1500 people in recent days. I would encourage all those still in the UAE and who want to leave to avail of commercial options where those are available." McEntee said more than 18,000 people have registered their presence in the area to the Irish government. Advertisement Advertisement The flight departed from Muscat in Oman and made a stopover in Cairo in Egypt before arriving in Dublin. It had been due to depart on Friday but was delayed because of "highly challenging" conditions in the Middle East, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said. One passenger, Orlaith Byrne, said: "We left Dubai 52 hours ago to make this journey, so yeah, it's been a journey. Josephine Leonard added: "It's been about 52 and a half hours, not all travel time but quite a bit of it." There had been some criticism over the price the Irish government had set for those hoping to secure a seat on the flight. Advertisement Advertisement Adults were charged 800 (695) but children under 16 were able to travel for free. McEntee, defended the charge saying the price of the flight was "substantially reduced compared to the overall cost". Situation on the ground The first passengers to arrive back in the Republic of Ireland from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) landed at Dublin Airport on a commercial flight from Dubai on Wednesday night. The Emirates flight, which had almost 400 passengers on board, was the first in a number of days after the United States-Israeli attacks on Iran led to the closure of nearly all airspace in the Middle East. The UK government said on Saturday that it will charter a flight from Dubai early next week for British nationals wanting to leave the region, subject to the situation on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement The commercial flight, to leave from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will be available for a charge. British nationals, their spouse or partner and children under the age of 18 are eligible to register. Israel launched fresh attacks on southern Lebanon early on Sunday, reportedly targeting senior figures within the Lebanese contingent of Irans Revolutionary Guards Quds Force. This escalation follows a pledge from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "many surprises" in the ongoing conflict. The Israeli military issued a statement asserting it would "not allow Iranian terrorist elements to establish themselves in Lebanese territory." Advertisement Advertisement These recent strikes in Lebanon occurred just after an Israeli assault on an oil storage facility in Tehran on Saturday. Associated Press video captured pillars of fire from the Tehran incident, visible as a stark glow against the night sky. An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran (AFP via Getty Images) 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (AP) 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 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Were not looking to settle, Trump told reporters Saturday aboard Air Force One (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Israel renewed its assault on southern Lebanon early on 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 on 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. Flames rise from an oil storage facility south of the capital Tehran as strikes hit the city during the USIsraeli military campaign (Vahid Salemi/AP) (Vahid Salemi) 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 site that supplies the capital and neighbouring provinces in the north. Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere, Kuwait authorities said two border guards were killed when a swarm of missiles and drones hit the Gulf country. The Interior Ministry said only that the guards were killed while performing their national duty. 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 on Saturday in Israeli strikes. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised on Saturday for attacks on neighbouring countries, even as his countrys missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and hard-liners asserted that Tehrans 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 wars opening airstrikes. President Donald Trump gestures after stepping off Air Force One (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) (Mark Schiefelbein) Mr Pezeshkian, a member of the council, dismissed US President Donald Trumps call for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, saying: Thats a dream that they should take to their grave. Mr Trump threatened that Iran would be hit very hard and more areas and groups of people would become targets, without elaborating. Advertisement Advertisement The conflict has rattled global markets and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes. Were not looking to settle, Mr Trump told reporters on Saturday aboard Air Force One. Theyd like to settle. Were not looking to settle. He described the ongoing US 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. Mr 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 Mr Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets. Advertisement Advertisement The presidents statement said Irans leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces and 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. US strikes have not come from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from US bases and vessels in the region. Hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that the war strategy will not change. Demonstrators hold flags and placards as they attend a Stop the War Coalition march in London (Alberto Pezzali/AP) (Alberto Pezzali) 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. Advertisement 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. Late on 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. In other developments, Mr 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. Days ago, Kurdish officials said Kurdish-Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq were preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran and that the US had asked Iraqi Kurds to support them. 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. By Zhao Yimeng A national legislator has suggested expanding China's Science and Technology Backyard model overseas to support poverty reduction and agricultural modernization in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and across the Global South. Zhang Fusuo, a deputy to the National People's Congress and a professor at China Agricultural University, initiated the training model that dispatches graduate students and researchers to provide hands-on technical assistance to farmers in rural areas. Since its launch in Quzhou county, Hebei province, in 2009, a total of 5,700 backyards have been established nationwide, involving 290 higher education institutions and more than 10,000 students. Beginning in 2019, Chinese universities expanded the model overseas and established 14 backyards in 10 countries, including Malawi and Kenya, contributing to food security in more than a dozen villages. Zhang, also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and an international plant nutritionist, said the biggest step for science and technology backyards in the next decade is to continue going global, emphasizing the mutual benefits of engagement with other countries. However, he acknowledged challenges facing overseas STBs, including the model's reliance on research funding and the absence of stable funding channels for international operations. "Current overseas initiatives also face limitations in private sector and NGO participation, hindering a fully integrated approach that combines education, technology and industry," Zhang said, highlighting a lack of legal and financial support for NGOs seeking to establish backyards abroad. To address these challenges, the lawmaker suggested integrating overseas science and technology backyards into China's national foreign aid system, creating standardized operational procedures and dedicated funding streams. He also called for multistake-holder collaboration involving government, universities, enterprises and social organizations. "Domestic agricultural companies should be provided with financial incentives to partner with overseas science and technology backyards, establishing a mutually beneficial relationship where companies provide funding while the backyards offer technical expertise and talent," he said. The Global Science and Technology Backyard Center in Hainan province is expected to attract both Chinese and international agricultural enterprises to establish operations. By building a global cluster, the center will provide tailored agricultural technology services overseas, according to Zhang. In Sanya, Hainan province, the team is working to transform high-quality agricultural practices into replicable business models that can expand internationally. "The climate in many countries of the Global South is very similar to Sanya's tropical conditions, yet if you travel to parts of Africa, you'll see far fewer diverse crops," Zhang said. The team aims to transfer technology for cultivating various tropical agricultural products to African partners through the backyards, he added. Meanwhile, strengthening talent cultivation is also crucial, the NPC deputy said. He suggested expanding scholarship programs for students from the Global South to study in China, along with a "1+1+1" model that combines study in China, practical experience in their home countries and further training in China. "This should be coupled with a dual-mentor system pairing Chinese and local experts to ensure the effective adaptation of technology to local languages, cultures and policies," he said. Zhang emphasized the importance of training local agricultural leaders and technicians, as well as fostering exchanges and cooperation among farmers. "Different from the previous aid model where we spent money and sent our people to build facilities and cultivate the land in Africa, we now go for guidance two or three times a year, and they do it themselves," he said. China Daily Mar. 8th, 2026 Health officials in Lebanon say an Israeli attack on a hotel in the centre of the capital, Beirut, has killed at least four people, with Israel saying it targeted commanders from Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as it escalates its attacks on Iran. Early on Sunday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said an Israeli air raid hit Beiruts city centre, targeting a hotel room in Raouche, a popular tourist destination. In addition to the four killed, at least 10 people were wounded, it added. Raouche had remained untouched by Israeli strikes during the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended with a ceasefire in November 2024, as well as Israels subsequent attacks in violation of the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement The area along the Mediterranean coast is home to dozens of hotels, now overcrowded with displaced people who fled their homes elsewhere in Lebanon due to the ongoing fighting. The targeted hotel was also housing displaced people fleeing the war in southern Lebanon and Beiruts southern suburbs, and some were seen leaving the building for fear of further air strikes. In a statement, the Israeli military said it targeted key commanders of the IRGCs elite Quds Force, but did not name them. The commanders of the Quds Forces Lebanon Corps operated to advance terror attacks against the state of Israel and its civilians, while operating simultaneously for the IRGC in Iran, it added. Lebanon was drawn into the regional war on March 2, when Iran-backed group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the US-Israeli strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Rakan Nassereddine, the countrys health minister, on Sunday said Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed 394 people in the past week, including 83 children and 42 women, adding that nine rescue workers were among the dead. Israel launched multiple waves of strikes this week across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas. In southern Lebanon, the official National News Agency said at least 12 people were killed in three separate strikes overnight. The Israeli military earlier announced it had begun an additional wave of strikes in Beirut, saying it was targeting the capitals southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. Footage from Beiruts southern suburbs showed smoke following what appeared to be at least two air attacks several hours apart. The overnight attack is the second Israeli attack on a hotel in the Beirut area this week. On Wednesday, an Israeli air strike hit a hotel in the predominantly Christian neighbourhood of Hazmieh outside Beirut. Advertisement Advertisement Hezbollah, meanwhile, claimed rocket attacks early on Sunday targeting Israeli forces and a city across the border. It also said its fighters were engaged in clashes with Israeli forces near the border town of Aitaroun. Air raid sirens sounded in several areas of northern Israel, with no immediate reports of any casualties or damage. Meanwhile, the Israeli military on Sunday issued another forced evacuation order to four villages in southern Lebanon. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam recently said, The consequences of this displacement, at the humanitarian and political level, may well be unprecedented. Our country has been drawn into a devastating war that we did not seek and did not choose, he said. A Jacksonville man will spend time in prison after pleading guilty in a child exploitation case investigated by the Flagler County Sheriffs Office. Prosecutors say 26-year-old Amias Mabini pleaded guilty Wednesday to 12 charges connected to viewing and sharing child sexual abuse material. A judge sentenced him to five years in a Florida prison, followed by 10 years of sex offender probation. He will also have to register as a sex offender. Advertisement Advertisement >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The investigation started in January 2025 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a tip about illegal material being shared on the messaging app Kik. Detectives say they were able to trace the account back to Mabini. During the investigation, detectives documented dozens of cases where the material was viewed or shared from a home in Palm Coast. Authorities say Mabini had later moved to Jacksonville. Mabini was arrested in July 2025 and is now being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility while he waits to be transferred to the Florida Department of Corrections. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Avalon is revisiting the idea of making boutique hotels part of its commercial core, a proposal debated over concerns that small overnight accommodations would limit retail space. For years, Avalons municipal code confined motels and hotels to an area two miles south of the business hub. It was structured this way because residents worried that boutique hotels could oust small business owners competing for the same space, Mayor John McCorristin said. An uptick in business departures around Dune Drive several years ago perpetuated those concerns, the mayor said. To prevent further losses, local officials have drafted the new rules to prioritize mixed-use construction, specifically buildings that feature a ground floor for storefronts and upper levels for living quarters. Advertisement Advertisement If you do a small hotel type of thing, youve got to service your clientele, McCorristin said. If they come down (and) they dont have a place to eat, they dont want to stay at your place. Avalons Planning and Zoning Board will consider relaxing regulations at its next meeting March 10, according to the borough. If approved next week, the ordinance would be considered by the Avalon Borough Council at a later date. The change would apply to Dune Drive between 33rd and 22nd streets. The target area also includes parts of 20th and 22nd streets, both of which provide access to the beach. Dozens of storefronts in those blocks are close to the causeway between Avalon and inland communities, helping them capitalize on profits from Jersey Shore vacationers. Borough Administrator Scott Wahl said local officials are bullish about potential profits in the shoulder season, which refers to periods of spring and fall with strong tourist influxes. Advertisement Advertisement These facilities will likely host weddings, private family events such as reunions, and encourage the weekend visitor to the borough with the amenities of the business district within easy walking distance, Wahl said. Avalons interest is a shift from when a developer and former owner of both The Princeton and Whitebrier Block restaurants, asked to build a 21-room hotel in the business district. Local officials rejected the proposal in 2016. Avalon is embracing small hotels as it increasingly competes with its neighbors for tourism revenue. For several years, Stone Harbor has touted the success of The Reeds at Shelter Haven, a 37-room hotel popular for weddings and banquets. Farther south, a 77,000-square-foot hotel will soon open on the Wildwood boardwalk and feature downstairs retail space, reflecting a model desired by Avalon. Advertisement Advertisement Jane Bokunewicz, faculty director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton University, ties the growth in boutique motel construction to a desire for personalized accommodations. That experience is often different from traditional hotels at the Jersey Shore. Boutique-style hotels or motels would seem to be a good fit for Avalon, Bokunewicz said. These small, curated lodging options represent an opportunity to attract luxury visitors without disrupting the culture of exclusivity and privacy that attracts celebrities to buy vacation homes in the destination. Under the proposal, Avalon would allow zoning for hotels with 10-50 rooms, at least 300 square feet each, asking that they be available for at least nine months each year, according to the ordinance. At least one full-time employee would be needed on-site daily with a maid service. Hotels also must prohibit rooms from being used as full-time residences and not allow bookings longer than 14 days, the ordinance states. Advertisement Advertisement To address traffic concerns, the ordinance requires one parking space for each hotel room, as well as for every 1,000 square feet of restaurant space. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. NEED TO KNOW A Minnesota judge recently dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit regarding the 2021 death of 19-year-old James Lee Stanback The teen was crushed by a falling stack of lumber while operating a forklift at a Menards in Golden Valley The complaint, filed by his mother, claimed unsafe conditions and alleged the lumber was stacked too high and her son, a new hire, did not receive proper training or supervision A judge in Minnesota dismissed a wrongful death suit filed after a man's family said he was crushed to death at a home improvement store. James Lee Stanback, 19, died in July 2021 while working at a Menards in Golden Valley, per a lawsuit obtained by PEOPLE filed by his mother, Meghan Klein, in Hennepin County District Court in June 2024. Advertisement Advertisement The complaint alleged that Stanback died after a large stack of lumber fell on him while he was operating a forklift in the stores lumberyard, crushing him to death. James Lee Stanback Credit: gofundme Stanbacks mother said that her son was only supposed to work at the job during the summer before he started college. He was just starting out in life, and didn't get a chance," she said, per CBS News. She added that her life has been a blur" since she lost her son. The complaint claimed the lumber that crushed Stanback was stacked too high, creating unstable piles that could collapse. It also alleged that the stack of lumber that Stanback was attempting to move at the time of his death weighed 9,300-12,000 lbs., which significantly exceeded the weight limit on the forklifts safety cage. Advertisement Advertisement The complaint further claimed that Stanback had only been hired about a month before the fatal incident, alleging that he was operating the forklift without adequate supervision even though he was still just a trainee. An employee of the company told OSHA [the Occupational Safety and Health Administration] that employees were frequently pressured by contractors to work quickly and that new hires were rushed through forklift training and not trained properly, with only minimal monitoring, the complaint alleged. 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. The complaint alleged that Stanback died a tragic, premature and wrongful death due to the grossly negligent conduct of the company and several of Stanbacks co-workers at the time. James Lee Stanback Credit: gofundme However, in an order issued on Feb. 17, Judge Joseph R. Klein of the Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court dismissed all claims brought forth by Stanbacks family in the wrongful death suit. Advertisement Advertisement The judge said that the complaint did not present adequate allegations that Menards intentionally caused harm to Stanback which would be the only reason the family would be entitled to damages that exceeded a workers compensation benefits. The judge also stated that the claim did not adequately allege that Stanbacks co-workers acted with gross negligence nor caused intentional harm. He also said that in general, safe working conditions are the responsibility of the employer, not individual employees. An attorney for Stanbacks mother, as well as attorneys for Menards, did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs requests for comment on the recent ruling. In a GoFundMe created by Stanbacks mother at the time of his death, she said that her son was an exceptional young man. Advertisement Advertisement He was an overachiever at everything he did. Anything he put his mind to he accomplished, she continued. His soul filled every room with rays of light and happiness. He was so excited to be working." Read the original article on People A federal judge ruled Saturday that Kari Lake unlawfully led the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) for several months last year and voided mass layoffs and other actions taken during that period to dismantle the agency. The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is an independent federal agency that oversees the Voice of America (VOA), the USs largest and oldest international broadcaster, and provides grants to Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe and other news agencies. The Trump administration moved to defund the agency in early 2025 and appointed Lake to oversee the agency, but did not receive Senate confirmation for her role. Despite efforts to defund the agency, Congress appropriated half a billion dollars more than Lake requested in funding for the agency in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement In her role, Lake cut contracts and over 1,000 staff positions at the agency when she was appointed to the role on 31 July before she relinquished the position on 19 November. Only the Appointments Clause or the Vacancies Acts exclusive structure may authorize service as a principal officer, and Lake satisfies the requirements of neither the statute nor the Constitution, US district court judge Royce C Lamberth wrote in the ruling. Lamberth leaned on the ruling by the third circuit court of appeals that ruled the appointment of Alina Habba, Donald Trumps former personal lawyer, to lead the US attorneys office in New Jersey was invalid. Adopting Lakes position would require the Court to find that the President can fill a first assistantship at any time during a vacancy in a Senate-confirmed office and then elevate the first assistant to serve as the acting officer, Lamberth said in the ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Lake said in a statement on social media: We will appeal this outrageous ruling from an activist DC District Court Judge. Lake also reposted a claim that the judge slept through arguments in the trial, responding not surprised. Morbid obesity can cause massive issues with blood sugar. Lamberth was appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1987. Plaintiffs in the case, Voice of Americas White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara, Jessica Jerreat and Kate Neeper, said they felt vindicated and deeply grateful for the judges ruling in the case. The judges ruling that Kari Lakes actions shall have no force or effect is a powerful step toward undoing the damage she has inflicted on this American institution that we love, they said in a statement. Even as we work through what this ruling means for colleagues harmed by her actions, it brings renewed hope and momentum to the next phase of our fight: restoring VOAs global operations and ensuring we continue to produce journalism, not propaganda. March 8 (UPI) -- A federal judge invalidated Kari Lake's efforts to dismantle Voice of America amid sweeping layoffs at the U.S. Agency for Global Media because she was not eligible for the position. U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled on Saturday that when President Donald Trump appointed her acting director of USAGM but, because she had not been confirmed for the role by the Senate, all of her actions in the position are null and void, The Guardian and NPR reported. During a four-month period in 2025, Lake laid off more than 1,000 people at the independent federal agency, including efforts to shutter Voice of America and defund other U.S. government-backed news agencies. Advertisement Advertisement "Only the Appointments Clause or the Vacancies Act's exclusive structure may authorize service as a principal officer, and Lake satisfies the requirements of neither the statute nor the Constitution," Lamberth wrote in his ruling. Lamberth said, based on evidence, Lake exercised 95% of the USAGM CEO's duties, including at one point overruling its then acting CEO, Victor Morales, from January 2025 until July 2025, when she replaced him. Among actions the judge invalidated was Lake's move to fire 639 USAGM employees as a reduction-in-force in June 2025. Lake, who called the ruling "bogus," said on Saturday night that an "activist judge" is trying to stand in the way of the Trump administration's efforts to cut "bureaucracy, eliminate waste and restore accountability to the government." Advertisement Advertisement VOA employees who filed the suit in an effort to restore the news agency's previous global operations said in a statement that they felt "vindicated and deeply grateful" for the ruling. "The judge's ruling that Kari Lake's actions shall have no force or effect is a powerful step toward undoing the damage she has inflicted on this American institution that we love," Patsy Widakuswara, Jessica Jerreat and Kate Neeper said in the statement. Kari Lake was illegally empowered to run the U.S. Agency for Global Media the federal agency that oversees Voice of America and her actions in that role were illegitimate, a federal judge ruled Saturday. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth concluded that Lake was ineligible to serve as USAGMs acting CEO when she was formally elevated to the position on July 31 in an acting capacity and without Senate confirmation. She relinquished that position on Nov. 19. Lamberth said any actions Lake took in that four-month timeframe must be treated as void, including an Aug. 29 reduction in USAGMs workforce. Lamberth also invalidated actions Lake took when the agencys previous acting CEO, Victor Morales, delegated nearly the entirety of his responsibilities to her, concluding that this was also an illegal end-run around the Senates advice and consent role. Advertisement Advertisement The Court finds that these expansive delegations were an unlawful effort to transform Lake into the CEO of U.S. Agency for Global Media in all but name, the judge wrote. In a statement to POLITICO, Lake said she strongly disagrees with the ruling and that the government will appeal. The American people gave President Trump a mandate to cut bloated bureaucracy, eliminate waste, and restore accountability to government, she added. An activist judge is trying to stand in the way of those efforts at USAGM. Lake specifically called out Lamberth, saying he has a pattern of activist rulings and this case is no different. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Patsy Widakuswara, Kate Neeper and Jessica Jerreat, the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Lake, said they were vindicated and deeply grateful. The judges ruling that Kari Lakes actions shall have no force or effect is a powerful step toward undoing the damage she has inflicted on this American institution that we love, they said. Even as we work through what this ruling means for colleagues harmed by her actions, it brings renewed hope and momentum to the next phase of our fight: restoring VOAs global operations and ensuring we continue to produce journalism, not propaganda. At the heart of the fight is the federal Vacancies Reform Act, which limits the way agencies can appoint temporary leaders while awaiting permanent nominees to be confirmed. Lake, Lamberth concluded, did not fit any of the criteria required to assume the acting CEO position. Though Lake claimed that as Morales deputy or first assistant she was eligible to assume the acting CEO position once he was removed from it, Lamberth said this would essentially negate the Senates role in confirming powerful appointees. Advertisement Advertisement Lamberth leaned heavily on the ruling by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals that similarly invalidated the appointment of Alina Habba, President Donald Trumps former personal lawyer, to lead the U.S. Attorneys Office in New Jersey. Adopting Lakes position would require the Court to find that the President can fill a first assistantship at any time during a vacancy in a Senate-confirmed office and then elevate the first assistant to serve as the acting officer, Lamberth said, agreeing with other courts that instead only the person occupying the deputy role at the time the vacancy occurs is eligible to take on the acting role. Because Lake was not first assistant at the time of the vacancy, she lacks authority to serve as the acting CEO, Lamberth wrote. Hundreds of travelers fled Kansas City International Airport Sunday afternoon amid an unspecified threat which grounded flights and caused major travel disruptions in the area. The incident was reported around 11:50 a.m local time at the airport in Missouri. Unverified reports suggested a potential bomb threat. Droves of passengers were seen exiting the terminal with luggage in tow, while others idled on the tarmac staring at their phones. Both inbound and outbound flights were grounded, and a section of the interstate near the airport was closed. Advertisement Advertisement Suddenly there was an airport worker saying immediately evacuate, people got up fast and rushed out of there, one traveler told KAKE News. Following a search of the building by law enforcement, the threat was deemed not credible and people were allowed to return to the terminal. At around 3 p.m., a department spokesperson told The Independent that the evacuation is over and that the terminal has since reopened. Officials briefly evacuated travelers from the Kansas City International Airport in Missouri on Sunday after an unspecified threat was reported, triggering major disruptions (Lauren Schwentker/Instagram) The threat was reviewed and determined not to be credible, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X at 4 p.m. Threats like these are a federal crime. FBI and law enforcement partners will fully investigate and bring to justice anyone responsible. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for further information from The Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after 3 p.m., Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the security incident is now clear and normal operations are resuming. He expressed gratitude to the FBI and other law enforcement personnel for their timely response. On Sunday evening, a spokesperson for the aviation department provided more details about the reported threat in a statement to The Independent. The department received a call of a potential device in the airport and parking garage on Sunday morning, leading to the evacuation order, the spokesperson said. After extensive searches, including with bomb and arson units, it was determined there was no credible threat. The sudden evacuation led to major travel interruptions in the area. A heavy police presence was seen outside the airport. Advertisement Advertisement Both inbound and outbound flights were grounded, while traffic was shifted away from the Missouri airport, according to KAKE News. Southwest Airlines confirmed that several flights headed for Kansas City were diverted on Sunday. Tensions are currently heightened at international airports as the U.S. conflict with Iran escalates. Since the U.S. and Israel launched their joint attack in late February, several airports in the Middle East have sustained damage as a result of Iranian drone strikes including in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. A counterterrorism expert cautioned earlier this week that Americans should remain vigilant in airports and other crowded areas. The Missouri airport was listed as the forty-fourth busiest in the country in 2022, servicing 4.7 million travelers that year (Google Maps) Sundays evacuation comes less than one month after officials abruptly shut down the airspace over El Paso International Airport. The travel ban, which was reversed in a matter of hours, stemmed from border officials firing a high-energy laser at what they believed to be a cartel drone, but it turned out to be a balloon, according to reports. Its the second evacuation from the Kansas airport in the past three months. On New Years Eve, travelers were instructed to leave the airport as a result of a potential threat, but law enforcement ultimately determined it was not credible. The Kansas City airport is the 44th busiest in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, servicing 4.7 million passengers that year. Owning firearm suppressors or sawed-off shotguns is legal federally, but not in Kansas. Some state lawmakers are trying to change that, but their main challenge to passing legislation is law enforcement. The charge of criminal use of weapons includes both silencers and short-barreled shotguns in Kansas law . A new bill would legalize those gun modifications. Gun owners currently need to register those modifications with the federal government and until recently had to pay a tax. Some Kansas lawmakers want to legalize silencers and sawed-off shotguns. Firearm suppressor sales are growing. Change in law could increase that Republican Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach told lawmakers on March 2 that the difference in federal and state law is a trap. Advertisement Advertisement I'm sure many people in this room have fired a gun with a suppressor on it in the state of Kansas, Kobach said at a committee meeting, not knowing that was a violation of Kansas criminal law. The proposed change in state law comes as firearm suppressor sales are growing, and the removal of federal registration costs might accelerate that. According to data from the American Suppressor Association, the number of registered silencers has increased from almost 800,000 in 2015 to nearly 6 million at the beginning of 2026. The biggest challenge to the legislation is coming from Kansas law enforcement organizations. Advertisement Advertisement The organizations say they are not against the removal of the silencers ban for law-abiding gun owners, but they still want there to be deterrents in place for people using the gun modifications when committing a crime. What were trying to do is address those folks that might use the silencer in a nefarious way, Kansas Sheriffs Association legislative chair and Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said. Not the legal gun owners or suppression owners. Law enforcement official worries about legalizing short-barreled shotguns The Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police legislative chair chief Darrell Atteberry didn't oppose the silencer portion of the bill, but didn't like legalizing short-barreled shotguns. Thats a scary thing, the Bel Aire police chief said. Theyre devastating. Advertisement Advertisement The federal law changed with the Trump Administrations One Big Beautiful Bill. A longstanding $200 tax for people registering silencers and short shotguns under the 1934 National Firearms Act, or NFA, was removed with the legislation. The removal of the tax has led to a bevy of lawsuits at the federal level attempting to overturn the entire NFA. The reasoning behind the suits is the fact that despite the removal of the $200 tax on silencers, owners still must register their gun modifications federally. If the lawsuits are successful and the legislation makes its way through the Statehouse, then gun modifications would be legal in Kansas with no federal registration required. Advertisement Advertisement Zach Boblitt reports on the Kansas Statehouse and government for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas gun law change faces police opposition FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) The fate of hundreds of convicted violent offenders now hinges on the Kentucky Court of Appeals, which Attorney General Russell Coleman asked to block a ruling that could trigger their early release. According to Attorney General Russell Coleman, the Franklin County Circuit Court reportedly nullified a portion of the Safer Kentucky Act (HB 5), which broadened the definition of violent offender to include those convicted of strangulation, reckless homicide, attempted murder, carjacking, and more. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Before its passage, criminals convicted of offenses like strangulation and reckless homicide became eligible for early release after serving only 20% of their sentences. The Safer Kentucky Act extended this eligibility to 85% sentence completion. The General Assembly passed the Safer Kentucky Act to protect families and support law enforcement, Attorney General Coleman said. Unless the Court of Appeals steps in, more violent criminals could soon be back in your neighborhood. On Friday, Coleman said that unless action is taken, over 240 violent, convicted criminals could immediately be released by the Kentucky Parole Board. According to a list Coleman released, 12 eligible offenders were convicted in Fayette County on charges including robbery, sexual abuse, strangulation, rape, and sodomy. Several officials are backing Coleman in the push to fully enact the Safer Kentucky Act. Advertisement Advertisement All law-abiding Kentuckians, regardless of their political beliefs, want the worst of the worst kept away from them so that they may live a safe and more prosperous life. HB 5 helps law enforcement with this task, President of the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police Scott Hildebrand said. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Letting violent criminals out onto our streets will put Kentucky families and police officers at risk, Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Shawn Butler said. Kentuckys police chiefs proudly stand with Attorney General Coleman to uphold the Safer Kentucky Act and keep our families and law enforcement safe. To see the list of the 240 offenders affected, click here. 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 56 News. KILLEEN, Texas (FOX 44) UPDATE: The Killeen Police Department is currently investigating a shots fired disturbance that occurred at a department store. At approximately 1:00 p.m., Saturday (March 7, 2026), officers were dispatched to the Ross department store located at 3205 E. Central Texas Expressway in reference to a disturbance involving shots fired. Upon arrival, officers began investigating and determined that the disturbance involved several individuals. No injuries were reported. During the course of the investigation, detectives obtained surveillance video from the business and are seeking to identify and speak with three males seen in the photos below in reference to this incident. (COURTESY: Killeen Police Department) Anyone with information about the individuals or this incident is asked to contact Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at http://www.bellcountycrimestoppers.com. Advertisement Advertisement The Killeen Police Department Criminal Investigation Division, Robbery-Homicide Unit, is actively investigating this case. No additional information is available at this time. The Killeen Police Department is currently investigating an isolated incident involving two individuals at the Ross department store located at 3205 E. Central Texas Expressway that resulted in shots being fired. No injuries have been reported at this time. This is an open and active investigation and details are limited at this time. Please avoid the area while officers continue their investigation. There is no threat to the public. 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 KWKT - FOX 44. Kristi Noems stint as governor of South Dakota has come under fresh scrutiny by a former local mayor, who said she did a Sarah Palin and quit, just days after she was fired from her role as Homeland Security secretary. Noem, who served as governor from 2019 to 2025, became the first cabinet member to be fired by Trump during his second term. The embarrassing dismissal came amid growing scrutiny of her aggressive immigration operations across the country, DHSs purchase of multiple luxury jets for staff, major reductions in FEMA staff, and rumors of an affair with adviser Corey Lewandowski. Advertisement Advertisement Mike Levsen, the former mayor of Aberdeen in Noems home state of South Dakota, says her dismissal came as no surprise given her lack of any significant accomplishment during her time as governor of the state. The Noem governorship covered six years then did a Sarah Palin and quit, Levsen wrote in a blog post, comparing Noem to the former Alaska Gov. who resigned midway through her first term, citing mounting legal fees being brought by various ethics investigations being brought against her. Palin was Senator John McCains running mate during the 2008 presidential election. Kristi Noems tenure as governor has come under criticism following her firing as DHS secretary (AFP/Getty) Her legacy was minimal involvement with the Legislature, frequent absences, no transparency, repeated operational screwups, soaring turnover and instances of self-dealing for herself and her family, Levsen wrote. Levsen criticized Noems Covid-era ad campaign, Freedom Works Here, as a Trump-based ploy that likely contributed to South Dakotas listing high on some periodical per capita death lists. Advertisement Advertisement The campaign, which attempted to draw new residents to the state, cost $6.5 million, and South Dakota News Watch reported at the time that there were hurdles with the campaign. Levsen also noted Noems difficult relationship with tribal governments, as all nine of South Dakotas indigenous tribes voted in 2024 to ban Noem from their lands, according to CNN. Is there a single thing in South Dakota now better as a result of her time in office?" Levsen questioned in the post. Noem was fired by Trump amidst mounting scrutiny over fallout in Minnesota, following DHSs disastrous Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, which saw two U.S. citizens shot dead in confrontations with federal agents. Advertisement Advertisement Noem described the two Americans, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, as domestic terrorists. She has refused to apologize for the comments. She also drew fierce criticism with her purchase of multiple luxury jets, a $220 million ad campaign, gutting FEMA, and her rumored affair with Lewandowski. Noem was axed by President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post Thursday (Getty) The final nail in the coffin appears to have been Noems congressional testimony this past week, during which lawmakers from both sides of the aisle criticized her management and judgment. A day after her second hearing, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Noem was out at DHS and that he was nominating Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace her. Advertisement Advertisement 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 defended her performance during her hearings on Capitol Hill. She also drew fire for insisting that the $220 million DHS ad campaign had been launched with the presidents approval, which Trump has denied. Days after her humiliating firing, Trump named Noem as special envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a new security initiative that Trump says will focus on the Western Hemisphere. Right-to-work isnt working in Kentucky. Kentuckians are struggling to keep up with rising costs and its not hard to see. Workers wages are not keeping up with basic needs, such as housing, groceries, health care and childcare. Some people need multiple jobs just to feed their families. While hardworking Kentuckians struggle, the wealthy and well-connected continue to receive tax breaks and special treatment from politicians in Frankfort and Washington. This didnt happen by accident. This was by design. Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, we saw a dramatic shift against working families. The first order of business for the new Republican majority in the Kentucky House was passing so-called right-to-work legislation, House Bill 1. This legislation weakened unions and led to lower pay for workers. Nearly a decade has passed, and workers are not thriving in Kentucky like they said they would. Opinion: KY Senate race has two Democratic candidates we can't ignore Kentuckians want support for workers Big business has virtually no limits on their influence in Frankfort. They spend exceedingly large amounts of money on lobbying the Kentucky supermajority to shape laws to further enrich themselves. When workers try to organize, demand fair wages, safe workplaces and decent benefits, big business uses the profits theyve gathered off the backs of working people to directly advocate against them. Some wealthy business interests claim right-to-work has contributed to the states economic growth over the past several years, but whose growth is it, really? The fact of the matter is corporate profits are soaring and executives are cashing in, while families are left scraping by. Advertisement Advertisement Its true Kentucky has seen record-breaking economic momentum under the leadership of Gov. Andy Beshear, including $43 billion in private sector investments and over 63,000 new jobs. However, Beshear agrees Kentucky can attract businesses and investment without simultaneously suppressing unions. A recent statewide poll conducted by KyPolicy found that 85% of Kentucky voters want the state legislature to prioritize raising worker pay and improving worker benefits. This poll also found that 60% of Kentuckians support making it easier for workers to join or form a union. Kentuckians are telling us they want us to focus on supporting workers, and our colleagues in the General Assembly should listen. Opinion: Beshear as president is KY's best chance to gain leverage A fight worth having Bad faith politicians in Frankfort will tell you we have a worker shortage. They pin the problem on Kentuckians not willing to work, and absolve big business from any accountability. But in reality, we have a wage problem. Repealing right-to-work is a necessary step toward fixing that imbalance. Advertisement Advertisement Thats why we have introduced House Bill 585, legislation to repeal Kentuckys "right-to-work" law and restore Kentuckys ability to have strong unions fighting for workers rights. House Bill 585 is about making sure Kentucky works for the people who do the work, not just those at the top. Across the country, states with stronger unions have higher wages, better benefits and safer workplaces. Union workers earn more, are more likely to have health insurance and retirement security and are better protected on the job. When unions are strong, workers are strong. This is a fight worth having. Its a fight working people are ready for, and its a fight we cannot afford to keep putting off. Standing together is how workers have always won dignity, fairness and opportunity. This is how Kentucky can build a stronger future for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Working Kentuckians deserve better. Agree or disagree? Submit your letter to the editor. Kentucky State Representative Chad Aull, D-Lexington Rep. Chad Aull represents Kentucky's 79th House District in Lexington Adrielle Camuel Rep. Adrielle Camuel represents Kentucky's 93rd House District in Lexington This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Stronger KY unions is a fight workers can't afford to skip | Opinion Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has yet again claimed, without providing evidence, that the money being transported through Hungary by several cash-in-transit vehicles from Ukraine's state-run Oschadbank could belong to a "Ukrainian military mafia". Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has said in response that "a guilty conscience needs no accuser". Source: Szijjarto on Facebook; Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesman for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Szijjarto was criticising a Sunday tweet in which Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on Hungary to return the currency and gold bars seized from the Oschadbank cash-in-transit vehicles after they were detained on 5 March. Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Szijjarto: "Instead of being outraged, they should finally answer some simple questions: why were the Ukrainians transporting US$900 million and 420 million in cash in Hungary? What did they spend it on and in whose interests? How much of it was spent in Hungary and in whose interests? The Ukrainians have been unable to answer these simple questions for three days, so suspicion is growing that this could be money from the Ukrainian military mafia." Quote from Tykhyi: "In Ukraine, we say: 'A guilty conscience needs no accuser'. This is exactly the case. We are waiting for the return of the stolen funds and are preparing concrete legal action. And we will also demand justice and accountability." Background: On 6 March, Szijjarto said that Budapest suspects that the Oschadbank vehicles were carrying "money from the Ukrainian military mafia". On the evening of 6 March, the seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards detained in Hungary returned to Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (This story was updated to add a video.) Amidst local concerns about the future of the Corpus Christi Army Depot, national officials visited the installation on March 6. In recent years, the workload at the depot has shrunk, leading to a drop in employees. In 2011, the depot employed 5,900 civilians. By 2021, the figure dropped to 3,191. Based on current workload projections, it could fall to 1,000. Advertisement Advertisement In February, city of Corpus Christi and Nueces County leaders, along with the South Texas Military Task Force and the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, called on federal leaders to stop the decline. Local leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., to bring attention to the issue. Several local entities have issued proclamations of support. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (front) discusses his support for the Corpus Christi Army Depot on March 6. Army Under Secretary Mike Obadal, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez met with army depot leaders and toured the facility, joined by Nueces County Judge Connie Scott and Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo. U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud did not attend but sent a representative. Cornyn said that he had invited Obadal to come and learn about the army depot's workforce and mission. "We all know that CCAD's workload has diminished given the changes in recent years and through no fault of their own," Cornyn said. "It's one of the largest employers in the region. This loss of workforce poses significant threat to the Coastal Bend economy, and that's not something we're going to take lying down." Advertisement Advertisement Cornyn said that there will be financial and policy changes to ensure fair treatment for the depot. Gonzalez is a Democrat. Cornyn is a Republican. Gonzalez said that the meeting was fascinating and included discussion on policy changes to conserve jobs and potentially increase the workload. "We're doing this in a bipartisan manner," Gonzalez said. "It's something that's good for the region, it's good for the state and it's good for our country." The Corpus Christi Army Depot is the largest helicopter repair facility in the world. Beyond major construction projects, the army depot does not receive funding directly from the federal government. Instead, it is paid for the repairs it completes. Advertisement Advertisement But local leaders, including former leadership of the army depot, say that the federal government has not enforced rules that half of military repair work be done by the U.S. military's depots and arsenals, known as the organic industrial base. As the army depot workload has shrunk, work has instead gone to other entities. In previous statements, former Corpus Christi Army Depot Cmdr. Kyle Hogan said that it is important for strategic resiliency and national defense to maintain the military's capability. Hogan was also in attendance on March 6. Specifically, local leaders want Congress to accelerate the completion of CCAD's engine and powertrain repair facility and expand the depot's ability to support rotary-wing readiness. Other goals include reducing excessive cost recovery rates, moving additional work to CCAD, protecting right-to-repair policies and enforcing the 50/50 rule for military repair work. Contact education reporter Olivia Garrett at olivia.garrett@caller.com. This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Sen. Cornyn, Rep. Gonzalez visit Corpus Christi Army Depot By Ahmed Kerdi and Maayan Lubell BEIRUT, March 8 (Reuters) - Israel's military said it hit Iranian commanders in the Lebanese capital early on Sunday, expanding the scope of its campaign to the heart of Beirut after days of strikes that have left nearly 400 people dead. The drone strike was the first within the city limits of Lebanon's capital since Israel-Hezbollah hostilities resumed last week, and came amid heavy bombardment on Beirut's southern suburbs and the country's south and east. Advertisement Advertisement Israel said it targeted key commanders of Iran's elite Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards but did not name them. "The commanders of the Quds Force's Lebanon Corps operated to advance terror attacks against the state of Israel and its civilians, while operating simultaneously for the IRGC in Iran," the Israeli military said in a statement. TWO ISRAELI SOLDIERS KILLED IN SOUTH LEBANON An Israeli military source said the strike targeted five senior Quds Force members, including intelligence and finance personnel. Lebanon says four people were killed in the strike, part of a rapidly rising death toll that has reached 394 people, the health ministry said on Sunday, including at least 83 children and 42 women. Advertisement Advertisement Lebanon's health ministry does not otherwise distinguish between civilians and military personnel. Israel's military has so far killed about 200 Hezbollah militants, spokesman Nadav Shoshani said in an online briefing. Hezbollah has not published a toll for its fighters. Israel's military announced on Sunday that two Israeli soldiers had been killed in southern Lebanon, the first casualties in the Israeli army since the launch of the war. Lebanon was pulled into the widening U.S.-Israel war with Iran on Monday after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah fired into Israel. Israel responded with heavy strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon and near Beirut - and a rare Israeli airborne raid deep into Lebanese territory that left 41 dead. Advertisement Advertisement CHILDREN AMONG WOUNDED IN BEIRUT The Raouche neighbourhood on Beirut's seafront is typically a tourist attraction, but in recent days has hosted people displaced by strikes, some of whom stayed at the Ramada hotel. Israel's strike appeared to hit a corner suite on the hotel's fourth floor. A Reuters reporter observed the windows of the suite were shattered and surrounding facade blackened. Ten people were also injured in the attack on Beirut's Raouche area, the Lebanese health ministry said. Khalil Abou Mohammad was staying in a building across the street after being displaced earlier this week. Advertisement Advertisement His three children were wounded by the force of the strike and were undergoing surgery at a nearby hospital, he said as he showed Reuters bloodstained bed covers. "We came to stay here, and as you can see, we were sleeping at 3:30 (a.m.) and the strike hit," Abou Mohammad told Reuters. Other heavy bombardment in southern Lebanese towns on Sunday pulverized several homes, Reuters footage showed. A children's notebook lay in the debris near sheets of destroyed solar panels and cars buried under mounds of dust and debris. ISRAEL WARNS IRANIAN OFFICIALS IN LEBANON Last week, Israel said it had killed the commander of Iran's Quds Force in Lebanon, Daoud Ali Zadeh, in a strike in Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement It said a strike on Beirut's suburbs had killed Reza Khuza'i, whom it said was head of Hezbollah's weapons build-up and chief of staff of the Quds Force's Lebanon Corps. Israel has warned any representatives of Iran in Lebanon to leave immediately or risk being targeted, and struck an area near the Iranian embassy in Lebanon earlier this week. Dozens of Iranian nationals have left in recent days, and the Lebanese government has ordered authorities to arrest and deport any Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon, though it was unclear if they had done so. Senior Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati has denied that Iranian forces are on the ground in Lebanon. (Reporting by Laila Bassam, Ahmed Kerdi and Hatem Maher; Writing by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Franklin Paul, Diane Craft and Bernadette Baum) Israel struck a hotel in central Beirut on Sunday, the first attack on the city centre since the start of the new war with Hezbollah, as Lebanon said nearly 400 people were killed over the past week. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on Monday, when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes. Israel, which has kept up strikes targeting Hezbollah despite a 2024 ceasefire, launched multiple waves of strikes this week across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas. Advertisement Advertisement Hezbollah said on Sunday that it repeatedly targeted northern Israel, including attacking a naval base in Haifa and sending a swarm of drones towards the city of Nahariya. It later said it had downed an Israeli drone over Wadi Saluki in southern Lebanon. Israel's military, meanwhile, said that two of its soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, the first fatalities among its forces since the latest offensive began on March 2. It also reiterated its call for Lebanese residents to leave the area south of the Litani River, which covers many hundreds of square kilometres (miles). Lebanon's health minister Rakan Nassereddine on Sunday said Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed 394 people over the past week, including 83 children and 42 women. Advertisement Advertisement Social affairs minister Haneen Sayed later said 517,000 displaced people had registered their names on a website affiliated with the ministry. Earlier the same day, the health ministry said an Israeli air strike hit Beirut's city centre, targeting "a hotel room" and killing four people and wounding 10 others. - 'No safe place' - "I came here from the southern suburbs to be safe with my children and the strike hit," said Abu Hussein, a 45-year-old taxi driver while showing his damaged car. "There is no safe place." An AFP photographer at the bombarded seafront hotel saw one room on the fourth floor with shattered glass and charred walls, while security forces cordoned off the site. Advertisement Advertisement Israel's military said it had "conducted a precise strike" targeting "five commanders" in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, its foreign operations arm, "while they were meeting at a hotel in Beirut". A security official at the scene told AFP on condition of anonymity that Hezbollah-linked rescuers recovered three bodies from the hotel. The Raouche area is a major tourist destination and remained untouched by Israeli strikes during the previous war between Israel and Hezbollah, which a November 2024 ceasefire sought to end. Along its Mediterranean coast, the area is home to dozens of hotels, now overcrowded with displaced people who fled their homes elsewhere in Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement - Iranians evacuated - Lebanon's government on Thursday banned any activity by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps -- a main backer of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. A Lebanese official who requested anonymity told AFP that "a total of 117 Iranians, including diplomats and embassy staff, were evacuated on a Russian plane that left Beirut overnight from Saturday to Sunday" for Turkey. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi also accused Hezbollah of carrying out a "blatant attack on Cyprus", after Nicosia said an Iranian-made drone that hit a British base on the island on Monday was probably fired by Hezbollah in Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement In the south, a strike on Sir al-Gharbiyeh, just north of the Litani, killed 11 people including children according to the health ministry, with rescue efforts ongoing to find people under the rubble. Later on Sunday, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported two Israeli strikes on the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh in the south. Lebanon's health ministry reported one Palestinian killed and 10 wounded. Earlier that day, an Israeli strike on Tefahta, also in the south but above the Litani river, killed six people according to the ministry. Israel's army said, meanwhile, that it struck "over 600" Hezbollah targets and killed 200 members of the group in the past week. Advertisement Advertisement It announced in a later statement that it carried out over 100 air strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah. Lebanon's health minister insisted that "these are civilians being targeted, not, as they claim, military personnel and military installations". On Friday night, a failed Israeli commando operation to find the remains of airman Ron Arad, missing since 1986, killed 41 people in eastern Lebanon. lar/ami/nad/dcp In his post, Larijani claimed that several US soldiers had been captured during Operation Epic Fury, alleging that Washington reported them instead as killed in order to conceal the incident. US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday denied Iranian National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani's claim on X/Twitter that Iran had captured several US soldiers. The Iranian regimes claims of capturing American soldiers are yet another example of its lies and deceptions, a CENTCOM spokesman told Al Jazeera Arabic. Advertisement Advertisement In his post, Larijani claimed that several US soldiers had been captured during Operation Epic Fury, alleging that Washington reported them instead as killed in order to conceal the incident. "It has been reported to me that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner," Larijani wrote. "But the Americans claim that they have been killed in action." "Despite their futile efforts, the truth is not something they can hide for too long." Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani speaks after meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon August 13, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/AZIZ TAHER) Ali Larijani claims massive US losses Larijani added in a seperate Saturday X post, that ""They [the US] are lying that 5-6 American soldiers have been killed," noting that "later, under the pretext of an accident, they will inflate the number of casualties." Advertisement Advertisement Larijani has previously claimed that almost 500 US soldiers were killed in the war by Iranian forces, and threatened further action against Gulf states housing US bases being used as part of Operation Epic Fury. "When the enemy attacks us from bases in the region, we respond, and we will continue to respond," he said. "This is our right and a standing policy. Regional countries must either prevent the US from using their territory against Iran, or we will have no choice but to do it ourselves." Sen. Lindsey Graham just called Americas $1 billion a day military operations in Iran a great investment for America. During this weeks edition of Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, host Maria Bartiromo asked the South Carolina senator to justify the staggering cost of the conflict, which the Pentagon is planning to ask for billions more to fund and has sent oil prices soaring. Politics: Democrats Are Very Skeptical About Funding For Trumps Iran War Best money ever spent, he said. Whats it worth to America to take down a religious Nazi regime whos trying to build a nuclear weapon to deliver to America? Thats a really good investment. Advertisement Advertisement Calling it imperative that Iran never go nuclear, Graham said, What would it cost America if Iran had 11 nuclear bombs to threaten us? They would to hold us hostage. Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. BARTIROMO: A billion dollars a day. Oil prices up 27% in a week. The president wants a $1.5t defense budget. The Pentagon wants $50b for these strikes. How are you gonna answer? LINDSEY GRAHAM: Best money ever spent. What's it worth to America to take down a religious nazi pic.twitter.com/c07vT5ONE9 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 8, 2026 Iran has long maintained its enriched uranium supply only for its nuclear energy program and research. But a majority of its cache clocks around 60% purity, which experts say is exponentially stronger than whats needed for civilian use though still shy of 90% weapons-grade levels. Even if the country realized its nuclear ambitions, its weapons capacity would be minuscule compared to the U.S., which has an estimated 3,700 active nuclear warheads in its military stockpile, according to figures from the Federation of American Scientists released in January 2025. Politics: U.S. Winter Olympic Champion Reveals Why It's A No To Donald Trump Graham went on to commend President Donald Trump as a man of peace and business, saving the world from real chaos as he vowed to vote for his proposed $1.5 trillion 2027 defense budget and a $50 billion supplemental defense package the Pentagon reportedly plans to soon present to Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump is resetting the world in a way nobody could have dreamed of a year ago. Our military is the best of all time, the senator said. Iran is going down, and Cuba is next. Watch Grahams full Fox News interview here. Related... Read the original on HuffPost CareerSource Northeast Florida has scheduled several job fairs and hiring events throughout March to connect job seekers with employers across the region. CareerSource Northeast Florida provides workforce services for employers and job seekers alike in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Military Sealift Command Recruitment Event A Military Sealift Command recruitment event will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at the Southside Career Center, 11268 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville. Recruitment Wednesday A Recruitment Wednesday event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at the Southside Career Center, 11268 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville. Advertisement Advertisement Employers scheduled to attend include ECO Restore, Florida State Prison, Manpower and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. St. Johns County Job Fair March 12 A job fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at the St. Johns County Career Center, 525 State Road 16, Suite 109, in St. Augustine. Employers scheduled to attend include Putnam Correctional Institution and the St. Johns Sheriffs Office. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Virtual Hiring and Education Fair A Virtual Hiring and Education Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 12. Employers scheduled to participate include the Building Talent Foundation, City of Jacksonville, Clay County District Schools, Logistic Services International Inc., Manpower, MV Transportation, Penske Truck Leasing, Service First, Processing Stride Inc., The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island and Wounded Warrior Project. Advertisement Advertisement Job seekers can explore job opportunities online and chat directly with hiring managers and recruiters. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Gateway Career Center Job Fair A job fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at the Gateway Career Center, 5000 Norwood Ave., Suite 2, in Jacksonville. Employers scheduled to attend include American In-Home Care, Chartwells, Flightstar and Labor Finders. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] St. Johns County Job Fair March 26 Another job fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at the St. Johns County Career Center, 525 State Road 16, Suite 109, in St. Augustine. Employers scheduled to attend include Ring Power, Randstad USA, Kelly Education and Staffing with Bliss. Preparing for the events CareerSource Northeast Florida encourages job seekers to bring a current resume to share with hiring representatives and to create a profile on Employ Florida before attending. Job seekers can set up a profile HERE to increase visibility with employers. Advertisement Advertisement For information about these and other recruitment events and workshops for job seekers and employers, CLICK HERE. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Israel struck southern Lebanon, Beirut and oil storage facilities in Tehran on Sunday as fighting across the Middle East intensified, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising "many surprises" in the next phase of the conflict. Iran, meanwhile, hit a desalination plant in Bahrain. Earlier Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a U.S. airstrike damaged a desalination facility on Qeshm Island, warning that "the U.S. set this precedent, not Iran." Such plants are vital sources of drinking water in the Gulfs arid climate. An Israeli strike on oil storage sites in Tehran sent towering flames into the night sky, according to Associated Press video, marking what appeared to be the first attack on a civilian industrial facility in the war. Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Watch: US Navy submarine sinks Iranian warship, a first since World War II The conflict began Feb. 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and has since killed at least 1,230 people there, more than 300 in Lebanon and about a dozen in Israel, according to officials. Here is the latest: Deadly blast at an Iranian school likely US airstrike, evidence suggests 11 p.m. ET: 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, evidence suggests. According to The Associated Press, experts say their conclusion is based on satellite images, analysis, a U.S. official, and public information released by the U.S. and Israeli militaries. Advertisement Advertisement The Feb. 28 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. More than 165 people were killed, most of them of children, in the blast during school hours at Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School, according to Iranian state media. Oil prices top $100 per barrel 8:02 p.m. ET: Oil prices have topped $100 per barrel for the first time in more than three and a half years. Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at $107.97 per barrel Sunday evening, up 16.5% from its closing price of $92.69 Friday. West Texas Intermediate, the light, sweet crude oil produced in the United States, was selling for about $106.22 a barrel, up 16.9% from its Friday close of $90.90. Advertisement Advertisement Oil prices have surged as the war interrupts countries and regions that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of gas as of Sunday, March 8, was $3.45 for regular. Iran names new supreme leader FILE - Mojtaba Khamenei (C), the son of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, participates in the annual Quds Day rally in Tehran, Iran, on May 31, 2019. (Photo by Rouzbeh Fouladi / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images) 5:30 p.m. ET: Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the countrys late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named his successor, Iranian state TV said Sunday. He had long been considered a contender, even before an Israeli strike killed his father at the start of the war, and despite never being elected or appointed to a government position. Irans powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard answers to the supreme leader, and now the younger Khamenei will have the central say in war strategy. Advertisement Advertisement The 88-seat Assembly of Experts, a group of clerics, selects Irans supreme leader. US Service member dies after Iranian attack in Saudi Arabia U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Sunday that a U.S. service member has died from injuries sustained during Irans initial wave of attacks across the Middle East, bringing the number of American troops killed in action during Operation Epic Fury to seven. "Last night, a U.S. service member passed away from injuries received during the Iranian regimes initial attacks across the Middle East," CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X. The service member had been seriously wounded during an attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1. CENTCOM said the identity of the fallen service member will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification. Major combat operations tied to Operation Epic Fury are ongoing, the command added. Saudi Arabia confirms first war fatalities Saudi Arabia reported its first deaths, saying a military projectile fell onto a residential area and killed two people of Indian and Bangladeshi nationality. It said 12 other Bangladeshis were wounded. Foreign residents and workers have made up most of the wars deaths in Gulf nations. Lebanon: 83 children among nearly 400 killed Lebanons health minister said 83 children are among 394 people killed over the past week. Israel renewed its offensive after Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel. Irans Revolutionary Guard vows to escalate missile, drone attacks Irans Revolutionary Guard on Sunday pledged to intensify missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, state media reported, citing what it called the "brutality" of U.S. and Israeli attacks. Pope urges peace as Vatican rejects preventive war Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an end to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and urged dialogue, warning the conflict is spreading fear and instability across the Middle East, including Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: US attacks Iran: Will gas prices go up? The Vatican, maintaining its diplomatic neutrality, rejected the idea of "preventive war," with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin warning such a doctrine could "set the whole world ablaze" and calling for respect for international law and multilateral diplomacy. Iran says 200 children, 200 women among war dead Irans Health Ministry said U.S. and Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,200 people since Feb. 28, including 200 children and around 200 women. More than 1,000 others about 400 of them women have been injured, a spokesman said. The Source The Associated Press and FOX News contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles. Ukrainian widow Olga Garbuz, who lost her husband to the war in Ukraine, came to Dubai with her daughter in 2022 to rebuild her life. But the recent escalation in the Gulf has revived the fears she thought she had left behind. The war in Ukraine took many things from me and my daughter. My husband got killed. We got displaced multiple times. I cannot imagine going through any of these again, Ms Garbuz tells The Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Her husband, Yuriy Volchkov, was killed in Kharkiv, a frontline city in eastern Ukraine, in March 2022, when the vehicle he was travelling in to distribute humanitarian aid was shot at by the Russians. He was 45 years old. After fleeing Kharkiv, which fell under the Russian occupation in the early months of the war, Ms Garbuz and her daughter moved repeatedly across Ukraine before eventually leaving the country. We had to move 13 times from city to city, she says. Each time packing our things and setting up a new home was incredibly exhausting. I arrived in the UAE with my daughter Maya and just two suitcases four years ago. Since then, I have been working hard for the wellbeing of my daughter. Advertisement Advertisement A few days before the escalation began with Irans retaliatory strikes across the Gulf, she said she had finally begun to feel, after three years, that life was returning to normal. Her biggest fear now is having to uproot her daughter again. Now we have been living in the same apartment for almost two years. My daughter goes to school regularly. It would be an absolutely heartbreaking situation for her if we had to move again, she adds. But the sound of missile interceptions over the Dubai skies has brought back old instincts. I found myself again packing an emergency bag. I knew which documents to include, that we must have water at home and cash on hand. Advertisement Advertisement The explosions also bring back the physical memory of war: Sometimes my body tenses up because I remember what it was like and what usually followed. I still try to remain calm and not give in to panic. Despite the tension, she says she still trusts the UAE authorities: I believe they will be able to resolve this conflict diplomatically as quickly as possible. This combination of satellite images provided by Planet Labs PBC show Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, left, and on Sunday, March 1, 2026, right (Planet Labs PBC) A week on from the military escalation, Irans president Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for targeting his Gulf neighbours, but Iran has continued to fire at Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia with fresh attacks. On Friday, the UAEs ministry of interior issued an emergency alert across Dubai urging residents to seek immediate shelter following warnings of a potential missile threat. The UAE intercepted nine ballistic missiles and 109 drones, the Ministry of Defence confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Amid the rising tension, Ukraines foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said he had received assurances from the government of the United Arab Emirates that Ukrainian citizens in the country would be protected. Some 250,000 Ukrainians are currently living in the Middle East. For Ukrainians like Kateryna Moskviechiev and her husband Dmytro, who relocated to the UAE for safety, being caught up in another conflict far from home in Abu Dhabi was the last thing they expected. It feels like the war has followed us to Dubai, Ms Moskviechiev tells The Independent. The couple, along with their two sons, aged eight and two, moved to the UAE in September 2024. An estimated 5.2 to 6 million Ukrainians moved abroad following the war. Advertisement Advertisement We left Ukraine because we didnt want our children to grow up in a war zone, she says. Kateryna Moskviechiev and her husband Dmytro relocated to the UAE for safety (Supplied) But the sight of Russian missiles and Shahed drones flying overhead near her apartment on the Corniche, and the sound of loud explosions as air-defence systems intercepted them, left her shocked and surprised. Thats not what you expect in the UAE, says Ms Moskviechiev. It brought back my worst memories of Ukraine, when our family hid in the bathroom while Russians bombed Kharkiv. The three of us slept on the floor of a bus stop that had thick walls and no windows. As the recent Iranian drone and missile attacks across the Gulf are far less intense than the bombardment Ukraine has endured, she said she is not scared. Advertisement Advertisement Ive lived through this before, she says. And Im impressed by how effectively the UAEs air-defence systems are responding. I definitely feel safer here than in Ukraine. Ms Moskviechiev says she is praying this escalation will end quickly, adding: We know what a prolonged war can do to a country and its people this war must stop. Another Ukrainian in Dubai, Alexandra Govorukha, a PR professional, says she moved there six months ago after relocating to the UK from Ukraine in 2022. And the danger is near again. One rocket was shot down not far from our house, Ms Govorukha wrote in a post on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement She says her nine-year-old daughter, who is studying remotely, knows what the war is and is already hardened by life. We need to learn to have a Plan B everywhere and be prepared for any situation unfolding. Mariana Yevsyukova, a mother of two children aged seven and one, said even relatives back home in Ukraine are worried about the attacks in the Gulf (Supplied) Mariana Yevsyukova, a UAE resident since 2017, says the escalating tensions in the Middle East have stirred painful memories for many Ukrainians living in the country. We carry the trauma of witnessing war, she says. We ran away from the Shahed drones in Ukraine, and now they are hitting the UAE. Ms Yevsyukova, a mother of two children aged seven and one, said even relatives back home in Ukraine are worried about the attacks in the Gulf. Advertisement Advertisement My family in Kharkiv checks on me several times a day. A friend who is struggling without power in this harsh winter messaged me to say he is there if I need anything. Even in the middle of a war, they are thinking about others. By Gwladys Fouche and Nora Buli OSLO, March 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. embassy in Oslo was hit by a loud explosion early on Sunday, causing minor damage but no injuries in what may have been a deliberate attack linked to the crisis in the Middle East, Norwegian police said. "It's natural to see this in the context of the current security situation and that this could be an attack deliberately targeting the U.S. embassy," Frode Larsen, head of the Oslo police investigation unit told a news conference. Advertisement Advertisement No suspects have been identified at present but police are searching for one or several perpetrators and are cooperating closely with the embassy, Larsen said. "One of our hypotheses is that this is terrorism, but we are also exploring other options," Larsen later told public broadcaster NRK. The blast at the embassy compound in western Oslo occurred at 1 a.m. (0000 GMT), sending thick smoke into the street by the entrance of the consular section, eyewitnesses said. "We are aware of an incident at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway and are investigating," a State Department spokesperson said, and thanked the Norwegian authorities for supporting the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement The department had nothing further to share at this time, the spokesperson added. Norway's government was in contact with officials at the U.S. embassy to convey that this was "an unacceptable act that we take very seriously", Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement. "The security of diplomatic missions is very important to us," he said. SMOKE AND DAMAGE The blast occurred at the entry to the consular section, Oslo police said, and witnesses said the entrance had been damaged. "There was a very thick layer of smoke on the street," said Sebastian Toerstad, 18, a high school student who drove past the embassy at the time of the explosion. Advertisement Advertisement "There was some damage to the entrance," Toerstad told Reuters. Police said no further explosive devices had been found in the area. (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche, Nora Buli and Terje Solsvik in OsloAdditional reporting by Sergio Non and Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Helen Popper, Alexandra Hudson and Ros Russell) President Emmanuel Macron will visit Cyprus on Monday, his office said, as France deploys warships to the Mediterranean following a drone attack on the island EU member days ago. Macron will meet his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Paphos to show "solidarity" and detail moves to "strengthen security around Cyprus and in the eastern Mediterranean", the Elysee said on Sunday. The visit will take place as the war pitting the US and Israel against Iran is in its second week, affecting much of the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Cyprus was targeted last week by Iranian-made drones, leading Macron to order France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean and a frigate and air defence units to Cyprus. "This trip is intended to demonstrate France's solidarity with Cyprus, a member state of the European Union with which we have a strategic partnership" and which was recently hit "by several drones and missile strikes", the Elysee said. Macron said later he had spoken with his US and Iranian counterparts on Sunday ahead of the trip. The first Western leader to speak with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian since the outbreak of the war, Macron said on X that he "stressed the need for Iran to immediately cease its strikes against countries in the region". Advertisement Advertisement He also urged Iran to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. He gave no details of his conversation with US President Donald Trump. Pezeshkian's office said in a statement that he warned against any action by France or others "in support of the aggressors of our country", and would consider it "participation in this war". "Such actions will only complicate and escalate the situation in the region. The people, government, and armed forces of Iran are determined to defend the country and the system," it quoted him as saying. - Hormuz Strait security - Advertisement Advertisement France has insisted its stance in the region is "strictly defensive". The visit to Cyprus will also allow Macron "to emphasise the importance of guaranteeing freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, in particular through the European Union's Aspides maritime operation", it added. Numerous attacks have struck ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint in the Gulf, since the US-Israeli war on Iran started on February 28. A government spokesman for Cyprus, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said the visit would allow the leaders of Cyprus, Greece, and France to assess the "high level of coordination" between their nations. Advertisement Advertisement Letymbiotis also highlighted the role of Italy, which like the United Kingdom, has deployed a warship to Cyprus. On Sunday, Macron wrote on X that he had also spoken with the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the presidents of Egypt and Azerbaijan. Discussing the region with the Qatari ruler, Macron said he highlighted France's "defensive military support", particularly in the air, which he noted was deployed to the "benefit of Qatar". "Qatar and France share the same conviction: beyond the clamour of arms, lasting stability for all must come through de-escalation and negotiation," Macron added. Advertisement Advertisement Macron also said he offered France's "support and solidarity" to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev after a drone strike on the country, which neighbours Iran, raised fears that the Middle East war could spill into the Caucasus. With Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, he discussed "the important of securing as quickly as possible the maritime transport in the Red Sea", including for energy resources, Macron said on X. vl-fff-hr/ekf/yad/rlp/jfx Emmanuel Macron will visit Cyprus on Monday, pushing France to the front of Europes military response to the Iran conflict. The French president will make the trip while Britains promised destroyer has failed to leave the UK. Mr Macron also spoke with Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, on Sunday night, calling on Iran to halt strikes against other countries in the region and to end the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Advertisement Advertisement The first Western leader known to have held a direct call with Tehran since the war started, Mr Macron also reiterated Frances position that a diplomatic solution was necessary to end the conflict. A flotilla of European ships is converging on Cyprus after last weeks drone strike on RAF Akrotiri. Germanys frigate FGS Nordrhein-Westfalen arrived in Limassol on Sunday, while Frances Languedoc sailed to Cypriot waters last week. Italy is sending the Federico Martinengo, Spain the Cristobal Colon and Greece has already dispatched four F-16 fighter jets and two frigates. These include the Kimon, described by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greeces prime minister, as the pride of the Greek fleet. Advertisement Advertisement By contrast, HMS Dragon, the destroyer Britain pledged after the strike, has not yet left Portsmouth and is expected to take more than a week to arrive. The German frigate FGS Nordrhein-Westfalen arrived in Limmasol, Cyprus, on Sunday - Alexis Mitas/Getty Images Rishi Sunak, the former prime minister, criticised the delay and said the Labour Government lacked strategic acumen. Mr Sunak wrote in The Times: Given how much notice we had of these strikes, why was no ship moved to the Mediterranean to help protect our interests and allies? It is frankly embarrassing that the French appear to be doing more to protect Cyprus than we are, even though Cyprus is only a target because of our sovereign bases there. Iranian drone attack Cyprus was targeted by Iranian-made drones on Monday, prompting Mr Macron to order the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean as well as a frigate and air defence units to Cyprus. Advertisement Advertisement The carrier strike group is heading towards the eastern Mediterranean, reinforcing the impression that Paris has moved faster and more decisively than London. Mr Macron will meet Nikos Christodoulides, his Cypriot counterpart, and Mr Mitsotakis in Paphos, in western Cyprus, where Greece deployed its four F-16s on Monday. The jets were sent to Paphos airport, which is undergoing a major expansion partly backed by the United States. The Americans are supporting the upgrade of the airbase at Paphos. Everyone swears blind that it wont be an American base but it probably will be in all but name, Fiona Mullen, a Cyprus-based political and economic analyst, said. This trip is intended to demonstrate Frances solidarity with Cyprus, a member state of the European Union with which we have a strategic partnership and which was recently hit by several drones and missile strikes, the Elysee said. Mr Macron has ordered the Languedoc, a frigate, to Cyprus after the island was targeted in a drone strike - Jack Guez/AFP It will also allow Mr Macron to emphasise the importance of guaranteeing freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, in particular through the European Unions Aspides maritime operation, it added. Advertisement Advertisement The optics are awkward for Sir Keir Starmer. A British base on Cyprus has come under attack but it is France that has placed forces near the island most rapidly and Mr Macron who is arriving in person. That contrast will sharpen the impression that the French president is seeking to cast himself as Europes leading wartime statesman. The trip comes days after he announced the first increase in Frances nuclear stockpile since the 1990s and unveiled an expanded deterrence doctrine under which allied European states, potentially including Britain, could fall under Frances nuclear umbrella. Cypriots unsettled by British inaction Britains failure to protect Akrotiri from drone attack, and the delay in getting HMS Dragon to the island, have unsettled Cypriots. Advertisement Advertisement Ms Mullen, director of Sapienta Economics, said: I think they are disappointed with the British. There has always been an underlying discomfort with the presence of the British bases. They are seen as a legacy of colonialism. But the unspoken contract used to be: We may not like it but they protect us from attack. But then a drone gets through. People are saying: We thought you could protect us and you couldnt. That discontent surfaced on Saturday when hundreds of protesters marched through Nicosia demanding the removal of the UKs two sovereign base areas, chanting: Say it loud, say it clear, British bases out of here. Even so, there is little sign that Nicosia is likely to reopen discussion on removing the bases any time soon. Advertisement Advertisement Dr Nasia Hadjigeorgiou, an associate professor at UCLan Cyprus, said there was not much appetite among Greek Cypriot politicians to renegotiate the bases status and that, even if they tried, the British would be sure to push back. The drone strike on RAF Akrotiri caused minimal damage and no casualties, British officials said, though service staff families have since been moved away from the base as a precaution. 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. KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Reuters) - The family of Malaysia's influential former finance minister filed a lawsuit on Friday against the prime minister, chief of police and the government to halt what they said were false claims of a plot to overthrow the government allegedly involving his widow and sons. A week ago, police announced an investigation into an alleged conspiracy to "topple the government and sabotage national stability", which they said involved a local influential figure as well as an international media agency. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday the suspect had engaged the PR firm to launch a coordinated attack aimed at undermining national institutions before the next election. Advertisement Advertisement Neither Anwar nor the police have identified the suspect or the firm. The family of Daim Zainuddin, an influential two-time finance minister who died in November 2024, said in a statement on Friday it was "public knowledge" that the investigation targeted Daim's widow Na'imah Abdul Khalid and their sons. An unverified copy of a police report circulating online accused Na'imah of plotting to overthrow the government. In a statement last week, she denied wrongdoing and questioned whether consulting a PR firm could qualify as an attempt to topple a government. The family said their lawsuit sought to challenge what it called "abuse of power" by Anwar, Police Inspector-General Mohd Khalid Ismail and the government, and for the court to declare that the investigation is unlawful and tainted with bad faith. Advertisement Advertisement Anwar's office, the police and the attorney-general's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The police said last week the investigation was being carried out under laws against undermining parliamentary democracy, an offence that carries a maximum jail term of 20 years. Daim was a longtime ally of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. Anwar and Mahathir have been locked in an on-off rivalry that has shaped Malaysia's politics for decades. Prior to his death in 2024, Daim had been the subject of a corruption probe looking into figures suspected of holding undeclared wealth. He denied wrongdoing, saying the charges were part of a political vendetta by Anwar. (Reporting by Danial Azhar; editing by Andrei Khalip) A man has been arrested in the deadly hit-and-run crash that killed 25-year-old Raul Palacios, Chicago police said. The crash happened in June 2024 in the 8300-block of South Kedzie Avenue at about 11:58 p.m. Surveillance video shows the moments leading up to that horrifying crash. A volley of gunfire was heard moments before the deadly collision. Police said the black SUV was heading southbound on Kedzie before careening into the white sedan driving westbound on 83rd Street. Advertisement Advertisement The video in the player above is from a previous report. The crash happened on June 20th, 2024 in the 8300-block of South Kedzie Avenue. The white sedan was sent into the nearby Starlight Restaurant. The power of the crash knocked the engine out of the white sedan. Police said the driver of the white sedan died at the scene, while three male suspects got out of the black SUV and ran away. Nohemy Carvajal said her son Raul Palacios was killed in the crash. Raul Palacios was killed in a hit-and-run crash in June 2025 in the the 8300-block of South Kedzie Avenue. Nearly two years after the crash police arrested Dujan Lucas, 24 of Rockford. He was arrested on Thursday in the 2600 block of S. California Avenue. Lucas was charged with two felony counts: reckless homicide with a motor vehicle and failure to report accident/death. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Man killed in deadly Ashburn hit-and-run crash caught on surveillance video identified by family INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood A man has died outside Glasgow's drug consumption facility. Police sealed off the entrance to The Thistle on Hunter Street after the death was reported at about 10:20 on Sunday morning. The force said that inquiries were ongoing but there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report would be sent to the procurator fiscal. The Thistle, which opened in January 2025, is the first safer drug consumption facility in the UK. Advertisement Advertisement The facility allows people to inject heroin or cocaine while under medical supervision without being prosecuted. It is overseen by Glasgow City Integration Joint Board - a partnership between the city council and Glasgow's health board. It is running over a three-year pilot and registered 575 users in its first year. A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: "We are assisting police with their enquires and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage." A man is fighting for his life after being shot in West Philadelphia. Police say he was shot in the back side on the 6000 block of Race Street around 3:20 a.m. Sunday. He was rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition. No arrests have been reported. The motive remains unclear. A 26-year-old Fond du Lac County man was sentenced to four years of probation in a February 2024 crash that killed a retired priest. Clay Schueffner, of St. Cloud, was sentenced March 6 by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge David Borowski. Schueffner was also fined $2,500. If Schueffner's probation is revoked, the sentencing decision requires him to serve six months in prison. Prosecutors said Schueffner was driving and viewing a Snapchat video at the time of the crash that killed Father David H. Gau, who taught at Marquette University High School for nearly two decades. Advertisement Advertisement Gau had looked both ways and walked across West Wisconsin Avenue, near his St. Camillus residential community for seniors, when Schueffner struck him. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner identified Father David H. Gau as the 93-year-old who was struck and killed by a truck while crossing the 10200 block of Wisconsin Avenue in Wauwatosa Feb. 9. The terms of Schueffner's probation include 200 hours of community service, 100 of which must be spent at Milwaukee or Fond du Lac County high schools talking to students about distracted driving. Detectives who reviewed downloads from Schueffner's two phones found he opened and viewed a Snapchat one second before he stuck Gau. In November, Schueffner pleaded no contest to homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, a Class G felony. He was initially charged in June 2024. Advertisement Advertisement A no contest plea allows a defendant to accept conviction without admitting guilt. In Wisconsin, that type of plea results in a conviction and is treated the same way as a guilty plea for sentencing purposes. WISN-TV reported Schueffner spoke at his sentencing hearing, saying he "would never intentionally cause harm to anyone and I am deeply sorry for what happened that day." So far in 2026, Milwaukee has recorded five fatal crashes, according to Milwaukee Police Department data. In 2024, the year of the crash that killed Gau, Milwaukee saw 57 fatal crashes. More: Milwaukee towed 31 cars under new reckless driving law; suburbs following suit Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man gets probation in Wauwatosa crash that killed a retired priest Mar. 6A North Idaho couple was arrested under suspicion of murder after a man overdosed on methamphetamine they allegedly sold him. Angel House, 30, and her husband Dustin House, 39, allegedly supplied a man with the drugs that would go on to kill him, a Kootenai County news release said. The man reportedly overdosed near Hayden Idaho on Dec. 20, 2025. He died after transportation to Kootenai Health. Advertisement Advertisement Though the identity of the deceased could not specifically be confirmed Friday, the Kootenai County Coroner's Office said that a man named David Meeks was declared dead on Dec. 20. Online records indicate a 37-year-old David Meeks lived in the court where the medical emergency occurred. Dustin House was arrested in Post Falls without incident Thursday, the news release said. Angel House has been in the Kootenai County Jail since January under suspicion of parole violations. Dustin House has more than a dozen criminal and infraction records listed in Kootenai County court documents, including possession of controlled substances, attempted assault and disturbing the peace. Angel House pled guilty to felony DUI vehicular manslaughter in 2020. Hundreds of Massachusetts residents took to the Boston common to rally in honor of International Womens Day. Women around the world on March 8 every year call for equal pay, reproductive rights, education, justice and decision-making jobs during demonstrations. People rallying on the common also held signs protesting the war in Iran, which is entering its second week. In March 1776, Abigail Adams told her husband to "remember the ladies. A call for women to be included in the promise of America. 250 years later, we face new attacks on our freedom and her call still resonates. Women deserve for their voices to be heard, respected and Governor Maura Healey (@MassGovernor) March 8, 2026 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 Meet the Press host Kristen Welker is facing backlash Sunday after she ignored reporting from several major outlets, including her own at NBC News, tying the U.S. to the deadly strike on an Iranian girls school. Welker in an interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asked about President Donald Trump blaming Iran for the strike while declining to mention investigations by Reuters and CNN that found the U.S. was likely responsible for the strike. A separate, early analysis by The New York Times found that the school was severely damaged in a U.S. strike that occurred around the same time as one on a nearby Iranian naval base. Politics: Foreign Minister Dodges Question Whether Iran Is Receiving Help From Russia To Locate U.S. Forces President Trump said Iran is responsible for that strike. What is your response? said Welker in a clip on X highlighted by the independent Drop Sites News outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Over 170 people most of whom were schoolchildren were killed in the attack on the school in the southern Iranian city of Minab, per Iranian health officials, which would make it the deadliest strike on Iran since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on the country. NBC News, citing sources familiar with the matter, also reported it looks increasingly likely that a U.S. munition was responsible for striking the school. The schools location is wedged between two points plotted on a strike map displayed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a recent Pentagon briefing, per journalist Chris Osieck. Politics: Trump's 'ONLY FOOLS' Claim About Rising Oil Prices Gets Hit With A Brutal Reminder Trump, when asked on Saturday whether the U.S. was responsible for the strike, replied, No, my opinion, based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran. Advertisement Advertisement He later continued, We think it was done by Iran... because they are very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost. Mourners dig graves for the victims, mostly schoolchildren, of a strike on a girls' elementary school in Minab, Iran. Iranian Foreign Media Department via AP via Associated Press In Araghchis interview with Welker, he declared that all evidence points to the U.S. using a jet fighter for the deadly strike. Welker responded, Where is the Iranian evidence that this was a U.S. attack? A jet fighter, as you say. Will you provide? Politics: U.S. Winter Olympic Champion Reveals Why It's A No To Donald Trump Araghchi replied, If it was not U.S., then who was that? Maybe Israelis. But it is obvious who else is attacking us. Advertisement Advertisement Welker swiftly moved on to her next question. Critics on social media slammed Welker over the interview moment, with one user on X calling it truly pathetic, and another calling out her atrocious job. The MeidasTouch Network, in a separate post on X, shared the Drop Site News clip with the caption, Trump knows that when he lies, the media will parrot his lies as if they are the truth. HuffPost has reached out to representatives with NBC News/Meet the Press for comment. Related... Read the original on HuffPost Meghan McCain urged President Donald Trumps administration to stop Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) from going on TV and talking about the war against Iran a war Graham cheered for in the months leading up to U.S. and Israeli forces killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last weekend. The conservative pundit and daughter of late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said Graham is scaring people with his Rambo-esque tough talk, rather than convincing Americans that attacking Iran was a shrewd move. McCain could not contain her disgust with Graham following the senators interview with Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures. Graham told viewers just wait to see what comes in the next two weeks, which led Bartiromo to ask what was coming next. Advertisement Advertisement Were going to blow the hell out of these people, Graham said. That did not sit well with McCain, who jumped on X to voice her displeasure. Ive known Lindsey Graham since I was a child. I am imploring anyone who will listen in the Trump administration to stop sending this man out as a surrogate, McCain posted on X. He is scaring people and doing damage to whatever message youre trying to sell to the American public about the Iran war. Ive known Lindsey Graham since I was a child. I am imploring anyone who will listen in the Trump administration to stop sending this man out as a surrogate. He is scaring people and doing damage to whatever message youre trying to sell to the American public about the Iran war. https://t.co/8SjGsIfMzT Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 8, 2026 Her comments came shortly after Graham said Irans theocratic regime is in a death throw and will soon be on its knees. Graham said toppling Irans theocracy will spur a new era of peace and prosperity and hes already looking ahead to the next anti-American regime that needs to go. The senator showed Bartiromo a new hat that read Free Cuba on it which comes a few months after Graham was trotting out Make Iran Great Again hats. Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, Graham has been thrilled with Operation Epic Fury, after he called for President Trump to kill the ayatollah in the months leading up to last weeks strikes. Watch part of his interview above. The post Meghan McCain Begs Trump Admin to Ditch Lindsey Graham as an Iran War Surrogate: He Is Scaring People first appeared on Mediaite. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The New Mexico Department of Justice is issuing a scam alert for fake court notices for toll violations. The messages are being sent by text message and other electronic means to people across the state. The message reading, Notice of Hearing Toll Violation, falsely claims to be issued by the Bernalillo County Magistrate Court and instructs recipients to scan a QR code to pay an alleged toll violation. Advertisement Advertisement The QR code appears to direct users to a fraudulent website designed to collect credit card information, which could lead to fraudulent transactions or stolen financial data, the NM Department of Justice said. In addition to the malicious QR code, several clear indicators show that the notice is fraudulent. The notice claims to come from the Bernalillo County Magistrate Court, which does not exist. It also references unpaid toll fees, despite the fact that there are no toll roads in New Mexico. Furthermore, the notice cites a non-existent law as the legal basis for the alleged toll violation. The New Mexico Department of Justice urges residents not to scan the QR code, click any related links, or provide personal or financial information if they receive this notice. Anyone who receives this message should delete it immediately. Individuals who believe they may have already entered payment or credit card information should contact their financial institution as soon as possible to report potential fraud. Advertisement Advertisement The NMDOJ also reminds the public that official court notices are typically served through verified court channels and will not request payment through unsolicited QR codes or text messages. Residents are encouraged to remain cautious when receiving unexpected messages requesting payment or personal 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 KTSM 9 News. Mohammadgholinezhad, who now lives in Europe, took part in the London demonstration in support of the war and the overthrow of the Iranian regime. Roxana Mohammadgholinezhad, a Europe-based Iranian activist, whom is known as "Miss Grand Iran", joined an anti-regime rally in London, waved an Israeli flag, praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the IDF, and Israel, and said the voices of the Iranian people will not be silenced, according to a Walla report published Sunday. Mohammadgholinezhad is more accurately described as being affiliated with the Miss Grand Iran franchise than simply as Irans beauty queen. On her public Instagram presence, she identifies herself as the national director of Miss Grand Iran, and the Miss Grand Iran account lists her among its official directors. Advertisement Advertisement Mohammadgholinezhad, who now lives in Europe, took part in the London demonstration in support of the war and the overthrow of the Iranian regime, celebrated the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and waved an Israeli flag while chanting Free Iran. Protesters hold up images of Iran's last Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his exiled son and an Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, during the 'March for a Free Iran', held by Britain's Iranian Committee for Freedom and Stop The Hate, in London, Britain, January 18, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/TOBY MELVILLE) Iranian protester waves Israeli flag at London rally Mohammadgholinezhad, who now lives in Europe, took part in the London demonstration in support of the war and the overthrow of the Iranian regime At last the great dictator is dead, she said, according to the report. Walla also reported that she danced at the rally and later posted messages saying that now was the time to raise her voice and work for a better future for Iran. In posts cited by Walla, she said her message was directed at the brave people inside Iran and vowed that Iranians living outside the country would continue amplifying their voices around the world. She also wrote that she believed the day will come when light overcomes darkness, and that the moment was closer than many think. In related posts, she thanked Netanyahu, the IDF, and the State of Israel. God bless Netanyahu, the IDF, and Israel, she wrote, according to the report. Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed in US-Israeli strikes, has been chosen as his successor. Unlike his father, the 56-year-old has largely kept a low profile. He has never held government office, nor given public speeches or interviews, and only a limited number of photos and videos of him have ever been published. But for years there have been rumours that he held considerable influence behind the scenes in Iran. Advertisement Advertisement US diplomatic cables, which were published by WikiLeaks in the late 2000s, described him as "the power behind the robes" who was widely regarded as a "capable and forceful" figure within the regime, according to AP news agency. Yet his selection could still prove controversial. The Islamic Republic was founded in 1979 after the monarchy was overthrown, and its ideology is based on the principle that the supreme leader should be chosen for his religious standing and proven leadership, not through hereditary succession. During his reign, Ali Khamenei spoke only in general terms about the future leadership of the Islamic Republic. Advertisement Advertisement One member of Iran's Assembly of Experts - the clerical body that selects the supreme leader - said two years ago that Ali Khamenei opposed the idea of his son being a candidate for future leadership. But he had never publicly addressed such speculation. Mojtaba Khamenei has been tipped as the next leader for more than two decades [EPA] So, who is Mojtaba Khamenei? Born on 8 September 1969 in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Mojtaba is the second of Khamenei's six children. He received his secondary education at the religious Alavi School in Tehran. At age 17, Mojtaba served in the military for several short periods during the Iran-Iraq War, according to Iranian media. The eight-year bloody conflict made the regime even more suspicious of the US and the West, which supported Iraq. Advertisement Advertisement In 1999, Mojtaba went to Qom, a holy city which is considered an important centre of Shia theology, to continue his religious studies. It is notable that he did not wear clerical clothing until this time, and it is unclear why he decided to attend a seminary at 30, as it is more usual to do so in one's younger years. Mojtaba remains a mid-ranking cleric, which could pose an obstacle to his ascendance as the supreme leader. [West Asia News Agency Via Reuters] In recent days, some media outlets and officials close to centres of power in Iran have started referring to Mojtaba Khamenei as "Ayatollah", a senior clerical title. The shift appears to some observers as an attempt to elevate his religious standing and present him as a credible leader. In the seminary system, holding the rank of "Ayatollah" and teaching advanced classes are regarded as indicators of a person's scholarly level and knowledge, and are considered one of the requirements and prerequisites for selecting a future leader. Advertisement Advertisement But there has already been a precedent. Ali Khamenei was quickly promoted as "Ayatollah" after he became the second supreme leader in 1989. Accusations of political interference Mojtaba's name first entered the public spotlight during the 2005 presidential election, which resulted in the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a populist hardliner. In an open letter to Khamenei, reformist candidate Mehdi Karroubi accused Mojtaba of interfering in the vote through elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia, which distributed money to religious groups in order to help Ahmadinejad win. Four years later, Mojtaba faced the same accusation again. The re-election of Ahmadinejad triggered mass protests across the country known as the Green Movement. Some protesters chanted slogans opposing the idea that Mojtaba could succeed his father as Iran's supreme leader. Protests known as the Green Movement ensued after the 2009 presidential election [Getty Images] Mostafa Tajzadeh, then deputy interior minister, described the result as an "electoral coup". He was imprisoned for seven years, which he attributed to "the direct wish of Mojtaba Khamenei". Advertisement Advertisement Two reformist candidates, Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, were put under house arrest after the 2009 election. In Feb 2012, Mojtaba met and urged Mousavi to give up his protest, Iranian sources told BBC News Persian. Now, as Iran's freshly chosen supreme leader, many expect Mojtaba to continue his father's hardline policies. Some also believe that a man who has lost his father, his mother and his wife in US-Israeli strikes will be unlikely to bow to Western pressure. But he also faces the daunting task of ensuring the survival of the Islamic Republic and convincing the public that he is the right person to lead the country out of political and economic devastation. Advertisement Advertisement His leadership record remains largely untested, and the perception that the republic is turning into a hereditary system could further deepen public discontent. Mojtaba is now a marked man. Israel's defence minister said last week that whoever is chosen as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's successor will be "an unequivocal target for elimination". CHAPLIN - A moped operator suffered a leg injury in a collision with a vehicle on Saturday afternoon, according to state police. The crash occurred at about 1:15 p.m. on Willimantic Road and the moped operator's injuries were not considered life-threatening, Connecticut State Police said Saturday night. Police said the scene has been cleared, noting there was no other information on the crash. This article originally published at Moped operator injured in Chaplin crash with vehicle, state police say. MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) Two people have been taken into custody in connection with multiple scooter thefts across the Middle Tennessee State University campus, authorities announced Friday. According to the MTSU Police Departments Facebook post from Friday, March 6, following a school-wide email reminder about securing scooters due to a spike in thefts, an alert student noticed an abandoned scooter and notified campus law enforcement. When a master patrol officer went to check on the scooter, he reportedly noticed two people across the street who matched the description of suspects in a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) issued just hours earlier. Advertisement Advertisement OCTOBER 2025 | MTSU police warn about surge in electric scooter thefts Following further investigation, authorities said they learned these individuals neither of whom were students were responsible for a number of scooter thefts across campus. As a result of the campus communitys willingness to see something, say something, as well as the MTSU Police Departments thorough and timely investigation, nine scooters were recovered and two people were charged, according to officials. However, students and staff are still urged to secure scooters and bicycles with proper locks in order to reduce the risk of theft. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com We also want to thank our campus community for working with us to solve these crimes. It takes our communitys eyes, ears, and knowledge to help us both try to prevent and solve crimes on campus, the MTSU Police Department wrote on social media. If you see something, say something. Your awareness helps keep our campus safe. Advertisement Advertisement No additional details have been released about this incident, including the identities of the individuals who were arrested. To check out MTSUs guidelines for the use and storage of electric scooters on campus, follow this link. If you need to get in touch with the MTSU Police Department, call 615-898-2424. 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. The Brief Severe weather blasted Southwest Michigan late Friday after a tornado swept through the region. Videos showed twisters blowing across Union Lake, and surrounding areas. There was extensive damage reported at various locations in Branch and St. Joseph Counties. 4 people were killed, including a 12-year-old boy. UNION CITY, MI (FOX 2) - After sending survey crews to the region, the National Weather Service confirmed that three separate tornadoes ripped through southwestern Michigan Friday night, leaving four people dead. Advertisement Advertisement A lone supercell developed in La Porte County, Indiana, that moved up into Cass, St Joseph, and Branch counties in Michigan, where the death and destruction happened. Four people have died, including a 12-year-old boy in Cass County, and three people in Union City. Penni Jo Guthrie was identified as one of the three Union City victims. The other two have not been identified publicly yet. The Cass County Sheriff's Office announced the death of 12-year-old Silas Anderson. Dispatch received a 911 call around 3:12 p.m. Friday about a possible tornado in the 68000 block of Conrad Rd. Officials say the caller told dispatch they could not find their 12-year-old son. When first responders made it to the location, the parents had found their son and were providing first aid, police said. Advertisement Advertisement He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado had touched down in Union City. An EF-3 tornado with winds reaching at least 150mph has been confirmed according to their initial assessment. An EF-2 tornado was confirmed to have touched down in Three Rivers, and a third tornado was confirmed in the Edwardsburg area, but no rating was assigned to it as of Saturday evening. The NWS survey is ongoing, and the information is subject to change. According to Michigan's emergency management, the governor had activated the state's operations center. Severe weather in Michigan The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for Mendon, Sherwood, and Union City around 4:30 p.m. Videos posted on social media showed a tornado blowing by Union Lake. Advertisement Advertisement The weather service continued to order warnings as the storm tracked across the southern Lower Peninsula. Officials said to look out for quarter-size hail and flying debris. People were told to take shelter in a basement or interior room on the lowest floor. Consumers Energy also reported several thousand outages in the area around Union City and Joppa, southwest of Battle Creek. Tornado tears across Union Lake in Union City. Courtesy: TJ Secord. On the Ground Video shows the storm rolling through Union City on Union Lake. The video was taken by TJ Secord and shows the speed and size of the twister. More video, this one taken in Three Rivers, captured the moment a tornado took shape and began to whip debris across the area. Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, a Menards was severely damaged by the high winds, collapsing the roof. Aerial photos of the devastation, taken by 517Drone Video and Photography, show the ghost of a neighborhood, now completely erased. What they're saying Michigan State Police passed along a message from the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office after reports of a tornado touching down in Three Rivers. "We are asking everyone to please stay away from the north end of St. Joseph County until further notice. Emergency personnel are currently responding to an active situation in that area, and it is critical that our firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS, and other emergency workers have clear access to do their jobs safely and effectively. Advertisement Advertisement Unnecessary traffic and onlookers can delay response times and create additional hazards for both the public and first responders. If you do not live in the immediate area or do not have essential business there, please avoid traveling to the north end of the county at this time. We appreciate your cooperation and patience as our emergency teams work to manage the situation. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available." The Village of Union City also put out a statement warning everyone to avoid unnecessary travel. "Union City experienced significant storm damage this evening, particularly around the Union Lake and downtown areas. Village crews, emergency responders, and utility workers are actively working to assess damage and clear debris. Advertisement Advertisement "We are asking residents to please avoid unnecessary driving in these areas. Extra traffic makes it difficult for emergency crews and utility workers to safely do their jobs. If you do not need to be in the area, please stay home and allow crews the space they need to work." Later in the night, the Branch County Sheriff announced that three people were dead, and twelve others were injured after the severe weather went through Union City. Meanwhile, a fourth person was killed in Cass County. Meanwhile, Cass County officials declared a state of emergency. Governor activates emergency operations center The governor activated the State Emergency Operations Center in response to the severe weather. Advertisement Advertisement The order is for Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph Counties. Injuries have been reported. The center said it was operating at a Level 3 monitoring status. SEOC ACTIVATED Governor Gretchen Whitmer has activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) following severe weather across Southwest Michigan today. Possible tornadoes, strong damaging winds, and injuries have been reported in Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties. pic.twitter.com/5Y2It8CZy1 MichEMHS (@MichEMHS) March 6, 2026 The Union City Facebook page issued a thank you for community support and resource coordination. "Since the storm, we have received an overwhelming number of messages and calls from people offering help everything from food, equipment, dumpsters, porta potties, and even manual labor. The generosity of this community and surrounding communities has been incredible. "At this time, we are working to coordinate both assistance and needs through a central location so resources can be matched with those who need them most. Advertisement Advertisement "The Union City High School has been set up as a resource center where people can go for shelter or other needs. This effort is being coordinated by Kyle Miller and Stacy Guertler, who are helping organize for residents affected by the storm. " If you or someone you know needs assistance, please go to the High School or contact them there. " If you would like to donate supplies, volunteer, or offer resources, please let us know or contact the high school. You can drop off food or supplies via the High School. :Again, thank you to everyone who has reached out to help. The support for Union City during this difficult time has been truly appreciated." Watch FOX 2 Detroit LIVE: The Source FOX 2 used information from the National Weather Service for this report. PENN STATE BERKS Sadan Kulturel-Konak, professor of management information systems at Penn State Berks, has been elected Zone I chair and a member of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) board of directors following a nationwide vote in the 2025 ASEE election. She will begin her three-year term at the end of June 2026. Kulturel-Konaks election as the ASEE Zone I chair directly aligns with her leadership at Penn State Berks, where she advances interdisciplinary, innovation-driven engineering education. Advertisement Advertisement As director of the colleges Flemming Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Center, she promotes experiential learning, industry collaboration and economic engagement initiatives that prepare students to translate technical knowledge into real-world impact. In her roles as program chair for the colleges new bachelors degree in interdisciplinary business with engineering studies and the entrepreneurship and innovation minor, she leads programs that integrate engineering, business and entrepreneurship a model that reflects ASEEs priorities in innovation and workforce development. Her work at Penn State Berks as a learner-centered culture fellow and an affiliate faculty member in the Penn State Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering further strengthens the student-centered, cross-disciplinary approaches to engineering education that she will champion at the national level. Kulturel-Konak has made significant contributions to ASEE and the engineering education community through leadership, scholarship and service. She has served in multiple Middle Atlantic Section leadership roles, chaired a regional conference, and participated in conference program and awards committees. Advertisement Advertisement BARLEY SNYDER Former Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas President Judge David L. Ashworth has joined Barley Snyder as a mediator. Ashworth concluded his judicial career in January 2026 after serving for 26 years on the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, where he presided over the Criminal Court, Civil Court, Drug Court and Discovery Motions Court. Ashworth was elected by his fellow judges to serve as president judge of Lancaster County from 2020 through 2024, a role in which he managed court administration and oversight of the countys 19 district judges, while continuing to hear cases. At Barley Snyder, Ashworth joins the firms Alternative Dispute Resolution Service Team, where he will concentrate on mediating complex civil disputes, including medical malpractice, product liability, personal injury, commercial matters, and construction cases. He is a National Judicial Collegecertified mediator, reflecting advanced training in dispute resolution and a demonstrated ability to guide parties through challenging negotiations efficiently and effectively. Advertisement Advertisement Before taking the bench, Ashworth built a successful litigation practice over more than 20 years as a trial attorney and founding partner of Wagman, Ashworth, Kreider and Wright in downtown Lancaster. He represented both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury and product liability matters. Ashworth spent 15 years as a senior adjunct professor at Franklin & Marshall College, where he taught a community-based learning course focused on the court system, treatment courts, and substance use disorder and addiction. His civic involvement includes service on numerous nonprofit boards, including a term as president of the Rotary Club of Lancaster, and ongoing service on the national board of All Rise, formerly known as the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. His honors include the Lancaster Bar Associations Judge Louise Gatling Herr Memorial Award for charitable and community service, and the inaugural 2024 Pennsylvania Association of Drug Court Professionals Presidents Award, recognizing his lasting impact on treatment courts at both the state and national levels. Email your news to money@readingeagle.com and attach a recent (high-resolution) photo. Include a contact name and phone number with your submission. Deadline is the Tuesday prior to publication. Democrats watched with mouths agape this week as Latino voters, many of whom have sat out previous primary seasons, turned out in droves for James Talarico in Texas. But the push to win back the elusive and swingy coalition that proved pivotal to President Donald Trumps 2024 victory goes way beyond the closely watched Lone Star State. This is a story that kicked off last year as Democrats overperformed in Latino-dominant districts across Virginia and New Jersey. Its one that multiple candidates and strategists told Playbook could make or break Dems ambitions to take the House and theres a handful of key districts across the country that will offer the next test cases. From Colorado to Arizona to Nebraska, top candidates in Democratic primaries are watching the record turnout numbers from Latinos and making these voters a top target for their campaigns to flip their razor-edge districts now held by Republicans. Its an early bet as they face primaries in the months ahead but in seats that in the past have been won by less than a percentage point, these voters could make the difference. Advertisement Advertisement They vote for Trump, they vote for Mikie Sherrill, they just showed up [in Texas] in record numbers, said Chuck Rocha, a strategist who advised Talaricos campaign. So what that tells you is you should start talking to them sooner with a persuadable message. Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District, the states so-called blue dot which is represented by the retiring Republican Rep. Don Bacon, is a top target for Democrats to flip this year. So too is Colorados 8th District, held by incumbent Republican Rep. Gabe Evans. Theres also Arizonas 6th District, which recently was added to the DCCCs Red-to-Blue program as Democrats aim to edge out incumbent GOP Rep. Juan Ciscomani. All of these districts have an influential minority of Latinos that local strategists say are crucial to any Democratic victory. Enter this crop of Democratic candidates who watched Texas results roll in with an eye toward their own races: Denise Powell in Nebraska, Manny Rutinel in Colorado and JoAnna Mendoza in Arizona. In each district, theres a growing enthusiasm on the ground among Latinos that indicates theyll be major players in this cycle. Especially when you have a contested primary in a year like this, every vote matters, Powell said in an interview. And I know thats something so cliche that we all say and whatever, she said. But when it comes to Latinos, we're not taking anything for granted. Advertisement Advertisement Rutinel, one of the top Democrats running in Colorados 8th, told Playbook hes buoyed by the surge in Latino voters that hes seen. This is Colorado's most Latino district. It's drawn for Latino representation, he said. And I think folks right now are feeling both scared on the one hand about what's happening with ICE brutality in this district and beyond, and they're also feeling energized to fight back. And hes not the only one in the primary watching the Latino vote: former state legislator Shannon Bird has earned the endorsement of top labor unions with Latino membership. Weve already knocked on thousands of doors in heavily Hispanic neighborhoods and attended dozens of community and cultural events organized by local Hispanic institutions, Birds campaign manager Eve Zhurbinskiy said in a statement. Rutinel and his team are leaning into his background to persuade voters ahead of the June 30 election: Im the only Latino candidate in this race and bilingual, I have the ability to speak directly to these communities, he said. Colorados 8th was one of the most expensive House races of the 2024 cycle, and its 39 percent Latino. Should Rutinel win, hed face Evans for a Latino vs. Latino showdown. Over in Arizona, even its lower Latino-dominant districts like the 6th are still heavily influenced by the coalition. This is just a part of the world where one out of every three people is Latino, a Democratic strategist working on Arizona races said. Its a district that contains parts of Tucson, a major Air Force base and more rural on-the-border voters. Advertisement Advertisement The path to victory there for a Democratic candidate like Mendoza is a bit closer: her primary isnt nearly as contentious, but the district is a toss-up. Ciscomani, in the 2022 midterm season, carried the district by fewer than 6,000 votes. A Mendoza and Ciscomani matchup will make for another Latino vs. Latino showdown. But of course, whether it be in Colorado, Arizona or Nebraska, the Democratic nominees will inevitably face a tough battle against Republicans, whove made significant inroads with Latinos over the past several years. Republicans are still pointing to those significant margins as they get deeper into the primary season and beyond, and theyre projecting confidence that the margins will stick. Democrats haven't learned a thing from the historic realignment among Hispanic voters in recent elections, RNC spokesperson Zach Kraft said in a statement. Trumps agenda of secure borders, safe communities, and a strong economy resonates with all hardworking Americans and is enabling Republicans to be on offense, he said. But with Texas delivering such a resounding early sign of Latino engagement for Democrats, the campaigns are growing more bullish that these voters may start trending back in their direction. We don't treat Latino voters like a turnout target. We treat them like they are a persuasion target, the Arizona strategist said. Advertisement Advertisement Latino voters have historically had abysmal turnout in midterm elections. Many report in polls having never interacted with any campaign. Its making the recent trends all the more eye-popping, and reaffirming Powells campaign strategy to target them in a place like Nebraskas 2nd, where Latinos in South Omaha make up about 10 percent of the district. Powell is also facing fierce competition to win over the districts Latinos ahead of the May 12 primary. John Cavanaugh, a state senator and one of the primary front-runners, said in a statement that hes also pursuing an aggressive Latino voter contact plan building on prominent Latino endorsements, my work with and for the Hispanic community in the Legislature, and my record of showing up in every part of this district. The throughline connecting all these campaigns is the significance of the Latino voter margins. Powell said Democratic campaigns like hers were glued to Texas to see if the turnout trend would continue to bear out. With all signs pointing to yes, expect the Latino outreach to grow in these must-watch races. Were paying close attention to it, a Democratic strategist working in Nebraska said. Were communicating to [Latino voters] in every way that we possibly can, and making sure they know we need to turn out in this primary. Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICO's Playbook newsletter. WASHINGTON (AP) A National Transportation Safety Board member who was a public face of the investigation into last year's deadly collision of an airliner and an Army helicopter near the nation's capital said Sunday that he had been fired by the Trump administration without explanation. Todd Inman said in a statement that he received notice Friday from the White House personnel office that his position on the board was "terminated effective immediately. He said he had not yet received a reason for his firing. The White House had no immediate response to a message left by The Associated Press seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement The NTSB has a five-person board but its website on Sunday showed just three members. The board's vice chair, Alvin Brown, was abruptly removed last year. Brown and Robert Primus, who served on the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, were the only Black board members overseeing their respective independent agencies when they were fired last year. Both have challenged their firings in court, and the group Democracy Forward has filed discrimination claims on behalf of the men. When Brown was fired, experts said they couldnt remember such a firing from the NTSB. The White House previously has said that Trump was within his legal rights to fire Brown and Primus and that performance, not bias, drove the decisions. Advertisement Advertisement The NTSB is tasked by Congress with investigating aviation accidents and significant rail, highway, pipeline and other disasters to determine their probable causes and make recommendations aimed at avoiding similar incidents. The NTSB currently investigating nearly 1,250 cases. Inman also was the lead board member of the investigation into last year's crash of a UPS cargo plane in Kentucky that killed 15 people. After major incidents, the board sends a member to the crash site for initial briefings and to oversee the initial investigation. The January 2025 midair collision between the passenger jet and Army helicopter killed 67 people. In his statement, Inman said having been the board member on scene for two of the largest aviation incidents in the past two decades, working with all of the impacted families and first responders has made me appreciate how the original mission of the NTSB is more crucial now than ever before. Witnessing these horrible accidents have undoubtedly taken a toll on me and my family and has changed my perspective in a positive way on how we regulate safety for the traveling public, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Inman praised the NTSB staff and investigators as world class. My only hope is that the NTSB leadership and those who control it stay true to its roots and culture as the preeminent safety organization unimpeded by political or personal agendas, he wrote. An improvised explosive thrown near anti-Islam protesters outside the New York mayor's residence was a viable device "that could have caused serious injury or death," police said Sunday. Two suspicious devices were thrown by a man identified by police as Emir Balat near the protest Saturday led by a far-right influencer to oppose public Muslim prayer. An AFP correspondent at the scene heard Balat shout "Allahu akbar" ("God is the greatest") during the incident, which is under investigation by counter-terrorism detectives. Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, the police bomb squad inspected a car near to the scene of the previous day's incident, an AFP correspondent saw, with officers reporting a "suspicious device" was discovered. "The NYPD Bomb Squad has conducted a preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and deployed at a protest yesterday and has determined that it is not a hoax device or smoke bomb. It is, in fact, an improvised explosive device (IED)," the New York Police Department (NYPD) said in a statement Sunday. Police had said Saturday that the devices were jars wrapped in tape and containing nuts, bolts and screws -- typical components of an IED. Two men were arrested after Saturday's incident: Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, who reportedly handed over a device that was thrown by Balat, who dropped it near a line of police. Advertisement Advertisement The events unfolded after the far-right influencer, Jake Lang, staged a demonstration outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim. Lang was protesting alleged "Islamification" and calling for an end to "public Muslim prayer" in New York. His protest drew around 20 people while a counter-protest drew about 125. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Saturday she did not believe Mamdani was home at the time. On Sunday, the police bomb squad used a robot to inspect a car near to the scene of the previous day's incident, an AFP correspondent saw. Advertisement Advertisement A police spokesman could not confirm if the deployment was linked to the events of Saturday. - 'Flames and smoke' - AFP correspondents at the scene on Saturday saw a man wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and beige cargo pants -- later identified as Balat -- being handed a device wrapped in tape and billowing smoke by another man, named by police as Kayumi. Balat dropped the device near a line of police before vaulting a crash barrier. "Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke as it travelled through the air before it struck a barrier a few feet from police officers," police commissioner Tisch said Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Balat threw a similar device near Lang's group of protesters. The NYPD statement said Balat and Kayumi were arrested at the scene Saturday and are in custody. It said the NYPD is working on the investigation with the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI through the NYPD's Joint Terrorism Task Force. "The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are," Mamdani said Sunday. There was no indication the incident was related to the ongoing hostilities in Iran, Tisch said Saturday. gw/des A New York City police officer has died while he was deployed to Kuwait in support of the war on Iran, according to city and state officials. Sorffly Davius died Friday at Camp Buehring in Kuwait, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. She described Davius as a true Citizen Soldier and a devoted husband and father. Davius had served in the 42nd Infantry Division in the Army National Guard and rose to the rank of major, the NYPD said in a statement on social media. Advertisement Advertisement He began his service with the NYPD in 2014, assigned to the 79th Precinct. Today, and always, we keep his family in our thoughts and prayers, the department said. May we never forget Officer Davius sacrifice and may his memory be a blessing. NYPD officer Sorffly Davius. (New York City Fire Department) (New York City Fire Department) Davius was a decorated Army veteran who, before his overseas deployment, served with distinction on Joint Task Force Empire Shield, a New York National Guard security unit that defends the states highest-profile locations from threats, Hochul said. His life is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by our National Guard members, who balance their roles as citizens, first responders, and soldiers, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch paid tribute to him in a statement Saturday. His career was defined by service to his country and to New York City, they said. NBC News has asked the National Guard and U.S. Central Command for comment. Seven U.S. service members have died in the joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which has been met with retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases in the Middle East. Six American soldiers have died in Kuwait in the military operation. A seventh U.S. service member died Saturday evening, succumbing to injuries sustained during a March 1 attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, U.S. Central Command said Sunday. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com LIMA, Peru (AP) Authorities in Peru on Sunday said they have arrested three people following the deadly bombing of a nightclub as the number of those injured rose to 44. The explosion occurred early Saturday at the Dali nightclub in the city of Trujillo in La Libertad region, which has the largest gold-producing area in Peru and is rife with extortion and illegal mining. La Libertad Regional Health Management confirmed that those injured rose from 33 to 44, including three minors between the ages of 16 and 17. Advertisement Advertisement At least 10 patients have been discharged, while four others remain in serious condition, said Gerardo Florian, executive director of the Trujillo Health Network. Municipal officials said they shuttered the club for 30 days because it violated an operating hours limit and an ordinance prohibiting minors from entering the establishment. The club did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The police press office confirmed to The Associated Press that three people had been arrested in the case without providing more details. Video broadcast on local media showed the suspects handcuffed and being led away by police. Advertisement Advertisement Saturdays explosion is the latest to hit La Libertad. In 2025, the region experienced 286 explosions, 136 of which occurred in the city of Trujillo, according to official figures. In January of that year, an explosive device detonated in a prosecutors office building in Trujillo, and in August and September, two explosions left more than twenty people injured and damaged dozens of homes. March 8 (Reuters) - Oman's Muscat International Airport said on Monday it did not send a message seen by some charter executives that asked private jets to avoid using the site for "additional flights," to give priority to government and commercial traffic. "Muscat International Airport continues to welcome and facilitate private jet flights and business aviation operations," the airport said. The Financial Times first reported on the message shared online by some executives that featured a letterhead with the Oman Airport logo, asking airlines and operators to cancel any slots falling outside the approved seasonal schedule and to refrain from submitting non-approved flight requests until further notice. Advertisement Advertisement "Due to the current crisis management measures at Muscat International Airport, flight movements are restricted to approved seasonal scheduled services only," according to the message dated March 6 that was also seen by Reuters. The message claimed the airport said this measure was necessary to manage congestion and ensure that airport capacity remains within acceptable limits. The outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran has led to flight cancellations across the Middle East, leaving airlines and governments scrambling to support thousands of stranded passengers. With most airspace in the region still closed over missile and drone concerns, some people have turned to private jets while charter flights and limited commercial services struggle to evacuate tens of thousands of travelers. Advertisement Advertisement Travelers have shelled out high prices to get out of the region, rushing to airports or heading over land to quieter hubs, with fighter jets occasionally escorting people to passenger jets. (Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Rhea Rose Abraham and Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Porter and Aurora Ellis) Union City Mackenzie Day and her family watched the tornado form over Union Lake, the area that bore the worst of the powerful storm system that swept through southwest Michigan on Friday. The area of northwest Branch County was not under a warning, so Day's mother said they didnt have to seek immediate shelter in the basement. Day and her father went outside their home to see the storm; her mom joined with the dog. "We look and we can see it forming past our house," Day said. "We can see it twisting, and the clouds start twisting and going different directions." Advertisement Advertisement The clouds would eventually form an EF3 tornado that would destroy Day's family's home and kill three of her neighbors. It was one of four that touched down in southwest Michigan on Friday, meteorologists have confirmed. They are investigating a possible fourth. The tornado that swept through Union Lake and Union City was the strongest, with winds reaching 160 miles per hour that leveled a neighborhood along the north side of the lake. In all, four people were killed in the twisters, and there were numerous people injured, including 12 reported in Branch County. The twisters also wrought incredible destruction to the areas of Union Lake and Union City in Branch County, 120 miles west of Detroit. Dense thickets of trees have been mangled. Pickup trucks are overturned. Some homes are nearly flattened by falling trees; others are gone, destroyed by the disastrous wind. More: What we know about the deadly tornadoes that hit Michigan Advertisement Advertisement Mark Ward, who lives on Tuttle Road near the worst of the damage along Union Lake, described the damage to his home from the front yard on Sunday. He stood in front of a fishing boat that had been turned upside down. The twister lifted his 30-foot camping trailer off its base and carried it a few hundred feet from the trailer's platform and tires. Trees are on top of his utility trailers. His barn is off its foundation, cocked in two directions, the cement walls pushed in. His house is damaged. Broken windows, holes in the siding, a hole in the roof, his railing ripped off parts of the deck. "My neighbors didn't do so well," Ward said. "It's going to take a long time. They're saying it could be another three or four days for electricity, even." Advertisement Advertisement Across the street, Amy Katz's backyard is strewn with stuff. There's a recliner, craft supplies and other debris. Much of it isn't hers. There are 16 large trees down in Katz's yard. A neighbor helped cut them up with a chainsaw on Sunday morning. Nolan Ender slices up a downed tree in front of a home owned by Amy Katz on Tuttle Road in Union City, March 8, 2026. Four people were killed and several others were injured when a tornado ripped through southwest Michigan on Friday afternoon. Her home is standing, but its structural integrity is unclear, Katz said. There are five or six holes in her roof. The winds shoved a 2x4 board into the siding. Katz was home in the basement during the tornado. "You could just hear it," she said. "I wasn't sure if we'd have an upstairs (when it was over). It felt like we might not have a house." Surviving 'destruction' When Day and her family saw the tornado forming near Union Lake, they rushed inside to Days room, a windowless room in the basement, the safest in their home. Advertisement Advertisement It was clear something was wrong, Day said. Her ears felt weird, like a bubble was forming. She had never felt anything like it. That's when she knew the tornado would hit. So did her parents. Day's mother lay on Day, 18, and her 16-year-old brother, Tyler Adamson. The power cut out. Her father wrestled the mattress off her bed and laid it on top of them. "Then we just heard it go by," Day told The Detroit News. "It didn't sound like a train. It didn't sound like a whistle. It just sounded like loud wind, thunder, destruction." More: Watch: Michigan tornadoes captured on video wreaking havoc The tornado destroyed Day's home, she said from the gymnasium of Union City High School, where volunteers are organizing donated goods and serving hot meals. Advertisement Advertisement When they emerged from the basement, the family found the entire roof of their house was gone, she said. Things were everywhere fallen ceiling tiles and beams, living room furniture cast about. Adamson, Day's brother, didnt realize what he had survived until he saw the wreckage. "I knew it was happening," he said. "I knew that I was in danger, but I didn't think there was any possible chance I could die. I was not in reality. Then, after it happened and I saw our roof was completely gone, the only thing I can describe, the emotion, the word that I can use, is despair." Tyler Adamson, facing, gets a hug while visiting a relief center set up inside Union City high school, March 8, 2026. Four people were killed and several other injured when a tornado ripped through the Southwest Michigan, Friday afternoon. The family is staying in a hotel in Coldwater. Day said she still hasn't digested what they lived through, the fact that their home is unlivable, and their neighbors' homes were turned into debris. Advertisement Advertisement Three of the family's neighbors died, Day said. They were friends of the family. They were good people who didn't deserve to die in a disaster, she said. Day and Adamson spoke to reporters from the gymnasium at Union High School, where volunteers collected to unload and organize donations, serve hot meals and coordinate cleanup efforts. More: Whitmer declares state of emergency after severe weather damages 3 Michigan counties Day said that's why she and her brother were there, too. They might pick up a few items they need, but mostly, they wanted to see what else they could do. "We wanted to come check up on other people," she said. "We weren't the only ones who unfortunately went through this tragic event." Advertisement Advertisement ckthompson@detroitnews.com Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here. This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: How one Michigan family survived the Union Lake tornado 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 3 lightning raid in Venezuela and Junes one-off strike on Irans nuclear sites. 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement IAEA finds no evidence of hits on Iran nuclear facilities, urges restraint 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Trump says Venezuela's Maduro captured in 'large scale' US strike 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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 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. Why Iran's 'beheaded' power structure may outlive Ali Khamenei 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 world's oil passes. Tanker traffic has halted, which could have grave economic consequences if it lasts. Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. "It's a decision-making circle of one," said one Western diplomat. With oil once again a weapon in the Middle East, is clean energy the key to peace? 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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?" (Reuters) LIMA People opposed to a proposed data center need to focus on what the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency can do about it with a public hearing on the horizon Wednesday, an advocate said during a Saturday meeting. Catherine Adams, of the Columbus-based Buckeye Environmental Network, said there are plenty of concerns about Bistrozzi LLCs application to install 115 diesel-fired generators and 36 cooling towers on the site near the intersection of North Cole Street and West Bluelick Road, north of Lima. Among them are refusing to share with residents basic details about the proposed equipment on site and links to asthma and heart issues in an area that already has an above-average asthma rate. We are going to be giving public comments for the air permit, so were directing our comments to things that the EPA can address, Adams said, responding to a question in the crowd about other issues opponents had with the project. But were hoping to continue to mobilize and talk to public officials who can do something about the electricity rates, about the water withdrawal and about the fact that public officials have signed (non-disclosure agreements), preventing citizens from even knowing what company is behind this data center. Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has a public hearing about the permit request set for 6 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 at the auditorium in the Lima Public Library, 650 W. Market St., Lima. People can also submit written comments by March 18 to Mark Barber, Ohio EPA DAPC, Northwest District Office, 347 N. Dunbridge Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402, or via email to mark.barber@epa.ohio.gov. Saturdays meeting, originally scheduled for the librarys reading room, had to move to the auditorium after more than 50 people arrived to learn about how to submit comments. The company plans to burn ultra-low sulfur diesel or renewable diesel fuel such as hydrotreated vegetable oils, according to its permit strategy filed with the Ohio EPA, generating up to 2,750 electrical kilowatts. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Ohio EPA, the site will not exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standard, with the highest predicted concentration of 10.61387 micrograms per cubic meter of nitrogen dioxide. The standard from the U.S. EPA is 53 parts per billion, or roughly 100 micrograms per cubic meter. Still, Adams warned of the potential for health issues, saying the area already has an 11% incidence of asthma, compared to the 8% statewide average. Lima already has some pretty big polluters in town, right? Adams said. We already have the refinery, the ammonia plant and a bunch of chemical facilities. So people have been saying, Why are you guys so concerned? Thats actually part of it. Were concerned about this data center because there is already an excess of hazardous materials being emitted into the air, and its causing very real and very unaffordable public health impacts. She also showed screenshots from the permitting process, showing redacted information throughout the pages being considered confidential trade information under federal clean air statutes. Advertisement Advertisement Emissions information is public because of the Clean Air Act and cannot be classified as confidential business information, Adams said. Additional information about the permit can be found at bit.ly/4sCEmCR by searching for permit P0138965. Heather Davis, who has property near where preliminary site work has already begun, offered a background of the project and how it cleared through a zoning commission meeting and other assorted governmental bodies. Now its up to the Ohio EPA to decide on a five-year permit. Saturdays meeting was held by the Columbus-based Buckeye Environmental Network, a nonprofit that describes itself as empowering local, grassroots movements fighting for environmental justice on its Facebook page. Formerly known as the Buckeye Forest Council, its been operating since 1994. Advertisement Advertisement Bistrozzi LLC hasnt yet acknowledged if it has ties to any large-scale artificial intelligence companies that would need a data center. Local officials have said they cant disclose the company due to non-disclosure agreements. They have said the company plans $500 in capital investment and $50 million of infrastructure improvements and will bring 50 full-time jobs to the region. ONLY ON LIMAOHIO.COM See past coverage of the proposed data center at LimaOhio.com/tag/bistrozzi. Reach David Trinko at 567-242-0467 or on Twitter/X @Lima_Trinko. The Oregon Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a fundamentally stripped-down version of a bill modifying Measure 114, the controversial gun control law which has been held up in court since voters narrowly passed it in 2022. If it were to take effect, Measure 114 would ban the new sale of magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition; require that prospective gun owners obtain a five-year permit from law enforcement with gun safety training as a prerequisite; and require the completion of a federal criminal background check, eliminating loopholes which might allow for a gun to be transferred prior to a check's completion. When it passed the House last week, House Bill 4145 was still divisive. Republicans rallied against it, and they were joined in voting no by Rep. Farrah Chaichi, a Democrat from Beaverton. Advertisement Advertisement "I believe the studies that say permit to purchase laws save lives," Chaichi wrote in a letter explaining her vote. "However, I am not willing to sell disenfranchised people, people who have historically been victims of policing, not benefactors of its protection, down the river particularly as fascism continues to gain momentum in this country." At that time, HB 4145 included increases to fees for obtaining a gun permit, and a requirement that a permit-holder's personal information be entered into the Law Enforcement Data System, or LEDS. It also made various tweaks meant to make Measure 114 more manageable to implement. Chaichi pointed to the fees as a major reason for her opposition. "As the saying goes, 'If the penalty for a crime is a fine, then that law only exists for the lower class,'" Chaichi wrote. "I believe this applies to laws wherein the primary barrier to access one's constitutional right is a fee." Advertisement Advertisement The House passed HB 4145 in a 33-19 vote. It moved onto the Senate Committee on Rules, where the overwhelming majority of testimony at a public hearing came from gun owners not all of them from the political right arguing against the bill and Measure 114. At a work session on March 4, the rules committee swiftly adopted a gut-and-stuff amendment, replacing the contents with just two components: One changing the effective date for Measure 114's restrictions to January 1, 2028 which would give the state time to sort out how to implement it if a court allows it to take effect and a caveat saying that the bill should not impact those continuing court proceedings. The amended HB 4145 then sailed through the Senate on Thursday with a unanimous vote, 30-0. In a statement, Senate Republicans claimed victory for the bill that HB 4145 became, saying they "successfully removed the bills harmful gun control regulations." Advertisement Advertisement 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," said Derek LeBlanc, a firearms instructor and gun rights advocate quoted by Senate Republicans in their statement. Having been amended by the Senate, HB 4145 returns to the House for a final vote before it can go to Gov. Tina Kotek's desk. Ukraine's state-run Oschadbank has demanded that Hungary return its cash-in-transit vehicles and valuables that were illegally seized. Source: a statement by Oschadbank Details: The bank said that after the unlawful detention of seven of its employees and illegal seizure of the two armoured cash-in-transit vehicles and the valuables they were transporting in Hungary on 5 March, the Ukrainian citizens have since returned home. However, the vehicles and valuables remain in Hungarian custody. Advertisement Advertisement Oschadbank said it would defend its rights in the incident through a two-pronged approach: challenging the restrictive measures imposed by Hungary's migration authorities on the bank's cash-in-transit employees regarding their presence in the European Union, and pursuing legal steps to recover the bank's property. The property in question includes the two cash-in-transit vehicles, money and valuables worth US$40 million and 35 million, and 9 kg of bank gold. The bank stressed that it is completely confident regarding the legality of its actions. All relevant information and supporting documents have been submitted to the National Bank of Ukraine. To further confirm its legal position, Oschadbank said it would ask a leading international company to conduct an independent audit of the processes and contractual arrangements between all parties involved in the transportation of the funds and valuables. Quote: "Oschadbank demands the complete return of its cash-in-transit vehicles and the valuables they were carrying." Background: On the night of 5-6 March, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Hungarian authorities in Budapest had taken seven Ukrainian citizens employees of Oschadbank hostage and seized money and valuables. Hungarian authorities later posted photographs of the confiscated valuables and said they were investigating suspected money laundering. The detained cash-in-transit workers were expected to be deported. Sybiha described the actions as "terrorism and hostage-taking", and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine advised 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! Court officials are warning of another Pennsylvania Turnpike toll text scam. The Philadelphia Courts warned residents on Saturday of texts with an image of a document that appears to be from the Traffic Division of Philadelphia Municipal Court, NBC News affiliate WCAU reports. That document claims that the person who received the text failed to pay a toll and must either appear in court or pay a fine. Advertisement Advertisement Residents in the Pittsburgh area have reported to Channel 11 that theyve received the scam texts. An example of the fraudulent document, with the QR code blocked out, is pictured below: WCAU reports that officials are urging anyone who got the text to ignore it and not scan the QR code included in the message. Court officials stressed they would never send any kind of demand for payment via text. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW In the wake of a mass stabbing on the Key Peninsula, some residents are asking what it would take to form a new county serving mainly the residents of the Key Peninsula and greater Gig Harbor areas, a move that advocates suggest could address longtime staffing shortages of law enforcement in those areas. Local resident Damon Townsend broached the idea of a Peninsula County in a post on his personal Facebook page Feb. 25. These are tragedies for the families and communities directly affected, Townsend wrote, referring to the stabbings last week and a double homicide, also by stabbing, at a Herron Island home in December. But for many residents of the Peninsula, they have also brought renewed attention to a question that has lingered for decades: whether the current structure of Pierce County government is capable of providing an appropriate level of public safety services to this region. Advertisement Advertisement Hes spearheading what he calls the Peninsula County Exploratory Committee and said in an interview Monday that he planned to register the group as a nonprofit with the Washington Secretary of State and file with the Public Disclosure Commission if the group moves forward with any political advocacy. So far, hes the sole member of the committee, but hes seen lots of interest, he said. His Facebook posts Feb. 25 and Feb. 28 each generated between 600 and 700 reactions and received over 290 comments as of Wednesday. The Pierce County Sheriffs Office has faced a shortage of staff and funding for years. Recently, both residents and the deputies union have begun raising the alarm about levels of service to rural areas such as the Key Peninsula, deputy response times to 911 calls and pay gaps between the sheriffs office and other agencies like the Tacoma Police Department. On Feb. 24, deputies took about 50 minutes to reach the Key Peninsula neighborhood in Wauna where the mass stabbing occurred, though the sheriffs office reported that the initial call at 8:41 a.m. was for a violation of a no-contact order and a deputy arrived and fatally shot the suspect three minutes after the stabbings were reported at 9:30 a.m. The 32-year-old suspect, Aleksandr Shablykin, is suspected of fatally stabbing four people, including his 52-year-old mother Zoya Shablykina and three other women, who the medical examiner identified as Joanne Kathleen Brandani, 59; Stephanie Killilea, 67; and Louise Sandra Talley, 81. Advertisement Advertisement For over a year, Pierce County has been bargaining with the deputies guild over a new contract, which will solidify salaries for the countys law enforcement employees once signed. The county council approved $1.5 million in bonuses for deputies in December after many residents urged the council to postpone adopting the biennial budget until they increased funding for the sheriffs office. Townsend told The News Tribune that hes lived in the Gig Harbor area since 2004, and has been researching the idea of forming a new county since 2023. He said he believes forming a new county could help tax revenue generated on the west side of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge stay in the community, and increase the number of deputies serving the area. The recent homicides on the Key Peninsula just really kind of set me off, he said. Townsend is a former Pierce County elections specialist and supervisor who resigned in August 2019. He has run unsuccessfully for election multiple times in recent years, including for Pierce County Auditor in 2022 and the Washington Secretary of State in 2024. Townsend now works for a local Internet service provider but is speaking for himself personally, not his company, he said. The Peninsula County Exploratory Committee is still in its very early stages, Townsend said. Their first task will be to study the idea of forming a county and its viability. Once theyve determined that, the committee can prepare outreach presentations for the community and gather signatures for a petition, which theyd need to bring to the state Legislature. Those who want to get involved can sign up on the committees website or join their Facebook group, said Townsend. Advertisement Advertisement In an email Monday, Pierce County spokesperson Maranatha Hay directed The News Tribune to the Washington State Constitution, Article XI for the legal framework of forming new counties in the state. The state constitution says that new counties must have at least 2,000 residents, and existing counties where territory is removed must have at least 4,000 residents remaining. The census districts including the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula areas have a combined population of over 72,000 people, according to U.S. Census data from 2024. The state constitution also says that no territory can be removed from an existing county unless a majority of the voters who live in that territory petition in support of it, and then only under such conditions as may be prescribed by a general law applicable to the whole state. That means that at least half of the registered voters who live in the areas proposed as Peninsula County would need to sign a petition supporting the new county. Townsend said about 88,000 registered voters live in the proposed Peninsula County, so theyd have to get at least 44,000 signatures. Then, the committee would present the state Legislature with that petition, and the Legislature would need to pass a bill to form the new county, Townsend explained. He based that process off of how Pend Oreille County was formed in 1911, after the Legislature passed a bill which the governor signed into law. And if we were to present the Legislature with a petition of half of the voters in the proposed area, I would hope that our elected representatives from the 26th District would be sponsors of the legislation, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Pierce County spokesperson Hay also provided a statement from the county. Pierce County is aware of the Peninsula County Exploratory Committee and the community conversation taking place on the Peninsula, she wrote. The recent tragic events on the Key Peninsula are heartbreaking, and our thoughts remain with the families and communities affected. Washington State law provides a clear constitutional process for county formation, and that process is governed by the Legislature, not the county. Pierce County remains committed to serving all its residents, including those on the Peninsula, and will continue to do so. Townsend said that he envisions Peninsula County mostly following the boundaries of the Peninsula School District, which includes the Key Peninsula, the Gig Harbor peninsula, Herron Island and Fox Island. It could also include Anderson Island, but thats a topic of debate, he said. A map generated by AI, which Townsend included in a second Facebook post Feb. 28, included Anderson and McNeil Islands in the proposed county borders but had some inaccuracies. Townsend told The News Tribune that he plans to produce a GIS-enabled map in the future and that the map on the post needs to be corrected. All of the images on the committees website are AI-generated except for scans or uploads of actual documents, according to Townsend. Advertisement Advertisement Part of his research, which he said he started in 2023, has focused on studying past efforts to form new counties in Washington state. In 1992, a committee proposed creating a new Cedar County out of territory in east King County, as recounted in an essay on HistoryLink.org by Kit Oldham. Cedar County would have included roughly 1,585 square miles and covered the cities of Duvall, Carnation, North Bend, Black Diamond and Enumclaw. The case went to the state Supreme Court, where the justices ruled that the committee had failed to gather enough signatures in support of the new county. The court also ruled that the state Legislature isnt compelled to form new counties even if advocates gather enough signatures. The last county successfully formed in Washington state is Pend Oreille County, which was founded in 1911 out of part of Stevens County in northeast Washington state, according to HistoryLink.org. Townsend said hes looking to these historical examples to guide future research. You got to emulate success and dont copy failure, Townsend told The News Tribune. ... what worked before, if it worked before, why wouldnt it work again, and what didnt work and why? MANCHESTER, Pa. (WHTM) Authorities are searching for a girl they say was last seen this morning in York County. Star Malave, 16, was last seen around 9 a.m. Saturday in the area of Beechwood Drive in East Manchester Township, York County Regional Police said in a release. The department says they believe she may be at special risk of harm or injury or may be confused. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV devices, and newer Samsung Smart TVs. Advertisement Advertisement If you know where she is, call 911 or the York County Regional Police Department at 717-854-5571. 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. This article was originally published by the Students United News Network (SUNN) in the first citywide student-led newspaper in the USA, Nashville SUNN (NashvilleSUNN.com). On the morning of Jan. 24, as Winter Storm Fern took down trees and powerlines and covered our city in a thick layer of ice, most Nashvillians sheltered indoors and found whatever warmth they could. Selah Torralba, the advocacy manager at the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, worried that many of the families she worked with would not be so lucky. Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Ice storm heroes. How two Nashville CEOs helped warm a frozen city For Torralba, the weekend was a blur as she scrambled to support Nashvilles immigrant community through this crisis. While the storm was anticipated, the severity of its effects was not, and more than 200,000 residents were left without power or heat in freezing cold temperatures. Demonstrators gather during The Peoples Town Hall rally outside the NES headquarters building to voice concerns about the lingering power outages caused by an ice storm last weekend, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. More than 230,000 NES customers lost power in the storm, and today more than 70,000 residents are still without power. As temperatures plunged, anxiety rose Additionally, the murder of Alex Pretti by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Minneapolis days prior on Jan. 24, 2026, had increased the tension, grief and fear felt by Nashvilles immigrant community. When the storm hit, TIRCC and Torralba had to find a way to curb fear and provide as much relief as possible with very limited resources. Advertisement Advertisement Due to the escalating presence of ICE in U.S. cities and towns, immigrants around the country have become increasingly vulnerable, and the danger of the storm exacerbated their risk and worry. Deisy Perez begins to weep while walking alongside a bus escorted by several U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents and Department of Homeland Security officers at the DHS field office in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Multiple immigrant rights groups gathered to protest what they believed to be a multi-agency operation to detain-noncitizens overnight. I am a DACA recipient former undocumented child, I work in immigration now, I see the families affected every single day, Perez said. TIRRC quickly mobilized as the scale of the crisis became clear On the Sunday Fern hit, Torralba and her TIRRC colleagues began meeting online from their homes and building an action plan. By Monday, they had begun reaching out to the residents in the neighborhoods they serve, assessing resources and needs, and recruiting volunteers. By Tuesday, TIRRC volunteers were in the field knocking on doors to check on neighbors, calling hotels to find emergency lodging and delivering food. Torralba faced many obstacles as she tried to coordinate logistics to provide the necessary support. Countless hotels had no rooms available, and it was nerve-wracking and daunting to try to fill such a great need with such limited resources. With over 230,000 people without power, Nashvilles resources were already stretched thin. Meals delivered, beds found, hope restored Through Torralbas outreach, the Nashville community came through to support one another. The impact of TIRCCs actions is evident in the numbers: Within nine days after the storm hit, TIRCC had distributed over 1,000 meals, housed over 200 people and recruited over 400 volunteers to check on their neighbors through door-knocking and phone banking. Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Ice storm heroes. Meet the Chainsaw Boys of Belle Meade Acts of community care like this give me hope and remind me of how we need each other, not just in times of crisis, but every day, said Torralba. Recovery isnt over and neither is the need for community These actions have been much more impactful than just providing relief; they have reinforced the strength and unity of the Nashville community. According to Torralba, everyone who received aid or support from TIRCC was hopeful, thankful and ready to offer whatever they could to help their neighbors. This spirit of generosity, Torralba says, is what makes the Nashville community strong. Going forward, TIRRC will continue to provide support as the storm's lasting effects persist and community members continue to recover. Alice Ornes Alice Ornes is a junior at Hume Fogg and the president of her school's chapter of Students Demand Action. The Nashville SUNN (NashvilleSUNN.com) is the first citywide student-led newspaper in the U.S. and a publication of the Students United News Network. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How TIRRC mobilized to aid immigrant families during ice storm President Donald Trump will visit Northern Kentucky this week ahead of a congressional race in the Kentucky primaries he's hoping to influence. Trump will visit Hebron on March 11, according to a White House invitation reviewed by The Louisville Courier Journal that was sent to supporters by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr's Senate campaign office. Earlier in the day, he's set to visit Cincinnati to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. The public event will begin at 1 p.m. and will take place at the Verst Logistics Contract Packaging Facility, the invitation said. It includes no information about the purpose of his visit but notes the president will make "remarks." Advertisement Advertisement The Republican Party of Kentucky also announced Trump's visit in a Facebook post March 8, saying, "Join us Wednesday as President Trump lays out the work he's doing to make America affordable again and the plan Republicans have to keep our country moving forward." While the event is public, the White House is requiring those interested in attending to register beforehand at a link posted on its website. Northern Kentucky has been in the president's sights for a while the region is represented in Congress by U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, who has been caught in a bitter feud with Trump. The president has endorsed his Republican primary opponent, Ed Gallrein, with the race a little more than two months away. Massie has not been shy about voting against the president in some instances over the years, but the dispute has reached a fever pitch since last fall, when the congressman helped lead the push for the release of millions of files related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire sex trafficker with ties to many powerful people who died by suicide in jail in 2019. President Donald Trump will also visit Northern Kentucky on March 11 in addition to his stop in Cincinnati where he plans to speak about TrumpRx.gov. Primary elections in Kentucky will take place on May 19, with the general election set for Nov. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Trump last visited Northern Kentucky when he was spotted at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in May 2024. While the president did not have a public event during the visit, about a dozen supporters greeted him with American and "Trump 2024" flags. Vice President JD Vance had not yet been chosen as Trump's running mate at this point, but the two held a lunch discussion in the sprawling Indian Hill mansion of Peggy Gardner Johns, a member of one of Cincinnati's wealthiest families who founded Cintas, a uniform, cleaning supply and safety products company. Through tinted glass of a Suburban, former President Donald Trump waves to supporters at Wheels Up Private Jet Center ahead of a fundraiser in Indian Hill later in the day, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, Ky. This story may be updated. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Donald Trump making stop in Hebron, Kentucky, on March 11 President Donald Trump is expected to appear in Northern Kentucky on Wednesday. An event invitation obtained by the Herald-Leader says Trump will deliver remarks at a packaging facility in Boone County on March 11. Doors open at 1 p.m. for the event at Verst Logistics Contract Packaging Facility at 2200 Gateway Blvd. in Hebron, the online invite states. The invitation does not provide details about the nature of the event. Advertisement Advertisement Verst provides packaging and shrink wrap labeling for consumer products, according to the companys website. Trump is also scheduled to appear in Cincinnati Wednesday to tout his new prescription drug website, TrumpRx.gov, which is aimed at helping connect consumers to discounted pricing, Cincinnati television station WCPO reported Friday. The ABC affiliate said Trump will speak at Thermo Fisher Scientific in Reading, Ohio. The Kentucky visit puts him in the district of U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, who Trump is hoping will be unseated in the Republican primary by his pick, Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL from Shelby County. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has long been at odds with Massie, who has represented Kentuckys 4th District since 2012. Most recently, Massie has been critical of the Trump administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and the war in Iran. Herald-Leader politics reporter Austin Horn contributed to this report. New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File One of the guards responsible for monitoring Jeffrey Epstein while he sat in a Manhattan jail cell Googled him just minutes before he was found dead and made mysterious cash deposits in the days leading up to his death, according to new documents released by the Department of Justice. The DOJ released additional files pertaining to Epstein on Thursday night that included information about Tova Noel, one of two Metropolitan Correctional Center workers charged with keeping an eye on Epstein before he stood trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Advertisement Advertisement The New York Post reported Saturday that an FBI record of Noels internet search history from Aug. 10, 2019, showed she googled latest on Epstein in jail at 5:42 a.m. and then again at 5:52 a.m. Noels colleague, Michael Thomas, found the disgraced billionaire dead by hanging at 6:30 that morning. Noel denied googling Epstein in her sworn statement to the DOJ in 2021. Journalist Michael Tracey appeared to suggest that the Google searches werent particularly unusual, writing, Right before the supposedly suspicious search for the latest info on Epstein, the guard was searching for info on another federal inmate held at the same Manhattan jail facility KENYATTA TAISTE and then right after, searched for info on another inmate at the facility omar amanat. Then she searched for law enforcement discounts.' Tracey added, Sorry to spoil your tabloid fun, though. Look at the totality of the guard's Google searches in this timeframe. Right before the supposedly suspicious search for the latest info on Epstein, the guard was searching for info on another federal inmate held at the same Manhattan jail facility "KENYATTA TAISTE" and https://t.co/RaCzZsQHB5 pic.twitter.com/QrxG8h5bj1 Michael Tracey (@mtracey) March 7, 2026 Earlier that shift, Noel, 37, shopped for furniture online and snoozed on the job instead of making the mandated checks on Epstein every 30 minutes, while Thomas perused motorcycles, prosecutors said, according to The Post. Advertisement Advertisement Both Noel and Thomas were fired after being accused of falsifying records to show they checked on Epstein throughout the night before his death. Criminal charges against the two were later dropped. The files also showed that Tova made a mysterious $5,000 cash deposit 10 days before Epsteins death, which has since been ruled a suicide. In addition, the Miami Herald reporter who originally broke the Epstein story that led to his 2008 guilty plea to state-level prostitution, wrote on X, Adding: there are also a lot of monthly Quick Zelle cash payments to this womans bank account during this time span. Adding: there are also a lot of monthly "Quick Zelle" cash payments to this woman's bank account during this time span. https://t.co/jUSoQppRWO julie k. brown (@jkbjournalist) March 7, 2026 The Post noted that Noels bank records from Dec. 2018 showed seven cash deposits totaling $11,880. Advertisement Advertisement Also in the files, an internal FBI briefing surmised that Noel was likely the mysterious orange shape spotted in a blurry surveillance video near Epsteins cell around 10:40 p.m. that night, The Post reported. 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, the briefing said. The entry raised interest since Epstein was found with strips of orange cloth, according to The Post. Included in Thursday nights document dump were disturbing allegations that President Donald Trump struck a young teenager after she bit the sh*t out of his penis in an assault facilitated by Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. The post Prison Guard Made Mysterious Big Deposits and Google Searches Before Epsteins Death: DOJ first appeared on Mediaite. NEW YORK An Upper East Side anti-Muslim rally led by Jan. 6 rioter and far-right influencer Jake Lang erupted into chaos as Lang and his cronies were confronted by scores of counter-protesters outside of Gracie Mansion on Saturday the home of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the citys first Muslim mayor and a smoking improvised device was thrown, sending demonstrators scrambling for cover. A group of counterprotesters were also pepper-sprayed as they chased down two Lang supporters, videos posted online about the wild protest show. Saturdays anti-Muslim protest with Lang demanding an end to what he sees as the Islamification of New York City was fueled by the ongoing war in Iran and Mamdanis election to City Hall. Advertisement Advertisement During the protest someone threw a homemade device at Lang and his crew, which amounted to about 10 people. The object gave off some smoke, but didnt explode. They threw a bomb at us! Lang and his supporters screamed as a suspect was handcuffed. Get your s together! Lang yelled at cops. This should be a state of emergency! It was not immediately clear if the device was a smoke bomb, or an actual explosive that didnt ignite. I just survived an assassination attempt by these two Muslim men, Lang posted on X. The homemade bomb they threw landed 3 feet in front of me. The detonator failed to ignite, because God is on the throne of my life. Advertisement Advertisement Cops grabbed the device thrower and an associate, but it wasnt clear if they were Muslim, as Lang accused. The man who threw the device had another one on him as cops jumped on him and wrestled him to the ground. By the time the protest ended, at least six people were in custody, including the one who hurled the device and the Lang supporter who pepper-sprayed counterprotesters, according to police sources. The NYPD could not provide a final arrest count Saturday afternoon. Mayor Mamdani had no scheduled events Saturday and it wasnt clear if he was at Gracie Mansion when Lang arrived. An email to City Hall for comment about the protest was not immediately returned. Pro- and anti-Muslim protesters openly shoved and kicked each other during the protest, which began with Lang holding a pig roast at a cafe on East 88th Street and York Avenue a direct slap in the face against practicing Muslims, who arent allowed to eat pork. Advertisement Advertisement Lang and a handful of associates then carried the roasted pig, wrapped in tin foil, down York Avenue against a growing sea of counterprotesters. Counterdemonstrators banged drums and called Lang and his supporters Nazis. Close to 100 counterprotesters screamed and lobbed eggs at Lang and his supporters as the latter demanded Mamdani be deported and screamed USA! back at the demonstrators. Lang also brought a live goat to the protest, which he called Mamdanis second wife. Overwhelmed by the counterprotesters, Lang his supporters ultimately ran to a nearby U-Haul truck. Demonstrators tried to prevent their escape as Lang threw himself and his goat into the truck. Protesters then chased after the truck, damaging it, as it sped off. Advertisement Advertisement Its almost laughable how successful we were in comparison to those Nazis, counterprotester Isabelle Pinsky, 29, told the Daily News. There were like six of them and there were tons of us. Pinsky said she supports Mamdani, but was pissed at him for meeting with President Donald Trump. But the mayor wasnt what brought her to Gracie Mansion on Saturday. (My goal was) to come here and yell at some Nazis, she said. She also wasnt too concerned about the device that was thrown. I saw a small box and there was a little bit of fog, she said. The cops reacted like it was a live bomb. The drama was a lot of drama. Advertisement Advertisement Before the chaos, one of the first counterprotesters to arrive at Gracie Mansion was 87-year-old William Voelkle. The lifetime Upper East Sider, who has only one eye, proudly walked into a cordoned-off area, his cane leading the charge. Im in favor of the new mayor and against the other side thats protesting against, I guess, what they call the Islamization of Gracie Mansion, which is ridiculous, said the octogenarian, who saw a poster about Saturdays protest pasted on a street lightpole. Voelkle hoped his presence would speak volumes against Lang and his cronies. I have a cane, and I have difficulty walking, but I felt I wanted to come, he said. I just hobble along. Advertisement Advertisement Lang was one of more than 1,500 people pardoned by President Trump after their criminal convictions relating to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He has since become a right-ring provocateur, holding a pro-ICE demonstration in Minneapolis, during which he claimed he was stabbed by a counterdemonstrator and was saved by his protective vest. On Friday night, three people were taken into custody 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. The three people arrested were given criminal court summonses and released, an NYPD spokesman said. Advertisement Advertisement Lang briefly showed up in a van during that protest and committed a lewd act directed at the pro-Iranian regime protesters. Khamenei was assassinated by an Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28 at the outset of the joint Israeli and U.S. operation intended to topple the Iranian government. Trump on Friday demanded the unconditional surrender of the Iranian regime and the installation of acceptable leaders as conditions to end the weeklong war with Tehran that has spread across the volatile Middle East. (With Rocco Parascandola and Barry Williams.) Russian President Vladimir Putin is enjoying an unexpected windfall from the escalating war in the Middle East: a sudden rebound in demand for Russian oil. As global energy markets reel from disruptions in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Treasury Department has temporarily eased some sanctions on Russian crude, allowing select buyersincluding Indiato purchase oil shipments that had been stranded at sea. America's Iran conflict has resulted in a sudden windfall for Vladimir Putin. / Gavriil Grigorov / via REUTERS (Gavriil Grigorov) Just weeks ago, Russias oil industry was struggling under the weight of falling prices and sanctions. Millions of barrels of crude oil were sitting offshore without buyers, squeezing the Kremlins finances. Advertisement Advertisement Now that dynamic has flipped. The longer that this conflict goes on, the world will increasingly rely on both Russian crude oil and Russian refined products, Naveen Das, a senior crude analyst at ship-tracking firm Kpler, told The Wall Street Journal. On Saturday, President Donald and First Lady Melania Trump witnessed a dignified transfer of the remains of six U.S. Army service members of the 103rd Sustainment Commandwith many critics calling out Trump's disrespectful baseball hat. / Nathan Howard / REUTERS The conflict has sent oil and gas prices surging worldwide. But, while higher prices benefit producers everywhere, disruptions in the Persian Gulf have sidelined many of Russias biggest competitors. Tankers have been largely unable to move through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that an estimated 20 percent of the worlds oil supply passes through each day. Advertisement Advertisement Buyers in Asia have been scrambling to secure supplies from elsewhere, and the shift has already emboldened Moscow. Speaking on Russian state television this week, Vladimir Putin threatened to cut off the remaining gas Russia still supplies to Europe, months before the blocs own deadline to fully phase out purchases of Russian LNG and pipeline gas. Other markets are opening now, Putin said. If they shut us down in a month or two, wouldnt it be better to stop now and move to those countries that are reliable partners? But Moscow may be doing more than simply cashing in on the turmoil. Multiple sources, including a senior U.S. official, told CBS News that Russia has been providing Iran with intelligence on U.S. military positions in the Middle East during the ongoing U.S. and Israeli joint operations. Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to the reports in a preview clip from a 60 Minutes interview set to air Sunday. No ones putting us in danger. Were putting the other guys in dangerthats our job," he said. Were tracking everything; our commanders are aware of everything. We have the best intelligence in the world. Analysts say the conflict could also hand Moscow an unexpected strategic win on a different battlefield. The war in Iran is draining U.S. stocks of air defense and anti-ballistic missiles, potentially leaving fewer available for Ukraine as it fights Russias invasion. For Putin, Trumps new war brings a rare double dividend: surging oil profits and a distracted U.S. military. A loud morning for some parts of San Antonio has evolved as storms move away from South Central Texas and begin to head farther east. And views from radar have shown that although storms are shifting, clouds are still stretching across the Lone Start State. The National Weather Service shared a look at radar as storms fell the morning of Sunday, March 8 into the afternoon and showed a picture of just how far a storm system can actually spread. Thunderstorms moved into the Bexar County area and although precipitation has slowed a bit, radar did show the system spread from Uvalde and Batesville all the way to the Coastal Bend and even start to touch the Houston area. Advertisement Advertisement "Rain and storms persist into mid-afternoon, with main focus, for areas along and south of the I-10/highway 90 corridor," the NWS said in a social media post. "When thunder roars, go indoors!" And it seems meteorologists across the state are following the system. 11:45 AM: A t'storm with locally heavy rain and frequent lightning is moving into Bexar County and San Antonio. Otherwise, rain and storms persist into mid-afternoon, with main focus, for areas along and south of the I-10/highway 90 corridor. When thunder roars, go indoors! #txwx pic.twitter.com/nEi0jgkugI - NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) March 8, 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, even as storms start to lessen in San Antonio, the high winds and rain have contributed to some power outages in the area, with outages reaching just above 200 at its peak amid the storm. CPS Energy posted to social media to say they are working on the outages and making attempts to keep the lights on for effected customers, the most of which belonged in the 78221 zip code. OUTAGE UPDATE (12:20 PM): Storms continue to move into our service area this morning, bringing periods of lightning, gusty winds, and heavy rain. Currently, there are 27 active outages affecting approx. 190 customers, with the largest outages in the 78221 zip code. CPS pic.twitter.com/WbF0hKasn4 - CPS Energy (@cpsenergy) March 8, 2026 According to the CPS outage map, as of 1:05 p.m., only 60 homes remain impacted with 15 outages to report from south to southeast San Antonio as far out as near Calaveras and even near New Berlin. This article originally published at Radar shows storms miles-long across Texas amid cold front, forecasters weigh-in. Spring is nearly here in Michigan, and now that clocks have "sprung" forward with Daylight Saving Time officially underway we have more time in the evening to enjoy outdoor activities. DST began at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, March 8, pushing sunrise and sunset one hour later. However, the annual clock changes remain deeply unpopular among Americans, with two-thirds favoring its permanent elimination in a recent YouGov poll. Advertisement Advertisement A Florida congressman has even proposed moving clocks a half hour, and then leaving them there, splitting the twice yearly ritual of setting clocks. Here's what to know about Daylight Saving Time. Did Daylight Saving Time start yet? Yes, Daylight Saving Time began at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8. Clocks were set forward one hour, leading to sunrise and sunset coming an hour later. When will the sun set on Sunday, March 8? With the start of DST, you can expect sunset at the following times on March 8, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac: Marquette: 7:45 p.m. Holland: 7:42 p.m. Traverse City: 7:39 p.m. Grand Rapids: 7:40 p.m. Petoskey: 7:36 p.m. Sault Ste. Marie: 7:33 p.m. Lansing: 7:36 p.m. Hillsdale: 7:36 p.m. Alpena: 7:30 p.m. Monroe: 7:32 p.m. Detroit : 7:30 p.m. Ironwood: 6:56 p.m. (Central time) When is the spring equinox in 2026? The vernal equinox, marking the first day of spring, is at 10:46 a.m. EDT on March 20, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement More: Daylight Saving Time, can we just get rid of it? | Letter More: When is Daylight Saving Time 2026? What to know about time change What is Daylight Saving Time? Daylight Saving Time, often called daylight savings time, is when "daylight" begins an hour later in the morning and lasts an hour longer in the evening, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The clock change allows the hour of daylight to stay coordinated with the time most people are active outside. Daylight saving time is supposed to save energy, since during the warmer months the majority of people will be outside and not home, which saves energy. Is Daylight Saving Time popular? No, most Americans would prefer to get rid of Daylight Saving Time, recent polls show. Advertisement Advertisement In a YouGov poll released March 4, two-thirds of Americans, 64%, said they would prefer to see DST end, while 16% favored keeping it. More than half of Americans, 54%, in a March 2025 Gallup poll, favored eliminating DST, while 40% wanted to keep it. Is it daylight saving or daylight savings? While it is often referred to as Daylight Savings Time, Daylight Saving Time without the "s" at the end is the correct term. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Is Daylight Saving Time here? See sunset times Mar. 7---- There have been major improvements made during the 124-year history of the Renville County Courthouse, from replacing its gas lights with electric in 1912 and its coal-fired heating system in 1969, to large projects in recent decades on its windows and copper-covered dome roof. Now, the will be deciding whether to retain an architect to identify what work is needed today to assure the building's longevity, and to improve accessibility for its users. Advertisement Advertisement "It is a great building and we want to make sure it continues as a great building. That's part of the goal," said County Administrator Lisa Herges during discussions at the commissioners' meeting on March 3. Herges and Dave Altmann, facilities coordinator for the county, presented a proposal by Vetter Johnson Architects to perform an improvement study of the courthouse. Architect Tyler Johnson conducted a walk-through inspection of the property, and for a proposed $24,500 the Vetter Johnson Architects firm would conduct a full-scale analysis. Constructed in 1902 for $88,000, the courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's celebrated as "one of the most ornate of Minnesota's extant turn of the century courthouses," according to the National Register listing. It was designed by architect Fremont D. Orff, who was famous for designing "functional yet ornate" public buildings in the Midwest, especially in Minnesota. Its interior features a large, central rotunda, oak woodwork and marble floors. The exterior masonry is described as brown pressed brick on a foundation of rock-faced Portage Entry red sandstone. Advertisement Advertisement If the Vetter Johnson Architects proposal is approved, the architects will identify potential needs on both the exterior and interior of the building. It's believed that work will be needed on the exterior facade, according to Herges. While there has been some repair work done on the lower level, there's evidence of some deterioration, she said. The firm's proposal includes having an experienced masonry contractor to help with the assessment. The focus on the interior will be accessibility. When it was built, accessibility for people with disabilities was not a priority, said Herges. Today it is, she said, pointing out that many individuals with physical limitations use the building. None of the bathrooms on any of the building's three floors meet today's accessibility standards, according to the administrator and facilities coordinator. Advertisement Advertisement Access to offices is problematic too. It is a significant challenge for someone in a wheelchair to access the Driver and Vehicle Services office. "It takes multiple staff to get them in and out and to be served," said Herges. There are 100 windows in the building. They were installed as part of a project that reduced their number, possibly in 1986, according to Altmann. They have been on his list for long-range needs. If the proposal is approved, the heating, ventilation and cooling systems also will be evaluated. The heating system is installed in the attic. Altmann said he's not sure how it was placed there. Advertisement Advertisement The commissioners said their hope is that the architect's study can be used to pursue grants to help with the costs of the work that it identifies. The building's listing on the National Register of Historic Places should help in obtaining grant funds for projects, they said. Along with being a historic structure, the building remains a very functional and important facility for the county. It is the Renville County District Courthouse with two courtrooms and district court offices. It also houses offices for county administration, assessor, auditor/treasurer, corrections and probation, emergency management and the county recorder, along with the Hawk Creek Watershed Project. Over the last two weeks, jurors in Kouri Richins murder trial have heard wide-ranging testimony about troubles in her marriage, her secret affair and the millions of dollars she owed in debt all factors prosecutors say led her to fatally poison her husband. Prosecutors say the Utah mother of three killed her husband, Eric Richins, with a lethal dose of fentanyl in March 2022. She is also accused of attempting to kill him by lacing his sandwich on Valentines Day, weeks before his death. Nearly 40 witnesses have testified so far, including the woman who allegedly gave Richins the drugs, friends who said they had heard about the couples marital problems and the man with whom she was having an affair. Advertisement Advertisement The evidence will prove that Kouri Richins murdered Eric for his money and to get a fresh start at life, Brad Bloodworth, chief prosecutor in the Summit County Attorneys Office, said in his opening statement. More than anything, she wanted his money to perpetuate her facade of privileged affluence and success. Kouri Richins and her late husband Eric Richins are seen in an undated photo that Kouri Richins posted on social media in May 2023. - From Kouri Richins Kouri Richins has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges, with her defense arguing she has been wrongfully blamed for Eric Richins death and that prosecutors are unable to prove how the fentanyl entered Richins body. If convicted of the most serious charge, she could face up to life in prison. Theyre going to spend weeks in this trial trying to convince you that Kouri had reasons to kill her husband, because they cant show you that she did kill her husband, defense attorney Kathy Nester said in her opening statement. With prosecutors expected to conclude their case in the coming days, here are five key revelations from their witnesses so far: Kouri Richins dreamed of future with another man, texts show Robert Josh Grossmann, the man with whom Kouri Richins had a yearslong affair, wiped his eyes and put his head down as their affectionate text messages were displayed in court. Advertisement Advertisement I do want a future together. I do want you. Figure life out together, Kouri Richins texted Grossmann roughly two weeks before her husband died. If he could just go away and you could just be here! Life would be so perfect!!! I love you. Grossmann worked on houses Kouri Richins bought for her real estate business, he said, and their relationship became romantic around early 2020. She let him live in a home she was flipping, bought him two trucks and gave him money whenever he needed it, Grossmann said. He loved her, he testified, and believed she loved him, too. The jury saw dozens of texts where the two expressed their love and dreamed about being together in the future though both acknowledged the idea was more fantasy than reality. During his testimony, Robert Josh Grossmann said he and Kouri Richins had a yearslong affair that ended months after Eric Richins' death. - Pool Grossmann and Richins planned to get brunch together on March 4, 2022, to celebrate her closing on a valuable property, he testified. The night before, he sent her a GIF a type of animated image of two people kissing with the caption, love you, according to messages shown in court. Advertisement Advertisement Hours later, Eric Richins was dead. The two stayed together for several months after Eric Richins death, Grossmann said. About a month after her husband died, Kouri Richins texted Grossmann, I think I want you to be my husband one day. But their relationship soon ended. Grossmann said, Things changed after Eric passed. Kouri Richins appeared to be grieving after Eric Richins died, Grossmann said on cross-examination. Under questioning by defense attorney Wendy Lewis, Grossmann said after Richins arrest in May 2023, he spoke with a private investigator hired by Eric Richins family. The P.I., Grossmann said, told him Richins had killed her husband. Advertisement Advertisement I was blown away, Grossmann said, and then Im like, looking at everything in our past with a different set of goggles on, through different lenses. And I was trying to figure out if she did it. He told the investigator about a sprawling conversation he had with Kouri Richins about two weeks after Eric Richins death, in which they discussed dying, God, bowhunting and supernatural stuff. During that conversation, Grossmann said Kouri Richins asked if he had killed anybody while serving in Iraq and how it made him feel. Today, sitting here, when you think back on that conversation, does that conversation seem like it was a strange conversation to you? Lewis asked. I cant tell one way from the other anymore, Grossmann responded. Ive been confused for years. Kouri Richins felt trapped in her marriage, friends said Several witnesses testified there were difficulties in the Richins relationship, with two of Kouri Richins friends saying she told them she felt trapped in her marriage. Advertisement Advertisement She felt like she was frustrated in the relationship but also it would be difficult to leave Eric would end up financially secure and her the opposite, said Allison Wright, the wife of Eric Richins business partner. She feared what would happen in divorce. Kouri Richins "feared what would happen" if she divorced her husband, Allison Wright said when she took the stand during Richins' trial. - Pool Another friend testified Kouri Richins told her in December 2021 she couldnt see an easy way forward out of the marriage. She said that, in many ways, it would be better if he were dead, Becky Lloyd said. During cross-examination, defense attorneys tried to undercut Lloyds testimony, playing recordings in which she expressed uncertainty about what was said in the conversation. But Lloyd stood by her testimony on the stand. Advertisement Advertisement I dont want to be here saying it, she said, but I know that that is what was said. Kouri Richins told Becky Lloyd she could not see an "easy way forward out of" her marriage, according to Lloyd's testimony in Richins' trial. - Pool The jury also heard two recordings of phone calls between Kouri Richins, her best friend and Eric Richins best friend. We were in a rocky spot two years ago, Kouri Richins said of her marriage during one of those calls, which occurred about two weeks after her husbands death. Eric Richins friend then referenced Kouri Richins kicking her husband out of the house for a couple weeks after she learned he had been seeing another woman. Two divorce attorneys testified they met with Eric and Kouri Richins individually in 2020 and 2021, respectively, although neither filed for divorce. Kouri Richins finances were collapsing, accountant said While Richins friends said she appeared to be financially successful, a forensic accountant testified her business flipping homes was imploding. Advertisement Advertisement As of the date that Eric Richins died, Kouri Richins was in financial distress and her financial enterprise was collapsing, had been collapsing and but for a significant infusion of cash and capital, would have continued to collapse, said Brooke Karrington, who analyzed financial records in the case. Kouri Richins debt problems began after she took out a $250,000 home equity line of credit, or HELOC, against their family home in 2019, around the same time she registered her real estate business, Karrington said. The loan was taken out in her husbands name and signed by Kouri Richins as his attorney-in-fact, according to records displayed in court. By the time Eric Richins died, Kouri Richins had taken out multiple loans and owed thousands in debt payments every week, so her bank account was perpetually in the hole, Karrington said. Her net worth was negative $1.6 million the day after her husbands death, according to Karringtons analysis. A forensic accountant shared this exhibit during Kouri Richins' murder trial. - Pool In financial records Richins submitted as part of four loan applications, she reported her bank accounts contained significantly more money than they had, Karrington said. Advertisement Advertisement Eric Richins life was insured for approximately $2.2 million through several policies, according to Karrington. Prosecutors allege Kouri Richins forged an application for one of his life insurance policies that went into effect on February 4, 2022, 10 days before they say she first tried to poison her husband and a month before his death. Richins received about $1.3 million in life insurance payments in the months after her husbands passing, Karrington said. By September 2022, most of the money had been spent much of it toward paying down her debt. If, in fact, Ms. Richins was in financial distress, youre not here to say she killed her husband, are you? Nester asked the forensic accountant during a testy cross-examination. Thats for the jury to decide, Karrington said. Im not making any conclusion about that at all. 2 witnesses described alleged drug deals prior to Eric Richins death Carmen Lauber, a house cleaner who worked for Kouri Richins, testified she sold pills to the Utah mother four times in early 2022 at the defendants request. Advertisement Advertisement Shed called me and asked me if I could reach out to somebody for some pain meds for an investor that she knew, Lauber testified. She bought illicit opiate pills for Richins, who later asked for something stronger, the house cleaner testified. Lauber got in touch with Robert Crozier, who said he had pills containing fentanyl, Lauber said. When she texted Richins about the fentanyl pills, Richins responded, OK, go ahead and get them, according to Laubers testimony. Lauber testified she bought pills from Crozier at a gas station in Draper, Utah, twice before Eric Richins death and a third time shortly after. Chris Kotrodimos, a digital forensics analyst, showed the jury location data from Lauber and Croziers phones. The devices were both near the Draper gas station on February 11, February 26, and March 9, 2022, according to his analysis. When Eric Richins was found dead on March 4, 2022, he had roughly five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system, according to charging documents. On the stand, Crozier confirmed he gave Lauber pills at the gas station but insisted he did not sell fentanyl at the time. In early 2022, Crozier was selling pharmaceutical oxycodone pills he received from people with prescriptions, he said, and didnt start selling fentanyl until late that year. Crozier had previously confirmed he sold Lauber fentanyl in a jailhouse interview with law enforcement during the investigation into Erics death. In footage of the interview shown in court, Crozier struggled to remember details about his interactions with Lauber and which drugs she asked for. But he said, She knew what she was buying. So, she knew that there was fentanyl in those pills? an investigator asked. Absolutely, Crozier said. On the stand, Crozier said he didnt remember that conversation. I was on a lot of drugs at that time, so I was detoxing from those drugs, he testified. Though he was called as a witness for the prosecution, Croziers testimony is key to Kouri Richins defense: In her opening statement, Nester argued if Crozier only sold oxycodone as he now claims, his pills could not have killed Eric Richins. Robert Crozier testified he gave Carmen Lauber pills but said he did not sell fentanyl in early 2022. - Pool The pills that were purchased by Carmen Lauber could not have been the cause of Erics death, Nester told the jury. The fentanyl must have come from somewhere else. Attorneys on both sides tried to undercut Lauber and Croziers credibility by questioning their recollections, histories of drug use and inconsistencies between their testimonies and their previous statements. Crozier and Lauber both received immunity in exchange for their truthful testimonies. The defense has suggested Lauber altered her story to fit the prosecutions narrative. Kouri Richins phone records show searches about fentanyl, life insurance payments Although lots of data from early 2022 was deleted from Kouri Richins phone, Kotrodimos testified about some of her cellphone activity around the time of her husbands death. Kouri Richins told investigators she left her cellphone in the master bedroom while she slept in her childrens bedroom the night her husband died and she called emergency services as soon as she returned to find him cold and unresponsive, according to court documents. Kouri Richins cellphone was locked at 9:32 p.m. on March 3, 2022, and remained locked until 3:06 a.m. the next morning, according to Kotrodimos analysis. It moved 35 feet around 10:30 p.m. and then moved 243 feet at 3:08 a.m. The phone was unlocked six times in the 15 minutes before she called 911 at 3:21 a.m., he said. A witness in Kouri Richins' murder trial testified these GIFs were accessed by her phone after her husband's death though he could not say who sent or received them, or if Richins herself viewed them. - Pool Around 8:30 a.m., hours after she called 911, cellphone records show three GIFs were accessed on Kouri Richins phone: One was captioned, Idiots. Idiots everywhere, while another showed a woman wiping away her tears with dollar bills. A third included the caption, Im really rich. Kotrodimos testified he cant determine who sent or received the GIFs or if Kouri Richins even viewed them. Kotrodimos showed the jury dozens of internet searches made on the phone Kouri Richins used beginning in April 2022, after her other phone was seized by law enforcement. The searches included queries about remotely deleting cellphone data, how investigators recover deleted messages, womens prisons in Utah, and life insurance payments. According to Kotrodimos, the searches included: what is a lethal.dose.of.fetanayl (sic), kouri richins kamas net worth, and, if someone is poisned (sic) what does it go down on the death certificate as. Kotrodimos testified the searches were all made after Kouri Richins knew she was under investigation, and he confirmed he couldnt say with certainty who made the searches nor what prompted them. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Remnants of racism remain in the Oneida County Township of Cassian as a call to people of goodwill to stand against cruel and insulting taunts directed at Native Americans. Halfbreed Rapids is located about 20 miles west of Rhinelander on the Tomahawk River. The name Halfbreed Rapids is a constant reminder to Indigenous neighbors that Wisconsins beautiful northwoods is not totally populated by people of goodwill. Its long overdue for the Township of Cassian, the Oneida County Board of Supervisors, Wisconsins state legislature and all who wish to build better friendships and goodwill with Native Americans to change this inappropriate and offensive name. Advertisement Advertisement Name-calling is one of the first signs of a bully. The people of Cassian and all of Oneida County are condoning a form of bullying every single day this name continues to be used. Halfbreed Rapids is located near the Lac du Flambeau Reservation and is within ceded territory taken from the Ojibwe Nation by the US government. Reparations for lost lands would be justice for all Indigenous peoples from whom so much has been taken. However, a token first step should be removing offensive, often sexist, always degrading names from rivers, lakes and waterfalls. The Town of Cassian and all of Oneida County can offer a token sign of friendship and goodwill by removing this remnant of racism from usage. Its time to re-name Halfbreed Rapids. Advertisement Advertisement Roger Utnehmer, Wausau Opinion: Public doesn't have to accept trash coming from White House Letter: What was President Trump's rush to go to war with Iran? Tips for getting your letter to the editor published Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Advertisement Advertisement Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Oneida County should change name of Halfbreed Rapids | Letter Renewed Ukrainian aerial attacks have hit energy facilities in Russia's border region of Belgorod and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, officials said on Sunday. In Belgorod, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported severe damage to energy infrastructure and power outages after a Ukrainian missile attack. There are also problems with water and heat supply, he said. In Armavir in the Krasnodar region on the Black Sea, a fire broke out in an oil depot after a drone attack, covering an area of 700 square metres. No injuries were reported. Advertisement Advertisement The Defence Ministry in Moscow said in the morning that Russian air defences had destroyed 72 Ukrainian drones. The information could not be verified by independent sources. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian oil industry facilities in its fight against Moscow's full-scale invasion, now in its fifth year. Kiev's stated goal is to reduce Russia's revenues from energy sales, which are used to finance the Russian military. Ukraine on Sunday reported new Russian attacks with two Iskander missiles and 117 drones. According to authorities, one drone also hit a train carrying up to 200 passengers on the line between Kiev and the north-eastern Sumy region route. No one was reported injured. Police leaders will update Salem City Council March 9 on the city's violent and property crime rates, which decreased in 2025 compared to 2024. According to a report released Feb. 9 by Salem Police Department, there was a significant decline of 20.2% in violent crime, including a reduction of more than half in the homicide rate. Of the four murders investigated by the Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit in 2025, all were "successfully solved," police said. The national homicide clearance rate is about 61%. Advertisement Advertisement Property crime, including vehicle theft and larceny, also saw a reduction, with a decrease of 16.5%. Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack told the Statesman Journal the data was "encouraging news." Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack speaks to the city council during a work session focused on improving downtown safety and livability on July 21, 2025. Property crime reports have declined steadily in Salem since 2017. The outlier in 2025 was the reduction in violent crime after a 10-year upward trajectory. "It's way too early to tell if that's a long-term trend or not, but finally, we had a significant reduction in violent crime," Womack said. "Hopefully, we can continue with that going forward in coming years." Police leaders will also detail the decline in traffic fatalities in 2025, which came at the heels of a record-setting number of fatalities in 2024. Other Salem City Council agenda items Salem Fire will give an update on the first month of the Rapid Engagement, Assessment and Community Health team, also known as REACH. The program is part of a six-month pilot project and will continue if it sees success. The team responds to behavioral health and substance use calls. The team is composed of an EMT, paramedic and mental health associate. A public hearing changing city code to include short-term rentals and accessory short-term rentals into the Tourism Promotion Area. The TPA establishes a 2% fee on overnight stays in Salem. The majority of the funds go to Travel Salem to promote tourism. A presentation by Travel Salem on the economic impact of tourism in Salem. A vote approving the annexation of 1.94 acres at 5524 Skyline Road S, which is zoned for multi-family residential development. A vote to amend the city's 2025 Annual Action Plan with the Department of Housing and Urban Development by moving $516,500 from housing preservation to public facilities. A vote to acquire easements for the 16th Street Culvert Replacement Project on the streets crossing with the east fork of Pringle Creek. A progress report on the city's 2025 Climate Action Plan. A proclamation declaring March as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. How to participate in the Salem City Council meeting The meeting is at 6 p.m. March 9. While city hall is undergoing seismic retrofitting, council meetings will be held in Loucks Auditorium at the Salem Public Library at 585 Liberty St. SE. Advertisement Advertisement Meetings can be watched on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish. Those wishing to comment in person can sign up on the rosters at the chamber entrance before the start of the meeting. Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net by 5 p.m. the day of the meeting. Or citizens can preregister between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. the day of the meeting at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak during the meeting via Zoom. Whitney Woodworth is the Statesman Journal's watchdog reporter for city hall and covers economic development. Send comments, questions and tips to her at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com or follow at @whitneywoodworth.bsky.social This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem Police address 20% decrease in violent crime SAN DIEGO (FOX5/KUSI) San Diego County homeowners with an ADU on their property will soon be able to sell it separately from the main property. The County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance that aligns the county with Assembly Bill 1033, which promotes homeownership by allowing California homeowners to sell their ADUs like they would a condo. Homeowners could start doing that as early as next month. I know some of my colleagues are excited about it, but Im apprehensive and not interested in it because there is complexity when it comes to the lender, right? I have a loan on this property and my lender would need to have a partial release of collateral in order for me to sell something, right? said Matt Davies, a real estate broker and investor. Advertisement Advertisement Davies owns several ADUs, some in the North Park neighborhood. He thinks the new ordinance is more idealistic than realistic. If were going to adopt an ordinance, I want it to be as flexible as possible to give homeowners or homebuilders room to make their projects work. So, although its not a perfect solutionbeing allowed to sell ADUs to gather more housing is a step in the right direction, said Supervisor Jim Desmond who represents District 5. My main concern is that investors will buy ADUs and they will continue to rent them out, said District 4 Supervisor Monica Montgomery-Steppe. The board unanimously voted to approve the ordinance without added regulations, which falls in line with AB 1033. It allows the sale of ADUs in hopes of promoting homeownership. Advertisement Advertisement I just dont see people getting to the finish line in a meaningful way. I think its idealistic, but there is a lot more that goes into that from every perspective, said Davies. He thinks itll be expensive to create homeowners associations to split bills and could open the door to legal claims from builders and others. However, the discussion isnt over. The board could add to the ordinance. In June, the board will hear options to promote first-time homeownership, which includes giving renters priority when the ADU goes up for sale and owner occupancy required for the first-year or longer. The ordinance is expected to take effect at the beginning of April. 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 5 San Diego & KUSI News. During the ongoing fuel concerns in Bangladesh, if liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply from Qatar is not available, the country can procure fuel from companies in the United States as an alternative because Bangladesh has a fuel supply agreement with the US, a fuel business leader said on Sunday. "Bangladesh imports LNG from Qatar, but if not from Qatar, I believe we have an agreement with the United States. Therefore, even at a higher price, the US companies might carry out the supply," Farhan Noor, Secretary General of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station & Conversion Workshop Owners Association, told ANI in an interview. Noor admitted that volatility in the fuel sector created panic among the general public. "When there was a fuel crisis, panic arose among the people. It created an unstable environment in the fuel sector," he added. Speaking about petrol and octane, which are used in motor vehicles and motorcycles, Noor stated that, "We produce 80 per cent of petrol and octane in Bangladesh; we produce it ourselves." "In fact, we do not have a major crisis here, but because a responsible person gave an irresponsible statement, especially the chairman of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), and the media spread it, panic has arisen here," he said. Noor said that people started buying more fuel than they actually needed, which created an unstable situation in the fuel sector. "Because of this panic, many people started buying much more fuel or petrol than they actually need," Noor said. "Because of this, it created an unstable situation in the fuel sector, which was actually unnecessary for some people," he added. "Everyone rushed to the stations at once, which is why the government announced rationing. However, even because of this announcement, the panic increased," he said. "In reality, the fuel that we use in urban areas, we do not have a shortage of it. I think within the next two or three days the situation will return to normal," Noor said. "We import diesel from abroad into Bangladesh," he added. (ANI) 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. An Iranian drone was shot down to the east of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry said in a Saturday post to X/Twitter. The ministry later said that an additional eight Iranian drones were shot down upon entering Saudi Arabia's airspace. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi 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. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran's temporary leadership council had approved suspending attacks on nearby countries, unless an attack on Iran came from those nations,"personally apologiz[ing] to neighboring countries that were affected by Iran's actions." To what extent Pezeshkian's remarks signal a change is unclear. There were further reports of strikes directed at Gulf states on Saturday. Smoke rises after reported Iranian missile attacks, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, as seen from Doha, Qatar, March 1, 2026. (credit: MOHAMMED SALEM/REUTERS) 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 US 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 neighboring states and had not taken action against them so far. But it said US 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. US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that Iran had "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 US 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 neighboring Gulf states. Iran, they said, reiterated its position that the strikes were not aimed at Gulf countries themselves but at US interests and military bases hosted on their territory. One Iranian source said that Tehran had in response demanded that US 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 US 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 neighbors, 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. Saudi has told Iran not to attack it, warns of possible retaliation, sources say Also on Saturday, Saudi Arabia 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 Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring 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 Araghchi 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 US use their airspace or territory to launch airstrikes on Iran. But Farhan 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 US 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 US and Israeli military campaign against Iran began on February 28 following the collapse of talks on Iran's nuclear program. The Saudi and Iranian foreign ministries did not respond to requests for comment. A person has been detained after allegedly assaulting a Sea Tow captain and stealing the rescue vessel near Marco Island late Friday night. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the captain responded to a report of a vessel fire and rescued the individual from the burning boat. After the rescue, an altercation occurred aboard the Sea Tow vessel and the captain was allegedly thrown into the water, FWC said. The suspect fled the scene in the Sea Tow boat. The Sea Tow captain was later rescued from the water. After a multi-agency search, the suspect was located and taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement More: Now You Know: $63M affordable housing project rises near Rookery Bay The investigation remains ongoing. This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: Suspect detained after alleged altercation on water near Marco Island A seventh US service member has been killed in the US and Israeli war on Iran, according to an official statement on Sunday. A member of the armed forces succumbed to injuries sustained during Iran's initial attacks, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in the statement. The service member was reportedly seriously injured in an attack on US soldiers last Sunday in Saudi Arabia. The announcement came a day after US President Donald Trump attended the repatriation of the six soldiers killed in the Iran war. He travelled to Dover Air Force Base in the state of Delaware for Saturday's ceremony. The six soldiers were killed in a drone attack in Kuwait during the first days of the war, US sources said. As Germany marked International Women's Day on Sunday, a series of demonstrations are taking place in the capital Berlin, spearheaded by a large march to the City Hall, where Mayor Kai Wegner has his official residence. In alliance with other groups, the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) is leading the march under the slogan "Feminist, in solidarity, with the trade union." Organizers had previously registered the event with 10,000 participants. Advertisement Advertisement Berlin City Hall is popularly known as Red City Hall, not because of its politics, but for the colour of the bricks it is built from. Incumbent Mayor Wegner is a conservative. The march coincides with other planned events in Berlin and other cities championing women's rights but also peace and disarmament and other issues. Equality is often still lacking in everyday life, Labour Minister Barbel Bas told dpa on the occasion of the holiday. "Almost three-quarters of mothers still work part-time, often not voluntarily," said Bas, also noting the wage gap, known as the gender pay gap. "Women earn on average 16% less than men and are still underrepresented in many areas of technology." Advertisement Advertisement However, she said this is not due to a lack of ability, but too often to conditions that force women to take a back seat. Equality remains a question of respect and one "for the future of our country," said the minister. Minister for Women Karin Prien added: "In terms of equality between women and men, Germany is doing quite well in a global comparison. But there is still room for improvement." Speaking to the Rheinische Post newspaper, Prien said implementing equality is not a "nice concession" to committed women's rights activists, but a constitutional mandate. Advertisement Advertisement Large rallies were announced in several German cities, including Hamburg, Munich, Hanover and Leipzig. Other planned events in Berlin on Sunday include the traditional "Purple Ride" bicycle tour organized by left-wing and lesbian women's groups, with 2,000 participants expected to take part. In the afternoon, left-wing groups were to march to the central square named after Polish-German Marxist revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg under the banner "Feminism Unlimited." A total of 3,000 demonstrators were registered to take part. Another demonstration with 1,200 participants under the slogan "March 8 International" was planned for the afternoon. Radical left-wing groups are also calling for marches under the slogans "Freedom for Palestine" and a "Revolutionary March 8 Demonstration." BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A shelter-in-place order has been lifted in the Village of Fredonia after police took an armed suspect into custody, officials announced Saturday. The Fredonia Office of Emergency Management announced the order on social media earlier Saturday evening as local authorities searched for an armed person said to be in the area of Van Buren, Chestnut, Farel and Johnson Streets. Police say the suspect has been caught and the order has been lifted. WIVB News 4 reached out to Fredonia Police for more information and is waiting to hear back. Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. Latest Local News Gabriella Baiano has been a digital producer with WIVB since November 2025. View more of her work 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 News 4 Buffalo. What is Israel's best bomb shelter? And when is the best time of day to shower without interruption from a missile alert? The Middle East war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran has provoked waves of retaliatory Iranian fire as well as some tricky questions for Jews and Arabs from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. A new app, which went viral in the country within hours of launching, uses statistical analysis of recent air raid alerts in specific areas to guide users on the optimal time of day to bathe, while limiting the chances of having to run for cover mid-wash. Advertisement Advertisement "Can't even take a shower. I'm naked in the dining room. Is that normal?" quipped an Israeli on a Telegram account with 60,000 followers, as an alert warning of incoming Iranian missiles ordered residents to head for shelter. Time Out, a publication known for directing people towards trendy restaurants and cocktail bars, is also trying to help the public navigate the war. It has published a list of desirable Tel Aviv beach spots based on their proximity to a shelter. "We searched and found beaches that are near compliant protected areas (shelters) you can reach in just a few minutes' walk if necessary. Don't panic!" Advertisement Advertisement Journalist Ofek Tzach has offered a ranking of Tel Aviv's public shelters. Among the low performers are one that he derides as packed with tourists, another "with barking dogs," and a third he says is "quiet but with no one to talk to." - Married in bomb shelter - There have also been endearing moments that have captured the public's attention. The wedding venue booked by Lior and Michael was no longer available, due to security restrictions, so the couple got married in a shelter -- four levels below ground in a shopping centre parking lot. "It was a wonderful moment," even if seventy percent of the people there were strangers, Michael told Israel's Channel 13. Advertisement Advertisement There has also been a surge of online advice on how to make time in shelters more bearable. Books, music and cushions are popular recommendations, standing in contrast to the more austere guidance from Israeli authorities, which includes having a radio, batteries, a phone charger and ID papers. For Palestinians living in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, responses to the relentless air raid sirens have tilted towards dark humour. There are few public shelters in the eastern part of the city and private shelters are almost non-existent. "At the moment, Palestinians are taking a plate of qatayef and going up to the roof" to watch the missiles, said a Facebook post by pastry chef Mohammad Alayan, referring to the dessert traditionally eaten during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Advertisement Advertisement Palestinians in east Jerusalem regularly film rockets streaking through the sky from their rooftops. Palestinians also took playful aim at a Facebook post by Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion detailing the proper conduct when an air raid siren sounds. One comment on the post, apparently from a resident of the east Jerusalem refugee camp Shuafat, asked: "What is someone in Shuafat refugee camp supposed to do? Jump out the window?" mib/ha/anr/bs/del/dcp The Iranians are no fools. We were not the only ones preparing for the event. They were too. The previous operation taught them a few things. Three raids a day and a staggering munitions pace that shattered global standards. As pilots raced to Iran on stimulant pills, the partnership with the United States and the ingenuity of the women in the force created a single arm that choked off Tehrans launching capabilities. It is horrifying to recall what the IDF had to deal with ahead of this operation. The repeated attacks on Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, appointed by this government and then abandoned to the claws of propagandists who branded him a Kaplanist and smeared him from morning to night. A chief of staff who has become a regional commander, not only leading the IDF to extraordinary operational achievements, but also coordinating actions with his many counterparts across the region and working closely with the American chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the commander of CENTCOM in what is described as nothing less than a masterwork. Advertisement Advertisement Consider what they did to Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar during the judicial overhaul period, when he had to deal with the rising emotions of hundreds of pilots, some of them older reservists, who threatened to stop volunteering if the legislation advanced. Bar knew he did not have the luxury of dismissing so many pilots from the IDF, especially since they were not refusing orders but exercising their democratic freedom to protest and suspend what was, in effect, voluntary reserve service. He was torn between worlds, yet somehow managed to hold both ends of the stick. He, nor anyone else, had any doubt that when the moment came, all of them would show up, far beyond the expected mobilization numbers, and that is exactly what happened. But they demanded his removal, and then raged over the excellent appointment of Maj.-Gen. Shlomi Binder as head of Military Intelligence, replacing the resigning Aharon Haliva. True, Binder bears some responsibility for October 7, though not a dominant share, but under the circumstances and reality of those days, he was the most necessary and appropriate appointment. The man who appointed him, then-chief of staff Herzi Halevi, planned the campaign against Iran after the Mossads original plan had collapsed. He knew Binder was the most suitable man on the General Staff to take over Military Intelligence, rebuild the organization on the move, and prepare it for the decisive rounds ahead. These days, it is becoming clear just how right Halevi was, and how brilliant Binder is. I spoke this week with several people in the Air Force, and they did not know how to express their amazement at the quality of the intelligence fed to them in Tehran, Beirut, and everywhere else. Its insane work, what Military Intelligence did, pure magic. Everything starts there, one of those who carried out the operations said. IDF Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder speaks during a replacing ceremony held at the IDF Intelligence Command headquarters in Glilot, August 21, 2024. (credit: TOMER NEUBERG/FLASH90) By the time we got to the Air Force, there was already a shortage of superlatives. There is no choice but to open the emergency stockpiles: it begins with Tomer Bars quiet leadership. Unlike his predecessor Amikam Norkin, who was an excellent Air Force commander but also highly extroverted, Bar is quiet, keeps away from media storms though unfortunately they pursued him and does not engage in glorifying his own name, which has been glorified for him in his absence. The race between launchers and bombers The Air Forces preparations for war were fascinating. Because the number of aircraft and pilots is fixed and known, and because it was clear a race would develop between Irans launch capability and the Air Forces ability to destroy launchers and missiles, the solution devised by the Air Force was to increase the number of waves. How? Fly to Iran and back three times a day. Every pilot. And how is that done? With stimulant pills. That was the trick they planned. And it worked. Advertisement Advertisement When every pilot does this three times a day instead of once or twice, the number of strikes soars, literally and figuratively, the number of strikes surges, and the ability to reduce Irans launch capability is dramatically strengthened. We understood that we had to bring as many bombs as possible to the target in as little time as possible, an IDF official said this week, to jam them up, destroy them, and bring them down as quickly as possible, without giving them time to lift their heads. The Iranians are no fools. We were not the only ones preparing for the event. They were too. The previous operation taught them a few things, and they stationed large numbers of bulldozers and tractors at launch sites so they could quickly reopen bombed tunnels after each wave. They were counting on attacks frequency, but the high pace left them no chance. A learning competition developed here between our side and the Iranians. A competition that was decided, but not without effort. And we have not yet spoken about the American aircraft that joined in. Bottom line: by Wednesday afternoon, the Air Force had dropped its 5,000th munition on targets in Iran in four days. Throughout all 12 days of the previous operation, 3,700 munitions were dropped. The heart of the race was during the first 48 intense hours. With medical supervision, the Air Firce found the most suitable stimulant pills and trained with them to ensure there were no side effects, no damage to the pilots sharpness or motor skills, while also identifying the optimal nutrition for such a situation. They also learned from the Americans experience, since the Americans are used to long-duration flights of this kind. B-2 bombers, for example, can fly continuously for very long hours. Advertisement Advertisement What happened was that the pilots and ground crews were pushed beyond anything they had ever experienced during the first three days. The only ones who pushed harder were the Iranians. They took the full blow, and the sharp decline in the pace of launches recorded in recent days is the result of that effort. As of Thursday, the assessment was that the Air Force was on the verge of breaking Irans launch capability. No, not reducing it to zero, but bringing it down to manageable dimensions that would leave the interception systems with a reasonable workload. In wartime, the Air Forces motto is: Either youre flying, or youre sleeping, or youre eating. In the current war, that was shortened to: Either youre flying, or youre eating. They simply did not sleep. Throughout all this, everyone had to be kept on a tight leash, to make sure there was no hubris, no excess self-confidence, no creeping contempt. The historic downing of an Iranian aircraft by an F-35 improved morale, but did not reduce the intensity. Here and there Iranian MiGs also took off against our pilots, but quickly broke contact. And despite the clear results, the Air Force is not getting confused. It is not underestimating the Iranians. They are fighting, someone said, they are putting up a fight, they came to wage war, they learned, they prepared, they are not giving up on anything, they still take off here and there, they continue launching even though they know that after every launch they will be hit. They are more determined in this round than they were in the previous campaign. What kept the pilots and ground crews going at this murderous pace? Simple: in addition to the uncompromising professionalism of the force, there was also the knowledge that every sortie, every takeoff, every flight of hours out and hours back, was intended to ensure that the family of that pilot, that female pilot, that extraordinary ground crew member, would have to run to shelters fewer times. An IAF F-35 participates in Operation Roaring Lion, March 5, 2026. (credit: ISRAEL AIR FORCE) The force multiplier The Air Force is not only pilots. The ground crews are another unresolved wonder. During every visit by American or foreign officers to Air Force bases, the visitors try to understand how it can be that the servicing, preparation, and arming time of an Israeli fighter jet between strike waves is significantly shorter than in the United States, Britain, or anywhere else, and with less manpower, or women-power. Try explaining that to them. They wont understand. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking of women, it is an advantage. Everyone I speak to about the issue praises the extra ingenuity and intelligence of the young Israeli women who race with endless energy between the hardened shelters, bombs, and missiles, making sure as few minutes as possible pass between one takeoff and the next. Books will still be written about the cooperation with the American gorilla. It was an unprecedented event in which the naval, air, and intelligence arms of the two countries were integrated as equals and became a single arm. Israelis suddenly understood American power. The fact that more than 100 modern refueling aircraft flooded the skies of the Middle East meant that every Israeli pilot could change course or stop for refueling almost anywhere. The dialogues between the refueling pilot and the pilot being refueled will one day be published and warm many hearts. Then there is the intensity with which the United States can strike anywhere, at any time, at any hour, with any munition, from any possible bomber. The unchallenged air superiority of the F-22s, and of course the B-2 bombers, the strategic game-changers. But the Americans, too, got a chance to witness some extraordinary things: the professionalism, precision, and capabilities that exist only in the Israeli Air Force; intelligence so precise it is jaw-dropping, down to a hairs breadth; and endless creativity that we will only learn about in the distant future. Interlocking American-Israeli tools that made history this week. The sky darkened over parts of Tehran on Sunday after the bombing of oil depots by Israel. Thick clouds of smoke rose over the capital. "Although we have cloud cover in Tehran today, the current darkness of the sky is not natural and is caused by a combination of smoke and clouds," said Sadegh Zeyaeyan, head of the Iranian Meteorological Service's Crisis Management Centre, according to the state news agency IRNA. Advertisement Advertisement The Tasnim news agency warned of health risks from sulphur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, which could become dangerous in combination with rain. If it rains, residents should not leave their homes if possible, it said. Israel said it had attacked several fuel depots in Tehran during the night, saying they used the tanks for their military infrastructure, it said. According to the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, the Revolutionary Guards confirmed the bombing of an oil refinery in the south of the capital. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has indicated that he is willing to follow Hungary's example and block a 90 billion EU loan for Ukraine if Viktor Orban's Fidesz party loses the election. Source: Fico in a video on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda Details: Fico said he plans to discuss the suspension of operations on the Druzhba oil pipeline at a forthcoming meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He said he will propose Slovakia's services in case "some screw needs tightening" regarding the pipeline in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement "But the most important message will be that Slovakia is willing to take up the baton from Hungary if necessary," Fico said. He pointed out that the EU's 90 billion loan for Ukraine is currently effectively blocked. "However, I am not naive. The Ukrainian president has recently been talking about resuming supplies in a month and a half. That is, after the elections in Hungary, where he is counting on an opposition victory. Then there will be no chance of oil from the east anymore. Unless someone else takes up Hungary's baton," Fico said, hinting that Slovakia could take on that role. Elections in Hungary will take place on 12 April. He added that blocking this "huge military gift to Ukraine is a legitimate instrument for achieving the resumption of oil supplies". Advertisement Advertisement "In any case, the ball is now in the European Union's court," the prime minister added. Background: On 6 March, the European Commission confirmed that Fico has requested a meeting with von der Leyen, which is expected to take place soon. Fico also said he intends to coordinate his position with the European Commission on the Druzhba oil pipeline before any meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! In St. Pauls Highland Park, a polluted leftover portion of the former Twin Cities Assembly Plant remains owned by the Ford Motor Co., and state pollution control officials are still pondering with the auto company what to do about the contaminated dump site. Dubbed Area C, the 22-acre land parcel sits capped at the base of the river bluff adjacent to Hidden Falls Regional Park, between Mississippi River Boulevard and the river, and is currently used as a parking lot. The St. Paul City Council recently came to the unanimous conclusion that the time for pollution monitoring and other containment measures is over, and the states preferred alternative an $8.8 million partial cleanup, mostly along its southern slope while less costly, wont go far enough to protect the river. Council calls for full cleanup Instead, the council is calling for full cleanup, despite an estimated $71 million price tag, and has raised the possibility of turning the site into an official extension of Hidden Falls Regional Park. The city is leaning on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to require Ford to cover the cost of fully excavating and restoring the site itself. Advertisement Advertisement I think its the best option, said council member Saura Jost, who noted Mayor Kaohly Her, state rep. Dave Pinto and state Sen. Erin Murphy also are supportive of a full cleanup. Jost, who also submitted comments to the MPCA on her own behalf, noted that major flooding could someday spread hazardous waste that is buried dozens of feet down, and the site could eventually pose a threat to slope stability. I also have concerns about the surrounding ecology, said Jost, addressing the city council in late February. Having a little more investigation and analysis is important. The site was removed from the federal Superfund list of nationally recognized contaminated properties in 1990, but it still remains part of the states voluntary investigation and cleanup program. The land contains several monitoring wells to measure groundwater contamination, Jost said. Advertisement Advertisement In an email Thursday, a spokesperson for Ford Land, Ford Motor Co.s real estate division, said the MPCA will determine which cleanup alternative should be implemented and Ford will develop a detailed plan for implementing the chosen clean-up option and will execute the plan. They referred all other questions to the MPCA. Final cleanup plan may come later this year State officials believe a less intensive approach is in order. Based in part on 10 years of groundwater monitoring, the MPCA has called for removing industrial waste from Area Cs south slope and stabilizing the site. This plan reduces potential risks to people and the Mississippi River from existing contamination, focuses clean-up on the areas of greatest concern, and improves the sites appearance, reads a statement issued Wednesday by an MPCA spokesperson. A final cleanup plan could be chosen later this year. Ford would then be expected to develop an implementation plan, and begin work in 2027. Advertisement Advertisement The Friends of the Mississippi River issued a written memo to the MPCA on Tuesday outlining why they believe the state has the legal authority to require Ford to pursue a complete site restoration under the Minnesota Environmental Response and Liability Act. At this time, the MPCA is recommending against a full cleanup for the site, said Colleen OConnor Toberman, Land Use and Planning Program director for the Friends of the Mississippi River, in an interview Tuesday. In my mind, a partial cleanup leaves the risk that Ford wont be around to pay for future needed cleanup down the road. If Ford doesnt pay now, the public may end up paying for it later instead. Right now, they can afford to do it, Toberman added. Six alternatives, six price tags The Ford Motor Co. commissioned a 134-page feasibility study for Area C, which was revised last October, and it outlines six options ranging from no cleanup in Alternative 1, and slope stabilization in Alternative 2, to the costliest approach the $71 million full cleanup described in Alternative 6. Advertisement Advertisement Arcadis, the engineering and consulting firm that assembled the report, recommended the less intensive measures outlined in Alternative 3, which involves some waste excavation, slope stabilization and long-term monitoring, for a total cost of $2.4 million. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is leaning toward Alternative 4, which would cost $8.8 million and involve excavation and removal of all reasonably accessible industrial waste, as well as annual inspections and long-term groundwater monitoring. Critics such as the Friends of the Mississippi River have said Alternative 4s half-measures would fail to address the hazardous waste in the middle of the pile, focusing instead on removing surface debris along its southern edges while installing erosion controls. The Arcadis report finds an impenetrable surface cover outlined in the next option, Alternative 5, to be unfeasible due to the sites topography and other floodplain issues. Advertisement Advertisement The city council voted 7-0 on Feb. 25 to formally ask the MPCA to require Ford to carry out the full $71 million cleanup, as spelled out in Alternative 6. In its Feb. 25 resolution, the council deemed Area C an ongoing threat to the groundwater, soil, air, and the local ecological system of our city and region, and called on the state to protect human, plant, and animal life, as opposed to continued monitoring, testing and containment alternatives. Decades of dumping The MPCA held a public meeting on its recommendation on Jan. 15 at the Highland Community Center, which drew a rally of concerned residents outside the building. Ford, which began assembling Model T vehicles from its Highland Park plant in 1925, ceased production there in 2011, and the city has since worked with a master developer, the Ryan Cos., to assemble housing, office buildings, retail spaces, playgrounds and infrastructure in whats now known as the 122-acre Highland Bridge development. Advertisement Advertisement Despite Fords storied history in Highland Park, Area C remains a trouble spot. Ford spent decades dumping hazardous waste, including paints, solvents, heavy metals, construction rubble and contaminated soil on the river floodplain into the 1960s, none of which was addressed when soils at Highland Bridge were cleaned to residential standards. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, after reconstruction of Lock and Dam No. 1 in the late 1970s to the early 80s, added construction debris on site, creating layers of material above the hazardous waste from the plant, which further complicates a full cleanup, Toberman said. The city then dumped its own construction debris after a rebuild of Mississippi River Boulevard in the late 80s. The council resolution calls for the removed materials to be placed in a modern disposal facility designed to isolate hazardous waste. The citys Hidden Falls/Crosby Farm Regional Park Master Plan calls for Area C to be added to Hidden Falls Regional Park if and when contamination is addressed. Ford earned $6.8 billion last year before interest, taxes and one-time costs, according to industry monitors, but the auto maker still experienced a net loss of more than $8 billion, its largest shortfall in almost 20 years, after subtracting those expenses. Related Articles Artificial Intelligence (AI) could contribute between USD 135.6 billion and USD 149.9 billion to the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the manufacturing sector as early as 2035. This projection, according to a PwC report titled "Unlocking the AI Edge for MSMEs," remains contingent on these enterprises accounting for 50 per cent of the nation's manufacturing value added. The report indicates that MSMEs stand to unlock growth opportunities in the range of USD 3.13-3.21 trillion by 2047. The way forward for this is if India increases the manufacturing share of GDP to 25 per cent and MSMEs raise their contribution to manufacturing gross value added (GVA) from 35.4 per cent in FY 2023-24 to 50 per cent. Achieving this "exponential 19x leap in value creation" requires MSMEs to adopt AI on shop floors and leverage the technology to become active partners across global value chains. Beyond direct production, a significant demand-side opportunity exists for MSMEs to supply non-technical manufacturing products to AI infrastructure and chip manufacturers. The report identifies a market for "harnesses, chambers, cooling equipment, and other non-technical manufacturing products" valued between USD 100 billion and USD 150 billion. With AI expected to contribute USD 1.7 trillion to the overall economy by 2035, the investment required for AI infrastructure is estimated at USD 500 billion. The report notes that "non-tech-intensive capital goods account for 20-30% of capex on such projects," which is a sector where MSMEs maintain an active presence. By reducing capability barriers across design, quality, and decision-making, AI allows these firms to "leapfrog structural and operational constraints" and "escape the low-productivity trap." Technological integration enables MSMEs to reposition themselves as "competitive value creators rather than cost-based suppliers." Specific applications include predictive maintenance, vision-led quality control, and intelligent inventory management. Furthermore, AI combined with local language models simplifies interfaces and reduces the need for technical expertise. The report defines AI's role through three functions: a "Scaler" that decreases processing times, an "Enricher" that augments human decision-making, and a "Reinventor" that transforms how value is captured. To manage this transition, the study proposes a "3A2I framework" built around "access, acceptance, assimilation, implementation, and institutionalisation" to help firms translate adoption into measurable value. (ANI) The Colorado Rockies may soon see wolverines roaming their slopes again after the Colorado Wildlife Commission approved a plan in January to reintroduce them to the state in the next three years. Their return, which was authorized by Colorado lawmakers in 2024, will start with 45 wolverines, and it will be the first time in 100 years that they will be found in the state, the Sierra Club reported. Conservation groups like Defenders of Wildlife have said that wolverines, which are part of the weasel family not the wolf species, despite the similarity in name may be released as early as 2027. Advertisement Advertisement They thrived in Colorado's remote and snowy backcountry over a century ago. The Colorado Sun shared that they disappeared around the early 1900s due to trapping for their luxurious fur and poisoning campaigns against predators. Three zones in Colorado's mountain ranges, some 10,000 feet above the ground, will serve as the wolverines' new home, according to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. They're elusive by nature and rarely target cattle, although they are carnivores. State officials, through CPW, are working to establish a compensation program for ranchers and farmers in the event of livestock losses. Conservation advocates hailed these latest moves to restore wolverine populations, currently listed as a state-endangered species. The state provided a suitable habitat for them, and lawmakers noted that reintroducing wolverines would strengthen Colorado's wildlife diversity, per CPW. Advertisement Advertisement Kaitie Schneider, DOW's Rockies and Plains representative, said that the meeting announcing the plan was a rare moment of unity. "That's just really cool to see," she told Sierra Club. "There were hunters in the room, there were ranchers in the room, and there was nobody there speaking in opposition for this reintroduction." According to the Denver Post, wolverines clean up carcasses left by other predators, reducing the spread of diseases. As their presence helps build the area's biodiversity resilience, the local ecosystem can better withstand stressors caused by weather changes. Thriving natural environments help support clean water, fertile soil, and other natural resources essential to local communities. Biologists predict that Colorado's high country can retain snowpack better than low-lying habitats, such as parts of Montana. Advertisement Advertisement The effort follows the successful reintroduction of lynxes to the state and mirrors similar initiatives happening nationwide. Other examples involve cougars in Oregon and grizzly bears in Washington. These programs show how supporting local conservation efforts can help species thrive. In 2024, Denver Zoo conservation officials expressed anticipation for the wolverine's return to Colorado. Stefan Ekernas, its field conservation director, told CBS News: "Humans can be the problem, but we can also be the solution. This is a space where we can help bring the species back that ought to be in Colorado." 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. Republican Senator Thom Tillis said on Sunday he believes White House adviser Stephen Miller should go and that his role in the Trump administration has been a big problem. The senior senator representing North Carolina, when asked on CNNs State of the Union if he thinks Miller should go, during a conversation about the administrations immigration crackdown, responded to host Jake Tapper stating Oh, of course I do. He is not worried about substance. Hes more worried about form, but I also think that he has an outsized influence over the operations of the cabinet. And I believe weve got qualified cabinet members there that sometimes are doing less than what they want to, because of his direction and his outsized influence. Hes a big problem in this administration. He has been from the beginning, said Tillis. Advertisement Advertisement Tillis affirmed support for Department of Homeland Security Secretary pick Markwayne Mullin to replace Kristi Noem, claiming he believes Mullin will be independent from Millers influence, even though Mullin repeated similar falsehoods about the killings by federal agents of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. It gives me pause that you had people like Stephen Miller calling the shots, Tillis added. It was Stephen Miller who said it was the position of the United States that we should go after Greenland. And Stephen Miller, thats been repeatedly responsible for embarrassments for the President of the United States by acting too quickly speaking, first, and thinking later. Tillis, who is not seeking re-election this year, was the first Republican to call for the resignation or firing of DHS secretary Noem. Though Tillis is optimistic about the replacement of Noem with Mullin, his colleague in the Senate, Democratic leaders are pushing for further reforms. Advertisement Advertisement The House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, said on NBCs Meet the Press with Kristen Welker that the leadership change is not enough to reopen the government in starting to fund the Department of Homeland Security again. What we want is a situation where ICE is actually conducting itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country as opposed to using taxpayer dollars to brutalize or in some cases kill American citizens, Jeffries said. What we need is a change in policy, not simply a change in personnel, he added. Now, Kristi Noem was a disgrace. She was totally unqualified She called American citizens domestic terrorists without any justification whatsoever. But we need dramatic, bold, meaningful and transformational changes to get ICE under control. The Sterling Police Department is hiring, Chief Pat Bartel told the Sterling City Council this week. We are taking applications until March 10. We have about nine in right now. Then we will start open testing March 16 for that week at Sauk, Bartel told the City Council. The open position is the result of a lateral transfer to North Carolina. Bartel said the department had a list of applicants that was down to one. That applicant declined the position so the department opened the application process. Advertisement Advertisement The Sterling Fire Department also is hiring. With the two newest candidates starting at the academy March 6, the SFD is pulling applications for the position left open by a resignation. That will give us the float position, Sterling Fire Chief David Northcutt said. Both departments can use the staff. Bartel said calls to Sterling PD are up about 33% for the year over the same time last year. Northcutt said that in the five days preceding the council meeting Monday, the department responded to five structure fires, not including brush or field fires and mutual aid. In one 48-hour period recently, the department handled 19 calls. Advertisement Advertisement Alderman at Large Allen Przysucha brought up the issue of an increasing number of traffic accidents between Third and Fourth streets in Sterling. Is it a matter of just poor driving or the lighting? Do we have any analytics on that, Przysucha asked Bartel. Its distracted driving and not paying attention, Bartel said. Its people just not paying attention is what it comes down to. First Avenue and Fourth Street is our biggest accident intersection in the city. I cannot figure out why. The stoplights are set up good. Its highly visible. I dont know if people are looking ahead to Fifth Street or if people are looking ahead to Locust or just not paying attention. First and Fourth has been a burr in our saddle for years. Im not sure what else we can do. 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays. A 12-year-old girl faces multiple charges after Volusia County deputies say she sent herself messages threatening a shooting at a middle school. The investigation began after the student initially reported that an unknown person was demanding explicit images from her on Snapchat. She claimed the sender threatened to shoot up Silver Sands Middle School if she did not comply. However, deputies later determined the girl had created the account and sent the messages to herself. The threatening messages included photographs of firearms that investigators determined were taken from the internet. According to the VSO, the messages also contained specific details regarding the students class schedule. Advertisement Advertisement To identify the source of the messages, the VSO partnered with the Port Orange Police Department while contacting Snapchat and the girls phone carrier to obtain digital records. The evidence revealed that the girl had created the account herself to send the threats. When questioned by deputies, the student admitted to orchestrating the incident, stating that she had been dared to send the messages. The student faces charges of making a false report and unlawful use of a communications device. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. UPDATE: The teen was found safe, according to the Sugar Land Police Department. ------ The Sugar Land Police Department is asking for the publics help in locating a missing teen who was last seen in the Richmond area. Police say the teen was last seen over the weekend at the Grand Villa Apartments, located on Pultar Road near James L. Pink Boulevard. Authorities describe her as about 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 110 pounds. She has black hair, brown eyes and a birthmark on her right cheek, according to police. Police say she was seen wearing black shirt, black sweats, and black slides. Advertisement Advertisement Officials say she was last seen over the weekend, but didn't give a specific day or time. They also didn't release the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Anyone who sees her or has information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the Sugar Land Police Department at 281-275-2020. 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. A court dismissed Trump's attempt to eliminate the SAVE student-loan repayment plan ahead of schedule. Lawmakers and advocates are urging the Education Department to restart processing debt relief for eligible borrowers. The SAVE plan is still on track to be phased out in 2028. SAVE is saved for now. In the latest twist to determining the fate of the SAVE student-loan repayment plan, a district judge said in a February 27 ruling that he would not sign off on President Donald Trump's proposed settlement to eliminate the SAVE plan. Advertisement Advertisement That means that Trump's attempt to ax SAVE before its planned phaseout in 2028 is moot, and the administration cannot move forward with an accelerated timeline unless it receives a new court ruling or undergoes the lengthy negotiated rulemaking process. Advocates and Democratic lawmakers said that the judge's decision means that the Department of Education should move forward with processing debt relief for eligible borrowers on SAVE. Business Insider wants to hear about the challenges, successes, and unique experiences you're facing with your student loans. Do you have a story to share? Please fill out this form, and we'll be in touch. "This decision formally ends the SAVE injunction that has forced over 7 million SAVE borrowers into economic limbopushing meaningful debt relief and affordable monthly payments out of reach," a group of Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Jeff Merkley and Bernie Sanders, wrote in a March 4 letter. They added that they're calling on the department "to implement the benefits of the SAVE plan and administer loan cancellation for borrowers on the SAVE Plan who are eligible for such relief immediately." Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Education told Business Insider, following the court's decision, that it was evaluating the ruling and did not respond to a subsequent request for comment on what the ruling means for borrowers enrolled in SAVE. The SAVE plan was created by former President Joe Biden in 2023, and it intended to give borrowers cheaper monthly payments with a shorter timeline to debt relief. Since the summer of 2024, the plan has been blocked due to litigation, and the Trump administration announced a proposed settlement with the state of Missouri one of the states seeking to block SAVE that would eliminate the plan ahead of schedule. During this time, borrowers enrolled in SAVE have been on forbearance. The Department of Education restarted interest charges on SAVE accounts in August 2025 and encouraged borrowers to switch to a different income-driven repayment plan and begin making payments. The department also said in court updates that the block on SAVE prevented it from processing loan forgiveness for borrowers who reached their payment thresholds on any IDR plan after April 2025. Advocates said there's no reason the department cannot move ahead with processing that relief. Advertisement Advertisement "Not only is there no legal barrier to delivering those rights through the SAVE plan, but the Secretary has a legal obligation to do so," Winston Berkman-Breen, legal director at advocacy group Protect Borrowers, said in a statement. "The U.S. Department of Education must immediately identify borrowers who are eligible to have their loans cancelled under SAVE and instruct their student loan servicers to cancel those loans." What's next for student-loan repayment Attempts to block SAVE aren't over. On March 2, the state of Missouri filed a motion to pause the ruling dismissing the settlement, asking a Missouri district court to reinstate the block on the SAVE plan and prevent the Department of Education from processing any debt relief through the plan. Missouri said in its motion that, because of the ruling, borrowers could start applying for debt relief again, and pausing the ruling would allow the court to review the case before those applications begin. "A short postponement will not materially hamper any contrary reliance interestsbecause the SAVE Rule as it has been administratively stayed or preliminarily enjoined for nearly two years," Missouri wrote in its motion. "Thus, borrowers will not be harmed because a brief administrative stay merely maintains this status quo of their payment obligations." Advertisement Advertisement For now, borrowers enrolled in SAVE are permitted to stay on the plan until the summer of 2028, when Trump's "big beautiful" spending legislation calls for its phase-out. After that point, borrowers will have two options to repay their loans: a standard repayment plan and a new Repayment Assistance Plan, which has less generous terms than SAVE, including forgiveness after 30 years of payments. Those plans are set to become available to new borrowers on July 1. Additionally, the spending legislation will implement new caps on borrowing for advanced degrees: a $100,000 lifetime cap for graduate students and a $200,000 cap for professional students. The department compiled a list of 10 programs that will qualify for the professional program designation, including law and dentistry. Advocates and lawmakers have pushed to expand that definition to include postgraduate nursing programs, as well. As for SAVE, borrowers are awaiting guidance from the Department of Education. Borrowers enrolled on the plan previously told Business Insider that the lower monthly payments through SAVE have been a lifeline, and they're unable to afford the anticipated higher payments on a different plan. "I'm bracing for an astronomical bill," Brenda McCoy, a 60-year-old SAVE borrower, said. "My goal was to be self-sufficient. I was making the payments, I was being a responsible person, but it has to be something I can afford." Have a story to share? Reach out to this reporter at asheffey@businessinsider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider Mar. 7GRANITEVILLE A Beech Island man has been arrested and another suspect wounded following a burglary investigation on Connector Road, according to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. Grady Lafone Owenby, 51, of Beech Island, was charged with first-degree burglary and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in connection with the incident, according to a media release from the Sheriff's Office. He also faces a charge of grand larceny from an unrelated case and is being held at the Aiken County Detention Center. Advertisement Advertisement Jacob Harrison Craven, 32, of Warrenville, remained hospitalized as of the latest report with injuries sustained during the incident. Authorities said he will be charged with first-degree burglary, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and grand larceny from an unrelated incident once he is released from the hospital, according to the release. On March 6, deputies with the Sheriff's Office responded to Connector Road in Graniteville for a burglary in progress. When they arrived, they found a door to the rear of the residence that appeared to be forced open. Deputies encountered one suspect attempting to flee from the residence and that suspect was taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement A second suspect was encountered inside the residence and produced a firearm. In response, a Sheriff's Office deputy fired, striking the suspect. EMS transported the suspect to an area hospital. Their condition is still unknown at this time. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division will investigate the shooting. The Sheriff's Office will conduct an investigation into the burglary. No deputies were injured during the incident. "Our deputies and community experienced a serious and difficult incident today," said Sheriff Marty Sawyer. "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." The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's help identifying two men accused of stealing from seniors in what was described as a "distraction ID theft scheme." Police said the men were seen watching a victim enter a PIN number at a business in San Pedro. According to investigators, the pair then dropped money on the ground and tapped the victim on the shoulder to create a distraction. During that moment, a second suspect attempted to steal the victim's debit card. Advertisement Advertisement When the attempt inside the business failed, police said the men followed the victim into the parking lot and stole the card there. The victim's bank account was later drained. Authorities released images of the suspects and urged anyone who recognizes the men to contact police. Democrat James Talarico is now staring down the challenge of a tough general election against a still-undecided Republican rival after emerging victorious from his own bruising primary that offered a rare boost to Democrats in a deep-red state. Democratic turnout surged on Tuesday as the 36-year-old rising stars message of faith and economic populism fueled hopes of the partys first statewide flip in decades. Talarico won out on Tuesday over Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who swiftly endorsed him and called for a unified party heading into November. Now, as the Republican race between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) heads to a May runoff, Talarico is tasked with rallying Crocketts supporters, turning out chronic nonvoters, and reaching across the aisle to stay competitive in Novembers showdown against whoever wins the GOP nod. Advertisement Advertisement This race teaches us the fundamentals still matter, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political science professor. Jasmine Crockett didnt run a great race. She got in late, didnt run ads, relied too much on name ID and digital outreach, so those, I think, were at the start a kind of disadvantage, he continued. I dont know if a well-run campaign would have changed the outcome, but that definitely made a difference for him. Polls in the run-up to Tuesdays Texas primaries swung between the two leading Democrats, but Talarico wound up roughly 6 points ahead, according to the latest vote tallies from Decision Desk HQ. More than 2.3 million ballots were cast in the Democratic primary, and nearly 2.2 million voted on the Republican side, the biggest showing for a midterm in recent Texas history. Advertisement Advertisement This is the first really competitive Democratic primary that weve had in Texas at the top of the ticket in a long time, said Luke Warford, a Democratic strategist with the Texas-based Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund. The race between Talarico and Crockett, both progressives, was largely cast as a test of personality and tone, rather than a battle of policy. Crockett, known for her viral moments in the House, brought a brawler persona to the race and pitched herself as a fighter for Democrats against President Trump and Republicans. She had the name-ID advantage and support from top Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris but experts say her entering the race too late may have bungled her path to primary victory. Shes excellent, and when people hear her, they like her, but a campaign in Texas has got to be a lot more than a series of events. Youve got to really have a strategy laid out, said Matt Angle, founder and director of the Lone Star Project, a Texas-focused Democratic PAC. Advertisement Advertisement Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian and former schoolteacher, gained attention for his faith-focused arguments in the state Legislature and saw his star rise last year as one of the Texas lawmakers who fled the state to stall a GOP-led redistricting plan. Rottinghaus said Talaricos style, which is not dramatic, its not in your face, its very even-keel, has appealed to some new voters who turned out during the primary. If you look at whos voting in primaries that otherwise hadnt voted or didnt traditionally vote in a lot of primaries, theres a lot more independents, a lot more young people and a lot more Latinos. Thats a good win set for Democrats because thats the coalition that they need to prime to be successful, Rottinghaus said. Polling ahead of the race showed Talarico had the edge with white Texans while Crockett was receiving support from more Black voters. On Election Day, Latino voters turned out in big numbers in a boost to Talarico, according to a New York Times analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Antonio Esparza, creative director of the Talarico campaign, said his team put effort into growing his digital presence, especially through Talarico Espanol, a Spanish-language account. Ive seen people myself go up to James in photo lines and tell him how much it means to them to have a Spanish-language account because they feel like they can genuinely follow along with whats happening in ways that many other campaigns arent doing, Esparza told The Hill. Esparza said Talarico embraced a content-first approach that leaned on nonpolitical influencers and had a very deliberate strategy of go everywhere and talk to everyone. Every campaign stop had a purpose, and content was almost always one of them, which is a pretty new approach to campaigning, he said, noting the campaign will continue that strategy into the general election. Advertisement Advertisement Parker Butler, a managing partner at Luminary Strategies, which helped run the Team Talarico HQ social media accounts, said other Democrats can learn from Talaricos approach. Having worked on Democratic campaigns for years now theyre still really reticent to really have a social-first strategy. Theres still an emphasis on traditional media, he said. But the thing that actually reaches the most voters, if you do it right, is social strategy, and I think thats what this showed. Talarico also benefited from a surge of national attention in the closing days of the primary, when The Late Show host Stephen Colbert said that CBS told him not to broadcast Talaricos appearance on the show, citing pressure from the Federal Communications Commission, and released the interview on YouTube. The clip racked up millions of views, and Talaricos campaign raised millions of dollars. His campaign was run really well, and the momentum peaked at just the right moment for him to put him over the top, said Texas Democratic strategist Joel Montfort, pointing to the CBS showing. Advertisement Advertisement Now, Talarico stares down a highly competitive general election in a state where Democrats have struggled for decades to win statewide. Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic strategist in New York, argued the idea that Democrats can take the state of Texas borders on kind of idiotic. You might have some slippage in the cities, he said, but even then, I mean, Texas is certainly to the right, and its not likely to change anytime soon. It took a long time to get there. For Talarico to pull off a win, hell first need to rally voters who turned out for Crockett, who was quick to urge party unity after the race was called. Advertisement Advertisement Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person, the congresswoman said, noting that she called Talarico to congratulate him on his win. But Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, noted that Democrats are going to have some work to do in terms of outreach to the Black community, a majority of which supported Crockett and some of whom were uncomfortable with some of the messaging that suggested Talarico was more electable. And to win in the deep-red stronghold, Talarico will also need to reach voters across the aisle and hes still not sure which Republican hell be facing in the fall. Cornyn and Paxtons runoff extends the Republican primary brawl for another 12 weeks. And while Democrats are bullish about their chances, they generally view Paxton, the controversy-laden state attorney general, as an easier opponent than the incumbent. Advertisement Advertisement The race, though, could be set sooner than the May runoff with the help of a Trump endorsement. Trump, who has declined to endorse in the Senate race so far, said on Wednesday that hell throw his weight behind a candidate soon asking the candidate he doesnt support to immediately drop out of the race. Warford argued that Talaricos core message really applies to both Republican candidates. But others said the Democrat is in a holding pattern as Trumps potential endorsement looms. Talaricos candidacy really is now in the hands of Donald Trump, said Jones. 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. This is not the first time this video has appeared. Despite previous efforts to scrub the content from the internet, the BSE noted that the fraudulent footage has "resurfaced multiple times." "BSE Limited has become aware that a previously circulated fraudulent deepfake video has once again resurfaced across multiple social media and messaging platforms," said BSE. Bombay Stock Exchange released an official statement today informing that "The video falsely features Mr. Sundararaman Ramamurthy, Managing Director & CEO, BSE, and claims to offer stock market tips and investment advice." BSE categorically clarifies that the video is fake, manipulated and maliciously created using deepfake technology to mislead investors. The claims made in the video, including promises of extraordinary returns and invitations to join WhatsApp groups for stock tips, are completely false and intended to defraud the public. BSE reiterates that neither Ramamurthy nor any BSE official provides stock tips or investment recommendations. Additionally, BSE officials do not operate or endorse WhatsApp, Telegram, or similar groups offering investment advice, the statement noted. While BSE is taking all necessary steps to remove such content, including working closely with law enforcement agencies and relevant platforms, such fraudulent videos have resurfaced multiple times across social media. BSE also informed that the investors and public must be vigilant towards such posts on social media. "In today's digital and social media environment, investors and the public must remain vigilant and not believe or act upon such misleading content and false claims." "For authentic information and updates, investors are advised to follow only the official BSE website and verified BSE social media handles," the release added. "Stay vigilant. Do not fall prey to deepfake investment scams." (ANI) Thousands of travellers waited in hours-long queues at US airports on Sunday due to increased spring travel and limited security personnel who have been working without pay during a partial US government shutdown. Photos show people standing in long queues at check points managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at airports in Houston and New Orleans. The DHS has gone without funding since 14 February after Congress failed to reach an agreement. The Trump administration blamed delays on Democrats, who declined to pass funding without immigration reforms. Advertisement Advertisement The delays come during a busy travel season as US students have their spring holidays from school. Officers with the DHS' Transportation Security Administration (TSA) must keep working because they are considered essential workers for public safety, even though there is no money to pay them. It is likely they will receive back pay after the shutdown. Queues at Louis Armstrong International Airport outside New Orleans stretched into the airport's car park on Sunday, as travellers took to social media to complain. The airport said on social media that a shortage of workers was causing the delays and advised travellers to arrive "at least three hours" before their scheduled departure. Advertisement Advertisement Ben Brasch and a friend were among those in the queue in New Orleans. They had been queuing up for 15 minutes, still in the car park, nola.com reported. "I hope we make our flight," he told the local news site. "But I feel bad for the [airport] workers having to deal with this." At William P Hobby Airport in Houston, waiting times at security check points could exceed three hours, the airport warned on social media. It advised travellers to arrive four or five hours before their flights. Videos and photos of the lengthy lines flooded social media on Sunday. The DHS said "Americans are now enduring the severe fallout from the Democrat shutdown". Advertisement Advertisement The clogging of checkpoints at two major airports in the US offered a preview of what could await travellers at others in the coming weeks as the shutdown continues. TSA employees have received partial paycheques since the funding ran out, but could go without pay if the shutdown continues. "Democrats are shamelessly playing politics with national security, punishing hardworking TSA workers and their families," Lauren Bis, the deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the DHS. Going without paycheques has led to "financial hardship, absences and crippling staffing shortages", Bis said. Advertisement Advertisement The partial shutdown began three weeks ago when Democrats refused to fund the DHS without more restrictions on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), another agency that falls under the department's jurisdiction. ICE will not be significantly affected by the shutdown because of Congress already provided the agency funding. But Democrats have been demanding reforms to the agency as part of any funding deal after federal agents killed two Minneapolis residents, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were protesting against the Trump administration's immigration raids in Minnesota in January. They have asked that the DHS bar immigration agents from wearing face masks, provide better identification for officers and tighten rules for obtaining warrants. Advertisement Advertisement Repeated votes on measures to fund the DHS have proved unsuccessful so far. On Sunday, Washington Senator Patty Murray said Democrats are holding out for changes. "Democrats want to get TSA agents paid, but we won't help Republicans cut a blank check" that allows continued, unchecked immigration enforcement crackdowns, Murray said. You can also get in touch by following this link Thousands of civilians have fled an opposition stronghold in eastern South Sudan after the army ordered evacuations to clear the way for a military offensive, the latest sign that the countrys fragile peace is unravelling, as fears of a return to all-out civil war haunt the worlds youngest nation. The town of Akobo, near the Ethiopian border, was almost completely emptied by Sunday after the South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces issued an ultimatum on Friday demanding that civilians, aid workers and United Nations peacekeepers leave ahead of a planned assault. The town is now almost empty, said Nhial Lew, a local humanitarian official. Women, children and the elderly have left and crossed into Ethiopia. By Sunday evening, he could hear the conflict closing in. We are hearing the sound of machine guns approaching, he told the Associated Press news agency. Advertisement Advertisement The armys deadline was set to expire Monday afternoon. The order extends a government counteroffensive, launched in January and dubbed Operation Enduring Peace, that has already displaced more than 280,000 people across Jonglei state since December, when opposition forces began seizing government positions. The UNs Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned of a possible return to full-scale war if the countrys leadership didnt take the challenges it faces more seriously. Preventing further mass atrocity crimes, institutional collapse, and the destruction of South Sudans fragile transition requires urgent coordinated national, regional and international re-engagement, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Akobo, which had been considered a relatively safe haven and sheltered more than 82,000 displaced people, is one of the last remaining strongholds of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, or SPLM-IO, the armed movement loyal to South Sudans detained former vice president, Riek Machar. Two UN flights evacuated most humanitarian staff on Sunday, though the International Committee of the Red Cross had not yet pulled its personnel from a surgical unit it runs at the local hospital, where wounded patients were still being treated. We are worried for our patients, said Dual Diew, the county health director. We tried to make a plan to take them to a safer location, but we dont have enough fuel. The offensive comes amid a wider breakdown of the 2018 peace agreement that ended a civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing Machar, a conflict that killed an estimated 400,000 people and forced millions from their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Machar has been under house arrest in the capital, Juba, since March 2025, facing charges of treason and murder that his supporters say are politically motivated. His detention coincided with a sharp rise in armed opposition activity, and a UN inquiry has since found that South Sudans leaders have been systematically dismantling the accord. Conflicts have taken place across the country among groups associated with the two factions, said Jan Pospisil, a South Sudan researcher who spoke to Al Jazeera. Dozens killed in the north On Sunday, at least 169 people were killed, among them 90 civilians, including women and children, when armed men stormed a village in Abiemnom county in the countrys north. Advertisement Advertisement The local administrator blamed the attack on elements of the White Army, a militia historically allied to Machar, alongside SPLM-IO-affiliated forces. The group denied any involvement. More than 1,000 people sought shelter at a UN base in the area. Such violence places civilians at grave risk and must stop immediately, said Anita Kiki Gbeho of the UN mission in South Sudan. Aid organisations operating in the conflict zone have also been targeted, with Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials, MSF, saying on Monday that 26 of its staff remain unaccounted for, a month after a government air strike destroyed its hospital in the town of Lankien and a separate facility in Pieri was looted. Staff who had been reached described destruction, violence and extreme hardships. It was the 10th attack on an MSF facility in 12 months. Advertisement Advertisement Medical workers must never be targets, said Yashovardhan, the charitys head of mission in South Sudan, who uses only one name. Pospisil said the crisis had exposed the fragility of Kiirs hold on power. The state is literally falling apart, Pospisil said, referring to the convergence of conflict in the country and the elderly state of the president, whose condition has raised questions. Pospisil added that the outcome of Machars ongoing trial would likely shape what comes next. Thousands of protesters calling for the end of US and Israeli strikes on Iran have marched to the US embassy in central London. 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 embassy on Saturday afternoon, after gathering on Millbank, near Westminster. Many protesters were carrying Iranian and Palestinian flags as well as portraits of Irans former supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strike of the war last Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Some waved placards reading Stop Trumps Wars, Stop the War on Iran, Stop Arming Israel and No War on Iran. Some protesters carried portraits of Irans late supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, killed in the opening strike of the war last Saturday Credit: Maja Smiejkowska/PA Outside the US embassy in Vauxhall, Your Party MP Zarah Sultana told protesters: we will not be ignored again. Recalling the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, 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. The former Labour MP, who represents Coventry South, added: The children of Baghdad deserve to grow up. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana told protesters we will not be ignored again Credit: Maja Smiejkowska/PA A statement from Islington North MP and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who could not attend the protest, was read to the crowd outside the embassy. 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. Advertisement Advertisement In the statement, Mr Corbyn, now an Independent MP, said: 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 co-operation, equality and sovereignty. He added: Forever war is not a game. It has real-life human consequences, and US and Israel must be held accountable for their prize. Protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Vauxhall Credit: Maja Smiejkowska/PA Between 5,000 and 6,000 protesters marched from Millbank to the US embassy on Saturday afternoon, according to a police officer who was walking alongside the crowd. In an update on X, the Metropolitan Police said it arrested one woman during the protest. Advertisement Advertisement The force said: A woman in her 60s has been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in relation to a placard. Before the event, the Met Police stepped up patrols and imposed conditions requiring protesters to stay on a designated route and finish their post-march rally by 5pm. Several groups of people holding Israeli flags were standing on the side of Millbank as protesters calling for the end of US and Israeli strikes on Iran were on their way to the embassy. Many protesters could be heard shouting shame on you and murderers to the people holding Israeli flags, to which some replied youre wrong, youre in denial. Advertisement Advertisement Demonstrators leading the march could be heard chanting: We are the people. We wont be silenced. Stop the bombing now, now, now, now. Thousands of protesters marched to the US embassy on Saturday afternoon Credit: Maja Smiejkowska/PA 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. She added: 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 military bases to the US. Advertisement Advertisement Asked about why he attended the protest, Martin Perry, 58, from Northampton, said: Because the acts against Iran is 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. The organisers of Saturdays demonstration said a march against the far right will take place on March 28 in central London. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know... LITCHFIELD - With the Region 20 school system facing lingering structural fiscal deficits and dwindling public trust, local leaders in its participating towns are asking the state to examine the district's past and current finances. Region 20 was formed in July 2024, two years after voters approved its creation, by adding Litchfield to the former Region 6 school district, which consisted of Goshen, Morris and Warren. Advertisement Advertisement But before the school district even opened, local officials learned it was operating with a $1.9 million fiscal deficit. That deficit grew to $2.7 million during Region 20's first year of operation, officials said. Litchfield alone saw an $800,000 deficit after it joined. A broad education bill, HB-5323, which includes provisions for separate external audits of the former Litchfield and Region 6 districts, is now before the Connecticut legislature. Those audits are needed to build back the public's waning confidence in the regional school district's management of its finances, Litchfield First Selectman Denise Raap said during a March 4 hearing of the legislature's Education Committee on the proposed bill. The Region 20 towns are not the only communities that would benefit from the audits, Raap said. Other towns that explore future regional districts would also benefit, because the audits would provide a "clear roadmap" for forming the school districts, she said. Advertisement Advertisement In Region 20, finances weren't the only issue that prevented a smooth merger. The sudden departure of Christopher Leone, who was leading both the Litchfield schools and the Region 6 school district at the time, just days before the July 2024 launch of Region 20 further complicated it. Leone resigned after initially taking a medical leave of absence in May 2024. The resignation came just as Region 20's new school board learned about the district's previously unreported budget shortfall. Leone, in his resignation letter to the Region 20 board, bemoaned working in what he he said had become a "hostile environment." While Litchfield's merger with Region 6 was originally posited to local taxpayers "as a move that would improve efficiencies, coordination, provide educational opportunities for our students while ensuring long-term financial stability," it's proven to be anything but that, Raap said. That's because the former districts entered the merger with deficits, she said. Advertisement Advertisement In the aftermath, taxpayers have been left feeling "duped, honestly," Raap said. They displayed their frustration during Region 20's most recent budget referendum, which failed twice before it passed, she said. "And it really almost decimated our school system," Raap said. Before the formation of Region 20, schools in both Litchfield and Region 6 were excelling, Raap said. But since then, the district has since seen "critical" staff positions cut s due to the ongoing budget concerns, Raap said. "And now we've had to eliminate a lot of the paraprofessionals and the interventionists that are so critical, especially in the early years of education," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Litchfield taxpayers previously rejected the use of town funds for an independent audit, another reason why Raap said the state's involvement was critical. A forensic audit of Region 20's inaugural year would give the town the information it needs "to have a complete picture of what exactly went wrong," she said. "Without this level of scrutiny, residents are left to wonder if they were fully informed," Raap said, adding this uncertainty "undermines public confidence" in the school district. In addition to Litchfield's preexisting $800,000 deficit from its last year as a standalone district, a town-financed audit found that its funds also were used to address some of Region 6's past deficit. The finding raised further concerns, Raap said. Advertisement Advertisement The objective behind the audits is not "to assign blame but to gain clarity," she said. Taxpayers would like to know what budget assumptions were used during the transition, and the material information those assumptions were based on, she said. "Our taxpayers deserve transparency," Raap said. As the merger was underway, the towns received "minimal guidance" from the state Board of Education, Raap said. For Warren First Selectman Greg LaCava, receiving state guidance is critical, he said, noting that Region 20 was the first district in Connecticut formed by merging an existing regional district. Advertisement Advertisement "More guidance and more support would have been very welcomed," he said. The students are the ones paying the price for residents' lack of confidence in the school district, "which is unfair," said state Sen. Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield. Harding said he believes an audit would help restore that confidence. "And I think the taxpayers would want to invest in this school district again," he said. Instead, they're left with a feeling of buyers' remorse, which contrasts with the overwhelming positivity and support with which they originally embraced the new district, Harding said. Advertisement Advertisement "And so for a community to go from that perspective, where it overwhelmingly passed every single town, to now, I think it would overwhelmingly fail every single town if they put it out to a referendum again; I think speaks to their lack of confidence," he said. This article originally published at Towns in CT's Region 20 schools seek state audit amid $2.7M deficit: 'Picture of what went wrong'. GRADYVILLE, Pa. (WHTM) What officials initially identified as human remains found in a Pennsylvania state park was actually a deer carcass, state troopers said in a Sunday afternoon update. The supposed remains were found by two hikers in the Ridley Creek State Park in Upper Providence Township, Delaware County, about ten air miles from Philadelphia city limits, around 12:30 p.m. Friday. State Police at Media said the two hikers called 911. Upper Providence Township Police initially responded and requested the Delaware County Medical Examiners Office to the scene, who, at the time, confirmed the remains were indeed human. Advertisement Advertisement As the remains were found in a state park, the scene was turned over to State Police. After a more extensive examination of the alleged human remains by the medical examiners office, they have been confirmed to be that of a deer, not those of a human, State Police at Media said in a release. The examination came after numerous agencies and volunteers, including a search and rescue team from the Midstate, searched the area around the park. The Middle Creek Search and Rescue of Lancaster County assisted crews from State Police, Upper Providence Township Police, DCNR, and Philadelphia Police. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV devices, and newer Samsung Smart TVs. Advertisement Advertisement No additional remains were discovered and the investigation is closed, troopers said. 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. TROY - A coalition of progressive activists two years ago began pushing Troy to adopt protections designed to hinder retaliatory evictions and allow some renters to challenge steep rent hikes in court. Last week, things finally fell into place. Members of the newly elected all-Democratic Troy City Council on Thursday unanimously passed "good-cause" regulations. Passage of a measure supporters say protects tenants was cheered by Democratic Socialists and other progressive groups who pushed for it. Advertisement Advertisement "To see that this one actually did cross the finish line is a huge milestone for us as organizers within the DSA, within the other allied organizations that put so much time into this and just the individual constituents that benefit from this," said Mark Speedy, an organizer for the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter. Troy will be the 20th city in the state to embrace "good-cause" regulations, which are permitted under a 2024 state law created after stricter local laws of the sort were declared unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court. Albany is the only other Capital Region city to adopt "good cause" regulations. Most of the other locales are in the Hudson Valley. Mayor Carmella Mantello urged the council to study the legislation's impact in other cities before taking action, but the council moved ahead. The Republican said she plans a veto, a move that would likely be symbolic given the likelihood of an override by the council's Democrats. She has publicly expressed opposition since last spring, worrying that the system could hurt investment in the city and infringe on property owners' rights. Advertisement Advertisement "What's next? Is it rent control? Is it the Emergency Tenant Protection Act that they have down in New York City - and that puts the fear of God in property owners," Mantello said. "So I think my ask was very reasonable. Let's just take a pause. What's the rush?" Addressing the mayor's desire for a study, City Council President Sue Steele said that she had spoken with Mantello in 2024 about launching a different study, which would provide data for housing-related initiatives. But the idea was rejected. By the time of that meeting, an internal housing study had already been completed in order for Troy to become a state-designated pro-housing community, according to Mantello spokesperson Alex Horton. The designation means the state's office of Homes and Community Renewal recognizes the city's steps to boost housing growth. The discussion at the time was completely unrelated to "good-cause" legislation, Horton added. Initially, progressive advocates pushed to launch a "good-cause" referendum in place of council action. More than 1,800 signatures were collected. The petitions were ultimately deemed invalid by then-City Clerk Maria DeBonis, pushing advocates to change course. Advertisement Advertisement Democrats last May attempted to schedule a public hearing on a "good-cause" proposal. Four Republicans on the council shot it down, believing that the legislation - backed by coalition partners such as Troy DSA, the Troy Area Labor Council and United Tenants of Albany - was radical and purely political. "There was a lot of work with council members and the mayor to try to get everyone to understand the nuances of the law," Steele said. "Some people obviously took the time to do that and some elected officials have not." Walking out of the May meeting, advocates chanted, "We'll remember in November!" Troy's coalition later hosted a candidate forum dedicated to tenants' rights, which no Republican candidates attended, and campaigned before the November election to get a veto-proof "good-cause" majority. Democrats swept November's council races. Troy property owner Tony Mawad has characterized supporters of "good-cause" as "landlord haters." He told the Times Union that he is already overburdened with regulations and wants his business to be left alone. Advertisement Advertisement "You can't take marital advice from someone who hates marriage," Mawad said. Proponents have argued that such legislation would not target "good landlords." The new law won't impact every rental unit in the city. Among requirements, properties cannot be subsidized or rent-stabilized, owners must own more than one unit and tenants cannot pay less than 345% of fair market-level rent. Co-ops, condos and public housing units are excluded. This article originally published at Troy Democrats pass 'good-cause' eviction law a year after first attempt. At the Liberty Gas Station on the outskirts of Arlington, Virginia, petrol prices have been climbing for almost a week. Ten cents today, ten cents yesterday, Yam Sitoula, a 56-year-old pump attendant sitting behind the counter, said. Mr Sitoulas boss has been calling him almost every day since American missiles began raining down on Iran, instructing him to update the cost of fuel on the giant sign outside the station, which is located a few miles west of the White House. Advertisement Advertisement A lot of customers are asking me why the price is going up, Mr Sitoula says. My boss thinks it will rise by another $1.50 in the next week. The so-called jump at the pumps is a direct effect of Donald Trumps war on Iran. Some 20 per cent of the worlds oil is transported through the Strait of Hormuz, which on Monday was declared closed by Irans Revolutionary Guards, who warned that any ship attempting to pass through would be set ablaze. Yam Sitoulas boss issues daily instructions to update the price display at the petrol station where he works - Dermot Tatlow for The Telegraph Meanwhile, the US is thought to be spending millions of dollars a day, with the total cost estimated to climb to some $100bn as it sends the largest military deployment to the Middle East since the Gulf War. Advertisement Advertisement The eye-watering sums are starting to attract the ire of some of the Maga constituency who are already alarmed by Mr Trumps turn away from traditional America First and isolationism. Public polling suggests Mr Trumps war is deeply unpopular with the general electorate, too, in a year that the president faces losing control of Congress in midterm elections. Markets are also pressuring the White House as the world awaits stock exchanges reopening after a weekend in which energy facilities in Iran have been struck for the first time, sending dark palls of smoke over the capital. Inside the Capitol Hill Exxon station, behind the counter, the manager robotically reads out a prepared speech explaining the price hikes. Advertisement Advertisement The conflict in the Middle East is causing an increase in oil prices due to feared disruption in production, which is in turn impacting the price of gasoline on the street. He sounded as if hes been reading the same script all week. US presidents have watched the petrol prices for decades, and often view them as a key indicator of their re-election chances. Barack Obama famously said that the only indicator that really told him what poll numbers were going to look like was gas prices, says Richard Stern, the vice president of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise. Theres a reality to that. Polling day to day does then track gas prices; its been like that for a very long time. So I think [White House Officials are] concerned. Advertisement Advertisement With the midterm elections looming, there are whispers among Republicans that Mr Trump is distracted by foreign affairs. Losing Congress would mean watching his second term as president collapse into months of investigations, a possible impeachment and legislative deadlock. Ahead of midterm elections, Republicans fear Mr Trump is distracted by foreign affairs - Kevin Lamarque/Reuters I have no problem blowing up the Iranians, one Republican source close to the White House told Politico, but being at war is 75 per cent of your time, they added, which is a problem. On Thursday, Susie Wiles, Donald Trumps chief of staff, instructed her team to look under every rock for ways to improve energy prices, especially gasoline prices. Officials are now getting screamed at to find some good news, Politico reported. The administration is now so concerned that it is considering a temporary holiday on the federal gasoline tax, which stands at 18.3 cents per gallon (0.03 per litre). However, that would require action from Congress and may not result in savings being passed on to the consumer. Advertisement Advertisement Price controls are going to cause even more harm thatll just be felt in some other kind of way, further down the road from a timeline perspective, Mr Stern said. Petrol prices are particularly important in the context of the midterm elections, given that polls show that American voters primary concern is the cost of living. Of more than 2,500 people surveyed in a poll for the Washington Post last month, fewer than three in 10 voters said that they felt they were getting ahead financially, while 45 per cent said that food now felt unaffordable. The findings show why affordability is a top concern in the next election. Even younger voters are feeling the pinch. Todays prices here are 3.2, and last weeks prices were 2.8 here. Its a decent increase, 22-year-old paralegal Ayden Mullins says. It p----s me off because I dont like spending money on gas. I dont have the gas mileage to justify it. Advertisement Advertisement Tony Zeliya, a 25-year-old stock manager from Virginia, says: You notice that [fuel] goes up from high $2 to $3, $3.10. Its not that great. Because this is another thing that you have to worry about. Youve got to worry about groceries. Youve got to worry about bills. Its another thing that you dont want on your plate. Tony Zeliya, 25, is feeling the pinch after Trump launched his attack on Iran - Dermot Tatlow for The Telegraph On Friday, the Bureau of Labour Statistics reported that the American economy had shed 92,000 jobs in February, far worse than the 60,000 which economists had expected. It is this figure which is on the mind of Doug Lindholm, 65, who has just finished filling his car at a petrol station in Virginia. I am concerned about the affordability question for Americans, he says. Have you seen the latest jobs report that just came out? It was 92,000. The question is, whats causing that? Is it the uncertainty about Trumps failed policies, or is it the uncertainty about the war? It is, he concludes, probably attributable to both, before he adds woefully: Im ashamed to say that Im American at times. Advertisement Advertisement Diana Furchtgott-Roth, a fellow at the Energy Policy Research Foundation, was deputy executive director of the White House domestic policy council from 1991 to 1993, and associate director of the State Departments office of policy planning under president George HW Bush. No one likes high prices, she told The Telegraph. Neither side of the Maga movement likes high prices. Democrats dont like high prices. When I was in the George W Bush White House, there were extreme discussions about how to lower petrol prices. Presidents particularly dont like high petrol prices. Because its the price thats displayed as you drive to work. You see it a dozen times, because its the one price that has to be displayed. So its very obvious when it goes up, so no one likes it. However, Ms Furchtgott-Roth said that the high prices are temporary. Theyre going to go down again after theres a new democratic regime in Iran. And let me tell you, prices would have gone even higher if Iran had fulfilled some of its threats and set off nuclear weapons or attacked Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Were breaking the eggs now and prices are going up, but I think that after that, prices will be lower without the threat of Iranian terrorism. Not all share such an optimistic view. War price tag cause for alarm On Friday, in an interview with the Financial Times, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, Qatars energy minister, warned that the continuing conflict would trigger a halt in oil production throughout Persian Gulf states within days and bring down the economies of the world. Oil barrels could cost $150 each, he said, more than double the price before Trump launched strikes on Iran last weekend, which in turn sent prices spiralling. Advertisement Advertisement If the Trump administration does not do something to restore confidence in ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, these prices are going to keep heading up, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for the pricing app Gas Buddy, told The Washington Post. The price tag of the war is also a cause for alarm. On Tuesday, four days into the war, Forbes reported that early estimates suggest US military strikes had already cost American taxpayers more than $1bn. The conflict has a price tag which could stretch to $100bn depending on how long it continues, the outlet suggested. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies estimated that the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury cost roughly $3.7bn, or $891m each day. Though some of the costs are budgeted, most ($3.5bn) are not. Operational costs are now reaching nearly $200m, munitions replacements are costing over $3bn and replacing combat losses and repairing infrastructure damage is costing over $350m. Of this, only $178m was budgeted for operational costs. The rest would require additional defence department budgeting, through either a supplementary or appropriation bill. Senior White House officials now expect Mr Trumps administration to request tens of billions of dollars for the war. Three F-15E jets, American all-weather strike fighters, estimated to cost up to $100m, were shot down by friendly fire in Kuwait on March 1. Asked how much the whole operation would cost, Tom Cole, chairman of the House appropriations committee, simply replied: A lot. The personal cost of war is also already being felt. Mr Trump received the bodies of six service members with their families in Delaware on Saturday night. The soldiers were remembered as loving parents and dedicated students, who were days away from returning to their own families. Speaking at a summit of Latin American leaders in Miami before his trip to Delaware, Mr Trump said the fallen service members were heroes coming home in a different manner than they thought theyd be coming home. He pledged to keep American war deaths to a minimum. It is estimated that the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury cost roughly $3.7bn, or $891m each day - Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu The deaths have ignited fury in Mr Trumps Maga base. No one should have to die for a foreign country, Megyn Kelly, a podcaster and former Fox News host, said on Monday. I dont think those forces members died for the United States. I think they died for Iran and Israel. Tucker Carlson, the podcaster, described the attack on Iran as absolutely disgusting and evil and said that this is Israels war. At least a portion of Mr Trumps base is questioning his decision to launch this massive military operation against Iran, Matthew Dallek, a professor at George Washington Universitys graduate school of political management, told The Telegraph. According to OnMessage, a conservative pollster, 49 per cent of Americans were found to be in favour of the war, while 48 per cent opposed it. Mr Trumps own favourability in the same poll, seen by The Telegraph, was considerably less split, with 54 per cent of the 1,800 people polled viewing him negatively, and 45 per cent positively. Such polls show no evidence of the rally around the flag effect, a common phenomenon often seen at the start of a war in which the country comes together in an overwhelming majority of support, according to Prof Dallek. Back in Maryland, a queue of cars waits to enter a petrol station while impatient drivers sound their horns. Residents scramble to stock up on fuel before the prices jump higher. Lynn Rothberg, 84, has not driven her car for years, but after hearing the neighbourhood talking, talking, talking about the rising fuel prices, she decided to take her red Honda to fill up. Lynn Rothberg, 84, a retired teacher, said she had not driven her car for years - Dermot Tatlow for The Telegraph The thing that terrifies me is the war and all the people that are being killed, she said. Its not that I have a lot of money. I dont have very much money, but I just paid $18 for filling it up, and I decided to do that before [prices] go sky high. I just figured Id get it filled up. With no end to the conflict in sight, it is likely that prices will continue to rise. Itll obviously be a huge concern as we enter into the midterm election season, concludes Andrew Hale, a fellow at advancing American freedom. Its not as bad as it was when Russia invaded Ukraine, but it could potentially, in the longer term, be a problem. 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. US President Donald Trump has told the UK he does not need its aircraft carriers and accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of seeking to "join wars after we've already won", as the US and Israel continue to launch strikes on Iran. In a social media post, Trump said the UK was "giving serious thought" to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, before saying the US does not "need them". Downing Street has not responded. One of the UK's two aircraft carriers has been placed on advanced readiness, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed earlier on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Trump's comments came after US bomber jets were seen landing in the UK as the US started using British bases for "specific defensive operations". "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," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. "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!" Speaking on Air Force One in response to a question about the use of UK bases in the war, Trump referred to his post on Truth Social, saying: "We don't need them," appearing to reference the carriers. Advertisement Advertisement He added: "It's not the right time. It would have been nice to have them two weeks ago." The UK government has defended its decision not to join initial US and Israel strikes on Iran, and has remained clear that it has no interest in joining the wider offensive campaign in the Middle East. Earlier in the week, the prime minister told MPs: "President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest." While Sir Keir has not responded directly to Trump's post, he earlier wrote in the Sunday Mirror that "at moments like this, the country needs seriousness, not political games". Advertisement Advertisement "While opposition parties seek to undermine Britain on the world stage, my Labour government is focused on protecting British people at home and abroad," he added. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused the prime minister of being "too afraid" to make decisions and "sitting on the fence" over the conflict in the Middle East. Speaking at the Conservative Spring conference on Saturday, she said "we are in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not". The back and forth between Trump and Sir Keir began after the UK initially refused to permit the US to use UK bases for its joint offensive with Israel against Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Sir Keir later approved "defensive" US action against Iranian missile sites from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, and said the UK government "does not believe in regime change from the skies". The UK prime minister said the decision was made after the situation changed last Sunday when Iran's "outrageous" response became "a threat to our people, our interests and our allies". Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer pictured as they signed the Tech Prosperity Deal in September 2025 [Getty Images] The crew of HMS Prince of Wales in Portsmouth have been told they must be ready to leave in five days. This has raised speculation the carrier may be deployed to the Mediterranean to help defend British interests threatened during the conflict in the Middle East - but people inside Sir Keir's government are playing down that idea. Advertisement Advertisement The UK's other aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is out of action for the foreseeable future. The UK has already said it will deploy a Royal Navy warship after an RAF base in Akrotiri in Cyprus has been targeted by drones. HMS Dragon - which has air defence capabilities - is being sent to the Mediterranean to bolster security around the base, but will not set sail until next week. Trump told the BBC's US partner, CBS News, on Saturday: "It's a little bit late to be sending ships, right? A little bit late." Pressed on whether US allies could do more to assist US operations in Iran, Trump said: "I couldn't care less. They can do whatever they want. The loyal ones are already in." Trump told journalists in the Oval Office earlier this week he was "not happy with the UK" over the initial decision to refuse use of UK bases, which led to US planes "flying many extra hours" to carry out strikes last weekend. He also told reporters Sir Keir is "no Winston Churchill". Advertisement Advertisement Sir Keir has insisted the "special relationship" between the US and the UK had not been fractured while speaking to reporters on Thursday. "Look, the special relationship is in operation right now," he said. "We're sharing intelligence on a 24/7 basis in the usual way. That is the special relationship." On Friday, a US B-1 bomber was seen landing at RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire. For many months Sir Keir has pointed to his relationship with Trump as one of the biggest successes of his premiership. That is no longer the case. This is just the latest example of President Trump being openly critical towards the prime minister, and it is clear he is still angry the UK blocked him from using British bases when he first launched strikes against Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair - who led the UK into the Iraq war - told a private event that the US was an "indispensable cornerstone" of the UK's security, and that allies should "show up" regardless of who the current president is. Ali Larijani, the head of Irans National Security Council, claimed that his country has captured United States soldiers since the outbreak of war last week. The comments came in a post on Saturday on the social media platform X, in which Larijani suggested the US was concealing the captures. It has been reported to me that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner, Larijani wrote. But the Americans claim that they have been killed in action. Despite their futile efforts, the truth is not something they can hide for too long. Advertisement Advertisement The US military, however, quickly refuted the claims with its own statement. The Iranian regime is doing everything it can to peddle lies and deceive. This is yet another clear example, said US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins in response to Larijanis post. A spokesperson from US Central Command (CENTCOM) echoed Hawkinss denial in a statement to Al Jazeera Arabic. The Iranian regimes claims of capturing American soldiers are yet another example of its lies and deceptions, the spokesman said. At least six members of the US armed forces have been killed since the war began on February 28, after the US and Israel launched a joint attack. The administration of US President Donald Trump dubbed the military campaign Operation Epic Fury. Advertisement Advertisement The Tasnim news agency in Iran reported this week that an estimated 1,332 people have been killed in the war since last week. That death toll includes approximately 180 children who died in a strike on a school in the southeastern city of Minab. An analysis from The New York Times has suggested the school was struck by the US. Trump, however, blamed Iran as he took questions from reporters while on board the presidential plane, Air Force One. Based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran, he said on Saturday. Trump spent the day travelling back and forth between his resort in South Florida where he was hosting Latin American officials and Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the bodies of the killed soldiers were transferred. Advertisement Advertisement All six were killed on March 1, one day into the war, during an Iranian drone strike on a Kuwait port. The US military has identified the dead soldiers as Declan Cody, Jeffrey OBrien, Cody Khork, Noah Tietjens, Nicole Amor and Robert Marzan. Its a very sad day. Im glad we paid our respects. Its tough. Its a tough situation, Trump said as he left the dignified transfer ceremony on Air Force One. Still, he struck an upbeat note about the war itself, calling its progress as good as it could be. Were winning the war by a lot. Weve decimated their whole evil empire, Trump said of Iran. Trump has yet to rule out deploying US soldiers to Iran. In an interview last Monday with The New York Post, Trump refused to commit either way. Advertisement Advertisement Every president says, There will be no boots on the ground. I dont say it, he told the publication. Trump and officials like Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have also warned that the US death toll could continue to rise. In a telephone call with NBC News, Trump said, We expect casualties, but in the end, its going to be a great deal for the world. He has estimated the war could last four to five weeks. The war has divided Trumps Make America Great Again (MAGA) base, with some expressing frustration with the presidents latest military offensive. Critics pointed out that Trump campaigned for re-election on the promise not to fight endless wars. Advertisement Advertisement I honestly cant believe were doing this again, conservative media host Megyn Kelly posted on social media on Friday, responding to reports that Trump was considering boots on the ground in Iran. Former Congress member Marjorie Taylor Greene, meanwhile, criticised Trump for betraying his America First campaign promises. Trump and his admin betrayed their campaign promises of No More Foreign Wars/No More Regime Change, Taylor Greene wrote on Wednesday, warning of voter backlash during the midterm elections. We voted for America FIRST and that means AMERICANS FIRST AND AMERICANS ONLY, she added. Advertisement Advertisement A poll on Friday from the news agencies NPR and PBS and the research firm Marist found that a majority of US citizens disapproved of the war. Of the 1,591 adults surveyed, 56 percent opposed the conflict. This is an unpopular war, according to all the polling data weve seen in the last week, said Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett. Most Americans believe that this is one that cannot be afforded and cannot be afforded in terms of the potential loss of life, given the fact weve now had six Americans killed, and their bodies returned to the United States. 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Government of India's initiative for prioritising talent development through Training, Up-skilling and Workforce Development Programs under Chips to Startups (C2S) initiative of India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, stated that India has made significant progress in last four 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. A statement released by the Ministry of Electronics & IT noted, "With the help of these tools, students are getting practical experience on designing semiconductor chips." 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. Vaishnaw further highlighted that students from universities across the nation from Assam to Gujarat and Kashmir to Kanyakumari are actively participating in semiconductor design. Under Semicon 2.0, this program will be expanded from 315 universities to 500 universities, creating a strong base of skilled engineers across the country. The minister also noted that as the global semiconductor industry reaches USD 2 trillion, nearly 2 million skilled professionals will be required providing unprecedented job opportunities for India's youth. Several major educational institutions in the National Capital Region (NCR) are playing an important role in supporting India Semiconductor Mission. These institutions are providing training in semiconductor design, testing, and validation. Key institutions from Delhi include Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, National Institute of Technology Delhi, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi, Delhi Technological University, Netaji Subhas University of Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, and DV2JS Innovation LLP. Using advanced EDA tools and training infrastructure, students at these institutions are designing real semiconductor chips, helping India build a strong talent base for its semiconductor ecosystem. The Government of India, through Semicon 2.0, is committed to promoting semiconductor design, manufacturing, and innovation across the country, with the goal of establishing India as a global hub for semiconductor talent and manufacturing, the statement added. (ANI) Immigration agents are wearing personal pairs of Meta AI smart glasses to surveil communities, alarming protesters and civil liberties experts who fear the footage will fuel a crackdown on those opposed to President Donald Trumps nationwide deportation campaign. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have increasingly used government-provided body cameras and facial recognition technology during deployments nationwide over the last year as they arrested nearly 400,000 immigrants and violently clashed with protesters. DHS agents in six states have been seen in the smart glasses since Trump took office, an investigation by The Independent found. In some cases, agents have used the glasses which have voice-controlled AI for analyzing what the wearer is seeing to record and photograph members of the public. The glasses are also connected to the internet and can livestream video. Advertisement Advertisement Taken together, these capabilities raise the specter that agents could be using the smart glasses to transmit video and images into facial recognition software or law enforcement databases. The glasses have raised a host of novel privacy concerns, as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself was reminded last month when he appeared in court for a civil lawsuit on social media addiction. The judge warned that anyone who used smart glasses to record inside her courtroom must delete their footage or be held in contempt. Some of Zuckerbergs entourage had been photographed wearing Meta smart glasses as they entered the Los Angeles courthouse. A Border Patrol agent wears Meta AI smart glasses in Minneapolis in January 2026. DHS agents have been seen in six states wearing Meta AI smart glasses since Trump took office, The Independent has found, in some cases recording or photographing members of the public. The agent did not appear to be recording with the glasses at the time of the photo, since the LED light at the top of the frame was not showing (Getty Images) If your glasses are recording, you must take them off, the judge said, according to the Los Angeles Times. It is the order of this court that there must be no facial recognition of the jury. If you have done that, you must delete it. This is very serious. Homeland Security does not have a contract with Meta for the glasses, the agency told The Independent, a fact confirmed by a review of federal procurement records. DHS policy allows agents to wear their own sunglasses, but they are not authorized to record with personal devices. Advertisement Advertisement Civil liberties groups are already alarmed by the rise in surveillance of American citizens with government-sanctioned phones and body cams, but this information is still subject to strict rules. Border Patrol agents with body cameras, for instance, are required by department policy to record uses of force, and the data they capture is preserved in accordance with guidelines from the National Archives and Records Administration. But experts warn that government agents making personal recordings is a whole different ballgame. Meta AI smart glasses can record video, take photos, and use AI to analyze images that wearers are seeing in real time (AFP via Getty Images) Some of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbergs entourage were seen wearing Meta AI smart glasses as they accompanied him to a civil trial in Los Angeles last month. The judge in the case threatened contempt charges if anyone used smart glasses to record jurors inside her courtroom (AFP/Getty) Patrick G. Eddington, a surveillance analyst and senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, told The Independent that he is alarmed by the widespread use of Meta glasses, given the Trump administrations position that citizens who record or protest agents are tantamount to a national security threat. Federal agents are already threatening civil liberties by using government devices to film peaceful activists, he said. Non-violent protest and observation of government employees is 100 percent First Amendment-protected activity that shouldnt end up on government databases. Advertisement Advertisement When agents use unregistered, personal devices to record citizens it raises even bigger red flags, he said, given the Trump administrations efforts to define criticism and observation of the government as evidence of criminality. A September national security memo on domestic terrorism enforcement lists anti-Americanism and criticisms of law enforcement and border control as key indicators. The FBI has reportedly been directed to compile a list of groups or entities who hold such views, according to a DOJ memo obtained by reporter Ken Klippenstein. Outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, meanwhile, said in July that filming agents when they're out on operations is a form of violence. There are also reports from multiple cities that people who followed or filmed immigration agents at work have had their faces and license plates photographed, or had agents drive ominously past their homes. Eddington argues that all this speaks to a larger campaign of surveillance and intimidation at work. Protesters clash with federal agents in St Paul, Minnesota in January 2026. Civil rights advocates fear agents could use footage to go after critics of the Trump administrations deportation campaign (AFP via Getty Images) Agents using off-the-books devices further allows the government to gather information on people lawfully exercising their constitutional rights, he said, and this data could fuel future searches or arrests. Advertisement Advertisement The purpose of it all, quite clearly, with this regime, is to gather as much data as they can on anybody who they believe is a threat to the regime, Eddington said. Anybody that's basically opposing the regime. He added: They are aggregating data on individuals and on groups and they are using it for the purpose of politically going after people. To me theres just absolutely no doubt about it. Clear policies within each federal agency determine when agents turn on government-issued cameras and how this sensitive data is stored for later review. Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst for the ACLUs Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, told The Independent that agents using their personal devices eviscerates these safeguards and is characteristic of the lawlessness of the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement If an officer is using their own personal device, that just blows out of the water any of the needed policies that have to accompany this form of government surveillance, he said. We have a nice little database and now youre considered a domestic terrorist Agents have been seeing wearing Meta glasses during operations in six states, according to an analysis of video, high-definition news photography and media reports by The Independent. Illinois resident Liz Myers said that two Border Patrol agents used Meta glasses to film her and other protesters during an immigration operation at a Home Depot parking lot in Evanston on December 17. Two people were arrested but their identities and alleged offenses remain unclear. The Independent has asked DHS for comment on the operation. Myers video footage, reviewed by The Independent, shows two agents wearing Metas Ray-Ban-branded smart glasses. The glasses, which cost upwards of $379 depending on the features, are modeled on the popular Wayfarer model, but have circular, high-definition cameras at the side of each lens where a rivet would normally be. A white LED light above the right lens indicates that the glasses are recording and blinks on and off when a photo is taken, according to Meta. An agent (right) uses Meta glasses to surveil protesters on December 17 in Evanston, Illinois. The glasses are recording or taking a photo when a white light is turned on (Liz Myers) Hackers claim the privacy light can easily be disabled, allowing users to record others without any visible indication they are doing so. Covers to block out the LED light are also being sold on Amazon by third parties. Advertisement Advertisement Meta is exploring whether to officially add a facial recognition capability to the glasses, The New York Times reported in February. The company did not provide a response on the record to questions from The Independent. The video from Myers shows two agents in Meta glasses with the white lights activated looking towards her and fellow protesters. The military veteran says she didnt realize she was being filmed at the time. She was alerted after providing her video to Northwestern Universitys Daily Northwestern newspaper, which first spotted and subsequently reported that the two agents had been recording. Meta, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has donated to Donald Trumps inauguration and his White House ballroom project (AFP via Getty Images) A Homeland Security spokesperson told The Independent: The use of personal recording devices is not authorized. Recordings may only be done on government issued devices such as Go Pros or traditional DSLR handheld cameras. The Independent provided the images and footage it had reviewed to DHS, and asked if any agents filming with Meta glasses had been investigated or disciplined. Our statement stands, DHS responded. Advertisement Advertisement Myers worries that agents are not only recording members of the public without their knowledge, but that the footage is being used to track critics of the Trump administration. Theyre keeping records of people who are protesting them, she claimed. The concerns around agents using Meta glasses to record protesters are part of wider claims that immigration officials are intimidating those observing operations. Federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti (pictured, left) and Renee Good in Minneapolis in January as they observed immigration operations (Reuters) ICE agent Jonathan Ross was recording Minneapolis resident Renee Good on a cellphone before he fatally shot her. Ross can be seen in the reflection of Goods vehicle moments before the shooting The Illinois activists concerns are warranted. Immigration agents are regularly seen recording members of the public, especially during tense confrontations. ICE agent Jonathan Ross used his cell phone to record Minneapolis resident Renee Good, who had been observing agents from inside her SUV, moments before he fatally shot her in January. Agents were wearing body cameras when they fatally shot another protester, Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis that same month. Pretti had been pointing his phone at agents in the moments before he was killed. Advertisement Advertisement During testimony before the Senate on February 12, ICE chief Todd Lyons was asked why Ross was filming during the encounter, and whether that reflected any official DHS policies. Lyons said that agents have been instructed to record video if they were going to make an arrest, say of an agitator and that the U.S. attorney was requiring to have video leading up to the event. In January, an ICE agent in Maine allegedly photographed the license plate of a woman who had been filming earlier in the day as they made arrests. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stand near a gate at an immigrant detention enter in Newark, New Jersey, on May 7. An agent is seen wearing Meta smart glasses. Due to the angle of the photograph, it is unclear if he is recording (Getty) In video of the incident, the agent told her, We have a nice little database and now youre considered a domestic terrorist. The woman has since joined a class action lawsuit seeking to bar the Trump administration from threatening, harassing, and otherwise retaliating" against Americans for exercising their First Amendment rights. DHS has repeatedly denied there is any database cataloging people as terrorists if they observe or protest immigration operations. Advertisement Advertisement There is NO database of domestic terrorists run by DHS, a Homeland Security official told The Independent. We do of course monitor and investigate and refer all threats, assaults and obstruction of our officers to the appropriate law enforcement. Obstructing and assaulting law enforcement is a felony and a federal crime. After the shootings of Good and Pretti, the Trump administration has cut back on the number of agents deployed for immigration raids in Minneapolis, but operations are expected to continue in other parts of the country. Violating the Constitution In three instances in 2025 the Evanston operation, plus deployments in Los Angeles and North Carolina agents appeared to have used Meta glasses to record or photograph people. Agents were also seen wearing the glasses in New Jersey, Louisiana and Minnesota, but The Independent did not find evidence that they were used to record or take photos. On May 7, 2025, a masked agent wearing a vest from ICEs elite Enforcement and Removal Operations special response team was photographed wearing Meta sunglasses while guarding an immigrant detention center in Newark, New Jersey. A Border Patrol agent in Meta sunglasses during a July 2025 operation in Los Angeles. The active white LED light indicates that he is capturing video or taking photos (AFP/Getty) Immigration agents were also seen wearing Meta glasses last summer in Los Angeles, when teams poured into the city in response to widespread anti-deportation protests. A Border Patrol agent was wearing Meta glasses during a June 30 raid near a Home Depot in Cypress Park, tech news site 404 Media reported. It is unclear if the agent used the glasses to record. A July 7 photo, from the AFP news agency, shows an agent from Border Patrols elite Bortac special operations unit wearing the glasses while hanging from an armored vehicle near MacArthur Park in LA. A white light is visible on the right-side lens, suggesting the agent was recording or taking a photo at the time. A Border Patrol agent wears the glasses during a December 5 operation in Louisiana. The glasses do not appear to be recording in this photo (AFP/Getty) A Getty photograph from December 5 showed a Border Patrol agent wearing Meta glasses at a park in Metairie, Louisiana, during ongoing operations in the New Orleans area. The agent did not appear to be recording. In December, 404 Media reported that a Border Patrol agent was recording with Meta glasses during an immigration raid in Charlotte, North Carolina. More recently, photos from the Getty news agency showed one or more agents in smart glasses on January 9 and January 12 in Minneapolis. The sunglasses recording light was not on in either photo. The individual in both photos appeared to be part of a larger group of agents carrying out roving operations across the city. Deepening ties The Trump administration continues to deepen its ties with surveillance and tech companies. The White House is supporting the rapid build-out of AI data centers, and it has integrated AI tools from powerful companies like OpenAI and xAI the latter run by former Trump adviser Elon Musk into U.S. national security systems. DHS has at least $1 billion in contracts and purchasing agreements with Palantir, a longstanding tech contractor co-founded by past Trump donor Peter Thiel, for AI and data mining to track and identify migrants for deportation. Customs and Border Protection also recently struck a one-year deal to access Clearview AIs facial recognition tool, which allows users to compare their photos to billions of public images scraped from the internet. A Border Patrol agent in Meta sunglasses on January 12, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is not recording at the time of the photo (Getty) Stephen Miller, the Trump administrations homeland security adviser, disclosed last year he was an investor in Palantir, a firm which donated heavily to pro-Trump PACs during the 2024 election and later donated to the presidents White House ballroom project. Meta, meanwhile, donated to Trumps inauguration and his ballroom, and Zuckerberg visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago shortly after the election. The Meta CEO was among the Silicon Valley guests of honor when Trump was sworn in for a second term last January. Myers, the Illinois protester, believes the surveillance and recording is reflective of the larger, aggressive approach to immigration enforcement by the Trump administration. She witnessed an incident in October 2025 where agents pinned a man to the ground and struck him in the face while he was restrained. I am a vet, Myers said. I served in the Army during the first Gulf War. I took an oath to defend the Constitution, and everything that theyre doing is violating the Constitution in several ways. I do see them as being domestic terrorists. Justin Rohrlich contributed reporting to this story By rolling back a bedrock climate legal determination, the Trump administration has undercut its attacks on a groundbreaking state climate accountability law, green groups have argued in court. Trumps justice department has asked a judge to kill a first-of-its-kind 2024 Vermont climate superfund policy requiring major polluters to pay for damages caused by their past planet-heating pollution, partly on the grounds that that federal law, not state law, governs greenhouse gas emissions. But last month, Trumps Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) repealed the endangerment finding, the scientific determination giving federal officials the authority to control those very pollutants. Theyre trying to talk out of both sides of their mouths, said Kate Sinding Daly, senior vice-president for law and policy at the environmental legal non-profit Conservation Law Foundation (CLF). Advertisement Advertisement The administration cannot claim the federal governments ability to enact greenhouse gas regulations precludes states authority to pass climate superfund laws while claiming it has no statutory authority to regulate emissions, CLF and advocacy group Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont asserted in a recent filing in federal court meant to defend Vermonts climate superfund law. (Both the EPA and the Department of Justice declined to comment on the new filing.) Related: Environmental groups sue Trumps EPA over repeal of landmark climate finding We believe the rescission of the endangerment finding was wrong, that they were wrong to claim they dont have the authority to regulate greenhouse gases, said Daly. But if they are going to say that, that then they cant possibly preempt states from stepping in to do the same thing. Its an argument legal experts anticipated would be made in the wake of the final endangerment finding repeal, and one that could also apply to defenses of the dozens of climate lawsuits filed by cities and states against big oil. Advertisement Advertisement I expect that the revocation of the endangerment finding will play a prominent role in countering the preemption claim in all these cases, said Michael Gerrard, the founder of Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School. A similar line of reasoning appeared in a letter filed with a federal court on Tuesday by Letitia James, the New York attorney general, defending both Vermonts policy and a climate superfund law passed by New York last year.The EPA and Department of Justice declined to comment on the letter. EPA has claimed its endangerment finding repeal applies only to motor vehicle emissions. It has also said that the Clean Air Act continues to preempt state greenhouse gas laws and regulations, regardless of the endangerment finding repeal. The Clean Air Act preempts states and political subdivisions from adopting or attempting to enforce emission standards for new motor vehicles and engines, full stop, whether EPA has issued standards for particular emissions or not, an agency spokesperson told the Guardian last month. Advertisement Advertisement But Daly and other climate and legal experts say the agencys final rule also removed the authority for the federal government to control greenhouse gas pollution from stationary sources such as power plants and fossil fuel facilities, removing the possibility that federal law precludes state regulations on any sector. Even with the endangerment finding in place, states should legally be able to regulate greenhouse gases from any source, said Daly. In fact, we had prior administrations regulating greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and proposing rules regulate the power sector, at the same time as we had states [also requiring] emission reductions, she said. And Vermonts climate superfund should never have been considered preempted by federal law because it does not directly attempt to control future emissions, only to place costs on past emissions, said Daly. But the repeal of the endangerment finding should make it especially difficult for the preemption argument to stand up in court, she added. Advertisement Advertisement The argument is diametrically opposed to the argument in the endangerment finding repeal, she said. Grace Oedel, the executive director of Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, said the stakes of the fight to protect climate superfund laws are high. Related: How Trumps big climate finding repeal could actually hurt big oil Its becoming increasingly clear that leaders in our federal government do not have a coherent plan for adapting to the climate crisis, she said. Farmers are bearing the weight of extreme weather events, and its fair for fossil fuel companies to help pay for the cost of climate adaptation. Advertisement Advertisement A livestreamed hearing about the DoJs attacks on Vermonts climate superfund law will take place on 30 March. Modeled after the EPAs superfund program, which requires companies to pay for toxic waste cleanup, the climate superfund laws passed by Vermont and New York charge major fossil fuel companies for damages caused by their past emissions. Other states, including Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Illinois, are considering similar policies. The potential impact of the endangerment finding on fossil fuel allies preemption arguments could also ripple through climate accountability litigation, including the dozens of suits brought by cities and states accusing major oil companies of climate deception. Last month, the supreme court agreed to hear a petition from energy producers seeking to dismiss one such case brought by Boulder, Colorado, arguing that federal law should preempt the claims. Environmental and public health groups have sued the EPA over its repeal of the endangerment finding. The states of California and Connecticut have also pledged to bring lawsuits over the rollback. President Trump and first lady Melania Trump participated in a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Kent County, Delaware, Saturday for six U.S. service members killed in a March 1 Iranian drone attack in Kuwait. The solemn ritual returns the remains of troops killed in action and is considered one of the most somber duties of a commander in chief. The fallen troops were killed in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, while supporting Operation Epic Fury. Advertisement Advertisement Trump Pledges To 'Avenge' Fallen Us Service Members As Tensions With Iran Intensify Transfer cases were used to move the soldiers to Dover Air Force Base, where they will be identified and prepared for their journey home. After identification, the fallen, who were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command from Des Moines, Iowa, are placed in a casket and transported to their final resting places. Read On The Fox News App President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance salute as members of a U.S. Army carry team transport a flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens during a dignified transfer Saturday at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del. (Getty Images) All six were U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, Iowa, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition and transports equipment and supplies. Advertisement Advertisement The War Department identified the fallen service members as Maj. Jeffery OBrien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; 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, Iowa. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California, is also believed to be deceased. Each of the soldiers' families were present at the transfer. A U.S. Army carry team salutes as flagged-draped transfer cases rest in a vehicle during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base Saturday in Dover, Del. Trump, speaking at a summit of Latin American leaders in Miami before traveling to Delaware, called the fallen service members heroes "coming home in a different manner than they thought theyd be coming home." Advertisement Advertisement He described the attack as "a very sad situation" and pledged to keep American war deaths "to a minimum." Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who also attended the ritual, wrote in a social media post Friday of "an unbreakable spirit to honor their memory and the resolve they embodied." A U.S. Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of Capt. Cody A. Khork Saturday at Dover Air Force Base. Gofundme For Us Soldier Killed In Iran War Raises More Than $94K Officials said the soldiers were supporting operations in the region when the unmanned aircraft struck their position. Khork enlisted in the National Guard in 2009 as a multiple launch rocket system/fire direction specialist, then commissioned as a military police officer in the Army Reserve in 2014. He deployed to Saudi Arabia in 2018, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2021 and Poland in 2024. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10 Year Device and "M" Device. Advertisement Advertisement Amor joined the National Guard in 2005 as an automated logistics specialist and transferred to the Army Reserve the following year. She deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019 and earned multiple commendations, including the Army Commendation Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device. Six service members were killed in Kuwait Sunday during the war with Iran. Fallen Us Soldiers In Operation Epic Fury Remembered As Patriotic, Dedicated Tietjens joined the Army Reserve in 2006 as a wheeled vehicle mechanic and completed two deployments to Kuwait in 2009 and 2019. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star. Coady enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2023 as an information technology specialist and was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Overseas Service Ribbon. A flag-draped transfer at a vehicle during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base Saturday in Dover, Del. OBrien served nearly 15 years in the Army Reserve. Commissioned in 2012 as a Signal Corps officer, he was promoted to major in 2024 and previously deployed to Kuwait in 2019. In civilian life, he worked in cybersecurity and defensive cyber operations. Advertisement Advertisement Click Here To Download The Fox News App Marzan, of Sacramento, California, was an Army reservist assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command. Family and state officials described him as a devoted husband and father. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Trump and first lady attend dignified transfer for 6 US troops killed in Kuwait US President Donald Trump has again threatened Iran if Washington is not involved in deciding who is to succeed slain Iranian supreme leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The US's approval is needed, Trump told ABC News. "Hes going to have to get approval from us," he said. "If he doesnt get approval from us hes not going to last long," Trump said, adding he did not want to go back every five or 10 years to intervene. Advertisement Advertisement Trump answered in the affirmative when asked whether he would be willing to accept someone with ties to the old leadership, saying to elect a good leader, this could be considered. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected such interference, however. Araghchi told US broadcaster NBC News that his country would not accept Trump's interference in selecting a new head of state. "We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs," Araghchi said. The assembly responsible for electing the revolutionary leader was elected by the people and will do its job, he said. "This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader," the minister said. Unclear who will succeed Khamenei According to Araghchi, a decision by the Assembly of Experts, made up of 88 clerics, has not yet been made. No one knows who the members will choose to succeed the slain Khamenei, he said. Advertisement Advertisement But an Iranian report said a consensus has already been reached. "In the first hours after the leader's martyrdom, the Assembly of Experts convened and the majority agreed on a single candidate, who was communicated to the executive committee of the assembly," an assembly member said, according to the Mehr news agency. Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran on February 28. One of the obvious ironies of Donald Trumps ill-conceived war of choice with Iran and his statement to its citizen-protesters that this is their moment to overturn an authoritarian theocracy that is making them live in misery and destroying their economy is that his MAGA movement is doing all it can to create a Christian white nationalist theocracy at home while cheering on the beating and killing of citizen-protesters. Trump and his handpicked team of the worst people you can imagine (his incompetent, mewling kakistocracy) are gleefully attacking women, immigrants, universities, public education, scientists, LGBTQ+ folks and our historic allies, as well as nonpartisan experts in economics and governance and foreign affairs everything, in fact, that has made America creative, prosperous and secure. Its gotten so dire under Trump that good people of all sorts are leaving the country in numbers not seen since the Depression. Advertisement Advertisement Another obvious irony is that MAGAs self-styled supreme leader of this Christian white nationalist movement is no Christian. As a serial sexual predator, a habitual perpetrator of fraud, the most relentless liar on the planet and a lifelong supplicant of Mammon, Trump is by every measure anything but a follower of Jesus Christ. (While we are pointing out incongruities, it should be noted that with his very weird daily troweling-on of pancake makeup, hes also only rarely white.) As reported by Jonathan Larsen on his Substack, The F**king News, some U.S. military commanders have been telling their troops that the war on Iran is a Christian war. So it is more than fair to critique these so-called Christian leaders. It hardly seems worth taking the time to pick apart Trumps performative Christianity. Hes the guy who hawks Bibles and yet cannot name even one line of scripture he admires. (Its too personal, you see. Oh, and hes probably equally both an Old Testament and New Testament guy, 5050.) As a cultural Christian Im the grandson of a minister and was raised Presbyterian, and was active while our daughters were young Im not given to quoting scripture. Religious belief is personal, and I dont appreciate it when people evangelize to me or, you know, try to write their beliefs into public policy. But this passage from Proverbs (6:1619) is uncanny suited to our moment: There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflicts in the community. A quick check online shows that versions of that have been floating around in various online memes for some years. (For instance, back in 2019, Marco Rubio, then a Florida senator, was attacked by Trump supporters for posting the passage without comment.) Advertisement Advertisement In the version I saw recently, above the verses is a photo of Trump, showing off some of the haughtiest eyes youve ever seen (imagine one of those tough-guy official portraits inspired by his mugshot, or the glare he gives a reporter who dares to ask him a real question). But, gosh, the manchild leader of the everyday American found himself a millionaire at the age of eight, so I guess he has an excuse for overall haughtiness, compared to the likes of you and me. He simply never learned better. I may be only a cultural Christian, but as an old friend told me recently, she could go for more cultural Christians these days. Me, too. I harp on this frequently, but in these fraught times for religious freedom (as well as freedom from religion), it bears repeating: As journalist and historian Garry Wills notes in Head and Heart: A History of Christianity in America, most of Americas founders were deists, rather than straight-up Christians. Wills, who is himself a Catholic, called the separation of church and state embodied in the First Amendments Establishment clause a stunning innovation, the one unique, genius thing about our nations founding document. Advertisement Advertisement Yes, the founders, for men of their era, were enlightened. One might even call them woke. Supporting a plurality of religious beliefs, along with the freedom to hold none at all, was part of the brilliant enlightenment they wrote into the Constitution. Fast-forward almost 250 years, and we have a gold-plated faux-Christian in the White House insisting that we are a Christian nation. In 1631, a new edition of the King James Bible from the royal printers in London became known as the Wicked Bible because of the omission of a single word in Exodus 20:14, which accidentally (or, it was thought, satanically) read: Thou shalt commit adultery. If Trumps God Bless the USA Bible (available in several different versions, including the $99 First Lady Edition) were true to the moral compass of its namesake, many more of the nots would disappear. After Trump began to muse, some time back, about his chances of gaining admittance to heaven, I checked Dantes Inferno to see where in that realm he might most likely find himself. Most of the unhappy denizens of Dantes imagined hell are being eternally tormented for specific moral crimes in categories covering lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery. Whats amazing about Donald Trump is that he would immediately be issued a gold VIP pass downward through every circle; theyd be eager to punish him at, say, the second level (for the lustful), but, knowing he was in the house, multifarious demons and imps from lower levels would begin clamoring to get their hands on him. Want more sharp takes on politics? Sign up for our free newsletter, Standing Room Only by Amanda Marcotte, also a weekly show on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Why should we rehash all this when every civilized person in the world knows who Trump is and is revolted by his hateful heart? Well, it is always necessary to tell the truth, calmly and forthrightly, in the face of propaganda. Trump trades on his entirely bogus Christian bona fides and, to use one of his favorite catchphrases, he is a sinner like the world has never seen. Whether you are a believer or someone who has no time for organized religion, the truth will set you free. Advertisement Advertisement This final quote is not from the Bible, although it has the cadence of a religious verse. President Dwight Eisenhower, who had been supreme leader of Allied forces in the fight against fascism during World War II and was himself a devoutly religious man, delivered a famous speech in 1953 to the American Society of Newspaper Editors. He had this to say about the ultimate effects of military spending: Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. Trump is spending billions on his fake-Christian war in Iran to distract us from the Trump-Epstein Files (as comedian Jimmy Kimmel has trademarked them), with no plan whatsoever beyond, perhaps, having Pete Hegseth frat-boy his way through press conferences. He is destroying the lives of Iranians and Americans alike, at a much deeper level than the present-tense death and destruction we can see today. I can think of various words to describe this war. But dont call it Christian. This article originally appeared at Medium, in slightly different form. Used by permission. The post Trumps misguided Christian war is anything but appeared first on Salon.com. An Iranian Kurdish armed opposition commander said Donald Trump would not be able to topple Tehrans regime without their help. Rebaz Sharifi, a commander with the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), an Iranian separatist group based in northern Iraq, said he was confident the US would back them for an eventual ground invasion of Iran. He also claimed there were 10,000 fighters ready to invade once given the order. Advertisement Advertisement Mr Sharifi told The Telegraph: We are the only people that will be able to make the regime fall, because none of the other ethnic groups inside Iran have any weapons. We are sure that at the last moment and when most needed Trump will be behind us again. Trump is looking for fighting allies, and no one is more of a fighter than the Kurds. Fighters from the Kurdistan Freedom Party train at a base on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq - Reuters The US president has flip-flopped over whether he would support the separatist groups as a proxy ground force in the US-Israel war against Iran, possibly by providing arms. A day after the US began dropping bombs in the Middle East, Mr Trump reportedly offered extensive US air cover in a flurry of calls with Kurdish leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Then, on Thursday, when asked whether he wanted the Kurds to invade, he said: I think its wonderful that they want to do that, Id be all for it. By Saturday, Mr Trump changed his mind again: The war is complicated enough without getting the Kurds involved. His fickleness over just one week has not fazed a new coalition of Iranian Kurdish groups, formed shortly before war broke out, and of which PAK is a member. Donald Trump, with Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and defence secretary Pete Hegseth, has given the Kurds mixed messages - Reuters Mr Sharifi said: Our spirits are high and nothing will affect it. We keep going; were even more motivated than before. What does he mean by being involved in war? Arent we involved in war now? Arent we being attacked every day? Arent our people being killed in Iran every day? Advertisement Advertisement This is being involved in a war and we are defending ourselves. We are peshmerga its not like we work if Trump pays us, and if he doesnt, we dont work, he said, using the groups preferred term to refer to their armed members. Mr Sharifi claimed the coalition of Iranian Kurdish groups had at least 10,000 fighters ready to invade Iran, with thousands more within Iran waiting to be activated. The latter, he said, were Iranian Kurds who previously crossed into Iraq, trained with separatist groups such as his, then returned to Iran a process ongoing for years. Until now, Iranian Kurdish groups have been reluctant to give estimates of their potential fighting force. External experts have cautioned that a true figure may be closer to 1,500. While one commander claims there are 10,000 Kurdish fighters ready, some expert believe the figure in considerably lower - Reuters Mr Sharifi believes the Iranian regime could collapse within days because it is weakened severely at home and abroad, after alienating much of the Middle East with attacks against several countries. Advertisement Advertisement He said: No one is allying with Iran. Even if Trump goes to Tehran now and props it up himself, Iran will still fall because it has reached a breaking point. In reality, it is hard to know whether the Iranian regime is close to collapse, and there is no guarantee that what comes next will lead to greater freedoms for the country of 90 million people. An internet blackout instituted by the authorities has limited communication with the outside world. And visibility into what is happening within top leadership already opaque in times of peace is even more difficult as it has fallen under siege. PAK fighters in Iraq, but Kurds are spread across the region, including in Syria and Turkey - Reuters Several senior officials, including Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, have been killed by US-Israeli strikes. Plus, it remains to be seen if a potential ground invasion by Iranian Kurds would garner widespread support. Advertisement Advertisement Many Iranians have a strong national identity, which may take precedence over language or sectarian divides within the country. Other Iranians might also be upset with the Kurdish separatists for exploiting a chaotic moment for their own aims greater autonomy for their people. The Kurds, among the worlds largest stateless ethnic groups, are split across Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey, and have long called for greater freedoms. But poor economic conditions in Iran have angered much of the population, and might mean a Kurd-led offensive could cause an uprising, overwhelming the Iranian regime. Mass protests broke out in December, prompting the Iranian authorities to wage a brutal crackdown, killing thousands of people. Mr Sharifi said: Iran is strong with drones and missiles, but they are not strong among their people. They dont have the social support that they need from their nation. Advertisement Advertisement He believes there is no other way forward but to fight, even if it means many more casualties in the days to come. He said: Only force matters in the Middle East. When did politics matter in this region? Look at Trump. Look at the big countries. They are all ruling with power, because of their weapons, of the force they have. Im not fighting for my children to also become fighters like me. I am fighting for my children to live free. Additional reporting by Stella Martany 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. "I don't want to see the Kurds get hurt and killed. And we've had a good relationship. They're willing to go in. But we really, I've told them I don't want them to go in," the US president said. US President Donald Trump told reporters that he doesnt expect Kurds to fight in Iran, nor does he want them to go in, on Saturday. He was apparently referring to stories about Iranian Kurdish opposition groups that are also based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. There had been rumors last week that a Kurdish offensive was underway. The Kurdish groups denied this and said they were waiting. There had also been reports of contact between the Trump administration and the Kurdish groups. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has noted that the Kurdish fighters are willing to fight in Iran. Theyre willing to go in, but Ive told them I dont want them to go inThe war is complicated enough as it is We dont want to see the Kurds get hurt or killed. Trump was speaking on Air Force One. He had recently been at a tarmac where the bodies of six Americans returned from the Middle East and were transferred onto US soil. It is possible that the sight of the bodies of Americans coming home has made the US president rethink where the war is going. The Kurdish Iranian groups were thrust into the spotlight after February 28, when the US and Israel began strikes on Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters onboard Air Force One, on travel from West Palm Beach, Florida, to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, February 16, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/ELIZABETH FRANTZ) Kurdish groups targeted over inaccurate reports Initially, the reports indicated that these groups were preparing to fight the Iranian regime. Within two days, the reports said the Kurdish groups were being armed by the US. It was not clear how this was possible in such a short period. The reports about the Kurds kept growing over the coming days. A false report was pushed by several major media outlets that suggested the groups had launched an offensive into Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Iran has taken these reports seriously and has kept up drone strikes targeting the Kurdish groups in the Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq. The situation here is complex. There are seven Kurdish Iranian groups in Iran. Six of them have come together as a coalition against the Iranian regime. One group, a communist branch of the Komala party, has rejected the coalition. The major Kurdish groups include the Kurdistan Free Life Party, the Kurdistan Freedom Party, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, two branches of the Komala Party, and the Khabat group. The spotlight on the Kurds has led to pushback. Some Iranians call the Kurds separatists. Others argue that the Kurds would end up as cannon fodder or that it would be hard for them to take control of the Kurdish region in western Iran. The Kurdish region in Iran is relatively small, despite 8 million Kurds. It is possible that if the Kurds led an uprising, it would trigger a domino effect across the rest of Iran. Other groups in Iran dont appear to be well-armed. There is also controversy, it appears, between the Kurdish groups and the groups backing other Iranian opposition, such as backers of the crown prince. This controversy could divide the opposition groups. Without the spotlight on the Kurds, its possible that the spotlight could now move to other Iranian groups. There are many minorities in Iran, such as Azeris, Baloch, and Arabs. The Persian opposition in Iran generally argues that the minorities are separatists. This creates challenges for the US in deciding who to back. The Trump administration seems to keep most of the groups at arms length. However, the administration has a long experience working with Kurds. It worked with them in Syria and Iraq. Some Kurds feel the US walked away from the Kurds in 2017 when the Iraqi army attacked them in Iraq, and also when the Syrian government attacked them in January 2026 in Aleppo. As Trump changes tack, it appears that cool heads have prevailed. The Kurdish groups are waiting to see what happens. They have trained for years, but they are also cautious. By Parisa Hafezi and Maayan Lubell DUBAI/JERUSALEM, March 9 (Reuters) - Iran on Monday named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel. Mojtaba, a cleric with influence inside Iran's security forces and vast business networks under his father, had been viewed as a frontrunner in the lead-up to Sunday's vote by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics tasked with choosing Ali Khamenei's successor. Advertisement Advertisement "By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts, appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Assembly said in a statement issued just after midnight Tehran time. The position gives Mojtaba the final say in all matters of state in the Islamic Republic. Mojtabas appointment will likely draw the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump, who said on Sunday that Washington should have a say in the selection. "If he doesn't get approval from us, he's not going to last long," he told ABC News. Israel, ahead of the announcement, threatened to target whoever was chosen. Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with the Times of Israel after the new supreme leader was named, Trump declined to respond, saying only "We'll see what happens," according to the newspaper. Trump also said in the interview that ending the war would be a "mutual" decision with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mojtaba's father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed in one of the first strikes launched against Iran more than a week ago. Washington on Sunday ordered the departure of non-emergency employees at its embassy in Saudi Arabia, the latest drawdown of U.S. diplomats as Iran has struck U.S. facilities in the region. The U.S. military reported a seventh American has died from wounds sustained during Iran's initial counter-attack a week ago, a day after Trump presided over the return to the United States of the remains of the six others killed. Advertisement Advertisement The U.S.-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran's U.N. ambassador. OIL OVER $100 A BARREL The expanding war has severely impacted the oil trade and surging prices sparked a fall in share futures in Asia on Monday, amid fears of rising living costs. The dollar rose sharply against the euro and the yen. U.S. crude futures rose more than 20% in early trade on Monday, hitting their highest since July 2022, amid fears of tighter supply and prolonged disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent jumped 17% to $108.73 a barrel, having already soared 28% last week. Advertisement Advertisement On Wall Street, S&P 500 futures ESc1 shed 1.6%, while Nasdaq futures NQc1 dived 1.7%. Trump, in a social media post, said oil prices "will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over," and said the price hike was "a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace." DEFIANCE FROM TEHRAN Iranian state media said the leadership of Iran's armed forces had pledged allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement they are ready to follow the new supreme leader. The Assembly of Experts met on Sunday to elect a new supreme leader despite threats that the body would be targeted, Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, said on state TV after the announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Mojtaba Khamenei could lead the country under the current sensitive conditions, Larijani said, calling for unity around the new leader. Iran has launched strikes across the region in retaliation against U.S. and Israeli attacks. The U.S. State Department said on Sunday it had ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks, days after the embassy in the Saudi capital was damaged in a drone attack blamed on Iran. Early on Sunday, the Saudi Defence Ministry said that it had shot down a drone that attempted to target the Diplomatic Quarter, a calm tree-lined neighbourhood on the city's western edge that hosts most foreign missions including the U.S. embassy. The U.S. has already raised its warning level for Saudi Arabia and allowed some personnel to leave the country, and has ordered the departure of staff at embassies in Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain since the outbreak of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Israel continued to target senior Iranian figures, including Abolqasem Babaian, the recently appointed head of the military office of the supreme leader, saying he was killed in a Saturday strike. 'DANGEROUS NEW PHASE' As fighting escalated on Sunday, day nine of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, thick black smoke hung over Tehran, residents said, after strikes on oil storage facilities had lit up the night sky with plumes of orange flame. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the large-scale attack marked a "dangerous new phase" of the conflict and amounted to a war crime. Advertisement Advertisement Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters the depots were used to fuel Iran's war effort, including producing or storing propellant for ballistic missiles. "They are a legal military target," he said. Netanyahu said his government would press on with the assault and strike Iran's rulers "without mercy". "We have an organised plan with many surprises to destabilise the regime and enable change," he said in a video statement. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Crispian Balmer, Charlie Devereux, Steve Holland and Simon Lewis; Editing by William Mallard, Alex Richardson, Ros Russell, Sergio Non, Diane Craft and Michael Perry) President Trump on Saturday rejected the United Kingdoms reported offer to send two aircraft carriers to the Middle East amid the U.S. conflict with Iran, warning that the U.S. will remember seemingly alluding to the U.K.s hesitance to get involved in the war. 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, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Thats OK, Prime Minister [Keir] Starmer, we dont need them any longer But we will remember, he added. We dont need people that join Wars after weve already won! Advertisement Advertisement Trumps statement comes after the U.K. Ministry of Defense said it was preparing an aircraft carrier before a possible deployment, The Guardian reported earlier Saturday. The British navys flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, was being readied for mobilization, though a ministry spokesperson told the outlet that there was no decision to deploy the aircraft carrier. If deployed, it would join HMS Dragon, which is already en route to the Middle East. The spokesperson told The Guardian that RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets were flying over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus to defend British interests. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said on Friday there was a legal basis for the Royal Air Force to participate in strikes on Iranian missile sites. The U.K. would be justified if protecting British interests in the region, he said, adding the U.K. could strike missile sites that are anticipating attacking our people in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Lammys comments caused a stir in the U.K., with British lawmakers demanding clarification from Starmers government. Starmer announced the day before that he was sending four more Typhoon jets to aid defense efforts in Qatar and Wildcat helicopters with anti-drone capabilities that arrived in Cyprus on Friday. This was after a drone strike hit a British air base, leaving minor damage and no casualties. Days earlier, Starmer initially said his government does not believe in regime change from the skies. Trump on Wednesday slammed the U.K. and Spain over their stances on the conflict. Spain refused to allow the U.S. to use their bases for its operation in Iran. Trump criticized the U.K.s deal to give the Chagos Islands, home of the joint U.S.-U.K. military base on Diego Garcia, back to Mauritius. Advertisement Advertisement Trump previously argued that using the Diego Garcia military base would be necessary to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime, he wrote on Truth Social on Feb. 18. He referred to this on Wednesday when criticizing the U.K., saying Starmer is not Winston Churchill. The U.K. blocked the U.S. from using its bases last month, before the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Starmer made the decision over concerns that it would violate international law. 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. AP Photo/Matt Rourke President Donald Trump has privately expressed serious interest in deploying U.S. troops on the ground in Iran, according to a Friday report from NBC News citing multiple current and former officials familiar with the discussions. According to the report, Trump has floated the possibility of sending a limited number of American troops into Iran while speaking with aides and Republican allies outside the White House. Advertisement Advertisement The conversations, sources said, have centered not on a full-scale invasion but on deploying a smaller contingent of forces for specific strategic purposes, such as securing uranium stockpiles or carrying out targeted military operations. Trump has not made any final decisions or issued orders regarding a potential deployment, officials told NBC News. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the report in a statement to NBC, saying it relied on speculation from people outside the administrations inner circle. 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, 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. Advertisement Advertisement Publicly, Trump has avoided ruling out boots on the ground even as the conflict has so far remained an air campaign. In an interview with the New York Post this week, though, he said that the U.S. would probably not need them unless circumstances change. Iran has already signaled it would respond aggressively to any such move. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News on Thursday that Tehran is ready if the United States sends troops. We are waiting for them, Araghchi said. We are confident that we can confront them, and that would be a big disaster for them. The post Trump Reportedly Expressed Serious Interest in Deploying Ground Troops to Iran first appeared on Mediaite. Actor Vijay Deverakonda has won the internet with a heartfelt response to a young fan who adorably questioned why she was not invited to his wedding with actor Rashmika Mandanna. The Telugu stars tied the knot on February 26 in an intimate yet grand ceremony in Udaipur, attended by close friends and family members. Following the celebrations, the couple also hosted a lavish wedding reception in Hyderabad last week for colleagues and friends from the film industry and political circles. While the wedding celebrations have been widely discussed online, it was a simple question from a young admirer that recently caught attention on social media. In a viral comment addressed to Deverakonda, the child asked why she had not received an invitation to the wedding reception despite being his fan. "Am I not your fan too? What about us?" the little girl wrote, in a message that quickly went viral on the internet. Deverakonda soon noticed the video and responded with a cute gesture, "Sweetie, I'm inviting you home for lunch. Tell me your favourite food and sweets; I'll have everything prepared at home and we'll have a great meal," the actor wrote in reply. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVgLgBOEsMv/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=da0a0ab6-5a3f-450b-8da3-a5d142e24adc Rashmika also shared the video on her social media handle. The newly married couple had earlier celebrated their union by distributing sweet boxes to fans across several cities and temples after the wedding ceremony. Meanwhile, the celebrations continued with several high-profile visits. Revanth Reddy, the Chief Minister of Telangana, visited Deverakonda's residence to bless the couple after their wedding reception. Rashmika Mandanna also shared glimpses of meetings with national leaders ahead of their wedding. She posted photographs from her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, writing that spending time discussing culture and history with him was a special moment. She added that the Prime Minister had written a thoughtful letter to her parents, describing it as a memory she would cherish. In another post, the actor shared images from her meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, thanking him for gifting the couple a Ganesh idol that now holds a special place in their home. (ANI) The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran entered its ninth day Sunday with no clear path toward de-escalation, as the U.S. announced a seventh American service member had been killed and Iranian state TV reported the selection of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son as his successor. Meanwhile, the price of oil surpassed $100 a barrel for the first time in 3 years. President Trump said deploying American ground troops to the Middle East remains under consideration and Irans foreign minister rejected calls for a ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Trump said last week that Mojtaba Khamenei would be an unacceptable choice to replace his father, the 86-year-old leader who was killed on the first day of U.S. and Israeli attacks. The clerical body in charge of choosing Iran's next supreme leader selected him anyway, state TV reported Sunday. The younger Khamenei, a 56-year-old Shiite cleric, has never held government office, but has long been a quiet force within his father's inner circle. As supreme leader, he will play a central role in deciding Iran's war strategy moving forward, with the powerful paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps answering to him. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his selection. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Saturday, Trump declined to rule out the possibility of sending U.S. forces inside Iran, saying it could possibly happen as the conflict intensifies. Advertisement Advertisement There would have to be a very good reason, Trump said. I would say if we ever did that they would be so decimated that they wouldnt be able to fight at the ground level. His remarks came ahead of another relentless day of bombings in Iran, and as desalination plants critical to civilian water supplies in the arid region came under attack on both sides of the conflict. The United States military on Sunday announced that an American service member died Saturday night of injuries sustained March 1 in Saudi Arabia during Iran's "initial attacks" on U.S. allies and facilities across the region, in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes. The service member was not immediately identified, pending notification of family. In addition to the seven U.S. service members killed in the war, a National Guard soldier died Friday of a "health-related incident" in Kuwait, where he had been deployed, the military said. The cause of death was under review. Advertisement Advertisement Other deaths were also reported in the region. Israel reported two of its soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon its first military deaths of the war while Saudi Arabia reported two people were killed and 12 wounded by a military projectile that fell in a residential area of Al Kharj. The death toll in Iran has been difficult to nail down, but Iran's ambassador to the United Nations on Friday put the number at more than 1,300. Iran has said it is prepared to continue fighting the war despite sustaining heavy losses and would be ready to fight American ground troops if they set foot in the country. Read more: Iran supreme leader's son seen as power broker with big ambitions Advertisement Advertisement "We have very brave soldiers who are waiting for any enemy who enters into our soil to fight with them, and to kill them and destroy them," Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. Araghchi added that Iran is not considering a ceasefire at this time. He said the United States and Israel would first need to explain "why they started this aggression and then guarantee there would be a permanent end of the war." Unless we get to that, I think we need to continue fighting for the sake of our people and our security, he said. Araghchi also pushed back on Trump's demand last week that the president be involved in determining Iran's future leadership as a condition to ending the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement "We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs. This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader," Araghchi said. "It's only the business of the Iranian people, and nobody else's business." In addition to mounting deaths and widespread destruction, the economic toll of the war has also continued to rise, particularly in energy markets with oil prices jumping above $100 a barrel on Sunday. "If the war continues like this, there will be neither a way to sell oil nor have the ability to produce it," Iran's parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a social media post Sunday. He added that the war would affect not just the U.S., but also the rest of the world "due to [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's delusions." Israeli strikes Sunday hit an oil storage facility in Tehran, marking what appears to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. Black smoke billowed over the Iranian capital, with officials there warning of the hazardous health effects for residents. Advertisement Advertisement By targeting fuel depots, the aggressors are releasing hazardous materials and toxic substances into the air, poisoning civilians, devastating the environment, and endangering lives on a massive scale, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on X. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that there's a "fear premium in the marketplace" and sought to assure Americans that the soaring oil prices are a short-term problem. "We never know exactly the time frame of this," Wright said in an interview with CNN's "State of the Union." "But in the worst case, this is a weeks, this is not a months, thing." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the same message in an interview with Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," calling the rising gas prices a "short-term disruption." Advertisement Advertisement "Ultimately taking out the rogue Iranian regime is going to be a good thing for the oil industry," Leavitt said. "Those prices are going to come back down just like they have over the course of the past year, because of President Trump's American energy dominance agenda." The strike on the oil storage facility came as Netanyahu promised "many surprises" for the next phase of the conflict. Read more: What is Trumps true objective in the Iran war? Israel also claimed Sunday to have destroyed the Tehran headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard air force, which it said operated Iran's "ballistic missile command, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) array, and other air force units." It also said it had killed five top commanders in the Revolutionary Guard who were "hiding in a civilian hotel" in central Beirut, Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement Crucial civilian infrastructure also came under attack, on both sides of the conflict. Bahrain denounced what it said was an Iranian attack on one of its desalination plants facilities that supply water to millions of people in the parched deserts of the Persian Gulf. Araghchi said a U.S. airstrike had damaged an Iranian desalination plan on Qeshm Island first. Attacking Iran's infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences. The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran, Araghchi wrote on X. The United States has also come under scrutiny after evidence suggested that an American strike was probably responsible for an explosion at an Iranian elementary school that killed more than 165 people, most of them children. Advertisement Advertisement Trump administration officials have said that the matter is under investigation and that no determination has been made as to who was responsible for the strike. But on Saturday, Trump said Iran was to blame for the explosion. "It was done by Iran," he told reporters. "They're very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran." Asked Sunday whether Iran had any evidence that the strike was conducted by the Americans, Araghchi said that it had to have been either the U.S. or Israeli military and that Trump's suggestion that Iran was responsible for the attack was "funny." "It is our school, these are our students and our girls, and they are attacked by an American fighter, a jet fighter, and they have been killed. Why [is] Iran responsible?" Araghchi said. Other world leaders and nations have called for a halt to fighting and added their own estimates to its toll. Lebanon said more than half a million people have been displaced by the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday, and urged him to stop strikes in the region. Macron is the first Western leader to speak with Pezeshkian since the war began, the Associated Press reported. Pope Leo XIV wrote on X on Sunday that reports out of Iran and the wider Middle East "continue to cause deep dismay and raise the fear that the conflict will expand, and that other countries in the region, including dear Lebanon, may once again sink into instability." He asked the world to pray "for the roar of bombs to cease, weapons to fall silent, and space to open for dialogue, in which people's voices may be heard." Get the L.A. Times California Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. In a rare show of disagreement, Pete Hegseth failed to echo boss Donald Trumps claim about the ongoing conflict in Iran on Saturdayand was completely sidelined for his disloyalty. When asked by journalists aboard Air Force One about reports claiming the Iranian girls school that was hit during joint Israeli-U.S. strikes on the Middle Eastern country was attacked by the U.S., Trump dismissed them outright. In a conversation with journalists aboard Air Force One, Trump and Hegseth did not appear to have gotten their stories straight. / Roberto Schmidt / Getty Images Is that true, Mr. Hegseth? a reporter pressed the Pentagon head, who was standing behind Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Were certainly investigating, Hegseth said, appearing unwilling to blindly back Trumps claim. But the only side that targets civilians is Iran, he added. We think it was done by Iran, Trump jumped in to repeat. He then undercut Hegseth by saying the Iranian military is very inaccurate in its targeting. They have no accuracy whatsoever, he continued. It was done by Iran. The Shajareye Tayabeh girls school in the southern city of Minab was struck by three missiles in the early hours of Saturday, Feb. 28, during the opening salvo of the conflict now entering its second week. The death toll from that strike is thought to number between 165 and 180 people, the vast majority of whom were girls aged between 7 and 12 years old. Funerals for the victims were held on March 3. Advertisement Advertisement Iranian state media has also claimed that two additional schools were hit in Parand, southwest of the capital Tehran. Donald Trump speaks with the media as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) and special envoy Steve Witkoff (C) look on. / SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images The Pentagon has previously refused to comment on the matter, saying only that it is investigating. According to two anonymous U.S. officials, preliminary assessments reportedly show that American forces are likely responsible for the strike. Investigations are ongoing, however, and the assessment is tentative and subject to change. A combination of satellite images shows the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school in Minab, Iran, before (above) and after being struck amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. / VANTOR AND 2026 PLANET LABS PBC / via REUTERS The New York Times, in a separate analysis, concluded that the U.S. military was most likely to have carried out the strike. They reported that the school was immediately beside an IRGC naval base, a confirmed target, and that it was either hit due to a weapons malfunction or a massive intelligence failure. Advertisement Advertisement When questioned about the incident, Israeli UN ambassador Danny Danon told Fox News on Saturday that we do not target civilians. Sometimes we have accidents, Danon said. I dont know about this particular incident. Its being investigated by the IDF and by the U.S. troops. Im sure they will issue a report, but we regret the loss of any civilians. Israeli Ambassador: We do not target civilians. We target military infrastructure. Sometimes we have accidents. We regret the loss of any civilians. pic.twitter.com/P19M7edJwK Acyn (@Acyn) March 7, 2026 That Israel does not target civilians is a line often repeated by the Israeli government during its ongoing bombardment of Gaza, which has so far killed at least 75,000 people and injured more than 170,000. According to UNICEF, at least 20 schools and 10 hospitals have been damaged in Iran since Operation Epic Fury began. Advertisement Advertisement While the Trump administration had advised the conflict would be brief, Trump has since stated that he would not get bored with it and that he expects it to last for at least four to five weeks. Hundreds of people have been killed in Iran, including at least 165 schoolgirls. / Majid Asgaripour / via REUTERS Already, fuel prices have soared in the U.S. in response to the crisis, which has hampered the global flow of oil. Meanwhile, airlines are cautioning that flight prices will soon rise in line with jet fuel prices. Other goods and services are likely to increase as the conflict drags on. Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor, told reporters on Monday that the conflict will include casualties and that war is hell. No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy-building exercise, no politically correct wars, the 45-year-old Pentagon chief said. Trump launches a new phony initiative to secure the Western Hemisphere just one week after launching a war in the Middle East. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS Earlier, Trump promised to continue delivering hell to Iran with a self-congratulatory post to Truth Social. Today Iran will be hit very hard! Trump wrote. 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. Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer have spoken about US aircraft flying out of UK bases for attacks on Iran, says Downing Street. The US president and Prime Minister discussed co-operation between America and Britain on the conflict just hours after Trump launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir accusing him of joining the war once weve already won. No10 confirmed the two men had spoken by phone amid the high-tensions between them over the Iran war. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper hit back at Trump, stressing that the Government would act in a calm, cool-headed way rather than resorting to hyperbole on social media. A US bomber arrives at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire (PA Wire) As the extraordinary bust-up between the US president and Sir Keir rumbled on, a Downing Street spokeswoman said on Sunday: The Prime Minister spoke with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon. The leaders began by discussing the latest situation in the Middle East and the military co-operation between the UK and US through the use of RAF bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region. The Prime Minister also shared his heartfelt condolences with President Trump and the American people following the deaths of six US soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Sir Keirs decision not to grant permission for the initial and offensive airstrikes on Iran to use UK bases prompted a raft of criticism from Trump in recent days, including a personal attack on the Prime Minister as being not Winston Churchill. The PM later granted consent for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. The HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier may be deployed to the Middle East (PA Wire) After reports that the UK was preparing the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to go to the Middle East, the US president posted on Saturday that the UK was finally giving thought to sending two but said we dont need them any longer. He added: But we will remember. We dont need people that join Wars after weve already won! Advertisement Advertisement However, Foreign Secretary Ms Cooper responded to Trumps latest swipe, saying: The thing Ive learned doing this job is you have to focus on the substance and not on social media posts. Speaking on Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, she said that Sir Keir was taking a calm, cool-headed approach to these big serious international issues. She added: We are not going to do things in terms of the rhetoric or hyperbole. She also rebuffed criticism from Sir Tony Blair, saying it was important to learn the lessons from the Iraq War after the former Labour Prime Minister said the UK should have backed the US over Iran from day one. Sir Tony Blair who says Britain should have joined in Trumps Iran war from the start (PA Wire) The Prime Minister agreed a week ago to allow the US to strike Iran defensively from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia, on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. Advertisement Advertisement Four American bombers landed at Fairford in recent days and the US started using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles at Gulf states and other countries. The Ministry of Defence in London said it was increasing the preparedness of aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and reducing the time it would take to set sail, but that no decisions had been taken to deploy the warship. In the Middle East, Israeli forces expanded their bombardment of Iran overnight, striking fuel depots near Tehran, while Bahrain said an Iranian attack had damaged one of its desalination plants, signalling a widening assault on vital infrastructure across the region. Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes in a central area of the Iranian capital Tehran on March 6, (AFP via Getty Images) As fighting escalated on day nine of the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, Tehran moved closer to naming a new supreme leader after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with every indication suggesting his son Mojtaba could take charge. Advertisement Advertisement Israel's military threatened to kill any replacement for Khamenei, while Trump said the war might only end once Iran's military and rulers had been wiped out. Thick, choking black smoke hung over Tehran on Sunday, residents said, after strikes on oil storage facilities had lit up the night sky with plumes of orange flame. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the large-scale attack marked a "dangerous new phase" of the conflict and amounted to a war crime. The governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain reported Iranian drone attacks in their countries on Saturday and early Sunday, with a huge fire engulfing a government office block in Kuwait. Advertisement Advertisement At least four people were killed when an Israeli strike hit an apartment in the Ramada hotel building in central Beirut early on Sunday, with Israel saying it was targeting Iranian commanders operating in the Lebanese capital. While questions linger over the UK potentially taking a more proactive role in the conflict, the Government has faced criticism over the defence of Cyprus, where the UK RAF Akrotiri base was struck by a drone earlier this week. RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus (REUTERS) Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean in the next few days while France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands have already deployed naval assets to defend the island. The warship has started resupplying with air defence missiles at a facility in Portsmouth and will return to the berth for a logistics resupply before sailing. Advertisement Advertisement One reason it is taking time to prepare Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon 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. Meanwhile, a third Government charter flight to bring Britons home from the region is due to leave Muscat, Oman, on Sunday just before 7pm UK time and there are plans to charter a commercial flight from Dubai early next week. More than 32,000 British nationals have now departed the region, which includes the Gulf countries as well as Israel and Lebanon, by air since March 1. (NewsNation) President Donald Trump warned early Saturday that today Iran will be hit very hard, he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. Trump also said areas and groups of people that havent been targeted yet will be. This comes after Iran said it would suspend attacks against neighboring countries unless an attack on Iran came from those countries. Trump responded by saying, 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 should soon declare victory and leave: Russell Honore Retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore joins NewsNation Prime to offer his thoughts on what the U.S. military has accomplished to date in Iran. Advertisement Advertisement He says the U.S. should be in a position in the next 72 hours to declare victory and leave. JD Vance not hiding, spokesperson says A spokesperson for Vice President JD Vance pushed back after a White House correspondent said Vance continues to keep a low profile amid the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. As a politician, Vance has been known as a vocal anti-interventionist who advocated greater focus on domestic issues. This is ridiculous, Vance communications director William Martin said on X. The Vice President wasnt keeping a low profile, he was just at Dover Air Force Base paying respects to six American heroes killed overseas. He was also on primetime TV this week after the start of Operation Epic Fury. Iranian people continue to suffer under regime: Activist Activist Shahrzad Khayatian, who was born in Iran, joins NewsNation Prime to talk about her efforts to learn how her family is doing back in Tehran since the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes last weekend. She supports regime change. Iran does not have US military prisoners: CENTCOM U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, says no U.S. service members have been taken hostage or prisoners by Iran, Reuters reports. This comes as a top Iranian security official, Ali Larjani, claims several American soldiers have been taken prisoner. Trump talks Iran war after dignified transfer Trump called the dignified transfer of six U.S. military personnel a very sad day for the nation. The president, the first lady, and members of the Trump administration were on hand Saturday morning at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware when the bodies arrived. Advertisement Advertisement He was noncommittal about how long the war in Iran will last and did not rule out sending U.S. ground troops, but told reporters on Air Force One, I think weve accomplished more in one week than anyone thought possible. The president also said hes not convinced Russia is helping Iran with intelligence, but said if Moscow is, Theyre not doing a very good job. Kuwait to reduce oil production In the midst of the war in the Middle East, Kuwait announced it is reducing oil production as a precautionary measure because of the conflict. The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation blamed the Irans attack on Kuwait, as well as threats .to the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the worlds oil trade passes. The country is one of the worlds largest oil producers. Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear how much Kuwait is reducing its output. Israel targets Tehrans airport Israels military said it hit 16 aircraft at Tehrans Mehrabad airport in a series of strikes because the planes were used to assist Hezbollah. In a statement, an official with the Israeli military called Mehrabad a central hub for Iran to arm and fund proxy forces across the Middle East, and that it took steps prior to the strikes to not cause any harm to civilians in the area. Israeli airstrikes leave dozens dead and wounded Lebanons Health Ministry says Israeli airstrikes have left 41 dead, including three Lebanese troops, and 40 wounded. Meanwhile, Iraq extended the closure of is airspace for 72 hours. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority said airspace would remain closed until 12 p.m. Tuesday. Qatar Airways operates limited flights to Doha Qatar Airways says it will operate six flights into Doha on Sunday, as the countrys airspace remains closed. The state-owned airline said the flights will depart from five European cities and Bangkok. Advertisement Advertisement The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority during this period of disruption, Qatar Airways wrote in a statement posted to X. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the current situation, which is beyond our control, and thank our passengers for their patience and understanding. IDF warns of strikes in southern Lebanon People check the damage left by Israeli airstrikes late Friday, in the village of Nabi Chit, eastern Lebanon, Saturday, March 7, 2026, where Israeli forces landed overnight and dug a grave in a cemetery searching for Israeli co-pilot Ron Arad who was captured and then went missing after his fighter jet crashed over south Lebanon in 1986. (AP Photo/Ali Salem) In a post published on X, IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents in affected areas to evacuate. The Israeli military reported that it continues to degrade Hezbollah capabilities in the region. This comes after earlier strikes on Beiruts southern suburbs. The IDF later announced that two soldiers were moderately injured during a defensive activity in southern Lebanon, and were taken to a hospital to recover. Global Guardian helps thousands evacuate Middle East Colin OBrien, deputy VP of operations for Global Guardian, joins NewsNation Live to discuss how his company is helping thousands evacuate from the Middle East as tensions rise between Iran and the U.S. OBrien says air space closures have been of the difficulties for the company when working to bring people home, calling it a mess. Erdogan: Peace still possible Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the phone recently, saying there were things that can still be done to get the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table. Kuwait intercepts attacking drone Kuwait was able to intercept a drone that was attacking the Gulf country on Saturday, according to its National Guard. No injuries or casualties have been reported. Irans president says it has not attacked neighboring countries Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian is clarifying comments he made in a televised address on Saturday that Tehran would not strike Gulf states if attacks did not originate in those countries. Advertisement Advertisement We have not attacked our friendly and neighboring countries; rather, we have targeted U.S. military bases, facilities, and installations in the region, Pezeshkian wrote on social media. Pezeshkian also affirmed Irans right to defend itself in the conflict. Turkey considers fighter jet deployment to Cyprus Turkey is considering sending F-16 jets to Cyprus, a Turkish Defense Ministry official told Reuters. The official said the move was one of the steps being considered as the country develops a plan to ensure the security of the island. We just want to get out: American traveler stuck in Dubai Louise Herrle, an American traveler who has been stuck in Dubai since the strikes on Iran, tells NewsNation she and her husband have not been called by the State Department on evacuating the country, but hope to catch a flight back to the U.S. on Monday. State Department: 28K+ Americans evacuated from Middle East More than 28,000 Americans have returned home to the U.S. from the Middle East safely since the Feb. 28 strikes on Iran, the State Department said in a statement to NewsNation. Advertisement Advertisement A department spokesperson added that it completed over a dozen charter flights and has safely evacuated thousands of Americans from the Middle East. It also said flights are continuing to ramp up as security conditions allow. Iran launches missiles towards Israel Israel has advised its citizens to seek shelter as Iran has sent more missiles toward the country. American student on his trip back to the US after being stuck in Qatar Ethan Hill, an American student at Georgetown University who was stuck in Qatar after the Iran strikes, says he was stuck there for at least five days before his school was able to help him evacuate. Hill was headed to Armenia for a school spring break trip, but said he received no help from the State Department on getting out of Qatar. US condemns Iranian drone attack on Azerbaijan The U.S. said it strongly condemns a drone attack on the country of Azerbaijan that was carried out by Iran earlier in the week in a statement provided to NewsNation. Advertisement Advertisement These strikes are a flagrant violation of Azerbaijans sovereignty and a needless escalation of Irans aggression, a spokesperson wrote. 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 March 5 attack targeted Azerbaijans Nakhchivan International Airport and a childrens school, injuring several people. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. President Donald Trump will visit Kentucky in the coming days for an event in a Congressional district he's hoping changes hands in the next election. Trump will visit Hebron on March 11, according to a White House invitation reviewed by The Courier Journal that was sent to supporters by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr's Senate campaign office. Earlier in the day, he's set to visit Cincinnati to discuss TrumpRx.gov, a new prescription drug website. The event will begin at 1 p.m. and will take place at the Verst Logistics Contract Packaging Facility, the invitation said. It includes no information about the purpose of his visit but notes the president will make "remarks." Hebron is located in Boone County, just south of Cincinnati. Advertisement Advertisement While the invitation is light on details, Northern Kentucky has been in the president's sights for a while the region is represented in Congress by U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, who has been caught in a bitter feud with Trump. The president has endorsed his Republican primary opponent, Ed Gallrein, with the race a little more than two months away. Massie has not been shy about voting against the president in some instances over the years, but the dispute has reached a fever pitch since last fall, when the congressman helped lead the push for the release of millions of files related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire sex trafficker with ties to many powerful people who died by suicide in jail in 2019. Earlier in 2025, Trump threatened to back a primary challenger against Massie after the congressman spoke in opposition of his "One Big Beautiful Bill." Trump personally courted Gallrein to enter the race in October and endorsed him even before he launched his campaign. Gallrein has never held public office but narrowly lost a state Senate primary in 2024. Gallrein's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent March 7. Trump has not made public references to the event. Advertisement Advertisement While Trump has been involved in the 4th Congressional District race, he's to this point stayed out of the Republican race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. Three frontrunners in that primary Barr, along with former Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington businessman Nate Morris have sought the president's backing throughout the bruising campaign season, though he has yet to offer an endorsement. Barr and Morris have endorsed Gallrein in the race, while Cameron has not said who he's backing. Massie has a loyal contingent of followers in his district, with many in the crowd late last month at his 2026 campaign launch. Trump has also not offered an endorsement in the Republican primary for the seat Barr is vacating. That race has two frontrunners in former state Sen. Ralph Alvarado and current state Rep. Ryan Dotson, both from Winchester, along with a host of Democrats running to oppose the GOP nominee. Primary elections in Kentucky will take place on May 19, with the general election set for Nov. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Tell us what you think. Submit your letter to the editor. This story will be updated. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: President Donald Trump plans Kentucky visit amid Thomas Massie primary United States President Donald Trump has again asserted that he would exert influence over Irans next supreme leader, saying that whoever is picked for the role without Washingtons approval is not going to last long. The statement on Sunday came hours before Iranian state media reported that the Assembly of Experts had selected a new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the hours after the US and Israel launched a war on Iran on February 28. Trump did not immediately respond to the younger Khameneis selection, but broadly said earlier that any individual would need US approval. Iranian officials have denied that the Trump administration has had any influence on the decision. Advertisement Advertisement Hes going to have to get approval from us, Trump told ABC News, referring to a possible new supreme leader. If he doesnt get approval from us, hes not going to last long. Trump added that he did not want future administrations to have to go back in the years ahead, an apparent reference to future military action. I dont want people to have to go back in five years and have to do the same thing again, or worse, let them have a nuclear weapon, he said. Officials in Iran, which has launched retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, have repeatedly rejected the notion of Washington asserting influence over the selection. Earlier on Sunday, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi again said that we will allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs. Advertisement Advertisement This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader, he said, adding that Iranians had elected the Assembly of Experts, the body that selects the supreme leader. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Barbara Slavin, a fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC, pointed to Trumps previous statements to US media in which he said he would not accept Mojtaba Khamenei as the next supreme leader. Its a real finger in the eye to Donald Trump, said Slavin, adding that the replacement of the elder Khamenei with his son would not be well received by a US public that polls show is already wary of the war. Its going to increase the sense in the United States that this war was a mistake, she said. Seventh US soldier dies Mojtaba Khameneis selection was announced shortly after the Pentagon confirmed that a seventh US soldier had died since the war began. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the unidentified soldier had been wounded at the scene of an attack on US troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1, and died on Saturday. Further details were not immediately available. Meanwhile, the death toll in Iran had risen to 1,332, with at least 11 people killed across the Gulf, and another 11 killed in Israel. The US president has offered shifting justifications for the war, repeatedly pointing to Irans nuclear ambitions, its ballistic missile programme, as well as the totality of Irans actions in the region since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Advertisement Advertisement Critics, including the majority of Democratic US lawmakers, have said Trump has provided scant evidence to prove that Iran posed an immediate threat. On Sunday, Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Albusaidi, who had been overseeing indirect US-Iran talks on Tehrans nuclear programme, again rejected US officials claims that Tehran had not entered into the negotiations in good faith. Speaking during a ministerial meeting of the Arab League, Albusaidi said diplomatic initiatives seeking a fair and honourable solution were making progress when the US-Israeli attacks began. He further warned that the region is facing a dangerous turning point as fighting escalates. Short-term disruption Attacks from both sides appear to have widened, with the US and Israel for the first time striking oil storage and refining facilities in Tehran, and Iran launching more strikes across the Gulf, including a drone attack that caused material damage to a desalination plant in Bahrain. Advertisement Advertisement Both Bloomberg and Axios have reported that the US and Israel have considered a special ground operation to seize Irans enriched uranium, with Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter telling CBSs Face the Nation programme that securing the nuclear fuel is on our radar screen, and were going to take care of it. For their part, top Trump administration officials spent Sunday seeking to alleviate concerns over the wars knock-on effects on global oil and gas prices. Rapidly rising prices represent a particular political vulnerability for Trump, as his Republican Party faces legislative midterm elections in November. Speaking to Fox News, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the administration was responding to what she called a short-term disruption. She said the administration was tapping into our newfound market in Venezuela, referring to access that US companies have gained to the South American countrys oil industry in the wake of the January 3 US abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Advertisement Advertisement Energy experts have said that rebuilding Venezuelas oil industry would likely be a multi-year process, and have questioned what immediate impact it could have in offsetting current shortages. Speaking on Face the Nation, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright also maintained that the war would not drag on and that any economic fallout would be fleeting. Trump, who came into office on a pledge to end so-called endless wars, has said the operations against Iran could last four to five weeks, but he also said the conflict had no time limit. Wright pointed to a temporary period of elevated energy prices, but denied there was an energy shortage at all in the Western Hemisphere. Advertisement Advertisement He also underscored that the US has 400 million gallons of oil in the strategic oil reserves, and the administration is more than happy to use that if its needed. What you want is emotional reactions and fear that this is a long-term war, Wright said. This is not a long-term war; its a temporary movement. Signs of division emerged in Irans leadership Saturday as U.S. and Israeli strikes continued battering targets throughout the country, with Tehran sending mixed signals on whether it would keep attacking Washington's Arab allies entering the wars second week. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian began the day offering an apology "on behalf of Iran to the neighboring countries affected," promising to halt the attacks that have affected nearly every nation in the Middle East. But strikes continued within hours, hitting Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, and Pezeshkian quickly issued a statement walking back his remarks. President Trump vowed on social media to "hit Iran very hard" on Saturday, shortly before flying to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for the dignified transfer of six service members killed in the war. Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at a summit of Latin American leaders in Miami before his trip to Delaware, the president said the fallen service members were heroes coming home in a different manner than they thought theyd be coming home. He said it was a very sad situation, and he pledged to keep American war deaths to a minimum. And Israel launched its own wave of fresh attacks against Iran while taking incoming fire from Hezbollah, Iran's allied force in Lebanon, that set off sirens in Tel Aviv. Reports of a fire at a major oil refinery outside Tehran sparked fears the conflict was only escalating, marking the first attack on Iran's energy infrastructure, if confirmed. Read more: After week of war and political upheaval, Trump remains defiant as ever The burst of activity over the weekend underscored that Trumps unexpected war with Iran, launched alongside Israel just a week ago, is continuing at full force with no sign of slowing. Advertisement Advertisement Missile and drone strikes by Iran against Arab nations, targeting U.S. military assets in the region as well as civilian targets, including hotels and airports, have been an effort by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to pressure regional governments to in turn press Trump to end the U.S. air campaign. The strikes have jolted markets worldwide and sent the price of oil soaring. President Trump salutes Saturday as soldiers carry the coffin of Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa. Coady and five others were killed in a drone strike in Kuwait. (Roberto Schmidt / Getty Images) While the attacks have decreased substantially over the course of the week, with U.S. Central Command recording a 90% decrease in ballistic missile launches and an 83% drop in drone attacks as of Friday, Iranian strikes are still penetrating regional air defenses. One drone hit the world's busiest airport, in Dubai, on Saturday, dashing hopes that flights could resume from the regional hub. Hours after Pezeshkian's apology, Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a statement vowing to continue strikes on territories that host U.S. offensive forces. Iran's Defense Ministry said that its strategic stockpile of munitions was sufficient to sustain a protracted campaign. And a Revolutionary Guard spokesperson issued a statement addressing Trump, calling him "the corrupted island man," referring to his former friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender who allegedly trafficked girls to his private island. "The ground and the map of the war is in our hands," the Revolutionary Guard official said. "This will continue. Advertisement Advertisement In his videotaped remarks, Pezeshkian also rejected Trump's call for Tehran's "unconditional surrender." Trump later said he would be satisfied reaching a point at which Iran is no longer capable of fighting back. "The idea of Iran surrendering unconditionally is a dream they will take to their graves," Pezeshkian said. A member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, a council of 88 clerics responsible for naming the country's supreme leader, was quoted in local state media vowing to select a new ayatollah within the next day, more than a week after U.S. and Israeli forces assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening salvo of the war. Read more: Oil and gas prices rapidly rise as Iran war shows no signs of letting up Advertisement Advertisement Trump has said he expects a say in that decision, preemptively rejecting the late supreme leader's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who is seen as the most likely successor. Mojtaba Khamenei is seen as even more ideological than his father, with deep ties throughout Iran's security apparatus and with a potential vendetta against Trump, on the heels of U.S. forces killing much of his family. Ali Larijani, secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council who formerly served as the late Khamenei's top advisor, said in his first remarks since the ayatollah's killing that his assassination was unprecedented. "The price for this is not small," Larijani said. "They shouldn't think we'll let America quickly sweep this under the rug and say, 'We hit, now let's move on,'" Larijani continued. "Things will only resolve when they understand they no longer have the right to violate Iran, and when they compensate the Iranian people for their losses." Advertisement Advertisement More that 1,200 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, according to Iranian officials. "He killed and martyred our leader," Larijani added. "We're not letting it go." Get the L.A. Times California Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Political efforts to cripple Turkey's main opposition and lock up its presidential candidate will never stifle the people's frustration with the government and their growing demand for change, Istanbul's jailed mayor told AFP in an interview. "An irreversible process for a change in power has begun in Turkey and it won't stop until it is complete. I cannot stop it ... nor can the ruling party nor the judiciary," Ekrem Imamoglu said in a written response to AFP questions conveyed via lawyers from his prison cell in Silivri, west of Istanbul. "Whatever is done to my party or me, we won't abandon this path (to democracy) we're walking on with the nation," said the 54-year-old. Advertisement Advertisement His remarks came just days before his trial on Monday in a massive corruption case that critics say is designed to block him from challenging President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the next election. His arrest nearly a year ago sparked some of Turkey's biggest street protests in over a decade and was followed by mounting legal pressure on the main opposition CHP, the party he was chosen to represent in the next presidential race. To date, 15 CHP mayors are behind bars. Imamoglu said support for the opposition had been growing in a sign of public demand for change and growing fatigue with Erdogan's rule -- a sentiment which the government will struggle to contain. Advertisement Advertisement "The ruling power must have thought that the nation's demand for change was a show of personal support for me, and that once they eliminated me, no obstacle would remain, so they took me hostage, but what happened?" he asked. "The nation's demand for change continues to grow day-by-day, getting stronger." -'Counting the days'- Imamoglu was jailed on the day he was named the CHP's presidential candidate. He is widely seen as one of the only politicians capable of defeating Erdogan at the ballot box. Although the mayor is facing a slew of legal cases, Monday's is by far the biggest, in which he is accused of a string of charges, notably running a criminal network. Advertisement Advertisement "Judicial independence is struggling to survive," he told AFP, admitting he still had some hope for a fair trial, despite his experience over the past year which revealed "not a fair and independent judiciary but a group (of people) whose sole purpose was to detain me by manipulating the law". In a separate case, Imamoglu is facing an even more significant legal obstacle: a lawsuit challenging the validity of his university degree -- a constitutional requirement for presidential candidates in Turkey. Political observers say his chances of contesting the presidential race remain slim even if he is acquitted in the graft case. They expect CHP leader Ozgur Ozel to emerge as the likely candidate. "Everyone who wants this government to change will no longer focus on the identity of the candidate," Imamoglu said. Advertisement Advertisement "The government is now openly threatening people's right to choose. If you block every candidate that people elect or want, they will vote for whoever it takes to make you go. This is a reflex to protect democracy," he said. "One way or another, this government will change -- that's what matters. Our nation is counting the days." - 'Strengthened' - Despite the ongoing "pressures and arrests" targeting CHP over the past year, the government's strategy was not working, he said. "Over the past year, my party has emerged not weakened, but strengthened," while the ruling side was "struggling in the swamp, wasting time," he said. Advertisement Advertisement "If an election were held today, CHP would still be the number one party ... and those in power would be removed." Imamoglu said he had quickly adapted to life behind bars -- an existence shared by "many politicians, journalists and citizens unjustly imprisoned for political reasons". "I have had no difficulty adapting to prison," he told AFP, saying he spends his time reading extensively, especially about Turkish political and intellectual life. But even inside, far from the multiple demands of political life, one thing has not changed. "Even before going to prison, I had a life where 24 hours were never enough -- and that is still the case." fo/hmw/yad Boston police arrested two people on firearms charges on Friday, charging one man with intimidation after he allegedly made threats to police. At about 11:27 pm. on Friday, police responded to a radio call for a person with a gun in the area of 270 Huntington Avenue. When they arrived, officers spoke to the victim who stated he had heard someone banging on the door to his residence. When the victim opened the door, he said he observed a male standing in the hallway with an apparent firearm in his waistband. Advertisement Advertisement The victim told police he knew the male from a prior altercation in which he allegedly brandished a knife at the victim. Boston police knocked on the suspects apartment door and announced their presence. While waiting for the suspect to open the door, officers heard a noise coming from inside of the apartment. Eventually, a male matching the description of the suspect answered the door, and police demanded the male exit the apartment to which he complied, but a frisk of the suspect yielded negative results of a firearm. Officers subsequently entered the apartment, where they observed an unknown female standing in the bedroom. Advertisement Advertisement Following a protective sweep of the immediate area, officers allegedly located a firearm inside of a bathroom cabinet that was ajar. After failing to produce a valid license to carry, both the male and female suspects were placed under arrest. Police say that during the booking process of both individuals, officers located several loose pieces of a rocklike substance believed to be crack cocaine while the male suspect made several statements, allegedly claiming he was going to kill the officers families when he was released. 47-year-old Dawan Johnson of Boston and 44-year-old Melissa Lincks-Morpeau of Boston were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Johnson is charged with intimidation of police, and possession of a class B substation. Johnston also allegedly had a warrant out of for using a motor vehicle without authority. Both suspects are expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court. 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 At least two people have been killed after a projectile fell on a residential location in Saudi Arabias Al-Kharj city, Saudi authorities reported, as Iranian counterattacks on Gulf nations hosting US military assets entered a second week. The Saudi civil defence said in a post on X on Sunday, without mentioning Iran, that an unspecified military projectile had hit a residential area in Al-Kharj, killing two foreign nationals one Indian and one Bangladeshi and injuring 12 people. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had said earlier that it had targeted radar systems in locations including Al-Kharj governorate, which is home to the Prince Sultan airbase used by United States forces, and has come under repeated attack over the past week in the US and Israeli war against Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Reporting from Doha, Al Jazeeras Laura Khan said the projectile had landed on a residential site belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company. This is getting very volatile and dangerous for people across the Gulf, she said. Its really important to emphasise that over 200 nationalities live and work across the Gulf nations. Many of these could be labourers. On Sunday, the Saudi Defence Ministry reported intercepting 15 drones, including an attempted attack in the diplomatic quarter of the capital Riyadh. Kuwait, meanwhile, said an attack hit fuel tanks at its international airport, and Bahrain reported a water desalination plant had been damaged. Sundays attacks came after Israeli warplanes hit five oil facilities around the Iranian capital, killing several people, according to a state oil executive, and blanketing the city in acrid smoke. Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the IRGC said Iran would retaliate if US-Israel attacks on its energy infrastructure did not let up. If you can tolerate oil at more than $200 per barrel, continue this game, said the spokesperson. As the war extended into its ninth day, the IRGC said it had enough supplies to continue drone and missile attacks across the Middle East for up to six months. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary-general of the Arab League, said Irans attacks on several member states were reckless, urging Tehran to reverse what he called a massive strategic mistake. Irans Health Ministry said Sunday that at least 1,200 civilians had been killed and around 10,000 wounded since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28. YouTuber Anurag Dobhal, popularly known as UK07 Rider, was injured after his car crashed into a divider on the Delhi-Dehradun highway while he was streaming live on Instagram. The incident quickly went viral on social media, leaving many of his followers worried about his safety. Dobhal, one of India's well-known motovloggers who also appeared on Bigg Boss 17, allegedly attempted to commit suicide during the livestream. In the video, Dobhal spoke about problems in his personal life and suggested that the clip could be his "last video". According to Dobhal, he had been facing mental pressure from family members following his inter-caste marriage. During the livestream, he shared his feelings with fans minutes before the car crash occurred. https://www.instagram.com/p/DM-SnVoh1de/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== The video spread across the internet rapidly, with several of his fans and fellow celebrities reacting with concern. Actor Aly Goni took to his Instagram Story to share a message supporting Dobhal and urging netizens not to "troll" him. In the video, Goni said, "Uss ladke ne apni ek video daali, apne aap ko zahir kiya logon ke saamne ki uski life mein jo bhi chal raha hai. Chalo, family matter hai, interfere nahi karna chahiye, but uss ladke ne apne aap ko zahir kiya apne fans ke saamne, aur unhone kya diya return mein? Hasi mazak, troll." He also slammed people online who were trolling the YouTuber: "Sad reality. Shame on you people for making fun of him. Aap sab ko upar wala dekh raha hai. I hope he is fine. God bless him," Aly added. Dobhal married Ritika in Uttarakhand last year in April. In September of the same year, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child. In a recent vlog, he said that he was experiencing mental stress due to issues with his parents and brother. (ANI) Rene Lopez says he still has nightmares about the three years he spent detained in ICE custody. Its an experience I wouldnt wish on anyone, Lopez said in an interview with Noticias Telemundo from his home in Alexandria, Virginia. About a decade ago, immigration officials argued that the citizenship Lopez obtained as a minor through his naturalized mother was not valid. This put him on a path to deportation because of a previous drug conviction when he was younger. Advertisement Advertisement During those years, Lopez always insisted that he was a U.S. citizen when he was questioned by ICE officers, his lawyers, judges and journalists. I came from El Salvador with permanent residency when I was 11 years old, and when my mother became a citizen, I was 16 years old, so I automatically obtained citizenship derived from my mother. Thats how it was, he said. According to the website of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, derivative citizenship refers to the automatic acquisition of U.S. citizenship by children under 18 years of age through the citizenship status of their parents and, under certain circumstances, by adopted children of U.S. citizens born abroad. Rene Lopez with his wife, Angelica Reyes, and his children in 2021. (Courtesy Angelica Reyes) (Courtesy Angelica Reyes) Lopez was detained by ICE officials in January 2023 and was held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia. He was not released until Feb. 13 of this year after the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals issued a ruling that not only stopped his deportation, but also reaffirmed that hes a U.S. citizen. Advertisement Advertisement The court says in its decision that he has been an American citizen since 1998. Thats why they are releasing him, said Benjamin Osorio, Lopezs lawyer. Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security responded to requests for comment from Noticias Telemundo on Lopezs case. Why was a U.S. citizen detained by ICE? Lopezs arrest was the final step in a long process in which he had to fight the courts to try to have his citizenship recognized. Lopez came to the U.S. as a legal resident after his mom, a legal resident and a single mother, completed the paperwork to bring him from El Salvador in the early 1990s. When he was 16, his mother became a naturalized U.S. citizen and he automatically acquired derivative citizenship under Title 8, Section 1432 of the U.S. Code, the law in effect at that time. Advertisement Advertisement At age 20, Lopez was convicted of drug offenses (in 2004 and 2005) and served a seven-year prison sentence. During his time in prison, he was visited by officials from DHS, who in 2009 determined that he had obtained U.S. citizenship through his mother. They came to see me in 2009 and declared that I was a citizen, Lopez said in an interview with Noticias Telemundo last year, while he was in custody. After his release from prison in 2011, Lopez rebuilt his life: He finished high school, learned electrical work, started his own company and spent more than a decade working, married and raising his children without further legal trouble. However, in 2016, according to court papers and Lopezs attorney, DHS changed its position, deemed him a legal resident but not a citizen and initiated removal proceedings because of his previous drug conviction. Lopez says he can't "get that time back" when he was detained but is working to rebuild his business. (Courtesy Angelica Reyes) (Courtesy Angelica Reyes) From that time until his eventual immigration detention in 2023, Lopez and his attorneys had been trying to prove he had legitimately acquired U.S. citizenship through his single mother. Advertisement Advertisement The government argued that the Salvadoran constitution had eliminated legal distinctions between children born in or out of wedlock, meaning that deriving citizenship from his mother was not enough. He would have had to prove that his father was also naturalized, but apparently his father never had a relationship with him, said Charles Wheeler, a senior attorney with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. Lopez said that in 2023, one day I went to work and about eight immigration agents were waiting for me. The agents told him he wasnt a citizen, that he was still a legal resident with aggravated felonies, and that he was now deportable. The ruling that declares him a citizen Last month, the 4th Circuit issued its decision concluding that Lopez met the requirements of the law that governed derivative citizenship before its reform in 2001. The judges analyzed Salvadoran law on parentage and legitimation, as well as Lopezs family history, to determine whether or not his biological father had established paternity in the required legal sense. Advertisement Advertisement They concluded that my father never established paternity and never made me a legitimate son, even though his name appeared on my birth certificate, Lopez explained. Essentially, the court agreed that his mom had been his sole parent and legal guardian, so deriving U.S. citizenship from her alone had been legal. Rene Lopez during a video call from an ICE detention facility in Bowling Green, Va., on March 13, 2025. (Courtesy Angelica Reyes) (Courtesy Angelica Reyes) Immigration attorney Enrique Espinoza recommends that people with parents who are U.S. citizens by naturalization or birth consult with a lawyer and, if possible, obtain formal proof of citizenship such as the N-600 certificate or a U.S. passport before a misunderstanding turns into a crisis. In fact, Espinoza said its not uncommon for people to have acquired U.S. citizenship through their parents and not know it that really does happen. 'ICE should not detain U.S. citizens' Following the recent court decision, Lopezs legal team is focusing on obtaining all the necessary citizenship certification and pursuing some form of redress. Advertisement Advertisement We are going to sue the government. ICE should not detain American citizens, said Osorio, Lopez's attorney. After three years in prison, Lopez lost his business as an electrician. He has lost his job. He has lost a lot. We are going to try to recover his money, Osorio said. This has cost me dearly; Ive lost everything. My family had to endure a very unpleasant experience because of my unjust arrest, even though they knew I was an American citizen, Lopez said. While his legal team continues working on his case, Lopez says he is trying to return to a normal life and always carries a copy of the 4th Circuits decision in case a police officer or federal agent arrests him again. His main goal is to rebuild his electrical company and resume working with the contractors who knew him before his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement I cant get that time back whats lost is lost, Lopez said. Now I have to start over. I have many contacts who know that my dedication and honesty at work are 100% guaranteed. During the long nights while he was detained, Lopez began writing songs about his legal situation and what he saw in the detention centers. He wrote that his family kept him going as he fought the government, and that the love of my family continues to wait for me. An earlier version of this story was first published in Noticias Telemundo. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com U.S. military investigators believe that its likely the United States was responsible for the deadly strike that killed more than 175 people, including dozens of children, at a girls school in Iran. Two U.S. officials told Reuters Thursday that the horrific attack at Shajarah Tayyebeh over the weekend was most likely the work of the U.S. military, but they noted that the investigation was still ongoing and did not rule out discovering evidence that could point the blame elsewhere. The strike on the girls primary school is the deadliest single attack of the U.S. and Israels military campaign thus far. Among the dead were dozens of young girls between the ages of 7 and 12, according to the public prosecutor in Minab. In a statement Sunday, Unesco condemned the attack on Shajarah Tayyebeh as a grave violation of international law, which prohibits attacks on schools. Advertisement Advertisement An analysis from The New York Times suggested that the school had been struck at the same time as a U.S. strike on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, naval base next doorindicating that the U.S. was likely responsible for both. It was not immediately clear why the school was targeted. Satellite images from 2013 showed that the school was previously connected to the IRGC naval base. More recent satellite images from 2016 showed that the school had been separated from the naval base by a wall. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that the U.S. would not deliberately target a school. While one would like to buy into Rubios pearl clutching, its worth noting that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has openly admitted to setting aside the rules of engagementwhos to say he doesnt have the same attitude toward international law? Abu Dhabi is "struggling to understand Israeli conduct and the nature of briefings coming out of Jerusalem," a source close to the Emirates told the Post. A UAE senior official denied to The Jerusalem Post that Abu Dhabi was involved in a strike against an Iranian desalination facility, contradicting earlier claims by a source familiar with the matter to the Post on Sunday. Accusing Israeli officials of leaking reports of its attack in Iran, a source close to the UAE told the Post that Abu Dhabi was struggling to understand Israeli conduct and the nature of briefings coming out of Jerusalem. Advertisement Advertisement It is not appropriate for what is described as a senior Israeli source to speak on our behalf or spread rumors about the actions of another sovereign state, the source said. This is a sovereign state that makes its decisions independently. It is the Posts understanding that the UAE would not strike a civilian target but could target a military site. The IDF, too, denied involvement in that particular strike. The United Arab Emirates was initially said to have struck an Iranian desalination facility on Sunday in what would have been its first retaliatory attack against Iranian drone and missile fire during the combined Israel-US operations (Roaring Lion and Epic Fury) aimed at dismantling the Islamic regime. A person rides on a scooter as smoke rises in the Fujairah oil industry zone following a fire caused by debris after interception of a drone by air defenses, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2026 (credit: REUTERS/AMR ALFIKY) The UAE Foreign Ministry released a statement reaffirming that the Gulf state was acting in self-defense against the brutal and unjustified Iranian aggression. Advertisement Advertisement The UAE emphasizes that it does not seek to be drawn into any conflict or escalation but affirms its full right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, national security, and territorial integrity, the statement read. Ali Al Nuaimi, chairman of the UAEs National Defense Committee, said, The UAE will never place the Iranian people in the same basket as the Iranian regime. The Iranian people are the real victims of that regime and the ones who suffer the most from its policies. As neighbors, he said, we recognize this reality, and we care about their well-being. In a similar report last week, a senior Western diplomatic source told the Post that Qatar had carried out strikes inside Iran in retaliation for recent Iranian drone and missile attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Abu Dhabi had reportedly contemplated whether it should react after it, along with a host of Gulf nations, was attacked by Iran. Last week, authorities in the UAE extinguished a fire caused by debris after a drone was intercepted by air defenses in the Fujairah oil industry zone. A Wall Street Journal report from Friday said that the UAE was considering freezing billions of dollars in assets belonging to Iran, a move that would cripple the countrys connection to the global economy. Later on Sunday, the UAE Defense Ministry announced that the death toll from Irans attacks had risen to four. Two Kuwaiti firefighters killed as Iran deals Gulf heavy blows Along with the UAE, the governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain reported Iranian drone attacks on their countries on Saturday and early Sunday, with a huge fire engulfing a government office block in Kuwait. Advertisement Advertisement Kuwaits Interior Ministry said that two of its officers were killed while performing duties. In an apparent attempt to cool anger across the Gulf, Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring states for its attacks on US bases in those countries on Saturday. DUBAI, March 7 (Reuters) - The president of the United Arab Emirates said his nation was in a time of war but was well and told his enemies it was no easy prey, in his first public comments since Iran launched missiles at its Gulf neighbour amid U.S.-Israeli strikes. "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, made on Friday when visiting those injured in strikes, 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. The UAE, which consists of seven emirates including Dubai, would protect everyone in the country, he said. (Reporting by Maha El DahanEditing by Tomasz Janowski) The Foreign Office has opened a booking portal for British nationals in Dubai who wish to access government charter flights to leave the Middle East region. Thousands of Britons have been stranded in the region, including in Dubai, after the US and Israel's conflict with Iran led to widespread airspace closures and cancelled flights. The most vulnerable will be prioritised for booking onto charter flights and the Foreign Office has said it contact those who have registered their presence in the region. Advertisement Advertisement The government began operating flights out of the region earlier in the week from Muscat, Oman. Two have returned to the UK so far and a flight from Dubai is scheduled for early next week. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to be affected by the conflict. On Saturday, a Dubai resident was killed after shrapnel from an "aerial interception" fell on a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, the Dubai Media Office said. More than 160,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the region with the Foreign Office. On Saturday, the government announced it will run a commercial charter flight from Dubai, available for a charge. British nationals, their spouse or partner and children under the age of 18 are eligible to register. Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, Emirates airline said it had carried about 30,000 passengers out of Dubai on Thursday and had operated 35 flights to the UK since resuming services. The BBC's Nick Beake, who was at Dubai Airport on Friday morning, said it felt calm and quiet on Friday, with a steady stream of passengers arriving. He added that there was no visible gathering of expats trying to leave. British people stranded in Dubai have told the BBC about their experiences, including Victoria Cameron, from Larkhall in Scotland. On 28 February, Cameron told the BBC she was was queuing to get into her Dubai hotel when the first Iranian missiles struck the city. Advertisement Advertisement "Our phones were going off, saying 'emergency, emergency'. We were crying, we were shaking," she said. She arrived back in Edinburgh on Wednesday on an Emirates flight. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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 Patriot problem 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Obstacles to Ukrainian exports 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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 (186 miles) per hour, with production capacity reaching up to 50,000 drones per month, a company spokesperson said. Human expertise remains essential 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement 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. Key developments on March 7-8 Russian attack kills 11 in Kharkiv, including 2 children Ukraine halts Russian offensive toward Zaporizhzhia, killing, injuring 300 Russian troops, HUR claims Ukraine hits Russian Shahed-type drone storage in Donetsk with SCALP, ATACMS missiles, military says US supplying Ukraine-tested anti-drone systems to Middle East partners, WSJ reports Russian drone strikes Ukrainian train with 200 passengers on board Russian troops struck a five-story building in the city of Kharkiv with a ballistic missile overnight on March 7, killing 11 people, including two children, and injuring at least 15, local authorities reported. Advertisement Advertisement Russia launched 480 drones, including Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles, and 29 missiles, including hypersonic Zircon anti-ship missile and Iskander-M ballistic missiles, targeting energy infrastructure across Ukraine, the Air Force reported. Ukrainian forces downed 453 drones and 19 missiles, the statement read. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that the Russian attack on the city killed a teacher and her nine-year-old son, as well as a 13-year-old girl and her mother. Among the injured in Kharkiv are two boys, aged six and 11, and a 17-year-old girl, according to Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov. The number of victims could grow as rescue operations are still underway. Eleven people are believed to be trapped under the rubble. Advertisement Advertisement Two people were injured in the town of Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast after a Russian drone attacked a home at around 1:20 a.m., according to the State Emergency Service. "There must be a response from partners to these savage strikes against life," President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "Russia has not abandoned its attempts to destroy Ukraines residential and critical infrastructure, and therefore support must continue." Russia also launched ballistic missiles at Kyiv overnight, hitting a critical infrastructure facility, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. The recent attack left 1,905 more homes without heating, he added. Three people were injured in Ukraine's capital, with missile fragments found in three districts of the city, the mayor said. Advertisement Advertisement Russia regularly strikes Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings and energy infrastructure, as it continues to wage its full-scale war. A Russian mass attack against Ukraine on Feb. 26 injured at least 28 people, according to local authorities. In the early hours of Feb. 22, one man was killed after Russia launched a large-scale combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine. The attack caused a building to collapse in the town of Fastiv, 60 kilometers southwest of Kyiv, killing a 49-year-old man and injuring seven others, according to Kyiv Oblast Governor Mykola Kalashnyk. Advertisement Advertisement Read also: No one thought we would get out alive the audioguide memorializing one villages Russian occupation Ukraine halts Russian offensive toward Zaporizhzhia, killing, injuring 300 Russian troops, HUR claims The units of Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) and the Armed Forces have stopped Russia's advance toward the city of Zaporizhzhia as part of a three-month defensive operation in the country's south, HUR claimed on March 7. The statement was made as Russian advances on most sections of the front line slowed during the winter, mirroring patterns observed on the battlefield the previous year. Meanwhile, Ukrainian units along the southern front in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts have been pushing forward. HUR did not reveal the exact area where the Russian offensive was halted. Advertisement Advertisement The special forces unit of Ukraine's military intelligence, Tymura, killed or wounded over 300 Russian soldiers and captured 39 more, HUR said. "The goal of the special forces is to disrupt the Russians' offensive plans and prevent their advance toward the regional capital," the agency said. "The actions of the special forces helped stabilize the defense at positions favorable to the Ukrainian defenders and secure Zaporizhzhia." Zaporizhzhia, home to approximately 710,000 residents before Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, is frequently targeted by Russian forces. Advertisement Advertisement Zaporizhzhia Oblast is also home to the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which has been under Russian occupation since 2022 and remains one of the thorny issues in ongoing peace talks between Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia. Over February, dozens of videos emerged on social media of Ukrainian forces conducting offensive operations in the part of the front line where Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts meet. In late February, Zelensky claimed that Ukrainian forces had liberated 300 square kilometers of territory in a "counteroffensive" operation in the south. Operating in a wide contested "grey zone" with infiltrations on both sides, the Ukrainian advances, as seen in open-source reports, appear more like extended clearing operations rather than efforts to capture or breach Russian-held defensive lines. Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Inside Russias everyday manhunt of Ukrainians in Kherson Ukraine hits Russian Shahed-type drone storage in Donetsk with SCALP, ATACMS missiles, military says Ukrainian forces targeted a Russian site used for the storage, preparation, and launch of Shahed-type drones with Western long-range missiles near the airport in occupied Donetsk, the General Staff reported on March 7. Ukraine's Ground Forces and Air Force launched strikes on the Russian facility near Donetsk Airport using French-British SCALP (Storm Shadow) missiles and U.S. ATACMS missiles, according to the statement. Russian forces launch Shahed-type drones at Ukrainian cities on a near-daily basis, often targeting energy infrastructure and residential buildings. The drones are also used for attacks on the front line. Advertisement Advertisement A video shared by the Ukrainian military purportedly shows a large fire and secondary explosions following the attack. The Donetsk Airport ceased operations in May 2014 following the beginning of the Russian occupation of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. It was one of the last holdouts for Ukrainian soldiers in the city. Ukrainian forces regularly strike military facilities in Russian-occupied areas that supply weapons, fuel, and equipment to Russian troops. In separate attacks, Ukrainian forces claim to have struck several military targets and Russian troops in Sumy Oblast, as well as in the occupied territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv oblasts on March 6 and 7. Advertisement Advertisement "The systematic targeting of drone control points, artillery positions, and enemy manpower weakens its ability to manage units, conduct fire, and prepare for offensive actions," the military said. The Kyiv Independent couldn't verify these reports. Read also: Kyiv reports zero deaths from winter outages but theres a catch US supplying Ukraine-tested anti-drone systems to Middle East partners, WSJ reports The U.S. is supplying Ukraine-tested anti-drone systems to partners in the Middle East, The Wall Street Journal reported on March 7, highlighting growing international demand for Kyivs battlefield-proven technology capable of countering Iranian drone attacks. The systems tested extensively in Ukraine are designed to intercept incoming drones and other aerial threats, drawing on Kyivs experience defending against Iranian-designed Shahed drones that Russia has used extensively against Ukraine since 2022. In that time, tens of thousands of such drones have been launched at Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The system being deployed, known as Merops, is a compact counter-drone platform developed by the U.S. company Project Eagle. This platform launches small interceptor drones that detect, track, and destroy incoming drones, including Shahed-type drones frequently used by Russia and Iran. Interest in Ukraines drone defense expertise has spread across the Middle East, with several countries, including Qatar, sending officials and military representatives to tour Ukrainian facilities and learn from Kyivs wartime innovations. According to the WSJ, delegations have visited factories and development centers to observe how Ukrainian engineers refine counter-drone tactics and systems based on real battlefield experience. Officials demonstrated how systems are assembled and explained how designs are continuously refined based on real battlefield conditions. Engineers involved in the effort say combat experience has become a key advantage in countering mass drone attacks. One person familiar with the program said developers are constantly adapting the drones based on what they see on the battlefield. The development comes as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East after the U.S., in a joint operation with Israel, carried out strikes on several Iranian cities on Feb. 28 that killed Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials. Tehran has since retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf states, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Read also: Zelensky points to Russia-Iran coordination in Middle East drone strikes Russian drone strikes Ukrainian train with 200 passengers on board A Russian drone hit a passenger train in Ukraine's Sumy Oblast on March 8, the media outlet Suspilne reported, citing the regional prosecutor's office. The attack took place at around 5:30 a.m. local time, according to Suspilne. The train at the time had 200 passengers on board. Local authorities reported no injuries at the time, and passengers were redirected to their final stations. Train operator Ukrzaliznytsia, or Ukrainian Railways, told Suspilne that they planned no changes to the route. The strike was part of a broader overnight aerial campaign on Ukrainian railways that hit a number of junctions in western Ukraine as well, with Ukrzaliznytsia reporting damage in Rivne, Zhytomyr, and Vinnytsia Oblasts. The drone was preliminarily identified as a Lancet, one of Russia's preferred strike drones. Ukrainian railways have had a rough go of the past several months as Russia has ramped up its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure near the frontline. The campaign has not spared civilians. A similar drone strike at the end of January killed five people and injured two others in Kharkiv Oblast, Sumy's neighbor to the southeast. Read also: Logistical terrorism Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian railways Note from the author: Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Women in Afghanistan are nearly four times less likely than men to have access to formal justice mechanisms, according to findings released by the United Nations on International Womens Day. The consultations, conducted by UN Women, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the International Organization for Migration in December 2025, found that only 14% of women surveyed reported access to formal dispute resolution services, compared with 53% of men. More than half of the women consulted said their access to justice had worsened over the past year, which respondents linked to the suspension of key institutions, the exclusion of women from the legal sector and the loss of women-focused justice services. Advertisement Advertisement UN Women Special Representative Susan Ferguson said excluding women from justice institutions undermines their safety and limits their ability to seek help, particularly in cases of domestic violence. Meanwhile, former Afghan president Hamid Karzai again called for the reopening of schools and universities for Afghan girls beyond grade six in a message marking International Womens Day. Cranford officials in Union County celebrated when they learned they were getting a $2.7 million grant from the state that would help refresh their popular but aging downtown making it safer for pedestrians and more enticing for visitors. The project would deliver a bold rethinking of our already award-winning downtown, a township official declared. But nearly two years later, township officials have yet to draw down and spend a single dollar for the project, according to state budget records. Cranford officials did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Cranford is not alone. Republicans in the state Senate estimate there may be as much as $400 million in unspent grants, with some sitting idle since mid-2022. They asked the nonpartisan state Office of Legislative Services to analyze about $183 million across 150 grants, which they shared with NJ.com. These senators recently brought this dusty pile of money to the attention of Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat who has publicly stated that New Jersey facing a $3 billion structural budget deficit must fix Trentons historic spending problem Sherrill and budget The minority party at the Statehouse is hopeful the state budget proposal she unveile Tuesday will take bold steps to curb spending that grew dramatically during Democratic Gov. Phil Murphys eight-year tenure. One of the steps should be to zero-out these unspent balances, state Sen. Declan OScanlon, R-Monmouth, the GOP budget officer, said. Advertisement Advertisement Returning some or all of the unspent grants wont dramatically help New Jerseys bottom line. The current state budget is nearly $59 billion. But it would show the public that its state representatives are willing to cut back on parochial spending for the greater good and be better stewards of taxpayers money, OScanlon said. Leftover money from projects that werent finished should automatically revert back to the state budgets general fund, OScanlon said. Some of these projects are for good causes, he acknowledged, but they were doled out without transparency. Sherrill and budget N.J. governor sounds alarm on $3B budget crisis and what it could mean for your wallet The new governor pledged no tax increases, but said some tough decisions lie ahead for New Jersey as she prepares her first budget plan. Advertisement Advertisement New Jerseys state budget process always ends each June with a flood of spending requests from state lawmakers, which are submitted and debated in private. With Democrats in control of both houses of the state Legislature, they tend to get what they want. The public doesnt see the list until after it is approved and signed into law by the governor. Every year, good government groups criticize the process. These items were included in bills rushed through the Legislature in a matter of days and sometimes not even available to the public until after critical committee votes," according to the Feb. 13 letter Sens. OScanlon, Mike Testa, R-Cumberland, Doug Steinhardt, R-Warren and Carmen Amato, R-Ocean, sent to the governor. These pork items were awarded outside any competitive process or fairness. In June, Senate and Assembly Democratic leaders added $500 million in new grants. Then in January before his departure, Murphy signed a law adding $128 million in additional spending, drawing criticism from Sherrill. Advertisement Advertisement These grants also known among government insiders as pork barrel spending and Christmas-tree items are supposed to be periodically tracked through written agreements with the recipients, OScanlon said. The state Department of Community Affairs, which oversees municipal spending, is usually in charge. There is supposed to be some level of oversight, but I dont think anybody is doing that, he said. These grants make communities better and are valued by constituents, according to a statement defending them from the Assembly Majority Office, representing the 57 Democrats in the 80-member Assembly. We are proud to fund projects to mitigate flooding, upgrade infrastructure, improve public parks and to make sure residents arent drinking water with lead in it. Complex projects can take a while, and we support the necessary oversight and community involvement to make sure public dollars are spent wisely, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement The city of Passaic got word its Pulaski Park expansion would get a $6 million boost from the state in 2022 and it has yet to spend it. But that doesnt mean the project is on the back burner, said Ricardo Fernandez, the city business administrator. It has been a complicated and complex process, he said. The State Historic Preservation Office required the city to undertake an archeological dig, which turned up Native American artifacts in 2024, Fernandez said. This delayed the process of obtaining land use permits from the Department of Environmental Protection, he said. Ultimately the project will convert a former railroad corridor into a pedestrian and bicycle greenway that connects Pulaski Park with Dundee Island Park along the Passaic River, he said. Advertisement Advertisement The project remains an active priority for the City of Passaic and is currently progressing through several regulatory and property-related steps that must be completed prior to construction, Fernandez said. Some jurisdictions are perennial winners in Trentons annual grant grab. Theres $33.1 million unspent for various projects awarded to Camden County, including two dating back four years. One is $8.75 million left over from a $35 million building demolition project and another is $5 million left over from a $15 million corrections project, according to the analysis. Union County, home to Democratic state Senate President Nicholas Scutari, has yet to spend $12.8 million, mostly for capital projects, since 2022. Middlesex County, where Democratic Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin resides, has yet to spend $18.8 million in recreational and economic development projects, according to the analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Neither Sherrill nor her spokespeople would comment on the Republicans letter, which included other savings suggestions, such as refusing to rescue Newark any more from its budget shortfalls. Newark received $52 million this fiscal year. OScanlon said he is cautiously optimistic Sherrill means what she says about spending tax dollars more carefully and refusing to raise taxes. These items all oughta stop, OScanlon said. Short of that, we should have a transparent process (for funding) legislative priorities. Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here. American and Ecuadorian forces carried out lethal kinetic strikes against drug traffickers in Ecuador near the Colombian border, U.S. Southern Command announced on Friday. The operation targeted a training camp used by the Comandos de la Frontera, Ecuadors defense ministry said, and was located in the northeast of the country. It was the apparent first strike involving U.S. forces in South America since the attack on Venezuela in January and the first confirmed action by U.S. troops since its anti-cartel mission was announced. At the request of Ecuador, the Department of War executed targeted action to advance our shared objective of dismantling narco-terrorist networks, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on X, using the Trump administrations name for the Department of Defense. Advertisement Advertisement SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis Donovan meanwhile said in a statement that the operation on Friday targeted Designated Terrorist Organizations. 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 Marine Corps swim qualification tests are about to get tougher By Jeff Schogol Although SOUTHCOM announced the start of joint operations against such groups earlier this week, it was not clear what specific actions had been taken. Video shared by SOUTHCOM of the operation on March 6 shows troops boarding a helicopter before aerial footage shows helicopters flying over the camp, located along a river. The footage then shows the camp being rocked by an explosion, a blast captured on camera from the air and the ground. Video taken on the ground shows the building completely destroyed. 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. We are advancing alongside our partners in the fight https://t.co/egyAlEZYOB U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) March 6, 2026 Ecuador said that the camp had a capacity for 50 people, but neither Ecuador nor the United States said if anyone was killed or captured in the strikes. Comandos de la Frontera, or Border Command, is a drug trafficking group made up of former members of the Revolutionary Armed forces of Colombia or FARC. According to Insight Crime, the group is mainly based in southern Colombia, with some operations inside Ecuador. Last fall the United States designated two Ecuadorian drug groups, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organizations. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. forces returned to the country in December. The U.S. previously described the deployment as a short-term mission. It is not clear how many troops are deployed as part of that, nor how many are taking part in the operations against drug traffickers in Ecuador. The joint mission comes as the Trump administration is working to expand efforts against cartels in Latin America. Since September American forces have conducted dozens of airstrikes on small boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing roughly 150 people accused of being drug smugglers. In January, the U.S. attacked Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro to extradite him to face charges tied to drug trafficking. Today, during a summit with Latin American leaders, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation committing to aid in the fight against cartels. During the signing, he told leaders [W]e have to use our military. You have to use your military. According to Politico, Trump called the new proclamation a commitment to using lethal military force against cartels, and asked Latin American leaders to just tell us where they are. Actor Rosanna Arquette has criticised filmmaker Quentin Tarantino for what she described as the excessive use of the N-word in his films, saying the repeated inclusion of the slur is "not art" but "racist and creepy." As per Deadline, in an interview, Arquette reflected on her experience working in Tarantino's 1994 cult classic 'Pulp Fiction'. While acknowledging the film's enduring influence and iconic status, the Emmy-nominated actor said she strongly disagrees with the director's approach to dialogue involving racial language. "It's iconic, a great film on a lot of levels. But personally I am over the use of the N-word -- I hate it," Arquette said in the interview. She added, "I cannot stand that he has been given a hall pass. It's not art, it's just racist and creepy," as per Deadline. The debate surrounding Tarantino's dialogue is not new. The slur has appeared numerous times across several of the filmmaker's projects, including The Hateful Eight, Django Unchained and Jackie Brown. Filmmaker Spike Lee publicly criticised Tarantino's use of the word as early as 1997, the year Jackie Brown was released. Lee argued that while the word may appear in certain contexts, Tarantino uses it excessively. "Quentin is infatuated with that word," Lee said at the time, adding that not all African Americans view it as "trendy or slick." Lee also pointed to the director's earlier films, including Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, as examples. More recently, filmmaker Lee Daniels also criticised Tarantino's stance on the issue, particularly after the director of Inglourious Basterds suggested that viewers who object to his creative choices should "see something else." As per Deadline, Daniels responded that such a remark was "not the right answer," adding that while he might once have considered the usage "artistic," Tarantino had "no right to feel that way." However, Tarantino has also found defenders. Actor Samuel L. Jackson, who collaborated with the director in 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Django Unchained', argued in a 2022 interview that criticism often singles Tarantino out unfairly. As per Deadline, Jackson said the filmmaker is portraying characters authentically and noted that similar language used by directors such as Steve McQueen is often interpreted differently. (ANI) By Katharine Jackson and Curtis Williams WASHINGTON, March 8 (Reuters) - Trump administration officials on Sunday defended a decision to temporarily lift some sanctions on Russian oil and predicted that a sharp increase in gasoline prices resulting from the Iran war would last only weeks. Appearing on multiple TV talk shows, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said a waiver issued last week to allow Indian purchases of Russian oil would alleviate pressure on the global market. Advertisement Advertisement "It's a 30-day pause to allow, which is just kind of common sense, to allow the millions and millions of barrels of oil that are sitting out on ships to go to Indian refineries," Waltz said on NBC's "Meet the Press." Wright told CNN's "State of the Union" that the waiver can help "tamp this fear of shortage of oil, tamp the price spikes and the concerns we see in the marketplace." With the war now in its second week and no end in sight, Americans are grappling with higher prices at the pump, a new complicating factor for the U.S. economy, which unexpectedly lost 92,000 jobs in February. As of Friday, the national average price for regular gasoline stood at $3.32 a gallon, up 11% from the previous week and the highest since September 2024, according to data from the motorists group AAA. Diesel was at $4.33, up 15% from a week ago, surging to the highest level since November 2023. Advertisement Advertisement "We believe this is a small price to pay to get to a world where energy prices are returned back to where they were," Wright said on the "Fox News Sunday" program. There is no shortage of oil or natural gas, said Wright, who asserted that the price increases are based on "fear and perception" that the Iran operation will be a drawn-out affair. "But it won't be," Wright said, echoing President Donald Trump's prediction that the war will last weeks rather than months. Trump, in a Reuters interview on Thursday, predicted that gasoline prices will "drop very rapidly" when the war is over. Advertisement Advertisement Senator John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, criticized energy speculators. "The oil prices have gone up because you've got a bunch of oil traders out there in their Gucci loafers, with their caramel Frappuccinos who are bidding up the price," Kennedy said on "Fox News Sunday." Political analysts say a persistent rise in gasoline prices could hurt Republicans in the November midterm elections when control of the U.S. Congress will be at stake. A Reuters/Ipsos poll last month found that most respondents rejected Trump's characterization of the economy as "booming." (Reporting by Katharine Jackson in Washington, Curtis Williams in Houston and Diana Jones in Chicago; Writing by Steve Holland; Editing by Matthew Lewis) The Defense Department has identified Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, of Glendale, Kentucky, as the American soldier who died after being wounded in a March 1 attack by Iran on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Pennington, 26, died of his wound on March 8, according to the Defense Department. He is the seventh U.S. service member to die during Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. militarys name for combat operations against Iran. At the time of the attack, he was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, based out of Fort Carson, Colorado. The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Pennington, Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, head of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved. That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Advertisement Advertisement Pennington will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, a news release from the command says. He enlisted in the Army as a supply specialist in 2017 and was assigned to his current unit in June 2025. Sgt. Pennington was a dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism and sense of duty, Col. Michael F. Dyer, 1st Space Brigade commander, said in a statement. Our deepest sympathies are with his family, friends and fellow soldiers. We remain dedicated to providing comfort and support at this time and will forever honor his legacy and ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington is the seventh service member to die since U.S. military operations against Iran began on Feb. 28. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Monteleone. U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, first announced on March 8 that a service member had died the prior night after being wounded by an Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia. Iran has repeatedly targeted locations in Saudi Arabia since the war started, firing munitions at several sites in the country, including the capital of Riyadh and the Prince Sultan Air Base nearby, where U.S. forces operate from. Advertisement Advertisement At least 18 Americans were reported wounded in the region after Irans retaliatory strikes the previous weekend, CENTCOM said last week. Six service members were killed in a March 1 Iranian drone attack on a U.S. facility at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait. Officials have released the names of six soldiers from the 103rd Sustainment Command who were killed in that attack. The bodies of the six killed in Kuwait arrived back in the United States on Saturday. The dignified transfer took place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and was attended by President Donald Trump, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, among other top officials. The war with Iran is now in its second week, with CENTCOM reporting that it struck more than 3,000 targets since the start of hostilities on Feb. 28. Trump is now calling for the unconditional surrender of Iran. UPDATE: 3.9.2026; This article was updated after publication once Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington was officially identified. Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel for the first time in nearly four years on Sunday over worries that the spiralling Middle East war could create prolonged supply disruptions. Both crude oil benchmarks, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent, jumped by over 15 percent as markets opened Sunday evening, touching levels not seen since the early months of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. US President Donald Trump, however, dismissed the spike as a "small price to pay" to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat, reiterating the White House's insistence that the rise is temporary. Advertisement Advertisement "Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace," he wrote on social media Sunday evening. "ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!" he argued. Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz -- through which 20 percent of global crude and gas passes -- has all but halted since the war began on February 28. Oil and gas producers around the Gulf have meanwhile begun to decrease output, while Israeli strikes on fuel depots in Tehran have raised fears of retaliatory attacks on neighboring countries' infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Soaring crude prices have already translated into rising costs at the fuel pump in the United States, a highly sensitive political issue heading into midterm elections in November. - 'No energy shortage' - Earlier Sunday, Trump's energy chief Chris Wright argued that disruptions would be short lived. "Worst case, that's a few weeks. That's not months," the US energy secretary told CNN. "They shouldn't go much higher than they are here because the world is very well supplied with oil," he added to CBS. "There's no energy shortage in all of the Western hemisphere." Advertisement Advertisement He said the United States was now talking with shipping companies eager to get their vessels out of the Gulf. "Early tankers probably will involve some direct protection by the US military" to get through the Strait of Hormuz, he said, adding that he thought traffic would return to normal "relatively soon." Iran accounts for about four percent of world oil production, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Its oil industry is subject to international sanctions but some is still exported, mainly to China, oil industry data shows. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that the government was considering lifting sanctions on more Russian oil, a day after it temporarily authorized India to buy from Moscow as global oil prices surged. Advertisement Advertisement The US International Development Finance Corporation also said Friday that it was creating a reinsurance mechanism of up to $20 billion to cover risk associated with travel through the Strait of Hormuz. tu-des/js When President Donald Trump first raised the prospect of war with Iran, some of the most serious reservations came from his second in command. A former Marine who rose to political prominence as a critic of foreign wars, Vice President JD Vance counseled against the perils of launching another unpredictable conflict in the Middle East. But as it became apparent that Trump still favored military action, Vance shifted his stance. He advocated for Trump to attack quickly and decisively, arguing it would be necessary to minimize American casualties and prevent Iran from striking first. Advertisement Advertisement The vice presidents pivot, described by two people familiar with the events, reflected how Trumps closest aides approached a war that few initially viewed as an imperative but all of them ended up supporting. As Trump weighed conflict, many of the loudest pro-war voices came from allies outside the White House rather than those in his inner circle, according to a half-dozen aides, advisers and others familiar with the matter. Those more vocal actors eventually drowned out quieter calls for caution. In addition to Vance, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine laid out the potential negative repercussions of striking Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, already occupied with managing the aftermath of Januarys raid on Venezuela, offered only tepid support at the outset. And chief of staff Susie Wiles had spent recent months more focused on political matters, plotting a midterm push focused on domestic priorities she worried had been overshadowed by Trumps foreign policy forays. People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on February 28. - AP Despite the misgivings, Vance and other top officials put up little resistance to war once they came to see it as inevitable, spending the run-up to the February 28 attack racing to execute Trumps wishes rather than trying to change them. Advertisement Advertisement This is not a team of rivals White House; the president is not having different policy minds tear out each others throats in open debate, said Curt Mills, executive director of The American Conservative and among those deeply skeptical of foreign intervention. If the president was unwilling or unable to say no, we were going to war. Those senior aides are now scrambling to build out a longer-term strategy for a fight with no clear endgame but plenty of risk to Trumps presidency and for some their own future political aspirations. Vances support for the war has alarmed the anti-interventionist wing of the GOP that he spent years cultivating, effectively gambling his 2028 fortunes on being able to pull off a fast win in the Middle East with few American deaths and no lasting consequences. Vice President JD Vance talks on his phone as he walks to the West Wing of the White House on March 6. - Alex Brandon/AP For Rubio, who is widely viewed as Vances chief rival for the 2028 nomination, a prolonged conflict threatens to jeopardize the goodwill hes accumulated from overseeing a string of successful gambits abroad. He seemed to step in it just days into the war, prompting swift backlash when he suggested Israel led the US into striking Iran. He walked back those comments the next day, after Trump publicly disagreed. Advertisement Advertisement This is the precarious nature of this decision in particular, said one former Trump administration official. It could end up haunting the folks who have ambitions and want to see beyond this particular administration. The presidents team is juggling pressing challenges on several fronts, even as Trump has spent recent days touting the operation as a resounding military triumph. At the State Department, Rubio is overseeing a belated effort to evacuate thousands of Americans stranded in the Middle East and under threat. Inside a Pentagon run by Pete Hegseth, there is anxiety about the extent of the nations weapons stockpiles and the wars open-ended timeline. Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks to reporters at the US Capitol on March 2. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images And eight months out from midterm elections, Vance and Wiles are trying to contain the domestic fallout, seeking to reassure MAGA allies worried by Trumps enthusiasm for war and to sell the broader public on its objectives while also finding new ways to limit the repercussions for the US economy including the rapidly increasing cost of oil. Advertisement Advertisement Theres just no way that Donald Trump is going to allow this country to get into a multi-year conflict with no clear end in sight and no clear objective, Vance insisted on Fox News last week, even as he conceded that we could go for a little bit longer. We could go a lot longer. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement that Trumps national security team was working together daily to ensure the total and complete success of Operation Epic Fury. Still, a week into the fighting, there remains little clear sense of the wars ultimate trajectory and how exactly to ensure a clean exit. Trumps top aides are aligned on their desire to keep the war relatively brief, hoping it lasts weeks rather than months, the people familiar with the matter said. Since launching the initial strikes, theyve stressed that their goals do not include regime change, wary of setting a standard for victory thats not necessarily within the US control. Advertisement Advertisement Though Trump has urged the Iranian people to take over their government once the current regime is decimated, there is little confidence in how that will play out and whether the new leadership will be friendlier for the US. The USS Thomas Hudner fires a Tomahawk land attack missile toward Iran on March 1. - US Navy/Reuters Vance, Rubio and other top officials have instead sought to establish a more manageable set of military objectives aimed at destroying Irans immediate weapons capabilities and effectively eliminating any progress toward developing a nuclear bomb. Yet its uncertain precisely how long that will take as the military broadens its targets across the country. And it could go on further, given recognition that the US will likely play some role in managing the resulting leadership vacuum Trump has mused that he would like a say in the next regime. For the next three weeks, roughly, theyre going to be striking a lot of material, said one Trump administration official. Then its going to be a couple months of, whos establishing the control and how are they doing it? Whos running the forces and how are they cooperating? Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the week, though, Trumps top aides were confronting more immediate dilemmas far closer to home. Spooked by Irans sustained retaliation across the Middle East, oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz one of the worlds most critical waterways had come to a standstill, driving up prices and prompting a sprint across the Treasury, Energy and Interior departments to develop new ways to temper the shock. The surging oil prices have already filtered through to US gas prices, pushing the cost at the pump to its highest national average in more than two years and wiping out progress on a key metric Trump had made a centerpiece of his midterm pitch on Americans affordability concerns. Rogers, the White House spokeswoman, said Trump and his energy team have had a strong game plan to keep oil prices stable and that they were reviewing all credible options. By Friday, top Trump officials had rolled out some initial actions, including plans to start having the government insure tankers willing to venture across the Strait of Hormuz bordering Iran. Yet despite the effort to ease the industrys fears , oil prices continued to rise, signaling scant market confidence that Trumps team had a handle on what might come next. Advertisement Advertisement Theyre totally focused on it, Richard Goldberg, a former senior Trump energy official, said of the push inside the administration. But with officials trying to navigate the unpredictable ripple effects of war, youre in somewhat uncharted territory. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Venezuela released 17 political prisoners on Saturday from a jail in the capital, Caracas, an AFP journalist saw, as a new law granted amnesty for crimes historically used to lock up dissidents. The landmark law, which was adopted last month, is one of the most significant reforms championed by Delcy Rodriguez, who succeeded autocratic leader Nicolas Maduro after his January 3 capture by US forces. The NGO Foro Penal says more than 621 political prisoners have been released since Maduro's ouster, but that around 500 remain behind bars. Advertisement Advertisement Family members have been clamoring for their release for weeks, including a group of women in Caracas who staged a nearly weeklong hunger strike. Outside the capital's national police facility known as Zone 7, family members had chained themselves to prison gates, while some had spent weeks sleeping in tents. "Get dressed; everyone's leaving," a guard told the freed detainees, according to Omar Torres, a political activist who spoke to reporters as he walked free. "I feel very happy," he said. "I don't think this is the time to blame anyone. I'm happy to be free." Advertisement Advertisement Venezuela's government claims that more than 7,000 people have been granted full freedom, including prisoners in jail and those on parole. But unlike prisoners from other jails who had their cases dismissed, Zone 7 detainees must appear in court to reinstate their full freedom. "We will continue seeking improvement and freedom for the other political prisoners," said Brayan Orozco, son of former congressman Fernando Orozco, both of whom were released from Zone 7. "Thanks to the people of Venezuela," he said, amid cries of "freedom, freedom", hugs and tears of joy. afc/lb/cms/fox Water searches continue near the Bell Ford Boat Ramp of the West Fork White River, off Highway 258 in Jackson County, for a missing man. Indiana Conservation Officer Jim Hash with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said they responded to a call made around 7:20 a.m., Friday morning, to a potentially capsized boat. "We determined that there were two subjects that were going to assist or en route to assist with helping some people in a stranded vehicle," Hash said. "Those two subjects were in an airboat on the floodwater." Advertisement Advertisement Officer Hash said both people in the boat were men. The boat experienced mechanical issues, was pushed by the current, and overturned. One man got out, but the other remains missing. Hash said in situations like this, it's important to have the knowledge, skill, and equipment to be able to safely get on the water and help others. "Neither of the people that were involved in this incident were wearing a life jacket or had it available to them in the watercraft when the boat capsized," Hash said. Flooding in Jackson County is not new. Leslie Martin's father says farmers in the area do not plant their spring crop until after the third flood. She was brought to where water covered Highway 258, headed west from Seymour into Cortland. Advertisement Advertisement "Were just checking out the river just to see how big it is and how much its receded," she said after taking a picture from her stopped car. "We had one last April that was a little bit bigger than this one. Farron Dyer was also stopped at the same checkpoint. He and his family had been surveying flooding around the county. In Brownstown, Dyer said it was the worst he had ever seen. "Our friend lives in Cortland," Dyer said. "We were trying to go out there and see them, [but we] can't even get out there besides going all the way out of town into Columbus." Martin also has a friend who lives in Cortland. She said her cellar is flooded, and her friend is near where first responders have been searching for the missing man. Advertisement Advertisement I am surprised. Its very unfortunate that this has happened," Martin said. "I think people try to help each other, and then unfortunately, things happen. People dont realize how rough and swift this river water is right now. Its very deep in this vicinity. Dyer also feels bad for the man who was trying to help others in need. "The community around here, we're very helpful," Dyer said. "Everybody's here to lend a hand, but when stuff happens, it happens." As the search continues, attention turns to the mans family and the cleanup once floodwaters recede, with more rain expected. Officer Hash said the search continues Saturday for the missing man and won't end until they find him. Jackson County Dispatch has received several calls for emergency water rescues. They told WHAS11 at around 5 p.m., Friday, that since March 4, when flooding began, there have been 14 calls, seven of which came on Friday. It takes more than handshakes and promises to deal with the impacts the data center building boom is having on water supplies and energy bills. At his recent State of the Union address, President Trump announced he had negotiated the new ratepayer protection pledge. You know what that is? Were telling the major tech companies that they have the obligation to provide for their own power needs. They can build their own power plants as part of their factory, so that no ones prices will go up and, in many cases, prices of electricity will go down for the community, and very substantially. Details of the pledge are vague. But with consumers already seeing their utility bills spike and thousands of water-guzzling data centers being built, or proposed, opposition to the projects is growing. Advertisement Advertisement Georgia state Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, a Republican embroiled in a hot legislative battle over data centers, described Trumps Ratepayer Protection Pledge as a handshake that he hopes will be codified become enforceable regulation. Im looking for something comprehensive that says we pay all our electricity, we pay our water, we pay our taxes, like everybody else does, Hufstetler told the news outlet Politico, adding that states should be able to put guarantees in place for citizens. These are concerns Republican and Democratic lawmakers nationwide are expressing as they face a voter backlash to the administrations AI push. Last year, Trump signed two executive orders aimed at accelerating adoption of AI and construction of data centers. The president cited national security interests in maintaining U.S. leadership in the developing technology. Communities hungering for economic development have embraced data centers, often offering tax breaks to lure them. Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the U.S. Air Force Department solicited proposals to lease about 3,100 acres of underutilized property at bases in five states for data center development. More than 2,100 of those acres are at Edwards AFB in eastern Kern County. Kern economic development specialists celebrated the news and expressed hope that the countys abundance of open space will attract more data centers. Massive windowless facilities, data centers store and transmit internet content. The growing artificial intelligence demands have fueled the data centers building boom. Data centers require lots of energy. The question is: Who will pay to satisfy their voracious appetites? Ratepayers or Big Tech? Its not just the need for energy to operate data centers. It is the cost of upgrading the grid with additional capacity and transmission lines to carry data to and from the centers that is increasing ratepayers bills. Some states and utilities have found ways to get data centers to more fairly share costs by buying long-term energy contracts, paying for power plants and transmission upgrades, and by making down payments on grid improvements to hedge against the likelihood some data companies will go bust. The concern for many communities is too late. Energy bills already have spiked. Advertisement Advertisement But the burden is not just energy costs. Data centers are water guzzlers and the largest concentrations of data centers are in the drought-plagued western United States. Data centers generate a lot of heat and require water systems to cool servers and building interiors. Cooling systems use evaporation towers, which consume huge amounts of water, or circulating systems, which consume less water, but use more energy. Its difficult to accurately assess how much water data centers consume because operators mostly dont have to say. But a listing of Google facilities noted that a single center could use more than 3 million gallons a day, depending on its size and design. An International Energy Agency study estimated a single 100-megawatt data center in the U.S. can consume about 500,000 gallons of water per day. As the water levels in reservoirs along the Colorado River continue to fall and residents in parched states conserve, local and state officials see a growing battle over water. Artificial intelligence is a force driving our future. Data centers are needed to support it. But federal, state and local regulations not just a handshake, or pledge must balance Big Techs needs with the publics. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Residents in a Virginia Beach neighborhood reported a body found in the pond off Foxwood Drive and Federal Court Saturday afternoon. Meghan Chaboya, a resident, told 10 On Your Side that her boyfriend was at the playground near the pond with her kids when a couple canoeing in the water found the body. My boyfriend came home and told me that the couple was in the lake canoeing, and they came across what looked like garbage bags wrapped in a hoodie. So, they called the police, said Chaboya. Weve all come out and have been asking questions. If its somebody in our neighborhood, you know, somebody that we know. Advertisement Advertisement Chaboya, a resident in the neighborhood for over 20 years, described the scene that formed just outside her home. They got a dive team in and found out that it was an actual body and went ahead and started putting up tape and telling everybody to get back, said Chaboya. Since then, its been more cop cars, forensics has come out, and the coroners are out now. Chaboya said its been a traumatic day for her, her kids, and the neighborhood. It is very heart-wrenching, especially with the fact that my kids were at the park when they were called, said Chaboya. I had to bring them home and explain to my seven-year-old that they found somebody in the lake. I just recently lost a family member, and somebody else has just lost theirs, and they were left in a lake. Im sure my neighbors are scared. Advertisement Advertisement Chaboya said while shes seen police in her neighborhood before, its never been for anything like this. Despite how shocking it is, shes confident in the neighborhoods ability to come together. Were probably going to get a hold of the community, which is Timberlake community, and see about if they can do a neighborhood watch, said Chaboya, we are very confident that we can come together as a community in this neighborhood and proceed to hope, and take care of everybody else from here on out. 10 On Your Side reached out to the Virginia Beach Police Department for confirmation on what was found. Saturday night, a spokesperson confirmed officers and detectives responded to that location for an investigation. WAVY followed up with VBPD on Sunday, and we were told police had no updates on this incident. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. 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 WAVY.com. A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world. The Middle East in 30 years Asharq Al-Awsat, London, February 27 The region stands today on the brink of a new phase, as established and effective powers work to consolidate their positions, rising powers test their capacity to ascend, and others indulge the illusion that a fleeting moment of advantage has cleared the path for lasting hegemony. The central question, then, is this: What will the Middle East look like 30 years from now? Advertisement Advertisement At its core, this is not a question about who commands the loudest rhetoric, nor about who wagers on external actors to engineer change on their behalf. It is a question about who possesses a viable, sustainable project for the future. Years ago, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman suggested that the Middle East could become the new Europe. His remark was less a geographical or civilizational comparison than a reference to a political trajectory a shift from the logic of perpetual conflict to the logic of economic integration. Europe offers a living example: after decades of devastating wars that exhausted its nations, it concluded that there was no alternative but development. And development could only be secured through effective partnership grounded in stability. European countries, therefore, chose to build a common market and establish a long-term peace anchored in shared interests rather than fragile balances of deterrence. Despite the clarity and depth of the European model a model that could well shape our own region three decades from now some states interpret the current moment differently. They see in ongoing global transformations and in the preoccupation of major powers with other pressing international crises, a historic opportunity to leap into a leadership role. Yet regional leadership is not a vacuum to be filled with slogans; it is a responsibility constructed on firm foundations, foremost among them a productive economy, stable institutions, internal legitimacy, and both regional and international acceptance. Absent these pillars, ambition becomes a liability, and the pursuit of dominance begins to resemble a costly gamble. Advertisement Advertisement Most troubling of all is the reality that some ambitions extend no further than serving as an agent of a larger regional or global power, relying on its political or military umbrella to bolster their standing. Such a rise is inherently fragile, tethered to external will. It advances when that patron advances and recedes when strategic calculations shift. Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem delivers an address from an unknown location, Jan. 27. (credit: Video still; Al Manar TV/Reuters TV) Thirty years from now, only those states that have built independent decision-making capacity will endure as consequential actors; those content to function as intermediaries or instruments in others conflicts will not. Consider Israel today. It is undeniably a formidable military and technological power, with global influence in innovation, yet it confronts a profound question about the nature of its political project. When Thomas Friedman criticized the policies of Benjamin Netanyahus government in The New York Times, he was issuing a warning: the relentless pursuit of permanent facts on the ground without a credible political horizon risks transforming military superiority into a strategic burden. Hard power can deter adversaries, but it cannot secure regional acceptance or resolve the deeper struggle for legitimacy. The same principle applies to regional states that depend on armed proxies or extend their influence across multiple arenas through the backing of militias. Influence that is not rooted in cohesive internal development and a resilient economy inevitably becomes a drain. Nations are not judged by the number of active fronts they sustain, but by employment opportunities, the quality of education, the standard of public services, and the sense of security they provide their citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Three decades from now, the Middle East will either emerge as a zone of cross-border economic integration or remain a permanent chessboard for proxy wars. In the first scenario, entrenched conflicts foremost among them the Palestinian question will be addressed through courageous compromises, and a regional order will take shape around shared interests in energy, technology, and supply chains. In the second, the cycle will persist: crises will repeat themselves, alliances will shift, and historic opportunities will slip away. In the end, the future shows little mercy toward illusions. Nations that craft cohesive national projects, strike a careful balance between security and development, and recognize that regional legitimacy must be earned rather than imposed will claim a seat at the table of decision-making 30 years from now. Those who imagine that wealth alone, or a transient period of instability exploited through interference in other states affairs and the sponsorship of militias, is sufficient to impose illegitimate dominance will find that history does not assign leading roles to the unprepared. The region is being reshaped in real time, and the decisive question is not who dreams of leadership, but who has earned it and who can sustain it. Zaed Bin Kami Eritrean village: Tensions have been rising with Ethiopia. (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK) On the brink of war: Lebanon between vision and slogans Nida Al Watan, Lebanon, February 27 Advertisement Advertisement Lebanon stands today on the precipice of an exceedingly dangerous phase, amid intensifying speculation about a possible US strike against Iran and the likelihood that its repercussions would extend well beyond Iranian territory to encompass Tehrans spheres of influence across the region. Lebanon, in particular, remains vulnerable to a range of scenarios because of Hezbollahs organic connection to the Iranian project and its continued maintenance of weapons, as well as a military and security apparatus operating outside the framework of the state. Statements issued by Hezbollahs leadership especially those delivered by Sheikh Naim Qassem regarding the partys readiness to open a Lebanese front in support of Iran in the event of confrontation effectively place the country at the center of a perilous regional equation. The gravest danger lies not merely in the prospect of being dragged into yet another devastating war, but in the states passivity as the country is pulled toward that abyss. Most striking in this unfolding scenario is the absence of Lebanese authorities willing to shoulder their responsibilities. There are no clear political initiatives, no concrete measures to reassert state sovereignty, and no meaningful effort to restore the confidence of Arab and international partners. Silence or reliance on vague platitudes and recycled slogans has come to define the official posture at this critical hour. Lebanon cannot afford either delay or reckless calculation. What is urgently required are clear, decisive steps from those in power that place the national interest above all else and reaffirm a fundamental principle: the security and stability of the Lebanese people are not bargaining chips to be traded on Irans behalf, but an absolute priority that must not be compromised under any circumstances. Supporters of Nouri al-Maliki protest what they say is US interference in Iraqs sovereignty near the entrance to the Green Zone, which houses the US embassy and other missions, in Baghdad, Jan. 29. (credit: THAIER AL-SUDANI/REUTERS) It is therefore fitting, on the 21st anniversary of his assassination, to invoke the memory of the martyred prime minister Rafic Hariri and measure the vast distance between an era when a leader advanced a coherent national project and actively engaged the world to safeguard the country, and the present moment, in which officials appear mired in ambiguity, evasion, and empty rhetoric. Advertisement Advertisement Hariri may well have been the only leader of his generation to articulate a clear vision and actionable plan for Lebanons future and to begin implementing it. At the heart of that vision was reconstruction as the essential pillar for emerging from civil war, dismantling the psychological and physical barriers among the Lebanese people, and restoring the states authority while building political, economic, and social resilience. That resilience, in turn, was intended to enable Lebanon, at the appropriate moment, to loosen the grip of Syrian tutelage and position itself to engage constructively with the regional peace process then taking shape. His project can be distilled into a simple yet ambitious objective: to move Lebanon from the logic of war to the horizon of peace and toward the normalization of a state engaged in positive, interest-based relations founded on mutual respect and trust with both the Arab and international communities. In stark contrast, todays leadership offers no responsible road map to confront mounting risks, no strategic vision, and no credible plan for the future. Instead, citizens are presented with hollow assurances and vague promises unaccompanied by timelines or mechanisms for implementation. Governance has devolved into the management of perpetual crisis and the distribution of spoils, rather than the construction of a sustainable future. Restoring Lebanon to its rightful place requires a series of well-known and unequivocal steps: bringing all weapons under the exclusive authority of the state, undertaking genuine structural reforms and a serious campaign against corruption, rebuilding what has been destroyed on the basis of transparency and accountability, and repositioning Lebanon within the regional order including confronting, with clarity and resolve, the question of peace with Israel. It must be stated plainly that pledging reconstruction without pursuing the major political settlements necessary to secure lasting stability and eliminate existential risks foremost among them a durable peace amounts to little more than selling illusions to the people of southern Lebanon. Oscillating between grandiose slogans and paralyzing inaction risks placing the country once again at the center of a gathering storm. Lebanon does not need further drift or theatrical declarations; it needs a coherent national project, a forward-looking vision, and the political courage to carry it through a project capable of redefining Lebanons role and restoring confidence at home and abroad alike. Marwan El Amine The Horn of Africa and the struggle to redraw maps of power and influence Al-Masry Al-Youm, Egypt, February 27 Advertisement Advertisement The Horn of Africa is experiencing a pivotal moment of transformation that is reshaping its strategic balance. Internal conflicts are increasingly intertwined with intensifying regional and international rivalries, pushing the region toward escalation that could spill beyond its geographic confines. Rising tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, renewed clashes in Tigray, Israels recognition of Somaliland, and the memorandum of understanding signed in January 2024 between Ethiopia and Somaliland are not isolated developments. Rather, they signal an accelerating trajectory aimed at redrawing the map of power along the African shore of the Red Sea, one of the worlds most critical geopolitical hubs for global trade and maritime security. The surge in diplomatic activity including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans visit to Addis Ababa and the visit of President Isaac Herzog to Ethiopia highlights mounting international focus on the Horn as a geopolitical axis shaping the balance of power in the Red Sea, energy security, and global commerce. These shifts are inseparable from the Horns exceptional geography. Overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait the chokepoint linking the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal the region occupies a position of immense strategic consequence. The uninterrupted flow of navigation through these waters is fundamental to energy security and global supply chains, explaining the expanding international presence and competition to secure influence and protect strategic interests. Within this framework, Ethiopias ambition to secure access to the Red Sea assumes an urgent security dimension. Advertisement Advertisement As a landlocked state, Ethiopia regards maritime access as a strategic necessity to guarantee commercial autonomy and enhance geopolitical maneuverability. Yet this pursuit is fraught with political and security complexities, particularly given Eritreas insistence on sovereignty over its ports and rejection of any arrangement that could affect borders. Ethiopias January 2024 memorandum with Somaliland granting access to the Port of Berbera has sharply heightened tensions with Somalias Federal Government and stirred broader regional anxiety, as ports and maritime gateways increasingly function as instruments of strategic leverage. This unfolds against Ethiopias fragile internal landscape, marked by renewed tensions in the Tigray region that expose the limitations of the settlement that ended the war and highlight the persistent risk of renewed conflictTigrays proximity to Eritrea and the Red Sea renders its stability critical to safeguarding maritime corridors and maintaining regional security dynamics stretching from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Addis Ababas reported engagement with Sudans Rapid Support Forces (RSF) further complicates the picture. Efforts to cultivate new spheres of influence including training facilities for RSF elements near the Sudanese border intersect with historically fraught relations with Eritrea, increasing the danger of cascading regional confrontations. This raises the prospect of overlapping theaters of conflict between the Horn and eastern Sudan, potentially jeopardizing land and sea routes essential to trade and energy flows and prompting regional and global actors to expand military and naval deployments along one of the worlds most sensitive waterways. Israels recognition of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland adds another layer of complexity, with implications for the redistribution of influence over ports and maritime routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The move reflects an effort to consolidate its presence within a shifting regional landscape and secure vital waterways, informed by historical precedents such as the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait during the October 1973 war and ongoing security challenges in the Red Sea arena. Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, this recognition risks emboldening separatist movements, exacerbating fragmentation, heightening vulnerabilities around critical ports and sea lanes, and transforming a localized political question into a focal point of regional and international competition tied to energy security and global trade. These dynamics coincide with intensifying global competition over the Red Sea. The US seeks to safeguard trade routes and counter Chinese influence; China aims to secure its Belt and Road Initiative; Russia pursues a maritime foothold; and Turkey strengthens its presence through the TURKSOM base in Mogadishu, its largest overseas military installation. This web of intersecting ambitions is transforming the Horn into an open arena of strategic rivalry. Against this backdrop, the Horn stands at a crossroads where regional ambitions intersect with major power calculations, and sovereignty collides with the imperatives of global maritime security. While full-scale war may remain unlikely, unresolved tensions risk entrenching a prolonged cold conflict capable of redrawing alliances and influence. The stability of the Horn of Africa will depend on whether regional and international actors can convert competition into a sustainable balance of power and channel confrontation into cooperation before dispersed flashpoints coalesce into a broader strategic crisis. Amr Helmy A Profound Disconnect From the Iraqi Public Al Mada, Iraq, February 27 Advertisement Advertisement Months ago, the State of Law Coalition declared that the activities of the American Embassy in Iraq violated established diplomatic norms. Even earlier, Mr. Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, stated in a televised interview that the engagement of all ambassadors around the world is conducted through the mediation of the host country and cannot bypass it to build direct social relations with tribes, women, civil society organizations, or political forces. He added that the American ambassador, through her activities, breached these diplomatic norms and began forming social ties and holding meetings outside the proper framework. Some will ask: What is new here? Maliki, they argue, is merely defending the sovereignty of his country, which the former ambassador was allegedly attempting to undermine. Subsequently, a leader within the State of Law Coalition at the time, Mohammed al-Sayhoud, called on the government to take a clear position on these actions, which constitute blatant interference in Iraqs internal affairs. He was backed by his colleague Muhammad Al-Shammari, who accused the American Embassy of behaving as though diplomatic conventions did not exist. He then directed a rhetorical question to us the citizens who have no influence over an ambassadors conduct asking: Can the Iraqi ambassador in Washington act in such a manner? The answer, of course, is no. But has our saga with the embassy come to an end? Certainly not; there is always another chapter. Just yesterday, Mr. Abbas al-Bayati, one of the hardliners of the State of Law Coalition, appeared on television and again brought this issue up. Bayati went on to outline the advantages of contracts with American companies and even emphasized that US policy is shaped by oil companies a reality, he suggested, from which Iraq should seek to benefit. But I urge you not to get excited. Iraqi democracy, as practiced, ensures that the citizen remains a spectator while politicians operate as partners in a shared enterprise, each safeguarding the interests of the other, protecting each other, and extending courtesy to the colleague with whom he divides the Iraqi pie in prosperity and in crisis alike. That is why it was deemed necessary for Maliki to publicly criticize the ambassador, only to return later to advocate cooperation with her. Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, devotes his valuable time these days to drafting statements and speeches one day vowing to thwart an American conspiracy, the next urging the swift implementation of agreements with Uncle Sam. Unfortunately, many of our politicians suffer from a profound disconnect with the Iraqi citizen who, despite his good faith and his eagerness to understand politics, finds himself unable to reconcile what is proclaimed in public with what is arranged behind closed doors. Today, when some are persuaded that America will alter its rhetoric simply because Bayati has praised it, or because Maliki declared in his latest interview that the relationship with America is essential for Iraqs progress, such thinking amounts to little more than a defense of immature political projects. Ali Hussein Translated by Asaf Zilberfarb. All assertions, opinions, facts, and information presented in these articles are the sole responsibility of their respective authors and are not necessarily those of The Media Line, which assumes no responsibility for their content. The Volusia County School District in Florida is celebrating a special milestoneit has received an A rating from the state for the first time in 16 years, thanks to impressive academic growth throughout the district. The countys graduation rate ranked ninth among the 67 counties in Florida. School leaders commended students, and the superintendent spoke to the community, recognizing their contribution to the districts recent achievements. You all are the reason we have reached this milestone as a school district, he stated. Advertisement Advertisement The district is excited to expand the number of magnet programs at elementary schools across the county, making learning opportunities more diverse and engaging for students. Theyre also introducing tuition-free dual enrollment programs for high school students, allowing them to earn college credits at no cost while completing their high school requirements. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Sharing beautiful pictures, he affectionately called his wife Kajol, daughter Nysa, sister Neelam, mother Veena, mother-in-law Tanuja, and sister-in-law Tanisha his "shernis." "This singham is nothing without his shernis," he captioned the post. Besides, Ajay, several celebrities extended greetings on Women's Day. Actor Anupam Kher, while speaking to ANI, highlighted the invaluable role women play in shaping families, communities and society at large. "On International Women's Day, my heartfelt salute to all the women of the world. I truly believe that whoever has the power to give birth to another life is the greatest, and that is a woman," Kher told ANI. Actor-politician Hema Malini, in a social media post, wrote, "Reaching out to all women - each remarkable in her own way, all capable multitaskers, homemakers, entrepreneurs, seasoned business women who have mastered the art of work-life balance - a shout out to all of you, wherever you are! Remember, you are a unique, blessed creation of God. Just learn to enjoy life on your own terms!" (ANI) A drone strike on a British airbase in Cyprus has reignited an enduring debate about the UK's presence on the island. It's a week since the drone punched a hole in a hangar at RAF Akrotiri. That hole, for some in Britain, symbolises embarrassing gaps in UK hard power. For some in Cyprus, it's another unwelcome result of British military overreach. "We just want to have an independent Cyprus," said local business owner Natasha Theodotou. Advertisement Advertisement She was holding a banner that read "British Bases Out" at a demonstration outside the presidential palace in the capital, Nicosia. "Just as we're occupied by the Turkish government," said Natasha, "we are occupied by the UK." She wants to see a unified country where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots live together. Britain retained two major sovereign bases in Cyprus' south and south east, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, as part of a 1960 treaty that established the island's independence and ended its status as a British colony. Roughly 200 to 300 protesters joined the march [Jessica Parker/BBC] In 1974 Turkey invaded and took control of Cyprus' northern third in response to a Greece-backed military coup. Advertisement Advertisement Not far from the protest tourists queue up at a checkpoint allowing passage into the Turkish-controlled part of Nicosia. The city, which sits on the UN-patrolled buffer zone known as the Green Line, is sometimes called the world's last divided capital. British military officials' best assessment is that the drone that hit RAF Akrotiri was launched in Lebanon by the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah. The UK government has said its bases in Cyprus are not being utilised by US bombers for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites. But the reported use of the base by American U-2 spy planes may explain why RAF Akrotiri was a target, as Iran and its proxies retaliated against US-Israeli strikes. [BBC] Roughly 200 to 300 protesters joined the march on Saturday, carrying signs that were also pro-Palestine and critical of the US and Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Chants included: "Say it loud, say it clear, British bases out of here." The territory, kept by the UK, covers about 98 sq miles (254 sq km) and is even patrolled by a separate, special police force. These Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) are a lingering point of contention while also being highly interwoven into the island and a source of employment. They encompass communities well beyond the fenced-off airbase of RAF Akrotiri, on the island's southern tip. "I think that we'd be a lot safer without them here," said Shona Muir, holding up the British Bases Out banner with Natasha. Advertisement Advertisement "Their presence alone here makes us more of a target." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence told the BBC: "Our bases in Cyprus play a crucial role in supporting the safety of British citizens and our allies in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East." "Just this week, we have flown Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets on sorties around the region, shooting down Iranian drones and defending innocent civilians from Iran's indiscriminate attacks," they added. The Cypriot government has been at pains to stress that it's a UK base, not Cyprus, that was targeted by a drone. Advertisement Advertisement A UK foothold in the Eastern Mediterranean, RAF Akrotiri has long supported operations in the Middle East and, more recently, reportedly been used for surveillance flights over Gaza. Local business owner Natasha Theodotou (L) and Shona Muir hold up the British Bases Out banner. [Jessica Parker/BBC] Protesters are calling for transparency about how the British bases are being used [Jessica Parker/BBC] "We don't know what's happening in [the] British bases," said Stephanos Stavros, who also came to Saturday's demonstration. "There are worries now that there are things there that we were not aware [of]." Stephanos said the treaty establishing the bases should be complied with, but he wanted to see "full transparency". This week, Cyprus' Foreign Minister, Constantinos Kombos, said the matter of British bases had been "on the agenda" for a long time. Advertisement Advertisement "But I believe this is a conversation that one needs to have after we have a careful reflection as to what has transpired, especially in recent days and hours," he told BBC Newsnight. Any renegotiation, in reality, would be extremely complex, given that the foundational agreements involved the UK, Greece, and Turkey as well as representatives from the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. Here are the latest events in the Middle East war on Monday: - Zelensky says tapped for help - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 11 countries had tapped Kyiv for help on how to counter Iranian drones, being launched by Tehran across the Middle East. Ukraine touts itself as having world-class drone defence capabilities, built up through fending off nightly barrages of Iran-style attack drones launched by Russia. Advertisement Advertisement - NATO blocks missile in Turkey - Turkey's defence ministry said a ballistic missile fired from Iran was intercepted in Turkish airspace by NATO defence systems, in the second such incident in five days. Some fragments from the weaponry fell in open territory in the southern Gaziantep area but did not cause injuries, the ministry added. - Strike hits Iraq base - An airstrike hit a base belonging to the Hashed al-Shaabi coalition in northern Iraq, according to officials from the former paramilitary alliance, which includes pro-Iran factions. One of the officials blamed the strike on the United States, saying it hit a base in the Bartella area near the city of Mosul in Nineveh province. No casualities were reported. Advertisement Advertisement - Explosions near Doha - Several more explosions were heard across Doha and warning sirens sounded in Manama, according to AFP journalists, as Iran pressed its aerial campaign against Gulf neighbours. - EU says oil supply stable - A European Commission spokeswoman insisted there was "no imminent oil supply shortage" in Europe as the Middle East war sent energy prices soaring, with the benchmark price for a barrel of crude exceeding $100. - 'Wide-scale' Iran strikes - The Israeli military said it had launched new "wide-scale" strikes on Tehran, Isfahan and southern Iran. AFP journalists had earlier reported heavy explosions rocking the Iranian capital. Advertisement Advertisement - Rally for new ayatollah - Thousands flocked to a central square in Tehran in a show of support for Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed as Iran's supreme leader following the death of his father in US-Israeli strikes, AFP journalists saw. - US urges citizens out of south Turkey - Washington has advised non-essential staff to leave its consulate near the southern Turkish city of Adana near a key NATO base. It also ordered US citizens to leave southeast Turkey, in the latest pullout of US consular services of the war. - US, Israel 'despair' - Iranian security chief Ali Larijani said the election of Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father had left Israel and the United States in "despair". Advertisement Advertisement - Putin backs new ayatollah - Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged his "unwavering support" to Khamenei. "At a time when Iran is confronting armed aggression, your tenure in this high position will undoubtedly require great courage and dedication," the Russian leader added. - G7 to talk oil reserves - French President Emmanuel Macron said the G7 would discuss a possible release of strategic oil reserves, as the Middle East war caused crude prices to steam past $100 a barrel. - One killed in Israel - Israel's first responders said a man was killed by shrapnel and another person severely wounded as several blasts rocked central Israel, shortly after the military reported detecting new missiles launched from Iran. Advertisement Advertisement More than 10 explosions were also heard by AFP journalists in Tel Aviv. - Iran blames Europe - Iran said European countries including France had created the conditions that led to the United States and Israel attacking the Islamic republic, accusing them of not standing up to Washington's "bullying". - Qatar arrests 313 - Qatari authorities have arrested more than 300 people for sharing images and "misleading information" during days of attacks by Iran, the interior ministry said. - Israel strikes Lebanon - An air strike hit Beirut's southern suburbs, with live AFPTV footage showing large plumes of smoke rising from the area, after Israel warned it would target branches of a firm linked to Hezbollah. Advertisement Advertisement The Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group earlier said it was engaging Israeli forces who landed in eastern Lebanon overnight by helicopter across the Syrian border. - Stocks fall - European stock markets slid at the open on the back of surging energy prices caused by the war, after Japan's Nikkei index of stocks closed down more than five percent and South Korea's Kospi by nearly six percent. - China on new leader - China said it opposes any targeting of Iran's new supreme leader, after the Israeli military threatened to target any successor to his slain father, Ali Khamenei. The younger Khamenei's appointment was purely an internal matter, foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement - European gas spikes - European gas prices soared as much as 30 percent. The Dutch TTF natural gas contract, considered the European benchmark, jumped to 69.50 euros ($80), before paring gains slightly. burs/giv/gil Here are the latest events in the Middle East war: - Iran unleashes barrage - Gulf states as well as Israel reported missile and drone attacks from Iran early Sunday. The Kuwaiti military said it was intercepting "hostile missile and drone attacks", several hours after reporting fuel tanks at the nation's international airport were targeted by Iranian drones. Kuwait's official news agency said a fire at the airport had been brought under control. Advertisement Advertisement UAE authorities said air defences were responding to a missile and drone attack. Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted a drone attack targeting the diplomatic quarter in the capital Riyadh, reporting no casualties or damage. - Israel striking targets 'across Iran' - The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes "across Iran", targeting "military infrastructure". About 10 hours earlier, the military announced strikes on "infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in Tehran". - Iran says will keep fighting - Iran can fight an intense war against the United States and Israel for at least six months, the Revolutionary Guards said. Advertisement Advertisement "The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are capable of continuing at least a 6-month intense war at the current pace of operations," said Guards spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini, according to the Fars news agency. - China says no reason for war - China's top diplomat Wang Yi said the war in the Middle East should "never have happened". "This is a war that should never have happened," he told a press conference in Beijing, adding that "a strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle." - Israel pounds Lebanon - Advertisement Advertisement Lebanon's health ministry said Sunday an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people, after sites across southern Lebanon were targeted. The Israeli military said it carried out a "precise strike" in Beirut targeting commanders from Iran's Revolutionary Guards. In southern Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting Iran-backed group Hezbollah, the health ministry said eight people were killed in strikes on more than 20 towns and villages. - Trump blames Iran for school strike - US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for a deadly strike on an elementary school in the southern Iranian town of Minab, which Iranian officials say killed at least 150 people. Advertisement Advertisement "We think it was done by Iran. Because they are very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. A New York Times investigation has found the US military was most likely responsible. - Kurdish offensive? - Trump also said he did not want Kurdish forces to launch an offensive against Iran, following speculation they might use the war as a chance to seize more autonomy. "We're not looking to the Kurds going in," he said. "We don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is." Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said a potential civil war in Iran would be "the most dangerous scenario". Advertisement Advertisement - Netanyahu vows 'all our force' - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue its war with Iran "with all our force" as part of "a systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime". He added that US and Israeli air strikes had secured "almost complete control of the airspace" over Tehran. Israel's military said it had carried out around 3,400 strikes on Iran since the start of the war on February 28. - Tehran oil depots hit - US and Israeli strikes hit an oil depot in Tehran, Iranian state media said, the first reported attack on Iran's oil infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement The depot was close to a key oil refinery but the ILNA news agency said the refinery's facilities were not damaged. Strikes also hit a depot in northwestern Tehran, according to an AFP journalist who saw flames and smoke rising from the site. Israel said it had struck "a number of fuel storage facilities in Tehran" that were used "to operate military infrastructure". - Kuwait cuts crude production - Kuwait's national oil company on Saturday announced a cut to its production of crude due to Iranian attacks and threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for Gulf hydrocarbons. The "precautionary reduction in crude oil production and refining throughput" will be reviewed as the situation develops, it said. burs-ami/jfx This article was first published in the On the Hill newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox on Friday mornings here. Since the U.S. attacked Iran last weekend, a renewed debate has taken control of the attention on Capitol Hill: Was President Donald Trump acting within his jurisdiction to order the strikes without congressional approval? Under the War Powers Act, the president is required to notify Congress within 48 hours of launching a military attack and U.S. forces can only stay in the area for 60 days, with an additional 30 days to withdraw. That time period can be extended through congressional approval. Advertisement Advertisement The law also stipulates that Trump can only send armed forces abroad if he has statutory authorization from Congress or if there is a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces. So, were Trumps strikes constitutional? Depends on who you ask. Democrats are accusing the president of unconstitutionally launching the attack because he didnt request authorization from Congress. As a result, Democrats in both the House and Senate this week forced votes on resolutions that would rein in Trumps military authority and withdraw troops unless specifically approved by Congress. Those both failed which didnt come as a big surprise. Advertisement Advertisement Thats because Republicans largely support Trump, saying he acted within his bounds and administration officials notified top congressional leaders in both parties the morning of the strikes. Following our Senate briefing, I believe that President Trump acted within his constitutional authority to eliminate an imminent threat, Sen. Mike Lee told me in a statement. The president has properly notified Congress, and it would be unwise to tie his hands as he seeks to bring this conflict to a swift conclusion. I hope all Americans will come together to pray for peace and the safety of the courageous men and women of our Armed Forces. So, Republicans are ruling out the notion that Trump needed their support beforehand. But it gets a little trickier when it comes to that 60-90-day window. Party leaders seem to believe Trump still wouldnt need authorization assuming he doesnt send U.S. troops into the country on the ground, which he hasnt ruled out doing. Advertisement Advertisement No, I think the president has the authority that he needs to conduct the activities, the operations that are currently underway there, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said earlier this week. I also asked House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., what he thought about needing to pull in Congress if the conflict lasts that long: Thats certainly not been the tradition around here, but well see how things develop, he told me heading into a closed-door meeting this week. Sen. John Curtis told me that while he wishes Congress could have weighed in before the Iran strikes, he doesnt think its the right move to withdraw U.S. troops now. That could be even more dangerous, he said. But when I asked him if he thinks a vote would be necessary if the conflict goes beyond the 60-90 days, he told me: I think the War Powers Resolution is pretty clear, 60 days and then can be extended to 90 so thats my interpretation. Advertisement Advertisement Lees office didnt directly respond to my question about that time period and whether Congress will need to act at some point. Instead, they just pointed me back to the senators earlier statement up above. Stories driving the week Owens retirement opens floodgates in Utah elections Utahns have been waiting months to see what the election playing field would be like for this years upcoming midterm elections. After the congressional map got thrown out last year and new districts were drawn, it launched a monthslong game of musical chairs for the current GOP delegation. The state of play: There were four GOP incumbents being squeezed into three districts. And they kept their plans close to their chests until they were absolutely positive what the boundaries would be. Advertisement Advertisement And then came the bombshell news! Rep. Burgess Owens announced Wednesday night he would be stepping aside and wouldnt run for another term. That opened the door for Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy to avoid a member-on-member primary, and its solidified the map for where incumbents will run. Now comes the fun part. Shortly after the Owens news was out and Maloy and Kennedy made their reelection plans known, a flurry of Republican challengers started to emerge. One of the biggest: Phil Lyman will challenge Maloy for the Republican nomination in Utahs new 3rd District which could get interesting. Lyman became a more well-known name among Republican circles after challenging Gov. Spencer Cox in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement There are a handful of other Republicans who have already announced their intent to run as primary challengers, and we could see more before the filing deadline next week. Quick hits From the Hill: GOP leaders push Texas Republican who had affair with staffer to end reelection bid. DHS shutdown drags on as talks between White House and Democrats fall apart. Lawmakers subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi over missing Epstein files. From the White House: Assessing the debate over how Trump shared the news about Iran. Trump lays out administrations justification for Iran strikes. Minnesota continues to face turmoil as Vice President JD Vance launches war on fraud. From the courts: The coordinated push to end medical transition for minors. Supreme Court hears challenge to law that bans gun owners from using marijuana. Chloe Cole was 13 when doctors began her medical transition. Now shes suing them. Whats next The House will be out on recess next week as Republicans head to Doral, Florida, for their annual issues conference. Ill be there to bring updates on GOP strategy heading into the midterm elections. The Senate will be back Monday. As always, feel free to reach out to me by email with story ideas or questions you have for lawmakers. And follow me on X for breaking news and timely developments from the Hill. Mar. 7Western Montana's mountain snowpack did little to make up for a historically dry January, with water basins statewide lagging behind average heading into March. The entire state was baked by above-normal temperatures in February, which has led to a stark contrast in snowpack scenarios for valley locations compared to higher terrain, according to the March water supply outlook from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. While the Stahl Peak weather station in the Whitefish Range of Northwest Montana is reporting above-normal snowpack, nearby Grave Creek in the lower elevations is experiencing its lowest snow year on record. As of March, 24 of the 232 snow monitoring stations with 30 years or more of data in the region experienced the lowest March 1 snow water equivalent on record. The Flathead Basin snowpack was 73% of average heading into March and the Kootenai was 84%. The weather station at Noisy Basin in the Swan Range showed 84 inches of snow as of March 7, while Flattop Mountain in Glacier National Park had 92 inches. Overall, February precipitation ranged from near to well below normal across Montana. The Flathead Basin precipitation was 69% of average and the Kootenai was 78% for the month. However, water year-to-date, Flathead precipitation is at 111% of normal and the Kootenai is 118% of normal, mostly due to the deluge of rain in December that led to damaging flooding in Lincoln County. Still, drought conditions have expanded across the state, with Northwest Montana mostly classified as abnormally dry. "The full influence of this early season moisture remains to be seen," the water report states. "While December precipitation likely helped recharge groundwater sources and stock high-elevation snowpacks, warm temperatures and the lack of valley snow coverage may reduce those benefits." Snowpack accumulations over the next couple of months will determine if water supply deficits can be recovered. "Given the inherent uncertainty of early spring forecasts, and the lack of valley snow, it could be prudent for water users to make conservative management decisions that take into account the full suite of forecast predictions, especially on the lower end," explained NRCS hydrologist Florence Miller. A change in weather is expected starting March 10 as below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation take root. Heavy, wet snow accumulation's above 5,000 feet are expected after Tuesday, with potentially 1 to 3 feet of snow by Friday, the National Weather Service in Missoula predicts. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties Sunday, March 8, to assist with response and recovery efforts following a deadly tornado outbreak in southwest Michigan. This morning, Ive declared a state of emergency for Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties. This state of emergency declaration will ensure that every state resource is available to assist in recovery efforts from the devastating tornadoes on Friday, Whitmer said. 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. I will be joining the Michigan State Police today to tour the impacted areas and assess the damage. We will get through this together. More: Clean up begins after reported tornado devastates Union City community Advertisement Advertisement We have been closely coordinating with local and state partners to assess damage and support communities impacted by the severe weather across southwest Michigan, said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. Im grateful to the first responders, emergency managers, and public works crews working through the night to keep Michiganders safe. Thank you for your dedication and swift action during this challenging weather. Four people were killed when the storms hit March 6, including three in Branch County near Union Lake outside Union City when an EF-3 tornado hit. A 12-year-old boy was also killed in Cass County. Michigan State Police troopers were among the first to respond when tornadoes touched down in these communities, said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police and state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. I am proud of the work our enlisted and civilian members are doing alongside local partners as MSP continues to support response and recovery efforts. Our teams are coordinating through the State Emergency Operations Center and working around the clock to ensure all local needs are met. Whitmer has authorized the use of all available state resources to assist local response and recovery operations in the affected counties by declaring the state of emergency. The MSP Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division is coordinating the states emergency response through the State Emergency Operations Center. This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Whitmer declares emergency for deadly Michigan storm Iran's military offensive will serve as clear proof that the Gulf States' policy of containment toward Iran has failed, said Ohad Merlin, Middle East expert at MIND Israel. Since the outbreak of the recent Iran-Israel war, some analysts have suggested that the confrontation may drive Gulf states towards normalization with the Jewish state. This argument centers on the idea that Irans unprecedented targeting of its neighbors such as strikes on Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman may lead these countries to ally with Israel in a united anti-Islamic regime front. Advertisement Advertisement The fact that Iran has completely lost control and has begun firing in all directions could serve as a significant platform for strengthening relations between Israel and its neighbors, Ohad Merlin, Middle East expert at MIND Israel, told The Jerusalem Post last week. He argued that Irans military offensive will serve as clear proof that the Gulf states policy of containment toward Iran has failed, and that Iran is now perceived as the destabilizing force, after two years in which it was fashionable to blame Israel in the Gulf. There is merit to this argument: a shared security interest, Iran as a common threat, and the precedent of the Abraham Accords could all be factors that propel normalization in theory. Iran and Iraq map. Ilustration. (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK) However, this analysis vastly overlooks the deep reservoir of anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment within Gulf societies. Just because these countries may develop antipathy towards Iran does not de facto mean they will soften their policies on Israel. And even in the cases where governments cooperate quietly with Israel (or by proxy of the US), public opinion often remains overwhelmingly hostile. Gulf public opinion still blocks Israel normalization Gulf states may also develop resentment towards Israel and the US for dragging them into a war they never wanted. In fact, one could argue that much of the incentive for normalization before the Iran conflict stemmed from the idea of allying against a common enemy. However, now that the conflict is a reality, not just a possibility, and given that Iran has been weakened, the incentive of normalization as a security imperative may no longer stand. Advertisement Advertisement According to the Arab Opinion Index, 87% of respondents oppose recognition of Israel, while only 6% said they would accept it. Despite Israeli normalization agreements with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, the percentage of those who supported recognition of Israel dropped by two percentage points in 2024/25 compared to 2022/23. Libya and Jordan have the highest levels of opposition to normalization (96% and 95%, respectively), followed by Kuwait (94%), the Palestinians (91%), and Lebanon, Morocco, and Qatar (89% each). In Saudi Arabia, support for relations with Israel dropped to about 20% during the Gaza war, while 96% favored ending Arab ties with Israel. Zionism, or general Israel support, is also still seen as something of a curse word in Arab society. There has been a significant uptick in Arab media and social media condemnation of the UAE as an Arab Zionist state. Yemeni, Saudi, and Maghrebi media have all run articles labeling the UAE a Zionist traitor state. Advertisement Advertisement The former Tunisian foreign minister said, The UAE has paid the price for its strategic alliance with Israel and for transforming itself into an advanced Hebrew military and financial base in the heart of the Gulf. Today, it is tasting some of the poison it made other Arab and Islamic countries drink through arrogance with wealth, injustice, and aggression without right. The American Jewish Committee expressed concern over Arab social media posts that seem intent on sowing misunderstanding and division between US allies in the Arabian Gulf, undermining the Abraham Accords, and promoting conspiracy narratives about Israel and Jews. Attempts to label the UAE as acting on behalf of Israel or Zionists are false, dishonorable, and distract from the real strategic choices facing the region. These examples highlight how the sentiment on the ground remains deeply unfavorable to both the idea of normalization and the concept of a Jewish state in general. Advertisement Advertisement It is also worth noting that the Abraham Accords were driven more by diplomatic deals between the upper echelons of wealthy politicians and change-makers than by grassroots peace. While Gulf monarchies have pursued quiet cooperation with Israel (security, intelligence, technology), public opinion itself has remained skeptical or hostile. Additionally, the war has shown that cultural narratives go beyond opposition to Israeli policy. Anti-Jewish religious rhetoric and conspiracy narratives are prevalent. Thousands of posts on Arab-language X/Twitter in the last day alone blame Jews for the war. The enemies of Islam are Jews, and the war is clearly between infidelity and Islam, read one. Advertisement Advertisement Everyone has always known that the Jews are the cause of discord, reads another. In order to live, there is no alternative but to cut off the head of the Zionist-American snake. Muslims are being killed in Iran, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. Its the war of the Jews and the Americans, and we are in the middle. They strike us so that Muslims will fight each other, read a third. Conspiracy narratives such as Jews controlling global media or finance or Jews orchestrating regional conflicts are surging. And these narratives blur the line between anti-Israel politics and antisemitic mythology, making it impossible to differentiate one from another. So while elites may see Israel as a strategic partner against Iran, the public often views Israel as a greater threat or moral enemy. This creates a strategic dilemma for Gulf rulers. Advertisement Advertisement For example, polls show only about 20% of Saudis support cooperation with Israel against Iran, so for Saudi Arabia to move toward normalization, it would have to go directly against the vast majority of its people. And given the overwhelming distrust towards Jews and Israelis, they may not want to take that risk. True normalization is unlikely so long as the societal barriers of anti-Israel and antisemitic narratives that frame Israel and Jews as existential enemies persist. Normalization in the Gulf is ultimately a geopolitical project imposed from above, not a societal reconciliation, and if it were the latter, it is unlikely to happen any time soon. As long as public discourse continues to portray Israel, and often Jews themselves, as existential enemies, the assumption that regional war will naturally produce normalization may prove overly optimistic. FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) Three people were arrested, including a man with nine active arrest warrants, following a 17.2-mile pursuit through Fond du Lac County on Sunday. According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Office, a deputy spotted a reckless vehicle on I-41 north near Military Road in Fond du Lac on March 8. A time was not specified. After the vehicle exited the highway, a traffic stop was initiated; however, the driver sped away and got back onto I-41, this time southbound. Advertisement Advertisement Woman taken into custody for stabbing man in Fond du Lac The pursuit went into Dodge County, where authorities tried tire deflation devices. While trying to avoid them, the driver lost control and became stuck in the median cable barrier near Highway 28. The driver and two passengers were then taken into custody, and a K9 gave an open-air sniff on the vehicle, leading to a positive alert. Deputies searched the vehicle and found a rifle, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. The driver was identified as a 39-year-old man from Watertown, and the passengers were a 23-year-old man from Milwaukee and a 50-year-old woman from Watertown. Deputies say the driver had eight open felony cases and one misdemeanor traffic case. He had been released on bond in those cases and also had 9 active arrest warrants for each case. Advertisement Advertisement Scrap metal fire contained on Green Bays Tomlin Street after multiple hours The following charges are being referred: 39-year-old man from Watertown Fleeing and eluding an officer First-degree recklessly endangering safety Felon in possession of a firearm Possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine (1050g) Possession with intent to deliver cocaine (15g) Possession of THC (2nd+ offense) 23-year-old man from Milwaukee Possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine (1050g), party to a crime Possession with intent to deliver cocaine (15g), party to a crime Possession of THC (2nd+ offense), party to a crime 50-year-old woman from Watertown Possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine (1050g), party to a crime Possession with intent to deliver cocaine (15g), party to a crime Possession of THC (2nd+ offense), party to a crime No injuries were reported. 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. A DeKalb County jury found Jana Rawat, 30, guilty of malice murder and multiple other charges on March 3, for the 2022 shooting death of her ex-boyfriend. The murder occurred at a Clarkston apartment while two of Rawats children were in the room. In addition to malice murder, Rawat was convicted of felony murder, aggravated assault family violence, cruelty to children in the third degree and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The conviction follows the May 20, 2022, murder of 28-year-old Tyler James Reed, according to an announcement from DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston. Advertisement Advertisement Clarkston police officers responded to an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Oak Drive shortly before 1 a.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found the apartment door open and were directed to the kitchen by Rawat. Police detained Rawat and recovered a handgun from her jacket pocket. Inside the kitchen, authorities discovered Reed lying face down on the floor. Officers attempted to perform CPR, but Reed was pronounced dead at the scene. Rawat was taken to police headquarters, where she waived her Miranda rights and talked to investigators. She told police she had left her three children at the apartment with Reed, who fathered one of the children, so she could spend time with a friend. When she returned about one hour later, she claimed the apartment lock appeared to have been tampered with because she had difficulty using her key. This led to an argument with Reed in the kitchen. During the argument, Rawat told officers she at first pointed a kitchen knife at Reed because he had been violent with her in the past. She then went upstairs to get a gun and a second child before returning to the kitchen. Rawat pointed the gun at Reed while he sat at the table with another child. After Reed told Rawat he was not afraid of her, she shot him twice. Advertisement Advertisement Defense attorneys argued during the trial that Rawat acted in self-defense. However, prosecutors stated there was no evidence that Reed was a threat to her at the time of the fatal shooting. The case was investigated by the Clarkston Police Department and the DeKalb County District Attorneys Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit. Senior Assistant District Attorneys Furhawn Shah and Eliazette Johnson prosecuted the case. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Asha F. Jackson, who presided over the trial, is scheduled to hold a sentencing hearing for Rawat in 45 days. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] On the occasion of Women's Day, actor Preity Zinta shared an inspiring message for women everywhere, encouraging them to dream big, smile often, and always love themselves. Taking to Instagram, Preity wrote, "Happy Women's day to all you gorgeous ones out there Today more than ever I wanna remind you of my favourite quote - "Don't tell me sky is the limit when you have footprints on the moon !" So don't forget to dream big, smile wide & love yourself today, tomorrow & always Loads of love & more love #Ting." Meanwhile, on the work front, Preity will be seen sharing screen space with Sunny Deol in 'Lahore 1947'. The period drama is one of the most-awaited films and will mark Preity Zinta's return to the big screen after almost eight years. As per the latest information from the film's production team, Lahore 1947 will hit theatres on August 13, 2026, during the Independence Day week. The makers are aiming for a big festive release across India. With this, the upcoming period drama also brings together Sunny Deol, director Rajkumar Santoshi and producer Aamir Khan for the first time. Aamir Khan is producing the film under his banner, Aamir Khan Productions. Talking about the project, Aamir, as per a release, said, "This was one of the favourite scripts of Dharamji, and I am so glad he could see the film." The film also stars Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal and Karan Deol in key roles. Music for the film is by AR Rahman, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar. (ANI) GREECE, N.Y. (WROC) To celebrate International Womens Day on Sunday, the Greece Department of Parks and Recreation held a wellness fair for women in the community. The event was held at The Center and featured a mobile mammogram unit from URMC, CPR demonstrations, tabling from local organizations, and resources on financial wellness, staying physically fit, and mental health. Jenna Kazak, a recreation leader with the Town of Greece Recreation Department, said celebrating International Womens Day is the best time to bring in resources. Advertisement Advertisement Having that comfort to know you can reach out to local organizations to help you with what you need it provides you that level of comfort we definitely need. We love providing these programs for the community, so being able to provide this for the women here is very, its something we look forward to doing. Bringing them together, giving them the opportunity, providing the information for them all in one place, it really helps them as much as we enjoy doing it. Attendees were treated to refreshments, bracelets, and pins. 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 RochesterFirst. New mother Zhang Xiaofei wanted to be financially secure before having a baby, wary of high childcare costs that have been softened only a little by Chinese government cash incentives to boost record-low births. The world's second-most populous country is threatened with a demographic crisis after its birth rate halved over the past decade -- all while people rapidly age out of the workforce. Beijing has made "building a childbirth-friendly society" a priority over the next five years, China's Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday as lawmakers gathered in the Great Hall of the People for their annual political conclave. Advertisement Advertisement The government introduced a raft of financial incentives last year,including free pre-school education and annual subsidies of 3,600 yuan ($500) for each child born. However, young Chinese say the measures do little to alleviate financial stress. Zhang, 32, and her husband Zhu Yunfei, both manicurists, decided to save before having a child. "We discussed it before. The two of us were aligned in wanting to (focus on) work first because our families' (financial) conditions aren't that good," she told AFP while on maternity leave in Hebei province. "If we were to have a child, we would want to give them the very best life," she said, cradling her three-week-old daughter. Advertisement Advertisement - 'Doesn't mean anything' - The new childcare subsidies have cost the government more than 100 billion yuan ($14.5 billion), China's national health director told reporters on Saturday. They were announced shortly after Zhang and Zhu learned they would be parents. "We thought our kid was too lucky," Zhu, 36, said. However, the handout -- roughly 1.5 percent of their pooled annual income -- doesn't come close to covering a year's worth of baby formula. "People joke that it's like giving you a five-yuan voucher towards a Rolls-Royce," he told AFP. Zhu scours second-hand platforms for deals on diapers, while Zhang plans to return to work after her daughter turns one month old. Advertisement Advertisement In Henan, soon-to-be father Li plans to take up a second job once his daughter is born. To save money, he and his wife made a five-hour round trip to neighbouring Hubei province, where he said hospitals offer free prenatal genetic screening. Li, using a pseudonym for fear of repercussions, was reluctant to have children and said he was indifferent to the incentives. "This bit of cash doesn't mean anything," the 35-year-old told AFP. - Incompatible with careers - Social demographer Yun Zhou warned that subsidies "often do not lead to any meaningful rebound in fertility". The government has also promoted the image of "the ideal Chinese family that is centred around heterosexual marriages" as it tries to boost birth rates, said Zhou, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement "For young Chinese women, especially young highly educated Chinese women, there is also this inherent concern about the pervasive gender-based discriminations in the labour market that is front and centre on their mind." In 2023, the government banned employers from withholding advancement based on marriage, pregnancy, or parental status, as well as the practice of including pregnancy tests as part of pre-employment physical exams. However, some women still "feel like childbearing and having successful careers and having a life as a whole is fundamentally incompatible", Zhou said. Lawmakers this week proposed measures such as extra cash for families with three children and lowering the legal marriage age from 22 for men and 20 for women to encourage earlier childbearing. Advertisement Advertisement Chinese social media users slammed such proposals as "nonsense". Being a parent in China is "very difficult", Yuan Limei, a 30-year-old mother of two, told AFP. "There are all kinds of expenses. Everything requires money," she said, pushing her six-year-old on a swing in Beijing. "And with kids, there's no way for you to work." Yuan's oldest child is 10 but she does not plan on having a third. "A kid is much harder to raise than a dog or cat," she laughed. New father Zhu noted that, while subsidies have little impact in big cities like Beijing, they can make a dent in smaller villages. "In the city, 3,600 yuan is hardly anything and can't even buy a baby pram, but in some rural areas it's not a small sum," he said. mya/dhw/pbt KYIV, March 8 (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten discussed joint arms production during his visit to Kyiv on Sunday, and he stressed Ukraine's unique experience in defending against Iranian-made drones used by Russia. "It is important that we are producing weapons together with the Netherlands and we will certainly continue and expand this joint work," Zelenskiy said on X, adding they had discussed investments and possible production volumes in detail. In recent months, Ukraine has stepped up efforts to establish joint arms production with European countries, opening several factories to manufacture drones. Advertisement Advertisement 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 that the expertise it has built during four years of Russia's full-scale invasion could be invaluable to partners' own long-term security. Zelenskiy said that Kyiv has unique experience in combating drones, which Iran actively uses in its attacks on Middle Eastern countries. He said that Ukraine is ready to sell the interceptor drones that are not used by the Ukrainian military, and the first group of Ukrainian military instructors will head to the Middle East on Monday. "They are coming with the means to help," Zelenskiy noted, adding that Ukraine would provide the expertise and experience in defending against "Shahed" model drones and cruise missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian manufacturers of cheap interceptor drones designed to knock out enemy unmanned aerial vehicles have said they have the capacity to export in large volumes. (Reporting by Pavel PolityukEditing by Bernadette Baum, Alexandra Hudson) Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal testifies at a committee hearing in January. Reykdal is facing questions from House Republicans on the state's student gender disclosure policies following a recent Supreme Court ruling. Associated Press reporter Chris Torchia writes notes inside a Stryker armored vehicle during a ride with U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Today, only a few newspapers can still afford substantial foreign staff, said Bob Rowley of Northwestern University. (Pier Paolo Cito / The Associated Press, 2010) A mourner holds a portrait of Iran's slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during Thursday's funeral procession for members of Iraq's pro-Iran paramilitary group Hezbollah Brigades (Kataeb Hezbollah) who were killed in a strike in Baghdad the previous day. The Tehran-backed Iraqi group Kataeb Hezbollah said on March 5 that one of its commanders was killed in a strike in southern Iraq the previous day. Two sources from the faction told AFP on March 4 that a strike hit a vehicle near the group's main base in southern Iraq, killing two fighters. 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 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) Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said the opposition plans to move a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday, acknowledging that the government's majority makes its passage unlikely. However, Tharoor emphasised that the move would give opposition parties an opportunity to place their concerns before the House and the nation, calling it a "sad situation" but an important democratic exercise. "I know the no-confidence motion will be raised tomorrow. We expect a good chunk of the time to be gone on that. It's a sad situation that it's come to this, because obviously, in Parliament, everyone wants to work in cooperation with the Speaker. But some people have had reason to feel this way. We all know that the majority is not going to vote in favour. But at least it will give the opposition a chance to lay their concerns on the table and before the nation," the Congress leader 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 over accusations of disallowing Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders from speaking in the House. Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Birla, saying he is an outstanding Speaker and MP, dedicated to the Constitution and parliamentary systems. He commended Birla's ability to manage the House, transcending party lines, and highlighted Birla's respect for MPs and his leadership style. The Prime Minister said the Speaker remains composed even when "Even if some arrogant, spoiled students from high-class families come and refuse to give up their rowdy habits." "Om Birla is as outstanding a Speaker of the Lok Sabha as he is an MP. He is fully dedicated to the Constitution and holds deep respect for parliamentary systems. Today, he transcends party lines, standing above government and opposition. When I see him in the House, I often think that perhaps it's the influence of coming from the city of education that he manages the House like an able leader, taking everyone along. He handles all our MPs very well in the House. He respects their feelings and requests. He is a Speaker who respects MPs immensely. Even if some arrogant, spoiled students from high-class families come and refuse to give up their rowdy habits, he still manages everyone as the head of the House. He doesn't insult anyone. He even tolerates everyone's harsh words. This is likely why he is so well-loved in the House," PM Modi added. (ANI) The incident occurred late on Saturday night when the students had gone to sleep after taking their meals. The accused attacked the students with a "bed rod", police said, adding that six other children also sustained injuries in the attack. "A boy went on a rampage at a Gurukul residential school in Ballari. After dinner, when everyone was sleeping, he attacked anyone he could find. He took a bed rod and assaulted eight students, resulting in one death, two serious injuries, and six other children being injured," the Bellari police said. The injured have been admitted to the hospital. More details are awaited (ANI) Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday said that the people of West Bengal would "stand stronger" against the entire establishment lining up against the state, after President Droupadi Murmu expressed disappointment over arrangements at the 9th International Santal Conference. He said that the entire establishment was against Bengal. Sharing a post on X, Banerjee wrote, "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!" https://x.com/abhishekaitc/status/2030303623109046633 His remarks come after 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. The President questioned the choice of venue for the event and said she felt saddened that many members of the Santal community were unable to attend the programme. She also remarked on the absence of Mamata Banerjee at the conference. "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. 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. The controversy surrounding the event has drawn attention in political circles, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party frequently criticising the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal on issues related to governance and administration. Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticised the Mamata Banerjee governmet over the arrangements made at the 9th International Santal Conference held in West Bengal and the absence. PM Modi said the incident was "shameful and unprecedented" and had deeply saddened people across the country. "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," PM Modi posted on X. The Prime Minister blamed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in the state for the situation, saying the administration had disrespected the President. (ANI) Amidst the ongoing political row related to President Droupadi Murmu's recent West Bengal visit, CPI-M leader Brinda Karat on Sunday called it a "minimum requirement" that state government representatives welcome the President, while also cautioning that constitutional positions must remain above politics. Speaking to ANI, Karat said that the President is a constitutional position and stated that, since Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could not personally go to welcome President Murmu, a senior functionary of the government should have represented her on the occasion. "When the President visits a state, it's a minimum requirement that representatives from that state's government be present to welcome her, and she is our country's President. This is a constitutional position, so certainly, if the Chief Minister herself couldn't go, then on behalf of Mamata Banerjee's government, a senior functionary should have gone. There's no doubt about that," Karat said. She further said that any kind of controversy should not have happened as the President's office already knew where the event would take place ahead of her arrival. Karat also suggested that the President is not a politically elected representative and is above politics. "Secondly, the entire President's office, etc, knew exactly where the event would be taking place. Therefore, if there had been any discussion about the venue, if it had been finalised before his arrival, this kind of problem would not have arisen. Thirdly, I would say that the positions of President and Governor are above politics. They are not politically elected, nor are they members of any party. Therefore, anyone holding a constitutional position, whether President or Governor, must stay away from politics," said Karat. Controversy erupted on Saturday, when President Droupadi Murmu, during her event in Darjeeling, expressed displeasure with the West Bengal government for not receiving her upon arrival, and not attending her event. "If the President visits a place, the Chief Minister and the Ministers should also come. But she did not," Murmu said, referring to Banerjee. (ANI) Congress leader Udit Raj on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding President Droupadi Murmu and arrangements during a Santal Conference in West Bengal. Speaking to ANI, Raj accused PM Modi of insulting President Murmu first, while reflecting on the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament building. He stated that it should have been inaugurated by the President rather than the Prime Minister. "When the new Parliament House was being inaugurated, the President should have done it, but that opportunity was not given to an Adivasi President... PM Modi did not remember the President during the entry into the new Parliament House... PM Modi has insulted our Adivasi President first," Raj said. 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. (ANI) Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday presented the fifth state budget in the assembly, coinciding with International Women's Day and said that the government has focused on every section of society in the last four years. Before presenting the Budget, Minister Cheema congratulated the women on International Women's Day and boasted that AAP is the "first government" to present a budget on Women's Day. "First of all, on International Women's Day, I congratulate all my mothers, sisters and children on behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party. Today, the historic budget of Punjab, which is being presented on Women's Day, is a great honour for women. To date, no party, no government has presented a budget on Women's Day. For the last four consecutive years, the Punjab government has worked for every section...," Cheema told reporters here. Punjab Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa lashed out at the AAP-led Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Singh government for allegedly backtracking on the poll promises. He further claimed that the government will announce financial aid, keeping in view the elections. "When they took the vote, Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann promised that women would be given Rs 1,000 after forming the government. 48 months have passed. They are announcing after 48 months. And the inside information we have from the government is that they will make this announcement today, and the instalments will start coming from August. They have also requested the BJP to prepone the elections by two to three months. The elections are likely to be in December, so this instalment will be for two months, or at most three months, so fraud is being committed..." Congress MLA Pargat Singh questioned the government over the status of the previous medical colleges announced in the first budget. "...It would have been better if the pension of the disabled, widows and the elderly was increased by one thousand rupees, which was also mentioned in their (AAP) manifesto, but unfortunately they did not do that...In the first budget, they said 16 medical colleges would be built. If they have been built anywhere, please let me know..." In another development, women leaders and workers of the Punjab Congress, including Aekom Warring, daughter of state Congress chief Raja Warring, staged a protest against the Punjab government for not giving women the Rs 1,000 monthly allowance promised during the poll manifesto. They were later detained by the police. (ANI) According to officials, the action was taken against the property linked to the accused Nizamuddin. The incident dates back to Holi, which was on March 4, when a dispute reportedly broke out over a balloon, which later escalated into a violent altercation. During the clash, a youth was allegedly beaten to death. So far, the police have apprehended seven people in connection with the case, including a minor. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) Observing that serious allegations such as forcible occupation of property, forgery of documents and filing of criminal complaints appeared from the record, the Karkardooma court of Delhi dismissed an appeal filed by a complainant woman seeking interim maintenance under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. The order was passed by Principal District and Sessions Judge (North-East), Karkardooma Courts, Sanjay Sharma, who upheld the trial court's decision rejecting the woman's application for interim maintenance. The court found no illegality in the earlier order and declined to interfere with it. The appeal had been filed by the complainant woman after a Mahila Court in North-East Delhi dismissed her plea for interim maintenance in a domestic violence complaint. She had sought monetary relief from her husband, alleging domestic violence and harassment. While dismissing the appeal, the court noted the sequence of criminal cases filed between the parties and the absence of documentary material to substantiate the allegations made by the complainant before the trial court. The court observed, "It is to be appreciated that the incident which is the subject matter of the FIR lodged by the respondents against the complainant and her family members for the offence under Section 452/323 IPC of their having forcibly occupied the house of the respondent, is dated July 20, 2023. The said FIR was registered on July 22, 2023. Similarly, the second FIR under Section 420/406 IPC was registered on November 4, 2023. The appellant made the first complaint to the CAW Cell on July 14, 2023, and her FIR was registered only on February 13, 2024. The said FIR is not a complaint simplicitor for harassment due to dowry demands, but in that FIR, she has implicated 13 members of the family of the respondents with allegations not only of dowry demand, but for rape and unnatural intercourse. These allegations in itself amount to cruelty against the respondent." The court also noted that the marriage between the parties lasted for around one year and four months and that the complainant had not produced documentary evidence before the trial court to support the allegations made in her complaint, except for a CAW Cell complaint that was later converted into an FIR under Sections 498A, 406, 376 and 377 of the IPC. Appearing for the respondent husband, Advocate Ravi Drall argued that the complainant did not qualify as an "aggrieved person" under the Domestic Violence Act. He contended that she, along with her family members, had allegedly thrown the respondent's mother out of her own house and forcibly occupied the property. The counsel further argued that forged documents relating to the residential flat were prepared and that criminal complaints, including allegations of rape against the husband and several family members, were subsequently filed. It was also argued that the respondent and his mother are currently residing in rented accommodation, while the complainant continues to occupy the disputed property and is working as a trainer at a gym. After hearing the parties and examining the record, the sessions court held that the trial court had committed no illegality in rejecting the interim maintenance application. Accordingly, the appeal was dismissed after multiple hearings. However, the court clarified that the complainant remains free to lead evidence before the trial court to prove her allegations and may seek interim maintenance again if circumstances so warrant. (ANI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar on Sunday formally joined the JD(U), marking an unprecedented shift in Bihar politics. After joining the party, Kumar addressed the party workers and heaped praise on his father, Nitish Kumar, for serving the state for 20 years. "I thank everyone. I will try to live up to the trust you all have placed in me. I, the entire Bihar and the entire country are proud of what my father has done in the last 20 years." Nishant Kumar greeted the party workers as soon as he arrived at the Janata Dal (United) office in Patna. Janata Dal (United) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha was also present on the occasion. Union Minister and NDA's Rajya Sabha candidate Ram Nath Thakur told ANI that Nishant Kumar is joining the party to remain connected with the people. "It was the decision of JDU workers and the common people that Nishant Kumar (son of CM Nitish Kumar) join the JDU and listen to the voice of the people... It is for the same reason that he is taking JDU membership today... It was his (Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's) wish to go to the Rajya Sabha..." Bihar minister Ratnesh Sada called Nishant Kumar the "future of Bihar". "This is Bihar's future, and we will complete and demonstrate the work that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has left unfinished," Sada told ANI. Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh extended "best wishes" to Nishant Kumar in his political journey. Meanwhile, Nishant Kumar, on Saturday, also held a meeting with senior party leaders and young MLAs at the residence of Sanjay Kumar Jha. The meeting 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. "I am going to the Rajya Sabha. There won't be a problem for you all. I will remain in Bihar as well; all work will continue. Work hard for the development of Bihar. I will keep an eye on everything; do not worry," Kumar said earlier. (ANI) The programme was graced by A. Revanth Reddy, who attended as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister appreciated the dedication, courage, and professionalism displayed by women journalists and acknowledged their vital role in strengthening democracy and upholding the values of responsible journalism. "Women journalists continue to inspire society through their commitment to truth, integrity, and public service," CM Revanth said. Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, also attended the programme and lauded the growing role of women in the media sector, emphasising that their participation is essential for building an inclusive and progressive society, according to a release. Minister for Revenue, Housing, Information & Public Relations, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, appreciated the professionalism and dedication of women journalists and reiterated the government's commitment to supporting media freedom and empowering women across all fields. Minister for Transport and BC Welfare Ponnam Prabhakar extended his greetings to women journalists and acknowledged their important contribution in bringing social issues and public concerns to light. Minister for Minorities Welfare and Public Enterprises Mohammed Azharuddin conveyed his warm wishes to women journalists on the occasion and praised their tireless efforts and dedication to the profession. He emphasised that empowering women in media and other sectors remains a priority of the government. Newly nominated Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament Anil Kumar Yadav and Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy were also present at the event, along with senior government officials, representatives of the media fraternity, and other distinguished guests. During the programme, several women journalists were felicitated in recognition of their outstanding service and contribution to journalism. The leaders collectively appreciated their commitment and reiterated the government's continued support for women's empowerment and equal opportunities in every sector of society, an official statement said. (ANI) Manipur Minister Govindas Konthoujam on Sunday flagged off a 15-km and 7-km empowerment run at Khuman Lampak in Imphal, organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on the occasion of International Women's Day. Speaking to the reporters, Konthoujam said that PM Modi has consistently emphasised the importance of empowering women. "PM Modi has already talked about women empowerment... We should give importance to our women... I convey my best wishes to all the women," he said. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand announced an allocation of Rs 350 crore in the 2026-27 budget for the welfare of women in Manipur. The provision aims to benefit around 3.5 lakh women across the state through various welfare schemes. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the nation on International Women's Day and paid tribute to the strength, determination and achievements of India's Nari Shakti. The Prime Minister greeted women across the country and acknowledged their growing role in shaping India's progress. He said that across every field, women are contributing with determination, creativity and unmatched zeal, and that their achievements inspire the nation while strengthening the collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat. Highlighting the Government's commitment towards women-led development, the Prime Minister noted that empowerment of women lies at the core of several schemes and initiatives of the Government. He reiterated that the Government remains committed to creating opportunities that enable every woman to realise her full potential and contribute to India's journey of development. The Prime Minister further remarked that the achievements of India's Nari Shakti are a source of pride for the nation and a powerful reminder of the transformative role played by women in nation-building. He added that as India progresses further, the aspirations and contributions of women will continue to guide the country's collective journey towards a strong and prosperous nation. PM Modi also shared a glimpse of how the lives of women at the grassroots have been transformed over the past decade, highlighting the impact of initiatives aimed at empowering women across the country. In a series of X posts, PM Modi said, "On International Women's Day, I extend my greetings to all our Nari Shakti. Across every field, women are shaping India's progress with determination, creativity and unmatched zeal. Their achievements inspire our nation and strengthen our collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat. Empowerment of women is at the core of our various schemes and initiatives. We remain committed to creating opportunities that enable every woman to realise her full potential and contribute to India's journey of development". International Women's Day, observed globally on March 8, celebrates the achievements, leadership and contributions of women across all spheres of life and reaffirms the collective commitment towards gender equality, safety, dignity and empowerment. (ANI) Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Sunday extended greetings on International Women's Day and highlighted the importance of respecting and empowering women in society. He said the day is an opportunity to celebrate the strength, dignity, and achievements of women who shape families, society, and the nation. https://x.com/APDeputyCMO/status/2030492767642923349?s=20 In a post on X, the office of the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh said, "International Women's Day is a moment to celebrate the strength, dignity, and achievements of women who shape families, society, and the nation. Bharat has revered women since the times of the Puranas as embodiments of Shakti. Today, that legacy continues with Hon'ble President of Bharat Droupadi Murmu Ji (@rashtrapatibhvn) serving as the first citizen of our country." "The true progress of a nation is measured by the dignity, safety, and empowerment of its women. Let us celebrate their strength, support their aspirations, and work together to build a society where every woman can rise and lead," the post read. International Women's Day, observed globally on March 8, celebrates the achievements, leadership and contributions of women across all spheres of life and reaffirms the collective commitment towards gender equality, safety, dignity and empowerment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings to the nation on International Women's Day and paid tribute to the strength, determination and achievements of India's Nari Shakti. The Prime Minister greeted women across the country and acknowledged their growing role in shaping India's progress. He said that across every field, women are contributing with determination, creativity and unmatched zeal, and that their achievements inspire the nation while strengthening the collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat. Highlighting the Government's commitment towards women-led development, the Prime Minister noted that empowerment of women lies at the core of several schemes and initiatives of the Government. He reiterated that the Government remains committed to creating opportunities that enable every woman to realise her full potential and contribute to India's journey of development. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday participated in the "Nari Tu Narayani" programme organised at Mukhya Sevak Sadan, Dehradun, to honour senior women on the occasion of International Women's Day. According to a release, during the event, the Chief Minister felicitated 38 senior women from across the state who have made outstanding contributions in various fields such as education, social service, entrepreneurship, environmental conservation, agriculture, culture, and water conservation. Extending his greetings on International Women's Day, the Chief Minister said that the programme honours those women whose sacrifice, struggle, affection, and values have strengthened the foundation of families, society, and the nation. He said that generations progress and society continues to move forward with the love, sacrifice, and blessings of women. As mothers, women often sacrifice their own comforts to ensure a better future for their children. The Chief Minister said that senior women are not only the pillars of their families but also the guardians of culture, traditions, and life values. He added that the contribution of women in Uttarakhand is particularly inspiring and admirable. Women in the state manage their families while also working tirelessly in the fields and rural economy. Despite challenging circumstances, they continue to move forward with resilience and determination. He emphasised that the true strength of the mountains lies in its maternal power. As per a release, he further stated that serving senior citizens and elderly mothers is a collective responsibility of society. The state government is implementing several welfare schemes aimed at empowering women, especially senior women. Through initiatives such as the Old Age Pension Scheme and Widow Pension Scheme, the government is providing financial assistance to women. Efforts are also being made to strengthen old-age homes in various districts and ensure better healthcare facilities for the elderly. The Chief Minister also said that the state government is providing free religious pilgrimage facilities for senior citizens. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring that every elderly mother in Uttarakhand can live with dignity, security, and self-respect. Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya said that women who excel in different fields serve as an inspiration for society. She noted that an active life keeps a person vibrant and fulfilled. She emphasised that women's empowerment begins at home and gradually spreads to society and the nation. Women carry out their responsibilities with dedication, and their strength plays a vital role in shaping families, society, and the country. The minister added that the senior women being honoured have lived lives marked by struggle, patience, and dedication to society, making them a source of inspiration for all. Their experience and guidance are a valuable asset for the community, a release stated. Secretary Chandresh Kumar Yadav informed that the main theme of this year's International Women's Day programme is "Give to Gain." In line with this theme, senior women aged 60 years and above, who remain active, self-reliant, and continue to contribute significantly to society, are being honoured. To ensure a transparent and representative selection process, one woman each from low-income, middle-income, and high-income groups was selected from every district through district-level committees. (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri presided over the culmination of the three-day Bushahr Carnival, held from March 5-7 at the grounds of Padam Government Senior Secondary School, Rampur. The event took place last evening, and as the chief guest, he inaugurated the cultural program by lighting the lamp. Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, who is also the state president of the Bushahr Sports, Culture and Environment Association, was a special guest on the occasion. The event organised by the Bushahr Sports, Culture and Environment Association, the Bushahr Carnival, has been held continuously for the past five years, spanning the first three evenings of the four-day historic Phag Mela. Over the years, the event has evolved into not only a cultural event but also a powerful platform for local talent and a powerful way to connect youth with their rich culture. Agnihotri was on his arrival given a grand welcome by the administration, local people, and party officials. A large number of residents presented their various problems to the Deputy Chief Minister, who assured them of prompt resolution. At the Bushahr Carnival, President of the Bushahr Sports, Culture and Environment Association, Rampur, Rahul Soni, honoured Agnihotri and Vikramaditya Singh by presenting them with Himachali caps, shawls, and mementoes. In his address, the Deputy Chief Minister expressed his happiness and said that under the guidance of Public Works and Urban Development Minister Singh and the tireless efforts of the Rampur unit of the Bushahr Sports, Culture and Environment Association, this event is becoming grander every year. He said that the contributions of the state's first Chief Minister, the late Yashwant Singh Parmar, and former Chief Minister, the late Raja Virbhadra Singh, to the development of Himachal Pradesh can never be forgotten. He noted that Rampur is the home district of Cabinet Minister Vikramaditya Singh, and he has left no stone unturned in the development of the region. The chief guest heartily congratulated all the organisers, artists and associates for this successful event and expressed hope that the Bushhar Carnival, organised by the Bushhar Sports, Culture and Environment Association, will continue to be organised with similar success in the coming years. Meanwhile, Singh thanked Agnihotri for attending the closing ceremony of the Bushhar Carnival as the chief guest. The souvenir of the Bushhar Carnival was also released. Himfed Chairman Maheshwar Chauhan, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Civil) Rampur Harsh Amarendra Singh, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Naresh Sharma, Director Board of Tourism Yashpal Soni, former District Council Chairman Chandra Mani, officers from various departments and party officials were among those who participated. (ANI) Disrespect to the President is disrespect to India's democracy, the Assam State BJP said on Sunday, expressing deep concern over the developments surrounding the recent visit of President Droupadi Murmu to West Bengal to attend a Santhal conference. State BJP Spokesperson Mita N Bora said that the 9th International Santhal Conference was an important platform that brings together members of the Santhal community and representatives from different regions to deliberate on issues related to tribal welfare, cultural preservation, and the future aspirations of the community. The Santhal community is one of the largest tribal communities in India, with over 7 million people across the country and over 2.5 million residing in West Bengal. Reports indicate that the original venue for the conference had been planned at Bidhannagar, Siliguri, a location capable of accommodating a large gathering of community members and delegates. However, the venue was later shifted to Gosaipur, Bagdogra, which is comparatively smaller and less accessible. This change reportedly prevented a large number of Santhal community members from attending the conference and participating in the discussions, as stated by President Droupadi Murmu on March 7. "Equally concerning was the reported breach of established protocol during the President's visit. As per long-standing protocol, when the President of India visits a state, the Chief Minister or senior representatives of the state government formally receive the President. In this instance, no senior leadership from the state government was present to receive the President. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the development as "shameful and unprecedented," noting that such incidents are deeply disheartening for the values of India's democracy. Respect for constitutional institutions and the dignity of the office of the President must remain above political considerations," the State BJP Spokesperson said. She stated that the BJP strongly condemns the manner in which the visit of the President was handled by the government of West Bengal, led by Mamata Banerjee. "The dignity and respect due to the first citizen of India must be upheld at all times. The incident becomes even more unfortunate as it occurred around International Women's Day, a day that celebrates the achievements, dignity, and empowerment of women. The President of India is not only the constitutional head of the nation but also the first tribal woman to occupy this highest office, representing the aspirations and pride of millions of people across the country. The BJP reiterates that the dignity of constitutional offices and the principles of democratic conduct must always be respected. Any action that undermines these values raises serious concerns and must be addressed with the seriousness it deserves," the State BJP said in a press release. The Assam unit of the BJP further said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) firmly believes that the empowerment of India's tribal communities and the empowerment of women are among its highest priorities. She mentioned how for the Assam Pradesh BJP women's welfare and empowerment have been a core focus of governance. "Under the Orunodoi Scheme, nearly 38-40 lakh women in Assam are currently receiving direct financial assistance. Through the Udyamita Scheme, over 30 lakh women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have become beneficiaries, promoting entrepreneurship and economic independence. Similarly, under the Nijut Moina Scheme, more than 3.5 lakh girl students are receiving financial support to continue their education and strengthen their future prospects. These initiatives have contributed to significant social progress in the state. For instance, child marriage in Assam has declined by about 84 per cent among girls, while the maternal mortality rate has decreased by nearly 30 per cent, and the infant mortality rate has declined by around 28 per cent. These achievements reflect a broader commitment where women now constitute a large share of beneficiaries of development initiatives, not only in Assam but across India," said the press release. It further stated that, through such policies and programs, the BJP continues to strengthen the role, dignity, and economic participation of women and tribal communities in the nation's development. (ANI) Himachal Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday met with Kuldeep Kumar Dhiman, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Scheduled Castes Commission and former Minister, along with Commission members Advocate Vijay Dogra and Advocate Digvijay Malhotra, at his official residence, Oak Over, the release said. During the meeting, the Chief Minister and the Commission's Chairman and members discussed the activities of the Commission and various issues related to the Scheduled Castes community. The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts being made by the Commission to safeguard the interests of the Scheduled Castes community. According to the Himachal Chief Minister's Office, CM Sukhu said that nearly 26 per cent of the state's total population belongs to the Scheduled Castes community; therefore, it is important that schemes related to their social and economic upliftment are implemented seriously and effectively. He said that the state government was fully committed to the welfare of the underprivileged sections of society, and the Commission is playing an important role in this direction. The Chief Minister said that the Commission has a significant role in protecting and promoting the constitutional rights of the Scheduled Castes community. He expressed hope that the Commission would continue to carry out its responsibilities with full dedication. Commission Chairman and former Minister Kuldeep Kumar Dhiman thanked the Chief Minister and said that, in accordance with his directions, 10 kanal of land has been made available to the Commission in Rampur, Una district, for the construction of an office building, and the land has also been formally transferred in the Commission's name. He requested to make budget provisions for the coming financial year so that construction of the building can begin, which would include an office, a library, a museum and a photo gallery. Dhiman also congratulated the Chief Minister on the occasion of International Women's Day and appreciated the efforts being made by the state government for the upliftment and empowerment of women. He also congratulated him on the unopposed election of Congress candidate Anurag Sharma as a Member of the Rajya Sabha. (ANI) Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Sunday criticised opposition leaders over the controversy surrounding President Droupadi Murmu's visit to the 9th International Santhal Conference on March 7. He described the shifting of the venue and the management of the event as a deliberate sabotage of the Santhal Conference calling it a sign of a "disturbing political culture" and accusing politicians like Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee of lowering political standards. Speaking to ANI, Chandrasekhar said, "This political culture started by people like Rahul Gandhi and perpetuated by people like Mamata Banerjee is going beyond any decency and decorum... What we see is a very disturbing political culture where even the President of India is not spared from the petty politics of this group of politicians... I am not only disappointed, but I'm also disgusted by the levels to which these type of politicians will take their politics... Either they did it deliberately, or they didn't do it deliberately, but they are so incompetent that they deserve to be thrown out." The controversy emerged after President Murmu expressed disappointment over the last-minute change of venue for the 9th International Santal Conference held on Saturday in the Darjeeling district and the absence of state representation to receive her. Earlier today, the Central government sought an explanation from the West Bengal administration over lapses in the protocol during the visit of President Murmu, with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan asking the West Bengal Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report by 5 pm today. The report has been sought regarding the failure to follow the prescribed protocol for receiving the President, the last-minute change in the venue of the International Santal Conference, the route change, and other logistical arrangements during her visit. The BJP has accused the TMC government of insulting the President, while TMC has rejected allegations of protocol violation. The Santhal community is one of the largest tribal communities in India, with over 7 million people across the country and over 2.5 million residing in West Bengal. (ANI) Delhi Police on Sunday arrested the eighth accused, 38-year-old Imran alias Bunty, in connection with a murder in Uttam Nagar, where a youth was allegedly beaten to death during Holi. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said, "In continuation of the arrests earlier made in the case, the eighth accused - Imran @ Bunty, aged 38 years, has also been arrested. Also, as per the statements of deceased Tarun's family, stringent provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act have been invoked." Earlier, while speaking to ANI, Singh confirmed that provisions under the SC/ST Act have been applied, and further arrests may be made as the probe continues. "The investigation of the Tarun murder case is ongoing. A total of seven individuals have been arrested, including a minor apprehended earlier and one additional suspect taken into custody today, all of whom are local residents. Based on statements from the victim's family and available witnesses, the case has been unfolded to include provisions under the SC/ST Act," Singh told ANI. "The investigation is still active, with efforts focused on maintaining peace in the area. The most recent arrest was made after verifying the family's statements and witness accounts. The investigation will continue, and any further suspects identified will also be arrested," he said. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carried out a bulldozer action against the property of an accused. According to officials, action is being taken against the property linked to the accused Nizamuddin. The incident dates back to Holi, which was on March 4, when a dispute reportedly broke out over a balloon, which later escalated into a violent altercation. During the clash, a youth was allegedly beaten to death. So far, the police have apprehended seven people in connection with the case, including a minor. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday dismissed President Droupadi Murmu's complaints with the state government over mismanagement at the tribal conference during her visit yesterday, stating that the Trinamool Congress did not manage the event and that she was at a Dharna "fighting for the people." The CM's remarks come after President Murmu publicly expressed disappointment with the West Bengal government over the arrangements made for the event yesterday. President Murmu also expressed concern over the absence of representatives of the state government during her visit. Addressing a gathering during her ongoing protest here, Mamata Banerjee said that she could not deny the President from visiting the state over people's absence. She also clarified that a mayor from her party was present at the President's event. "You said that we didn't honour her [President Murmu]? Our Mayor was present there. I was at the dharna; how could I have left it? Before the dharna started, I was not aware of the program. I am fighting the battle of the people here. I am fighting for their voting rights," she said. Further addressing the allegations against the TMC governemnt over lapses in the protocol during the President's visit, the CM said that the venue falls under the airport authority area, asking the government not to level false allegations ahead of the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections. "The West Bengal Government was not involved in any capacity. I cross-checked the washroom-related issue that was highlighted. The matter is under the jurisdiction of the Airport Authority of India. The green room was set up by the organisers. HM Amit Shah also held a meeting there a few days ago. The area doesn't belong to us. It belongs to the Airport Authority of India. If anything has gone wrong, it is their failure. So, don't blame us. We give full respect to the chair. We respect the Constitution like our mother. Just because polls are coming, you blamed us since you targeted Bengal. Why?" she stated. "Why are we to be blamed for it? The Airport Authority of India is yours. The green room was set up by the organisers. We didn't select them. It was your choice," she added. She further clarified that the state government had written a letter advising against the capability of the "private organisation" in organising an event of that level, but the President still accepted the invitation, not involving the state government. "Yesterday, you tweeted. I have responded to it. The program was not organised by us. It was organised by a private organisation. From the state government, a letter was sent which clearly stated that the organisation doesn't have the capability to organise a program which involves the Hon'ble President of India. They didn't involve us. It was not a state government program. Despite highlighting that the private organisation may not be able to hold the program properly, the Hon'ble President accepted the invitation by exercising her choice. So, it is their prerogative, not ours," she added. Meanwhile, the Central government has sought an explanation from the West Bengal administration over lapses in the protocol during the visit of President Droupadi Murmu to attend a tribal conference in West Bengal on Saturday, with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan asking the West Bengal Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report by 5 PM on Sunday. The report has been sought regarding the failure to follow the prescribed protocol for receiving the President, the last-minute change in the venue of the International Santal Conference, the route change, and other logistical arrangements during her visit. (ANI) On the arrival of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at Bharadisain, MLA Anil Nautiyal, Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar, SP Surjeet Singh Panwar, and local residents welcomed him. CM Dhami on Sunday participated in the "Nari Tu Narayani" programme organised at Mukhya Sevak Sadan, Dehradun, to honour senior women on the occasion of International Women's Day. According to a release, during the event, the Chief Minister felicitated 38 senior women from across the state who have made outstanding contributions in various fields such as education, social service, entrepreneurship, environmental conservation, agriculture, culture, and water conservation. Extending his greetings on International Women's Day, the Chief Minister said that the programme honours those women whose sacrifice, struggle, affection, and values have strengthened the foundation of families, society, and the nation. He said that generations progress and society continues to move forward with the love, sacrifice, and blessings of women. As mothers, women often sacrifice their own comforts to ensure a better future for their children. The Chief Minister said that senior women are not only the pillars of their families but also the guardians of culture, traditions, and life values. He added that the contribution of women in Uttarakhand is particularly inspiring and admirable. "Women in the state manage their families while also working tirelessly in the fields and rural economy. Despite challenging circumstances, they continue to move forward with resilience and determination," he said. He emphasised that the true strength of the mountains lies in its maternal power. (ANI) Colton Underwood joked that his baby boy could become an electrician. Colton Underwood is a dad to a 16-month-old son Little Bishop, 16 months, has developed a fascination with light switches since TV personality Colton, 34, and his 43-year-old husband, political strategist Jordan C. Brown, welcomed him into the world via a gestational surrogate. The Traitors US star Colton told People: "Currently, he's obsessed with light switches. 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." And although the tot is growing up fast, he still never fails to brighten up his parents' days. Colton added: "We have molars growing in, so there's drool everywhere, open-mouth kisses. I truly call him my human Xanax. He's a breath of fresh air, lights up every room." The couple announced the arrival of Bishop in September 2024 via an Instagram post, just over a year after their three-day nuptial celebration at the Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa Valley, California, in May 2023. Captioning shots of them bonding with their son, Colton and Jordan - who were first linked in 2021 - penned: "Our world is a million times better with you in it. Bishop Colton Brown-Underwood. September 26th, 2024." In August 2025, the pair revealed their surrogacy experience was complicated. During an appearance on the Two Parents and Pod podcast, Jordan explained: "Its interesting because, I always say, its this really weird mix of miracle and capitalism. Its a miracle, like, bringing new life into the world, but also theres a ton of contracts and legal stuff. "When you arrive [at the hospital], youre handing the hospital a court order from a judge thats, like, 'The baby thats born out of this person between this day and this day belongs to these other people.' "We would have had the right to be, like, baby comes out and goes to us. Colton and Jordan - who used a separate egg donor to have Bishop - were excited to become parents. In February 2024, Colton told People: "It was one of the things that bonded us early on. We both wanted to be dads. I was very vocal on that. "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. I realised 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." Chodankar suddenly felt dizzy and fainted on the ground as he, along with senior AICC leaders, was leaving the Congress headquarters in Chennai. Following the incident, Congress General Secretary and MP Mukul Wasnik and other senior party leaders immediately rushed him to a nearby hospital. Tamil Nadu Congress President K Selvaperunthagai said that Chodankar is doing fine now and his condition is stable. Earlier on Wednesday, Chodankar said the party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections together with full strength, following the conclusion of seat-sharing talks between the two parties. Speaking to reporters in Chennai after the agreement was finalised, the State Congress In-charge said, "We have agreed. We have signed. We are going to fight the elections together very strongly." The remarks come after the second round of discussions between Congress leaders and the DMK leadership ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. As part of the agreement, Congress will contest 28 Assembly constituencies in the state and will also be allotted one Rajya Sabha seat. The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the incumbent MK Stalin-led alliance will look to project the 'Dravidian Model 2.0' for the win against the BJP-AIADMK alliance. Actor-turned-politician Vijay's entry with his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to turn the Tamil Nadu polls into a three-way contest. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), led by DMK, won 159 seats in the 2021 polls, with the DMK alone winning 133 seats while Congress won 18, PMK five, VCK four, and others won eight seats. While the NDA won 75 seats, the AIADMK emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats. (ANI) An 18-year-old Muslim youth has alleged that he was assaulted and forced to eat cow dung by a group of self-proclaimed cow vigilantes in Pune earlier this week. According to the victim, the incident occurred while he was working as a helper on a truck transporting buffalo from Karad in Maharashtra, around 120 km from Pune, to Mumbai. He claimed that despite carrying all legal documents related to the transport of cattle, a group of people intercepted the truck in Pune near Khed Shivapur and accused them of illegal cattle transportation. He alleged that members of the group, led by a transgender individual, along with another person, assaulted him, verbally abused him and allegedly forced him to eat cow dung while also compelling him to chant "Jai Shri Ram". He further alleged that he was slapped and hit on the face during the incident. Following the incident, the matter was taken to the Ambegaon Police Station under the Pune City Police Commissionerate. Based on the complaint, the police registered a Non-Cognisable (NC) report. However, the victim has expressed dissatisfaction with the action taken so far and has demanded that a First Information Report (FIR) be registered and strict action be taken against the accused. Meanwhile, a video of the alleged incident has gone viral on social media. AIMIM senior leader and National Spokesperson Waris Pathan also shared the video on the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) and criticised the incident. In his post, Pathan wrote that "Hindutva goons are forcing a Muslim youth to eat cow dung, beating him and abusing him. Have they completely lost fear of the law? Has the government given them a free hand?" He further demanded that the Maharashtra Chief Minister and the Director General of Police take immediate action against those involved. (ANI) On the occasion of International Women's Day, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state government would introduce a law to provide 25 per cent reservation for women in recruitment to Class-III posts in government departments, according to a press release. He was presiding over the state-level International Women's Day function held in Nahan, in Sirmaur district. The Chief Minister also announced a special recruitment drive for women Sub-Inspectors in the Police Department. He said that the government was committed to strengthening women's participation in policing and other public services. During the function, the Chief Minister announced Rs. 500 crore for the development of Nahan Medical College. He said that the institution would be upgraded with improved infrastructure and better medical facilities. He also announced to increase the Mahila Samman Rashi from Rs. one lakh to Rs. two lakh. In addition, MSc Zoology, MBA and MA History courses would be introduced from the next academic session at PG College Nahan, the press release stated. Extending greetings on International Women's Day, the Chief Minister said that women's welfare was the top priority of the present state government and women were at the centre of every government initiative. He said that the government has ensured equal rights for daughters in ancestral property up to 150 bighas, giving them rights equal to sons. He said that under Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, the state government was bearing the cost of higher education for the children of widowed women. He said that the entire administrative leadership of Lahaul-Spiti district was currently in the hands of women and that the Deputy Commissioners of Sirmaur and Hamirpur districts were also women officers. The Chief Minister said that the state government has increased the legal marriage age for women from 18 to 21 years. The government was also encouraging widow remarriage, and the incentive amount has been increased from Rs. 65 thousand to Rs. 2 lakh. He said a 30 per cent reservation has already been provided to women in police recruitment, and the government was considering providing a monthly pension of Rs. 1,500 to women in the state from next year. Referring to the 2023 natural disaster, the Chief Minister said the state government revised relief rules and significantly increased compensation for affected families. Despite administrative advice, the government decided to provide Rs. 7 lakh for house reconstruction. He said that during the crisis, the entire administrative machinery was engaged in relief work, the press release stated. He said that the opposition was repeatedly demanding a special assembly session during the disaster period. When a special relief package for affected families was proposed, BJP legislators walked out of the Assembly. The Chief Minister said that February 1 would remain a black day in the history of Himachal Pradesh, as the central government stopped the Rs. 10 thousand crore annual RDG financial assistance provided to the state. He said that Himachal Pradesh is a small state with limited sources of income. Despite providing water to northern India, irrigating the fields of Punjab and preserving forests, the state's rights have often been overlooked. He said he had offered to go to Delhi along with BJP leaders to raise the state's concerns, but they did not effectively take up the issue. He said that the people of Himachal Pradesh will have to fight for their rights with determination. Sukhu said that during the tenure of the previous BJP government, Himachal Pradesh slipped to 21st position in quality education rankings, which he described as a setback for students and the people of the state. He said the present government was working to improve the quality of education and had introduced CBSE-pattern schools, where subjects such as music and drawing would also be taught. Teachers for these subjects would be recruited through the Rajya Chayan Aayog. He said that the government was also strengthening the rural economy and had already fulfilled seven key guarantees. The honorarium of Anganwadi workers has been increased to Rs. 10,500, while Anganwadi helpers would now get Rs. 5,800. CM Sukhu said that the Delhi Police cannot detain anyone from Himachal Pradesh without following proper procedures. He said that when the Delhi Police earlier took action without informing the state authorities, an FIR was registered. However, when they returned with proper information, the state police fully cooperated, the release noted. Earlier, a political slugfest broke out in Himachal Pradesh following the recent confrontation between Delhi Police and Himachal Police over the detention of three persons from a resort in Chirgaon, with the ruling Congress defending the state police action and the BJP accusing the government of obstructing a lawful investigation. The controversy stems from an incident in which a Delhi Police team allegedly picked up three individuals from a resort in Shimla district, prompting intervention by Himachal Police and subsequent legal proceedings. Speaking at the event, Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said that today, daughters were progressing in education as well as in every other field. He urged society to encourage girls and provide them with opportunities to move forward. He said that society must eliminate gender discrimination and respect women. He said that where women are respected, prosperity follows. Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said that women play a crucial role in the development of any society. He said that the thinking of society is gradually changing, and daughters are performing exceptionally well in education and competitive examinations. He said that the Deputy Commissioner of Sirmaur district was also a woman officer who was effectively leading the district administration. MLA and Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee President Vinay Kumar said that women have always been symbols of strength in Himachal Pradesh. He said that the Congress party has consistently supported women's rights and empowerment, including providing 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions. He said that schemes such as Indira Gandhi Sukh Samman Nidhi and Mukhyamantri Sukh Aashray are ensuring the welfare of women. MLA Ajay Solanki welcomed the Chief Minister to Nahan and said that under his leadership, the state government was continuously working for women's empowerment. He said many women from Sirmaur district have reached high positions and brought pride to the district. Earlier, the Chief Minister received a warm welcome on his arrival in Nahan and also visited exhibitions set up by various departments. Former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Gangu Ram Musafir, former MLAs Kirnesh Jung and Ajay Bahadur, Chairperson of the State Women Commission Vidya Negi, General Secretary of the Child Welfare Council Jainab Chandel, Chairman of the State Food Commission Dr S.P. Katyal, District Congress President Anand Parmar, APMC Sirmaur Chairman Sita Ram Sharma, Waqf Board Chairman Nasir Rawat, Congress leaders Dayal Pyari and Naseema Begum, Director Women and Child Development Department Pankaj Lalit, DC Sirmaur Priyanka Verma and SP Nishchint Negi along with several other dignitaries were present on the occasion. (ANI) Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Sandosh Kumar on Sunday said that it was the duty of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to recieve President Droupadi Murmu during her state visit for the 9th International Santal Conference in Darjeeling. "Whatever the situation, Mamata could have gone there. It is unfortunate that she did not receive her. As the Chief Minister of a state, it is her duty to be present when the President or Prime Minister visits. That could have been avoided and Mamata did make a mistake by not attending that function," he stressed. Earlier today, BJP MLA and West Bengal Assembly Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused the TMC government of insulting women, tribal communities, and the Constitution following alleged protocol lapses at President Droupadi Murmu's event. Speaking to ANI, the BJP leader held the West Bengal government responsible for the incident and called for strict action against senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police (DGP), Siliguri Police Commissioner, and Darjeeling District Magistrate (DM). "It is an insult to women, the tribal community, and the Constitution, with the West Bengal government responsible for it. Strict action should be taken, including suspension and departmental proceedings, against central cadre officers such as the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Siliguri, and the District Magistrate of Darjeeling," Adhikari said. The controversy emerged after President Murmu expressed disappointment over the last-minute change of venue for the 9th International Santal Conference held on Saturday in the Darjeeling district and the absence of state representation to receive her. The BJP has accused the TMC government of insulting the President, while TMC has rejected allegations of protocol violation. The Santhal community is one of the largest tribal communities in India, with over 7 million people across the country and over 2.5 million residing in West Bengal. (ANI) Union Minister of Jal Shakti, CR Paatil, marked the Shubharambh of Jal Mahotsav 2026, a nationwide campaign of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), from Village Rahej in Gandevi Block of Navsari district, Gujarat, with the observance of Jal Arpan Diwas, symbolising the handing over of drinking water assets to the Gram Panchayat to strengthen community ownership of rural drinking water systems under the Jal Jeevan Mission on the occasion of International Women's Day. The shuharambh of Jal Mahotsav coincides with International Women's Day, observed as "Sujalam Shakti Diwas." While the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, V Somanna, participated in the programme from Village Panchayat Parulebajar, Karli village, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, and Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, joined the Jal Mahotsav programme from Fakuli Panchayat, Kudhani Block, Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, marking the beginning of nationwide activities across States and districts. Jal Mahotsav 2026, a nationwide campaign initiated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, is being observed across the country from March 8 to 22 with the objective of strengthening community participation in rural drinking water management and promoting water conservation under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Jal Mahotsav campaign will be observed annually from March 8 to 22. The campaign is being observed under the tagline "Gaon ka Utsav, Desh ka Mahotsav", highlighting that community-led efforts at the village level contribute to a nationwide movement for sustainable water management. The shubharambh marked the beginning of nationwide activities under Jal Mahotsav, with programmes being organised across villages, districts and States to promote community ownership of rural drinking water systems. The programme began at Navsari with the arrival and welcome of the Union Minister, CR Paatil by village women, GP functionaries and students at the respective locations, according to a release. He visited exhibition stalls set up by various departments, including those showcasing initiatives under Jal Jeevan Mission, and interacted with women members of water quality testing groups demonstrating the use of Field Testing Kits (FTKs). This was followed by the observance of Jal Arpan ceremonies, marking the formal handing over of rural drinking water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs). The events also included symbolic Jal Bandhan activities at village water infrastructure sites, where he tied sacred threads to reaffirm the community's commitment to protecting and maintaining village water systems, thereby strengthening community ownership of rural drinking water services. The Central Ministers also interacted with villagers regarding the availability of drinking water and the functioning of village water supply systems, highlighting the importance of community participation in ensuring the sustainability of rural drinking water services. Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister CR Patil, congratulated women on the occasion of International Women's Day and acknowledged their growing leadership in water governance. He highlighted the transformative impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission and Jal Jeevan Mission in improving health, dignity and quality of life in rural India. He said that more than 24 lakh women are actively engaged in water quality testing using Field Test Kits (FTKs). Emphasising the importance of 'Jal Sanchay', he called upon citizens to promote rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and responsible use of water, and encouraged people across the country to actively participate in Jal Mahotsav to strengthen the movement for water conservation. Ishvarsingh Patel, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Narmada Water Resources and Water Supply, Government of Gujarat, shared the State's perspective on strengthening water supply systems and community participation during the occasion. The gathering was also addressed by Nareshbhai Patel, Minister for Tribal Development, Khadi, Cottage and Rural Industries, Government of Gujarat. Kamal Kishore Soan, Additional Secretary & Mission Director, National Jal Jeevan Mission, DDWS, accompanied Union Minister Patil during the Shubharambh of Jal Mahotsav at Navsari. During the programme, a Kalash Poojan ceremony was performed by the dignitaries, symbolising respect for water and the collective commitment towards water conservation and responsible water management. A short film on the occasion of International Women's Day, observed as Sujalam Shakti Diwas, was screened, highlighting efforts undertaken to strengthen rural water supply systems. The short film was screened, portraying women at the centre of the Jal Jeevan Mission and highlighting how access to tap water connections has reduced the burden of fetching water, empowering women and strengthening rural households. The programme also included recognition and felicitation of community contributors, including Self Help Group (SHG) members, Village Water and Sanitation Committee members, youth volunteers, village women doing water quality testing and pump operators, who have played an important role in the operation and maintenance of rural drinking water systems. This was followed by a Jal Sankalp pledge, where villagers collectively reaffirmed their commitment towards water conservation and responsible management of drinking water infrastructure. Through the Jal Arpan ceremony, the drinking water supply assets are handedover to GP, representing strengthened community ownership of rural drinking water supply systems under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Similar Jal Mahotsav programmes are organised simultaneously in Maharashtra and Bihar, observing Jal Arpan. In Karli village of Parulebazar GP, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, V Somanna, MoS, Ministry of Jal Shakti, participated in Jal Mahotsav activities, including Jal Walk, community interactions, Jal Pujan, Jal Bandhan, at village water infrastructure sites, at the event site Jal Sringar, demonstrations on water quality testing using Field Test Kits, Jal Sankalp, Tree Pujan and recognition of the community, viz. SHG members, VWSC, masons, youth volunteers and Pump Operators are done along with awareness programmes on water security. Nitesh Rane, Minister of Fisheries and Ports, Government of Maharashtra (Guardian minister of Sindhudurg), and Deepak Kesarkar, MLA, Shawantwadi Constituency, also joined the event. During the celebration, V Somanna, MoS, Ministry of Jal Shakti, drank water directly from the tap and in his address, he shared that the test of water is so good, and the quality is maintained under JJM that we can drink it directly because the water is being treated before supply. He appreciated the community and urged them to work for rainwater harvesting. In Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, MoS, Ministry of Jal Shakti joined villagers in Jal Mahotsav events including Jal Chaupal dialogues, Jal Bandhan, Jal Sapath, discussions on Jal Seva Aankalan and recognition of women pump operators and community members engaged in maintaining rural drinking water systems. Kedar Prasad Gupta, Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, also joined the event. Addressing the gathering in Muzaffarpur, the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, appreciated the enthusiastic participation of local Matri Shakti and highlighted the important role of women in strengthening water governance and community-led water management. He said the Jal Mahotsav initiative aims to promote Jan Bhagidari through Gram Panchayat and encourage water conservation practices. Highlighting the transformative impact of Jal Jeevan Mission, he said that the expansion of tap water connections in rural households has improved health, dignity and quality of life, particularly by reducing the burden on women who earlier spent long hours fetching water. Emphasising the need for responsible water use, he called upon citizens to actively participate in water conservation and ensure the sustainability of rural drinking water systems. Across the country, Jal Mahotsav programmes are being organised at village, district and State levels, featuring Jal Arpan, community awareness rallies, Jal Chaupal dialogues, demonstrations on water quality testing using Field Test Kits, water source sustainability pledges, and recognition of community volunteers, Self Help Groups and Village Water and Sanitation Committee members engaged in managing rural drinking water systems. Senior officials of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), including Area Officers and Deputy Advisors, also joined Jal Arpan Diwas celebrations from different parts of the country, marking the nationwide observance of the Shubharambh of Jal Mahotsav 2026. In several districts, programmes are also highlighting women's leadership in water management, including recognition of women pump operators and women representatives of village water committees, who play an important role in ensuring reliable drinking water services at the grassroots level. Jal Mahotsav will be organised at four levels, National, State, District and Gram Panchayat, to strengthen coordinated action and community participation in rural drinking water management. At the National level, programmes promoting inter-ministerial convergence will be undertaken during the campaign period. A National Level Mega Event will be organised on 11 March 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, in the gracious presence of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, to recognise grassroots water leaders. The campaign will culminate on 22 March (World Water Day) with nationwide Jal Arpan ceremonies. At the State level, States and Union Territories will organise activities such as Jal Arpan programmes, capacity building of District Training Units, orientation of district officials on Sujalam Shakti, meetings of District Water and Sanitation Missions, and convergence initiatives with line departments. States to prepare the Rajya Jal Utsav/ Nadi Utsav calendar during this period. At the District level, programmes will focus on orientation on Jal Arpan protocols, strengthening District Water and Sanitation Missions, and preparation of service improvement plans to enhance the sustainability of rural drinking water systems. States to support and guide GPs to prepare the Lok Jal Utsav calendar during this period. At the Gram Panchayat level, community-led activities such as Har Ghar Jal declarations, orientation of Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs), Jal Seva Aankalan, water quality testing demonstrations in schools, and branding of drinking water assets will be organised to reinforce community ownership of village water infrastructure. Jal Mahotsav seeks to deepen Jan Bhagidari through Gram Panchayat in water management and build a nationwide movement towards sustainable water use and Sujal Gram across rural India, and encourages community ownership of rural drinking water systems and collective efforts towards building Sujal Gram across villages, contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat. (ANI) The Ministry of Women and Child Development today organised "Shakti Walk #SheLeadsBharat" at Kartavya Path, New Delhi, to mark International Women's Day 2026. The Shakti Walk celebrated the spirit of Nari Shakti and highlighted the key role of women in shaping a progressive and inclusive Bharat. According to the Ministry, the event was organised under the guidance of the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi and Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur. The walk witnessed the august presence of the Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta and Minister of State in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel. The programme was also attended by Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, Chairperson, National Commission for Women (NCW) and Anil Malik, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, along with women officers, officials and field functionaries from diverse sectors. Observed globally on 8 March, International Women's Day celebrates the achievements and leadership of women across all spheres of life while reaffirming the collective commitment towards gender equality, safety, dignity and empowerment. The event commenced at Kartavya Path, India Gate, with a rendition of the national song Vande Mataram, setting a patriotic tone for the occasion. Dignitaries, participants, and attendees gathered to mark the beginning of the programme. Union Minister Annpurna Devi then formally flagged off the Shakti Walk. The walk symbolised strength, unity, and collective commitment towards empowering women. Participants enthusiastically joined the walk, reflecting the spirit and purpose of the initiative. The walk covered an approximate 2-kilometre stretch from India Gate to Vijay Chowk along Kartavya Path. Installations showcasing key Government schemes and initiatives for women, along with major achievements of women across diverse sectors, were displayed along the route. The event also featured vibrant cultural performances showcasing the rich cultural diversity and strength of women across India. These included Dollu Kunitha from Karnataka, Kalaripayattu and Sringarimelam from Kerala, Ranchandi from Assam, and Ghoomar from Rajasthan, each reflecting the unique cultural heritage of their respective states. Over 3,000 women from around 200 Ministries, Departments, and Organisations participated in the event. The participants included representatives from the Armed Forces, police, healthcare sector, media, sports, education, sanitation, aviation, industry, and government institutions, along with ANM service providers, women drivers of Bharat Taxi Saarthis, teachers, locomotive drivers, My Bharat volunteers, field functionaries, and women entrepreneurs. Their participation transformed Kartavya Path into a vibrant celebration of Nari Shakti, reflecting the collective spirit of women marching towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Annpurna Devi stated that beginning the International Women's Day celebrations with the Shakti Walk sends a powerful message across the nation. She said that women today are demonstrating their capabilities across every sector, and highlighted the continuous efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognising the strength of the women, daughters and sisters of Bharat and empowering them to lead India's development journey. Quoting the Prime Minister's vision, she remarked: "yhii smy hai, shii smy hai bhaart kaa -- yh bhaart kaa anmol smy hai / " "Addressing the participants at the conclusion of the walk, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that "Nari Shakti is the Bhagya Vidhata of Bharat." She added that the women of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will continue to contribute to the nation's progress and give it a new direction. She further said that the Shakti Walk at Kartavya Path symbolises the collective resolve of women to contribute not only to their own growth but also to the progress of society and the nation. The event concluded with the release of tricolour balloons carrying the message "Shakti Walk #SheLeadsBharat" by dignitaries and women participants at Vijay Chowk, symbolising the rising aspirations and limitless potential of the women of Bharat. (ANI) Fire tenders arrived at the scene and brought the fire under control. Three people were safely rescued, officials said. Further details are awaited. Meanwhile, in Haryana, four women have died after a fire broke out at a paint factory in Jind. Jind Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Singh has said that a case has been registered against the factory owner, while the cause of the fire is under investigation. (ANI) Speaking to reporters, Chodankar said, "While rushing down the steps of Satyamurti Bhavan, I missed one step, my leg got twisted, and I lost balance. Because of the pain, I got dizzy. I'm very thankful to my party cadre. They have taken good care of me. I am perfectly alright and very healthy." Chodankar suddenly felt dizzy and fainted on the ground as he, along with senior AICC leaders, was leaving the Congress headquarters in Chennai. Following the incident, Congress General Secretary and MP Mukul Wasnik and other senior party leaders immediately rushed him to a nearby hospital. Tamil Nadu Congress President K Selvaperunthagai said that Chodankar is doing fine now and his condition is stable. Earlier on Wednesday, Chodankar said the party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections together with full strength, following the conclusion of seat-sharing talks between the two parties. Speaking to reporters in Chennai after the agreement was finalised, the State Congress In-charge said, "We have agreed. We have signed. We are going to fight the elections together very strongly." The remarks come after the second round of discussions between Congress leaders and the DMK leadership ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. (ANI) The West Bengal Police Special Task Force arrested two Bangladeshi nationals near the Bongaon border area in connection with the murder of activist Sharif Osman Hadi in Bangladesh. The accused have been identified as Rahul alias Faisal Karum Masud and Alamgir Hossain. According to a press release, the West Bengal STF received secret credible information that two Bangladeshi nationals, after committing serious crimes including extortion and murder in Bangladesh, had fled their country and illegally entered India, and were trying to take shelter in the border area of Bongaon with the intention of crossing back into Bangladesh when an opportunity arises. Acting on this information, a raid was conducted, and two Bangladeshi nationals were intercepted, namely Rahul Faisal Karim Masud (37), resident of Patuakhali, Bangladesh, and Alamgir Hossain (34), resident of Dhaka, Bangladesh, from the area of Bongaon in the intervening night of March 7 and 8. During preliminary interrogation, it was revealed that Masud and Hossain had committed the murder of Osman Hadi. They illegally entered Indian territory through the Meghalaya border and moved through different places in India, and finally, came to Bongaon, West Bengal, with the intention of crossing back into Bangladesh, the press release stated. A specific case has been registered in this regard. They have been sent to police custody, on their production before the concerned court today. Further investigation is ongoing, and details are awaited. Inquilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman Hadi, who was a prominent figure in last year's 'July Uprising', which resulted in the fall of the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime, was shot in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area. Sharif Osman Hadi was shot at close range on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw. On December 15, he was airlifted to Singapore by air ambulance for advanced treatment, but later succumbed to his injuries on December 18. Following his death, protests broke out in Dhaka, as the supporters of the Inquilab Moncho called for justice for their slain leader, with the Chief Adviser of the interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, announcing a national day of mourning on Saturday, December 20. Hadi was also being considered as a potential Dhaka-8 candidate for the February 2026 national election. (ANI) The West Bengal locals on Sunday gathered infront of a private hotel in New Town, wearing posters on their chest that read 'Go back, Gyanesh Kumar, murderer of democracy' as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners SS Sandhu, Vivek Joshi and Senior Deputy Election Commissioenrs Maneesh gard and Pawan Kumar arrived at the Kolkata Airport along with CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The CEC reached Kolkata for a three-day visit today, scheduled from March 8 to March 10, to review election preparedness in West Bengal. The locals organised a protest and showed a black flag to the convoy of the Chief Election Commissioner outside the airport in Kolkata. During the visit, they will review preparations for the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections. They will meet all political parties, senior administration officials, and police. Earlier on Saturday, after reviewing the preparations for the forthcoming polls in Kerala, Gyanesh Kumar said that the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala are expected to set a benchmark for democratic practices, expressing confidence in the preparedness of the state's election machinery and cooperation from political parties. "Kerala was my karma bhoomi 22 years back. Now I have come back here to review the preparedness for the upcoming elections. All the political parties and the entire election machinery have assured that the upcoming elections in Kerala are going to be the model not only for the country, but for the world," he stated. Politics in Bengal has heated up as the state prepares itself to face assembly polls in the first half of this year. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) faces a major challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party. (ANI) Keanu Reeves "couldn't f***** wait" to get back in the recording studio with Dogstar. Keanu Reeves' Dogstar are releasing a new album The Matrix actor reunited with bandmates Robert Mailhouse and Bret Domrose in 2023 for their first shows in over 20 years, and they then released a new album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees. And despite Keanu having a busy 2025 working on new movies and making his Broadway debut in Waiting for Godot with Bill and Ted co-star Alex Winter, he also found time to pick up his bass again because Dogstar will be releasing another new record, All in Now, in May. Keanu said in a statement: We couldnt f****** wait. Personally, I loved it all. For me, the attitude was like, lets work hard and lets GO. " Robert added: The album really sets up the energy at the heart of this album and the fun that weve always had playing together. The band have shared the video for the title track for the album, with All in Now set to be the record's first single, and they'll be going out on tour in the US to support the release. They wrote on Instagram: "ALL IN NOW New album. New single. New tour. "Were so excited to announce our new album All In Now! Out worldwide on May 29th. Limited edition signed glass clear vinyl available in our Shop. "Watch the music video of the title track now. "Pre-sale for the All In Now: North American Tour starts Tuesday, March 10th at 10am local. Sign up for pre-sale access at dogstarofficial.com - or click the link in our Story/Bio (sic)" Dogstar will play two shows in California to coincide with the album's release, before heading off on a European tour, then returning for the North American leg in August. Dogstar released their debut album Our Little Visionary in 1996 and followed up with Happy Ending four years later. However, the group disbanded around 2002 after Keanu's acting career hit another stratosphere with his role as Neo in The Matrix. In 2023, they performed their first official gig in two decades at BottleRocket festival, having reunited the previous year for a private gig "for the incredible people who made our new album possible". At the time of the festival set, they wrote on Instagram: "Thank you everyone for the kind comments. We are overjoyed to see such a response. Honestly, didnt expect this. It makes us want to play out even more. We will be rolling out some new music this summer, followed by some gigs. As soon as its all figured out we will let everyone know immediately. "So much to do, but rest assured, we are on it and have assembled a fantastic team that are helping us. In the summer of '23, they also dropped new single Everything Turns Around ahead of their third album Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees. They said at the time: "We are so excited to re-introduce Dogstar with our new single Everything Turns Around. It feels like a fun summer song to us. It has an uplifting message and a positive vibe that hopefully makes your day a little bit lighter. "Its one of our favourite songs to play live and cant wait to share it on our upcoming tour. Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Sunday urged the government to prioritise humanity amid rising tensions in West Asia, stressing that the current situation is not the time for politics. Speaking to reporters, Khurshid said, "This is not the time for politics. I urge the Indian government to raise its voice for humanity. There was a time when India's voice echoed, mattered, and was heard sincerely. This mass destruction must be stopped, and peace must be restored..." Earlier in the day, Khurshid stressed that India must intervene to stop the military escalation in the Middle East and stated that the prior visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel raised questions "somehow connected to foreign policy". The former Union Minister pointed out that the sinking of an Iranian warship by a US submarine near Sri Lankan waters was a "failure". "When such a major tragedy occurs anywhere in the world, it will affect every country... This war must stop immediately. India must make every effort to stop it. We regret that we don't see that effort today... If it's not a failure, then what is it if a submarine comes near your home and destroys a boat that came to your home for your programme?... The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) visited Israel. Immediately after that visit, Israel attacked Iran. Did he inform the Prime Minister or not? And if not, did the Prime Minister complain? All these questions arise, and they are somehow connected to foreign policy...," Khurshid told reporters a day earlier. Speaking on the US attack on the unarmed Iranian warship IRIS Dena, which killed 87 sailors in the Indian Ocean, Khurshid said, "What is our status or existence if America attacks Iran, whom we call a friend, right near our home and didn't even inform us? If they (US) did inform us, it becomes a matter of even greater distress." The Congress leader was speaking after a party delegation visited the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi to condole the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by the US-Israel military strike on February 28. The developments follow after the 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. (ANI) A sharp political confrontation unfolded on Sunday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reacted over alleged protocol lapses during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to the state on Saturday, turning the issue into a major flashpoint ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Addressing a public event in the national capital on International Women's Day, PM Modi accused the Trinamool Congress government of showing "gross disrespect" towards the President during her recent visit to attend a Santhal tribal cultural programme in West Bengal. "Today, as the nation celebrates International Women's Day, it is deeply concerning that just yesterday, the TMC government in West Bengal demonstrated gross disrespect towards the honourable President of India, Droupadi Murmu," PM Modi said. He noted that President Murmu had travelled to the state to attend a celebration honouring the Santhal tribal tradition and said the event held deep significance for both the President and the community. "The TMC chose to boycott this sacred and important event... The government's actions resulted in mismanagement and constituted an affront to the President, the Constitution and the noble tradition of democracy in our country," the Prime Minister added. Murmu, India's first tribal President, had earlier expressed disappointment over arrangements at the 9th International Santal Conference held during her visit. Responding hours later, Banerjee dismissed the accusations and insisted that the event was organised by a private organisation, not the West Bengal government. "You said that we didn't honour her? Our Mayor was present there. I was at the dharna; how could I have left it? I am fighting for the people and their voting rights," Banerjee said while addressing her ongoing protest in Kolkata. The Chief Minister also blamed logistical issues on agencies outside the state government's control. "The venue falls under the Airport Authority of India. The green room was set up by the organisers. If anything has gone wrong, it is their failure. So, don't blame us," she said. Banerjee further claimed that the state government had already warned that the private organisation might not have the capacity to organise an event involving the President. "Despite highlighting that the organisation may not be able to hold the programme properly, the Hon'ble President accepted the invitation. It was their prerogative, not ours," she added. The dispute escalated further after Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra criticised President Murmu, accusing her of "parroting" the Bharatiya Janata Party's line ahead of elections. "Madam President, you came to Bengal not for a programme organised by the state government but for a private event. We respect your chair, but do not think you can abuse your office to make untrue allegations about our state," Moitra said in a video posted on social media. "When tribal women were raped and paraded in Manipur or when tribal people were humiliated in Madhya Pradesh, you said nothing. Today you come to Bengal parroting what the BJP says weeks before an election," Moitra said. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh also pushed back at BJP criticism, saying the party should not lecture others on protocol. "The President was not invited to the Ram Mandir inauguration or the inauguration of the new Parliament building. They should not lecture us on how to respect others," he said. Meanwhile, the BJP sharply criticised the TMC government, calling the alleged lapses a serious insult to the country's highest constitutional office. Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari demanded strict action against officials responsible for protocol arrangements. "It is an insult to women, the tribal community and the Constitution. Strict action should be taken against officers responsible for this lapse," he said. Several Union ministers also condemned the incident. Union minister Nitin Gadkari said the development reflected a disturbing disregard for constitutional values. "The humiliation of the President is not merely a breach of decorum but an affront to the dignity of India's democratic institutions," Gadkari wrote on X. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also called the incident an "unprecedented attack" on the dignity of the President's office. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan said any lapse in protocol during the President's visit was "unfortunate" and stressed that the dignity of the office must always be upheld. The controversy also triggered responses from other political leaders across the spectrum. Congress leader Udit Raj accused the BJP of hypocrisy, pointing out that President Murmu was not asked to inaugurate the new Parliament building. "When the new Parliament House was inaugurated, the President should have done it, but that opportunity was not given to an Adivasi President," he said. Meanwhile, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the entire establishment was targeting West Bengal. "People of West Bengal vs BJP + ECI + ED + IT + CBI + NIA + CAPF + Governor + Prime Minister + Respected Rashtrapati Ji + Godi Media... When the entire establishment lines up against Bengal, Bengal stands stronger," he wrote on X. Amid the escalating political battle, the Union government has sought a detailed explanation from the West Bengal administration regarding the alleged protocol lapses. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has asked the state's Chief Secretary to submit a report by Sunday evening on issues including the change of venue for the conference, logistical arrangements and the failure to follow established protocol for receiving the President. With both the BJP and TMC digging in their heels and elections approaching in the state, the controversy around President Murmu's visit has quickly turned into another high-stakes political confrontation in West Bengal. (ANI) Congress MP from Virudhunagar constituency in Tamil Nadu, Manickam Tagore, said the opposition will hold a meeting at AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's office to discuss their no-confidence motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. He said 118 MPs have signed the motion, emphasising that the issue is about the Speaker's neutrality and moral standards, not numbers. The second phase of the Budget Session will begin on March 9 (Monday), and it is scheduled to go up to April 2, during which essential legislative and other business is expected to be addressed primarily. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Tagore said, "We are going to have the INDIA alliance floor leaders meeting in opposition leader Kharge's office, and we are going to discuss the issue on the speaker's no-confidence motion, which has been brought in by us." "118 MPs have signed it, and in the previous session itself, we submitted because we have issues with the neutrality of the speaker... This is not about numbers; it is about the moral standards and neutrality of the office of the speaker," he said. 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. The first part of the Budget session, which began on January 28 with the President's address to a joint sitting of the two Houses, 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 recess allowed Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments. (ANI) BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly disrespecting President Droupadi Murmu during her state visit, and asked her to stop making controversies about the Constitution being in danger when she cannot even give respect to the President. This comes after President Droupadi Murmu, during her event in Darjeeling, expressed displeasure with the West Bengal government for not receiving her upon arrival, not attending her event and changing the venue of the event, causing inconvenience to both the people and the President. The BJP MP, while addressing a press conference, said that Mamata Banerjee should not talk about the constitution being in danger, for that she insulted the President, in a way that has never happened to any President in the country. Expressing stern criticism of the alleged disrespect, he said that the CM only welcomes infiltrators in the state. "Under the rule of Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, only infiltrators are welcomed... I would request Mamata Banerjee to stop making controversies about the constitution in danger. You can not give respect to the President... and you talk about the constitution in danger... We condemn this. The entire Indian government and our party are standing against the insult meted out to the President... You have done a shameful act, which has never happened to any President in independent India...," he said. Further, the BJP MP accused TMC of attempting to thwart Prime Minister Narendra Modi's events in the state, alleging that the police watches over "whatever atrocities Trinamool goons commit" and in return receive protection from CM Banerjee. "Whenever PM Modi goes to Bengal, every effort is made to thwart his program, but he is not given a place... I don't feel the need to detail what has happened to other women... The police stand guard over whatever atrocities Trinamool goons commit, and Mamata Banerjee protects them," he accused. Intensifying the attack on Banerjee, Prasad condemned her protest against the SIR process, questioning her "openly waged war" against the Election Commission. He further asked whether the West Bengal CM wants to pressure the Supreme Court. "I want to tell you a little about several of Mamata's decisions. She seems to have openly waged war against the Election Commission... The government protested so much in the High Court and the Supreme Court... This entire resolution of the SIR's objections is being done on the instructions of the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, for which the Supreme Court has issued an order... Did she want to put pressure on the Supreme Court?...," he questioned. (ANI) United States President Donald Trump on Saturday (US local time) sharply criticised United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the lack of UK support for the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, claiming that the European Country is now mulling over sending aircraft carriers to West Asia. In a post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the US don't need people to join wars after it has already won them. 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!" British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday invoked the UK's special friendship in action to respond to the latest round of criticism from US President Donald Trump. Starmer said that hanging on to Trump's words was not a sign of the relationship in action. Addressing the UK Parliament, Starmer said, "American planes are operating out of British bases. That is the special relationship in action. British jets are shooting down drones and missiles to protect American lives in the Middle East on our joint bases. That is the special relationship in action. Sharing intelligence every day to keep our people safe. That is the special relationship in action. Hanging on to President Trump's latest words is not the special relationship in action." Keir Starmer further justified his action not to join the strike on Iran, saying he had not seen a lawful basis for action and that remained his position In a post on X, the UK Ministry of Defence shared the operation updates of March 7, where it mentioned that the US has started using British bases for specific defensive operations, "to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region, which is putting British lives at risk". https://x.com/DefenceHQ/status/2030282742974341443?s=20 Earlier on Tuesday, Donald Trump described the UK's stance on Iran as "very, very uncooperative." Trump criticised Keir Starmer for "ruining relationships", saying he was no "Winston Churchill". Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said he was "not happy" with what he described as a lack of cooperation from London during the build-up to the strikes on Tehran. Trump's latest tirade comes amid several developments taking place in West Asia and the Gulf. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) shared on Sunday that several fuel storage complexes belonging to the IRGC in Tehran were struck by the Israeli Air Force. https://x.com/IDF/status/2030404559563354117?s=20 IDF earlier 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. The developing security situation in West Asia has seen spillover into the Gulf neighbourhood too. On Saturday, 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." Al Jazeera Breaking reported that Hezbollah said it launched missiles at Haifa naval base and that it targeted Kiryat Shmona with rocket fire. 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) US President Donald Trump on Saturday (US local time) attended the dignified transfer of six American soldiers at the Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The six American soldiers lost their lives in the US military 'Operation Epic Fury' against Iran. Present in attendance were First Lady Melania Trump, US Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine, Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and other officials. The Hill reported that the soldiers were in a makeshift office space in Shuaiba Port on March 1, with no apparent warning before an Iranian drone attacked them. As per the Hill, the incident is under investigation. Major Jeffrey R. O'Brien, Captain Cody A. Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor, Sergeant First Class Noah L. Tietjens and Sergeant Declan J. Coady lost their lives in Operation Epic Fury. On Friday, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that their deaths will not be in vain. "We will honor them with action. We will hunt down the Iranians radicals responsible, dismantle their military capabilities, and ensure that justice is swift and absolute", he wrote on X. The United States launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran to conduct, what the US President described to the Congress as "precision strikes" against several targets in Iran so as to protect American forces in the region and advance US national interest along with collective self-defence of regional allies, including Israel. Meanwhile, aboard Air Force One, Trump briefed on the Operation against Iran, emphasising that they have wiped out their leadership numerous times already. "We've wiped out their leadership numerous times already. It's if they surrender or if there is nobody around to surrender, but they're rendered useless in terms of military," he said. On being asked if Russia is supporting Iran, Trump said, "I have no indications of that whatsoever. If they are, they're not doing a very good job because Iran is not doing too well". 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) The ongoing Iranian offensives against Bahrain and Kuwait represent "dangerous acts of aggression" that jeopardise the security and stability of the entire region. The head of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) warned that these strikes have exposed Tehran's "escalatory approach" amidst the current regional conflict. In a formal statement published on the GCC's official website, Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi expressed in the "strongest" terms the council's "condemnation and denunciation of the nefarious Iranian attack" which specifically aimed at Gulf territories. The GCC is a powerful regional bloc comprising six member nations, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. Albudaiwi condemned the deliberate targeting of vital infrastructure, stating that striking civilian sites "constitutes a flagrant and unacceptable violation of all international norms and charters." Furthermore, the Secretary General affirmed that the council remains united in its support for the affected member states. He emphasised that the GCC countries stand firmly with Bahrain and Kuwait in protecting their security, safeguarding their sovereignty and maintaining the safety of their vital facilities. This regional condemnation comes as the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) declared the commencement of its 27th offensive under Operation True Promise 4. The IRGC is targeting American and Israeli positions in response to what it termed a new wave of "unprovoked US-Israeli aggression towards the Islamic Republic," Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported. In a formal announcement released on Saturday, the elite military wing detailed the latest phase as a series of integrated drone and missile barrages. The operation specifically directed missile counter-offensives against Israeli military infrastructure located in the northern regions of the occupied territories. The IRGC specified that these strikes were carried out using newly developed solid-fuel missile technology by its Aerospace Division. "In this strategic and multidimensional operation, Zionist military targets in [the occupied city of] Haifa were struck by the IRGC's Aerospace Division's new solid-fuel Kheibar-Shekan missiles, which possess terminal guidance capability up to the point of impact," the official dispatch stated. Furthermore, the Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported that unmanned aerial systems were deployed to strike a specific site housing American personnel. The military statement noted that drone units "successfully targeted the location where American forces are stationed in 'Marina,' in the vicinity of the buildings of the 'Warner Brothers' company." Simultaneously, the IRGC Navy engaged facilities linked to the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. According to the Corps, naval forces hit the command centre for unmanned surface vessels and military support hangars at Salman Port, which they described as belonging to "American terrorist forces." Commenting on the internal situation within the occupied territories, the IRGC claimed that their monitoring suggests the Israeli administration is "attempting to create a human shield to protect its military personnel by confining residents of the occupied territories to northern and central areas." The Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported that the persistence of these retaliatory strikes has led to continuous emergency sirens across the region. The IRGC noted that following these "smart attacks," the atmosphere in the occupied territories has shifted into a permanent state of "siren after siren." The military statement concluded by affirming that the Iranian Armed Forces are prepared for a long-term escalation, warning that their units "are lying in wait for American forces with precision and planning." Operation True Promise 4 was initiated immediately following the start of foreign strikes last Saturday. Since then, the IRGC has reportedly launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and suicide drones at strategic interests. These have included targets in Tel Aviv, the "holy occupied city of al-Quds," and the technology centre of Be'er Sheva. Previous reports also claim successful engagements against the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and a destroyer in the Indian Ocean. (ANI) A significant milestone has been reached in the diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Helsinki as Finnish President Alexander Stubb concluded his official visit to India. In a post on X, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, shared details of the departure, noting that the visit represents a "defining moment in the Indian-Finland ties as the relationship gets elevated to 'Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability', which will add significant momentum in bilateral relations." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2030522038985867737?s=20 The Finnish President was warmly seen off at the airport by the Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani. According to the official update, "A fruitful visit concludes as President Alexander Stubb of Finland departs India. Warmly seen off by the Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications at the airport." The conclusion of this high-level mission follows President Stubb's arrival in India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his stay, the Finnish leader served as the Chief Guest and keynote speaker at the 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. The visit, which included the participation of a high-level delegation of ministers, senior officials, and business leaders, was aimed at deepening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between India and Finland across various sectors. It marked Stubb's first visit to India in his current role as President. Beyond his engagement at the Raisina Dialogue, President Stubb held discussions with the Prime Minister, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional and global issues of mutual interest. A key highlight was an exchange of views on cooperation in multilateral forums, with an emphasis on deepening people-to-people connections and economic partnerships. Following the discussions, Prime Minister Modi hosted a luncheon in honour of President Stubb. The Finnish President also met with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a separate meeting with the visiting dignitary. After his time in the capital, President Stubb travelled to Mumbai, where he met with the Governor and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, interacted with local business leaders, and addressed students at the University of Mumbai. India and Finland share a warm and multifaceted relationship, anchored in shared democratic values, with Finland playing an essential role as a partner for India within the European Union and the Nordic region. President Stubb's visit followed the recent visit of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to India for the AI Impact Summit in February, reflecting both countries' commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and fostering stronger ties. (ANI) The Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) has strongly condemned the alleged enforced disappearance of its Jamshoro district president, Saeed Tiyono, accusing Pakistani state agencies of abducting the activist along with Sabir Abro on March 5. In a press release shared on Facebook, JSFM described the incident as a "clear example of state brutality and state terrorism," alleging that security agencies are systematically targeting nationalist activists in Sindh. According to the statement, both men were taken by state personnel, and their whereabouts remain unknown. The leadership of JSFM, including Sohail Abro, Zubair Sindhi, Amar Azadi, Farhan Sindhi, Hafeez Deshi, Marak Sindhu, Hosho Sindhi, Mansoor Ahmed Hub, Muhammad Osama Soomro, and Tahir Khan, issued a joint condemnation of the incident. They said the alleged abduction reflects a broader crackdown on voices demanding political and economic rights for Sindh. According to JSFM, Saeed Tiyono had been actively raising concerns about what he described as the exploitation of Sindh's natural resources and had been advocating for the recovery of nationalist activists who had allegedly been forcibly disappeared. The statement also noted that Tiyono supported political workers who were jailed under what JSFM claims are fabricated or politically motivated charges. JSFM stated that if Saeed Tiyono and Sabir Abro are not released immediately, the movement will launch a strong protest campaign. The group said demonstrations could include blocking the Jamshoro National Highway as part of wider mobilisation efforts. JSFM also appealed to the international community to intervene and take notice of what it described as ongoing human rights violations in Sindh and Balochistan. In its statement, JSFM urged global bodies, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, to investigate the alleged disappearances and pressure Pakistan to ensure the safe recovery of missing activists. The group further called on lawmakers in the United Kingdom Parliament and the Government of the United Kingdom to raise the issue internationally. JSFM said enforced disappearances constitute a grave violation of international law and fundamental human rights. It stated that continued silence from the international community could cause menace and deepen the climate of fear faced by political activists in Sindh and Balochistan. (ANI) On the occasion of International Women's Day, Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green hailed the contributions of female diplomats and staff at the mission for their role in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two nations. The envoy, however, did so in a 'Dhurandhar' mode as he shared a video clip on X of the Australian High Commission diplomats in India celebrating International Women's Day with a video that featured a soundtrack from filmmaker Aditya Dhar's directorial project Dhurandhar. In the clip, women diplomats from the Australian High Commission are introduced along with their respective roles, highlighting their contribution to strengthening the Australia India partnership. In a post on X, Philip Green expressed his pride in the female workforce, describing them as representatives of "modern Australia". The High Commissioner shared a video featuring the women of the High Commission, highlighting their impact on the growing diplomatic ties. He wrote, "Proud to work alongside the impressive #women of the Australian High Commission who are working to advance the Australia-India partnership. This #InternationalWomensDay, meet the trailblazers of @AusHCIndia - the changemakers and proud representatives of modern Australia". The message underscores the significant role women play in the Australia-India partnership, which has seen increased cooperation in sectors ranging from trade and defence to education and technology. By showcasing these "trailblazers," the High Commissioner's post highlights a commitment to diversity as a core component of Australia's diplomatic engagement in New Delhi. Similarly, the spirit of the occasion was celebrated internationally through cultural diplomacy. On the eve of International Women's Day, the Consulate General of India in Shanghai hosted "Vasant" Baithak, a cultural event celebrating Holi and the onset of Basant. The evening, organised in association with the Chaiti Arts Foundation, featured Indian classical music and dance, aimed at capturing the essence of new beginnings and cultural harmony. Led by the Consul General of India in Shanghai, Pratik Mathur, the event drew a diverse audience of over 200 participants, including members of the diplomatic corps. Beyond diplomatic and cultural circles, the celebrations extended to the frontline of global connectivity. The Bureau of Immigration, Government of India, issued a tribute honouring female personnel across various departments who ensure the smooth functioning of travel and security. In a post on X, the Bureau highlighted the critical role played by women in maintaining "seamless journeys" and serving the nation with distinction. The Bureau tweeted, "Behind every seamless journey are women who keep the world moving. From Immigration to CISF, from airline crews to Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs- today we celebrate the women who serve with dedication & pride". This tribute acknowledged the collaborative efforts of women across multiple agencies, including the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), emphasising their collective dedication to public service on this global day of recognition. (ANI) The current state of Cuba is critical. Ongoing U.S. blockades on oil, along with other sanctions, have pushed the Caribbean nation into a state of limbo. Among the industries hardest hit by diplomatic tensions is tourism, which once generated billions of dollars in revenue and is now struggling to survive. After averaging more than 4 million visitors as recently as 2019, only about 1.6 million tourists traveled to Cuba between January and November 2025, a drop of nearly 70 percent since 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with continued U.S. pressure and sanctions, has stalled tourism across the island. As noted by The New York Times, the Trump administration has spent months trying to deal a blow to Cuba's tourism sector. Last year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order restricting Americans' ability to travel to Cuba, stay at government owned hotels or visit the island aboard cruise ships. As a result, experts say Cuba's tourism industry could face a year comparable only to the pandemic, when global travel largely shut down. In response to the ongoing oil restrictions, Cuban officials have accused the Trump administration of trying to push the country toward collapse. "What does it mean to prevent a single drop of fuel from reaching a country?" President Miguel Diaz Canel said last month. "It means affecting food transportation, food production, public transportation, the functioning of hospitals, institutions of all kinds, schools, economic output and tourism," adding that surrendering is "not an option." Meanwhile, as Cuba's tourism sector faces one of its most critical moments, Canadian visitors have remained a cornerstone of the industry. According to The New York Times, they account for roughly 40 percent of foreign arrivals, but reports of nationwide blackouts, illnesses and growing piles of garbage in the streets have led many to consider other destinations. "The Cuban people love Canadians," Debbie Sutherland, a behavioral therapist from Ontario whose vacation was cut short because of the island's ongoing energy crisis, told the newspaper. "They would say, 'You know, we would die without Canada.'" Like Sutherland, many other Canadian tourists have seen their vacations cut short. The outlet reported that some airlines, including Air Canada, have suspended flights to Cuba because additional refueling stops disrupted schedules. "More broadly, ongoing fuel supply challenges in Cuba, combined with instability in the power grid, have broader implications for customers," said Christophe Hennebelle, a spokesman for Air Canada, which had 3,000 customers in Cuba on vacation packages. Basic necessities such as food and medical care were becoming scarce, he added. "We do not want to put the health, safety and well being of our passengers at risk." As the United States continues blocking oil shipments to the island in hopes of pressuring political change, Jorge Pinon, head of the University of Texas' Latin America and Caribbean Energy Program, warned last month that Cuba's oil reserves could dry up within weeks. "Cuba's electric power sector is totally collapsed," he said. "If by March you don't see an oil cargo ship on the horizon coming either into Havana or Cienfuegos, they will have reached 'zero,'" Pinon said. Originally published on Latin Times A high-level probe committee investigating the 'Gen Z' protests that took place in September last year, which had left people dead and forced the fall of the K P Sharma Oli government, has officially submitted its comprehensive findings to Nepal's interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, The Himalayan Times reported. The extensive document, spanning over 1,000 pages, was compiled by a commission chaired by former justice Gauri Bahadur Karki. The panel also included legal expert Bishweshwar Prasad Bhandari and Bigyan Raj Sharma, a former additional inspector general of police. According to The Himalayan Times, Bigyan Raj Sharma confirmed that the commission interviewed approximately 200 individuals and engaged with various experts before concluding the investigation. The final report has recommended "action against those found responsible" for the events. Chairperson Karki emphasised that the commission performed its duties "impartially and in good faith," ensuring that the document only reflects "facts established during the investigation". He further noted that the report outlines specific recommendations aimed at ensuring such incidents do not recur. Delving into the root causes, Karki stated that the "incident stemmed largely from poor governance and weakened regulatory institutions". The Himalayan Times noted his observations on how systemic delays within the executive and judiciary, coupled with "political power-sharing in judicial and constitutional appointments," had significantly "fuelled public frustration". Clarifying the panel's mandate, Sharma remarked that the commission's primary "role was limited to fact-finding". He added that it is now the responsibility of the "relevant authorities" to conduct subsequent inquiries and initiate "action based on the report". Supporting this view, member Bhandari suggested that a commitment to "implementing the report's recommendations on good governance" has the potential to "significantly improve the country's situation," as per The Himalayan Times. The 'Gen Z' group had carried out nationwide protests on Bhadra 23-24 (September 8-9) resulted in the deaths of at least 76 people, forcing then-communist leader KP Sharma Oli to resign from the post. An interim government was formed after the dissolution of parliament. After five days of deliberation and debate, the Himalayan nation appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the Interim Prime Minister, who recommended dissolving parliament. General elections were held on March 5 with Balen Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) now seemingly on course to win. The country's Election Commission chief said that results will be officially declared on March 9. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of seven Chinese naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6 am (local time) on Sunday. The MND said they responded to the situation accordingly. In a post on X, the MND said, "7 PLAN vessel operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded. Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2030448412882260024?s=20 Earlier on Saturday, the MND detected two sorties of Chinese aircraft, six naval vessels and an official ship around itself. 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 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) A high-level committee in Nepal formed to investigate the violence during last year's Gen-Z unrest in the country, between September 8 and September 9, has recorded security lapses in its final report. According to Bigyanraj Sharma, a member of the high-level commission formed to investigate the atrocities, confirmed the lapses without further elaborating on the contents of the report. He noted that irregularities were observed while setting up barriers around the federal parliament. "There have been some security lapses. In the parliament premises, at the beginning of the protest, irregularities were recorded while setting up the barriers," Sharma said while briefing mediapersons after handing over the report to the interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki The Gen-Z protests in September last year, which called for transparency, accountability of the then government under former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and an end to the social media ban across the country, turned violent near the federal parliament. In response, police forces used water cannons, tear gas, and live ammunition. Security personnel reportedly fired from within the parliament building after protesters breached the gates and set the entrance ablaze. At least 77 people have been confirmed dead in the protests, while nearly two dozen protesters were shot by security forces on a single day. The day after the escalating violence and protests, Oli, who had been adamant about staying in power, resigned. He was succeeded by former Chief Justice of Nepal Sushila Karki as interim Prime Minister. Oli has publicly denied accusations of ordering a crackdown on protesters, but his administration has been heavily criticised for its handling of the unrest. When asked about the role of the former PM and others in power at the time of the unrest, the committee member declined to provide details but said that more than 200 people were interrogated to prepare the report. "We have interrogated over two hundred people and had them sign their statements after recording them. There are also accounts from witnesses, victims, and experts who worked extensively to prepare this report," Sharma said. On Sunday afternoon, commission chair Gauri Bahadur Karki, along with other members of the commission, reached the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and handed over the report to interim PM Karki. Receiving the report, interim PM Karki said that she and the home minister would study it before presenting it to the Cabinet. "You have worked very hard. Initially, the time we set was insufficient due to resource constraints, and later we had to extend it. We appointed you, knowing your expertise and credibility. I trust that the report fairly distinguishes facts from falsehoods," the prime minister's secretariat quoted her as saying. "We will move forward with studying and implementing it. We will also discuss what to make public and, if we cannot release the full document immediately, we will publish at least the summary," she added. Originally given a three-month mandate, the commission's term was extended multiple times, with the report initially expected before the March 5 elections. "The report is over nine hundred pages long, including subsections. If we combine all the documents and evidence, the total will reach between eight and ten thousand pages. The incidents of September 8 and 9 have been analysed in detail," Sharma said. Nepal had also separately formed a panel to assess the physical damage caused during the Gen-Z movement, which submitted its report on December 11 last year. It put the total death toll at 77 and said that 2,429 people were injured, of whom 17 were under 13 years of age, while 1,433 were between 13 and 28. The report estimated the total physical damage at NPR 84.45 billion. A total of 2,168 government and public bodies were affected, with 2,671 buildings damaged, resulting in losses of around NPR 39.31 billion. According to the report, 12,659 vehicles were damaged, causing losses worth NPR 12.93 billion. Overall, losses in the government and public sector amounted to NPR 44.93 billion, the private sector NPR 33.54 billion, and the community and other sectors NPR 5.97 billion. (ANI) The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has released its weekly brief, highlighting its international advocacy efforts and raising concerns about what it describes as China's continued repression of Uyghurs, particularly during Ramzan, as well as the targeting of Uyghur intellectuals and activists. Recent reports cited by WUC claim that authorities in Xinjiang, referred to by many Uyghurs as East Turkistan, have imposed strict monitoring during Ramzan. According to information published by Radio Free Asia, Chinese police detained six Uyghur residents in villages across Hotan Prefecture on 27 February for allegedly "secretly fasting". Five of the detainees, all elderly individuals over 70 years old, were later released after warnings and political "education sessions", while a 30-year-old man reportedly remains in custody and could face criminal charges. Officials are also said to be conducting dawn patrols and entering homes to check for signs that residents are observing the fast. Alongside these developments, the WUC delegation has been active at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva during its 61st session. The delegation, led by WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun, included Vice President Zumretay Arkin and other representatives who participated in multiple advocacy events. Speaking at a side event organised by the Society for Threatened Peoples, Arkin warned about the growing use of transnational repression, including intimidation and threats directed at the families of Uyghurs living abroad. Separately, Uyghur literary scholar Yalqun Rozi has been awarded the Graciela Fernandez Meijide Human Rights Prize by the Centro para la Apertura y el Desarrollo de America Latina (CADAL). Rozi, who previously worked as an editor at Xinjiang Education Press, was detained in 2016 and later sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of "inciting subversion of state power". Advocates say the award aims to highlight the plight of Uyghur intellectuals imprisoned under China's policies. WUC representatives have also continued diplomatic outreach in Europe and beyond. In Cologne, a Uyghur delegation, including Alawdun and activist Dolkun Isa, met Turkish Ambassador to Germany Gokhan Turan during an iftar gathering hosted by a Turkish organisation. During the event, the group also handed a letter outlining Uyghur concerns to Bilal Erdogan, addressed to Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Meanwhile, WUC Executive Committee Chair Rushan Abbas carried out an advocacy mission in Panama, engaging lawmakers, journalists and civil society leaders to raise awareness of what activists describe as ongoing atrocities against Uyghurs under Chinese rule. (ANI) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday refuted reports of an attack on Iran's desalination plant, emphasising that it will not treat the Iranian people the way the Iranian regime has acted over the past week. In a post on X, Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, member of the UAE Federal National Council and Chairman of the Defense Affairs, Interior & Foreign Affairs Committee, slammed the reports as "fake news", stating that the country has the "courage" to announce such actions if it had carried them out. "This is fake news. When we do something, we've the courage to announce it," Al Nuaimi said. "The UAE will never place the Iranian people in the same basket as the Iranian regime. The Iranian people are the real victims of that regime and the ones who suffer the most from its policies. As neighbours, we recognize this reality and we care about their wellbeing," he further clarified in another post on X. Earlier, it was reported by The Jerusalem Post suggesting that the United Arab Emirates had targeted an Iranian desalination plant on Sunday, which would have marked its first retaliatory strike in response to Iranian drone and missile attacks amid the ongoing conflict in the region. However, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday slammed the US for attacks 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. The development comes amid escalated tensions in West Asia, following the death of the 86-year-old Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on February 28. The strikes also killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Republic. Following this, Tehran, in retaliation, launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases and Israeli assets across the region, including multiple Arab countries. Israel, along with the US, continued its strikes on Tehran, with Tel Aviv widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militant groups. (ANI) Nepal's Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Sunday said that the detailed report of the high-level investigation commission on Gen-Z protest will not be released anytime soon, as the interim government will now be involved in the handover to the newly elected government. Karki announced the decision after receiving the over 900 paged document at a closed-door event held at her office, as per the video of the event released by her secretariat. "Regarding its implementation, we won't be in power till that time as we have to handover authority to the upcoming government, and I am confident that they'll study it and implement it in the coming days. For now, we will also study it- I, along with the Home Minister, will be involved in this process and also present it to the cabinet amongst all the sitting ministers. Possibly after that, we might move forward towards releasing it. We won't be releasing all the detailed accounts, but the crux of it," Karki said on Sunday. The judicial commission under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki was formed on September 21 last year by Shushila Karki. Formed under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1969, the panel was tasked with identifying the causes behind the violence, vandalism, looting, and arson, and recommending action. It has the power to summon individuals, collect evidence from government or public offices, require document submissions, and recommend action for non-cooperation. "It should be implemented. Though the new government is responsible for putting it into practice, the suggestions that we have given would help to prevent these kinds of incidents from recurring. In the report, we have given the recommendations based on fields where improvements are required. The incidents as such happened because of the maladministration, in order to maintain good governance all, the national bodies and authorities needs reform, we also have given measures for it," Gauri Bahadur Karki, the former Chief Justice and the head of the investigation committee, said in the event. The commission also had received about 300 complaints of personal losses, police reports, and photos and videos. The inquiry commission also had recorded statements from Nakkhu Prison chief Satyaraj Joshi and Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane, who was in judicial custody at the time and walked out when protesters reached the prison on September 9. "The report is above nine hundred pages, which also consists of the sub-sections. If we combine all the documents and evidence, then it will be a total of between eight and ten thousand pages. The incidents of September 8 and 9 have been analysed in detail," Bigyanraj Sharma, another member of the commission, had briefed the media after submission of the report. According to the commission, statements from around 30 security personnel, including police constables and officers, were completed in November itself. During the quiz, the officials were asked how the situation escalated to firing on September 8 and how the protest turned to vandalism and arson the following day. "This has only been possible because of their tireless efforts. They've done an in-depth study, and they've used their personal experience of being in a top position in the police, while in the judicial body or the legal field, those people with the experience, I am really hopeful that they have made the issue crystal clear. It would help the nation a lot, and it indeed is a topic of study. If any incidents of this scale happen in the future, then it can be taken as a reference," Interim Prime Minister Karki said. The two-day Gen Z movement on September 8 and 9 unseated the KP Sharma Oli government, where at least 77 people were killed as the government tried to suppress the protestors. After three days of deliberations, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed the interim Prime Minister of the nation, who had recommended dissolving the parliament. Upon Karki's recommendation, President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved the House of Representatives on September 12 and announced fresh polls for March 5, 2026. (ANI) The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Sunday conducted a fresh round of military strikes across Tehran, targeting key infrastructure belonging to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other components of the Iranian regime's security apparatus. In an official statement released on its Telegram channel, the IDF said the latest wave of operations included the targeted destruction of the IRGC's Space Force headquarters as well as approximately 50 ammunition bunkers, a Basij base, an internal security command centre, and a compound linked to the IRGC Ground Forces. "The IDF struck dozens of additional Iranian terror regime infrastructure. Approximately 50 bunkers that stored Iranian terror regime ammunition in an Internal Security base. A Basij base. Internal security command center. A compound belonging to the IRGC's Ground Forces," the statement read. According to the statement, the IRGC Space Force headquarters functioned as a command, research and transmission centre associated with the Iranian Space Agency, which operates under the regime's military structures. The site also housed research facilities and a command-and-control framework for the "Khayyam" satellite, launched in August 2022 and reportedly used by the IRGC for activities against Israel, including intelligence gathering, the IDF stated. "The IDF is continuing to deepen damage to the Iranian terror regime's arrays and systems. The Israeli Air Force, directed by the IDF Intelligence Directorate, struck dozens of terror regime infrastructure sites across Iran," the statement added. The Basij and Internal Security Forces, both integrated into Iran's armed forces, were described by the IDF as essential components of the regime's operations, including crowd control, transportation route security and facility protection. The statement also highlighted their role in suppressing protests within Iran, accusing the forces of employing "systematic and brutal violence" against civilians in recent months. "The Internal Security Forces and the Basij are part of the Iranian terrorist regime's Armed Forces and have advanced terrorist activities for years," the IDF stated. The Israeli military reaffirmed its intention to continue targeting what it described as mechanisms of the Iranian terror regime across Iranian territory. The development comes amid escalated tensions in West Asia, following the killing of 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28. The strikes also killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Republic. In retaliation, Tehran launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases in multiple Arab countries and Israeli assets across the region. Israel, along with the US, continued its strikes on Tehran, with Tel Aviv widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militant groups. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will make a statement in the Lok Sabha of the Parliament on Monday regarding the evolving situation in West Asia. According to the list of business of the Lok Sabha issued on Sunday, Jaishankar will address the Lok Sabha to brief members on the current developments in the region. "DR. S. JAISHANKAR to make a Statement regarding "The Situation in West," the statement read. The statement comes amid growing international attention on the situation in West Asia, with several countries closely monitoring the developments and their potential geopolitical implications. The development comes amid escalated tensions in West Asia, following the killing of 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint military strikes by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28. The strikes also killed several senior leaders of the Islamic Republic. In retaliation, Tehran launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases in multiple Arab countries and Israeli assets across the region. Israel, along with the US, continued its strikes on Tehran, with Tel Aviv widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militant groups. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the country was "deeply concerned at the recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region". The MEA, in a statement, said, "We urge all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians. Dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected." "Our Missions in the region are in touch with Indian nationals and have issued appropriate advisories asking them to remain vigilant, stay in contact with the Missions, and follow local security guidance," the statement added. The second phase of the Budget session starts on Monday, 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. (ANI) Khan assured all Indians that the embassy would assist them in need. In a post on X, the Embassy said, "Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, accompanied by DCM Shri Abu Mathen George and Counsellor (CW) Shri Y. Sabir, held a virtual interaction today with representatives of the Indian community from various regions and provinces. The Ambassador reassured the community of the Embassy's readiness to extend all necessary assistance to Indian nationals in need. He also briefed participants on the Embassy's recent initiatives, including the establishment of a 24/7 control room to provide prompt support. Community representatives expressed appreciation for the Embassy's proactive outreach and engagement." https://x.com/IndianEmbRiyadh/status/2030642941601911203?s=20 https://x.com/IndianEmbRiyadh/status/2030653399000125796?s=20 Earlier in the day, Khan Mohammed Al Shammari, Acting Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia. In a post on X, the embassy said, "Ambassador Dr Suhel Khan, accompanied by DCM Shri Abu Mathen, met with H. E. Amb. Dr. Mohammed Al Shammari, Acting Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saudi Arabia, today. They discussed matters related to the welfare of the Indian community." https://x.com/IndianEmbRiyadh/status/2030603789523095567?s=20 Iranian strikes across the region appear to have degraded parts of the US-built Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) network after radar systems in several West Asia locations were hit, as per a CNN report. Iranian missiles and drones, as per Iranian media claims, seem to have also managed to bypass the Western and Israeli defence systems, including THAAD, and reach targets in Israel. According to satellite imagery and analysis reported by CNN, radar systems linked to THAAD batteries in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were struck during the opening days of the conflict. (ANI) Etihad Airways on Sunday released its latest flight schedule for the coming days for March 8-10 (as per their local time). Guests with previous bookings will be accommodated on these flights as soon as possible. Tickets are also available for sale on http://etihad.com, the airline said in its statement. https://x.com/etihad/status/2030632586989715810?s=20 https://x.com/etihad/status/2030613454906892555?s=20 https://x.com/etihad/status/2030612725425148394?s=20 https://x.com/etihad/status/2030248202037838288?s=20 Meanwhile, 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 reopening of Qatari airspace by the relevant authorities. Following temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirming limited operating corridors, Qatar Airways intends to operate the following flight schedule in the coming days to support passengers who have been affected due to the current disruption, and in helping them reunite with family and friends as quickly and safely as possible. Flights departing from Doha (DOH): 9-March: Seoul (ICN), Moscow (SVO), London Heathrow (LHR), Delhi (DEL), Madrid (MAD), Islamabad (ISB), Beijing (PKX), Perth (PER), Nairobi (NBO) 10-March: Cairo (CAI), London Heathrow (LHR), Jeddah (JED), Manila (MNL), Kochi (COK), Muscat (MCT), Istanbul (IST), Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), Nairobi (NBO), Islamabad (ISB), Madrid (MAD), Frankfurt (FRA), Colombo (CMB), Milan (MXP) Flights arriving to Doha (DOH): 10-March: Seoul (ICN), Moscow (SVO), London Heathrow (LHR), Delhi (DEL), Madrid (MAD), Islamabad (ISB), Beijing (PKX), Perth (PER), Nairobi (NBO). 11-March: Cairo (CAI), London Heathrow (LHR), Jeddah (JED), Manila (MNL), Kochi (COK), Muscat (MCT), Istanbul (IST), Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), Nairobi (NBO), Islamabad (ISB), Madrid (MAD), Frankfurt (FRA), Colombo (CMB), Milan (MXP). For the latest flight updates and 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. Passengers are kindly asked not to arrive at their departure airport unless they hold a valid confirmed ticket for travel, as per Qatar Airways. 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. A further update will be provided on 9 March 2026, as per Qatar Airways. (ANI) Dr. Sofia Ghacham, electrical engineer, ICT researcher, and founder of Women in AI Morocco, made the case that artificial intelligence cannot reach its full potential without the full participation of women and that Morocco, despite its academic promise, still has significant ground to cover. The path to AI advocacy of Ghacham, who made the statement in an interview with Aujourdhui Le Maroc paper, runs through two decades of work in critical infrastructure: mobile networks and advanced railway systems. That grounding in high-stakes, large-scale engineering shaped a philosophy of technology that is unambiguously practical. Useful innovation is innovation that genuinely improves existing systems and responds to real societal needs, she explained in her interview, applying that same lens to AI. AI is a powerful tool that must be designed and deployed responsibly, securely, and in service of economic and social development. The spark for Women in AI Morocco came during her participation in TechWomen, a U.S. State Department program connecting women leaders in STEM with Silicon Valleys tech ecosystem. The experience revealed the transformative power of organized community, visible role models, and structured networks none of which Ghacham felt were sufficiently present for women entering AI in Morocco. She founded the organization in 2025 as the countrys chapter of the international Women in AI network, with a three-part mission: raising awareness of AI opportunities among young talent, supporting women building careers in the field, and contributing to a more inclusive national AI ecosystem through cross-sector collaboration. The need is clear, she argued. Morocco has strong female representation in scientific and engineering programs but that presence thins significantly as careers advance, particularly in research, technology entrepreneurship, and AI leadership. The challenge is to convert academic potential into stronger professional visibility, she said, pointing to persistent stereotypes, scarce role models, and the absence of inclusive organizational policies as the structural barriers most in need of dismantling. Her message to young Moroccan women considering AI is direct: set no limits. The field combines science, creativity, and problem-solving in ways that reward curiosity and collaboration as much as technical mastery. The world of AI evolves very quickly, and those who know how to learn, collaborate, and innovate will have a key role to play in building the technologies of tomorrow. For Ghacham, inclusion is not a social obligation alongside the real work of AI development. It is the work. An ecosystem that excludes half its potential talent pool will produce technologies that are less representative, less equitable, and ultimately less competitive. Integrating women fully into this ecosystem is not just a matter of equality, she says. It is an essential condition for building technologies that are fairer, more inclusive, and more representative of society. Morocco has reaffirmed this Sunday its unwavering support for its Arab brothers during the extraordinary meeting of the Arab League held in Cairo to discuss Iranian aggressions against the Gulf countries. The reaffirmation was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, during his participation, via videoconference, in the Arab League extraordinary session of the Arab League Council devoted to the Iranian aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Arab states. King Mohammed VI has always considered that the security and stability of Arab Gulf countries are inseparable from Moroccos own safety, Bourita said, recalling that this position had already been expressed by the Monarch during telephone calls with the heads of state of the Gulf countries. This stand clearly and firmly translates Moroccos support for the security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of these countries, considering that their security and stability are intrinsic to Moroccos own. In this connection, Bourita recalled the Speech delivered by the King at the Morocco-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit held on April 20, 2016, in which the Sovereign had stated: Therefore, to defend our security is not only a shared obligation, but it is also a collective, indivisible one. Morocco has always perceived the security and stability of Gulf countries as an intrinsic part of its own security and stability. What hurts you hurts us, and what affects us affects you. Bourita also expressed the Kingdoms strong condemnation of Irans brutal attacks against brotherly Arab countries, describing them as a flagrant breech of these States sovereignty and a direct threat to the security of the entire region, reaffirming Moroccos full solidarity with these countries and its support for all legitimate measures they deem appropriate to safeguard their security and the tranquility of their citizens and residents on their territory. In this context, he explained that these despicable attacks are but one manifestation of the hostile policies the Iranian regime continues to adopt towards neighboring countries and the region at large, in an attempt to fuel discord and destabilize the region, particularly through the creation of terrorist entities and militias that pledge allegiance to it at the expense of the interests, safety, and stability of their own countries. The Moroccan top diplomat stressed further that strengthening Arab cohesion and enshrining joint action within the framework of the Arab League remains the best way to safeguard the collective security of Arab countries, protect their sovereignty and the interests of their peoples, and address all challenges to the stability and safety of the region, away from division, fragmentation, and dispersion. He also called for the adoption of a unified and firm Arab position to confront any practice that could threaten the stability of the Arab region, insisting on the need to immediately put an end to Irans heinous aggressions to allow diplomatic efforts to unfold, prioritize the path of dialogue, and contribute to easing tensions and de-escalation in the region. The Arab League Council met urgently to examine Iranian attacks against several Arab countries. The meeting was held via videoconference after it was requested by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, and Egypt. wind farm and a plan to develop 92 solar parks by 2028, but the transition still faces major hurdles in funding (estimated at $8-10 billion) and a lack of skilled technical workers. The Cuban government has committed to increasing renewable energy to 26 percent of its total energy supply by 2035, up from the current 9 percent, as part of its National Energy Transition Strategy. Cuba is facing a severe energy crisis with regular blackouts, primarily due to US intervention in Venezuela halting critical fuel exports and leading to domestic fuel rationing. Cuba has long been suffering from an energy crisis, with residents facing regular blackouts, which has been exacerbated by the recent United States intervention in Venezuela and the halt of critical energy exports to Cuba. Now, the island nation is assessing a potential future in renewables to diversify its energy mix and boost security. In February, Cubas energy crisis deepened as fuel rationing was implemented, following U.S. President Trumps campaign to provoke regime change by cutting off the islands energy supply, most of which came from Venezuela. In January, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on any country that sends oil to Cuba. Mexico initially continued to supply Cuba with crude, justifying the move as humanitarian aid, although President Sheinbaum halted oil shipments to the island nation in February in response to Trumps tariff threat. Its currently on hold, and we are seeking to avoid any negative impact on Mexico and, as always, to find the best diplomatic solution for Cuba to receive the fuel, President Sheinbaum stated during a press conference on 9th February. Mexico, instead, sent large quantities of humanitarian aid to Cuba last month. Russia has said it will continue to supply Cuba with crude, although this could take some time to be seen. Meanwhile, Cubans are turning to charcoal for cooking and to solar panels for electricity generation. The Cuban government is rationing fuel for use in essential services and indispensable economic activities. As Cuba hurries to find alternative fuel sources to tackle the immediate shortages, a long-term solution must be found to reduce reliance on foreign oil imports and strengthen the countrys energy security. Cuba is highly vulnerable to extreme weather, which makes its dependence on fossil fuels alarming. One obvious solution to Cubas energy concerns is the development of the countrys renewable energy resources. Related: Why Trump Wants Magnets More Than Gold The Cuban government recently committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), pledging that the country would increase its renewable energy capacity to 26 percent of the total energy supply by 2035. At present, renewables, mainly solar, contribute just 9 percent of the state electricity utility's supply. Cuba installed its first solar panels in the late 1980s and opened its first wind farm in 1999. However, the development of its renewable energy capacity has remained limited, until recently, due to a lack of political will and funding. However, the government published its National Energy Transition Strategy in September 2024, aimed at increasing Cubas domestic crude output and developing its renewable energy sources. China has since become a key partner, supporting Cuba financially and providing expertise for the development of the green energy sector. The islands largest wind farm to date La Herradura 1 is currently under construction, funded by Chinese investment. The first stage consists of the installation of 22 wind turbines to generate 33 MW of clean power. In December 2024, China signed a deal with Cuba to develop seven solar parks with a combined capacity of 35 MW. The Cuban government aims to develop 92 solar parks with a total capacity of 2GW by 2028, supported by Chinese financing. A reported 35 of these solar parks were completed by October 2025. However, to make these solar parks more reliable, Cuba must invest in battery storage as well as in the countrys long underfunded transmission network. At present, around 16 percent of the electricity produced in Cuba is lost due to failures in transmission. Investing in battery storage may not be on the cards. Ricardo Torres, an energy economist at the American University in Washington, explained, The energy transition outlined by the government would require investments of around $8 billion to $10 billion over the next decade Cuba simply does not have that kind of money, and China will not pay for everything. In addition to funding, Cuba will need to provide the necessary technical expertise to manage renewable energy and modern transmission projects, and the country currently lacks skilled workers in this field. Related: Magnet Wars: How the U.S. Plans to Break Chinas Grip on Rare Earths Despite several hurdles still to overcome to develop Cubas large-scale renewable energy capacity, several wealthier households and businessowners are now investing in solar panels. While poorer Cubans are turning to charcoal or wood for energy, an increasing number of solar panels can be seen in wealthier neighbourhoods, particularly in the capital of Havana. The number of solar panel installation firms has risen significantly since 2024, when the Cuban government relaxed restrictions on importing solar panels, which are mostly produced in China. However, with a small solar package costing around $2,000, most Cubans do not have access to this equipment. Cuba aims to significantly increase its renewable energy capacity in the coming years, to decrease the countrys reliance on foreign imports of fossil fuels and increase its energy security. However, this will require high levels of funding and expertise, which Cuba will not be able to achieve without international support. Meanwhile, the island nation is facing a severe energy crisis. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Rural electric cooperatives may be next in line for meaningful disruption from lower-cost, renewable power generation technologies such as wind and solar. The co-operative movement, a creation of FDR's New Deal, has survived the past ninety six years with a simple mandate: provide low-cost, reliable electricity in under-served rural areas. From a business perspective rural electrification always seemed like a terrible idea. The electric utility has to spend prodigiously on poles and wires for a sparsely populated area with a few customers per mile who provide an insignificant amount of steady revenues on that enormous investment. And to make it worse from a business perspective, all the farmers wanted in 1935 was mostly electric light and maybe power for a radio. Urban utilities, on the other hand, had over 20,000 customers per mile of distribution line, making for a proper business. The investor owned utilities at the time looked at the outsized capital expenditures for a rural power distribution network and its dismal revenue prospects and said, in effect, no thanks. This rural-urban divide in the electric utility industry generated a bitter conflict within the industry, now long gone from the publics imagination. But it still manifests itself plainly on a utilitys balance sheet. Rural utilities, not surprisingly, have a relatively large percentage of assets devoted to power transmission and distribution activities, especially on a per customer basisall those miles of poles, wires, and small substations to move electricity across a large, sparsely populated service area. Said differently, the USs power co-ops today serve about 12% of the population, but they have about 40+% of the nations transmission and distribution network and cover more than 50% of the land mass of the US. Related: No Missiles, No Drones: What Happens When Rare Earths Stop Flowing? Even today, rural power distribution costs on a per customer basis are very high, about four times higher than for an urban utility. Until recently, we saw this as a competitive strength. A relatively wide and protected moat for their business. The existing rural T&D system is too expensive to replicate, so we viewed competitive threats as minimal. Now, on- site power generation (and storage) with renewables could pose an existential competitive threat. If the storage and generation are on the customers premises, then the expensive distribution network becomes irrelevant and a potentially stranded asset. And because this renewable power is also cheaper than current fossil alternatives, this renders the power generation contracts to serve the co-ops load at risk as well. In the US, there are over 800 power co-ops serving more than 40 million people. And there are about 60 larger generation and transmission (G&T) co-ops,that own mostly fossil-fired power generation assets, which sell power to the distribution co-ops under long-term contracts. If we are correct, utility customers in these rural areas might realize substantial savings by switching to on-site solar. There are two reasons for this: 1) the new solar power providers dont have that extensive rural electricity distribution network to support physically and financially, and 2) their power costs are cheaper than coal and gas. From a business competition perspective, this isnt even a remotely fair fight. To us, this is what utility stranded asset risk really looks like when its caused by a technology transition. In our rural electrification model in the US, we broke up the integrated electric utility into two parts, the distribution entity (the co-ops) and the Generation and Transmission entities providing power. But the financial stresses of more rapid solar and renewables adoption will affect each part of the business differently. The co-ops will lose lucrative customers as large commercial and industrial loads get bid away by solar developers offering lower power costs. But real financial stresses will also occur between the co-ops and their power providers, the G&Ts. The co-ops are contractually obligated to purchase mostly fossil-fired power from the G&Ts, but the co-ops now find themselves purchasing power that is now uncompetitively priced versus renewables. And this situation will likely get worse. The current fuel mix, according to the industrys association, NRECA, is about 25% coal, 35% gas, 14% nuclear, with the rest being renewables and hydro. It is the financial tensions between co-ops and G&Ts that may give fixed-income investors some cause for concern. The cooperatives are customer-owned businesses dedicated to providing reliable electric service at the lowest possible cost. They can raise money at a lower cost than their individual customers, and they have service staff that covers big, sparsely populated territories. They could become sellers, owners, and maintainers of on-site generation and storage and mini-grids. But those new businesses do not address the real issue: what to do with the existing infrastructure? That is where the financial risk lies. What a new technology like renewables exposes here is an underlying and unavoidable physical and financial fragility of rural electrification based on the prevailing technology at the time, central station power. that reached customers through a relatively high-cost distribution system. But now, renewables produce electricity at lower cost, are faster to deploy at scale, and, because their power is generated on site, they dont need any of the extensive distribution system nor the fossil-fired plants built to serve it. For a rural utility today we might say their assets are being stranded at both ends. By Leonard Hyman and William Tilles for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Back in September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), a landmark pact elevating their security cooperation to a formal alliance. The agreement dictates that an attack on one nation is considered an attack on both, potentially extending Pakistan's nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia and strengthening joint military intervention. The pact alters the regional security architecture, particularly affecting Iran, India, and Israel, while potentially signaling a shift in Saudi reliance away from the U.S. towards a Pakistan-China-Saudi axis. And now, Pakistan could find its loyalty to its oil-rich ally tested just months after formalizing its defense alliance. Pakistans foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, this week said that Islamabad had warned Tehran not to strike Saudi territory because the pact treats an attack on either country as an attack on both. The warning came after Iranian drones hit the U.S. embassy compound in Riyadh and attacks targeted Saudi infrastructure, including the Ras Tanura oil complex. Dar said he conveyed the message directly to Irans foreign minister during a call over the weekend. Related: The U.S. Just Took a Giant Step in The Rare Earth Race With China Unlike last years U.S.-launched Operation Midnight Hammer, which only elicited a symbolic response from Iran, this time around, Operation Epic Fury has triggered a much more aggressive reaction by the OPEC producer following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Iran launching widespread and intense retaliatory attacks across the Middle East. Tehran has fired hundreds of Shahed drones and high-speed ballistic missiles targeting Israel and multiple U.S.-allied Gulf nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and warned of attacks on vessels, forcing a halt to major oil and gas flows and causing global shipping to seek alternative routes. The Saudi Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Iranian attacks targeted the capital and the kingdom's eastern region. Multiple Iranian drones struck the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, causing material damage, while the Ras Tanura oil refinery and other Aramco facilities were targeted by drones and projectiles. Saudi forces were able to intercept and destroy the majority of the missiles. And, Pakistan has certainly taken notice. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently revealed that he had warned Iran against aggression towards Saudi Arabia, "I made them (Iran) understand that we have a defence agreement," Dar told the Financial Times. Last year, Iranian General Mohsen Rezaei reported that Pakistan assured Iran of a nuclear strike against Israel if Israel used nuclear weapons against Tehran. However, Pakistani officials dismissed the statement as baseless and fabricated. Related: Why Trump Wants Magnets More Than Gold For now, analysts believe that theres a low probability that Pakistan will join the war in the Middle East or extend its nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia. For one, SMDA undermines several important global nuclear treaties, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). NPT was primarily negotiated by the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee (a UN-sponsored group) and finalized by the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom and opened for signature in 1968. The treaty is the cornerstone of the global nuclear nonproliferation regime, aiming to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and advance nuclear disarmament. It is built on three pillars: nonproliferation, disarmament and peaceful use. Nearly all nations in the world have signed the NPT, making it a critical international instrument for global security. The NPT recognizes the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom as nuclear-weapon states, being the only nations to have detonated a nuclear explosive before 1967. Other nations have agreed not to acquire or produce nuclear weapons in exchange for access to peaceful nuclear technology, such as for electricity generation or medical applications. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is responsible for conducting inspections and monitoring compliance with the treaty to ensure that nuclear programs are used for peaceful purposes only. However, Pakistan, India, Israel, and South Sudan have never signed the NPT, with Pakistan, India, and Israel widely believed to possess nuclear weapons. That said, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is considered the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons. Unlike the NPT, which aims for non-proliferation and gradual disarmament, TPNWs goal is total and immediate prohibition from owning nuclear weapons. The treaty became legally binding in January 2021, after reaching the 50-nation ratification threshold. In late 2025, the TPNW reached a "global majority" of UN member states after Kyrgyzstan became a state party. Currently, there are 95 signatories and 74 states that have ratified or acceded to the treaty. Not surprisingly, no nuclear state has signed the treaty. Likewise, Pakistan, India and Israel have not acceded to the treaty. Pakistan has never officially stated that it extended nuclear protection to Saudi Arabia. Still, SMDA adds firepower to Saudi's diplomatic moves, with analysts at London-based think tank Chatham House saying that the pact "sets a precedent for extended deterrence". By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The European Unions gas in storage levels are below 30%, benchmark gas prices are the highest in over a year, and QatarEnergy just shut down the worlds single biggest LNG production facility. The situation looks like a recipe for disaster, and the chances of a painless solution are slim. EUs benchmark natural gas price has gained as much as 60% since the United States and Israel started bombing Iran on Saturday, and while some of these gains were erased this week, significant upside potential remains. Not only has QatarEnergy suspended LNG production and declared force majeure on exports, but insurers refusal to provide coverage for vessels traversing the Strait of Hormuz, along with Iranian warnings that enemy vessels will be legitimate targets, has resulted in severe disruption of tanker traffic in the chokepoint. Of course, the EU could always lean more heavily on American liquefied gas. After all, it even made a commitment to buy $250 billion worth of it and oil annually until 2028 as part of the trade deal European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen signed with President Trump last summer. This is what it will likely have to do, in the absence of Qatari LNG for an unknown period of time. But there is a problem with that, and the problem is the price. Related: Inside North Americas First Fully Integrated Rare Earth Facility Liquefied natural gas is more expensive than pipeline gas to begin with. This was one reason why European industries have had a tough four years since the sabotage of the Nord Stream and the consequent drop in Russian gas flows to the continent. Alternative pipeline gas supplies from Northern Africa and Azerbaijan have yet to ramp up enough to replace the lost flows. And this years heating demand has been much stronger than the last four years. Bloomberg sounded the alarm as early as January, reporting that below-average winter temperatures were driving the fastest pace of withdrawals from natural gas storage in Europe in five years, as heating demand soared. The gap between demand and supply was so significant that LNG cargo arrivals were at less than half of the daily volumes withdrawn from storage. Whats more, at the time and over the next month, the unfavorable price spread between winter and summer prices did not encourage early stockpiling. This means that now, European energy buyers would need to revise their gas purchase plans for refill seasonand their price assumptions. Reuters cited Kpler as saying the European Union would need LNG deliveries equivalent to 67 billion cu m just to refill gas storages. That would be equal to some 700 cargoes, the publication noted, or 180 cargoes (17 billion cu m) more than it needed last year. These volumes are no small potatoesespecially with a war premium attached to them. Even if the war in the Middle East ends this week, restarting QatarEnergys LNG production would take more than a few days. In other words, whatever happens in the Middle East, the EU will be paying through the nose for its gasbecause it has no alternative. Reuters has calculated that the additional cargoes would swell the EUs LNG import bill by over $10 billion, per current prices. The full refill bill, according to the publication, could hit $40 billion. Thats a far cry from the $250 billion committed, and even that far cry would hit European industries. Related: Magnet Wars: How the U.S. Plans to Break Chinas Grip on Rare Earths Before 2022, Russias Gazprom notoriously supplied almost 40% of the European Unions gas at the peak of deliveries. By last year, this had fallen to less than 20%, pumped through the one remaining operating pipeline, the TurkStream. Now, the EU has decided to suspend all Russian energy imports starting in 2027, including, notably gas, both pipeline and LNG. In the meantime, however, European buyers are in a rush to secure as much Russian LNG as possible, turning the country into its second-largest LNG supplier, after the United States. The rather ironic situation may also get a twist, after Russias president said parliament would discuss pre-empting the EU and suspending gas exports itself, given the presence of alternative markets and the EUs own plans for an end to these exports. This would only hasten an already deep dependence on American liquefied gas in Europe that has started to cause concernafter being celebrated as energy independence back in 2022. The problem is that, besides Russia, there is no gas producer large enough to serve as a source of stable diversification of supply. The situation will likely boost the appeal of wind and solar capacity, but that appeal has limits, too, because neither wind nor solar are as cheap as advertised when the costs of backup generation and battery storage are included in the tally. In short, the European Union is facing even more uncertain times than it has been struggling with for four years now. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Kathmandu,Nepal, March 8, 2026: The high-level commission formed to investigate the violence, arson, and looting during the recent Gen-Z protests has submitted its final report to the government. The commission has recommended that all individuals found responsible for the unrest be brought to justice under the full extent of the law. Notably, the report raises serious questions regarding the roles of then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and officials of the District Security Committees in the affected regions. It suggests that the government initiate criminal proceedings against them for their roles in the crisis. Furthermore, the commission has called for the identification and prosecution of individuals involved in specific acts of arson, vandalism, and looting that took place across various locations on September 9 (Bhadra 24). According to the findings, the situation was exacerbated by a significant lack of coordination among state mechanisms during the management of the protests. To prevent future occurrences, the report emphasizes that security coordination and crowd management protocols must be made more effective and transparent. Following the submission of the report, the government's next steps toward implementation are under intense public scrutiny. If the recommendations are fully adopted, legal consequences could reach everyone from high-ranking officials to those directly involved in the street-level violence. Over 3 dozen single mothers hired as waitresses rescued from Cancun club Cancun, Q.R. Over three dozen women were removed from a Cancun club Saturday night during a police operation. Authorities say 39 women of varying nationalities, most of whom were single mothers, were rescued from the club. As a result of investigative work, 39 women, presumed victims of acts possibly constituting the crime of human trafficking in its form of sexual exploitation, were found police reported. A total of 39 waitresses were removed from the club Saturday night. March 7, 2026. The women were removed from a club in SM 22 on Margaritas Street. Of those rescued, 19 were Cuban, 14 Mexican, three Colombian, two Venezuelan and one Honduran. Police said the women worked at the place as waitresses and hostesses, in addition to also doing erotic dances, offering sexual services and presenting special shows where they performed live sex. According to initial investigations, the women were hired as waitresses but were later told they had to clock in, charging 500 pesos per drink, which entitled the customer to socialize with them and touch them. The establishment has four booths for private dances, for which they charged between 200 and 500 pesos, depending on the woman. Likewise, the workers offered to go to another private place for a payment of 1,800 pesos; at the place they were given a bottle of liquor and the price for the sexual services was established. Police said the women were considered vulunerable due to their precarious economic situation, lack of education, and their vulnerable condition, since most of them are single mothers. How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Stoya and Rich here. Its anonymous! Dear How to Do It, My husband Greg and I (both men) frequently hold sex parties at our place. Recently weve been put in an awkward situationor at least I have. One of our regular attendees, Paul, is now involved with Gregs ex, James, and wants to bring him to our next gathering. Greg and James split up five years ago, but I find myself thinking that having James over in a situation where sex is involved is inappropriate. Greg says the solution is to allow Paul to bring James over with the agreement that neither of us will do anything with James. I still find myself uncomfortable with the idea. Is my husbands solution a fair compromise? Ex Anxiety Dear Ex Anxiety, I dont think this is a fair compromise. Im not sure how your parties go, but often there is the expectation when attending an orgy that all bodies present are fair game. This may not be trueboundaries can be set whenever and consent can be revoked at will, but the general vibe tends to be predicated on an opt-out approach to consent (that is, consent is assumed unless explicitly denied) rather than opt-in (as in, the interested explicitly asks for consent). In my experience, this is generally true at public-leaning gay sex parties where most of the attendees do not know each other, but especially so at smaller, more personal gatherings that are specifically curated. Its not outrageous for someone to assume after receiving an invite to your place for an orgy that you/your partner want to have sex with them. Explaining that you dont might make the situation much more awkward, which would defeat the purpose of the invite: courtesy. For everyones sake, dont ever invite someone to a sex party out of sheer politeness. Youre just creating problems for yourself down the line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are throwing these events regularly, surely you are aware (to some extent) of the norms/etiquette I just detailed, as is Greg. Working off that assumption, it makes me wonder if Greg is inviting Paul by proxy for the possibility of reconnecting sexually. Because of the slippery nature of consent heregoing along with someone/indicating yes can be interpreted as a way to keep up the vibeit could be easy for Greg to, whoops, start playing with Paul and then you look like the buzzkill when you have to shut it down. Generally speaking, the invitees list should only include people that you want to have sex with or, at minimum, are open to having sex with if things drift that way. Leave absolute nos off your list. Dont invite James and if Paul has a problem with that, dont invite him either. Communicating this to Greg might go more smoothly if you can articulate exactly why you dont want James to attend. Inappropriate and uncomfortable, are valid ways to feel about this but they arent exactly specific. To be clear, you dont need to have a thesis prepared to defend your reasons for not wanting James there, but the more vividly you can convey your feelings to Greg, the more likely you are to be understood and get past this with minimal conflict. Advertisement Get advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear How to Do It, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to How to Do It following up) Submit Dear How to Do It, My wife and I, married over 20 years, havent had sex in over 15 years. She is adamantly against my going outside the marriage for sex and has essentially tied my hands so that I can never have sex as long as Im married to her. We do have a great marriage except for this area. Im 65 and still interested in sex. How can I open her mind to the possibility of this when shes not willing to budge? It feels so unfair! We were consensually monogamous as a couple but should that still hold if theres no longer sex? Shes terrified Ill fall for someone else but Im perfectly capable of sex with people I have little feelings for. Bummed in Bed Advertisement Dear Bummed in Bed, You cant really open someone elses mind, but you can give them a key with which they can open it themselves if they are so inclined. A conversation about this, laying out the facts, could be useful. Your wife has effectively bestowed a vow of celibacy upon you. She wont have sex with you and has denied permission to have sex outside of marriage. You should ask her whether she actually expects you to never have sex again for the rest of your life. Allow her to chew on the implications of her refusal to have sex with you and denying you permission to have it outside of your relationship. You can tell her that the situation has you rethinking your marriage if thats true. You may or may not be ready to float an ultimatum, but you can certainly tiptoe up to it to let your wife know that youre serious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the answerthe answers, all of themstill may be, No. Thats when you have to start thinking for yourself. Can you spend the rest of your life celibate? Is this great marriage worth holding onto if it means that you will never get to have sex with someone other than yourself again? Given the situation, I understand why you are tempted to go outside of your marriage. This is about as close as a relationship structure gets to justifying cheating. But the lying and deception required make me unwilling to recommend it. The ethical thing to do is to leave a monogamous relationship if you need to have sex outside of it. If you want to have your relationship and outside sex as well, taking that unethical path will be on you. Send Us Your Questions About the Workplace! The columnists behind our advice column, Good Job, want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here! Advertisement Advertisement Dear How to Do It, My spouse is a closeted MtF individual, and while we both feel were handling their very slow transition fairly well, things do need to evolve in the bedroom. I have always taken a more passive role sexually, and we have always focused more on my enjoyment than theirs. They want me to be more dominant and order them around, and basically let them be more passive and feminine. They also say that its fine if I cant, because its not what I signed up for. But they deserve happiness in the bedroom too! And Im willing to provide it, however hesitantly, even if it feels awkward at first. Theyve told me to just do what Im comfortable with, but I dont even know where to start. I have started seeking out trans and sapphic romances to see if they help spark my creativity. What else can I do to reignite our sex life? Happy (Trans) Wife, Happy Life Advertisement Dear Happy (Trans) Wife, Happy Life, Its so heartening to read of the obvious love you have for your partnerthe type of sexual generosity that you are striving for is what I recommend to many of the people who write in to this column. Finding the right sexual dynamic in light of your spouses transition may be a process, so have patience. And while it is extremely kind of you to make this effort for the sake of your partner, dont ignore your own pleasure and boundaries in the process. Finding the right balance might be a challenge, but you should definitely aim to strike one, at least in the long term. I showed your letter to Lucie Fielding, a therapist and the author of the 2021 book Trans Sex. Via email, she responded with a very good point: Advertisement I noticed in your lovely letter, Happy (Trans) Wife, Happy Life, that you and your partner are deploying a lot of words like dominant, feminine, and passive to describe what kinds of experiences your partner is hoping to share with you. Any one of these words can mean or refer to so many things. This strikes me as a fabulous opportunity for you both to bring some curiosity to those descriptive words and get some sense as to what desires they might contain. For example, what does it mean for your partner to feel feminine? Does that refer to specific sex acts? Words you both might use (e.g., for parts, for activities, for each other)? Ways they might want to feel during your play? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your partner may not quite know what she wants at the moment or she may not have the language for it, but you can help things along with prompts. Obviously, Do what youre comfortable with, is insufficient guidance or you wouldnt have written in. You need a bit more information. Breaking down language, as Fielding suggests, is a great way to point yourselves in the direction of obtaining it. Fielding also called your seeking out of trans and sapphic romances a great first step. She has tons of recommendations: Advertisement Advertisement It may be a while before youre at this stage, but if you want some detailed info on domming, there are many online tutorials available. You may want to check out HTDI friend Lola Jeans courses or the BDSM-specific education site she co-founded, 7 Days of Domination. Rich More Advice From Slate I am currently married to an amazing woman, who I have been with for five years. We have an active sex life, but there is one problem that I just cant get over: Of all the women I have been with, she is the only one who is not multi-orgasmic. Before her, every single woman I was with was able to achieve several orgasms. It may seem foolish, but I feel like I am failing. What should I do? Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. I read at least 100 books a year. People are always impressed when I tell them this. But what I think is more notable is how I do it: I read only hardcover or paperback books. Thats right. Every book I read last year was a physical book. I turned through literally tens of thousands of pages. I dont think Ive touched a Kindle in over a decade, and if I get my way, I never will again. I have always been a big reader. In first grade, I read all the Harry Potter books. Throughout elementary school, I devoured series like Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games. Later on, in middle and high school, I became obsessed with other dystopian fiction books: Divergent, Matched, Uglies, and the like. As a member of Gen Z, I have had the option of reading books digitally for most of my lifeand I didnt initially start out as a physical-book purist. When I was a kid, packing for sleepaway camp, Id load up a Kindle with books to avoid stuffing my duffels even more. Though I gravitated toward physical books, I was open to e-readers. And then, in college, I pretty much stopped reading for pleasure at all. Like many other college students, I was inundated with required readings and had very little timeor energy, for that matterto read books just because I wanted to. So when I graduated (and began an internship at this very publication!), I decided I would try to spend my newfound free time reading again. I joined the New York Public Library, requesting books that others had consistently recommended to me. I revamped my Goodreads account to curate a new list. And I set out to read a total of 50 books that year, a goal I surpassed by six. As I fell back in love with reading that summer, it was reading a physical copy of Chanel Millers Know My Name that reminded me why I enjoy reading so much in the first place. Its not just getting immersed in a story; its the physical experience of reading too: I loved holding an actual book in my hands, admiring the physical cover, feelingand hearingthe pages. I personally cant comment on the smell of actual books, but people say that it can also enhance a reading session. And I am fond of collecting bookmarks. You cant stick those in a Nook! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its definitely not the most conventional way to read among my age group, especially given my lifestyle. I travel a fair amount, and after I graduated from college, I spent months bopping around various European cities before landing in Amsterdam a couple of years ago. (And, these days, Im not infrequently on planes to see family back in the States.) Many people over the years have recommended that I get an e-reader so I dont have to lug around books in my suitcase. I understand why e-readers are popular. Theyre very light, a fraction of a books weight. With a few clicks, you can buy a book (at a much lower price than youd pay for a hardcover) or request one from a local library. You dont have to worry about cluttering your living space with titles youve read once and may never read again. And unlike iPads or phoneswhich apparently some sickos read books ontheir screens usually wont strain your eyes. Advertisement But Im sticking to old-fashioned books. In addition to the tactile experience, I really enjoy the actual process of trying to find new things to read. I have a soft spot for used bookstores: Visiting one in every new city has become a ritual of sorts for me. And last year, I got a library card, paying about $40 total so that I could take full advantage of the Amsterdam public libraries book collection. Believe me, I was just as surprised to learn that library cards cost money here, but it seems a worthy price to pay for unlimited borrowing. I can reserve English books online and pick them up when theyre ready at my local branch, which is just a block away. I often ask friends with similar tastes to lend me books they liked. If Im traveling and visiting family, Ill peruse their library and borrow something that seems interesting. I can usually finish it, depending on the length of stay. More rarely, Ill buy books new, though usually only if Im in a bind and need something to read for a trip. And while I do hold on to some books, I dont like to accumulate too many. My unofficial rule is that I can keep enough to fit on just one shelf. After all, little free libraries are worldwide and a great way to off-load and, if youre lucky, pick one up too. The options arent always what I would normally pick, but that only makes it more fun. Davey Day Trader continued to pile up the victories in Western New York with a solid 1-1/2-length triumph in the $21,233 Open Pace over a sloppy track at Buffalo Raceway on Saturday, March 7, highlighting a five-win day for driver Kevin Cummings. Flag Party (Joseph Chindano Jr.) wanted the front, and Cummings happily accepted the pocket with Davey Day Trader ($6.30). With fractions of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:27.2 in the books, Davey Day Trader took dead aim on Flag Party from the outside in the stretch and had little trouble in rolling on by. Flag Party held on for second with Lanjo Lee (Kyle Cummings) third. Co-owned by James Costa of Clarence Center, N.Y. and Pete Kibler of West Seneca, N.Y., the six-year-old Davey Day Trader is conditioned by David McNeight Jr. Last season, the Huntsville-Gigi Deo gelding won 11 times on the Buffalo/Batavia Downs circuit, and he is two-for-three in the region this year after a Batavia win last out and Saturday's Buffalo score. He has earned $259,596 in his career and won 25 times in 97 outings. In addition to his feature win, Cummings scored with Wild Bill Kelso ($3.88), Dogfight ($4.16), Egomania ($3.64) and Chapter Twelve ($5.96). The reinsman leads the standings in the young meet with nine victories, five ahead of Brett MacDonald, who had a grand slam on Saturday, and Drew Monti. Dealin With Dewey, a stalwart in the top trotting class last season at Buffalo , returned to the track for the first time this year and went right down the road to a 2-1/4-length victory in the $21,233 Open Handicap Trot. In 2025, Dealin With Dewey had eight starts over the Buffalo half-mile oval and notched four Open victories, a second, and three shows, putting $55,064 in the bank. On Saturday, the eight-year-old gelded son of Wheeling N Dealin-Rockin With Dewey showed that he's going to be a force to be reckoned with again this season. Right off the gate, Dealin With Dewey flexed his muscle for driver Brett MacDonald, easily racing to the front and posting fractions of :29.3, :59.1 and 1:29. Beacon Beach (Drew Monti) was the only one able to keep up Dealin With Dewey with a quarter-mile to go. In the two-horse breakaway, Dealin With Dewey widened his margin down the stretch as he cruised home to win in 1:57.4. Beacon Beach could only savour the second-place cheque. Dougadougadew (Kyle Cummings) took third. Owned and trained by Sara Baillargeon of Guelph, Ont., Dealin With Dewey scored his first win in five attempts on the campaign after making his first four appearances at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The victory upped his lifetime totals to 29 wins in 143 starts and $488,882 in earnings. He paid $2.40 to win. Samuel Smith, seeking his fourth straight training title at Buffalo, won four races on the 13-race card. In addition to the Cummings-driven Wild Bill Kelso, Dogfight and Chapter Twelve, Smith sent out the victorious Rock Me Always ($9.02). The conditioner is 18-for-83 across all tracks this campaign. Racing will resume at Buffalo on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with another 13-race card scheduled. (With files from Buffalo Raceway) I'm an American who's traveled to 18 European countries throughout my life. Although I love exploring capitals, some of my favorite trips have been to smaller European cities. Two of my favorites are Cassis, France, and Tarragona, Spain. Throughout my life, I've visited a total of 18 European countries. That number climbed quickly when I moved from Chicago to London for college and spent four years living in my favorite city, thrilled by my newfound proximity to so many bucket-list destinations. Jumping on a two-and-a-half-hour train ride to Paris or a 45-minute flight to Amsterdam never got old. As I've explored big and small cities, I've been increasingly drawn to destinations beyond the major capitals that feel intimate and uncrowded. The more I've traveled, the more I've wanted to slow down. Advertisement Here are five underrated destinations in Europe I'd return to in a heartbeat. Cassis, France, is a postcard seaside town with access to a national park. Cassis, France. xbrchx/Getty Images When I stopped in Cassis during a December 2025 Mediterranean cruise, I was immediately charmed by the fishing port's cafes, bakeries, and wine bars. The natural beauty alone is a draw. Part of Calanques National Park, which stretches between Marseille and La Ciotat, falls in Cassis. Approaching the towering limestone inlets feels like being in the middle of a canyon, and I desperately wanted to plunge into the impossibly blue seawater. Plage de la Grande Mer, a family-friendly public beach, is in the center of Cassis, and it was brimming with locals during my excursion. Although I didn't get a chance to summit Cap Canaille, one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe at over 1,300 feet, visitors can climb it for panoramic views over the Mediterranean. Advertisement Advertisement Whether you decide to embrace the town's nature-based activities or bask on its restorative beaches, it's an unassuming, slow-paced spot to immerse yourself in the South of France's magic. Tarragona, Spain, is perfect for a relaxed beach day away from Barcelona's hustle and bustle. Tarragona, Spain Antonio Lopez Velasco/Getty Images A little more than an hour's drive or train ride south of the Catalan capital along Spain's Golden Coast, Tarragona is a fascinating mix of historic Roman ruins, stunning beaches, and vibrant culture. During one visit, a friend and I stopped in Tarragona for lunch at Osteria del Lab, where we indulged in the five-course tasting menu. Every dish was excellent, but the standout was a fresh shrimp-and-octopus salad drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Advertisement Advertisement We walked around and stopped at the Catedral de Tarragona, a Romanesque and Gothic church built between the 12th and 14th centuries located in the center of the historic city. Of course, we couldn't skip the beach. I visited Playa el Miracle, which is within walking distance of the train station. Even when I was there in July, the middle of summer, I didn't see many people. If you're in search of a peaceful day by the water, Tarragona is worth a trip. I skipped the summertime crowds in Skiathos, Greece. Skiathos, Greece SHansche/Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement I've been to several Greek islands including Rhodes, Crete, and Naxos, so I decided to check out Skiathos, which is tucked away in the Sporades island chain. I went in the fall, hoping that the summer crowds would have dispersed by then. Luckily, they had. The island was an easy 40-minute flight from Athens, and once I arrived, public buses made it easy to hop between beaches Skiathos has 60! I recommend Achladies Beach, a laid-back beach just a 10-minute drive from the main town, or Koukounaries Beach, a 22-minute drive south, for its natural beauty. Wine lovers should stop by Phaos World to try natural wines. When I was there, I sampled a curated selection based on my palate and received a detailed tasting sheet with notes about each wine. Advertisement Advertisement Lucca, Italy, is a picturesque city in the Tuscany region, known for its fresh pasta and scenic views. Lucca, Italy. English: Hours, Tower After a 30-minute bus ride from Pisa, I arrived in Lucca and walked through the city's Renaissance-era walls into the historic center. I found it to be the perfect place to wander in December, and because many roads were blocked off to cars, it felt very peaceful. Within the walls, there are Romanesque churches and striking medieval towers. I started at Guinigi Tower, where visitors can climb to the top for panoramic views of terracotta rooftops and rolling Tuscan hills. Afterward, I wandered along the city walls, where I admired colorful murals, and dined at Osteria da Pasqualino, where I enjoyed fettuccine with cream of zucchini and prawns with lemon, along with an afternoon glass of wine in a beautiful courtyard. Advertisement Advertisement Clothing shops and gelaterias surround Lucca's charming squares. When I was there, there were hardly any crowds, and the city felt cinematic. Innsbruck, Austria, is a dreamy mountain town brimming with history. Innsbruck, Austria Sasithorn Phuapankasemsuk/Getty Images Innsbruck is situated in the heart of the Austrian Alps, about two hours from Munich, Germany, by train or car. When I arrived during a December road trip with my aunt, I felt like I was stepping into an enchanted snow globe. We wandered the many cobblestone, shop-lined alleyways, embracing the slow magic of winter in the Alps. During our visit, we rode the Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen cable cars to ascend Hafelekar, a mountain peak known as the "Top of Innsbruck." In less than 30 minutes, we were looking out at panoramic views of snowcapped peaks. Advertisement Advertisement For a bit of culture and history, we toured Schloss Ambras, a Renaissance castle that houses an impressive armory and glass collection. It was the perfect way to end our day surrounded by centuries of art, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps. Read the original article on Business Insider CONFLUENCE, Pa. Everett Sechlers family has been making maple syrup since the 1850s, he said. That tradition has continued for five generations, even after the Civil War called his great-great-grandfather into the 147th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment a story Sechler is proud to share. And more often, the Confluence-area man has shared Sechler Sugar Shacks stories with tourists visiting Somerset County who may never have tried true maple syrup, he added. Advertisement The Somerset County Maple Producers annual Taste & Tour weekends are to thank for it, Sechler said. Probably 10% of my annual business is just from Taste & Tour, added Sechler, 75, and weve been seeing more and more of them from the Greensburg and Pittsburgh areas in recent years. PHOTO GALLERY | Walnutdale Maple Farms | Somerset County For the Somerset County regions maple producers, the annual event which kicks off this weekend and continues March 14-15 is a big boost and a chance to give visitors a taste of a sweet Somerset tradition, said Sechler, the Maple Producers board president. Advertisement Advertisement Its not just the increased sales, said Walnutdale Maple Farms owner Lowell Friedline, whose Jenner Township business will also participate in the tour. We love mingling with people who might not be familiar with maple. Usually, he added, someone tastes it and they turn to us and say, Oh my, because its entirely different than the replica product they get at the store. Taste & Tour visitors can also experience the maple-making tradition. Baer Bros. Appy Acres Road camp was making traditional spotza a poured, sticky maple taffy and boiling maple sugar water. Walnutdale will allow visitors to tap trees and hand collection buckets, Friedline, 88, said. Advertisement Advertisement On their shelves, Friedline and his family primarily stock maple syrup, which they sell by the pint, quart, and gallon. But across the regional tour, other producers will offer samples of maple-infused barbecue sauce, candy and baked goods. Holler-Hills Maple in Markleton, for example, features a maple-infused balsamic vinaigrette. Sechler Sugar Shack has a maple walnut ice cream topping. Black Bear Maple Camp in Larimer Township was marketing a bourbon barrel-aged syrup on the Taste & Tour brochure, while Seth Kaufmans Boswell-based Four Seasons Maple crafted maple sauces, creams and mustard. Advertisement Advertisement The barbecue sauces are our best sellers, Kaufman said. Established in 2023, Four Seasons is among the latest entries on the 26-business tour, but Kaufman said his family has big plans for the next two weekends. Jennerstown Fire Department will serve maple BBQ-topped pulled pork during the tour. Nearby Rusty Musket Distilling Co. will also be on site selling rye infused with Four Seasons maple, Kaufman said. Further north, Listie Fire Department will pour maple syrup on buckwheat pancakes all weekend. It works out well because just about every maple producer has something different to offer, Kaufman said. And thats often what tour-goers are looking for. Advertisement Advertisement Often, it leads to repeat visitors, Kaufman added. When that happens, Somerset County benefits, GO Laurel Highlands Public Relations Director Eric Knopsnyder said. He said the agri-tourism industry including Maple Taste & Tour has become such a big part of the region. People want to travel and see where products they enjoy come from, he said. Maple Taste & Tour gives visitors a chance to see how maple syrup is made and to try delicious Somerset County-made products that flow far beyond pancakes, he added. Theres BBQ sauce ... maple sugar-covered nuts. One of our breweries uses it in beer, he said. Its really interesting to see all of the things made with maple here. Advertisement Advertisement Taste & Tour gives visitors a unique way to tour Somerset County, serving as a learning experience for families and an economic generator for the region, Knopsnyder said. You combine it with the Pennsylvania Maple Festival (in Meyersdale starting April 18) and the maple industry is a big part of Somerset County, he said. Maple is also a big part of the countys heritage, Knospnyder added. Its a great source of pride for the people of Somerset County, he said. For all of its flat Midwestern character, Indiana actually offers a surprisingly diverse range of outdoor activities. Indiana's outdoor destinations stem from more obvious choices, like the well-named Hoosier National Forest and its myriad trails and campgrounds, to destinations you wouldn't necessarily think to find in Indiana, like the remarkably serene shoreline and Midwest charms of Miller Beach. Inherent in that latter option is Indiana's underrated strength as a destination for recreation on the water. The state does, after all, border Lake Michigan. At the same time, its flat Midwestern landscape is etched with countless rivers, lakes, and waterways that offer terrific kayaking adventures. Whether you're looking to explore a Great Lake, a major urban river, or a remote woodland creek, Indiana has many of the top kayaking destinations in the Midwest. Away from the shores of Lake Michigan, Indiana has several designated water trails throughout its many waterways. Even Indiana's cities offer exemplary kayaking opportunities, as many of the state's urban areas sit alongside one (or more) of the state's rivers. And if you want to try your hand at Great Lake kayaking, Indiana has several excellent spots to paddle out into the challenging waters of Lake Michigan, including both local beaches where you can dip your toes into the Great Lakes and sections of epic, multi-state paddling routes around the lake's vast shoreline. Though different kayaking routes will appeal to different types of kayakers, these five kayaking destinations offer the most comprehensive blend of Indiana's waterways, both urban and natural, according to reports from online reviewers and experienced kayakers. Read more: The Most Bizarre Rules On Cruise Ships Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area Photograph taken along the Pigeon River, northeastern Indiana - Chad Kelham/Shutterstock Northeastern Indiana's Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area is one of the state's hidden outdoor gems. Though primarily known for its hunting and fishing opportunities, the Pigeon River does provide some stellar, peaceful kayaking routes. The Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area covers nearly 12,000 acres. Pigeon River itself packs a fairly large punch in terms of scenery, despite its small size. Though the main navigable portion of the river is only 36 miles long, no more than half a mile wide, and fairly shallow, Pigeon River flows through a scenic glacial moraine for much of its course, providing abundant woodland scenery and several wonderful lakes near the charming Indiana community of Mongo. Advertisement Advertisement Kayakers can take advantage of the park's 17 miles of free-flowing river for a relaxing day of unobstructed paddling in a peaceful nature preserve. This stretch of the Pigeon River is perfect for kayakers of all ages and experience levels, given its generally calm waters combined with enough curves and bends to keep the multi-hour trip interesting. More importantly, the Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area's kayaking route is bursting with gorgeous natural scenery. The Pigeon River's banks are rich in picturesque trees (including the particularly eye-catching tamarack, or eastern larch) and an understory of ferns that add a unique prehistoric touch. Fauna-wise, the Pigeon River kayaking route is an excellent trip for spotting wildlife. Though it takes its name from the humble pigeon, the Pigeon River is home to numerous bird species viewable to kayakers, including owls, warblers, wrens, and waterfowl. One reviewer writing on Paddling.com praised the route as a "very enjoyable two-and-a-half hours of paddling," while another kayaking blogger reports: "Kayaking on the Pigeon River was...peaceful and relaxing." Fort Wayne Aerial view of Martin Luther King Bridge leading to Headwaters Park and downtown Fort Wayne - Nicholas Klein/Getty Images In sharp contrast to the pristine forest preserve of the Pigeon River, Fort Wayne offers some of Indiana's best opportunities for urban paddling. This makes sense, as Fort Wayne sits along the banks of not one but three rivers. Indiana's St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers converge around Fort Wayne's Riverfront, creating a perfect spot for urban kayaking in the heart of one of Indiana's most underrated cities. The Fort Wayne Riverfront is a perfect nexus for the many excellent kayaking trails along all three rivers. Notably, this tri-river network creates water trails that travel north-south and east-west. Thus, kayakers embarking from Fort Wayne's Riverfront can explore the city's urban views and farther out rural and forested areas in the same day. Within Fort Wayne's city limits, the riverfront Promenade Park is a perfect spot to begin your kayaking excursion. Promenade Park sits along the banks of the St. Marys River, near the confluence of the St. Joseph and Maumee Rivers. The park offers convenient kayak rentals courtesy of local outfitters, giving visitors plenty of options for their day on the water. If you want to keep your kayaking excursion to a short-and-sweet exploration of Fort Wayne, you can sightsee Fort Wayne's vibrant public art displays from the water while staying in view of the city's wonderful public park amenities and green spaces. One Google reviewer noted that Promenade Park is "a nice gentle place to kayak," with "a nice viewpoint of the city." If you're feeling more adventurous, you can kayak from Fort Wayne all the way to Toledo along the Maumee River, as one daring reviewer on Paddling.com did! Mississinewa River The seven pillars rock formation on the Mississinewa River, Indiana - IN Dancing Light/Shutterstock The Mississinewa River is yet another underrated Indiana river gem that provides superb kayaking adventures through unsung, yet brilliant, natural scenery. Originating in Ohio, the Mississinewa flows about 100 miles westward through eastern Indiana, where it runs along some of the state's most underrated natural and urban areas. On the urban side of things, the Mississinewa provides the gorgeous riverwalk of the small yet lovely city of Marion. Urban paddlers can take advantage of Marion's convenient boat launches to explore the Mississinewa's city sections. However, as charming as a Marion kayaking trip is, the Mississinewa also provides superb paddling access to some of Indiana's most astounding natural wonders. Advertisement Advertisement Chief among these is the unforgettable Seven Pillars of the Mississinewa. With remarkable riverside limestone formations carved by water and wind erosion, the Seven Pillars are an unforgettable Indiana oasis for serene outdoor adventures. Though the Seven Pillars Nature Preserve has excellent sightseeing trails on land, the best views of these 25-foot cliffs are arguably found on the Mississinewa River itself. Kayakers can enter the river about 3 miles upstream, near Indiana's equally scenic Frances Slocum State Forest. After drifting along the forest for a few miles, the Mississinewa will eventually take you directly past the small but stunning limestone cliffs that make up the Seven Pillars. One advantage of exploring the Seven Pillars by kayak is that you get a much better look at the unique, water-carved "alcoves" between each of the seven limestone pillars. The overall scenery of both the Seven Pillars and the Mississinewa River is particularly esteemed by experienced kayakers. Writing on Paddling.com, one local kayaker notes that the Mississinewa provided "a slow but pleasant trip through a wooded corridor," with "a nearly non-stop show of birds" even before they got to the Seven Pillars. White River White River and the skyline of Indianapolis on a spring day - Ron And Patty Thomas/Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Indianapolis is Indiana's capital, largest city, and central metropolitan area, but it also serves as one of Indiana's top urban kayaking destinations. Like many cities across the Midwest, Indianapolis was built along the banks of a major river, in this case, the prominent White River. Stretching about 362 miles through much of Indiana and parts of Illinois, the White River is one of Indiana's largest waterways and a major thoroughfare for the state's urban areas. For kayakers, the White River Canoe Trail provides a perfect link between central Indiana's urban and rural paddling destinations. Centering around downtown Indianapolis's riverfront, the 16-mile White River Canoe Trail has put-in spots at many of the city's most vibrant municipal parks, including Broad Ripple Park, Holliday Park, and Friedman Park. While these parks don't currently offer kayak rentals, the much larger White River State Park does. Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, White River State Park may be America's only "cultural urban state park," and its kayaking opportunities provide excellent means for exploring both the White River and the city's Central Canal. While Indianapolis is the urban core of the White River Canoe Trail, the White River itself stretches well beyond the Indianapolis city limits. White River kayakers can find plenty of excellent kayak launching spots along the White River north and south of the city, often within some of Indiana's loveliest parks and riverside nature preserves. Farther north, the White River also passes through the smaller, yet equally worthwhile, city of Muncie, and the culturally-rich, family-friendly Hamilton County. Kayakers along the White River may also pass natural scenes like blissful White River Bluffs. Reviewers of White River kayaking routes on AllTrails.com report that the river is "slow enough to handle, but has enough rapids to make it fun." Indiana Dunes National Park Kemil Beach in Indiana Dunes National Park, shores of Lake Michigan, Indiana, USA - Benedek/Getty Images Indiana's only national park also happens to be one of the Midwest's premier kayaking destinations. Indiana Dunes National Park is defined by its prominent sand dunes, but the park's magical scenery comes straight from Lake Michigan. With a relatively small area of around 15,000 acres, Indiana Dunes ranks among the American national parks that can be seen in a single day. However, these 15,000 acres preserve a strikingly complex ecosystem, made up of bogs, marshes, oak savannas, rivers, and beaches, all centered around the mighty dunes that tower as high as 120 feet. Advertisement Advertisement Indiana Dunes provides "a diversity of kayaking and canoeing options for paddlers to choose from" (according to a rave review from Paddling Magazine). Lake Michigan is obviously the park's most prominent kayaking destination. Kayakers looking to take on a Great Lake challenge can launch from any of the park's beaches (other than the popular swimming area of West Beach). However, the open waters of Lake Michigan present several challenges and hazards you're unlikely to encounter in more tranquil inland waterways. Rough currents, colder waters, and the consistent presence of very large lake freighters and barges may cause beginner kayakers to reconsider this route. If you do feel up to the challenge, Indiana Dunes National Park is a great starting point for the epic Lake Michigan Water Trail, which stretches 75 miles along the lake's southern shore from New Buffalo in Michigan to Chicago. If Lake Michigan's size is not for you, smaller but still challenging alternatives are available at Indiana Dunes' Little Calumet River Water Trail and nearby waterways like Marquette Lagoon in neighboring Gary's Marquette Park. Methodology Kayakers on Nyona Lake in Fulton County, Indiana at sunrise - William Reagan/Getty Images Indiana's many excellent kayaking destinations span a large spectrum of locations and challenge levels. Many of Indiana's urban areas, being so often situated around rivers, have great urban kayaking spots along their riverside parks, which make perfect destinations for family-friendly kayaking day trips. On the other end of the spectrum, many of Indiana's more rural and forested areas have remote waterways that offer longer and more challenging kayaking expeditions including more advanced rapids and obstacles that may require more experience. Some of Indiana's waterway infrastructure even allows for thrilling whitewater kayaking, like the artificial whitewater rapids at South Bend's East Race Waterway. Then, of course, you have Indiana's northern shoreline along Lake Michigan, which offers formidable Great Lake kayaking journeys more reminiscent of open ocean paddling than most lake outings. To arrive at this list, we looked at reviews from experienced paddlers across Indiana, both in premier kayaking media outlets and on popular review sites. Paddling.com proved to be an excellent resource, as it provides an online review outlet specifically for kayakers to review kayaks, gear, and, for our purposes, kayaking routes. Even better, many reviews of Indiana kayaking destinations on Paddling.com are much longer and more detailed than the average online review, with helpful information on put-in locations, potential entrance fees, challenges, scenery, and difficulty levels. Advertisement Advertisement We also found more detailed accounts of popular Indiana kayaking destinations on Paddling Magazine, which publishes helpful articles and recommendations from experienced kayaking journalists. Outside of kayak-specific media outlets, more general review sites like TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and AllTrails.com let us find positive kayaking reviews from the general public. This helped us identify Indiana kayaking locations that are great for beginners, families, or anyone looking for a short and easy day on the water. 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. More than 150 years before the famous phrase, "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal," would be belted on Broadway stages, the line was changed to include women for the Declaration of Sentiments. It was the summer of 1848, and 300 people gathered at the newly built Wesleyan Chapel for the first Women's Rights Convention. That is where that famous phrase, copied from the Declaration of Independence, which was signed 72 years prior, was reclaimed to protest unequal rights for women. Today, the chapel is visited by people across the country and remains a key fixture of the Women's Rights National Historical Park. What to see at the Women's Rights National Historical Park today The Women's Rights National Historical Park is made up of four locations in Seneca Falls and two in Waterloo, New York. Advertisement The Visitor Center: See the "First Wave Exhibit" in the lobby, made up of bronze statues representing the first wave of womens rights activists in the United States. Take a trip upstairs to explore a plethora of exhibits full of art, pictures, artifacts, stories and history of the women's rights movement and the abolitionist movement, which many of the first women's rights activists were inspired by. The Wesleyan Chapel: Sit in the pews of the chapel that started it all, or read the words of the Declaration of Sentiments at the lectern in the front. Inside those walls, you can feel the memory and energy from the first Women's Rights Convention held there in 1848. Elizabeth Cady Stanton's House: Walk through Stanton's house, which she used to call "Grassmere" and the "Center of the Rebellion." It may look different today, but there you can get a better idea of how one of the "first wave" activists lived her life. M'Clintock House: See the home of the convention organizers, Mary Ann and Thomas M'Clintock, where the Declaration of Sentiments was drafted. This house was also part of the Underground Railroad. It is located in Waterloo, New York, not Seneca Falls with the other sites. Hunt House: Also located in Waterloo, the Hunt House is where the idea for a Women's Rights Convention was born. Walk around the home where Jane Hunt invited Lucretia Mott, Mary Ann M'Clintock, Martha C. Wright and Elizabeth Cady Stanton for a tea party that turned into a discussion of the injustices women were facing, which resulted in the plan for the convention. Declaration Park and Waterwall: Back in Seneca Falls, make a stop in the little green park between the Visitor Center and Wesleyan Chapel, known as the Declaration Park and Waterwall. There you can see and touch the full text of the Declaration of Sentiments and its signers, which was engraved on the waterwall. Ask a local Once you are done visiting the historical park, head over to Becky Bly's shop, WomanMade Products, located at 91 Fall Street. Bly started her business as a T-shirt printing business on Long Island before opening up her Seneca Falls gift shop in 1991. The shop, which has the tag line "Relax, there's a woman on the job," is full of handmade products mostly made by women, including shirts, souvenirs, crafts, jewelry and more. While walking around the vibrant shop, you will even find merchandise inspired by the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life," and the movie's famous fictional town, Bedford Falls, which is commonly believed to be inspired by Seneca Falls. Plan your visit Best time: Fall or spring for decent weather and fewer crowds. Visit in the summertime if you want to experience the convention's anniversary. Advertisement Advertisement Hours/admission: Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday during winter (December-February). Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday during spring (March-May). Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Friday and Saturday during summer (May-August). The historical park is free to visit year-round. Getting there: There is a small parking lot behind the Visitor Center. Learn more: The Women's Rights National Historical Park is located at 136 Fall St. in Seneca Falls, NY. For more information about this historical park, visit nps.gov/wori/index.htm. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Women's Rights National Historical Park in New York If youve dreamed of growing a vegetable garden but your backyard is too shady, is paved or is simply too small, consider the front yard. Planned properly, it will not only provide a nice harvest but might even bring new friends to your gate. Such gardens were commonplace a few generations ago, their popularity shrinking over the years in favour of lawns, which became a suburban status symbol. Fortunately, front-yard vegetable gardens are making a comeback as more homeowners learn that turfgrasses drain precious resources, and that their upkeep risks polluting the environment, soil and groundwater. In an Express article last week headlined Strong turnout for migrant sign-up, an update was given on the ongoing physical registration exercise for migrants. Written by senior journalist Anna Ramdass, the story outlined the number of migrants processed at each venue: Ato Boldon Stadium, 167; Larry Gomes Stadium, 176; Dwight Yorke Stadium, 40. The Hasely Crawford Stadium was closed for a sporting event. On its own, the phrase Christ is king sums up a core tenet of the Christian faith, that Jesus is the divine ruler of the universe. Catholics and many Protestants celebrate a Christ the King Sunday each year. But the ancient proclamation can morph into something political, controversial or even sinister, depending on who says it and how its said. In recent years, Christ is king and similar phrases have been chanted at political rallies, posted on social media and proclaimed in speeches by voices on the right. At times, the phrase is used to support the notion of America as a Christian nation or as one that owes its allegiance specifically to the Christian God. Some current Cabinet officials and recent members of Congress have used the phrase in speeches and on social media. But other times, political activists have paired Christ is king with anti-Zionist statements or negative Jewish stereotypes. The phrase has gained popularity among far-right figures and their followers. Conservative influencer Candace Owens, who shares antisemitic conspiracies, sells branded Christ is King coffee mugs and T-shirts. The controversy connects to a larger schism on the right, with some conservatives pushing back against an increasingly vocal faction whose denunciations of Israel, critics say, often combine with blatant antisemitism. Some of the latter group insist theyre not antisemitic, just anti-Zionist. That itself is a sharp break from what was once a near-consensus of pro-Israel sentiment among Republicans. And that led to the measure to create new crimes of civil terrorism and subversion and make them felonies, punishable by 18 months in state prison. It cleared the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee on a 6-3 party-line vote. Kolodin, during debate of the full House this past week, told his colleagues they need to understand what they were being asked to approve. Consider, he said, language in HB 2136 spelling out that someone commits civil terrorism for planning, preparing or coordinating acts "that are designed to cause widespread fear.'' "Well, I recently put out a communication that was designed to cause widespread fear,'' Kolodin said. He proposed legislation that would have required water suppliers to notify all of their customers of what happens if there is no longer water from the Colorado River available, including what it will cost to find alternate sources and treat and deliver them. That drew criticism from Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, who said sending out that kind of notice, without further explanation, might cause "mass hysteria.'' Kolodin gathered no traction for the notice requirement, and his bill died. But he said lawmakers should not be adopting language in HB 2136 which would criminalize such warnings. The bigger problem, Kolodin said, is a lack of understanding by some of what the founders of this country had in mind when they crafted the First Amendment. And he told his colleagues they have to stop thinking of them as "staid old men.'' An investigation into Russian-backed parcel bombs in the UK and Europe has identified 22 suspects. A number of parcels exploded in the UK, Germany and Poland - one package caught fire at a DHL depot near Birmingham in 2024. A 38-year-old Romanian man was arrested by counter-terrorism police over the Birmingham fire and remains under investigation. He was apprehended after arriving on a flight to the UK at Stansted Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British and European authorities now believe there was Russian involvement in the plot. Four parcels were sent from Lithuania to addresses in the UK and Poland, European Union agency Eurojust said. The consequences could have been far worse if the devices ignited during a flight, officials fear. Nazi teenager who amassed weapons and discussed school shoot up locked up Man found guilty after filming himself planning to carry out terrorist attack A parcel sent through a sorting centre in Germany caught fire at Leipzig airport, just before it was loaded on to an aircraft. Investigators identified two test packages that had been sent to the United States and Canada, as well as two parcels in Amsterdam intended for the same destinations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have identified 22 suspects in Lithuania and Poland likely to have been working on behalf Russian military intelligence services. Two cases have now been sent to courts in Lithuania and Poland, with trials expected to happen later in the year. The suspected perpetrators were recruited from Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine, and were often in a vulnerable socio-economic situation, Eurojust said. A number of parcels exploded in the UK, Germany and Poland. Credit: Eurojust They were recruited and given instructions through an online messaging service, with tasks divided among them and payments made in cryptocurrencies. A UK 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National security is the first duty of government, and our law enforcement partners will continue to use the range of tools and powers available to them to keep the British public safe. A parcel bomb found by European authorities. Credit: Eurojust Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans of Counter Terrorism Policing, said: The work of our European counterparts has been truly remarkable and demonstrates the critical need for us to work across borders, as well as the expertise of our colleagues overseas. 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, and we continue to liaise closely with partners to ensure were doing all we can to keep the sector, and the public safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been clear and open about the increasing levels of demand were seeing relating to the activity of foreign states here in the UK. For Counter Terrorism Policing this means more investigations, and our teams are working around the clock to identify and disrupt a range of activity to protect the UK and the public from terrorism and other national security threats. Reporting History sees journalists join News At Ten anchor Tom Bradby to revisit their remarkable on-the-day reports of the defining events of the modern age. Listen to the episodes below... African women sing and dance with Vietnamese female soldiers. Vietnams Level-2 Field Hospital No. 7 (2.7) on March 7 (local time) organized a civil-military cooperation activity themed Sharing Love to mark the 116th anniversary of International Womens Day (March 8), the 1,986th anniversary of the Hai Ba Trung Uprising and the 33rd anniversary of the traditional day of women in the Vietnam Peoples Army. A small village lying peacefully under the sprawling canopy of old mango trees - silent witnesses to years of conflict and change in Bentiu - felt livelier than usual. From early morning, women in the village gathered beneath the familiar trees. They met, chatted, danced and shared stories about their lives. For many of them, it was the first time they learned that the world celebrates a day dedicated to honoring women. In that warm and friendly atmosphere, they sang and danced alongside kind-hearted women from a distant country - Vietnamese female peacekeepers serving with the United Nations mission. Gift bags bearing the Vietnamese flag presented by Vietnamese peacekeepers to African women and children. A representative of local women from Nyumdou village expressed gratitude for the presence of Vietnamese Blue Helmets, especially the female soldiers. She shared that during holidays they usually had to travel into town to join celebrations, but this time the Vietnamese soldiers came directly to the village and organized meaningful activities there. The gathering brought renewed energy to women in the community, encouraging them to feel more confident and active. Many expressed hope that the Vietnamese soldiers would return more often with more meaningful occasions. During the program, the Level-2 Field Hospital 2.7 presented more than 50 gift packages to women in the village and 15 gifts to children, along with practical supplies for the local community. Though simple, the gifts carried heartfelt affection and the spirit of sharing from Vietnamese female soldiers. The peacekeepers also spent time exchanging knowledge about health care, sharing cultural stories and introducing the history and traditions of Vietnamese women - from the indomitable spirit of the Hai Ba Trung sisters to the image of modern Vietnamese women contributing to national construction and defense. Under the mango trees that have witnessed many turbulent periods in the regions history, the atmosphere seemed warmer than ever. Bright smiles, hopeful eyes and warm handshakes softened the harsh sunlight and daily hardships. Symbol of peace and friendship Women from two countries thousands of kilometers apart bond like friends. To respond to Ao Dai Week, Vietnamese female soldiers wore the traditional Vietnamese ao dai. In Bentiu, a frontline area affected by conflict, the flowing dresses became a striking highlight. The soldiers introduced local women and children to the beauty of the Vietnamese ao dai. They took photos together, chatted and captured memorable moments. The graceful dresses fluttering in the African wind were not only a cultural symbol but also a message of peace, friendship and connection between women from two distant lands. These simple yet meaningful moments continue to spread the image of Vietnamese women in the Vietnam Peoples Army - resilient, compassionate and generous - as they carry out the United Nations peacekeeping mission. At Level-2 Field Hospital No. 7, 13 female personnel are currently serving in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. They come from different units within the Vietnam Peoples Army and differ in age, background, expertise and personality. Yet they share one common bond: they have been entrusted by the nation and the military to undertake the noble international mission of maintaining peace. Vietnamese female soldiers in ao dai talk with African women. More than an art exhibition, the event brought together Vietnamese intellectuals and artists living in France who, despite building successful careers abroad, have continued to maintain strong ties with the homeland. It also attracted French friends who have long-standing connections with Vietnam and hold deep affection for the country. With over 30 paintings and a range of books on display, the exhibition reflects the Vietnamese communitys journey of integration in France, one marked by challenges but also pride, while conveying their enduring nostalgia and deep attachment to the homeland. The event also featured the participation of prominent Vietnamese figures in France, including scientists, doctors, researchers and painters who have achieved professional success while continuing to preserve their cultural identity. Visitors explore paintings and books at the Vietnamese Soul on French Soil exhibition in France. (Photo: VNA) A highlight of the exhibition was the demonstration of "to he", a traditional Vietnamese folk art of crafting figurines from coloured rice dough, performed by artisan Nhat Minh. The event also saw the involvement of French intellectuals and artists who share a strong interest in Vietnam. Many have written books or created artworks inspired by the country and have previously lived and worked there, contributing to cultural exchange and greater mutual understanding between the two nations. Francois Loscheider, Deputy Mayor of Arcueil, said Vietnam impresses him with its ability to harmoniously blend tradition with modernity. He noted that this spirit was clearly reflected in the exhibitions artworks, music and publications, portraying a Vietnam that both preserves its rich cultural heritage and continues to innovate and develop. According to Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha, an ethnology researcher, the exhibition provided a meaningful platform for overseas Vietnamese to express their affection for the homeland through artistic creativity./. VNA Behind this artifact lies more than a story about the art market. It also represents hope and a source of support for life-changing surgeries for Vietnamese children born with facial differences. All proceeds from this special auction lot will be donated to Facing the World, a UK-based charity that has worked closely with Vietnam for nearly two decades to provide life-changing surgery and treatment for disadvantaged children with facial differences. Katrin Kandel, CEO of Facing the World, said that its incredibly moving to see an international auction supporting children in Vietnam for the first time. Every act of generosity helps give a child the chance not only for life-changing surgery, but for confidence, dignity and a future without stigma, she told the Vietnam News Agencys correspondent in London. To the auctioneers, donors and readers in Vietnam, your support truly changes lives. Together, we can ensure that more children are able to smile, go to school and grow up with the opportunities every child deserves, she noted. The antique vase decorated with a five-clawed dragon and lotus vine motifs (Photo: VNA) The story of Facing the World in Vietnam began nearly 20 years ago. When the organisations first doctors arrived in the country, they encountered a troubling reality: many children were born with severe craniofacial conditions, yet access to specialised surgical care was limited. Behind those statistics were children unable to attend school because of facial differences, families quietly enduring hardship, and dedicated Vietnamese doctors who lacked opportunities for advanced training. In the early years, many patients were brought to the UK for complex surgeries, some costing hundreds of thousands of pounds. While those operations changed many lives, the model was not sustainable. Facing the World therefore chose a more sustainable path: training Vietnamese surgeons and building surgical capacity within the country. International medical teams began traveling to Vietnam to work side by side with local doctors, sharing techniques directly in operating rooms. At the same time, Vietnamese surgeons were sent abroad for specialised training at leading hospitals in the UK, Canada, the US and Australia. Each year the organisations work in Vietnam continues to grow, and 2026 will be an important step forward, Katrin Kandel stated, adding that alongside its regular surgical missions and fellowships for Vietnamese doctors, Facing the World is expanding professional training and collaboration, including specialist conferences and further international placements for surgeons. It is also working towards establishing the first Royal College of Surgeonsaccredited surgical training centre at 108 Central Military Hospital in Hanoi, which will be a major milestone for surgical education in the region./. VNA Themed Hoa Ban Khat vong Dien Bien, the festival was a highlight of the Dien Bien Culture and Tourism Week running from March 6 12. The annual event celebrated the beauty of the iconic Ban flower and promoted the culture, history and tourism potential of the Northwestern region. In his remarks at the event, PM Chinh stressed that the festival served as both a distinctive cultural and tourism event of Dien Bien and a venue to celebrate and connect the rich cultural heritage of ethnic groups in the Northwest, highlighting the unity in diversity of 54 ethnic groups. Dien Bien, he noted, is a land where history, culture and nature converge. It is best known for the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954 a landmark event described as resounding across the five continents and shaking the globe, marking a turning point in Vietnams struggle for independence. PM Chinh stated that Dien Bien embodies the essence of the Northwestern region and stands as an enduring symbol of Vietnams revolutionary heroism. Marked by the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory, this land of majestic nature has become a powerful testament to the nations will for independence, aspiration for freedom and the strength of great national solidarity. PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the opening ceremony of the Ban Flower (Bauhinia) Festival 2026 in Dien Bien province on March 8 evening. (Photo: VNA) He highlighted that more than seven decades after the Dien Bien Phu campaign, its spirit of determination and national unity continues to inspire new generations. The legacy of the historic victory remains a powerful source of motivation for the province to pursue development and prosperity. In recent years, Dien Bien has made notable progress, with steady economic growth, improved infrastructure, stronger defence and external relations, and rising living standards for local people. The province has prioritised preserving ethnic cultural identities and promoting tourism through distinctive events, notably the annual Hoa Ban Festival. He stressed that 2026 is a particularly significant year as Vietnam begins implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and other major policy directions, including targets for double-digit economic growth. Dien Bien, like other localities, must intensify efforts, maintain determination and act decisively to achieve these goals. The PM urged ministries and agencies to coordinate closely to support Dien Biens socio-economic development, particularly through groundbreaking policies to mobilise resources, improve infrastructure, preserve heritage and promote sustainable tourism. He also called for greater efforts to attract businesses and investors to support Dien Bien and the Northwestern region in general. He hoped that a united Dien Bien will achieve rapid and sustainable development while preserving its cultural identity, and emerge as a key centre for socio-economic development and a distinctive destination for culture, history and tourism. Ban flower has become a symbol of this historic land. Each blooming season brings renewed vitality to Dien Bien, ushering in festive activities that connect people, culture and tourism. Inspired by this, the Ban Flower Festival becomes a distinctive cultural and tourism event for the locality and the Northwestern region every spring. With the theme focusing on honouring ethnic cultural identity and the historical spirit of Dien Bien Phu, this festival aims to further promote the provinces cultural values, tourism resources and unique local products to domestic and international visitors. This years festival features a wide range of activities, including a large-scale opening art performance using modern stage technology, a vibrant street carnival, a traditional folk music and dance festival, traditional sports, cultural exhibitions and an OCOP rural products market. Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Tran Tien Dung said the festival offers a platform to honour the cultural identity of ethnic groups and introduce Dien Bien to more visitors. The province aims to develop the Ban Flower Festival into a signature tourism brand, helping to unlock its tourism potential and promote sustainable development, he added./. VNA The Ho Chi Minh City Labour Federation on March 6 signed a cooperation agreement with LNT 7979 Service Development JSC to develop 30,000 social housing units for workers, aiming to improve living conditions for low-income labourers in the city. The agreement marks a step towards implementing the Party and State policies on social housing development while strengthening the role of trade unions in supporting workers, particularly those employed in industrial parks and export processing zones. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vo Khac Thai, Vice Chairman of the municipal Labour Federation, said expanding social housing projects was an important solution to improving social welfare for workers. He noted that the initiative would help address the urgent demand for affordable housing while enabling workers to stabilise their living conditions and focus on long-term employment. Under the agreement, the two sides will cooperate to develop social housing projects for low-income residents and workers. The trade union will conduct surveys to assess actual housing demand and ensure the projects reach the intended beneficiaries. A joint working group comprising specialists from both organisations will be established to coordinate implementation and address difficulties that may arise during the development process. The partners also pledged to ensure transparency and prevent policy abuse. The projects will be designed with clear legal frameworks, relatively synchronised infrastructure and prices suitable for workers financial capacity. Ho Chi Minh City and its partner aim to complete at least 30,000 social housing units by 2030, helping meet the rising demand for housing among the citys workforce. Thai said the citys trade union system was committed to creating a stable and civilised living environment for workers while safeguarding their legitimate rights and improving their quality of life. He added that the trade union would work closely with relevant authorities to resolve legal and procedural obstacles and facilitate preferential policies to speed up project implementation. Le Xuan Lanh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of LNT 7979 Service Development JSC, said cooperation between a workers representative organisation and an experienced real estate developer was expected to produce quality housing at reasonable prices. Housing options will include both rental units and homes available for purchase, providing flexible choices for workers with different financial capacities. Lanh said the goal was to provide a safe and modern living environment while ensuring workers legitimate rights when they rent or purchase homes. He also called for support from city authorities and relevant agencies in administrative procedures, legal processes and preferential funding sources to help reduce costs and make social housing more accessible. The company pledged to prepare transparent legal documentation and develop well-planned investment strategies so that projects could be launched as soon as possible in accordance with regulations. It will also mobilise financial resources and expert teams to identify suitable land for the developments. Under the memorandum, the partners have agreed to study the first major project in the Chau Duc area, where the presence of multiple industrial parks has created strong demand for worker housing. The projects are expected to be integrated into sustainable urban development plans with relatively synchronised infrastructure. LNT 7979 will serve as the main investor, responsible for mobilising financial resources and selecting reputable consultants and contractors to ensure construction quality. The developments are also expected to benefit from preferential policies on land use and administrative procedures, helping lower investment costs and enabling more workers to access affordable housing./. VNA The event was among the highlights of the nationwide Red Sunday programme, which encourages the community's participation in voluntary blood donation to help ensure adequate blood supplies for hospitals, particularly at the start of the year when demand is typically high. Phung Cong Suong, Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong Newspaper and head of the organising committee, said the campaign aimed to mobilise large quantities of blood for patient treatment while strengthening the voluntary blood donation movement across the country. Now in its 18th year, Red Sunday has helped collect hundreds of thousands of blood units, making an important contribution to saving patients lives. This years event also saw the participation of more than 20 artists, beauty queens, actors and models, who joined activities to promote the campaign and encourage the public to donate blood. Among the participants, Au Le Tuan Kiet, a third-year student at Van Hien University, said that contributing to the community is an important responsibility for young people. He described blood donation as a small but meaningful act that can help save lives. During the programme, the organising committee honoured outstanding collectives and individuals who have actively joined the voluntary blood donation movement. It also awarded 100 scholarships to students who have donated blood multiple times and presented 20 computers to student associations at universities across the city to support social initiatives and student activities. According to health authorities, Vietnam collected nearly 1.75 million units of blood in 2025, with 98% from volunteer donors, equivalent to around 1.75% of the population participating in blood donation. Large-scale campaigns such as Red Sunday have played a key role in achieving these results. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc, Deputy Minister of Health, expressed hope that more initiatives like Red Sunday will be organised to further expand the voluntary blood donation movement and support life-saving medical treatment nationwide. The Red Sunday voluntary blood donation campaign was first launched by Tien Phong Newspaper in 2009, following an urgent appeal for blood donations when hospitals faced severe shortages during the 20082009 year-end and Lunar New Year period. Over the past 18 years, the programme has collected hundreds of thousands of blood units, helping ease blood shortages during Tet and promoting regular blood donation in the community./. VNA Doctor Du Thi Ngoc Thu What led you to the field of organ transplantation, one of the most specialized branches of medicine? I do not come from a family with a medical tradition, but I realized I am truly happy whenever I help someone recover from an illness. To become a kidney transplant surgeon, a doctor not only needs to understand internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, and resuscitation but must also be proficient in surgical skills and the entire kidney transplant process. It is a long journey, and once I committed to it, I could not step out anymore. What led you, a surgeon, to be an organ transplant coordinator? Actually, I did not actively choose this field. In 2008, I had the opportunity to go to Belgium to approach the specialty of kidney donation and transplantation. In 2013, I received a scholarship from the Transplantation Society to study organ coordination in Australia. In 2014, Cho Ray Hospital established a coordination unit in a context where, in Vietnam, information about organ trafficking was very complicated at that time. From a surgeon, I gradually became a coordinator, not because I had planned it, but because circumstances pushed me there. Looking back, it has been a very long journey. In the early days of advocating for organ donation, what was the biggest barrier you faced? The biggest barrier to organ donation in Vietnam remains the mindset of "dying with an intact body," which is deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture. In 2009, Cho Ray Hospital began researching the possibility of kidney transplantation from brain-dead donors. The surprise was that after answering the research group's questions, most of the families asked immediately requested discharge because they feared their loved ones' organs would be taken. But among them, there were three families who not only answered but also actively agreed to donate organs. Most memorable was the case of a husband; as soon as the doctor informed him of his wife's critical condition and fatal prognosis, he said immediately without hesitation: "Let my wife donate her organs. My wife and I discussed this before." In 2014, when the Cho Ray Organ Transplant Coordination Unit was launched, we received many organ donation registrations. Over the past 10 years, we have approached over 400 families with relatives who suffered severe brain injuries leading to brain death. Each family has its own circumstances and thoughts on organ donation. For example: the rate of families wanting their relatives to have an intact body accounts for 5.59 percent; not wanting their loved ones to suffer pain accounts for 1.55 percent; or being influenced by those around them to change their intention to donate accounts for 2.17 percent. The rate of families refusing to donate without a reason is the highest, accounting for 36 percent. The rate of agreement to donate organs is 31.36 percent, but in reality, the receipt of donated tissues and organs is only 16.15 percent. How do you approach advocating for organ donation? The core principle that we always emphasize in training classes is to put yourself in their shoes. Think of them as your own relatives. When the attitude comes from the heart and kindness, the patient's family will sense it and feel more at peace. The actual organ donation consensus rate in Intensive Care Units is completely different from the normal state in society. On average, when persuading a case, the rate of family agreement is only 0.16 percent. Among the hundreds of successfully advocated organ donation cases, which one do you remember most? I forever remember the case of a 19-year-old girl. Her mother had a severe accident; her father had left long before. She was the eldest sister with two younger siblings. That day, she stood outside the ICU door looking at the television screen broadcasting information about organ donation, then turned and said: "Then let's donate my mother's organs." I once heartbreakingly witnessed a poor mother in Vinh Long who had to leave her hometown to live in another locality because she could not stand the rumors that she sold her child's organs for money. Or a wife in Dong Nai who fell into depression and isolated herself because she was suspected of selling her husband's organs for billions of VND. Phuoc Sang More than 100 scientists, experts and representatives from Vietnamese businesses operating in Belgium and other European countries on March 7 gathered at a workshop on VietnamEuropean Union (EU) cooperation in science, technology and trade, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) applications in many sectors. Co-organised by the Embassy of Vietnam in Belgium and Luxembourg and the Vietnamese Mission to the EU, in coordination with the Vietnamese Intellectuals Association in Belgium and Luxembourg (ViLaB) and the Vietnam Business Association in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg (VBAB), the workshop was seen as an important forum connecting Vietnamese intellectuals across Europe to foster cooperation in high-tech sectors, particularly AI. It featured four in-depth discussion sessions with nearly 20 speakers from Vietnam and Europe, covering AI applications in digital transformation, economic development, trade, energy, nuclear medicine and biotechnology. In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao highlighted the flourishing development of the Vietnam EU relations, as well as the bilateral ties between Vietnam with Belgium and Luxembourg, especially in the fields of trade, investment, climate change adaptation and green development. He noted that under the joint statement on the VietnamEU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in January, science, technology and innovation have been identified as important pillars of cooperation for the coming period. According to ViLaB President Phung Quoc Tri, as innovation and digital transformation are becoming major drivers of economic growth worldwide, the workshop aimed to foster connections between scientists, businesses and research organisations from Vietnam and the EU, paving the way for future collaborative projects. VBAB President Nguyen Thanh Vinh said the event marked the first large-scale AI workshop in Europe organised by Vietnamese associations. He noted that many businesses, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, are keen to adopt AI but lack clear strategies, therefore engagement with experts and researchers could help them identify suitable solutions. Meanwhile, Dr Nguyen Duy Cu, Vice President of ViLaB, emphasised that stronger international cooperation is essential to improving scientific and technological capacity as AI becomes a major force driving global innovation. According to the expert, Europe has strong foundations in technology, education and scientific research, while Vietnam benefits from a young, dynamic workforce capable of rapidly adopting new technological trends. Connecting these complementary strengths could significantly boost scientific and technological development. Speakers also shared technological advances and experiences in research cooperation between Vietnam and Europe. Prof. Geert Angenon from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) noted that collaboration with Vietnamese partners in biotechnology could pave the way for a range of cooperative programmes between universities and research institutes. Participants also discussed practical technology applications, including the use of robotics in dairy farming and biotechnology solutions for soil remediation and clean agriculture. Beyond academic exchanges, the event underscored the increasingly important role of Vietnamese intellectuals in Europe in connecting knowledge, technology and international resources for Vietnams development. Such initiatives are expected to help make science and technology, especially AI - a key bridge for deepening VietnamEU relations in the future./. VNA At Y Jut Primary School in Cu Jut Commune, E De language classes have become a familiar activity, creating excitement for students. Thanks to this subject, students absorb general knowledge more quickly while gaining a deeper understanding of their ethnic customs and identity. This is also why teachers here have maintained E De language instruction persistently for many years, despite numerous difficulties. With over 30 years of teaching, HDok Lup clearly understands the hardships of "sowing literacy" in ethnic minority areas, where students often confuse their mother tongue with the national language and pronounce Vietnamese with incorrect tones. Strengthening E De language teaching for primary students will help them absorb general knowledge better. In their villages, children can speak E De but cannot read or write it. If we do not teach it now, the E De script will gradually be forgotten. After many years devoted to teaching E De language, I see this not just as a subject but as an effort to preserve the soul of my peoples language and writing. Although teaching E De in schools faces many difficulties due to the lack of dedicated textbooks, teachers have had to borrow materials from Dak Lak and adapt them for local students. However, through persistence, they have helped generations of students recognize letters, read fluently, and write confidently in E De. In the 20252026 school year, Y Jut Primary School has 220 students, 100 percent of whom are E De. Introducing E De as an elective subject for students from grades 1 to 3 has made them more confident in communication and less overwhelmed when entering a new learning environment. Given that all students are E De, the subject serves as a linguistic stepping stone, boosting confidence and strongly supporting the acquisition of Vietnamese and other subjects. Not only Y Jut Primary School, but Ha Huy Tap Primary School in Cu Jut Commune has also persistently taught E De for over 15 years. Every year, Ha Huy Tap Primary School has about 95 percent E De students. Since E De students make up the majority, the school has proactively sought materials, photocopied books, and utilized experienced local teachers to lead the classes. To increase visual appeal, teachers also collect illustrative photos and make learning tools to make the lessons more vivid. The teaching content is rich, ranging from phonetics, practicing words and sentences, and spelling to essay writing. As a result, students not only learn the script but are also inspired with love and pride for their ethnic language. The rate of good and excellent students in this subject is increasing, and they are also more confident and articulate, actively communicating in both languages. Although maintaining E De teaching faces many obstacles that teachers face daily, such as a lack of specific textbooks, teaching tools, and supporting equipment, with responsibility and love for the profession, the teachers here have flexibly found solutions to ensure that teaching activities are not interrupted. It is this dedication that has kindled hope for preserving the E De language right within the school environment. Cao Xuan Hoang, the Principal of Ha Huy Tap Primary School, emphasized that at home, children mainly use their mother tongue to communicate with relatives. If they do not learn E De and Vietnamese in parallel, it is very difficult for them to access the general curriculum. Thanks to maintaining E De teaching, tens of thousands of students have learned Vietnamese better while forming the habit of preserving their ethnic cultural identity. Teaching E De is not just about keeping a subject, but about protecting a part of the soul of E De culture, helping the younger generation integrate into society without losing their roots. The silent but persistent efforts of the teaching staff at Y Jut Primary School and Ha Huy Tap Primary School are evidence of the strong vitality of the E De language in village life. And from those simple classrooms, ethnic pride is being passed down, nurtured, and spread, so that the E De language continues to resonate and extend the cultural flow through every generation. Le Huong Although export performance showed positive signs at the start of the year, the broader outlook remains challenging. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), an estimated 600,000 tonnes of rice worth 370 million USD was exported in January, up 12.4% in volume and 16.9% in value year-on-year. The average export price reached 616.6 USD per tonne, up 4%. Despite the encouraging start, the MAE warned that rice exports would face significant headwinds this year. According to Do Ha Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), global supply remains plentiful, intensifying competition. The export target for this year has been adjusted to around 7 million tonnes, in line with the Governments orientation under Decision 583 to gradually reduce export volume to 4 million tonnes by 2030. The strategy reflects a structural shift from prioritising quantity to prioritising value. In the short term, as the WinterSpring rice crop is in progress, the risk of a sharp drop in paddy prices remains if timely financial solutions are not implemented. From a business perspective, the Dai Doan Ket (Great National Unity) newspaper quoted Nguyen Van Thanh, Director of Phuoc Thanh IV TradingProduction Co Ltd in Vinh Long province, as saying that last year was already difficult for the rice sector and this year has yet to show clear improvement. Export contracts are less abundant than in previous years because inventories in many importing countries remain high. With substantial reserves still available, importers are reluctant to sign large contracts and instead place small, exploratory orders, keeping prices subdued. Companies holding inventory from earlier purchases can still manage sales, but buying new stock at this stage offers minimal profit margins. Market pressures The Philippines, traditionally a key market for Vietnamese rice, has resumed purchases but mainly through small-volume contracts at relatively low prices. Meanwhile, both domestic and international inventories remain elevated just as the WinterSpring harvest accelerates, making market pressure difficult to avoid. The MAE reports that total rice cultivation area nationwide is estimated at 7.09 million hectares this year, down more than 36,000 hectares compared to last year. However, improved average yields of 6.14 tonnes per hectare are expected to lift total output to 43.55 million tonnes, slightly higher year-on-year. This reflects a consistent policy of reducing acreage while improving productivity and quality. Amid forecasts of continued market volatility this year, the export structure is expected to further shift toward high-quality and fragrant rice. High-quality and fragrant rice exports are projected to reach around 5.8 million tonnes, accounting for around 75% of total export volume. Glutinous rice is expected to account for about 773,000 tonnes (10%), while the remaining 15% will consist of rice for processing purposes. Instead of competing directly in the lower-priced white rice segment, typically valued at 300350 USD per tonne, Vietnam is repositioning itself in higher-value fragrant and specialty rice categories that face less intense competition and offer better margins. Agricultural expert Hoang Trong Thuy described this as a "reverse positioning" strategy, focusing on quality rather than volume to penetrate premium and more sustainable market segments. In fact, Vietnam is among the pioneers in implementing large-scale low-emission rice production. According to the MAE, high-quality rice now accounts for around 89% of total exports, of which 6070% comprises fragrant and specialty rice. Quality-driven exports Brands such as ST24 and ST25 are steadily strengthening their presence in demanding markets including the EU, the US and Japan. Experts emphasise that alongside upgrading product quality, diversifying export markets is essential, particularly in underexploited markets such as Europe and the US. Stronger participation from financially capable enterprises is also needed to purchase paddy and help stabilise the domestic market during peak harvest periods. Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Agency for Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the ministry would continue refining the regulatory framework for rice exports, coordinate with the MAE to monitor output and support farmers, and accelerate trade negotiations and implementation of existing agreements. Maximising preferential treatment under free trade agreements, including those with the EU and the UK, while unlocking new potential markets, would be crucial to sustaining export growth in an increasingly competitive global environment, he noted./. VNA According to Microsoft, the future of AI is not about replacing humans but empowering them to achieve more. According to Microsoft leadership in Vietnam, the country must simultaneously transform three key pillars - enterprises, people and infrastructure - to make artificial intelligence the new operating foundation of its economy. Turning the global AI wave into a competitive advantage Vietnams first Law on Artificial Intelligence was passed on December 10, 2025 and will take effect in March 2026, making Vietnam one of the few countries to enact a dedicated law governing artificial intelligence. Experts say the law positions AI as an intellectual infrastructure, marking 2026 as a turning point in the countrys national AI transformation. The goal is to boost productivity, strengthen competitiveness and support sustainable development. Dhanawat Suthumpun, managing director of Microsoft Thailand and emerging markets including Vietnam, said Vietnam should view AI not merely as a technological tool but as a new operational platform for the entire economy. From Microsofts perspective, he explained, turning the global AI wave into a national advantage requires synchronized transformation across three pillars: enterprises, people and infrastructure. Specifically, Vietnam should encourage the rise of AI-native enterprises - organizations designed from the outset to operate on data and artificial intelligence. In the future, competitive advantage will not lie in simply owning advanced technologies, but in how deeply AI is integrated into everyday decision-making processes. At the same time, data and computing infrastructure should be treated as a new form of national infrastructure. Investments in data centers, cloud platforms, cybersecurity and AI governance will provide the foundation for Vietnamese businesses to deploy AI at scale. Suthumpun emphasized that in an era where AI is becoming the operating layer of the economy, the ability to act early and strategically will determine Vietnams competitive position over the coming decade. Looking ahead to 2026, he added, unlocking the full potential of AI requires more than adopting technology. It also involves equipping people with practical skills to work confidently with AI, investing in data and cloud infrastructure as a new engine of growth, and ensuring AI is developed responsibly, safely and with humans at its center. This is how AI can open entirely new possibilities for Vietnamese enterprises of all sizes, he said. It empowers individuals to use AI as both a tool and a strategic platform, generating meaningful impact and helping Vietnam become more competitive globally. Seven AI shifts businesses should understand Reinforcing the need to develop organizations built on data-driven operations, the Microsoft expert noted that a significant gap still exists between the potential of AI and its real-world implementation. Microsofts Work Trend Index 2025 report shows that only a small number of companies globally are applying AI strategically, while most still use it in fragmented ways. The challenge, he said, lies not only in technology but also in organizational mindset, workforce skills and the willingness to trust AI as a digital colleague. Suthumpun highlighted seven major shifts in artificial intelligence expected to reshape how organizations operate, innovate and compete in the coming years. These include AI enhancing what people can achieve through collaboration; AI agents entering the workforce with new safeguards; AI helping narrow global healthcare gaps; AI becoming central to research processes; AI infrastructure becoming smarter and more efficient; AI learning programming languages and the context behind them; and the next breakthroughs in AI-driven computing. These are major trends that Vietnamese businesses must quickly understand to strengthen their competitiveness in international markets, he said. According to Microsoft, the future of AI is not about replacing humans but enabling them to perform at a higher level. The year 2026 will usher in a new era of collaboration between technology and people. We must learn to work with AI rather than compete against it, he concluded. Van Anh The survey, organised by the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security, will involve coordination with the Department for Roads of Vietnam and the Vietnam Register under the Ministry of Construction, along with construction departments and police forces in Hanoi, and Phu Tho, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Lao Cai provinces. Authorities will examine whether road infrastructure can safely accommodate double-decker sleeper buses, focusing on factors such as curve radius, road width and other traffic conditions that may affect vehicle operation. As part of the programme, traffic police officers will directly operate the buses along National Highways 4D, 4E, 6 and 12, while working with local police and road management agencies to gather data on road geometry, transport infrastructure and traffic organisation. The survey aims to identify locations with potential safety risks and provide a more comprehensive assessment of road conditions for large passenger buses. Sleeper buses are a popular choice among travelers when traveling to tourist destinations, including journeys that pass through many mountainous road sections. (Photo: baovanhoa.vn) Notably, test runs will also evaluate the vehicles hill-climbing capability, stability when cornering, risks of skidding or swaying on curves, body stability on tight bends, and safe passing distance when encountering oncoming vehicles. The field assessment is scheduled to begin on March 9./. VNA Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu on March 7 emphasised the importance of further promoting and deepening friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, while receiving Shimada Tomoaki, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. Shimada Tomoaki is in Vietnam to attend the opening ceremony of the 11th Japan-Vietnam Festival in Ho Chi Minh City. Expressing satisfaction with the increasingly substantive and effective development of the VietnamJapan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, characterised by a high level of political trust and cooperation across all fields, Vu reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently regards Japan as one of its most important partners and a sincere and reliable friend that accompanies it in achieving its development objectives. He took this occasion to suggest the Japanese Government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continue to promote stronger political trust through exchanges and contacts at all levels, especially high level. Such efforts, he said, will facilitate the effective implementation of key pillars of bilateral cooperation, particularly in politics, diplomacy, defence and security, science and technology, local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. He also highlighted the importance of expanding collaboration in emerging areas such as digital transformation and green transition; strengthening coordination in multilateral mechanisms; and further promoting business connectivity in order to leverage complementary strengths, particularly in manufacturing industries, high technology and innovation. Shimada Tomoaki congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and extended his congratulations to Vu on his election as a member of the 14th Party Central Committee. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of the Party and the Government, Vietnam will continue to achieve significant development achievements and realise its growth targets in the new era. Agreeing with the assessments and proposals put forward by the Vietnamese official, Shimada Tomoaki affirmed that Japan regards Vietnam as one of its most important partners in implementing its foreign policy in the AsiaPacific region, and wishes to further strengthen close cooperation with Vietnam to concretise and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across all fields. In particular, Japan will continue to effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms between the two countries and between their foreign ministries. He also stressed Japans readiness to coordinate closely with Vietnam on regional and international issues, including supporting the successful organisation of the APEC Economic Leaders Week in 2027 in Vietnam, thereby contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world./. VNA Addressing a recent debate marking the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness in New York co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan to the UN, Nguyen expressed his concern over the current international security environment, stressed the importance of advancing disarmament efforts, and called on countries to strengthen solidarity and multilateralism to build trust and shared understanding on this issue. The Vietnamese representative also reaffirmed the countrys principled stance and strong commitment to these efforts, underscoring its determination to serve as President of the 11th Review Conference (RevCon11) of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in a balanced, transparent and inclusive manner. The discussion, which was co-sponsored and coordinated by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF), and Columbia Universitys Frontiers of Science Programme (FSP), saw the attendance of nearly 100 participants, including representatives from UN agencies, UN member states, scholars and students from universities in New York. Delegates showed concern over the increasingly complex geopolitical environment and the risks posed by an intensifying arms race and ongoing international conflicts. They stressed the crucial role of global disarmament process and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including relevant international treaties such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NTP) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). They emphasised the importance of continued dialogue, strengthened cooperation and greater public awareness, especially among young people, about the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons, and the role of multilateral cooperation for efforts to eliminate nuclear threats permanently. Participants highly valued and expressed their strong support for Vietnams upcoming role as President of the RevCon11 of the NPT, scheduled to take place in New York in April - May this year. In 2022, the 77th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/77/51, designating March 5 - the date the NPT entered into force in 1970 - as the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness. The resolution aims to raise public awareness of the importance of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation for international peace and security. It also calls on UN member states, international organisations, the public and the media to mark the day through educational activities and initiatives to raise public awareness./. VNA Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday met female leaders and managers from central agencies and presented the 2025 Kovalevskaia Award. Over the past four decades (19852025), the Kovalevskaia Award has honored 22 collectives and 57 female scientists for outstanding research in natural sciences and basic sciences, with high practical application and strong impact on the countrys scientific development. The 2025 Kovalevskaia Award was presented to one collective and one individual. The Prime Minister and delegates attend the meeting. Photo: Nhat Bac. According to reports and opinions shared at the event, the proportion of women participating in Party committees and female deputies in Peoples Councils in the new term is higher than in the previous term. Among central-level leadership positions, there are currently 21 women serving on the 14th Party Central Committee and three women in the Politburo and Secretariat. The average proportion of female members in provincial Party committees is nearly 18.7 percent, while the national average for commune-level Party committees reaches nearly 27.4 percent. Women account for nearly 30.3 percent of deputies in the 15th National Assembly - the highest level in 45 years and among the leading rates in Asia. The proportion of female candidates for the 16th National Assembly is nearly 45.4 percent. Many women now hold general-level ranks in the military and public security forces. Numerous female intellectuals, experts and scientists have produced significant research and received prestigious awards. Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that in any circumstance or position, Vietnamese women always embody the countrys most admirable values. They are those who tirelessly "embroider flowers and weave brocade", creating new achievements that add vibrant colors to the nations landscape and contribute important building blocks to a strong and prosperous Vietnam. The Party and the State, he said, have always paid special attention to women, issuing many policies that affirm their role and create opportunities for them to contribute across all areas of socio-economic life and national defense. In recent years, efforts to advance womens development have achieved many positive results. However, the Prime Minister also noted that existing limitations and shortcomings must be frankly acknowledged and addressed. Prime Minister presents the 2025 Kovalevskaia Award to Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Viet Nga, Director of the Vietnam Japan Institute of Advanced Technology and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering. Photo: Nhat Bac. Prime Minister presents the 2025 Kovalevskaia Award to a collective of female scientists for the research cluster Application of biocatalysts to enhance the value of Vietnamese agricultural products from the School of Food Engineering, School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Photo: Nhat Bac. On behalf of the Party and State leadership, the Prime Minister recognized and praised the extraordinary efforts and important contributions made by female leaders, managers and scientists to the nations development. On this occasion, he also expressed appreciation to former Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Kovalevskaia Award Committee, and former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh, the committees first chairwoman, for their dedication to promoting education and the Kovalevskaia Award over the years. The Prime Minister extended his gratitude to Vietnamese women across the country - those who tirelessly devote themselves to their families, communities and society, as well as to the homeland. He noted that Vietnam is entering a new era, pursuing economic growth of 10 percent or higher while striving to realize two strategic centennial goals. The country is also focusing on four fundamental transformations: digital transformation, green transformation, energy transition, and restructuring combined with improving the quality of human resources. In the process of development and at the heart of these transformations, Vietnamese women represent a powerful internal resource and active participants capable of leading and shaping new opportunities. The Prime Minister called for greater attention to building institutions and policies that foster female leadership at all levels. He encouraged the creation of favorable conditions for women to demonstrate initiative and creativity in scientific research and contribute more deeply to the countrys strategic development goals, particularly in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and green transition. Womens unions at all levels should continue strengthening their role as representatives of women from all walks of life in policy consultation and development, becoming a common home and a trusted address for women nationwide. They should proactively and creatively promote movements to build the image of Vietnamese women in the new era while supporting women in digital transformation, green transition and economic development. The Kovalevskaia Award Committee was also encouraged to continue identifying and honoring more outstanding female collectives and individuals with excellent scientific research achievements that have strong application value and wide social impact. The Prime Minister also proposed studying and submitting to competent authorities a new annual award titled Talented - Creative - Dedicated Women, to be presented every year on October 20 to honor the contributions and dedication of Vietnamese women. Tran Thuong The embassy on early March 8 morning (Vietnam time) issued a new notice to the Vietnamese community in the host country regarding safety measures. Vietnamese citizens across the entire territory of Israel are urged to comply with guidelines from Israel's Home Front Command, effective from 20:00 on March 7 to 20:00 on March 9 (local time). According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)s correspondent in Tel Aviv, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel asked the community to take note of several safety measures as follows. Regarding gatherings and educational activities, mass gatherings with a maximum of 50 people are permitted, provided the venue allows access to a standard shelter during alerts. Beaches are temporarily closed to the public. All educational activities, including schools, nurseries and other training programmes, are suspended. For economic activities and workplaces, agencies, businesses and workplaces are permitted to operate only if they have access to a standard shelter during alert periods. Essential economic sectors and services continue to operate per regulations from Israeli authorities. In the event of an emergency alert, upon hearing sirens or receiving information from authorities, people must quickly move to the nearest shelter, prioritising safe rooms, communal shelters or public shelters, and remain there until an official notice allows them to leave. If outdoors or in transit, people must seek the nearest shelter and follow instructions from authorities. The embassy urged the Vietnamese community to strictly adhere to the host government's new guidelines, proactively take safety measures for themselves and their families and regularly monitor official announcements from Israel's Home Front Command and relevant authorities. The embassy will continue to closely monitor developments and promptly update and disseminate information to the community./. VNA Under the resolution, the Government required oil contractors to prioritise selling crude oil or condensate which has not yet been committed for export to the domestic market if suitable for domestic refinery processing. The Ministry of Finance has been authorised to direct Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group (Petrovietnam) to decide specific implementation measures, ensuring flexibility and compliance with the law under crisis conditions. At the same time, Petrovietnam and its subsidiaries operating in crude oil processing and trading, including Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical JCS and Petrovietnam Oil Corporation (PVOIL), are permitted to buy, sell, import and export crude oil and feedstock used in petroleum production. The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance were tasked with closely reviewing domestic fuel supply and taking proactive steps to ensure sufficient petroleum for production, business and consumer demand. To respond more quickly to market volatility, the Government has also approved changes to the mechanism for adjusting domestic fuel prices. Under the new approach, if the base price of widely used petroleum products rises by 7% or more compared with the previous reference price, authorities will implement a price adjustment immediately after the increase is recorded rather than waiting for the regular weekly review cycle. If the increase is below 7%, fuel prices will continue to be reviewed and adjusted on the regular weekly schedule every Thursday in accordance with Decree 80/2023/N-CP. The Government has also asked the Ministry of Finance to urgently draft amendments to most-favoured-nation (MFN) import tariff rates on several petroleum products. The proposal is to be submitted to the Government on March 7 under an expedited procedure. In case domestic refineries struggle to meet contracted fuel supply volumes and imports, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been tasked with directing distributors to draw on commercial petroleum reserves or release fuel from national strategic reserves to stabilise supply. The Government stressed that the measures must be implemented with transparency and strict oversight to prevent misconduct or policy abuse. To reduce the risk of fuel shortages, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will coordinate with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and Petrovietnam to prioritise the use of domestically produced gas for power generation, replacing part of the imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply. In the longer term, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Science and Technology were asked to urgently review technical standards and regulatory conditions to facilitate an earlier rollout of the biofuel transition roadmap in order to reduce reliance on fossil gasoline. The Government also urged efforts to strengthen energy-saving and increase energy efficiency./. VNA NEW YORK, March 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Software Experts has recognized Prezi as a leading AI-powered presentation platform in its 2026 review of the best AI presentation software. Best AI Presentation Software Prezi - known for turning prompts or uploaded documents into structured, ready-to-present visual presentations in seconds, combining AI-driven creation with dynamic presentation flow. As artificial intelligence reshapes how professionals prepare for meetings, sales pitches, and classroom instruction, presentation tools are evolving beyond static slide builders. AI presentation software is increasingly expected to generate structure, apply design logic, and help presenters maintain audience attention in real time. AI Presentation Software Designed for Speed and Structure Modern presentation demands leave little room for manual formatting. Professionals often face tight deadlines while needing to communicate clearly and persuasively. Starting a presentation, after all, is often the most difficult step. An empty screen demands structure before design can even begin. Prezi AI eliminates that friction. 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Headquartered in San Francisco and supported by investors like Accel and TED, Prezi continues to lead the evolution of how ideas are shared. For more information, please visit www.prezi.com. About Software Experts: Software Experts delivers in-depth news on the digital tools shaping today's consumer experience. As an affiliate, Software Experts may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided. SOURCE SoftwareExperts.org Wales will receive an additional 555 million over the next three years following the UK Governments spring statement, the Senedd has been told. Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said the Welsh Governments settlement over the next three years is almost 6 billion higher than it would have been under spending plans set out by the previous UK Government. He told Members that 327 million more in revenue will be available to spend than was known before the statement, but warned that an incoming Government should be cautious about spending it immediately, An incoming Government will have 327 million more in revenue to spend than we knew about before yesterday, but those decisions will have to be made by a Government that has responsibility for managing the budget in the next financial year. Prudent management Responding to concerns about potential impacts of conflict in the Middle East, Mr Drakeford said the Chancellors spring statement was created prior to attacks on Iran. I think any incoming finance Minister would be very wise not to start spending that 327 million at this point, because there may well be some very urgent calls on revenue when the next Senedd assembles, in businesses, in the lives of Welsh citizens, in our public services, the Cabinet Secretary said. He said when energy prices rose after the invasion of Ukraine, there was an 80 million bill for the national health service alone in increased revenue costs for energy. Andrew RT Davies said he hoped the Treasury would reach out to finance Ministers in devolved administrations to discuss potential help that might be required if the worst case scenarios prevail with the events in the middle east. Taper less brutal Luke Fletcher urged the Cabinet Secretary to use some of the funding to save jobs and services in local authorities affected by the transition from the shared prosperity fund to the local growth fund. Thousands of jobs are on the line in our local authorities. The anxiety within our local authorities is palpable, Mr Fletcher said. He said Neath Port Talbot is looking at losing potentially five jobs in welfare programmes which are offering millions of pounds to our constituents on a daily basis. Jenny Rathbone asked if there was any possibility of making the taper less brutal given the extra money, highlighting successful projects like breastfeeding support in Blaenau Gwent. Mr Drakeford said none of the money announced falls into the current financial year and the final budget for next year was passed by the Senedd weeks ago. An incoming Government will have 327 million more in revenue to spend than we knew about before yesterday, but those decisions will have to be made by a Government that has responsibility for managing the budget in the next financial year, he said. Breakdown and analysis Heledd Fychan asked for confirmation of what percentage of additional funding came from spending on additional learning needs in England and what percentage from business rates relief. Mr Drakeford told Members that approximately half the additional resource funding, or 275 million, relates to spending on special educational needs and disabilities in England, with a further 43 million from business rates decisions. Llyr Gruffydd questioned why the breakdown was not in the Cabinet Secretarys written statement the previous day. Mr Drakeford said Members must allow a small amount of time to make sure that we understand the exact translation of decisions made behind the spring statement and where the money that flows to Wales comes from. He said he met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury prior to the spring statement and will meet him again with finance Ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland later this month. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com Wrexham Councils leader has called for a multi-year funding settlement from the next Welsh Government, warning that reliance on short-term grant funding damages councils ability to plan and retain staff, so would prefer no surprises. Speaking at a media briefing to present the councils third quarter budget report, the council leader said the current approach of distributing funding outside the Revenue Support Grant created year-to-year uncertainty that was structurally damaging. You cant run a country on grants. You just cant, because its the not knowing how long theyre going to be for what the amount is going to be, the council leader said. He said his preference was for grant money to be incorporated into the Revenue Support Grant, the main formula grant from Welsh Government to local authorities. I always feel, you know, the money should be in the RSG. Thats the way it should, he said. A specific concern was the impact on staff. When councils employ people to deliver specific grant-funded services, those posts often cant be sustained once the funding period ends. Cllr Pritchar said discussions through the Welsh Local Government Association on how to make an early approach to whichever party forms the next Welsh Government have begun. Weve already had meetings with the WLGA to discuss how we make representation very early to the new administration on funding local authorities across Wales, the council leader said. He said he hoped any new administration would commit to a three-year deal. Lets hope that they give us a multi year settlement, three years, and then we know what were having so we can forecast, we know what weve got to spend, and thats how it should be, the council leader said. Then there are no surprises, really. The comments come as the council forecasts an overall budget pressure of 2.97m for 2025/26, with childrens social care, school transport and education placements identified as the principal pressures. Grant funding has offset a portion of those pressures in the current year. The Q3 budget report shows 1.42m in unallocated grants to adult social care, described as covering Pathways, Social Care Workforce and Further Faster programmes, recorded as a forecast surplus in senior management codes. The Chief finance officer said a Wales-level announcement was expected on consequential funding from UK Government decisions, which would then need to be assessed for Wrexhams share if, or as and when something turns up from Cardiff. Were expecting, at least at a Wales level, to know today how much exactly is coming across. And then its the Welsh Government, he said. The council leader described the sum as significant for Wrexham but said the exact figure was not yet confirmed. Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com The Welsh Government has not yet raised with UK Ministers the issue of parliamentary privilege in relation to a proposed new offence of misleading the public, a Senedd committee has been told. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies told the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee that he would write to clarify whether Welsh Ministers could face prosecution for statements made in the Senedd, despite Members being protected from the offence by the Senedds limited privilege. The UK Governments Public Office (Accountability) Bill would apply to Welsh Ministers acting in their executive capacity, but not to Members of the Senedd. Asked whether Welsh Ministers could be liable for prosecution even for statements made in the Senedd, Mr Irranca-Davies said he would need to provide a full legal interpretation of that in writing. He confirmed that the specific question had not been raised with UK Ministers. That point hasnt been raised, Adam, yet, he said, responding to questions from committee member Adam Price (Plaid Cymru, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr). The Bill, which aims to enshrine the so-called Hillsborough law, will create a statutory duty of candour and a new criminal offence of seriously misleading the public. It applies to Welsh Ministers and devolved public bodies including local authorities, NHS bodies, schools and anyone performing public functions. Foothills of discussions Mr Irranca-Davies told the committee that Welsh Government was still in the foothills of discussions about how the Bills provisions on misleading the public would interact with proposed Welsh legislation on deliberate deception. We will need to continue discussions as to whether those particular tests, if you like, of misleading the public are appropriate in other contexts and other circumstances, said Jo-Anne Daniels, director in Welsh Government and senior responsible officer for the Bill. There may be arguments for alignment, there may be arguments for divergence appropriate to the context. The Deputy First Minister confirmed that the Bill would bind Welsh Ministers acting in their executive capacity, meaning any proposed Welsh legislation would need to take account of it. However, the duty of candour does not apply to the Senedd itself, following the long-standing convention that Parliament regulates its own affairs. Mr Price raised the possibility of double jeopardy if someone faced prosecution on the same facts under both pieces of legislation. Mr Irranca-Davies acknowledged this was an issue. LCM before dissolution The Deputy First Minister said he was minded to bring forward a legislative consent motion (LCM) on 24 March, before the Senedd dissolves for Mays election, even though the Bill has been subject to carryover procedures at Westminster. The UK Government has delayed the Bill to ensure the duty of candour applies properly to intelligence services, working with Hillsborough law campaigners to get the balance right between that issue of transparency alongside national security considerations. Mr Irranca-Davies said he believed it was right for the current Senedd to express a view before dissolution, though a subsequent LCM would likely be needed in the next Senedd term. I think its right that the Senedd should be allowed to express a view as it currently stands in this Senedd term, rather than wait for a new Senedd term, he said. However, he confirmed that the LCM would reflect only what has been passed in Westminster at that point, not anticipated amendments. A Government amendment extending the offence of misleading the public to devolved functions in Wales has been tabled but not yet debated or voted on, as Report Stage in the House of Commons has not taken place. My anticipation is that the LCM we will be voting on will be expressing a view on the LCM reflected in the legislation as we know it at that point in time, not as it might be subsequent to amendments, Mr Irranca-Davies said. Costs and insurance Chair Mark Isherwood (Conservative, North Wales) asked whether public bodies would need to renegotiate insurance contracts given the higher risk of potential action against members. Ms Daniels said this had not been raised, but offered to check the UK Governments impact assessments to see whether it had been factored in. The Deputy First Minister said the Welsh Government expected costs to be relatively marginal for public bodies because existing duties and guidance are already in place. The most substantial costs here, of course, within this legislation, are not those costs that we think will be marginal, but they will actually be the legal aid costs, he said. Mr Irranca-Davies confirmed the Welsh Government has not yet received confirmation that the UK Government will meet additional costs relating to the expansion of non-means-tested legal aid. Legal aid is a reserved matter, simple as, and so we expect the additional costs will be met, as with any reserved area, by the UK Government, he said. Local government concerns Mike Hedges (Labour, Swansea East) raised concerns about when the Bill would apply to councillors. Youve talked about when councillors are acting as cabinet members and when theyre not acting as cabinet members, but isnt there a grey area when they represent a local authority on things such as the health board and they represent it because they are the cabinet member for health and social services in the council? he asked. Mr Irranca-Davies said there would be a degree of interpretation in the eyes of the law and urged the production of advice notes for councillors. Mr Hedges said people would need to know whether someone attending a body was there by their position or as individuals. The Deputy First Minister confirmed that Welsh Government is hosting a stakeholder session on 11 March led by UK Government officials, which Welsh public sector stakeholders will attend to hear directly about the Bill and its implications. Ms Daniels said public authorities would be responsible for reviewing their own codes of conduct to determine whether they comply with the legislation. If they already have codes of conduct, codes of ethics, then the requirement will essentially be for them to review those, she said. If they feel they already meet the stipulations of the Bill, there would be no further specific action. The Deputy First Minister also confirmed that engagement between UK and Welsh Government is now both regular and positive, with officials meeting at least fortnightly. 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. Did you buy KD securities between August 7, 2024, and February 9, 2026? Affected Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. Investor Summary Who : Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: KD) : Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: KD) What: Securities fraud class action lawsuit filed Securities class action lawsuit filed Class Period: August 7, 2024, through February 9, 2026 August 7, 2024, through February 9, 2026 Deadline to Seek Lead Plaintiff Status: April 13, 2026 April 13, 2026 Key Lawsuit Allegations: Material misstatements and/or omissions concerning the company's cash management practices and internal control over financial reporting. Material misstatements and/or omissions concerning the company's cash management practices and internal control over financial reporting. Investor Action: Contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) for recovery options at no cost to investor RADNOR, Pa., March 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (Kyndryl) (NYSE: KD) on behalf of those who purchased or acquired Kyndryl securities between August 7, 2024, and February 9, 2026, inclusive. The lawsuit is filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and is captioned Brander v. Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., et al, Case No. 1:26-cv-00782 (E.D.N.Y.). Investors have until April 13, 2026, to file for lead plaintiff status. CONTACT KTMC TO DISCUSS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS: If you purchased or acquired Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. securities and have lost money on your investment, you are encouraged to contact KTMC attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. at: (484) 270-1453 [email protected] https://www.ktmc.com/kd-kyndryl-holdings-inc-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=PR_Newswire&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=kd&mktm=PR There is no cost or obligation to speak with an attorney. Learn more about Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. on YouTube: KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT - COMPLAINT ALLEGATION SUMMARY: The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Kyndryl's financial statements issued during the Class Period were materially misstated; (2) Kyndryl lacked adequate internal controls and at times materially understated issues with its internal controls; (3) as a result, Kyndryl would be unable to timely file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q with the SEC for the quarter ended December 31, 2025; and (4) as a result, Defendants' statements about Kyndryl's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times. Why did Kyndryl's Stock Drop? On February 9, 2026, Kyndryl surprised investors when it announced that the company's CFO and General Counsel had both departed "effective immediately." Kyndryl also disclosed that, following the company's receipt of voluntary document requests from the SEC, that the company is reviewing its cash management practices related disclosures as well as the efficacy of the company's internal control over financial reporting and certain other matters. Kyndryl further disclosed that it anticipates reporting material weaknesses in the company's internal control over financial reporting. On this news, Kyndryl's stock price fell over 54%, from a close of $23.49 on February 6, 2026, to close at $10.59 on February 9, 2026. WHAT KD INVESTORS CAN DO NOW: File to be lead plaintiff by April 13, 2026. Contact KTMC for a free case evaluation. Retain counsel of choice or take no action. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS FOR KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC. INVESTORS : Kyndryl investors may, no later than April 13, 2026, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Kyndryl investors to contact the firm for more information. ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP (KTMC): Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (KTMC) is a leading U.S. plaintiff-side law firm focused on securities-fraud class actions and global investor protection. The firm represents individual investors as well as institutions, such as major pension funds, asset managers, and international investors. KTMC has led some of the largest recoveries in securities litigation and has been recognized by peers and the legal media with numerous accolades, including The National Law Journal's Plaintiff's Hot List and Trailblazers in Plaintiffs' Law, BTI Consulting Group's Honor Roll of Most Feared Law Firms, The Legal Intelligencer's Class Action Firm of the Year, Lawdragon's Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, and Law360's Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar. The firm operates globally with offices in Pennsylvania and California. KTMC has recovered over $25 billion for our clients and the classes they represent. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, please visit www.ktmc.com. The complaint in this matter was not filed by KTMC. CONTACT: Jonathan Naji, Esq. (484) 270-1453 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 [email protected] May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Deep Yellow Appoints Jennifer Mintz as Chief Legal Officer Perth, Mar 9, 2026 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Deep Yellow Limited ( ASX:DYL ) ( JMI:FRA ) ( DYLLF:OTCMKTS ) announced the appointment of Ms Jennifer Mintz as Chief Legal Officer, further strengthening the Company's executive leadership team as it advances its transition from uranium developer to producer. Ms Mintz is an experienced senior legal executive with extensive expertise across corporate law, governance, regulatory compliance, commercial contracting and project development within the resources sector. Most recently Ms Mintz was a member of the ELT at PLS for 7 years, a role that encompassed General Council, Company Secretary and Head of Risk. She brings a strong track record of advising executive teams and boards through complex transactions, large-scale project development and international operations. As Chief Legal Officer, Ms Mintz will lead Deep Yellow's global legal, governance and compliance functions. The role will support the Board and executive team to ensure strong corporate governance, regulatory compliance and effective Board processes as the Company progresses the development of it's uranium portfolio, including the flagship Tumas Project in Namibia. Deep Yellow Managing Director and CEO Greg Field welcomed Ms Mintz to the Company. "Jennifer brings deep legal expertise and a strong understanding of governance and corporate advisory in the resources sector. As Deep Yellow continues to advance it's project development activities and build towards production, having strong legal and governance capability within the executive team is critical. Jennifer will play an important role supporting both management and the Board as we execute the Company's next phase of growth." Ms Mintz said she was pleased to be joining Deep Yellow at an important time for the Company. "Deep Yellow has assembled a high-quality uranium asset portfolio and a strong leadership team. I look forward to contributing to the Company's growth strategy and supporting the development of the Tumas Project and the Company's broader corporate objectives." About Deep Yellow Limited Deep Yellow Limited (ASX:DYL) (OTCMKTS:DYLLF) is successfully progressing a dual-pillar growth strategy to establish a globally diversified, leading uranium company producing 10+ Mlb pa. The Company's portfolio consists of two advanced projects in Tier-1 uranium mining jurisdictions - flagship Tumas in Namibia and Mulga Rock, Western Australia. Deep Yellow's future growth is underpinned by its highly prospective exploration portfolio - Alligator River, Northern Territory and Omahola, Namibia with ongoing M&A focused on high quality assets should opportunities arise that best fit the Company's strategy. Led by a best-in-class team, who are proven uranium mine builders and operators, the Company is advancing its growth strategy at a time when the need for nuclear energy is becoming the only viable option in the mid-to-long-term to provide baseload power supply and achieve zero emission targets. Importantly, Deep Yellow is on track to becoming a reliable and long-term uranium producer, able to provide production optionality, security of supply and geographic diversity. Related Companies Quarterly Activities Report Perth, Mar 9, 2026 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Iron Bear Resources Limited ( ASX:IBR ) ( HM50:FRA ) ( CMULF:OTCMKTS ) provided operational and financial updates for the quarter ending 31 December 2025. The Company is focused on developing its flagship Iron Bear Project, a world-class large-scale iron ore project located in the Labrador Trough, Canada. The Company also holds ownership of several exploration assets in New Zealand and Western Australia, that include the gold, copper, nickel and platinum group of elements' assets. HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE PERIOD - The Company received an additional US$3.4 million ($5.19 million) of project funding from Vale pursuant to the Development Agreement dated 17th of February 2025. Furthermore, the Company received $14.3 million in cash from the sale of its holdings in European Lithium Ltd. The total cash balance of the Company as of end of December 2025 was $15.2 million (excluding funds held pursuant to the Vale Development Agreement, which amounted to an additional USD 5.7 million). - In December 2025, the Managing Director of Cyclone completed an extensive government roadshow in Canada to promote the Iron Bear project which included face to face meetings with ministers and senior federal and provincial officials. - The Iron Bear Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) is progressing as planned and is scheduled for completion end of April 2026. The PFS is led by global engineering firm Hatch, leveraging its extensive experience in large scale iron ore projects. - Two extensive field surveys and geological mapping programs were completed on the Iron Bear claims. This work improved the understanding of areas which had not previously been drilled and refined the constraints of the geological model. Several substantial iron rich outcrops were identified, and significant iron ore potential was identified north of Nash Lake. Paul Berend, the Company's Managing Director commented: "The Company is well funded and the Iron Bear project is progressing as planned. We are benefiting from a much improved political and social situation for natural resource projects in Canada, both at the federal and provincial levels, due to the Trump tariffs and a renewed focus on Canadian strategic natural resource developments." *To view the full Quarterly Report, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/CXQ732JQ About Iron Bear Resources Ltd Iron Bear Resources Ltd (ASX:IBR) (OTCMKTS:CMULF) (FRA:HM50) owns and operates the Iron Bear magnetite iron ore project, formerly known as the Block 103 Project. The Iron Bear Project consists of ten licenses totalling 7,275 ha on 291 graticular Mineral Claims under the applicable Labrador and Newfoundland mining regulation, located near the Provincial border of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) and Quebec (QC), approximately 30 km northwest of the town of Schefferville, QC and 1,200 km by air northeast of Montreal, QC. Related Companies AceShowbiz - The alternative rock group Dogstar, featuring actor and bassist Keanu Reeves, is back with a fresh album titled All in Now. This release marks their second full-length album since the band reunited in 2023 after a 20-year hiatus. Set to arrive on May 29, All in Now offers fans a glimpse into Dogstars renewed energy with the debut of its title tracks music video. Alongside the album drop, the band has announced a summer U.S. tour to support the new material, promising live performances across numerous cities. The lineup includes Reeves on bass, drummer Robert Mailhousewho is also an actor known for his role on Seinfeldand guitarist and vocalist Bret Domrose. Their reunion in 2023 marked their first live shows together since 2002 and was quickly followed by the release of their third album Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, their first new music since 2000s Happy Ending. Despite Reevess busy 2025 schedule, which includes filming projects by Ruben Ostlund and Jonah Hill and making his Broadway debut alongside Alex Winter in Waiting for Godot, the actor was eager to reconnect with his bandmates. The recording sessions were produced by Nick Launay, helping capture the bands vibrant comeback spirit. Reeves expressed enthusiasm about the process, saying, We couldnt fucking wait. Personally, I loved it all. For me, the attitude was like, lets work hard and lets GO. Drummer Mailhouse echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the album captures the core energy and fun the band always had playing together. Dogstars tour kicks off with two shows in California aligned with the album release, followed by a European leg. They will return to the U.S. on August 1 for a North American tour starting in Austin, Texas, and running through September 3. This extensive schedule includes stops at notable venues such as the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Webster Hall in New York, and the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. The All in Now tracklist features 13 songs, including: Math This Sphere All In Now Exalted Siren Punch The Sky Joy What Is The Whisper Shards of Rain Shallow Easy Wing Below are the confirmed U.S. tour dates for Dogstars 2025 run: May 28 - Highland, CA @ bEATS @ Yaamava' Resort & Casino May 29 - Rohnert Park, CA @ Graton Resort & Casino Aug 1 - Austin, TX @ ACL Live @ the Moody Theatre Aug 2 - Dallas, TX @ The Pavilion @ Toyota Music Factory Aug 4 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle Aug 5 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium Aug 7 - Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz Aug 8 - Richmond, VA @ The National Aug 11 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club Aug 12 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer Aug 14 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Sound Waves @ The Hard Rock Aug 15 - Mashantucket, CT @ Great Cedar Showroom - Foxwoods Resort & Casino Aug 16 - Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues Boston Aug 18 - Hershey, PA @ Hershey Theatre Aug 19 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall Aug 21 - Niagara Falls, ON @ Fallsview Casino Aug 22 - Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew's Hall Aug 24 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's Aug 25 - Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room @ Old National Centre Aug 27 - St. Louis, MO @ The Factory Aug 28 - New Buffalo, MI @ Silver Creek Event Center Aug 29 - Madison, WI @ The Sylvee Aug 31 - Omaha, NE @ Steelhouse Omaha Sept 2 - Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall Sept 3 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex As Dogstar continues to build momentum following their reunion, fans can look forward to experiencing the bands revitalized sound live this summer and fall. The groups renewed collaboration underscores a passionate commitment to their music and connection with audiences after two decades. AceShowbiz - North West is stepping into the spotlight with a fresh track that creatively samples one of her fathers most underrated songs from his electropop era. During a recent TikTok Live session, North West previewed unreleased music, including a standout track that incorporates elements from Kanye Wests "Coldest Winter," originally featured on his 808s & Heartbreak album. This song is a poignant tribute to Yes late mother, Donda West, who passed away in 2007 due to coronary artery disease and complications from cosmetic surgery. The new rendition maintains the haunting melody of the original while adding punchier drums, giving the track a more hard-hitting and modern feel. It also subtly integrates Kanyes vocals, which echo faintly in the background, preserving the emotional depth of the tribute. Earlier this year, North also teased a collaboration with her father on social media. Showcasing her rap skills, she delivered lyrics that blend confidence and youthful rebellion: "All my friends are hits, you know I'm not lazy / You're so angry that I'm so mainstream." The track also touches on her personal style choices, like wanting more piercings and tattoos, and her love for blue hair. Shortly after, a blue-haired North West appeared on stage alongside Kanye West during his first Mexico City concert in 20 years. She joined him for the emotional performance of "Only One" and later performed her own song "Piercing on my Hand," marking a significant moment in her emerging music career. In 2025, North continued to build her musical resume with notable collaborations. She rapped in Japanese on "Childlike Things," a track from FKA Twigs Eusexua album. Additionally, she contributed to "Lonely Roads," a song produced by Ye that appeared on King Combs Never Stop EP. According to Rolling Stone, North West signed a record deal with Larry Jacksons independent music company Gamma in February. The partnership is a family affair, as Kanye West also joined Gamma earlier in 2026, hinting at more musical projects to come from both father and daughter. AceShowbiz - After a significant delay, The Hunt is finally set to premiere on Apple TV. The French-language thriller series, originally scheduled for release in December 2025, was pulled just one week before its debut due to allegations of plagiarism. The controversy centered around similarities between the show's plot and Douglas Fairbairn's 1973 novel Shoot, which had previously been adapted into a 1976 film starring Cliff Robertson and Ernest Borgnine. Produced by Gaumont and directed by Cedric Anger, the series was initially promoted as an original creation. However, once the parallels to Fairbairn's work were discovered in November 2025, the production company launched an investigation to address the situation. In collaboration with Apple TV, Gaumont took immediate steps to identify the rights holders of Shoot and secure the appropriate permissions to move forward. In an official statement, Gaumont emphasized its commitment to respecting authors' rights and maintaining transparency with creative artists. The company noted: "Respect for works and authors' rights is a fundamental principle for Gaumont, which can only be exercised with the trust and transparency of creative artists." This approach has allowed the series to retain its core story while officially crediting Fairbairns novel as its source material. The Hunt will debut globally on Apple TV with a special launch of two episodes on March 4, 2026. Following this, a new episode will be released each Wednesday through April 1. This places the series among Apple TVs growing slate of French productions, following acclaimed titles like Drops of God and Careme. Leading the cast is Cannes Best Actor and three-time Cesar Award winner Benoit Magimel, who stars alongside two-time Cesar Award recipient Melanie Laurent. The ensemble also includes Damien Bonnard, Manuel Guillot, Cedric Appietto, Frederic Maranber, Angelyna Mignot, Paul Beaurepaire, Yann Goven, Hugo Dillon, Sarah Pachoud, and Patrick de Vallette. The Hunt combines elements of thriller, survival, and action genres. The story follows Franck (played by Benoit Magimel) and his longtime friends, who regularly go hunting together in the woods near their homes. Their routine weekend outing turns deadly when an unknown group of hunters opens fire on them without warning. After a friend is shot, they fight back and kill one of the attackers before fleeing. Although they attempt to resume their everyday lives and keep the incident secret, Franck and his friends become increasingly aware that they are being watched and targeted by the hostile group. The tension escalates as they seek revenge and try to uncover the motivations behind the attack. The first two episodes focus on Francks investigation into the mysterious assailants, culminating in a return to the woods to confront the danger head-on. This new adaptation of Shoot marks the latest project in Apple TVs international expansion of high-quality, non-English language programming. The series acknowledges its inspiration from Fairbairns novel and the 1976 film directed by Harvey Hart, with a screenplay by Richard Berg. AceShowbiz - Billboard staff members recently gathered to discuss and rank the songs on Harry Styles new album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. The team shared their personal opinions as well as their takes on Billboards official rankings. Kyle Denis expressed strong enthusiasm, placing the album at his top spot, declaring, Mr. Styles, the man that you are. This is my No. 1, man. However, Meghan Mahar had a very different reaction, admitting to ranking it No. 4 and calling the placement wildly disrespectful. Jason Lipshutz highlighted a standout moment in the album, noting, There is a choir shaking the listener awake, and described how Styles explores themes of unintimate sexual encounters, which also jolts the listener emotionally. Meghan Mahar praised Styles songwriting style when it feels more journalistic, especially when the lyrics include vivid references to specific places, possibly hinting at real people. Despite this admiration, she believes there are many songs on the album that shine brighter. Jason Lipshutz also shared his thoughts on the track Taste Back, appreciating its grand synths and nostalgic warmth. He described the songs hook as huge and praised the effective placement of its lyrics near the albums mid-point, calling it a strong pivot on the record. Kyle Denis placed Taste Back somewhere between eighth and tenth in his ranking. He acknowledged it isnt the worst song on the album and liked the restless beat that evokes a feeling of reconciliation, questioning whether full emotional reconciliation is possible or if its just a fleeting desire. He also admired Styles subdued vocal delivery on the track, which adds a layer of apprehension matching the lyrics. Kyle also revealed his top five favorite from the album, highlighting Are You Listening Yet? as a standout track where his opinion notably diverges from Billboards published rankings. He described the song as a fusion of Harry Styles with a daring edge, calling it super, super dope. The Billboard teams varied responses showcase the diverse appeal and complexity of Harry Styles new album, emphasizing how different tracks resonate uniquely with each member. Fans can anticipate more detailed reactions and rankings as the conversation continues. AceShowbiz - Prime Videos Reacher delivers much of what fans love about Lee Childs iconic franchise, but it still has lessons to learn from Netflixs underrated yet powerful action thriller Rebel Ridge. Despite Reacher maintaining an impressive 96% Rotten Tomatoes score even after three seasons, its latest installments have struggled to surpass the momentum set by its debut. While Reacher season 4 is highly anticipated and holds significant promise, it remains to be seen whether it will fully capitalize on its potential. Meanwhile, Netflixs Rebel Ridgethough less celebratedexcels at crafting tension and atmosphere in ways that Reacher could benefit from adopting. Rebel Ridge, directed by Jeremy Saulnier, adopts a familiar narrative framework reminiscent of Reacher: a battle-hardened veteran arrives in a small, insular town and becomes entangled in a simmering local conspiracy. However, the similarities largely end there. Unlike Reacher, which plunges into action immediately by showcasing its protagonists physical dominance through intense prison fights and confrontations, Rebel Ridge takes a measured, patient approach to unfolding its story. The lead, Terry Richmond, portrayed by Aaron Pierre, is suggested to be as formidable as Jack Reacher, with his Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) background, but he does not unleash his full force at the first sign of trouble. Instead, Richmond tries to navigate the complexities of justice through legal channels, understanding that rash actions carry consequences. Only when all else fails does he resort to forceand when he does, the violence is deliberate, disciplined, and far from glorified rage. This controlled use of combat skills results in a more impactful and realistic showdown against the towns corrupt law enforcement. In contrast, Reachers more straightforward, explosive action style has its appeal but could benefit from incorporating this kind of subtle tension and psychological depth, especially as the series moves into its fourth season. Season 4 of Reacher will adapt Lee Childs novel Gone Tomorrow, which itself blends cerebral deduction with action. The novel opens with a gripping scene where Jack Reacher uses his mental acuity to assess whether a passenger on a train is a suicide bomber, showcasing his ability to methodically evaluate threats rather than rush into combat. This more thoughtful narrative style signals a potential shift for the series toward integrating psychological stakes alongside its trademark action sequences. By embracing the nuanced storytelling seen in Rebel Ridge, Reacher season 4 could evolve into a more layered and relatable portrayal of its protagonist. Adding vulnerability and internal conflict could deepen viewer engagement, making Jack Reacher not just a near-invincible force but a character facing real dilemmas and moral complexity. Given the thematic and stylistic parallels between the two, Rebel Ridge also shows promise as a franchise in its own right. The films central character, Terry Richmond, could easily carry a series of sequels where he confronts new conspiracies in different towns, using his unique blend of restraint and skill to resolve conflicts. Despite this potential, Netflix has yet to announce a sequel, leaving fans wondering if Rebel Ridge will ever receive the franchise treatment that Reacher enjoys. Although it remains uncertain whether a follow-up to Rebel Ridge will be greenlit, Reacher season 4 could serve as an unofficial spiritual successor by adapting the more cerebral and tension-filled elements found in Lee Childs Gone Tomorrow. This would not only refresh the series but also demonstrate how Prime Videos show can learn from Netflixs approach to crafting suspenseful, character-driven action thrillers. In summary, while Reacher continues to be a cornerstone of Prime Videos streaming content, there is merit in looking at Netflixs Rebel Ridge as a benchmark for evolving the genre. Its patient buildup, psychological depth, and disciplined action sequences offer a compelling alternative to Reachers more direct style. As Reacher prepares for its fourth season, incorporating these elements could elevate it beyond the solid but sometimes predictable formula it has followed so far. Reacher remains a highly rated series with an 8/10 score and a strong fan base, having premiered on February 3, 2022, exclusively on Prime Video. Meanwhile, Rebel Ridge, released on September 6, 2024, runs 131 minutes and holds a respectable 7/10 rating. Both titles showcase compelling narratives driven by tough veterans navigating dangerous environments, but it is the subtlety and tension of Rebel Ridge that sets a new standard for action thrillers on streaming platforms. AceShowbiz - Todd Meadows, one of the newest cast members of the Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch, has tragically passed away at the age of 25. The heartbreaking news was shared publicly by Captain Rick Shelford, who paid tribute to the young crew member on his social media account, expressing deep sorrow over the loss. On February 25, 2026, Captain Shelford described the day as the most tragic in the history of the Aleutian Lady, the vessel featured on the show. He referred to Todd Meadows as a brother and family member who quickly earned respect through his dedication and passion for fishing. His infectious smile and laughter were fondly remembered as a bright presence aboard the ship. In the detailed tribute, Captain Shelford highlighted Meadows' devotion to his children and family, emphasizing how his love and hard work touched everyone around him. The captain requested that fans and followers keep Todd Meadows' loved ones in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. He also assured that Meadows' legacy would endure through his children and the memories shared by his crew. According to TMZ, Meadows died in an accident related to fishing while filming the popular series. The Discovery Channel released a statement expressing profound sadness over the loss and extended condolences to his family, friends, crewmates, and the broader fishing community impacted by this tragedy. Tributes have poured in from various people close to Meadows. His grandmother expressed gratitude for the heartfelt acknowledgments and noted how beloved he was by many. Other messages praised Meadows' determination and thanked the show for allowing him to pursue his dream, even though his time was cut short. Supporters also shared prayers and sympathy for the family and friends mourning his loss. One relative wrote about the difficulty of processing the loss and pledged to help keep Todd Meadows' memory alive for his grandchildren. The outpouring of love and grief reflects how much Meadows was cherished both on and off screen. The tragic death of Todd Meadows marks a somber moment for the Deadliest Catch series and its devoted audience. As the community comes to terms with this sudden loss, his family, friends, and crew are left to navigate the days ahead without him. The Discovery Channel continues to honor Meadows' memory, highlighting the profound impact he made during his brief but meaningful time on the show. Fans and followers are encouraged to keep Todd Meadows' family in their thoughts and to celebrate the life of a man who brought joy, strength, and dedication to his work and loved ones. His legacy remains embedded in the brotherhood of the Aleutian Lady and the hearts of those who knew him best. AceShowbiz - The Dragon Ball Super franchise is set to continue its saga with the upcoming release of Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol. Fans have eagerly awaited this new chapter. The next anime after Galactic Patrol promises to shake up the established power dynamics by introducing a new class of fighters who surpass even the strongest Saiyans. As of now, no official release date has been announced for Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol, meaning viewers may not see the next installment until 2027. However, once that series concludes, attention will turn to the next story arc expected to be adapted from the manga: the Granolah the Survivor arc. This arc is pivotal because it introduces fighters who are on a completely different level than Goku and Vegeta. Within the Granolah arc, audiences meet Granolah himself, a character who makes a wish to become the strongest fighter in the universe, surpassing even the Saiyans. Granolahs wish is granted by the Eternal Dragon Toronbo, but it comes with a significant cost. The power boost condenses all of Granolahs potential into a short period, making him incredibly powerful but limiting his lifespan to a few years. Despite this drawback, Granolahs strength proves overwhelming. Both Goku and Vegeta struggle against him, and even Vegetas most powerful Dragon Ball transformation falls short. What makes this saga even more intense is that Granolah is not the only fighter to reach this extraordinary level. Another warrior named Gas also makes a similar wish and becomes even stronger than Granolah. This development sets up a rare and formidable challenge for Goku and Vegeta, who are typically the strongest characters by the end of each Dragon Ball saga. Traditionally, Dragon Ball Super has been about Saiyan fighters continually pushing their limits and growing stronger with each battle. The Granolah arc, however, breaks this mold by presenting characters who cannot be surpassed by Saiyan power alone. This shift introduces new stakes and dynamics that will test the Saiyan heroes in unprecedented ways. For anime fans, this upcoming storyline promises to be a thrilling experience. While manga readers are already familiar with the power scale and the new antagonists, the anime adaptation will bring these moments to life with stunning visuals and action sequences. The introduction of these incredibly powerful fighters, alongside new transformations and intense battles, ensures the next Dragon Ball anime will be a major event for the franchise. Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol is expected to be a significant success, but all signs indicate that the anime following it will raise the bar even higher. With the Granolah arcs powerful new combatants, the future of the Dragon Ball series looks poised to captivate fans and redefine what it means to be the strongest fighter in the universe. In summary, the next chapter in the Dragon Ball anime universe will not only continue Goku and Vegetas journey but also introduce a new echelon of warriors whose power eclipses that of any Saiyan. This development promises to bring fresh excitement and challenges to the beloved franchise. Chinese leaders attend deliberations at annual legislative session Xinhua) 09:34, March 08, 2026 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. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Zhong Wenxing) BOONE, N.C., March 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --Today, Samaritan's Purse is responding to Three Rivers, Michigan and the surrounding communities after a powerful storm unleashed a deadly tornado late Friday afternoon. The tornado wreaked havoc on multiple townsdevastating numerous homes and business. Tragically, at least four lives were lost and a dozen more injured, marking the deadliest tornado to hit Michigan in nearly 50 years. Volunteers with Samaritan's Purse pray before helping families and communities impacted by a deadly tornado. "Families are reeling from this unexpectedly destructive tornado that ripped through southwest Michigan on Friday. Our staff deployed immediately to see how we could help these hurting communities," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "In the days ahead, teams of volunteers will help families pick up the pieces of their lives and remind them that God loves them. Join me in praying for southwest Michigan and other areas impacted by severe weather." Within 24 hours, Samaritan's Purse disaster specialists were on the ground in the hardest-hit areas to conduct assessments. Today, a disaster relief unita tractor-trailer stocked with tools and equipmentis enroute to the damaged communities along with volunteers who will begin helping families this week. Volunteers from across the country will clear debris, remove downed trees, and secure tarps on damaged roofs while reminding families that God has not forgotten themeven in this difficult circumstance. This Michigan tornado was one of several that spawned on Friday. Staff at the ministry are continuing to monitor other tornado-impacted areas and continued severe weather patterns throughout the weekend. To stay up to date on the response or get involved, go to SamaritansPurse.org to learn more. MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES Interview Edward Graham, chief operating officer for Samaritan's Purse Interview Jason Kimak, vice president of North American Disaster Relief for Samaritan's Purse Interviews with disaster specialists on the ground are available upon request High-quality photos and b-roll available upon request MEDIA REQUEST FORM Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan's Purse is a Christian relief and evangelism organization that responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situationsespecially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, poverty, famine, and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org. SOURCE Samaritan's Purse AceShowbiz - Ted fans may face disappointment as Seth MacFarlane, the creator and voice behind the iconic foul-mouthed teddy bear, reveals there are currently no plans for a third season of the Peacock animated series. The shows sophomore season is now available to stream, but the future beyond that remains uncertain. MacFarlane pointed to the high production costs as a major hurdle. The prequel series, which builds on the 2012 and 2015 hit films, requires extensive visual effects and a complex production process that makes continuing the show financially challenging. "What I kept hearing [from Peacock and Universal] was, 'Listen, the show is really expensive to produce and there's no way to do it at a lower cost,'" he told TheWrap. Acknowledging this, MacFarlane crafted the final scene of Season 2 with Max Burkholders character, young John, walking into a gym, symbolically transitioning into the Mark Wahlberg-led adult John seen in the original Ted film. He also discussed the creative constraints that came with producing the show, saying, "So [showrunners] Brad Walsh and Paul Corrigan and I kind of painted ourselves into a corner." While he admits theres theoretically always a way to continue the story, it would require significant narrative gymnastics. For now, MacFarlane confirms, "There's no plan that I've heard of at the moment to do Season 3." Insiders close to production have indicated that no official decision has yet been made regarding renewal for another season. However, Peacock fans can look forward to an animated spinoff coming later this year, expanding the Ted universe in a new direction. The original Ted films starred Mark Wahlberg as John, who as a child wished his teddy bear to life, leading to a series of comedic and outrageous adventures. In the Peacock series, Max Burkholder voices young John, exploring his high school years alongside Ted and his family in Framingham, Massachusetts. MacFarlane praised the immense effort behind the shows production, highlighting the technical challenges involved. "It's very good that we had two Ted films under our belt, because the workload is something that, on a weekly basis, is just insurmountable," he explained. The series requires extensive CGI work to animate and perform the bear, likening the process to "doing an Avengers movie every 22 minutes." He credited the talented production team in Melbourne, Australia, including director of photography Jeff Mygatt, visual effects supervisor Blair Clark, and the entire crew at Framestore, for making the weekly delivery possible. While fans may be eager for more episodes, the combination of creative and financial challenges means that Teds future on Peacock remains in limbo. For now, viewers can enjoy the current season and anticipate the upcoming spinoff later this year. AceShowbiz - Bridgerton fans have noticed a potential hint from author Julia Quinn suggesting that the characters Hyacinth and Gregory might be recast in upcoming seasons. Attentive social media followers spotted that Quinns official website refers to Florence Hunt as "Young Hyacinth Bridgerton" and Will Tilston as "a young Gregory Bridgerton (years before his love story)," sparking speculation about future casting changes. The popular Netflix series, based on Julia Quinns bestselling novels, follows the romantic adventures of the affluent Bridgerton family set in 19th century London. The shows first season focused on Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset (Rege-Jean Page), characters from the inaugural book, The Duke and I. Season 2 adapted The Viscount Who Loved Me, centering on Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). Although the third novel, An Offer From a Gentleman, revolves around Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), his romance with Sophie (Yerin Ha) was not explored until season 4. The series has undergone several onscreen recasts and some deviations from the original books, causing fans to worry about further changes to the main cast. The third season instead highlighted the relationship between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), as depicted in Quinns novel Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Showrunner Jess Brownell has also confirmed that upcoming seasons will focus on Eloise and Phillip Crane or Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and Michaela (Masali Baduza), following the book series timeline. Julia Quinn addressed concerns about recasting in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly in February. She noted that the actors portraying Hyacinth and Gregory were around 12 and 13 years old when the series began, so it was uncertain whether they would continue in their roles as adults. Quinn remarked, "When I saw them again at the premiere, they were both drinking wine. They're both 18 now and Will was there with his girlfriend." This observation suggests that the actors are growing up, and recasting might be necessary before their characters storylines are fully explored. The author also explained that there are still several years before the books Its In His Kiss and On the Way to the Weddingwhich focus on Hyacinth and Gregorywill be adapted into seasons. She said showrunner Jess Brownell has indicated the next two seasons will cover either Eloise and then Francesca or vice versa, which aligns with the series production timeline. Given the lengthy filming process, by the time the show reaches the stories of Hyacinth and Gregory, the actors currently portraying them will likely be in their twenties. Quinn noted that while it may feel strange for fans to see new actors in these roles, "We see child stars grow up all the time." Quinn shared that writing the books centered on Hyacinth and Gregory was challenging because she had to imagine the characters maturing over time. She described the process as difficult but ultimately rewarding, emphasizing the growth required for both the writer and the characters. Regarding Gregorys character, Quinn highlighted his unique romantic journey. Unlike his siblings, Gregory starts as a reluctant romantic hero who questions the idea of marriage, despite witnessing many of his brothers and sisters fall in love. However, he is actually eager to experience love himself, though his initial relationship is complicated by falling for the wrong person. Currently streaming on Netflix, Bridgerton continues to captivate audiences with its blend of Regency-era romance and contemporary storytelling. Fans eagerly await future seasons that will bring more of Julia Quinns beloved characters and narratives to life, even if it means welcoming new faces in familiar roles. AceShowbiz - For the first time ever, Gorillaz will appear as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, showcasing their latest work from their newly released ninth album, The Mountain. In promotional clips for the upcoming episode hosted by Ryan Gosling, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett from Gorillaz share the spotlight alongside cast member Ashley Padilla. Padilla expresses surprise that the iconic virtual band has yet to perform on the show after all these years. Gorillaz! Youre one of the best bands ever, and youve never been the musical guest? Padilla asks with disbelief. How are you feeling? The duo responds without words, painting on broad smiles, crouching down, and wiggling their fingers in an amusing gesture. Padilla then inquires, What are they doing? to which Gosling replies quietly, Its a secret. This prompts Padilla to pout, jokingly lamenting, No one tells me anything! Elsewhere in the promo, Padilla admits to watching scenes from Goslings film The Notebook on her phone while viewing previews for his new movie Project Hail Mary. She also confesses to placing unofficial bets on her own lines and actions during the promotional segments. The upcoming Saturday Night Live episode will mark Goslings fourth time hosting the show, correcting an earlier promo that mistakenly called it his fifth. He will be promoting Project Hail Mary, a sci-fi film adapted from the 2021 novel of the same name. Gorillaz are not only promoting their album but have also announced a North American tour tied to The Mountain. This will be their first U.S. tour in four years, beginning on September 17 in Orlando, Florida, and concluding on Halloween in Seattle. The new episode of Saturday Night Live airs at 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT on NBC and will be available for streaming on Peacock. Fans will have to wait until Saturday night to see how Gorillaz handle their debut on the iconic late-night stage. Beyond the Constitution: Dalit Struggle in India 2 India often takes pride in calling itself the worlds largest democracy, a nation that constitutionally guarantees equality and dignity to every citizen. Yet beneath the confident rhetoric of progress lies a disturbing reality that many prefer not to confront openly. The oppression of Dalits, historically categorized as Scheduled Castes, continues to haunt the social fabric of the country even after decades of independence, constitutional protections, and social reform movements. It is one of those uncomfortable truths that survives quietly in the shadows of Indias rapid economic growth and technological advancement. While urban India celebrates start-ups, space missions, and global influence, millions of Dalits still struggle against a deeply embedded system of social hierarchy that has shaped Indian society for centuries. The brutality of caste discrimination is not merely a relic of history; it remains a living social reality. Every year thousands of cases of violence against Dalits are registered across India. These incidents include physical assaults, murders, sexual violence, social boycotts, humiliation, and denial of access to basic resources such as water sources, temples, or community spaces. Behind every statistic lies a painful human story. In several rural areas Dalits have been attacked for riding a horse during their wedding procession, for sitting on chairs in the presence of dominant castes, or for attempting to assert equal rights that the Constitution supposedly guarantees. Such incidents expose the harsh contradiction between legal equality and social reality. Laws exist, but social attitudes remain deeply resistant to change. The root of the problem lies in the historical structure of caste itself. Unlike many other forms of social discrimination around the world, caste in India is not merely a matter of prejudice between individuals. It is a rigid hereditary system that historically assigned people a fixed social status at birth. Over centuries this hierarchy became intertwined with religion, occupation, land ownership, and social prestige. Even after modern laws abolished untouchability, the cultural memory of caste hierarchy remained deeply embedded in everyday life. It shapes marriage alliances, social networks, economic opportunities, and political mobilization. Many Indians may publicly claim that caste no longer matters, yet one simple question often reveals the truth: before marriage alliances, business partnerships, or even friendships deepen, people quietly ask about caste background. The system may have softened in its outward appearance, but it still influences the invisible architecture of social relations. Removing caste discrimination is extraordinarily difficult because it is sustained not only by prejudice but also by power. Historically dominant castes-controlled land, education, and social institutions. These advantages accumulated over generations and translated into economic and cultural capital. Dalits, on the other hand, were historically denied access to these resources and were forced into degrading occupations that society considered impure. Even today the economic gap created by centuries of exclusion continues to affect opportunities. While reservation policies in education and government jobs have enabled the rise of a Dalit middle class, a large proportion of Dalits still live in conditions marked by poverty, limited educational access, and social vulnerability. Affirmative action policies were designed to correct this historical injustice, yet they have also created intense political debate. Many people from historically dominant castes believe that reservation policies unfairly disadvantage them. This resentment sometimes fuels social tensions, especially in regions where competition for jobs and educational opportunities is fierce. Dalit activists, however, argue that reservations are not a privilege but a minimal corrective mechanism for centuries of structural inequality. The clash between these viewpoints reveals how deeply caste still shapes Indias political and social landscape. The role of the Brahmin community in the contemporary caste debate is often discussed in emotional and polarized ways. Historically Brahmins occupied the highest rung in the traditional social order and enjoyed cultural authority through their role as scholars, priests, and interpreters of sacred knowledge. This historical association with privilege has made Brahmins symbolic targets in modern caste discourse. At the same time, the reality of contemporary India is more complex. Not every Brahmin family enjoys wealth or power, and many struggle economically like any other social group. However, historical advantages such as access to education and intellectual networks did provide many upper-caste groups with a head start in modern professions such as academia, administration, and media. This historical advantage continues to influence perceptions of inequality even today. One of the most troubling aspects of the Dalit question is the relative silence or inconsistency of mainstream media. Caste atrocities often receive limited national attention unless they become politically explosive. Several observers have pointed out that leadership positions in major news organizations are still dominated by individuals from upper-caste backgrounds, while marginalized communities remain underrepresented in editorial decision-making. When the voices shaping national narratives do not come from diverse social backgrounds, certain issues inevitably receive less attention. The result is a media environment where caste discrimination appears sporadically in headlines but rarely becomes a sustained national conversation. Political parties have also contributed to the persistence of caste divisions. While leaders publicly condemn discrimination and promise social justice, electoral politics frequently relies on caste arithmetic. Communities are mobilized as vote banks, alliances are built around caste equations, and political rhetoric often reinforces social identities rather than transcending them. Caste thus becomes both a problem and a political tool. Leaders who claim to fight caste discrimination often depend on caste loyalties to secure power. This contradiction ensures that the system remains politically useful even as it is publicly criticized. The most brutal truth is that social hierarchies rarely disappear simply because laws prohibit them. The Indian Constitution abolished untouchability and declared equality as a fundamental right, yet laws cannot instantly erase centuries of cultural conditioning. Real change requires transformation in social attitudes, economic structures, and personal relationships. It requires people to question inherited prejudices, challenge discriminatory practices within their own communities, and build institutions that genuinely promote equal opportunity. India stands at a crossroads where its aspirations as a global power collide with unresolved social realities at home. The nation has achieved remarkable progress in science, technology, and economic development, yet the persistence of caste discrimination exposes a deeper moral challenge. A society that tolerates humiliation and violence against any community cannot truly claim to be modern or just. The plight of Dalits is therefore not merely a problem affecting one section of society; it is a mirror reflecting the unfinished work of Indias democratic promise. Whether discrimination will ever completely disappear remains uncertain. Social systems that have survived for thousands of years rarely vanish within a few generations. Yet acknowledging the truth is the first step toward change. Ignoring the problem, romanticizing the past, or silencing uncomfortable discussions only prolongs injustice. Indias future credibility as a democratic civilization will depend on whether it confronts the legacy of caste with honesty and courage rather than denial. English News Blind massage therapist travels across China by train Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 2 Mars 2026 "More importantly, there's warmth everywhere I go," he said. "I've lost count of how many times train staff have offered help, or how often volunteers at scenic spots have stepped in as soon as they noticed me." By Li Xinping, Shi Yu, People's Daily Sun Wufei, a visually impaired massage therapist from Ningde in southeast China's Fujian province, has built a thriving business by tapping into opportunities brought by the railway network. Starting with just three massage beds in his home, he now runs four massage outlets and has created jobs for more than 30 people with visual impairments. Nestled between mountains and the sea, Ningde long lagged behind economically due to rugged terrain and poor transport links. After graduating from a program in traditional Chinese medicine wellness at a vocational school for the visually impaired, Sun found few opportunities at home and was force to seek work elsewhere. That changed dramatically in 2009 with the opening of the Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway. "Once the trains started running, people began to move," Sun recalled. "And where there are people, there is business." He soon returned home to start his own venture. In Fuding, Ningde, Sun converted a 20-square-meter space in his house into a massage studio with three beds. As a person with disabilities, he benefited from supportive policies when applying for business permits and was exempt from personal income tax. His reputation steadily grew, attracting in loyal customers.This success allowed him to expand, opening additional branches in Fuding and downtown Ningde in 2013 and 2018. The Wenzhou-Fuzhou line was just the beginning. Subsequent routes -- including the Hangzhou-Shenzhen Railway (Fuzhou-Xiamen section), the Hefei-Fuzhou High-Speed Railway, and the Quzhou-Ningde Railway -- further integrated Ningde into China's national rail network. Improved connectivity transformed Ningde's economy, attracting significant investment and establishing it as a global hub for lithium battery and stainless steel production. "As the economy grows and incomes rise, people pay more attention to their health," Sun noted. "My business has only gotten better." Motivated by his success, Sun began giving back. By inviting experienced practitioners to provide guidance and traveling across regions to train staff, Sun has mentored more than 20 apprentices. At 7:30 a.m. on Wanting Road in Fuding, Sun stepped out of his home. "I'm heading to my store in downtown Ningde," he said. Tapping his white cane against the pavement, he made his way to a bus stop. "The sound of the wind, footsteps, even the aroma from street-side food stalls -- these are all part of my navigation," he explained. At the stop, he used his smartphone with voice prompts and a transit app to find the bus to Fuding Railway Station. "Public transport is free for people with disabilities and seniors," he noted. En route, Sun called Ye Yaojun, a duty passenger service attendant at Fuding Railway Station, to let him know he would arrive in 10 minutes. Their connection began a decade ago. One winter day, amid pouring rain, Ye encountered Sun on a railway platform. "The rain drowned out his sense of direction. He looked lost," Ye recalled. Stepping forward to help, Ye made a promise: "Whenever you come, call me. I'll guide you." Ten years on, that promise still stands. "Wufei, over here!" As the bus pulled in, Sun heard Ye's voice. Resting a hand on Ye's shoulder, he followed him with practiced ease. When the train arrived, Ye handed Sun over to Ren Hualian, conductor of train D6329. She helped Sun board and settle into his seat, then sent Ye a message with a photo: "All set." The 55-minute journey passed quickly. At Ningde Railway Station, another attendant was already waiting. This seamless coordination is made possible by a volunteer service group initiated by Ye along the Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway. The group consists of over 20 station attendants along the route. Whenever a passenger with limited mobility needs assistance, details such as the train number, carriage, and specific needs are shared in a group chat, ensuring smooth handovers at every stop. So far, the network has assisted more than 30 visually impaired passengers. "They can book priority services through the official railway platform," Ye said. "If it's urgent, they can also contact us directly -- we'll make sure they're taken care of." Outside work, Sun loves traveling and exploring local cuisine. He once spent over 30 hours traveling to Lanzhou in northwest China's Gansu province for authentic beef noodles. For classic northeastern dishes, he transferred across multiple trains to reach Harbin in Heilongjiang province. In 2025, he attended a music festival in Taizhou, east China's Zhejiang province. "Tens of thousands of people jumping and dancing together -- it felt amazing," he said. Sun now takes more than 50 train trips a year, having traveled across 29 provincial-level regions. As China's high-speed rail network continues to expand, travel have become increasingly convenient. "More importantly, there's warmth everywhere I go," he said. "I've lost count of how many times train staff have offered help, or how often volunteers at scenic spots have stepped in as soon as they noticed me." "It's a world full of kindness," Sun told People's Daily. "I can set off whenever I want." Dans la meme rubrique : < > China makes steady progress in noise pollution control China maintains position as world's top apple producer and consumer Understanding China requires both historical and developmental perspectives Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News China, ROK should cherish positive momentum in development of bilateral relations Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 2 Mars 2026 The current positive momentum in China-ROK relations has not come easily and deserves to be significantly cherished by both sides. China stands ready to work with the ROK to steer the course of friendly cooperation, promote mutual benefit and win-win results, and bring the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership forward along the track of sound development, so as to deliver tangible benefits to both peoples and inject positive energy into peace and development of the region and the wider world. By He Yin, People's Daily On Jan. 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea (ROK), who was on a state visit to China. Within a little over two months, the two heads of state have met twice and exchanged visits, underscoring the importance both sides attach to China-ROK relations. International media have widely observed the positive momentum emerging in bilateral ties. Against a backdrop of profound and complex changes in the international and regional landscape, the constructive signals sent through this high-level diplomacy are yielding tangible benefits for peace and development in both countries and across the region.. China and the ROK are permanent neighbors and inseparable cooperation partners. More exchanges, frequent visits and sustained communication are conducive to the sound and steady development of bilateral relations. Just over two months ago, during Xi's state visit to the ROK, a four-point proposal were put forward to open up new prospects for China-ROK relations, guiding the reaffirmation of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. During their talks in Beijing, Xi emphasized that China has consistently placed relations with the ROK high on its regional diplomatic agenda and maintained continuity and stability in its policy toward the ROK. Lee's choice of China as his first overseas destination at the beginning of the new year fully demonstrates the ROK's commitment to advancing ties with China. Looking ahead, as long as both sides adhere to the principles of valuing peace above all else and advocating harmony without conformity, which have transcended differences in social systems and ideologies, they can achieve mutual success and common development. Accompanying Lee on his visit was a notable economic delegation of approximately 200 leading ROK business figures. This is widely interpreted by the international community as reflecting the enthusiasm and confidence of the ROK's business sector in pursuing opportunities in China. Economic ties between China and the ROK are close, with deeply integrated industrial and supply chains and mutually beneficial cooperation. While the substance of bilateral economic and trade relations has undergone new changes in recent years, the fundamental reality of the two sides' deeply intertwined interests has not changed, nor has the win-win nature of China-ROK economic and trade cooperation. China has always believed that neighborly success contributes to one's own prosperity, and remains committed to strengthening development strategy alignment and policy coordination with the ROK to expand our shared interests. The fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee deliberated on and adopted recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), laying out a blueprint for China's development in the coming five years while offering broad opportunities for countries around the world. As China advances high-quality development, the space for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the ROK will continue to expand, with promising prospects in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, green industries and the silver economy. During the visit, the two sides signed 15 cooperation documents in science and technology, ecological environment, transportation, economy and trade, among others. An ROK media outlet noted that the momentum toward the comprehensive resumption and development of bilateral relations is being translated into concrete mechanisms, particularly in economic and trade cooperation. Expanded exchanges in areas such as youth, media, sports, think tanks and sub-regional cooperation will help ensure that positive narratives become the mainstream of public opinion. As the world undergoes accelerated changes unseen in a century, the international landscape has become more turbulent and intertwined. China and the ROK shoulder important responsibilities in safeguarding regional peace and promoting global development, with broad overlapping interests. During their talks, both heads of state recalled that China and the ROK once fought side by side against Japanese militarist aggression. During his stay in China, Lee visited the historic site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai. An international media outlet interpreted this visit as a clear signal that historical issues have not been consigned to the past. As countries that both suffered tremendous national sacrifices during World War II, China and the ROK should work together to uphold the outcomes of the victory in the war and jointly safeguard peace and stability in Northeast Asia. This is essential for upholding historical justice and for building a peaceful future for the region. In the face of rising unilateralism and protectionism, closer cooperation between China and the ROK in advancing opening up and upholding multilateralism will not only benefit their respective development, but also help maintain the stability and smooth functioning of regional and global industrial and supply chains, contributing to the advancement of an equal, orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial, inclusive economic globalization. The current positive momentum in China-ROK relations has not come easily and deserves to be significantly cherished by both sides. China stands ready to work with the ROK to steer the course of friendly cooperation, promote mutual benefit and win-win results, and bring the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership forward along the track of sound development, so as to deliver tangible benefits to both peoples and inject positive energy into peace and development of the region and the wider world. 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Since the launch of the 14th Five-Year Plan in 2021, the volume of electricity traded in the market has more than doubled, rising from 10.7 trillion kWh during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) to 23.8 trillion kWh. By Ding Yiting, People's Daily China's total power use in 2025 reached 10.3682 trillion kWh, according to the latest data released by the National Energy Administration, The figure surpassed 10 trillion kWh for the first time, with China becoming the world's first country to reach that level. What does the figure of 10 trillion kWh mean? It is more than twice the annual electricity consumption of the United States and exceeds the combined total of the European Union, Russia, India and Japan. China's power use first surpassed 1 trillion kWh in 1996. It went on to become the world's largest electricity consumer in 2011 and achieved universal access to electricity in 2015. By 2025, the country's total power use had reached nearly twice the level of a decade earlier. Such growth ranks high compared with other major economies. Power use is widely regarded as a "barometer" and "weather vane" of economic and social activities. Yang Kun, executive vice chairman of the China Electricity Council, noted that surpassing the 10-trillion-kWh mark reflects China's fundamental role as a manufacturing powerhouse and demonstrates the comprehensive upgrading of the country's energy supply capacity. In 2025, power use by China's secondary industry reached nearly 6.4 trillion kWh, accounting for about 64 percent of total power consumption and remaining the mainstay of electricity demand. At Fubao Robot, an intelligent technology company based in east China's Zhejiang province, technicians were upgrading intelligent eldercare robots. "We focus on differentiated, customized research and development and have received orders from the United Kingdom, Germany, France and other countries," said Ye Ting, the company's vice president. The firm's electricity consumption has maintained rapid growth for 11 consecutive months, rising by more than 25 percent year on year in 2025. The fast-growing artificial intelligence industry requires massive computing power, driving a sharp increase in electricity demand. In Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, nearly 100 data centers are in operation, with electricity consumption rising 47.2 percent year on year in 2025. In 2025, progress toward high-end, intelligent and green industrial development remained steady, with continuous optimization and upgrading of the economic structure. High-end manufacturing has emerged as a new driver of electricity demand, with growth rates in new energy vehicle manufacturing and wind power equipment manufacturing exceeding 20 percent and 30 percent, respectively. "The leading role of 'new manufacturing' in industrial electricity consumption continues to strengthen, with incremental demand increasingly coming from high value-added, technology-intensive industries," Yang said. The upgrading service sector has also become an important engine driving electricity consumption. In 2025, power use by the tertiary industry approached 2 trillion kWh, up 8.2 percent year on year and accounting for about 19.2 percent of total electricity consumption. Nationwide, electricity consumption in EV charging and battery swapping services, as well as information transmission, software and IT services, grew by 48.8 percent and 17 percent, respectively, with new demand flowing more toward new scenarios and services. China is seeing a clear trend toward electrification in both energy production and consumption. With about 30 percent of its end-use energy now being electrica rate higher than that of most major developed economies -- electricity demand continues to rise. Citrus cultivation and processing is one of the pillar industries in Xinping Yi and Dai autonomous county in Yuxi, southwest China's Yunnan province. "Last year, we invested 20 million yuan ($2.87 million) in building an intelligent micro-sprinkler irrigation system, achieving fully automated watering across the orchards and boosting efficiency by about 65 percent compared with traditional methods," said Zhang Yueqiang, a staff member at the technology center of a local orchard management company. To meet the electricity needs of specialty agriculture, local power authorities built and upgraded nearly 82 kilometers of 10-kilovolt power lines and installed 69 distribution transformers, supporting electricity consumption growth of more than 15 percent in the county's citrus industry last year. Across China, electrification is advancing rapidly across multiple fronts: from electric irrigation and smart greenhouses in rural areas, to the adoption of high-temperature heat pumps and electric heating for industrial energy substitution, and the growing use of "photovoltaic generation plus power storage" energy supply systems in buildings. Even ships and aircraft are increasingly turning to shore power while at berth. This rapid, multi-faceted electrification of end-use energy is accelerating the shift toward greener production and lifestyles. Electricity demand keeps hitting record highs, and the scale is enormous -- what gives the system the confidence to keep supply secure? China's world-leading power supply system and clean energy network underpin its ability to secure a massive power supply and sustain record-breaking electricity consumption levels. China's installed power generation capacity accounts for 1/3 of the global total. For every three kWh of electricity consumed, more than one kWh comes from clean energy. In 2025, the combined installed capacity of wind and solar power surpassed that of thermal power for the first time in history. Installed capacity of new energy storage exceeded 100 million kilowatts, accounting for more than 40 percent of the global total. These giant "power banks" have made wind and solar power generation more stable. China boasts the world's largest and most complex transmission and distribution network, which strengthens the grid. Growth in power use relies on the grid's capacity for resource allocation and regulation. By 2025, the country had built 46 ultra-high-voltage transmission lines, enabling the rapid delivery of abundant clean energy from western and northern regions to major load centers in the central and eastern parts of the country. The networks for "west-to-east power transmission" and "north-to-south power supply" have been further consolidated. China is also home to the world's largest "electricity marketplace." The development of a unified national electricity market has accelerated, allowing electricity to serve as an effective resource allocator while enabling market-based pricing to guide energy distribution. Since the launch of the 14th Five-Year Plan in 2021, the volume of electricity traded in the market has more than doubled, rising from 10.7 trillion kWh during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) to 23.8 trillion kWh. The power use of 10 trillion kWh represents the continuous upgrading of China's power supply capacity, the shift of China's economy toward higher quality and innovation, and the steady improvement of people's lives. Dans la meme rubrique : < > China makes steady progress in noise pollution control China maintains position as world's top apple producer and consumer Understanding China requires both historical and developmental perspectives Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) In the United States and the civilizational West more broadly we are a society divided by slogans, propaganda, and social media memes. It is an unfortunate part of our present reality that we no longer engage in honest public debate. We havent done so for a very long time. Advertisement The Founding Fathers wrote essays and pamphlets and delivered hours-long speeches during which they articulated the reasons for their beliefs. We get pink-hatted people who may or may not identify as women shouting their abortions. We get automatons screaming, Black lives matter, Free Palestine, Trump is Hitler, Hands off Iran, and whatever other mindless chants billionaire-funded NGOs churn out. If you approach people yelling these things and ask them why they believe what they believe, they have no idea. They cant explain why all human lives, more generally, shouldnt matter just as much as those with dark skin. They dont know anything about Israels ancient history, the United Kingdom and Frances colonial carving of the Middle East, the Soviet Unions promotion of a Palestinian identity to cause the United States and its allies problems during the Cold War, any of the multitude of ways that the international community has broken its promises to the Israeli government for the last century, or how the United Nations has spent most of its existence targeting Israel for alleged human rights abuses while ignoring unspeakable evils committed by far too many regimes in power today. They cant explain why illegal aliens are breaking into America if Trump is Hitler or why the presidents determination to protect American citizens from foreign nationals by paying for those foreigners return to their own countries is somehow equivalent to Nazi atrocities that included the mass murder of six million Jews and millions of Soviets, Poles, Romani, disabled people, and other so-called undesirables. They dont have any idea why Irans theocratic tyrants and Islamic terrorists deserve to be protected when those tyrants and terrorists have killed, maimed, and kidnapped Americans, Europeans, and Jews around the world for nearly fifty years. Advertisement Our ancestors benefited from Thomas Paines polemical pamphlets in favor of American independence. They listened to Sam Adamss fiery arguments for revolution. They attended church services where they heard political exhortations from learned men delivering passionate sermons. They read newspaper editorials and political essays aloud while drinking ale in local taverns. Common people heard and debated uncommon ideas that birthed a new nation and altered the historic trajectory of the world. We, on the other hand, get hypocrites such as Senator Chuck Schumer, who was last year telling Americans that President Trump was chickening out on holding Irans Islamic regime accountable for nuclear saber-rattling before telling Americans this year that Trump has no business holding Irans Islamic regime accountable for its nuclear saber-rattling. We get Democrats calling federal law enforcement agents Trumps Gestapo because those agents put their lives on the line arresting criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, and other violent felons. We get apocalyptic doomsayers such as Al Gore and Barack Obama who have told us that the science of climate change is settled, even though nothing those frauds have predicted has ever come true. We get public school teachers indoctrinating students with ridiculously false ideas, such as (1) biological sex isnt real; (2) the January 6, 2021 protest for election integrity was worse than the 9/11 Islamic terror attacks, the Pearl Harbor attack, and the Civil War all wrapped up together; (3) Muslims built America; and (4) America has never been more racist, fascist, or authoritarian than it is today. We get a left-wing corporate news media establishment pushing the ludicrous argument that requiring voter identification (a basic electoral safeguard enforced around the world) is both racist and an impossible burden for legal voters to surmount (even though Americans must present valid ID to board planes, buy liquor, and enter government buildings). Advertisement Notice that these sources of misinformation never advance anything that remotely resembles a rational argument. Democrats dont explain why they used to consider Iran a major national security threat but no longer do. They dont explain why its perfectly reasonable to attack federal law enforcement officers arresting criminal illegal aliens, even though theyve spent five years calling the January 6 election protest an unacceptable attack on cops. Barack Obama and other wealthy global warming fanatics cant explain why they own expensive beachfront homes if those homes will soon be under water. Democrats cant explain why its too difficult for their voters to get photo IDs, or why boys should undress in girls locker rooms, or why white men are a viral disease, or why all of their political opponents are racist, fascist Nazis. All of these false statements are simply represented as undisputed facts that cannot be questioned. As a kind of political correctness tripwire meant to ensure that these false ideas are never questioned, Democrats further insist that anyone asking questions must be a racist, fascist Nazi, too. Rational argument no longer exists. In its place, Democrats give us name-calling, self-censorship, circular reasoning, and empty tautology. Advertisement America is very divided today. For most of its two-hundred-and-fifty-year history, though, America has been divided. It was birthed in revolution. It survived numerous attacks from foreign powers while still in its infancy. It grew up through radical social change, profound technological innovation, and endless waves of immigration. It has gone to war against itself, and it has gone to war against the world. It has endured hardships that have destroyed other nations. Nevertheless, its people have persevered, united, settled the wild frontier, built a continent, and prospered. We look over our shoulders and applaud American achievement without reflecting on our near escapes from American disaster. Division does not signal disaster. Division is also opportunity. When societies are forced to confront great change, some wilt, while others rise to the occasion. America has been blessed with rare resilience. Our nation is unique in human history because it is predicated on the still revolutionary principle that legitimate political power originates with the people. We do not look to kings to tell us what we may or may not do. As our rights come directly from God, aristocrats just get in the way. Our institutions matter not because they are invested with power over us, but rather because we have lent those institutions some of our inherent powers so that they can properly defend our inherent rights. Neither presidents nor congresses nor corporations can grant us what is already ours. Advertisement It is with this understanding of our natural rights in mind that I encourage everyone to protect those rights personally. Read, learn, debate, and most importantly dont give up just because giving up is in fashion these days. This country has been through far worse and survived. People who tell you that this is the end for America have a vested interest in seeing America end. Those stubborn enough to resist will ensure that our country lives. To be sure, we deserve more than slogans, propaganda, and memes. We deserve civic leaders who can speak in complete sentences. We deserve members of Congress who can introduce cogent arguments supported by salient facts and not calumnies, falsehoods, or red herrings. We deserve a new generation of leaders who remind us of Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Sam Adams, and George Washington. Perhaps they already move among us. Advertisement Do not mistake division for disease. Division is the engine that often spawns greatness. What we require is discernment. We require wisdom. We require courage. We require leadership. We require renewed faith in Gods grace. These are not always in abundant supply. But they are very American things. Image: Pashi via Pixabay, Pixabay License. By patiently and methodically setting the stage, President Trump has realigned the Middle East, formed a strong new alliance against communism and narcoterrorism in this hemisphere, and is forcing power-grabbing federal judges to stay within their constitutional lane. Advertisement The Middle East There are ridiculous claims about the targeting of the Mullahocracy. The truth is clearer: Iran posed an obvious threat to almost every country. In negotiations with Iran to avoid warfare, Steve Witkoff was informed by Irans negotiators that it was proud it had evaded all previous oversight protocols. They bragged that they controlled 360 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium from which they could make 11 nuclear bombs. Advertisement Not only did they have the capacity to produce these bombs, but their attack potential at the start of the war was considerable. Europes hesitance to act, in part, must reflect its incapacity for defense against this arsenal. Roughly 500 missiles and 2,000 drones were fired off by the Islamic Republic in OEF to date. That number would have been much higher without heavy US/Israeli launcher destruction. Of the missiles ~71% targeted the Gulf region vs. ~29% toward Israel. Missiles are reckoned to be harder to stop and hence devoted to the hard target. Of drones ~95% were aimed at the Gulf region vs. ~5% to Israel. The UAE reports intercepting 165 ballistic missiles, 2 cruise missiles, and 541 drones (only ~35 drones penetrated). Kuwait intercepted 97 ballistic missiles and 283 drones. Bahrain downed 45 missiles and 9 drones (minor penetration at a U.S. naval headquarters). Qatar took out ~18 ballistic/cruise missiles and drones combined. Saudi published no numbers but their effectiveness is probably comparable. Although airports were closed there were no mass casualties. Gulf defenses, while not perfect, were good. Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain) currently have more robust, layered, and combat-proven air and missile defenses against drones and missiles than most European cities or NATO European countries. This stems from decades of investment driven by direct threats (e.g., Houthi and now Iranian attacks), heavy reliance on top-tier U.S. systems, and real-world testing in high-volume salvos. European defenses, while improving via NATO initiatives, suffer from capacity shortages, gaps (especially against low-cost drone swarms), and limited operational experience at scale. The huge Islamic Republic attack capacity, had it been directed against less defended targets, had the potential to be far more effective. The sole defense of swathes of Europe lay in not provoking Iran for as the numbers suggest they were ill prepared to withstand the hail it unleashed. Advertisement The groundwork for the assault was well-planned and carried out. In hindsight, Trump is, in fact, playing 4-D chess. Astonishingly, the United States faces zero organized resistance to the Iran operation. No countries are demanding UN Security Council votes. The General Assembly isnt passing resolutions condemning American aggression in Tehran. Iran has no allies providing it with any material support. Its most important ally Russia -- evacuated its teams just before the strikes began. Irans Muslim neighbors are helping with the operation. Advertisement Even the Europeans are staying out of the way, and some EU countries are helping. (The UK is fixing its boat as fast as it can. Baby steps.) Nothing like that kind of universal support/non-opposition has ever happened before. How did Trump do it? By demolishing USAID, draining the Swamp, and spending a year building a tariff dashboard, he surgically transformed global anti-Americanism into something that looks more like sullen cooperation, if not outright pro-Americanism. Advertisement He did it in one year. And only then -- after creating a favorable global economic environment -- did President Trump begin the kinetic phase, a whirlwind of military activity and consolidation. Domestic criticism against this necessary war reflects its alarm that the NGO-Administrative Complex [snip] that has increasingly controlled American domestic life on immigration policy, energy regulation, education standards, election infrastructure, and more was being gelded. The regime change is theirs. Advertisement Every act that reasserts American sovereignty -- on Iran, on trade, on immigration, on energy -- is an act of regime change against the supranational order that has governed American life, foreign and domestic, for at least 70 years. The strikes on Khameneis compound are a demonstration that a sovereign nation, acting in its own interest, does not need institutional permission. The Trump Administration just showed that the veto that the multilateral order spent decades embedding into American foreign policy -- through think tanks, through NGOs, through carefully managed BRICS adversaries -- can simply be ignored. This is how the NGO-Administrative Complex dies. One sovereign act at a time. Russia skedaddled early from its ally, Iran. China made a big losing investment there, and with Iran threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, Chinas second source of oil (after Venezuela which it already just lost) it must acknowledge its impotence to do anything to keep the strait open. (Trump can and is doing that, and will certainly control Iranian oil exports when it does.) China is pressuring Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. There is one problem. Iran did not close it. Seven insurance companies in London did. China buys 80% of Irans shipped oil. Beijing has a $400 billion, 25-year cooperation agreement with Tehran. China is Irans economic lifeline. If any country on earth has leverage over Iran, it is China. And China is now using that leverage to demand the Strait reopens. But the Strait was not closed by a sovereign decision. It was closed by the withdrawal of reinsurance capacity from five to ten firms, mostly in London, backstopping twelve P&I clubs that cover 90% of global tonnage. Iran did not order those firms to withdraw. Iran cannot order them to reinstate. Neither can China. Even if Tehran capitulates entirely tonight and the IRGC stands down, not a single reinsurer reinstates Gulf war risk coverage on a phone call from Beijing. Reinstatement requires rebuilt risk models, voyage-by-voyage re-underwriting, repriced treaty capacity, and a threat environment that actuaries can quantify. None of that exists while 440.9 kilograms of weapons-grade uranium remains unaccounted for and the IRGC is still launching drones at Oman. China has leverage over Iran. China has zero leverage over Lloyds of London. This is the part nobody is modelling. The country with the most to lose and the most leverage over the belligerent cannot fix the mechanism that actually closed the Strait. Because the mechanism is not geopolitical. It is actuarial. And actuaries do not take calls from the Politburo. If Iran thought its proxies and the countries they control would come to its aid, it planned poorly. Even a weak Lebanon declared Hezballah illegal and is both unable and unwilling to halt Israel attacks on this proxy on Lebanese territory. Lebanese media footage shows an Israeli strike leveling a multi-story building in Beiruts southern suburbs tonight. The IDF says that since Monday it has hit more than 500 targets across Lebanon, including 170 rocket launchers, with over 100 strikes carried out today alone, many in Hezbollahs stronghold in southern Beirut. The Western Hemisphere Muscles Up Closer to home, Trump is taking on the cartels: Trump is going to purge the cartels from Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. He's working top-down. Maduro and Venezuela were the big piece. Leo Silva, a former DEA special agent and group supervisory agent in Mexico, told me in conversation on the Brave New Normal podcast that Maduro has long been known as a top of the mountain figure in transnational narcotics, and has actively been working on behalf of cartels since he replaced Chavez (episode premieres March 18th). The US took out Maduro first because Venezuela is a major transport point for cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine moving north through the southern hemisphere. Taking out Maduro left a huge gap in that transportation route. El Mencho was next because of his influence in Mexico and power over Mexican government and authorities. Now the US is bringing down the hammer to secure the American continent. This is what Trump meant by America First -- it's not just a mission to secure the United States of America, it's a mission to secure THE AMERICAS, which means north, south and the Caribbean. Trump and his administration know that the cartels own this part of the world, and that the cartels are working hand in hand with China. The Cuba purge will be an overnight operation. The Latin America purge will be a much longer battle but no match for US, Mexican and Salvadoran special forces. If the US can break up the cartels and shut down the transportation routes then they will starve out whatever remains. This is America First in action. It's not about empire building, it's about securing the empire that already exists. This week, hemispheric leaders are joining in solidarity in Florida. Ecuador, with the aid of U.S. troops on the ground, is cleaning out its narco cartels and Paraguay has invited us in to do the same. Its amazing to watch the rapid cleaning up around the world. That this hurts our major opponent, China, and Islamist thugs is a delightful bonus. In a week or two, Cuba will be free of its decades-long Communist imprisonment and destruction. 90% of the country is in an energy-short blackout, food and medicine are scarcer than ever. The remarkably talented Secretary of State Marco Rubio will oversee the transition. U.S. District Court Judges Being Forced Back in Their Own Lane Two major cases this week continue to prevent District Court judges from exerting extra-constitutional authority. Both the Seventh and Ninth Circuits whacked District Court judges who had decided they had more than the right to interpret laws -- that they were entitled to exercise what is rightfully the power of the executive branch. In the first instance, the Seventh Circuit vacated an injunction restricting use of force by ICE in Chicago. In the second case, the Ninth Circuit ruled that Trumps executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program was lawful, vacating most of the preliminary injunction against carrying out that order. Jeff Childers offers a clear explanation of these cases and their impact. Judge Kenneth Lee thought the rebuke of the district judge by the Ninth Circuit majority was insufficient. In a partial dissent, he said something which ought to be engraved on all federal courthouses: Our constitutional structure will topple if a single district court sits atop the President, Congress, the Supreme Court, and the federal appellate court. For those of us watching these judicial tyrants in anger for some time, this has also been a great week for liberty and law. The article below encourages homeschooling and private academies, urges parents to keep an eye on the classroom if their children are in public school, and criticizes state educational developments under a new governor and legislature in Virginia. Advertisement Good News and a Red Flag for American Education. In less than two months since taking office, Governor Abigail Spanberger and a solid Democrat Legislature have pulled out all the stops to make Virginia as blue a state as a June sky. Advertisement This swift and radical shift in direction includes House Bill 614, titled History and social science standards and instruction; historically marginalized communities. The bill aims to mandate the return of DIE policies to public school education, requiring teachers of history and all schools to include the contributions, perspectives, and experiences of historically marginalized communities, including racial and ethnic minorities; immigrants and refugees; women; individuals with disabilities; individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+); individuals from various socioeconomic statuses, etc., etc., etc. Wise parents who are fed up with all this mess from an increasingly mediocre government-operated school system will want to abandon ship. To them and to all other parents across the country looking to abandon the sinking ship of public education, I have only one thing to say: Come on in the waters fine! Advertisement In 1986, my wife and I first ventured into homeschooling with our oldest child, age 4. Since then, vast changes have taken place in home education. Any number of curriculum providers now offer material and teaching helps to parents who decide on this option. Computers and the internet have further revolutionized home education. Home school options also include such excellent choices as hybrid schools, where students go part-time to classes and spend the rest of the week completing assignments at home; pod schools, where families join together and either share the responsibilities of instruction or hire a teacher; or single-subject classes, such as the ones I used to offer to homeschoolers. Moreover, private schools are thriving and remain a viable option. In Front Royal, Virginia, for example, approximately eight such schools are in operation, most of them with religious affiliations. Advertisement And heres more good news. The culture seeded by home schools and private academies over the past few decades is fueling this breakaway from state schools. More than 300 colleges, for instance, now accept the Classical Learning Test for admission in lieu of the SAT or ACT, both of which reflect public school standards. Students taking the CLT have prepared by studying sound history and the classics of literature without the useless accoutrements of DIE or progressive reading lists. In his article AP Teacher: I Cant Wait to Teach This Pro-America Alternative to Woke AP Courses, Auguste Meyrat celebrates the expansion of the CLT philosophy and tests into high school courses taken for college credit. Another underreported positive shift in academics is occurring in some of our public universities. Mark Bauerleins A Very Good Thing in Academe reports on centers opening within these universities that promote and teach balanced accounts of history, the study of civics, and the foundations of the American republic. These centers are conservative only in their return to more traditional academic approaches to their subjects. At Arizona States Tempe campus, for instance, the School of Economic and Civic Thought offers the course Debating Capitalism which has students read Aristotle, the Apostles, Thomas Aquinas, Adam Smith, and Karl Marx. Advertisement Yet there are sharks as well in this sea change in education. Here in Virginia, we can rest assured that the Spanberger administration and Democrat Legislature will look for ways to regulate and undermine homeschooling and private schools, to bring these students and families under the control and supervision of the state and its requirements. In this case, and all around the nation, those who voted with their feet by leaving public schools must be sure to vote in elections. They must also raise their voices in protest when the state proposes harsh regulations and, whenever possible, ignore these dictates when and if they are enacted. In the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race, Glenn Youngkin defeated Terry McAuliffe. A major reason for that victory came during a debate, when McAuliffe declared, I dont think parents should be telling schools what they should teach. Advertisement McAuliffe did everyone a favor by inadvertently ripping off the mask concealing the radical agenda behind so many of our public schools. Wherever we live, parents and grandparents need to be acutely aware of what is being taught in schools and what is going on in the classroom and, if necessary, protest and bring it to the attention of the public. Thats not just the right thing to do. Its the American thing to do. Your children dont belong to the state. In some ways, your children dont belong to you. As some people like to say, theyre on loan from God. But heres one true thing: You and your children belong to each other. Jeff Minick is a former entrepreneur and teacher who now writes for Intellectual Takeout, the Epoch Times, and other publications. He lives in Front Royal, Virginia. Image: jarmoluk via Pixabay, Pixabay License. I was finishing a workout at the gym in South Orange County the morning I heard about the Austin bar shooting earbuds in, last set done, the usual Saturday ritual of burning off the week before the rest of the world wakes up. The countrys at war with Iran. A naturalized citizen from Senegal just murdered two Americans wearing an Iranian flag on his chest. And within the same news cycle, the political left pivoted to gun control. Advertisement That is the single stupidest, most intellectually dishonest, most politically cowardly response possible to a wartime domestic terrorist attack. Let me tell you why, starting with three numbers the political class is hoping you never put together. Politicians demanding assault weapons bans in the wake of every high-profile shooting are either innumerate or dishonest, or maybe both. The FBIs own Uniform Crime Reporting data tell the story they wont. In 2023, handguns were used in approximately 7,159 homicides by far the dominant murder weapon in America. Rifles of all types, including so-called assault weapons, were used in roughly 323 homicides. That is fewer than 3 percent of gun murders. Knives and cutting instruments killed more people than rifles. Hands, fists, and feet killed more people than rifles. Advertisement An NIH study found that assault-type rifles account for between 2 and 12 percent of guns used in crime generally, with most estimates under 7 percent. The Crime Prevention Research Centers analysis of FBI data found that rifles share of firearm murders was 4.8 percent before the 1994 assault weapons ban, 4.9 percent during it, and 3.6 percent after it expired. The ban made no measurable difference, which is what youd expect when youre legislating against a fraction of a fraction. Meanwhile, a 2016 DOJ Bureau of Justice Statistics survey of prison inmates found that fewer than 2 percent of criminals who used a gun had obtained it from a retail source. Seventy-nine percent of crime firearms were obtained illegally. Every background check bill, every assault weapons definition debate, every magazine capacity argument is aimed at the 2 percent, while the 79 percent watches from the corner. Advertisement Fifty-eight mass shootings in 63 days sounds like a national emergency. It is, in fact, a definitional shell game. The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as any incident where four or more people are shot, regardless of circumstance. A gang turf war at a Chicago liquor store at 2 A.M. counts identically to a jihadist terrorist opening fire on civilians in a bar. The GVAs own methodology page states explicitly that it includes drive-bys, gang incidents, and narcotics-related violence by design. Under an honest definition the Violence Prevention Projects standard of four or more killed, in a public location, with no gang or criminal nexus the U.S. recorded approximately 17 mass killings in all of 2025. The AP/USA Today/Northeastern database confirmed that as the lowest count since 2006. Mass shooting deaths accounted for just 2.8 percent of all shooting deaths tracked by the GVA through Q3 2025. Seventeen versus fifty-eight. One of those numbers is a policy argument. The other is a count of gang violence dressed up in activist statistics. Advertisement Here is what the gun control press conference doesnt mention: According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2025 marks the first time in more than 30 years that left-wing terrorist attacks and plots outnumber those from the violent far right. Left-wing incidents averaged 0.6 per year from 1994 to 2000. From 2016 to 2024, that figure rose to an average of 4.0 per year a near-sevenfold increase. Through mid-2025, they were on pace to set a 30-year record. The evidence is not abstract. The killer of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, shot in midtown Manhattan in December 2024, was celebrated as a folk hero on the left. Minnesota House speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in their home in June 2025. Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University in September 2025 by a man whose texts showed a premeditated political grievance. An armed group in tactical gear assaulted a federal ICE detention facility in Texas on July 4, 2025, firing on law enforcement officers. Arson at the Pennsylvania governors residence. Molotov cocktails and a knife found on a woman arrested near senior officials in Washington in January 2025, her stated targets described as Nazis. Advertisement The Austin attack was not left-wing political violence. It was wartime jihadist terrorism, which is a separate and more urgent category. But the cynical pivot to assault weapons restrictions in the aftermath of a terrorism event, while simultaneously refusing to name the escalating threat of ideologically motivated left-wing violence, is a protection racket. I have spent 35 years doing financial risk management for some of the wealthiest families in America. Risk management requires being analytically honest about where the actual danger is. Here is the honest risk management response to what the data shows. Advertisement One: Post-naturalization radicalization monitoring, under FISA oversight, with civil liberties guardrails. The tools exist. The political will does not. Two: Stop lying about the statistics. Mandate that government- and media-cited mass shooting figures distinguish gang and narco-violence from public-indiscriminate attacks. Stop letting the GVAs intentionally inflated count drive legislation aimed at the wrong population. Three: Confront left-wing political violence with the same institutional seriousness applied to right-wing extremism. CSIS data are not Republican talking points. This is a nonpartisan dataset showing a 30-year high in left-wing incident trajectory. Treat it accordingly. Four: Pass H.R. 38 and S. 65, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. A trained, licensed, law-abiding citizen with a firearm is statistically the fastest resolution to an active shooter event. Austin proved it with a badge. The next situation may require a civilian. Your concealed carry permit should be honored in all 50 states, the same way your drivers license is. The good guy with a gun trained, permitted, present is the solution. Five: Leave the Second Amendment alone. The data do not support the proposition that restricting legal gun ownership by the most law-abiding demographic in the country reduces terrorism, gang violence, or targeted political assassination. Rifles are used in under 3 percent of gun homicides. Criminals obtain their weapons illegally 79 percent of the time. A terrorist does not read the sign on the door and turn around. My oldest is at a duty station I cant disclose, carrying weapons issued by the United States government to defend a country whose government cant decide whether its own citizens are allowed to defend themselves. The Austin police officers who ran toward Ndiaga Diagne met the standard. They were armed. They ended it. Know the differences distinguishing a terrorism problem, a gang violence problem, a political violence problem, and a gun problem. They are not the same diagnosis. They do not take the same medicine. And the 100 million Americans who own firearms legally and have done nothing wrong deserve a government and a media establishment finally honest enough to know the difference. Forged, not fragile. Thats the standard. Act accordingly. Jay Rogers is a financial professional with more than 30 years of experience in private equity, private credit, hedge funds, and investment banking, with a background in constitutional law, national security, and public policy. He holds a degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University and is an NRA Life Member. Image via Pexels. The U.S. and Israel joint strikes on Iran have been even more effective than expected. Irans supreme leader, his successor, and top military leaders were killed in the opening days. Yet, many in the West, including American commentators and Spains Prime Minister, oppose the strikes as unprovoked attacks that could embroil the U.S. in another protracted Middle Eastern conflict. Intentional or not, the very day of Operation Epic Furys debut offers a response to that criticism. Advertisement The operations timing carries deep symbolism. The strikes began on Shabbat, reminding us of how Jews came to see preemptive self-defense as a sacred duty. They occurred specifically on Shabbat Zachor, the first Friday before the Hebrew holiday of Purim, which commemorates Gods enaction of miracles through people. Shabbat Zachor is itself dedicated to the remembrance of the particular evil of victimizing the weak. Shabbats obligation to rest can conflict with other duties like protecting life -- pikuach nefesh. Such competing responsibilities were especially relevant in biblical stories wherein particularly pious Jews refused to fight in self-defense when they were ambushed on Shabbat. The book of the Maccabees, which chronicles the Greek occupation of Israel, tells of a Greek attack against a group of cave-dwelling Jews on Shabbat. All 1,000 Jews were killed because they would not fight in self-defense. This massacre inspired a change to Shabbat practices; "Let us fight against anyone who comes to attack us on the sabbath day; let us not all die as our kindred died in their hiding-places" (1 Maccabees 2:41). Advertisement With that, the ancient Jews could respond to a direct attack on Shabbat. They still could not preemptively respond to developing threats on the holy day, a vulnerability that enemies readily exploited. As the Romans laid siege to Jerusalem in the first century, they built siege ramps and battering rams. Construction is not a direct attack, though, so the Jews could not intervene on Shabbat; the weekly sabbatical break gave the Romans a full day to make war preparations which eventually allowed them to take the city. Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian, wrote, And had it not been our practice, from the days of our forefathers, to rest on the seventh day, this [ramp] could never have been perfected (Antiquities 14 4:2). An adjustment to the law followed: taking action to prevent existential threats supersedes usual Shabbat duties. In fact, these actions themselves could be considered a religious requirement, necessary for the long-term survival of the Jewish people. This idea was codified in Talmudic discussions of pikuach nefesh, desecrate one Shabbat on his behalf so that he may observe many Shabbatot (Yoma 85b). When another nation is preparing to attack, one is called to prevent that attack. This perspective offers direct support for the preemptive nature of Epic Fury. Advertisement In observing Shabbat, Jews read a weekly portion, or parsha, of biblical text. The Shabbat before the Hebrew holiday Purim is special. Called Shabbat Zachor, it is literally a day to remember the significance of Queen Esthers story, read on Purim. As such, a short, additional reading from Deuteronomy is prescribed: 17 Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. 19 When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget! Advertisement Many Jews see this call to remember as a command directly from God, fulfilled through Shabbat Zachors reading. Doubtless, though, the spirit of the text is to carry the memory of brutal persecution with oneself throughout the year. Evil, personified in Amalek, slays those who are weak and defenseless, though the Israelites eventually prevailed thanks to divine intervention (and a heroic effort to keep Moses staff raised to facilitate Gods support for the duration of the battle). One salient moral to this story is the divine importance of protecting the helpless from the ruthless. Ayatollah Khameneis abuses against his own citizens, frequent missile launches against Israel, prolific sponsorship of terror, and threats of death to America present a potent present-day embodiment of Amalek. This Shabbat Zachor, the weary were freed from this memory of Amalek. In remembrance of the cruelty that Amalek enacted against the ancient Israelites, Operation Epic Fury did for Iranians what God did for the ancient Israelites. Advertisement Some may find the last few words sacrilegious, but they are in line with Queen Esthers story, read each Purim. The holiday itself involves lighthearted drinking and Halloweenesque costumes after listening to the Megillah, or Book of Esther. According to the text, Esther was taken as a wife for King Ahasuerus of the Persian Empire, which occupied Israel at the time. Unbeknownst to the king, Esther was Jewish. In fact, Esthers cousin, Mordechai, was the leader of the Jews. The kings prime minister, Haman, however, was a descendant of Amalek; when Mordechai offended him, Haman planned to kill every last Jew. But when Esther revealed to her husband that she was a Jew, the king saved the Jews, hanged Haman, and made Mordechai his new prime minister. Purim celebrates Gods saving His chosen people from destruction yet again. Advertisement Far from a mere mechanism for merriment, Purim costumes signify how God disguised his miracles by working through people. Different from other miraculous interventions, like splitting the Red Sea, Esthers story features more subtle work through people. As Mordechai said, who knows whether you have come to royalty for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14). Sometimes, people (and nations) are put in positions to act for good. Nevertheless, it is up to those people to choose the path that serves God, sometimes requiring great courage or sacrifice. When Irans military mowed down protesters, the world watched as if expecting the earth to open and swallow up the troops. But God had already positioned America and Israel to liberate Irans people -- it was just a matter of deciding to act. Still, the Book of Esther would posit that whether the strikes served Gods will can only be known in hindsight. In many western nations, armed conflict is barely a distant memory, fading as those who have personally known war dwindle in numbers. Unlike Israel, most western nations lack clear narratives by which to understand the need for preemptive self-defense. Without a regular practice of remembrance like Shabbat Zachor, first strikes become increasingly aversive. Our enemies know this and seize the opportunity to prepare their machines of war. Halting those preparations and securing the Wests long-term survival is, as President Trump said, the duty and the burden of a free people. In evaluating Operation Epic Fury, remember what Revolutionary Iran did to you. Remember their terrorism and tyranny: they funded the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, who undertook the 9/11 attacks; they bombed U.S. embassies and naval vessels; they plotted to kidnap U.S.-based journalists and assassinate President Trump. Remember, and never let it happen again. Image: Public Domain Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently apologized to neighboring nations and said Iran would stop attacking them unless it was hit first, which is an impossibility since Iran, unprovoked, already struck all these nations first. Advertisement Essentially, the current if nominal Iranian leader told the neighboring Arab nations his country had been assaulting. So did he say something like: Advertisement I should like to personally apologize to the dozen or so countries surrounding us that we have been furiously -- and inexplicably -- bombing and attacking for the last week or so. I promise that we will stop bombing and attacking you all very soon, especially as our munitions are running low and we need the rest of them to keep fighting the Great Satan and its Zionist partner, Little Satan. Sincerely, and very truly yours in Allah, President Masoud Pezeshkian. No one simply apologizes for indiscriminately bombing many of its neighbor nations for days on end, because it is a sentiment that does not nearly meet the gravity of the moment or the seriousness of the matter. Advertisement Sorry for bombing you the last few days, but no hard feelings? That just doesnt cut it. How are the aggrieved nations supposed to reply? No worries, it could happen to anybody! No. We forgive you for lashing out. We know you were having a difficult week. Would you like to talk about it? Probably not. Advertisement What if Hitler had told the (remaining) Jews in early 1945: Sorry for the Holocaust. Really. My bad. Please forgive me. In retrospect I can see it was an error in judgment. Advertisement The truth is Iran has been the worlds leader in state-sponsored terrorism -- and has been at war with the United States for the past half century. No apology from it to anyone else will ever suffice. And, when it is finally defeated by the U.S. and Israel, no apology from those nations will be necessary. In fact, they will be deserving of a hearty and heartfelt thank you from countries across the globe, Russia and China perhaps excepted. Image: Screenshot from X video What kind of a person turns another person's funeral -- even after being explicitly asked to refrain from making it into a political rally -- into a political rally? Advertisement Only someone who really didn't care about the person. That was obvious enough at the Rev. Jesse Jackson's funeral in Chicago a couple days ago, and Jackson's son was so disgusted at what happened -- it was, after all, his father's own wish that his funeral not be politicized -- he ripped the Democrats who did it. I listened for several hours to three United States presidents who do not know Jesse Jackson, he said, which is about as damning a statement as any I've ever heard, given Joe Biden's, Bill Clinton's, and Barack Obama's oily insinuations that they were all best buds with the deceased and his civil rights movement. Advertisement "Do not know" is about the most damning thing to be said about these Democrats who tried to make political hay of what should have been a sacred event honoring the deceased. They should have been focusing on Jackson and his life, finding good things to say, as President Trump graciously did when the news was announced of his passing. Trump, who was not at the funeral, said he really was a friend of Jackson's, and thus, did not say anything political, and did not need to be prompted. It's just being decent. But these characters being blasted by Jackson's son from the actual funeral made it all about themselves. Check out Kamala Harris's 'eulogy' in particular. Talk about me-first. Advertisement Jesse Jacksons son specifically asked people to keep politics out of the funeral. Democrat leaders couldnt do it. They still used the moment to attack Trump and the right. When a family asks for something that simple and it still gets ignored, that can tell you a lot about pic.twitter.com/XLuIWSUaHb Jeffery Mead (@the_jefferymead) March 7, 2026 Jesse Jacksons OWN SON just EXPOSED the disrespect at his fathers memorial. After sitting through hours of speeches from Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden, Jesse Jackson Jr. didn't hold back: I listened for several hours to three United States presidents who do pic.twitter.com/PCKG7O7p3q Reverend Jordan Wells (@WellsJorda89710) March 8, 2026 Kamala Harris repeats her infamous phrase at Jesse Jacksons funeral. When we see what is possible and what can be unburdened by what has been. pic.twitter.com/jNk5nWUzlG Oli London (@OliLondonTV) March 7, 2026 Obama was pretty bad, too: Black liberal voters say they are disappointed with the anger Barack Obama directed at Donald Trump during Jesse Jacksons funeral pic.twitter.com/rQ8alSfvWU Advertisement March 7, 2026 The bottom line here is that there were people who knew and loved Jackson, and to have his funeral turned into a Wellstone-style pep rally suggests they were just using his death as a vehicle to advance their own prospects. Like or dislike Jackson, he deserved better than that. Advertisement It was a good thing his son spoke out at this shameless, selfish bunch, exposing them for who they are. Maybe the next big funeral won't be so disgusting for the family because someone will remember that they may be called out. On the other hand, these Democrats didn't even heed a warning not to make it political, so maybe the best thing is to not invite them. Image: X screenshot I had my first airplane ride in 1970, when I was nine years old. Back then, friends and family walked travelers to the gate, kissed them goodbye as they boarded the plane, and greeted them upon their return. It was lovely. Advertisement In the intervening decades, Ive taken dozens, maybe hundreds, of plane rides since then, traveling over large parts of the globe. Year after year, the quality of travel has degraded. What was once an exciting and glamorous experience (think Frank Sinatras glorious 1958 paean to air travel, Come Fly With Me) has become a nightmare. Part of the nightmarish quality, of course, is that more people are traveling than anyone could have imagined back in the 50s or 60s. Airports are travel hubs every bit as busy as a New York subway station, only with infinitely more moving parts and higher risks. After all, theres no likelihood that engine trouble will cause a subway to go into a 30,000 vertical descent crash. Advertisement Air travel is also less pleasant because it used to be a refined experience. Now, though, airport brawling and crazy people on planes have become something of a national pastime, and a very unpleasant one at that. Nor is this phenomenon confined to America. Its a global problem. Western norms of police behavior are broken: Airlines are also making the whole thing less pleasant by packing more people than ever into planes. Advertisement Its logical for the airlines to do this to cut costs and keep flights affordable, but when air travel becomes claustrophobically uncomfortable, that will trigger mentally unstable and angry people...and even ordinary people can reach a breaking point. Advertisement But of course, as the last video in the series above shows, the single most significant factor in the decline of air travel is terrorism, first from the communists, then from an alliance of communists and Muslims, and then just from the Muslims. The first American hijacking was in 1961, when Antulio Ramirez Ortiz hijacked a plane, forcing the crew to fly him to communist Cuba. That sparked a frenzy of communist hijacking. According to ChatGPT, from 1968 to 1972, global hijackings averaged one per week! From 1961 to 1969, communist Cuban revolutionaries led the hijacking list. Advertisement However, in 1969, when the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), an Islamo-communist group, attempted to bomb and hijack a TWA plane, the Muslims got involved, and things escalated rapidly, with Muslims occasionally joined by communists, moving front and center to make air travel unpleasant. ChatGPT assembled a list of the most infamous hijackings over the years: 1970: The PFLP engaged in one of the largest coordinated hijackings ever, blowing up multiple planes (after first releasing the hostages). 1970: Japanese communists diverted a JAL flight to North Korea. 1972: The PFLP hijacked a Lufthansa plane. 1972: Communists hijacked a Southern Airways Flight. 1972: Black September, another Islamic group, hijacked an Israeli plane. 1976: The Air France/Entebbe hijacking, a joint PFLP and German communist effort. 1977: The PFLP, joined by the Red Army faction, hijacked a Lufthansa flight. 1976: Pro-Palestine militants attempted to hijack Turkish Airlines, causing it to crash. 1981: Muslim militants hijacked a Pakistan International Airlines flight. 1981: Islamist militants hijacked a Garuda Indonesia flight. I stopped ChatGPT there. The list was just too long. And then, of course, there was September 11, 2001, the mother of all hijackings, when radical Islamists not only hijacked the planes, but turned them into giant missiles, bringing down the Twin Towers, hitting the Pentagon, and aiming for Congress and/or the White House before brave civilians saved American by forcing a plane crash in a Pennsylvania field. From that point forward, airports, which can be the longest part of the trip on short-haul flights, became a nightmare. Thanks to post-9/11security, when I still lived in California, it took 3 hours to make the 1-hour trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The extra two hours were built in security time. Wheres all this leading? To a video of footage taken on a Southwest flight yesterday that was diverted to Atlanta because of a bomb threat on a domestic flight: 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 I appreciate the heightened vigilance during the ongoing Iran war, but dont you, like me, long for a day before the communists and, even worse, the Muslims discovered our airplanes? Public domain. Just how antisemitic is New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's wife? Advertisement It's just come to light that on Oct. 7, 2023, she was hitting 'like' on pro-Hamas social media sites, celebrating their atrocities against Jews. According to Fox News: Advertisement New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, allegedly liked several posts on social media "cheering on" Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 massacre of Israelis shortly after the attack took place, according to a new report. "New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spent the mayoral campaign distancing himself from the most radical anti-Israel elements of his leftist movement, but an examination of his wifes social media activity reveals she liked multiple Instagram posts cheering on Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, assault," Jewish Insider reported. All this, as Mamdani sought to portray himself as a moderate, reasonable Muslim during his election campaign, while his wife, characterized as a camera-shy 'artist' was portrayed as a fashion icon, particularly by the New York Times. Oh, how they gushed. Turns out she's nothing but a two-bit Jew-hater, of the kind we know from the backward countries of the Middle East. Advertisement Much of the mainstream press tried to cover for her, even after the revelation -- the New York Times in particular tried to euphemize her support for terrorists as support for 'the Palestinian cause': I did not expect to see the New York Times refer to the October 7 Massacre as an expression of the Palestinian Cause but here we are. https://t.co/IhU6ZVTtzV Advertisement March 7, 2026 It makes one wonder what else there is to know about her. Who is she, really? How did she get admitted to the U.S.? Who radicalized her? We already know she isn't like us, but she'd fit right in with the manic goobers of the Middle East who hate Jews; they come a dime a dozen. Those are her coevals and they share the same values even as the Times tries to tell us she's so, so, sophisticated. No wonder they didn't spot these problematic posts on her social media during the campaign -- they were so, so, into her 'multiculturalism,' as part of a dawning new age. Actually, she's the same old raving antisemite of years past. Advertisement Naomi Wolf thinks there's likely to be more to learn about her. Rama Duwaji, New Yorks October 7 cheerleader, mass rape apologist and First Lady, appears out of nowhere. If you search her online the results scarcely go back to before her theatrical wedding to Zohran Mandani. A few posts about a weirdly successful career as an ok artist. She Advertisement March 8, 2026 It's hard to think there won't be more like this from Rama Duwaji. How deep does her support for terrorism go. and is she actually part of the terrorism? One can only hope that this authentic national security issue eventually becomes known. Image: Screenshot from X. The media delights in attacking President Trump. Their terminal cases of Trump Derangement SyndromeTDShave led them to actively lie about Trumps words and actions. ABCs George Stephanopoulos is one such, and it cost ABC $16 million. Trump also sued CBS over a 60 Minutes editing deception and won $16 million, though more may be in the offing. Advertisement However, TDS is not limited to American media. The BBC maliciously edited video of Trumps January 6, 2021 speech to make it seem he was urging his followers to attack the Capitol. They spliced together widely separated comments and removed others, such as his exhortation that they peacefully and patriotically make your [their] voices heard. The BBC aired that false edit a week before the 2024 election in an obvious attempt to help Kamala Harris. In the doctored clip, Trump is shown saying, Were gonna walk down to the Capitol, and Ill be with you, and well fight. We fight like hell, and if you dont fight like hell, youre not gonna have a country anymore. A leaked internal report on BBC bias noted that the doctored clip made Trump say things [he] never actually said by splicing together footage from the start of his speech with something he said nearly an hour later. Advertisement But that wasnt all the BBC did to lie about Trump: The BBCs perfidy did not end with mangling the words Trump spoke. The program also featured scenes of angry, flag-waving men marching towards the Capitol, apparently spurred on by Trumps pugilistic rhetoric. As that leaked report notes, this created the impression Trumps supporters had taken up his call to arms. Unfortunately for that narrative, the footage was shot before Trump had even started speaking. Advertisement Trump is suing the BBC for between $1 and $5 billion. The BBC apparently hasnt learned from that debacle. They recently altered a speech by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, making it appear he said America is attacking not the Islamist Iranian regime, but the Iranian people: The BBC mistakenly altered a speech by Pete Hegseth on the war in Iran, making him appear to say the United States was targeting the Iranian people. Advertisement Graphic: X Post Advertisement BBC Persian, which broadcasts to audiences inside Iran, mistranslated remarks by the US secretary of defence, telling viewers Washington was bringing death to the Iranian people. [skip] The BBC, which carried Mr Hegseths Pentagon address live on Monday, translated the word regime as mardom, the Persian word for people. It later issued a correction. Advertisement While the BBC issued corrections on air and social media theres no doubt that medias original pronouncement travel far and wide while corrections are little noticed or known. Media apologists have claimed it was a mere mistake, quickly corrected, but the distinction between the Islamist regime and the Iranian people the regime has tortured, maimed and murdered for nearly a half-century should, for a legitimate, honest media organization, require special care. Grpahic: X Post Thamar Eilam-Gindin, an Iran expert and Persian linguist at Haifa University, said the BBC had fundamentally altered the meaning of the address. By mistranslating the English word regime into the Persian word mardom meaning peoplethe BBCs Persian service fundamentally altered the meaning of the US secretary of defences speech, making it appear as though he were attacking all Iranians rather than the Islamic Republic. Among members of the Iranian diaspora in the West, with whom I am in regular contact, this incident reinforces what they perceive as a long-standing pro-regime editorial line at BBC Persian. Imagine that. A spokesman for Camera UK, a media monitoring organisation that seeks to prevent skewed characterisations of Israel, said: Once again, the already problematic reputation of BBC World Service is further damaged by a mistranslation that manipulates the original meaning of the text. Just as Jews are not synonymous with Israelis in Arabic, the people of Iran are not the same as its regime in Persian. One would think the BBC, considering the ongoing lawsuit for its malicious editing of President Trump, would be particularly careful in covering any administration official, and even more careful when covering a war. One would not, in so thinking, understand the effects of TDS even across the pond. Its not known whether Secretary Hegseth will sue the BBC, or whether the American government will do the same, but whats apparent is the media, here and in England, wont reform itself. 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. French President Emmanuel Macron recently asserted that the United States and Israel had broken international law in their strike against Iranian targets. This statement was delivered with the gravity of a legal verdict. It implied that a statute had been violated, that a crime had been committed, and that a punishment awaited. Advertisement However, this framing is misleading because it presupposes the existence of a comprehensive global legal system. In reality, there is no world legislature, no global police force, and no universally binding court with compulsory jurisdiction over sovereign nations. The term international law refers to a collection of treaties, agreements, understandings, and norms. Many of these were established in 1945 in a context that differs significantly from today. The United Nations Charter, often cited as the foundation of international law, was drafted after World War II. Its authors envisioned a world of nation-states, conventional armies, and clearly defined borders. Modern terrorismdecentralized, ideological, transnational, and often state-sponsoreddid not exist then. Also absent were proxy militias, cyber warfare, drone strikes, and non-state actors operating in many countries. Advertisement The Charters language reflects this older context. It includes broad prohibitions on the use of force and limited exceptions for self-defense. It assumes that conflicts happen between identifiable states. Because the Charter is vague, states interpret its provisions differently. What counts as an armed attack? What is imminent? Can a nation strike a terrorist group in another country without that countrys consent? Advertisement The Charter does not give clear answers. As a result, powerful statesincluding the United States, Russia, China, Israel, and Iranjustify their actions with their own interpretations of self-defense. Other states, often motivated by politics, accuse them of violating international law. This ambiguity is an intrinsic feature of the current system. This context shows why Macrons phrasing is misleading. When a leader says international law was broken, the public often thinks of a domestic legal violation. A rule is broken, a crime is committed, and punishment followsat least in domestic law. Advertisement Image created using AI. Advertisement But at the international level, such enforcement mechanisms do not exist. A treaty violation does not lead to arrest. A dispute under the UN Charter does not end in a trial. The International Court of Justice cannot force a sovereign state to appear before it unless that state agrees. Most powerful nations have not done so. With no enforcement, why do politicians keep using the term "international law," knowing it suggests an authority that doesn't exist? Advertisement Politicians use the phrase because it carries emotional weight and signals moral clarity. It makes one party seem lawful and the other lawless. This frames the issue and rallies public opinion. At the same time, it avoids explaining the complexities in treaties, norms, and geopolitics. The rhetoric works well with audiences unfamiliar with the details of international relations. Many in the public take the phrase as proof of criminal conduct and respond emotionally rather than analytically. Political leaders know this. They use the language of law to create outrage, sympathy, or pressureeven if the legal basis is unclear or missing. This rhetorical strategy is not new. States have used legal language to advance political objectives throughout modern history. Today, the world is highly interconnected. Information spreads rapidly, and emotions escalate quickly. A single claim about a violation of international law can shape global narratives within minutes, regardless of legal foundation. The reality is simpler: sovereign nations have the right to defend themselves. The United Nations does not grant this right and cannot take it away. It is a basic part of sovereignty. Threats may originate from states, terrorist groups, or proxy militias. Nations must protect their citizens, including taking preemptive action when needed. The United States and Israel face persistent threats from actors who declare harmful intent. They act on the right to self-defense. They do not need permission from an international court with no jurisdiction. Nor are they answerable to a global authority that does not exist. While Macrons statement may have served a political purpose, it lacked a substantive legal foundation. There is no enforceable international law in the sense commonly perceived by the public. Instead, there exist agreements, norms, and interpretations, which function as tools of diplomacy rather than instruments of justice. Although these mechanisms can influence state behavior, they cannot supersede the fundamental right of nations to defend themselves in an unpredictable and often dangerous international environment. Great Britain, the nation that was once a colossus astride the world, has been reduced to a pathetic, emasculated wreck. PM Keir Starmers response to the war in Iran was the response of a man absolutely terrified of the Muslims that the British government, both Labour and Conservative, has imported into the country. Advertisement Before the joint US-Israel strike on Iran even occurred, Starmer made it plain that he would not allow any British bases to be used as staging points for the attack. His view was Gentlemen, include me out. After the attacks began (and proved brilliantly effective, marking a new age in warfare), Starmer boasted about sidelining the UK. The only thing that Britain would do, he said, was help protect allied bases in the Middle East. Advertisement However, as the war continued, Starmer realized hed made a mistake. Americans support Trump, the Iranian people (abroad and in Iran) support Trump, and the Gulf states support Trump. Within two days of the first strike, Starmer said that Americans could use those British bases but only if they didnt hurt anyone with them. Their use was for limited specific defensive purposes. Starmer clung to this position until the little ice floe on which he was standing shrank to nothing. So, over the last two days, Starmer began making tentative moves toward providing aid. He went so far as to announce that the government was considering sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. Advertisement Trump, disgusted by Starmers early cowardice and his attempt to jump to the front of the parade now, slapped him down...hard: Advertisement The big question is how to account for Starmers extraordinary cowardice. How did Great Britain go from the nation that was the most powerful military in the world in 1760 (only to lose America a few decades later, which was stupid of it), to the nation that defeated the seemingly unstoppable Napoleon, to the Victorian empire under which a quarter of the world was under British control, to the nation that, for two years, stood alone against Hitler? What the heck happened? The answer, of course, is socialism. Although Britain was on the winning side in WWI (thanks to Americas intervention), it killed an estimated 880,000 men. A generation that should have been productive was dead, wounded, or disillusioned. Advertisement Additionally, Britain had a rigid class system that kept a stratum of the British population mired in poverty. As Alan J. Lerner wrote in My Fair Lady, An Englishmans way of speaking absolutely classifies him. The moment he talks, he makes some other Englishman despise him. Unlike America, people could not rise through hard work and innovation. Stuck, they were drawn to socialism. Despite the brilliance of Winston Churchills wartime leadership and the economic strides when Margaret Thatcher, in the 1970s, finally ended Britains stifling WWII economic policies, the British were hooked on government. Advertisement But the real kicker was when Britain, first out of an excess of guilt and then thanks to the socialists hatred for white Europeans, began inviting in the Muslim masses. An ancient, really quite civilized culture that had been trained in self-loathing, including loathing of its Christian heritage, was totally unprepared for a group of people who were labeled as refugees and immigrants but who came as conquerors. And so, politely, they yielded...and yielded...and yielded. It doesnt help that Starmers view of Islamic power in Great Britain is probably skewed. The total number of Muslims in Great Britain is estimated at only 6% of the population, which is still a manageable figure. However, Starmer has lived in London for the past 20-plus years. There, the overall Muslim population is around 15%, with some areas having a Muslim population as high as 40% (Tower Hamlets) and 35% (Newham). At these numbers, as this famous essay warns, at around 15% of the population, Muslims are ready for hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings, and the burnings of Christian churches and Jewish synagogues. At 40%, youre looking at widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks, and ongoing militia warfare. Starmer has long lived under the Muslim gun (or knife or acid attack). No wonder hes scared. Starmer is also scared because the British military is a pathetic wreck. The mighty British navy, once the engine of its world conquest, is minuscule: So this is the entirety of the tiny British navy now, where only 4 surface vessels are ready. Three of the smaller boats shown are active, neither of the aircraft carriers and one of the larger, destroyers. And the other picture is what it used to look like. pic.twitter.com/fGQp9z1l2M David Galbraith (@daveg) March 3, 2026 The last time it was this small was in...wait for it...1642: In the mid-1990s, Royal Navy officers at staff college in Shrivenham were asked to map out their predictions for what the service would look like in 30 years. One submariner said the navy would have 30 of the American Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, the same number of frigates and 20 attack submarines. More than a decade earlier, the navy had deployed 127 ships for the Falklands conflict, including 43 warships. The British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror had sunk the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano, killing 323 sailors onboard. The submariner, who recently retired, cannot believe the size of the navy now. Nobody wrote down that you would have six Type 45s [destroyers] that never work, two aircraft carriers we cant man because we dont have enough people, and seven frigates, many alongside. Nobody wanted this navy. Its not just the size, though. Its also the quality. If you look at the picture heading the linked essay, those sailors really dont look like the same type of sailors who won the Battle of Trafalgar. Moreover, those sailors cant even get to sea. The HMS Dragon, one of the ships the UK was going to send to relieve Cyprus, is stuck in port thanks to the governments cost-cutting contract with a necessary trade union, limiting workers to 9-5 office hours. Meanwhile, the big debate in the British military is how much makeup men can wear: Army chiefs have been criticised for launching a review just as the Iran war intensifies into whether male soldiers can wear make-up. While British personnel in Cyprus called for more protection and HMS Dragon was stuck in port, all serving soldiers were asked on Thursday whether they thought men could apply cosmetics and wear their hair like women. They were surveyed on woke gender-free changes which could see men wearing make-up with long hair or hair extensions, painted nails and earrings. The consultation from Army HQ in Andover asked soldiers if they agreed rules on make-up should be gender-free, explaining this means that men, women and non-binary service personnel can all wear make-up in the same way. In other words, Starmer isnt just afraid of Muslims; hes got a military that cant do anything. Starmer and his Labour government are doing more damage to once-Great Britain than Hitler ever did or even dreamed of. Image created using AI. The House is up to some good! Advertisement Of course, it remains to be seen if Senate majority leader John Brick Wall Thune will take it up once it passes out of the House, but still, this bill is a very good thing. Key provisions to the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act (H.R. 7640) are as follows: Advertisement Essentially outlaws sanctuaries by overriding any state or local laws that interfere with ICEs duties. Explicitly allows local law enforcement to ask about the immigration status of someone they are interacting with. Grants immunity to local law enforcement from lawsuits stemming from their interactions with illegal aliens and designates the federal government as defendant instead. Non-compliant jurisdictions will now be explicitly allowed, under this existing law, to have their federal funding removed. Forces the locals to honor detainers. Allows local citizens to sue local jurisdictions for any harm that may result from their noncompliance. The libs are apoplectic. The American Prospect, a progressive rag, published an article entitled Lawmakers Debate Bill to Blackmail Sanctuary Cities. Blackmail. You gotta love the libs. They love big government mandates some of the time, but not all of the time. When they dont love them, theyre blackmail and, in this case, states rights. Yes, the party of slavery is actually back to that again, pulling out the old 10th Amendment card. Sorry, libs. The 10th Amendment does not apply here. Immigration law is federal law, and the feds can do what the feds can do: Pass legislation mandating that you miscreant localities honor it or else. Theres nothing tyrannical about that. Theyre merely spelling out what should be obvious already from the many, multiple immigration laws we already have on the books. But, because youre progressives, you negate and nullify things, so we have to spell it out in positive terms for you, because youre just like that: one sweet pain in the bippy. Advertisement Ring up your congressman. Or text him or mail him or do whatever it is you do to let him know youre watching this bill and want to see it passed. Then, as soon as it does, call your senators and Leader Thune to let him know you want to see it voted on in the upper house. If youre new to all this, heres a link to find your representatives and senators. This is a very, very good law, and it absolutely deserves a vote in both chambers. Advertisement M. Walter blogs at www.mwalterwriter.com. Advertisement Image: woodleywonderworks via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. With all the advances in medical science that weve realized, people still struggle with painful or difficult, sometimes terminal, medical conditions. And their families must watch their suffering. In these times, for many reasons, people are opting out of life because they dont recognize that ending their lives in any circumstances is a tragedy, and that physical or mental suffering can be transformative. Advertisement Still, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) just seems so much easier. Recently, a report out of Canada explained how dire the death numbers have become: The country is approaching 100,000 assisted suicides as Medical Assistance in Dying surpasses every other country. And the numbers keep growing: Advertisement Canada legalized MAID in 2016, years after the Netherlands and Belgium, which began allowing assisted suicide in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Unlike Belgium, Canada does not yet permit assisted suicide for patients suffering solely from mental illness, a step planned for early 2027, but the pace of deaths isnt slowing down. Even as a later adopter, Canadas MAID numbers have surged faster than any other jurisdiction. In 2020, assisted deaths jumped 36.8 percent from 5,461 to 7,451, then climbed another 34.8 percent to 9,842 the following year. If trends continue, Canada could surpass the combined totals of every other country with legal euthanasia in a single year. Advertisement Our northern neighbors are not alone in causing the deaths of human beings. The United States has logged frightening data with the number of people who are prepared to kill themselves. Our PAS Data Tracker reveals a sobering reality: Advertisement At least 14,446 Americans have died by physician-assisted suicide since 1997. The real number is likely much higher. From 2014 to 2024, PAS deaths in the US increased nearly 1000%. California has the most PAS deaths out of any state, with over 5,000 deaths in less than a decade. California was also the first state to pass 1,000 PAS deaths in a single year, up 830% from its first year. Across America, non-terminal conditions like lupus, complications from a fall, anorexia, and diabetes all qualified people for suicide-affirming care, and there has been an explosion of people included in the ever increasing, but cryptic designation of other. Many types of requirements are put in place to be certain that people are freely choosing to die, by asking the following questions: Are they being coerced by anyone to take their lives? Are they depressed? Do they believe they are a burden to their families? Beyond these questions are even larger questions, which we refuse to ask in our secular and morally relativistic society: Advertisement Do you believe in the sanctity of life? Do you believe that God created you? Do you see life as a gift that should be treasured? Do you believe that you are asking to be killed? Do you believe you are committing an immoral act? Dr. Lydia Dugdale makes this point about dealing with end-of-life decisions: Dugdale said legalized assisted suicide can shift cultural attitudes toward caring for the sick, the dying and other vulnerable members of society. Advertisement Certainly, it changes the culture around care of the sick and dying, she said. Rather than committing to the long, difficult work of caring for the sick, all the way to the point of death, we have an easy out. Instead of taking the easy way out, patients and families have other choices. They should be directed to their spiritual counselors, to financiers who can direct them to resources that will help them limit costs, to organizations and doctors that will help them reframe their struggle with life and provide them with resources to reduce their suffering. Life is, after all, a gift. Image via Pixabay. Its been very disturbing to watch Tucker Carlsons rapid decline. By 2020the end of Trumps first termTucker often had Americas highest-rated news show. However, in a stunning example of how far and fast people can fall, Fox News fired Tucker in April 2023, a move that coincided with Foxs $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. Advertisement Tuckers fans were shocked. They loved how Tucker was funny in a snarky way, making political points that aligned with a MAGA worldview: We needed a president who put America first, whether the topic was immigration, the economy, national security, or any other issue within the president's purview. But then, as I said, it all fell apart, and Tucker suffered the very profound humiliation of being abruptly fired and hustled out of Fox News. Tucker quickly rallied and started his own network. Unsourced rumors say that the Qataris helped fund it. Certainly, Tuckers views consistently align with Qatars goals. Advertisement According to Tucker, right around the time he was fired, he woke up in tremendous pain, with claw marks on his body, something he attributed to having been the victim of a demon attack. Whatever the cause, Tucker clearly went through a profound crisisand came out at the other end with a monomania: Its the Jews. It was always apparent that Tucker wasnt a huge fan of Israel, and that was okay. He was a huge fan of America, and he was right about a lot of the things vexing our country. I think most Zionists (and I am one) would happily say that you dont have to love Israel, just the way you dont have to love France. Advertisement However, you have a problem when you begin to see tiny Israel, a dot in the genocidal Muslim world and a victim of horrific attacks, as the source of all evil...and you have an even bigger problem when you decide that its not really Israel at all but is, instead, nefarious, sinister organizations, such as Chabad. In reality, Chabad is truly innocuous. For months now, Tucker has been lashing out at Israel and the Jews with an ever-growing list of perceived wrongs: Advertisement He picked up the standard antisemitic trope that Israel is Americas puppet master. In fact, Israel and America have the same enemy, and Israel is usually the front line, fighting battles that prevent America from having to do so. He claimed that the Gaza war was a land grab, ignoring that it was initiated as a defensive war after Hamas, an Iranian proxy, attacked Israel, torturing, slaughtering, and kidnapping over 1,200 people, several of whom were Americans. He insists that anyone in the Trump administration who supports Israel is an enemy of America. (See the point above about Israel and America having a shared enemy.) He said that the people he hates more than anyone else in the world are Christian Zionists. He implied (in cowardly fashion, never stating it outright) that Israel assassinated Charlie Kirk, when 100% of the available evidence, including a confession, points to a young man angry at Kirk for arguing that people like his trans-furry lover are mentally ill and anti-Biblical. He claimed that Israel mistreated him at Ben Gurion airport, when video footage contradicts that claim. He routinely platforms on his show people who are virulently antisemitic, right down to supporting Hitler, and who routinely use their own platforms to repeat tropes from the Nazi era. He contends that Chabad, a Jewish outreach organization, is the spider at the center of the evil Zionist web. In the last two days, Tucker has escalated, putting out a video saying that Israel is ugly, unlike the beautiful Arab world Today, Tucker Qatarlson said, Israel is one of the ugliest countries in the world, which has built nothing of beauty since 1948. He said all of Israels Islamic neighbors are beautiful and Israel is waging a war on beauty. He said Israel wants to bomb Iran because Iran is pic.twitter.com/fDp225Tmjn Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 7, 2026 Then, in his greatest escalation yet, Tucker just asserted that Jews are powered by overwhelming bloodlust: Advertisement OMG, Tucker has fully lost his mind. The caption of this video is Netanyahu unleashed a demonic spirit and Tucker is ranting about bloodthirsty Jews trying to arrest and kill him. This man is ALL THE WAY GONE. pic.twitter.com/QW9pRKyWrV A (@AThinksAloud) March 8, 2026 Ben Shapiro thinks that Tucker has sold his soul for clicks, and that could well be true, but I think theres more going on. When I look at Tuckers demon wrestingly; his sweaty, manic, and deeply dishonest interview with the relaxed, gracious Ambassador Mike Huckabee; and his rapid escalation from Im not a fan of Israel, to what amounts to Israelis are demons and must be destroyed, and when I combine that decompensating behavior with his self-admitted massive nicotine usage, these behaviors remind me of a lawsuit I worked on many years ago. Advertisement It was a view dispute (which is a big thing in the San Francisco Bay Area). The client I worked for was a rich and famous man who lived on a hillside with a gorgeous view of San Francisco Baygorgeous, that is, until the neighbor in the house downhill from him allowed her trees to grow unchecked into his view. When polite requests to trim them failed, he sued. What was fascinating was to watch the womans decline during the lawsuit. She went from being a stubborn young woman to becoming obsessed with burning it all down. The lawsuit ceased abruptly when her husband sent her away for a rest, trimmed the trees, and paid our (huge) attorneys fees. At the end, it seemed that it was never really about the trees. Im seeing that same dramatic change in behavior here. The Tucker Carlson of today is manifestly different from Tucker Carlson at his peak in 2020. What has happened to this man? I just wonder if its ever really been about the Jews. Image created using AI. UPDATE: After publishing this essay, my feed popped up this recent video. It seems consistent with my feeling that something very strange is going on here: The son of Irans slain supreme leader owns two luxury apartments in west London overlooking the Israeli embassy, raising fresh security concerns in the capital. Mojtaba Khamenei, widely tipped as a possible successor to his father Ali Khamenei, is reported to own the high-end Kensington properties through associates. The apartments, located on the sixth and seventh floors of a building close to Kensington Palace, are believed to be worth more than 50million. The properties, which also include servants quarters on the ground floor, sit just a short distance from the Israeli embassy in one of Londons most heavily guarded diplomatic areas. According to a year-long investigation by Bloomberg, Khamenei, 56, has owned the apartments since 2014. The probe also claims he controls a much wider portfolio of UK property. The investigation found that 11 mansions on Hampsteads Bishops Avenue often referred to as Billionaires Row were purchased through a front man and an Isle of Man shell company. Bloomberg reported that the Iranian cleric has amassed property assets worth hundreds of millions of pounds around the world, with the purchases allegedly funded through Irans sanction-busting oil programme. The revelation that apartments connected to Khamenei overlook the Israeli embassy has raised concerns among security experts, who warn the location could potentially be used to monitor activity at the diplomatic mission. The development comes after four Iranian men were arrested in north London in the early hours of Friday on suspicion of spying for Irans intelligence services. The suspects believed to be Iranian and dual British-Iranian nationals are accused of carrying out surveillance on Jewish locations and individuals. Those locations are thought to include synagogues in London, while the individuals under surveillance may have been worshippers. Six further people were arrested in Harrow, north-west London, on suspicion of aiding and abetting an offender, although sources said they were not believed to be connected to any specific plots. Security specialists say the Kensington apartments could theoretically provide a vantage point for monitoring activity at the Israeli embassy. A terrorism and security expert said the close proximity of the flats less than 50 metres behind the embassy building would allow potential observation of staff and visitors entering the compound. The expert added the location could allow photography of movements at the embassy, as well as the possibility of monitoring conversations in outdoor areas. The short distance could also enable laser-assisted monitoring techniques capable of extracting speech from inside buildings by analysing window vibrations. It could even allow attempts to intercept wireless networks to monitor internet traffic. Roger Macmillan, a counter-terrorism specialist and former director of security at the Iranian dissident satellite channel Iran International, said: Iran owns the view into the back of the Israeli Embassy from less than 50 metres away. Two apartments, direct line of sight, held through Mojtaba Khamenei. That's not a property portfolio - it's a permanent surveillance platform. This is a serious security breach. Together, the Kensington apartments and the Hampstead properties are estimated to be worth around 200million. Several of the homes on Bishops Avenue are believed to be empty, with some reportedly falling into disrepair. The Kensington flats sit on Palace Green, an exclusive private road guarded around the clock by police and private security. Photography on the street is heavily restricted because of the security concerns surrounding nearby diplomatic buildings and the areas ultra-wealthy residents. According to the Bloomberg investigation, the apartments are formally owned through a trusted associate, Ali Ansari an Iranian oligarch and family friend. The flats were purchased in 2014 and 2016 for 16.7million and 19million respectively. Ansari is also believed to have acquired the Hampstead properties on Khameneis behalf in 2013 for a combined price of around 73million. Those homes were bought through a company called Birch Ventures Limited, which is registered in the Isle of Man. Land Registry and company records list Ansari as the beneficial owner. All 13 properties have been subject to Treasury restrictions since October last year, preventing them from being sold. The measures were imposed after the UK government sanctioned Ansari, accusing him of acting as a corrupt banker who financed Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). On Saturday night, the Israeli embassy declined to comment on the reports. A spokesman for Transparency International said: We now know that Iran's political leaders have invested heavily in the UK over the last 10 years. Failure to build effective defences to tackle money laundering in the UK has national security implications, leaving our financial system vulnerable leaders from hostile, kleptocratic states and cronies who finance their regimes. Roger Gherson, a lawyer representing Ansari, rejected the claims. He said: Mr Ansari vehemently denies any financial relationship with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or the son of the former supreme leader. It is his intention to challenge the UK Government's decision to impose sanctions. Sir Tony Blair has criticised Sir Keir Starmers slow support for Donald Trumps war on Iran, reportedly telling an event: We should have backed America from the very beginning. The former prime minister told a private Jewish News event on Friday that Sir Keir should have let the Trump administration use British airbases to strike Iran. He reportedly added: If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security ... you had better show up. Sir Tonys comments were made in private on the understanding that he would not be quoted, but they have since appeared in the Mail on Sunday and The Sunday Times. Former prime minister Tony Blair recently took a role on Donald Trumps Board of Peace (Getty) Asked about the former Labour prime ministers comments on Sky News on Sunday morning, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said: I just disagree. She added: We learn the lessons from some of the things that went wrong in Iraq, and I think that is exactly what Keir Starmer has done. The intervention came as Mr Trump again criticised Sir Keir over the UKs approach to the Middle East conflict, saying that the US does not need anyone to join wars after weve already won. Mr Trump was referring to reports that the UK is preparing an aircraft carrier for deployment to the Middle East. US president Donald Trump has criticised Sir Keir Starmer over his slow support for Trumps war on Iran (Getty) 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. 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! Sir Keir has defended his decision not to allow US forces to use British bases to support initial strikes on Iran, saying he needed to be satisfied that any military action was legal and well planned. However Sir Tony told the Jewish News event: I am not saying anything that I havent already said to the government ... I think we should have backed America from the very beginning. Trump and Blair during a summit of Middle Eastern and European leaders last year (Getty) We have got to be very clear about this as a country. Were depending on the American alliance for our country. They are not just an ally, they are an indispensable ally, right? He continued: The American relationship matters. It matters particularly today. Its not a question of whether its this president or that president. If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security...you had better show up. Keir Starmer initially hesitated when asked by Trump if US forces could use UK airbases, leading to harsh words from the president (Getty) The former prime minister, who brought the UK into the Iraq war in 2003 on the false belief that Saddam Husseins regime had weapons of mass destruction, added: On foreign policy, I think people would just prefer you to be strong and out there and clear, even if they dont agree with you. In January, the Trump administration named Sir Tony as a member of the founding executive board of the Board of Peace. The board will oversee governance, reconstruction, investment and large-scale funding for Mr Trumps Gaza plan following the ceasefire, the White House said. A US soldier leads men towards a helicopter after their arrest at Ramana, near the Iraqi border with Syria, in November 2005. Photograph: Sean Smith/The Guardian (Photograph: Sean Smith/The Guardian) default This is the third Gulf war and umpteenth outbreak of conflict since the United States took over as the dominant power and influence in the Middle East at the end of the cold war. And it is arguably the most dangerous, consequential and confused of them all. The destruction and chaos spreading across the region confirms the Middle Easts status as the worlds pre-eminent crisis factory, but it also raises questions as to how US presidents so often declare they are ending US interference in the region, only to be lured back in. Since the second world war the US has set out to oust a government in the Middle East on average once a decade, and on almost every occasion it has left the country, and the US, worse off as unexpected consequences eventually emerge. As Donald Trump embarks on yet another regime change this time in Iran, a country of 90 million people the sense of foreboding is profound. Already the timelines are extending, and the sense is growing by the day that Trump is gambling with the fate of a country about which he knows next to nothing. The first Gulf war The first Gulf war, in 1990-91, at least had the advantage of being of a containable scope, purpose and duration. Once Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in a warped blow for pan-Arabism, George HW Bush pushed the Iraqi leaders forces back with relative ease, maintaining a broad supportive Arab coalition, partly by ensuring Israel did not respond to Saddams provocations to become involved. Famously respecting the UN security council mandate to liberate Kuwait, but not invade Iraq, Bush decided not to pursue the routed Iraqi army to Baghdad. The ground campaign took only 100 hours. The onesidedness of that war has parallels with what is happening in Iran. Azmi Bishara, the Arab intellectual, called the former a model of war that meant one side waging it without risk, the other without hope; one side accidentally losing a half dozen people, the other losing a few hundred thousand by force of arms. But the war did leave a legacy. Kurds and Shia Muslims learnt the risk of being used by a US president, having been encouraged to rise up against Saddam and take matters into their own hands, only to discover Bush would stand aside as they were crushed. It is a lesson the Kurds of Iran may have studied. Secondly, the war brought half a million US troops to the Middle East and, as Marc Lynch writes in his book The Ruination of a Region, those troops in a symbolic sense, never went home, instead moving out into an archipelago of US bases across the Gulf, the Levant and southern Turkey designed to implement the dual containment of both Iraq and Iran. Those bases, now under attack by Iran, became the infrastructural foundation of American primacy. The second Gulf war In the second Gulf war, known as the Iraq war, from 2003-11, George W Bush determined Saddam must go because of his presumed possession of weapons of mass destruction. It meant the US at least possessed an identifiable war aim, albeit one based on a gargantuan intelligence failure for which no one took the blame. Whether Washington went to war on a lie or a misapprehension, it went in not knowing enough about the country it was invading or the forces it would uncork once Saddams authoritarian rule was ended. We know from the last 40 years that failed states become centres for terrorism, smuggling, gun running, drugs and criminality John Sawers, UK special representative in Baghdad in 2003 The optimism bias about the wars aftermath was so deep because the desire to go to war was so deep. In Congressional testimony, the then deputy defense secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, told members of the house armed services committee in February 2003 that the Iraqis were 23 million of the most educated people in the Arab world who are going to welcome us as liberators The notion that were going to earn more enemies by going in and getting rid of what every Arab knows is one of the worst tyrants is just nonsense. Wolfowitz dismissed comparisons with the Balkans and said Iraq had no record of ethnic militias fighting one another, so large postwar peacekeeping forces would not be required. He was also confident free Iraqis would reject Islamist extremism or theocratic rule. He admitted he based his arguments in part on his personal contacts. Another advocate for war was an Israeli opposition leader called Benjamin Netanyahu. He advised: If you take out Saddam, I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations across the region. And I think the people sitting right next door in Iran, young people and many others, will say the time of such regimes, of such despots, is gone. The opposite happened. Iran became stronger, including inside Iraq. More recently, John Sawers, the former head of MI6 and the UK special representative in Baghdad in 2003, described the aftermath of the invasion as total chaos. No real planning had gone into the aftermath, he said. The Americans were sitting hunkered down in their tanks and armoured vehicles with reflective sunglasses and heavy helmets on with no engagement with the Iraqi people at all. They just assumed that once American forces had toppled Saddam then the Iraqi exiles would come in, take over and everything would be hunky-dory. Well, it turned out to be completely different from that. Philip Gordon, who was a national security adviser to the former US vice-president Kamala Harris, argued in 2015 that there was something fundamentally wrong about the US concept of regime change. He wrote: When implying the US can fix Middle Eastern problems if only it gets it right, it is worth considering that in Iraq the US intervened and occupied and the result was a costly disaster. In Libya the US intervened and did not occupy and the result was a costly disaster. In Syria the US neither intervened nor occupied and the result was a costly disaster. Indeed, he wrote a whole book citing examples of how the US fails to anticipate the chaos that inevitably ensues after regime collapse. War can end a regime, but not install a cohesive society. Yet the striking aspect of the pre-Iraq war debate was the extent to which there was one. By comparison, in the run-up to the attack on Iran the Trump administration has prized deceit and surprise. In February 2003, the US defense secretary, Colin Powell, thought it necessary to go to the UN to make an hour-long multimedia presentation showing trucks and train carriages allegedly serving as mobile production facilities for biological agents in Iraq. It later emerged this intelligence was wrong, but Powell believed it was necessary to make the case and garner global support for the invasion. Related: Minab school bombing: how the worst mass casualty event of the Iran war unfolded a visual guide Now, by contrast, the halls of the UN security council are silent, or filled with Melania Trump lecturing the world on the rights of the child in wartime, while the Department of Defense simultaneously investigates whether the US was responsible for the bombing of a girls primary school in southern Iran which killed scores of children. In 2002, many Department of State officials warned of the likely cost, and the length of the occupation, and of the possibility that the beneficiary would be Iran and the Shias inside Iraq. They were right. The estimates vary, but the war probably cost the US $2tn, spawned the Islamic State terrorist organisation and led to the deaths of 150,000 to 1 million people, according to different estimates. Tony Blairs insistence that the invasion should be accompanied by a new push on the Palestinian question bore no fruit, leaving the issue to be sidelined until 2023. The present Gulf war Fast forward to Trumps Operation Epic Fury and, compared with 2002, all we have is epic confusion. In a succession of interviews, statements and phone calls, Trump and his team have offered wildly contradictory justifications for the war. Little of it extends beyond assertion. Rotating rationales have been set out in Top Gun-style seminars delivered by the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, who uses the title secretary of war. Crazy regimes like Iran, hell bent on prophetic Islamic delusions, cannot have nuclear weapons, he said. Iran was close to having an intercontinental ballistic missile that could hit America, ran one administration claim. Steve Witkoff, Trumps all-purpose international envoy, said Iran was one week away from having industrial-grade bomb making material. The vice-president, JD Vance, said the nuclear talks with Iran had not passed the smell test, arguing Iran was building facilities 20 metres (70ft) underground and enriching uranium to 60% purity. As a result, the nuclear sites that were obliterated in the attacks last June needed re-obliterating. Trump himself has described the terrorist nature of the regime stretching back 40 years, and spoken of regime change. But it was the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who presented the most startling rationale. We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, he told reporters. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didnt preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties. It seems no one in the White House thought an alternative solution to this risk might be to tell Israel not to attack Iran. Yet again, people ask: Who is the fucking superpower around here? the question raised by Bill Clinton in 1996 after a bruising first encounter with Netanyahu. Some of the mess may be because the Israeli and US political objectives are not fully aligned. The fear of the Iraq quagmire leads Trump to say he is looking for an elusive Iranian equivalent of the person who replaced Nicolas Maduro as leader in Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, a figure who, while rooted in the regime, could pivot policy pragmatically to Washingtons expectations. It is similar to the intention of the then secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, that the army would be defeated, but the institutions would hold in Iraq. Trump said this week he had found some likely candidates, but then admitted that unfortunately they were now lying dead in the rubble of a bombed government building. Most of the people we had in mind are dead. Now, we have another group. They may be dead also, based on reports. So I guess you have a third wave coming in. Pretty sure were not going to know anybody. At times, however, Trump does not sound like a man who only wants to blow off the bloody doors in Iran; he wants to engineer the buildings complete collapse, and is willing to open Pandoras box by asking Iranian Kurdish rebels to help make this happen. Sawers, drawing on his experiences across the Middle East, warned of the dangerous possibility that the regime could corrode or collapse and lose control of parts of the country, and then the country could fragment into several different parts where you have local administrations crop up, often on an ethnic basis. If the country dissolves into component parts it will be basically a failed state. We know from the last 40 years they become a centre for terrorism, smuggling, gun running, drugs and criminality of all sorts. Irans sizeable ethnic minorities Kurds, Balochs, Ahwazi Arabs, Azerbaijanis forcing Iran to disintegrate has always been one of the leaderships greatest fears, and their complaint of exploitation has been longstanding. The vast majority of Irans natural resources oil, gas, and major water sources are found outside the central plateau, in areas with non-Persian communities and a sizeable Sunni Muslim population. By contrast, the Shia-Persian majority is concentrated on the central plateau, an arid region bounded to the west by the Zagros mountains, to the north by the Alborz range, and to the east by Irans central desert. The parallels between the Gulf wars are not perfect. Israel was not the driving force that it is in this conflict, and the likelihood of a Sunni-Shia split is smaller. No western ground troops are involved. But the danger is that this has been a US project rigidly focused on the destruction of the threat posed by Iran. The harbingers of shock and awe know little about the forces that could emerge from the Islamic republics destruction. On the way to Baghdad in 2003 the commander of the US forces, Gen David Petraeus asked a famous question: Tell me how this ends? It remains as pertinent now as it did then. Carolyn Bessette Kennedys stylish yet minimalist wardrobe is popular again due to the new TV series Love Story. Photograph: Lawrence Schwartzwald/Sygma/Getty Images (Photograph: Lawrence Schwartzwald/Sygma/Getty Images) Everyone is trying to copy her outfits after seeing Love Story, Liz Teich, a stylist, said. Shes referring to the internets ongoing frenzy around Carolyn Bessette Kennedys minimalist 90s style, made popular by the new TV series about her romance with John F Kennedy Jr. Related: The antithesis of what Gen Z grew up with: Love Story inspires fervor for Carolyn Bessettes style Since its release, Instagram and TikTok have been flooded with recreations of Bessettes outfits think white button-up shirts, tan pencil skirts and small-framed black sunglasses. (Many set to the tune of Frank Oceans American Wedding, the unofficial soundtrack for Bessette Kennedy content.) As a high-powered publicist at Calvin Klein, its no wonder Bessette always knew how to dress for the office. But what made her style so appealing was how she curated her wardrobe as a whole, Teich continues. Like Bessette, Teich worked in the fashion industry in the 90s. She started her career at the lifestyle brand Chaikens Manhattan office, which designed clothes worn by Bessette herself. I wish I could say I showed up as stylish as Bessette to the office, but I was an 18-year-old intern. On my lunch breaks, Id scour the sales racks at Scoop and Intermix for deals, Teich says. As a sustainable fashion advocate, Teich says its possible to learn from Bessettes style without resorting to designer binges or terrible knockoffs. In the 90s, she became an expert at curating outfits that punched above their weight: I had a hodge podge of finds in those sales racks, as well as a mix of trends, vintage and some pieces I upcycled or sewed myself. Teich shows how you can bring Bessettes knack for styling into your spring wardrobe without buying a heap of pieces destined to end up in a landfill. *** Our stylists picks for 90s-inspired spring staples A classic white button-up shirt: Sold Out NYC The Everything Shirt $195 at Sold Out NYC A pair of bootcut jeans: Levis Wedgie Bootcut Jeans $98 at Zappos A quality Cartier watch dupe: Heaven Mayhem The Icon Watch $280 at Heaven Mayhem Minimalist black cigarette pants: MM LaFleur Kickflare Foster Pant $229 at MM LaFleur *** Your closet should be 80% staples LT: I think Bessettes closet was nearly 100% staples and thats why you always saw it work. She styled these basic pieces in different ways, even in the limited photos we have of her. She probably had less in her closet than most New Yorkers do today, but she knew how to select her wardrobe in a way that always looked fresh. I see so many clients who buy mostly the trendy pieces and they forget to invest in the wardrobe staples, so their outfits fall flat. Your closet should be 80% staples and 20% of the fun stuff to set yourself up for success. Two important staples: a button-up shirt and good jeans LT: The great thing about a 90s-inspired wardrobe is that it can be quite timeless. Closet staples like a white button up, black cigarette pants, loafers, square-toe heels and boots, and cashmere sweaters are great for making an entrance at the office. These simple styles were far different from the showy designs popular in the 80s. Bessette was often seen in a white button up, which everyone needs. Its one of my uniform staples, and I also love styling my clients in them. Some of my favorite brands: Sold Out NYC for the perfect crisp white button up a la NYC gal, Frank & Eileen for something more relaxed (think trips to Hyannis, the Cape Cod village where the Kennedys kept a home base) and Cissa for a criss-cross design inspired by Bassettes wrapped style. No, they arent cheap, but youre buying for quality material that will last. Sold Out NYC The Everything Shirt $195 at Sold Out NYC Frank & Eileen Waverly Button-up Shirt $268 at Frank & Eileen Cissa The Wrap Daily Shirt $348 at Cissa Bootcut jeans are another great 90s-inspired comeback that Ive been loving. Bessette famously wore Levis 517s that she styled with blazers, button ups or a simple black turtleneck. Levis Wedgie Bootcut Jeans $98 at Zappos Find it secondhand: Womens Levi 517s Varied $ at Etsy *** Look for designer quality at marked-down prices LT: Bessette had such a knack for mixing price points: designer items such as Prada, with vintage items and even added in bargain finds like her drugstore-procured tortoise shell headband from CO Bigelow (currently out of stock). Designer doesnt always mean quality. I recommend covering up the logo or brand, and asking yourself: Is this something Id like if I didnt know who made it? CO Bigelow tortoiseshell headband alternatives $39 at Etsy $60 at Nordstrom When buying secondhand, you can skip the bigger, obvious designers Bessette wore such as Prada and Calvin Klein, as theyre likely picked over and marked up a bit by now, and opt for smaller brands of the era and basically anything that was sold at Barneys (RIP!) back then. Find it secondhand: Vintage Barneys apparel Varied $ at The Real Real The Cartier Tank watch is another piece thats back thanks to Bessettes style resurgence, but it costs $8,500. Ive been recommending this much more affordable dupe from Heaven Mayhem. It looks just as elegant, and my clients are loving it. Heaven Mayhem The Icon Watch $280 at Heaven Mayhem *** Splurge on classic styles with decades of longevity LT: If you do go for a leopard coat, buy a classic style, like a tailored pea coat. Avoid something trendier like a bubble hem, which wont have longevity. Ive had my vintage leopard coat from the 90s for years, and its never felt out of style. Milly Leopard Double-Breasted Coat $357 at Saks Fifth Avenue Find it secondhand: Tailored leopard coats Varied $ at Depop Varied $ at ThredUp Camel coats, which first exploded in popularity in the 1950s, will also never go out of style and are always a wise investment. Back in my internship, Chaiken generously let me buy a gorgeous camel officers coat with Italian wool at a wholesale price, and its been my favorite thing in my closet for decades. Quince Italian Wool Double Breasted Slouch Coat $175 at Quince Madewell The Alonzo Coat $299.99 at Madewell Find it secondhand: 90s-inspired camel coats Varied $ at The Real Real Im also kicking myself for not keeping my Chaiken pants from back in the day. Just like other designers of the era, they were minimalist, but fit women of all shapes and sizes. While no longer sold, I did find similar cigarette-style kick flare pants from MM La Fleur that have been a closet staple for years. My clients love it just as much as I do, and my followers on Instagram seem to be loving it too. MM LaFleur kick flare black pants $229 at MM LaFleur Find it secondhand: Chaiken pants Varied $ at Depop Cody Garbrandt suffered three low blows against Xiao Long (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Cody Garbrandt was left throwing up into a bucket after suffering three low blows in quick succession - but still went on to eke out the win in a bizarre fight at UFC 326. Former bantamweight champion Garbrandt was up against Chinese fighter Xiao Long, hoping to get back in the win column after two successive losses to Deiveson Figueiredo and Raoni Barcelos. No Love put in an encouraging performance in the first two rounds, dropping Xiao with a fierce elbow up against the fence, but his outing threatened to be derailed when Xiao connected with the groin not once but twice in the third and final round. The second shot, a toe kick to the privates, left Garbrandt lying in agony and the American was soon seen throwing up, initially directly onto the canvas before someone came into the octagon to give him a bucket. Cody Garbrandt in his bout at UFC 326 (Getty Images) Garbrandt had five minutes to recover but after getting back to his feet and wiping his mouth, he resumed the fight having used just half of that allotted time, with Xiao being deducted a point by referee Herb Dean. Garbrandt gave his opponent something of a death stare before flying out of the blocks, sending the crowd into raptures. But the action didnt get much of a chance kick on again, with Garbrandt falling victim of a third low blow to Xiao before the third rounds end. Garbrandt argues with Xiao Long after sustaining three lows blows in their contest (Getty Images) That resulted in another point deducted for Xiao, meaning he could not win the bout without a finish. It led to a bizarre conclusion, with Xiao knowing he had to go all guns blazing to save the fight, while Garbrandt went as far as to literally run away from his opponent to stay out of the danger zone. No Love managed to see out the contest after subduing Xiao in the clinch, but the drama was not over at the buzzer with Dean needing to hold an incensed Garbrandt back from Xiao. Garbrandt still emerged victorious at UFC 326 (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) The pair continued to argue before the result was made official, with UFC security entering the cage to prevent anything from breaking out. Garbrandt emerged victorious on the scorecards by unanimous decision and Xiao was left to rue his crucial two-point deduction, with all judges scoring the bout 28-27 in the Americans favour. Yvette Cooper speaks on BBC Ones Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/Reuters (Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/Reuters) Yvette Cooper has rejected Tony Blairs assertion that the UK should have supported Donald Trumps initial airstrikes on Iran, saying Britain had to learn the lessons of mistakes made in Iraq. At a private lunch event on Friday, the former Labour prime minister said Keir Starmer should have backed America from the very beginning and let the Trump administration use British airbases, adding: If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security you had better show up when they want you to. Blairs intervention comes as Trump intensifies his criticism of Starmer over the lack of immediate UK support for the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, saying on social media: We dont need people that join Wars after weve already won! Asked about Blairs comments, Cooper told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News: I just disagree. The foreign secretary added: There are some people in politics who think that we should always agree with the US whatever. There are other people in politics who think we should never take action with the US again whatever the circumstances. I dont think either of those positions is in the UK national interest, and it is the responsibility for Keir Starmer to act in the UKs national interest for British citizens. Asked if she was calling Blair a poodle, she said: I think the point is to make sure that, actually, we learn the lessons from some of the things that went wrong in Iraq, and I think that is exactly what Keir Starmer has done. Blair, who has been fiercely criticised over the past two decades for his decision to join the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, made the comments at a private Jewish News event on Friday, adding that he had already made his criticism clear to the government. He told those at the event that alliances were tested when its hard, saying the bases were needed for refuelling and adding that the conflict was not like Vietnam, the Mail on Sunday reported. Its not like the Iraq campaign [where] we sent thousands of British troops. So I just think youve got to make the argument to the public about this, he said. Youve got to say to them the American relationship matters. It matters particularly today. Its not a question of whether its this president or that president. A spokesperson for Blair said the comments came at a private event and were not intended to be made public. Responding to repeated stinging criticism of Starmer by Trump in the past week which has included the US president saying on Saturday that Starmers help was not needed in Iran, and earlier in the week that the prime minister was not Winston Churchill Cooper said the UK had to take decisions ourselves and act in its national interest. She told the BBC Ones Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: Its for the US president to decide what he thinks is in the US national interest, and thats for him to do. But it is our job as the UK government to decide whats in the UK national interest, and that doesnt mean simply agreeing with other countries or outsourcing our foreign policy to other countries. Her comments came as the Iranian ambassador in London warned the UK to be very careful about becoming further involved in the war. Britain has given permission for the US to use British bases for defensive strikes on Iranian facilities, but has not taken part in any direct attacks. Seyed Ali Mousavi told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg his country would have a right to self-defence if the UK directly joined US-Israeli attacks on Iran. He said the British government and other nations should be very delicate, very careful in their actions, adding he believed the UK had learned lessons from the Iraq war. The annual day of reflection six years on from the coronavirus pandemic has been described as a moment for pause and remembrance. Sunday marks the annual national Covid-19 day of reflection, when those who died are remembered alongside the work of the frontline health and social care workers, volunteers and researchers who played crucial roles during the period. This years day of remembrance comes after the final public hearings in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry which was formally formally launched in 2022 were held last week. Bereaved families have vowed to keep fighting for justice in memory of their loved ones as the final witness testimony was heard, and there are several more inquiry reports due to be published this year and next. At least 248,000 people in the UK have died with Covid-19 listed as a cause of death, according to the latest available data published by the UKs statistics agencies. Glen Grundle, the son of Milda Grundle, giving evidence as part of the Covid 19 inquiry as (left-right) Martina Ferguson, daughter of Ursula Derry, Lauren Mallon, niece of Raymond McAleese, and Catriona Myles, daughter of Gerry McLarnon, look on in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) (PA Wire) Sundays events are expected to include gatherings and commemorations across the four nations of the UK. Among them will be a short ceremony at the National Covid Memorial Wall in London where a wreath will be placed and a minutes silence held at midday. In Wales, Caerphilly County Borough Council will host people at the Ynys Hywel Covid Memorial Woodland, with an informal guided walk and a minutes silence, while in Northern Ireland live music, poetry and reflective speeches will take place at Belfast City Hall. Community and faith leaders, healthcare professionals and local people will gather in Manchester for a memorial service, storytelling and reflection organised by the Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN). On Saturday in Scotland, a gathering was held at the Sails Sculpture in Glasgow Green where there was also a minutes silence. Culture minister Baroness Twycross said: Whenever I walk along the National Covid Memorial Wall, Im struck by the 250,000 hand-painted hearts that stretch for half a kilometre. It is a powerful tribute to loved ones who will not be forgotten. The pandemic impacted everyone, up and down the country. It touched us all, and the impact of Covid remains. We now have the opportunity to come together as a nation to remember the quarter of a million lives lost. We also pay tribute to those on the front line during the pandemic, who made enormous sacrifices, day in, day out, to keep the British public safe whether in health and social care, education, policing, transport or other frontline services. I encourage everyone to mark this day in a way that feels right for them, whether attending a community event or taking a quiet moment of reflection at home. Baroness Morgan, chairwoman of the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, said: For so many across the country, the Covid-19 pandemic left a legacy of grief and loss that is still carried today. Everyone lost something. This years Covid-19 day of reflection is an opportunity for us all to pause and remember the lives lost because of the pandemic, recognising the efforts and sacrifices of frontline workers, as well as the volunteering and community spirit we saw and the contribution of the scientific community. Powerful storms have ripped through parts of Michigan and Oklahoma, leaving flattened homes and scattered debris. Volunteers are assisting residents with cleanup, sifting through rubble, as severe weather threats linger across the US midsection. Authorities, meanwhile, searched through rubble and debris in southern Michigan on Saturday 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 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. The National Weather Service said an initial assessment confirmed that an EF3 tornado with winds of at least 150 mph (241 kph) struck the Union Lake area Friday. The weather service also reported seven preliminary tornado tracks in eastern Oklahoma that same day, according to the state's emergency operations center. Volunteers work to clear branches felled by a storm a day earlier in Union City, Michigan (Associated Press) The threat of severe weather continued Saturday in the nations midsection, with tornado watches posted in the afternoon for eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia and western Pennsylvania and New York. 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. Mostly likely there were three distinct tornadoes, but we wont know 100% for sure until they finish the survey, Fisher said, adding that the storms intensified rapidly in southern Michigan after hitting northern Indiana. Three people were killed and 12 were injured in the Union Lake area, according to the Branch County Sheriffs Office. Damage is seen to power lines and traffic signals after a reported tornado in Three Rivers, Michigan (Associated Press) It was the second tornado to hit Union City in two years. An EF1 tornado with 95 mph (153 kph) winds touched down briefly in May 2024 and destroyed a machine shed. 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 and then dropped toward the ground Friday. Trees were torn from their roots, and debris flew into the air. 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. The Tulsa Tech Peoria Campus was damaged by a Friday night storm (Associated Press) 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 50 miles (81 kilometers) southwest 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 Anderson's parents found him injured and provided first aid, but he later died at a hospital. Disaster relief workers went door to door in the Union City and Three Rivers areas to offer meals and cleanup supplies. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she would declare a state of emergency in Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties. A six-year-old deaf boy has been deported from the United States with family members - and the Department of Homeland Security refused to allow him his hearing aid before departure, a lawyer has said. The child, his younger brother and mother, Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, were detained earlier this week during a routine check-in at Immigration and Customs Enforcements Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office in San Francisco. The family were asylum seekers from Colombia, and had been living in Hayward, California, for five years. Nikolas De Bremaeker, an attorney with Centro Legal de la Raza, said he was given misleading information and was unable to find the family for two days before tracking them down to a detention center in Arizona. They have since been deported to Colombia. De Bremaeker said Gutierrez, who works in childcare, had an order of removal but no criminal record and therefore had a legal right to be notified prior to deportation. At a news conference, the attorney said that while the mother and two boys were at the ICE center in San Francisco, a relative had gone to give the six-year-old his hearing aid, which he relies on communicate, but was turned away by officials. Demonstrators in California protest the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration. On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security detained a six-year-old deaf boy in San Francisco and refused to allow a family member to give him his hearing aid before deporting him to Colombia (AFP/Getty) This child has been dragged from detention center to detention center, to places that are not meant for children, Bremaeker said, according to The Los Angeles Times. They are definitely not built for children with severe disabilities. Its inhuman, illegal, and unconstitutional. The six-year-old boy attended California School for the Deaf at Fremont for three years, according to Tony Thurmond, California Superintendent of Public Instruction. He demanded the return of the boy to California at the news conference. Thurmond said he was deeply disturbed that the boy was deported without access to his necessary medical devices. This unnecessary cruelty must end, he said. 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. De Bremaeker said he had spoken Friday to Gutierrez, and that she and her children were traumatized by the ordeal.The Independent has contacted the attorney for further updates. In a statement to The Independent, a DHS spokesperson denied that Gutierrez had not received due process. A man is led away by ICE agents inside a New York immigration court. A mother and her two young children, asylum seekers from Colombia were deported this week, without due process, their lawyer said (Getty) She received full due process and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge on November 25, 2024, the statement read. 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. The spokesperson added: 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. Balendra Shah celebrates with his supporters in Jhapa district on Saturday. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters (Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters) Balendra Shah, the rapper turned politician and popular figurehead of a gen Z revolution, looks set to become Nepals next prime minister after his party won by an unprecedented margin. Shah, known widely as Balen, and his Rastriya Swatantra party (RSP) secured a rare landslide victory in the first election since youth-led protests during which dozens were killed and the former government was toppled. It is the victory of hope and change, said Ramesh Paudyal, a senior RSP leader. It is the most beautiful endorsement of the gen Z movement. The true tribute to the gen Z martyrs will be expressed through the work carried out every day by the government led by Balendra Shah. The public upset and anger at the political old guard was evident in the results, with veteran parties and their leaders losing vast numbers of seats. Balens RSP, which was formed only three years ago by a former TV executive, was handed a rare outright majority. Nepals electoral system which combines a first past the post system with proportional representation has tended to result in weak coalition governments. But as counting reached its final stages, RSP had won at least 122 out of 165 direct seats and was leading in three more, putting the party on course for the biggest electoral majority since Nepal became a democracy. The final election results, which will include additional seats appointed through proportional representation, are expected in the coming days. Related: Nepals gen-Z election: can popular former rapper Balen topple a veteran political heavyweight? The contest was considered one of the most significant and gripping in years, pitting the heavyweights who have dominated Nepals politics for decades against a younger generation pledging to end corruption and bring about a fresh start for the country. Despite being relatively new to politics, Shah, 35, had been seen as the frontrunner, running a dynamic campaign that tapped into the hunger for change, particularly among young Nepalis. An engineer by training, Shah rose to fame as a rapper whose tracks took aim at poverty, unemployment and corruption. In 2022, he pivoted to public office, running independently to become the mayor of Kathmandu. After winning a strong majority, he began the mammoth task of cleaning up the city, including removing unauthorised buildings and sorting out rubbish. But it was the youth uprising in September last year that elevated Shah to national prominence. After protests suddenly erupted, sparked by a ban on social media but driven by a larger frustration at lack of opportunities, the government hit back with force and 19 protesters were killed. The uprising spiralled into wider unrest and arson attacks that left 70 dead, and resulted in the resignation of the government led by the four-time prime minister KP Sharma Oli and his veteran Communist party. The speed at which the government was toppled left many in the movement in shock. Shah was the favoured choice by the gen Z protest leaders to become interim prime minister, but he declined and instead chose to wait to run until formal elections were held on 5 March. In a symbol of the battle between the old guard and the new generation, Shah chose to stand in the Jhapa-5 constituency, running directly against 74-year-old Oli. Shahs overwhelming victory was finally declared on Saturday night: by 68,348 votes to 18,724 for Oli. As he conceded victory, the former prime minister said he wished Shah an uninterrupted five-year term, heartfelt best wishes. Arriving to pick up his certificate of election in his signature dark sunglasses and black blazer, Shah emerged from the sunroof of his vehicle and held up a banner bearing the words: Congratulations to all of you, this is your victory. In Jhapa-5, there was much jubilance at his win. One of the main factors behind the gen Z movement, KP Oli, has been defeated. It feels like justice has been delivered to the martyrs, said Aditya Karna, 23. Now there is an expectation that Balen will lead the country toward a better future. Bhawana Raut, a leader of the gen Z movement who voted in Jhapa, said the result meant there could finally be healing after the violence unleashed in the September protests. This sends a clear message to everyone who comes to power: you must be accountable, she said. Even leaders who rose after such a huge struggle can be brought down to zero by voters in a single moment. The government must be a servant of the people, not a ruling authority. Nonetheless, analysts emphasised that Shah had a daunting task head of him, including managing the high expectations placed upon him by the younger generation. Among the promises made during his campaign was to investigate and prosecute previous leaders for entrenched corruption, and the Oli government for its role in killing gen Z protesters. The public has many aspirations and many desires, said the political analyst Lok Raj Baral. They have placed extremely high hopes, but in a country like Nepal it is very difficult to deliver. The bureaucracy remains the same old one, only the political leadership is new. With Nepal landlocked between India and China whose competing interests have often run roughshod over domestic needs many emphasised how important foreign policy would be in Balens premiership. Baral added: They won a majority largely because they convinced people that they would work for good governance. That mandate is positive. But from the moment Balen becomes prime minister, challenges will be waiting for him at every step. This article was amended on 8 March 2026. Nepals House of Representatives has 165 directly elected seats, not 185 as an earlier version said. Explosion at US embassy in Oslo may have been linked to Middle East conflict An explosion on Sunday outside the U.S. embassy in Oslo, Norway, may be linked to the ongoing Middle East security situation, police have said said. As of Sunday afternoon, no suspects had been identified, Norwegian police added. "It's natural to see this in the context of the current security situation and that this could be an attack deliberately targeting the U.S. embassy," police spokesperson Frode Larsen told a news conference. A loud explosion occurred at the entrance to the U.S. embassy in the city in the early hours of Sunday morning. The incident reportedly did not cause any deaths and resulted in minor damage at the scene. "A loud bang/explosion was reported at the scene," Oslo police told CBS News in a statement. Around 1 a.m. we received several reports of explosions. We arrived after a short time and determined that there had been an explosion that had hit the American embassy, police incident commander Michael Delmer told public broadcaster NRK, in comments via Google translate. An explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo early Sunday caused minor injuries and damage, according to police (via REUTERS) He added that there had been minor injuries, and that police had used dogs, drones, and helicopters to investigate what happened. The Independent has contacted the embassy and the U.S. State Department for comment. "There was a very thick layer of smoke on the street," said Sebastian Toerstad, 18, a high school student who drove past the embassy at the time of the incident. "There was some damage to the entrance," Toerstad told Reuters. Authorities have not said what caused the explosion nor whether any potential suspects have been identified or arrested. Norways national civilian police agency described the events slightly different in a police log. The police have large resources in the area around the US embassy, the log reads, via Google translate. At approximately 0100, a loud bang/explosion was reported at the scene. The police are in dialogue with the embassy and no injuries have been reported. There is currently no information about exactly what happened or who may be involved. Ford recalls nearly two million cars over fault that could increase crash risk Ford has recalled almost 1.74 million vehicles across the US due to critical faults with their rearview camera displays, according to notices from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The issues, which affect a wide range of models, could significantly increase crash risks. One recall impacts 849,310 units of the 2021-2026 Ford Bronco and 2021-2024 Ford Edge. An internal component within the infotainment system of these vehicles may overheat and fail, preventing the rearview image from appearing when reversing. Ford is offering a complimentary software update for the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) to address this. Separately, a second recall covers 889,950 vehicles, including certain 2020-2022 Ford Escapes and Lincoln Corsairs, alongside 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviators and Explorers. For these models, the rearview camera image may display as flipped or inverted, potentially disorienting drivers. Ford is offering a complimentary software update for the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) to address this (Associated Press) Ford estimates that all affected vehicles possess these defects. Despite this, the company has not reported any injuries or accidents linked to either recall, according to NHTSA documents. However, the NHTSA has issued a warning that both malfunctions could heighten the risk of collisions. For impacted Bronco and Edge owners, Ford is offering a free software update for the vehicles' Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM). Owner-notification letters will be mailed out at the end of the month, with the fix available either at a dealer or through an over-the-air update. But a remedy is still under development for the recall impacting the Escapes, Corsairs, Aviators and Explorers, this week's recall announcement notes. In the meantime, interim letters to notify owners of the safety risks are set to be mailed out in the coming months. The Associated Press reached out to Michigan-based Ford for further comments Saturday. For more information, drivers can visit the NHTSA website and Ford's online recall lookup using their vehicles' VIN number, or call the company's customer service line at 1-866-436-7332. A significant fire near Glasgow Central railway station has caused widespread disruption for train passengers, leading to dozens of cancellations on Sunday evening and into Monday morning. The blaze, which erupted at a vape shop on Union Street, forced the closure of Scotlands busiest station until further notice, National Rail confirmed. More than 60 firefighters continued to battle the fire four hours after it started, impacting all services. Footage from the scene shows a building engulfed in flames with firefighters attempting to control the blaze, while a large crowd of people watches on. No trains are operating to or from the high-level platforms, while those using the low-level platforms will bypass Glasgow Central entirely. Passengers are advised to anticipate ongoing disruption on routes that remain operational. Network Rail said the station will remain closed on Monday morning and National Rail expects disruption to continue on routes to, from and through the station until end of the day on Monday. In a statement at 8.30pm, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: Firefighters continue to work to extinguish a large building fire on Union Street, Glasgow. The blaze started at a nearby vape shop (Rajesh Gautam) At its height, 15 fire appliances and specialist resources, including three high-reach vehicles and a water rescue team, were mobilised to the area. We were first alerted at 3.46pm on Sunday, 8 March, to reports of a fire affecting the ground floor of a four-storey commercial building. There are no reported casualties, and crews remain at the scene. Some ticket acceptance is in place, with Avanti West Coast passengers able to use their tickets at no extra cost on LNER services between Edinburgh and London Kings Cross. First minister John Swinney said in a post on X: I am deeply concerned about the fire near Glasgow Central Station tonight and very grateful to all of the emergency services who are responding. Part of Glasgow Central Station will be closed until further notice (PA) Please continue to follow travel guidance, avoid the area and stay safe. Paul Sweeney, Labour MSP for Glasgow, said the building which housed the vape shop where the fire started had partially collapsed. In a post on X, he said the building dates back to 1851. Sadly the building has now partially collapsed. I hope the fire can be contained. The corner of the Forsyth Building, as well as the Caledonian Chambers and Central Hotel seem unaffected, Mr Sweeney said. Its a massive blow to Union Street with the restoration of the Egyptian Halls in prospect. 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. Pizza is a popular choice for lunch and dinner (and breakfast, we don't judge!) thanks to its versatility and deliciousness, but people aren't the only ones who would do anything for a bite. Pet parents everywhere know what it's like to dodge a nosy animal during mealtime! Still, only a few lucky folks experience the utter confusion and shock of an animal that's not theirs stealing their food. Mom and dog mom @laurenagans experienced this for herself on March 3 after an entire pizza went missing from her porch. She hadn't even opened the door to grab it before her neighbor's Golden Retriever, Maggie, decided to help herself. Between her mind-blowing speed and her priceless nonchalance, this innocent-looking princess became a master thief! Maggie knows exactly what she did! This naughty Golden had a ball while feasting on her find, though she was quick to flee the scene when Lauren and her daughter, Sofia, opened the door. At first, Maggie tried to act casual in the yard, but she was out of there as soon as Lauren got suspicious! "Maggie was on the run cause she knew she tore that pizza up," commented @mattchoo. She's a guilty dog for sure! She wasted no time running home to tell Mom her side of the story before Lauren tattles on her, but let's be honestit's impossible to be mad at that precious pup. Related: Senior Foster Dog Discovers Her New Favorite Food and Won't Stop Barking For Pizza Besides, Maggie was thoughtful enough to leave a slice for Sofia! The way this precious little girl claimed her pizza was just as hilarious as Maggie's thievery, which now has me wondering if they planned this together. This is the adorable kind of chaos that dogs bring wherever they go, and no one would have it any other way! Fans of Impractical Jokers experienced deja vu as Maggie's scheme came to life. Commetner @justtammmerz wrote, "Maggies real name is Tonka Jahari." That was the alias used in an iconic 2018 prank involving a pizza order, and now it's Maggie's new nickname, too. Can Dogs Eat Pizza? This hungry Golden Retriever isn't the first dog to help herself to a slice of pizzaor, in this case, an entire pieand she certainly won't be the last. Plenty of pups have had a bite, but is pizza OK for dogs to eat? Like most human food, the answer typically depends on its ingredients. While bread and cheese are fine for most dogs in small amounts, the herbs and inclusions in pizza sauce and toppings are not. Luckily, it's easy to compromise and toss a hungry dog a bite of crust! If Maggie had known about the crust compromise, maybe she would've held back on stealing the pizza. I guess we'll never know! 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 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The daughter of Soham murderer Ian Huntley has said that she was over the moon to find out that he had died and said his ashes should be flushed down the toilet. Samantha Bryan said, after his death: I felt relieved. I didnt cry. I smiled. I was over the moon to be honest. Huntley died in hospital on Saturday after he was attacked in the workshop of a maximum security prison by an inmate. The 52-year-old former school caretaker suffered severe brain trauma in the attack at HMP Frankland, Durham on 26 February. Huntley was convicted for the 2002 murder of 10-year-old schoolgirls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in a case that shocked the nation. The girls had left a family barbecue to buy sweets before they were murdered by Huntley. Ian Huntley was attacked in prison before his death (PA) Samantha Bryan is the only child of Huntley. Her mother, Katie Bryan, had been in a relationship with Huntley when she was 15 before becoming pregnant at 16 and leaving the relationship. According to The Sun, Samantha, 27, found out who her father was while researching for a school crime project when she was 14. After his death, she told the paper: Im just glad hes gone. It wasnt as much of a shock as when I heard last week hed been terribly injured as I thought hed died then. So I was kind of expecting this call. But at the same time it is a shock to be told your biological father is dead. Hes nothing to me apart from biology. She added: Over the years Ive cried many times over the thought of Holly and Jessica and what their family have gone through. I dont ever want Holly and Jessica to ever be forgotten. Candles are lit in remembrance of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman inside St Andrew's Church August 18, 2002 in Soham, Cambridgeshire, England. (Getty) Huntley, one of Britains most reviled killers, was jailed for life with a minimum 40-year tariff in December 2003. Huntley lured Holly and Jessica into his home in Soham, Cambridgeshire, where he lived with Maxine Carr, a teaching assistant at the girls school. With Carr away for the weekend, Huntley murdered the girls and dumped their bodies in a ditch 10 miles away. Their disappearance sparked a search involving hundreds of police officers. As the nations media descended on Soham to report on the disappearances, Huntley gave interviews to journalists, with one reporter Brian Farmer from the Press Association becoming so concerned afterwards that he went to the police. 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. They did not believe him and he was convicted of two counts of murder. A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said that the police investigation into the circumstances of Huntleys death was ongoing and a file was being prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service for the consideration of charges. Iran has elected a new leader, more than a week after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was named by a powerful council late on Sunday evening to succeed his father as supreme leader, despite US president Donald Trumps insistence that he should have a say in the appointment. "By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts, appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the assembly said. Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir, a member of the council, said earlier that it was the elder Khameneis guidance that his successor should be hated by the enemy. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), behind the brutal crackdowns on protesters, said in a statement that they were ready to follow supreme leader Mojtaba. Mojtaba has appeared at loyalist rallies, but has rarely spoken in public (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty) Mr Trump suggested this week that Khameneis son was unacceptable to me as a future supreme leader. He also threatened that a new leader would not last long if they did not have US approval. We want to make sure that we dont have to go back every 10 years, when you dont have a president like me thats not going to do it, Mr Trump told ABC News. In a brazen dismissal of Mr Trumps plans, Irans parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said in a statement late on Sunday that following Mojtaba was religious and national duty. He said the new leader is indeed the shadow of our martyred leader and will guide the ship of the revolution with strength on the path of the Imams of the revolution towards a prosperous, advanced, and unified Iran. Khamenei will step into the role having never held a position in Irans government. He had attained the clerical rank of Hojjatoleslam, a notch below that of his late father. Mojtabas appointment signifies that the hardliners are still firmly in charge in Iran, analysts say. He has opposed reformers seeking to engage the West in talks to limit the countrys nuclear programme. Edmund Fitton-Brown, senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a former British ambassador, told The Independent that Mojtabas selection is a poke in the eye for Trump, who has said he doesnt accept him. Mojtaba will appeal to a range of constituencies within the regime and thus can take over without significant changes either to institutions or personnel, he said. He is popular with the IRGC. Less so with senior clerics, who however dont have anything better on offer. He would have been a more controversial choice in non-emergency circumstances ... But in time of war, and just after his fathers martyrdom, he has a better chance of achieving acceptance. Late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his vote for the presidential runoff election on 5 July 2024, in Tehran (Getty) Critics have said Mojtaba lacks the clerical credentials to be the supreme leader, but he has remained in the frame, particularly after another leading candidate for the role the former president Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in 2024. The US imposed sanctions on Mojtaba Khamenei in 2019, saying he represented the supreme leader in "an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position" aside from working in his father's office. He is reported to own more than 11 luxury properties in the UK through shell companies, according to a Bloomberg investigation. The buildings are valued at over $138m (103m), including one on Bishops Avenue in north London, also known as Billionaires Row. Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Reuters: "Having Mojtaba take over is the same playbook. "It's a big humiliation for the United States to carry out an operation of this scale, risk so much, and end up killing an 86-year-old man, only to have him replaced by his hardline son. Iran's foreign minister has said no one knows who will be the countrys new supreme leader, just hours after a senior official claimed one had been chosen. Ahmad Alamolhoda, a member of the Assembly of Experts, which will select the leader, had told state media on Sunday morning that a successor had been chosen after an election without naming who had been selected. It would be a potentially significant development as the war between Iran and the US and Israel entered its ninth day. Irans previous leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli strike last Saturday. However, the countrys foreign minister Abbas Araghchi later said nobody knows who will succeed Ali Khamenei. A meeting of the interim leadership council in Iran (Reuters) Speaking on NBCs Meet The Press on Sunday, Mr Araghchi said: There are lots of rumours around, but we have to wait for the Assembly of Experts to convene and vote for the new supreme leader. According to The Guardian, the assembly disagree on how to announce the new leader, with some members believing it can be announced and others believing another session is required before it is made public. In a post on X in Farsi, the Israeli military also said it would pursue every person who seeks to appoint a successor to Khamenei, referring to the clerical body charged with choosing the next leader, which may be why no announcement has been made. Donald Trump said that a new leader is not going to last long if he does not approve of the choice. Hes going to have to get approval from us. If he doesnt get approval from us, hes not going to last long. We want to make sure that we dont have to go back every 10 years, when you dont have a president like me thats not going to do it, the US president told ABC News. Israel on Sunday struck southern Lebanon, Beirut and oil storage facilities in Tehran as the war in the Middle East keeps escalating, and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would many surprises for the next phase of the conflict. A burning oil depot in Tehran (UGC/AFP via Getty Images) Iran also hit a desalination plant in Bahrain. Earlier on Sunday, Iran's Mr Araghchi said a US airstrike damaged an Iranian desalination plant on Qeshm Island, warning that in doing so the US set this precedent, not Iran. An Israeli attack on oil storage sites in Tehran sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in an Associated Press video as a glow against the Saturday night sky. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. The conflict, which erupted on 28 February after joint US-Israeli strikes hit Iran, has so far killed at least 1,230 people in the Islamic Republic, more than 300 in Lebanon and more than a dozen in Israel, according to officials. Iran has threatened to attack oil facilities in neighbouring countries after Israel struck at least five energy sites in and around Tehran, smothering the city in black smoke and escalating fears that the conflict will result in significant disruption to the world economy. If you can tolerate oil at more than $200 per barrel, continue this game, said a spokesperson for Irans Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) on Sunday. The US sought to calm markets as oil prices surge by pledging not to target Irans energy infrastructure. Related: Dark, like our future: Iranians describe scenes of catastrophe after Tehrans oil depots bombed However, fireballs and thick plumes of smoke rose over Tehran on Sunday after Israeli airstrikes hit four storage facilities. Irans oil distribution company said four employees were killed, as a dark haze hung over the city and the smell of burning oil lingered in the air. Explosions in the capitals nearby city of Karaj reverberated across the region, and left the area under smoke. A spokesperson for the IRGC said Iran would retaliate if the strikes on energy infrastructure continue. State media quoted the spokesperson accusing the US and Israel of targeting civilians and fuel facilities, saying Gulf states should press them to stop or similar actions will be taken in the region. However, the US energy secretary, Chris Wright, suggested the strikes that hit Iranian oil facilities were carried out by Israel and that Washington would not target Irans energy infrastructure. Speaking to CNN, Wright claimed disruptions to petroleum and gas supplies would be brief, a few weeks at worst. Iran produces about 4% of global oil, much of it exported to China. The tensions came as Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was chosen as his successor. Members of the clerical body responsible for selecting Irans highest authority announced the decision on Sunday night, calling on Iranians to rally behind him and preserve national unity. In a statement carried by state media, the assembly said Khamenei had been chosen through what it described as a decisive vote. The body urged citizens across the country, especially the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities, to pledge allegiance to the new leadership and safeguard unity at a critical moment for Iran. The move could lead to a further escalation of the war after Donald Trump had already acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei was the most likely successor and made clear he considered such an outcome unacceptable. Mojtaba Khameneis elevation marks the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution that Irans supreme leadership has passed from father to son. It is a development likely to ignite debate within the country about the emergence of a dynastic system in a state founded explicitly to overthrow hereditary rule after the shah. Trump said earlier on Sunday that Irans next supreme leader was not going to last long if Tehran did not get his approval first. Earlier in the day, in a post on X in Farsi, the Israeli military said it would continue pursuing every successor of Ali Khamenei and it would pursue every person who sought to appoint a successor for him. The clerical meeting to appoint a new leader happened as fighting between Israel and Iran intensified over the weekend. Iranian strikes have hit energy infrastructure across the Gulf and Israeli attacks have targeted oil storage and fuel facilities inside Iran. A fresh wave of Iranian strikes hit the Gulf on Sunday, with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait all reporting attacks. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted 15 drones, while strikes in Bahrain caused material damage to an important desalination plant. Two people were killed on Sunday and 12 others injured after a projectile fell on a residential location in Al-Kharj, a city in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi civil defence said. On Sunday evening the US military said a US service member had died of injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on US troops in Saudi Arabia. It brings the US death toll from the war to seven. According to reporting by the Washington Post, Fox News and other US media organisations, Russia has been providing Iran with intelligence that could help it target US military assets in the region. The Guardian is unable to confirm this. The recent attacks on Gulf states appear to highlight a clash within Irans leadership, contradicting remarks made on Saturday by the president, Masoud Pezeshkian, who apologised to countries on the Arabian peninsula and suggested strikes against them would end, provided their airspace and US bases were not used against Iran. According to analysts, Pezeshkians pledge not to strike Gulf states exposed rare public rifts within the ruling elite with Irans leadership showing signs of strain, as officials of the regime scrambled to explain and reinterpret the presidents words, which appeared to anger the countrys more conservative factions. Nonetheless, the Iranian military continued striking the neighbouring countries. Throughout the day, Iran launched intermittent barrages of ballistic missiles towards Tel Aviv and central Israel. At least one person was seriously injured after a residential building was hit, according to Magen David Adom, the countrys ambulance service. Most of the missiles were intercepted by Israeli air defences and caused no casualties. Meanwhile, Israels war on several fronts continued, with the Israel Defense Forces launching intense strikes on Lebanon, where the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah is based. The assault on Lebanon left four people dead in a hotel blast in Beirut and killed a further 12 in strikes on southern areas of the country. Israel said it was targeting key commanders in the Iranian militarys Quds Force. Lebanons health ministry said at least 394 people had been killed in the conflict. The Norwegian Refugee Council said about 300,000 people had fled their homes. Meanwhile, violence continued to surge in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. Three people were killed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, bringing the number of Palestinians killed in recent days to six. An Israeli airstrike killed at least two Palestinians in Gaza City on Sunday, local health officials said, the deadliest incident in the territory since Israel and the US launched their war against Iran a week ago. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Sundays strike. Agence France-Presse contributed to this report Palestinian women mourn during funeral in West Bank village of Abu Falah on Sunday. Photograph: Majdi Mohammed/AP (Photograph: Majdi Mohammed/AP) Israeli settlers and soldiers killed three Palestinians in their village near Ramallah on Saturday night, the third deadly attack in a week of surging Israeli violence across the occupied West Bank. Israeli settlers have shot dead five civilians during invasions of Palestinian olive groves, villages and grazing land, in the brief period since Israel and the US launched a new war on Iran at the end of February. A sixth person died on Saturday after inhaling military-grade tear gasused by the Israeli army. The escalating regional conflict diverted diplomatic, media and political attention away from occupied Palestine, even as Israeli authorities imposed a new blockade on Gaza and brought in sweeping movement restrictions across the occupied West Bank, and settlers intensified Israeli attacks on Palestinian land, crops, livestock and homes. Related: Senators demand investigation after ninth American killed by Israeli settlers or soldiers in West Bank Under the cover of war, the cooperation between the military and Israeli settler militias is deepening the ethnic cleansing of the West Bank, Israel-based rights group Btselem said this week. Settlers deliberately graze livestock in Palestinians cultivated fields, destroy crops and stored food, steal livestock, and vandalise solar panels and water tanks. Settlers have also used bulldozers to raze and take over privately owned Palestinian land. The most recent killings came on Saturday night after Palestinians from Abu Falah tried to stop a group of masked Israelis vandalising olive trees outside the town. Dozens of armed settlers later descended on the town, relatives and neighbours of the dead told the Guardian, and killed Thaer Faruq Hamayel, 30, and Fara Jawdat Hamayel, 57. Both men had been shot in the head. Israeli security forces who arrived later to the confrontation fired military-grade tear gas into the narrow streets of Abu Falah. Muhammad Hassan, a 54-year-old father of four, died after inhaling it. What is happening now is extremely dangerous. The world is preoccupied with the war with Iran, while settlers, protected by the Israeli army, continue to attack innocent civilians, said Amin Shuman, a member of the local council in Abu Falah. No one is being held accountable. Settler attacks had intensified over the last week and on Saturday they arrived armed with sticks, slingshots, pistols, and M16 rifles, said Hamid Hamayel, a cousin of Thaer. Their goal is to confiscate the land and force us to leave. Such attacks would not happen without the close cooperation between the settlers and the Israeli army. The Israeli military commander for the occupied West Bank, Maj Gen Avi Bluth, described the shootings in Abu Falah as an unacceptable incident. There would be zero tolerance for civilians who take the law into their own hand, he added, and said those responsible would be brought to justice. Bluth has not commented directly on two deadly shootings carried out earlier in the week by Israeli settler reservists wearing army uniforms, in which three Palestinians were killed and a fourthcritically injured. On Monday two brothers were killed when they tried to prevent settlers damaging olive trees in Qaryut, a small Palestinian village in the northern West Bank. Muhammad Taha Muammar, 52, was shot in the head, and Fahim Taha Muammar, 48, was shot in his lower body. When the Israeli military arrived they arrested more than 20 Palestinians from the village and road closures prevented ambulances from reaching the wounded for more than an hour, Btselem said. The day after the shooting the Israeli military said it had confiscated the weapon of a reservist, Israeli media reported. A spokesperson said on Sunday that the military was treating the attack with utmost severity and was investigating. On Saturday there was another killing in the opposite end of the West Bank. Settlers drove livestock into Palestinian land in the village of Wadi a-Rakhim, south Hebron Hills, and opened fire at point-blank range when residents tried to stop them. Amir Muhammad Shanaran, 28, was killed and his brother Khaled was critically injured. Footage filmed moments after the attack, and shared by Btselem, shows an Israeli in army uniform holding an assault rifle a few feet from one of the men who is collapsed on the ground. The Israeli military did not respond to requests for comment on the shooting. Since October 2023, violent settlers have used Israels army as a vehicle to escalate their campaign against Palestinians across the occupied West Bank. Reserve units drawn from settlements have functioned as vigilante militias, according to Israeli soldiers and activists and the United Nations. Breaking the Silence, an advocacy group for former Israeli soldiers, said settlers were carrying out an average of 10 attacks daily across the West Bank, under cover of the war. As often happens when the media attention shifts, Israel seized the moment to intensify its attacks against Palestinians, the group said on social media. As missiles fly and Iran again dominates the headlines, dont look away from the ethnic cleansing unfolding in the West Bank. Sufian Taha and Quique Kierszenbaum contributed reporting Port Vale boss Jon Brady admitted a long FA Cup run was a pain in the bum amid his sides League One relegation scrap but that did nothing to dampen huge celebrations after they stunned Premier League Sunderland 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954. Ben Waines 28th-minute header was their only attempt on target but still enough to secure a famous win at Vale Park as they beat top-flight opposition for the first time since a fourth-round win over Everton 30 years ago. Despite an uptick in form since Brady replaced Darren Moore in early January, Vale remain rooted to the bottom of League One, 11 points from safety, and could arguably do without further distractions as they fight for their lives at the foot of the division, yet performances like Sundays also offer belief. Its a bit of a pain in the bum, to be honest! Brady said. Port Vale boss Jon Brady, left, and Ben Waine celebrate (Nick Potts/PA) (Nick Potts) It is really because what its doing for us is adding to our fixture list and as you saw we lost one of our best centre-halves (Cam Humphreys) and we havent got the size of the squad to cope with the amount of games at the moment. Its a privilege but its tough as well. Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal are now all potential opponents, but Brady insisted he was giving no thought to the draw as he focuses on trying to get out of trouble. I wouldnt have a clue because Im thinking about Bradford on Wednesday, he said. Waine has now hit the winner in three of Vales FA Cup ties this season, scoring in extra time of Tuesday nights fourth-round victory over Bristol City as well as an earlier tie. But for a boyhood Newcastle fan to do it in a match against Sunderland was something extra special with the 24-year-old almost lost for words when shown that Alan Shearer had retweeted an image of Waine mimicking his trademark celebration. The New Zealand international grew up in Wellington but his mums family hail from the north east, and this was a special occasion. I always watched the Newcastle games against Sunderland and to be involved in this game and to score the winner is pretty special, Waine said. Not just for me, but the whole familythis is the dream, so youve got to enjoy living it. In a week where they reached the 40-point mark in the Premier League, Sunderland blew their chance to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2014. Regis Le Bris reflects on today's defeat at Vale Park pic.twitter.com/cK6vclZXsf Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) March 8, 2026 I was really disappointed, Regis Le Bris said. We went strong with the ambition to win, with the knowledge as well, that it was a tough challenge because of the challenge here, with the crowd, the team fully involved, full credit them In this competition, its more about mindset, fighting spirit, rather than the tactical or technical qualities, and probably we were not consistent enough. I think some of the players were at their level, but especially to create situations today, we were not good enough. I dont think we were complacent. Its not my feeling. Its more about the ability to reset. Distant dream: The beach in Negombo, Sri Lanka (Simon Calder) We were due to fly home today from Sri Lanka with Qatar Airways via Doha, writes Jess. It was cancelled. We went to Colombo airport today to speak to a representative from Qatar and were told to email them about our situation, but that a rescheduled flight could be weeks away. Jesss difficult position is shared with hundreds of thousands of other people who are caught on the wrong side of the Gulf airspace shutdown. She continues: We have the option of reimbursement, but other flights are expensive and currently sparse. We spoke to other airlines, such as Sri Lankan, which said the next available flight is the 28 March. Singapore Airlines couldnt take us until 21 March. Im aware that some other airlines, such as Etihad and Emirates, are operating, but these flights dont appear accessible to us. What do you advise? In the week since Iran started aiming drones and missiles at economic targets such as airports, Jess and many other travellers have discovered that air passengers rights rules do not offer any significant protection when flying on a non-UK/EU airline from outside Europe. As I have previously and expensively discovered, Qatar Airways and other airlines can simply shrug and say: Sorry, but its not our fault. We will get around to flying you when we can. Meanwhile, how about a refund? To be clear, airlines facing disruption on a vast scale want as many passengers as possible to cancel, as it removes them from the picture and annuls the contract. Also, if you ask for your money back, you will typically be given a few hundred pounds representing the unused portion of your return journey. It will not reimburse you for the actual cost of getting home. Jess appears to me to have three options. She will need to choose the least bad option, depending on circumstances. First, if she simply needs to get home as soon as possible due to work or family commitments, I am afraid she must throw time and money at the problem. This is how I got out of Kathmandu when Qatar Airways cancelled my flight and said there was nothing more for a week. I ended up flying three hours in the wrong direction to Bangkok at enormous expense, and then buying a British Airways flight back to Gatwick. Total bill: around 1,300. The exit strategy was to search for flights to anywhere. But travellers beware: from Sri Lanka, many of the available seats are to India. With the rare exception of a connecting Air India flight, passengers will be required to have an Indian visa. Take it from me: you really dont want to embark on that particular bureaucratic journey. Going via China could be feasible as helpfully, UK passport holders no longer need a Visa for China. At the other extreme, Jess could simply wait until Qatar Airways has a seat available. I think that could be a couple of weeks if there are no further serious military incursions. Announcing plans to operate six passenger flights to its hub at Doha on Monday 9 March, including from London Heathrow, the airline stressed these flights are only for passengers whose final destination is Doha and said: These flights do not constitute a confirmation of resumption of scheduled commercial operations. Nevertheless, the queue of people waiting to get home is likely to reduce as travellers find alternative routes. Sri Lanka is a relatively cheap country, and if Jess is in no particular hurry or can work from a beachside hotel, this would be the lowest cost option for now. My recommended solution, though, is to wait a few days and see. Etihad has just announced the restoration of part of the schedule from Asia via its hub in Abu Dhabi to Europe. Right now, for immediate departure, you can pay around 4,000 one way in economy via the UAE and Zurich to get back to London or Manchester. That is an absurd amount of money. But other airlines will be opportunistically adding more departures. For example, Oman Air is stepping up its flights from Asia via Muscat to London Heathrow. For travellers who can bear a few more days of uncertainty, I believe the price will come down. Talking of fares: once this lousy law is over, the Middle East carriers will face a big challenge trying to lure travellers back. Some passengers will be deterred by the proximity of the big hubs to the regions flashpoints. But others will remember how they were treated during the aviation shutdown. Rival carriers must be secretly delighted. Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue and what it means for you. An Iranian made Shahed drone in flight - Efrem Lukatsky/AP The recent strike on the runway at RAF Akrotiri was delivered by an Iranian-made Shahed the same type of suicide drone that has been supplied to Putins forces to strike military and civilian targets in Ukraine. It has been assessed that it was fired from Lebanon by Hezbollah, a key Iranian proxy, designated a terrorist organisation by the UK. RAF Akrotiri is not just another military base on foreign soil. It is British sovereign territory, one of two areas retained by the UK under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus. What was our response to a direct attack on British sovereign territory? Defence Secretary John Healey claimed that this was an indiscriminate strike which it clearly was not. His apparent attempt to deny that British territory had been deliberately attacked by the Iranian axis was akin to Keir Starmers desperation to distance himself from the joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran when he plaintively insisted right at the start that Britain played absolutely no role. He reinforced that stance by denying US use of British bases in the UK and Diego Garcia. Furthermore Starmer has done his best to avoid saying one way or the other whether his government supported the US-Israeli operation. He desperately clung to a threadbare cloak of international law even as left wing leaders in Australia and Canada came out backing Trump against a terrorist state that has brutally murdered thousands of its own people, perpetrated violence across the region for decades and is actively pursuing nuclear weapons. While Britain stands idly by, Greece dispatched frigates to help defend Cyprus and even France has promised warships and air defence systems. The appalling state of our armed forces has been illustrated by the Royal Navys failure so far to get even one warship ready to sail to the Middle East. This, despite weeks of gathering war clouds as US forces steadily built up in the region. Contrast that with 1982, when a task force of 40 ships left Britain for the South Atlantic within just four days of the Argentinian invasion of the Falklands. Meanwhile Israel is doing our fighting for us by going in against Hezbollah. Israel is defending its own citizens of course but its expanding assaults against the terrorists in Lebanon will also be protecting us. Can we expect to see a word of thanks to a country that is putting its own soldiers lives on the line and has consistently supported Britain with life saving intelligence and defence technology over many decades? No of course not, quite the opposite. What we can expect as fighting intensifies in Lebanon is more hand-wringing about de-escalation, negotiation and compromise together with Starmers habitual finger-pointing at Prime Minister Netanyahu, one of only two world leaders today (the other being Trump) who has the courage to stand up in defence of his own country and of Western values. Theres more to this than just a single drone hit on a British base. Hezbollah and Iran were directly responsible for murdering and maiming dozens of British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq during the conflicts there. And Hezbollah and Iran have been involved in at least 20 potentially lethal terrorist plots in the UK. These have all been orchestrated by Tehrans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Even the EU has belatedly proscribed this terror army while again, Britain stands idly by, feebly refusing to do so. The devastating reality in all this is that Starmer and his government is putting party politics above national security. Thats why he imposed a partial arms embargo on our Israeli allies while they were fighting an existential war, why his government sanctioned Israeli ministers and why he recognised a non-existent State of Palestine. He is in a dreadfully weak position at home, underlined by his loss to a hard left-Islamic alliance at the Gorton and Denton by-election last month. He is so reliant on anti-Israel MPs and voters that he darent do what is right in the Middle East, and indeed what is in his own countrys national interests. His refusal to openly support Trump over Iran is because he believes he cant afford to be seen joining an attack on a Muslim country. I do however have a hunch that he might even have taken that risk if Jerusalem had not been involved. Instead, for fear of the anti-Israel lobby, he is sacrificing Britains special relationship with the US. And by watching as Israel does Britains fighting, he is undermining what remains of our deterrent capability on the world stage. I lost my husband in the Ukraine war - I came to Dubai to be safe Ukrainian widow Olga Garbuz, who lost her husband to the war in Ukraine, came to Dubai with her daughter in 2022 to rebuild her life. But the recent escalation in the Gulf has revived the fears she thought she had left behind. The war in Ukraine took many things from me and my daughter. My husband got killed. We got displaced multiple times. I cannot imagine going through any of these again, Ms Garbuz tells The Independent. Her husband, Yuriy Volchkov, was killed in Kharkiv, a frontline city in eastern Ukraine, in March 2022, when the vehicle he was travelling in to distribute humanitarian aid was shot at by the Russians. He was 45 years old. After fleeing Kharkiv, which fell under the Russian occupation in the early months of the war, Ms Garbuz and her daughter moved repeatedly across Ukraine before eventually leaving the country. We had to move 13 times from city to city, she says. Each time packing our things and setting up a new home was incredibly exhausting. I arrived in the UAE with my daughter Maya and just two suitcases four years ago. Since then, I have been working hard for the wellbeing of my daughter. A few days before the escalation began with Irans retaliatory strikes across the Gulf, she said she had finally begun to feel, after three years, that life was returning to normal. Her biggest fear now is having to uproot her daughter again. Now we have been living in the same apartment for almost two years. My daughter goes to school regularly. It would be an absolutely heartbreaking situation for her if we had to move again, she adds. But the sound of missile interceptions over the Dubai skies has brought back old instincts. I found myself again packing an emergency bag. I knew which documents to include, that we must have water at home and cash on hand. The explosions also bring back the physical memory of war: Sometimes my body tenses up because I remember what it was like and what usually followed. I still try to remain calm and not give in to panic. Despite the tension, she says she still trusts the UAE authorities: I believe they will be able to resolve this conflict diplomatically as quickly as possible. This combination of satellite images provided by Planet Labs PBC show Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, left, and on Sunday, March 1, 2026, right (Planet Labs PBC) A week on from the military escalation, Irans president Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for targeting his Gulf neighbours, but Iran has continued to fire at Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia with fresh attacks. On Friday, the UAEs ministry of interior issued an emergency alert across Dubai urging residents to seek immediate shelter following warnings of a potential missile threat. The UAE intercepted nine ballistic missiles and 109 drones, the Ministry of Defence confirmed. Amid the rising tension, Ukraines foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said he had received assurances from the government of the United Arab Emirates that Ukrainian citizens in the country would be protected. Some 250,000 Ukrainians are currently living in the Middle East. For Ukrainians like Kateryna Moskviechiev and her husband Dmytro, who relocated to the UAE for safety, being caught up in another conflict far from home in Abu Dhabi was the last thing they expected. It feels like the war has followed us to Dubai, Ms Moskviechiev tells The Independent. The couple, along with their two sons, aged eight and two, moved to the UAE in September 2024. An estimated 5.2 to 6 million Ukrainians moved abroad following the war. We left Ukraine because we didnt want our children to grow up in a war zone, she says. Kateryna Moskviechiev and her husband Dmytro relocated to the UAE for safety (Supplied) But the sight of Russian missiles and Shahed drones flying overhead near her apartment on the Corniche, and the sound of loud explosions as air-defence systems intercepted them, left her shocked and surprised. Thats not what you expect in the UAE, says Ms Moskviechiev. It brought back my worst memories of Ukraine, when our family hid in the bathroom while Russians bombed Kharkiv. The three of us slept on the floor of a bus stop that had thick walls and no windows. As the recent Iranian drone and missile attacks across the Gulf are far less intense than the bombardment Ukraine has endured, she said she is not scared. Ive lived through this before, she says. And Im impressed by how effectively the UAEs air-defence systems are responding. I definitely feel safer here than in Ukraine. Ms Moskviechiev says she is praying this escalation will end quickly, adding: We know what a prolonged war can do to a country and its people this war must stop. Another Ukrainian in Dubai, Alexandra Govorukha, a PR professional, says she moved there six months ago after relocating to the UK from Ukraine in 2022. And the danger is near again. One rocket was shot down not far from our house, Ms Govorukha wrote in a post on Facebook. She says her nine-year-old daughter, who is studying remotely, knows what the war is and is already hardened by life. We need to learn to have a Plan B everywhere and be prepared for any situation unfolding. Mariana Yevsyukova, a mother of two children aged seven and one, said even relatives back home in Ukraine are worried about the attacks in the Gulf (Supplied) Mariana Yevsyukova, a UAE resident since 2017, says the escalating tensions in the Middle East have stirred painful memories for many Ukrainians living in the country. We carry the trauma of witnessing war, she says. We ran away from the Shahed drones in Ukraine, and now they are hitting the UAE. Ms Yevsyukova, a mother of two children aged seven and one, said even relatives back home in Ukraine are worried about the attacks in the Gulf. My family in Kharkiv checks on me several times a day. A friend who is struggling without power in this harsh winter messaged me to say he is there if I need anything. Even in the middle of a war, they are thinking about others. March 9, 2026: We surrender. That is what most Taiwanese believe will happen if China attacks. Despite that, there are many reasons why China fears the consequences of attacking Taiwan. China depends on foreign trade and is tied with the United States as the largest trading nation in the world. While losing access to Chinese products is a solvable problem for the Americans, it would be a disaster for China and its political leaders. Seizing Taiwan could also be a disaster. Taiwan is the global leader in the production of key computer equipment. The advanced chip fabs/fabricators of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company make it the most important company in the world. If the fabs were disabled by war or, as Taiwan has threatened, by Taiwan blowing them up upon being invaded, the result would be worldwide economic depression. US Treasury Secretary Bessent has stated this. To avoid that Taiwan could arrange to move the fabs and the personnel that operate them to a safe country. South Korea, Australia or the United States would be glad to accept this transfer. Taiwan is unlikely to do so as that would be an invitation for the West to abandon them to China. Many other skilled or wealthy Taiwanese could also move somewhere else and leave China with the prospect of capturing a hollowed out Taiwan and the enmity of the rest of the world. The ensuing worldwide depression would also destroy the ability and willingness of the world to pay for Chinese exports and thereby destroy Chinas economy along with the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Then there is the real prospect of an attempted invasion of Taiwan failing. For decades Taiwan has been building up its military. For example, seventeen years ago Taiwan was reducing its armed forces from 350,000 back then, to 275,000 now and 215,000 by 2014. At that point, the military would be all-volunteer. Conscription has long been unpopular, and fewer troops will mean more money for new equipment. Defending the island against Chinese attack is seen more a matter of technology than masses of troops. To that end, Taiwan has resumed development and production of the Hsiung Feng 2E cruise missile. This project was halted 17 months ago to appease China, but that didn't work. Taiwan has also developed its own laser guided bomb kits similar to the U.S. JDAM. The Hsiung Feng 2E is a 5.8 meter long cruise missile that weighs a ton with a 205 kg warhead and has a top speed of 800 kilometers an hour. Max range is 600 kilometers. It uses inertial and GPS guidance. The Hsiung Feng 2E was developed from the Hsiung Feng 2 anti-ship missile. This was a smaller weapon (0.685 ton), with a range of 160 kilometers. It entered service in the early 1990s, and by the late 1990s, developers were working on turning it into a cruise missile. The Hsiung Feng 2E can be launched from ships or from land and can threaten Chinese targets several hundred kilometers inland. At the same time the U.S. refused a Taiwanese request to buy 60 F-16 fighters, because China was very much opposed to it. So Taiwan began building more weapons that it has designed itself. This included submarines. And eventually got the F-16s anyway. Faced with the prospect of an empty victory and retaliation from the rest of the world, Chinese leaders may respond to the Taiwanese attitude of surrendering with an attitude of, why bother? Attacking Taiwan risks much with the prospect of little gain. Emmanuel Macron is to demonstrate Frances solidarity with Cyprus, the Elysee said - Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Emmanuel Macron will visit Cyprus on Monday, pushing France to the front of Europes military response to the Iran conflict. The French president will make the trip while Britains promised destroyer has failed to leave the UK. Mr Macron also spoke with Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, on Sunday night, calling on Iran to halt strikes against other countries in the region and to end the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The first Western leader known to have held a direct call with Tehran since the war started, Mr Macron also reiterated Frances position that a diplomatic solution was necessary to end the conflict. A flotilla of European ships is converging on Cyprus after last weeks drone strike on RAF Akrotiri. Germanys frigate FGS Nordrhein-Westfalen arrived in Limassol on Sunday, while Frances Languedoc sailed to Cypriot waters last week. Italy is sending the Federico Martinengo, Spain the Cristobal Colon and Greece has already dispatched four F-16 fighter jets and two frigates. These include the Kimon, described by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greeces prime minister, as the pride of the Greek fleet. By contrast, HMS Dragon, the destroyer Britain pledged after the strike, has not yet left Portsmouth and is expected to take more than a week to arrive. The German frigate FGS Nordrhein-Westfalen arrived in Limmasol, Cyprus, on Sunday - Alexis Mitas/Getty Images Rishi Sunak, the former prime minister, criticised the delay and said the Labour Government lacked strategic acumen. Mr Sunak wrote in The Times: Given how much notice we had of these strikes, why was no ship moved to the Mediterranean to help protect our interests and allies? It is frankly embarrassing that the French appear to be doing more to protect Cyprus than we are, even though Cyprus is only a target because of our sovereign bases there. Iranian drone attack Cyprus was targeted by Iranian-made drones on Monday, prompting Mr Macron to order the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean as well as a frigate and air defence units to Cyprus. The carrier strike group is heading towards the eastern Mediterranean, reinforcing the impression that Paris has moved faster and more decisively than London. Mr Macron will meet Nikos Christodoulides, his Cypriot counterpart, and Mr Mitsotakis in Paphos, in western Cyprus, where Greece deployed its four F-16s on Monday. The jets were sent to Paphos airport, which is undergoing a major expansion partly backed by the United States. The Americans are supporting the upgrade of the airbase at Paphos. Everyone swears blind that it wont be an American base but it probably will be in all but name, Fiona Mullen, a Cyprus-based political and economic analyst, said. This trip is intended to demonstrate Frances solidarity with Cyprus, a member state of the European Union with which we have a strategic partnership and which was recently hit by several drones and missile strikes, the Elysee said. Mr Macron has ordered the Languedoc, a frigate, to Cyprus after the island was targeted in a drone strike - Jack Guez/AFP It will also allow Mr Macron to emphasise the importance of guaranteeing freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, in particular through the European Unions Aspides maritime operation, it added. The optics are awkward for Sir Keir Starmer. A British base on Cyprus has come under attack but it is France that has placed forces near the island most rapidly and Mr Macron who is arriving in person. That contrast will sharpen the impression that the French president is seeking to cast himself as Europes leading wartime statesman. The trip comes days after he announced the first increase in Frances nuclear stockpile since the 1990s and unveiled an expanded deterrence doctrine under which allied European states, potentially including Britain, could fall under Frances nuclear umbrella. Cypriots unsettled by British inaction Britains failure to protect Akrotiri from drone attack, and the delay in getting HMS Dragon to the island, have unsettled Cypriots. Ms Mullen, director of Sapienta Economics, said: I think they are disappointed with the British. There has always been an underlying discomfort with the presence of the British bases. They are seen as a legacy of colonialism. But the unspoken contract used to be: We may not like it but they protect us from attack. But then a drone gets through. People are saying: We thought you could protect us and you couldnt. That discontent surfaced on Saturday when hundreds of protesters marched through Nicosia demanding the removal of the UKs two sovereign base areas, chanting: Say it loud, say it clear, British bases out of here. Even so, there is little sign that Nicosia is likely to reopen discussion on removing the bases any time soon. Dr Nasia Hadjigeorgiou, an associate professor at UCLan Cyprus, said there was not much appetite among Greek Cypriot politicians to renegotiate the bases status and that, even if they tried, the British would be sure to push back. The drone strike on RAF Akrotiri caused minimal damage and no casualties, British officials said, though service staff families have since been moved away from the base as a precaution. Girl Scouts got in trouble for selling cookies outside a NJ weed dispensary but their sales were sky high A bunch of New Jersey Girl Scouts upset senior leaders recently by teaming up with a local weed dispensary to sell their world-famous cookies but before they got shut down, the effort seems to have really paid off. Last month, an unidentified troop sold cookies outside Daylite Dispensary in Mount Laurel as a trial run, according to store owner Steve Cassidy, after the idea had been rejected by the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey last year. Cassidy said the girls effort was a success, which he attributed, in no small part, to the munchies that use of cannabis generally induces. But senior Girl Scout leadership was reportedly unhappy with the move, he told The Independent Thursday. It was about community, Cassidy said. If that means the local Girl Scout troop got in trouble, that is absolutely not what we wanted. "I think they were very pleased with the amount of cookies they sold that day. I didn't get a true count on how many boxes of cookies they sold, but I believe it was a lot," Cassidy told News12. "A lot was sold to our staff members as well, but the feedback from our customers was overwhelmingly positive." Girl Scouts in Chicago sell cookies outside of a Starbucks in 2017. A New Jersey Girl Scout troop upset organizational leaders last month by selling cookies outside Daylite Dispensary in Mount Laurel (Getty Images) Its unclear whether the troop returned for a second scheduled sale that had been organized for Friday evening. The Independent had no reply from attempts to contact the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey, as well as Girl Scouts headquarters for comment. In a statement to News 12, the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey said: "Girl Scouts can set up booths outside of businesses that they would be able to enter and purchase something." Troops across the United States have long set up booths in spots where they expect high footfall or a particularly cookie-hungry clientele - from shooting ranges to marijuana shops and college-town bars. But where they are allowed to sell appears to vary, from state to state. An undated Cookie Booth Essentials guide on the Girl Scouts website echoes what the regional chapter told News 12: troops shouldnt sell cookies in or directly outside establishments where they arent legally allowed to enter. In 2018, a San Diego Girl Scout sold more than 300 boxes in six hours outside Urbn Leaf, featuring favorites like Peanut Butter Sandwich and Thin Mints. In 2014, a 13-year-old sold 117 boxes in just two hours outside a medical marijuana clinic (Getty Images) Girl Scouts have been selling cookies to fund troop activities and teach entrepreneurship since 1917. While door-to-door sales were the original approach, booths outside supermarkets and grocery stores soon became a familiar sight. Nowadays, many Scouts also accept credit cards and digital payments through apps like Venmo. Reports of selling Girl Scout cookies at cannabis dispensaries is nothing new, especially on the West Coast. In 2018, an unnamed Girl Scout sold more than 300 boxes in six hours outside Urbn Leaf, a San Diego dispensary, with the store promoting her sale in a now-deleted Instagram post, KGTV reported. In 2014, a 13-year-old in San Francisco sold 117 boxes in just two hours outside a medical marijuana clinic, according to a report in Mashable. That same year, some Girl Scout councils, including Colorado, restricted sales near dispensaries, bars, and liquor stores. Girl Scouts are known for getting creative with where they sell their cookies, including at the 2016 Oscars to Hollywood's biggest stars (Getty Images) "If you are wondering, we don't allow our Girl Scouts to sell cookies in front of marijuana shops or liquor stores/bars," the organization's Colorado branch tweeted at the time, KGTV reports. In 2018, AnneMarie Harper, a spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of Colorado, told the New York Times that those restrictions had been eased, but Scouts in the state still need to get approval for booth locations to ensure safety and legal compliance. Back then it was a blanket: No, you may not, Harper said. Now, its more of: Come to us, tell us where you want to be and what you want to do, making sure were checking off all of the safety guidelines. At the time, Harper said that while some Girl Scouts had sold cookies near breweries, she was unaware of attempts to set up booths outside legal marijuana dispensaries. We really want girls to be cookie entrepreneurs, to find new and creative ways to reach customers, she said. Customers lined up on a New York City street in support of National Girl Scout Cookie Day on February 8, 2013 (Getty Images) Even amid some controversies, Girl Scouts have found inventive ways to sell their cookies. In a February 2023 Reddit forum, one user said they have seen both Girl and Boy Scouts selling cookies at a local gun store or range. Around the same time, seven-year-old Girl Scout Siena and her family hit the streets of West Hollywood, a neighborhood famous for its lively LGBTQ community, and sold out their entire inventory twice, with enthusiastic support from drag queens and patrons of local gay bars,Yahoo reported. Online cookie sales began in December 2014 with the launch of the Digital Cookie platform, allowing Scouts to sell through personalized websites, apps and email links. The platform was designed to teach modern entrepreneurship while maintaining in-person sales, according to the organizations website. More than a decade later, Girl Scouts are now using social media to expand their reach. Last month, six-year-old Pim Neill of Pittsburgh went viral on TikTok, selling some 121,500 boxes of cookies to set a new record in Pennsylvania. Sen. Lindsay Graham, who was a key part of the effort to convince Donald Trump to go to war with Iran, now has a dire warning for the Iranian government: The next two weeks will be hell. Graham made the comment Sunday on Fox News, telling Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo that the U.S. was going to blow the hell out of these people, and warned that the Iranian regime was now in a death spiral. Israel and the United States -- you just wait to see what comes the next two weeks, Graham told Bartiromo. Meaning what? she responded. We're going to blow the hell out of these people. This regime is in a death throe now, it is gonna be on its knees, its going to fall, and when it falls were going to have peace like no other time, were going to have prosperity unlike anyone could ever imagine. Peace brings prosperity. You cant do it by talking. The Democrats criticize this operation, [but] they didnt do a damn thing. These men and women in uniform should make us all proud. Linsdey Graham warned that the U.S. was going to "blow the hell out" of Iran in the next two weeks (Fox - Sunday Morning Futures) Grahams comments could be taken as a sign that the Trump administration is planning an escalation of the military campaign against Iran in the coming days. It could also be confirmation that the White House is considering further escalation of Trumps warmaking. Graham added in the same interview: You see this hat? 'Free Cuba.' Stay tuned. The liberation of Cuba is upon us. We're marching through the world. We're clearing out the bad guys. Cuba is next." Already, the strikes in Iran have killed more than 1,000 people. The death toll is now spreading around the region as more and more countries are included in what has become a regional war. Iranian strikes have hit numerous countries hosting U.S. forces and other targets such as embassies. Hostilities have also been renewed between Israel and Hezbollah, with rocket fire raining down on Israel from Lebanon and retaliatory Israeli strikes killing hundreds there, too. Six U.S. service members have also been confirmed killed by the Pentagon in a strike that hit an operations center in Kuwait. On Sunday, a seventh service member was confirmed as having been killed in the region. The South Carolina senator is one of the loudest critics of the Iranian regime on Capitol Hill and has long backed the use of military force to dislodge it. Grahams involvement in this latest conflict extends deeper, however, and he has been credited with helping sell the military action to the White House personally and via advice he gave to Israeli officials, including Bibi Netanyahu, who visited Mar-a-Lago in December. Graham has long been a supporter of using military force against Iran (Getty Images) To help make his case, Graham met repeatedly with members of Israels intelligence service. He told The Wall Street Journal this month: Theyll tell me things our own government wont tell me. His influence and the reporting claiming that the Trump administration was goaded into attacking by news of imminent Israeli plans of attack have led many on both sides of the aisle to question the administrations seemingly ever-shifting explanation for going to war, which it, on occasion, still claims it hasnt done. Administration officials have given various reasons for the necessity of the strikes, which were reportedly ordered just a day after negotiations took place in Geneva, Switzerland, between Iran and the U.S. At those negotiations, both sides publicly committed to another round of talks just days away. Donald Trump hit the U.K.s Keir Starmer on Saturday for join[ing] Wars after we've already won!" (AP) Those explanations have ranged from the prospect that Iran was just days away from developing nuclear weapons or material to the suggestion that Irans non-nuclear ballistic missile program would soon have reached a point of no return after which it would have become infeasible to take further action against its nuclear program. Still others have centered around Irans refusal to negotiate its non-nuclear weapon stockpiles and support for regional militant groups like the Houthis and Hezbollah. The president has shown no signs of laying out an endgame for the Iranian conflict. He has repeatedly rejected suggestions to resume talks, and U.S. rhetoric has centered on seeking unconditional surrender from the ruling regime. On Saturday, Trump lashed out at the U.K.s Keir Starmer over the conflict, claiming that it was largely concluded and attacking Americas ally for a late show of support. "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," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "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!" File photo: OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. OpenAI's top robotics executive said Saturday she had resigned over the artificial intelligence giant's deal with the US government to allow its technology's deployment for war and domestic surveillance. The company behind ChatGPT secured a defence contract with the Pentagon last month, hours after rival Anthropic refused to agree to unconditional military use of their technology. Read moreOpenAI secures Pentagon deal with safety safeguards as Trump drops Anthropic OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman later posted to X saying the startup would be modifying a contract so its models would not be used for "domestic surveillance of US persons and nationals", after criticism it was giving too much power to military officials without oversight. Caitlin Kalinowski said she cared deeply about "the Robotics team and the work we built together", but that "surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorisation are lines that deserved more deliberation than they got". "This was about principle, not people," she wrote in a post on X. Kalinowski wrote in a followup post that she took issue with the haste of OpenAI's Pentagon deal. "To be clear, my issue is that the announcement was rushed without the guardrails defined," she wrote. "It's a governance concern first and foremost. These are too important for deals or announcements to be rushed." Anthropic's refusal to authorise use of its Claude AI models had prompted backlash from US officials. Kalinowski previously worked at Meta, developing their augmented reality glasses. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Paddington The Musical has triumphed at the WhatsOnStage awards with nine gongs, including best new musical and best costume design. The theatre awards ceremony also saw Evita star Rachel Zegler and Richard II actor Jonathan Bailey win the best performer gongs for their respective categories. The smash-hit musical, which stars a life-like puppet Paddington Bear, equalled Harry Potter And The Cursed Child and Miss Saigon as the production with the most wins in the history of the awards show the most for any new musical. Paddington Bear attending the 79th British Academy Film Awards (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) Written by McFly star Tom Fletcher, the musical is based on the Michael Bond book A Bear Called Paddington and the 2014 film Paddington. Since opening in December, it has received rave reviews notably for bringing to life the famous bear through a two-person team consisting of James Hameed as remote puppeteer controlling the expressions and delivering the voice, and Arti Shah embodying the character on stage. The musical also won the award for best direction, set design, sound design, hair, wig and make-up, musical supervision/direction, casting, and best professional debut performance for Timi Akinyosade who plays Tony. Darius Thompson and Alex Wood of WhatsOnStage said: The voters really did look after that bear. Paddingtons record-setting awards haul has firmly cemented it as a fan-favourite new addition to the West End. Meanwhile Zegler won best performer in a musical for playing Eva Peron, Argentinas former first lady, in Jamie Lloyds production of the hit musical Evita. Zeglers performance included treating West End passers-by to a rendition of Dont Cry For Me Argentina, as she belted the song over a balcony from the London Palladium theatre. Rachel Zegler, who plays Eva Peron in Jamie Lloyds new production of Evita (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (Jordan Pettitt) Evita took home five awards, including best musical revival and choreography. Bailey, known for starring in the recent film adaptation of the hit musical Wicked, beat Tom Hiddleston and Rosamund Pike for his performance in Richard II and was named best performer in a play. The production, at Bridge Theatre, also won the best play revival, while The Comedy About Spies by Henry Lewis and Henry Shields was named best new play. Former Love Island star and recent BBC Strictly Come Dancing finalist Amber Davies won the best supporting performer in a musical award for playing Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby. Sir Stephen Fry attending the Newport Beach Film Festival (Ian West/PA) (Ian West) Meanwhile author and Celebrity Traitors star Sir Stephen Fry was named the best supporting performer in a play with his portrayal of Lady Bracknell in The Importance Of Being Earnest. The night also saw Dear England playwright James Graham recognised with the services to UK Theatre award, while Les Miserables won the best West End show award. A GOP senator tore into Stephen Miller, the architect of Donald Trumps mass deportation campaign, on Sunday and said that the two-time White House official was out of his depth. It was some of the most withering criticism directed at the administration yet from Sen. Thom Tillis, a retiring Republican lawmaker who announced his decision not to seek re-election after voting against his party over the Big, Beautiful Bill last year. Tilliss breakup with the president was messy over the course of 2025, and in its wake, he has become one of the only vocal critics of the president within his own party on the Hill. But the tone of his attacks against Miller in particular shifted in the wake of the shootings of two Americans killed while protesting ICE and DHS agents in Minneapolis in early 2026, and the senator has come to assert that the presidents mass deportation program is riddled with incompetent leadership. He made that accusation again on Sunday, on CNNs State of the Union, telling Jake Tapper that Miller should resign and laying the blame for the false narrative around one of the slain protesters, Alex Pretti, brandishing a loaded firearm at officers. Pretti never unholstered a weapon that he was legally permitted to be carrying at the time of his death. Tillis pointed to Miller as a constant source of embarrassment for the U.S.: It was Stephen Miller talking about a terrorist brandishing a gun. It was Stephen Miller who said it was the position of the United States that we should go after Greenland. Its Stephen Miller thats been repeatedly responsible for embarrassments for the president of the United States, speaking first and asking questions later. Thom Tillis called for Stephen Miller to resign on Sunday (Getty) Stephen Miller is seen as the architect of Trumps efforts to expel massive quantities of undocumented immigrants (AFP/Getty) The senator went on to trash Miller for having an outsized influence on the Cabinet, telling Tapper: Hes a big problem in this administration, he has been from the beginning. Tillis was one of the first Republicans on the Hill to call for the resignation of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem after the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good, and has undermined the White Houses argument solely blaming Democrats and non-compliant state officials for the chaos that has followed immigration enforcement operations and raids around the country. In Minneapolis in particular, Trump officials were forced to make a major U-turn and withdraw hundreds of agents from the city after bipartisan criticism grew too loud on the Hill and polling showed that the publics view of ICE as an agency was quickly souring. Accusations of Noems sexual relationship with a specially-appointed staffer, former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, were also officially becoming a point of humiliation for the administration. Secretary Kristi Noem was fired on Friday (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Noem was fired from her role as secretary on Friday and appointed to head a new organization without formal congressional authorization or funding. Shes set to be replaced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, one of Tilliss Republican colleagues in the upper chamber. Tillis told CNN that he believed Mullin, whod echoed some of the same conspiracies about Pretti spread by Miller and Noem, would learn from the mistakes of his predecessor at the job and wait to comment on developing issues before the facts were clear. The upheaval at DHS has been rumored in D.C. for months and comes as the presidents approval ratings on immigration have reached some of their lowest levels in history. Previously one of the presidents stronger issues, the president is now ten points underwater on his handling of the issue in a new NBC News poll published on Sunday. As a result of Tilliss retirement and a host of other dynamics, including the tendency of the presidents party to lose ground during the midterms, the North Carolina Senate seat is now heavily favored to fall into Democratic hands next year. The Senate map was once thought to be favorable for Republicans this year, but has quickly turned against the GOP as Democrats have recruited powerful candidates in several races while Republicans face strong political headwinds. His retirement also comes amid a wave of Republicans leaving the Hill on their own terms this cycle, a trend that has complicated the GOP's maps in both chambers. That list of departing Republicans grew last week with the sudden surprise retirement of Sen. Steve Daines, a two-term member of the GOP caucus, who withdrew his candidacy less than ten minutes before the state filing deadline ensuring that his favored replacement, whod filed his own bid minutes earlier, would be in the primary race unchallenged. Other retirements that caught the GOP off guard included Sen. Joni Ernst, whose departure sparked a battle to replace her in Iowa, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who, like Tillis, chose to exit Congress after a public blow-up with Trump. New rules for asylum seekers were announced by the Home Secretary this week as part of a government bid to crack down on illegal immigration. They include changes to refugee status, paying failed asylum seekers up to 10,000 each to leave the country within seven days and stripping those found working illegally of their rights to taxpayer-funded accommodation. Shabana Mahmood also revealed there would be new safe and legal routes opening for migrants to come to Britain. But she faces a growing backlash from Labour MPs over her plans, with some arguing that proposed changes are cruel. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood delivers a speech to the Institute for Public Policy Research (PA Wire) What are the new legal routes to the UK for migrants? There will be series of new legal routes for migrants to come to Britain, Ms Mahmood said. A new student refugee route will open in the Autumn. The the first arrivals under the scheme are expected to come to the UK in 2027. Details of who will be eligible have not yet been revealed. But the announcement came after the Home Secretary unveiled unprecedented visa restrictions for potential students from four countries. An emergency brake has been placed on UK student visas for people from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan after asylum applications rocketed. Ms Mahmood also confirmed her plans will include a new work route to Britain for migrants and the expansion of community sponsorship based on the Ukraine scheme model. It is understood that the Ukraine scheme, which allows Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family to live, work and study in the UK for a set period of time, will be extended for a further 24 months. The extension will go live in August and will enable Ukrainians who wish to remain in Britain under the scheme to stay. A scheme for Ukrainian nationals to come to Britain is set to be extended (PA Wire) The Home Office is also making a change to rules for people who came to the UK from Hong Kong, expanding the British National and Overseas visa to include adult children of the visa holder who were under the age of 18 on July 1, 1997, and their children. It is estimated that 26,000 people could arrive in the UK under that process over the next five years. Ms Mahmood said the governments approach was designed to shift the asylum system away from dangerous small boat crossings and high levels of applications from those without legitimate asylum claims. During a speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research, she said: At the same time as showing that immense generosity of spirit, we must wrest control over migration back from the smugglers and restore order and control at our border. That means bearing down on illegal routes to this country, tackling illegal crossings and, as a result, reducing the burden of so many living in asylum accommodation. Since launching the Border Security Command, we have made over 5,000 law enforcement disruptions of smuggling gangs and stopped more than 40,000 attempted crossings. But clearly, it is not enough. Crossings continue up last year on the year before. And while asylum claims have fallen across Europe, they have been rising here in Britain. People thought to be migrants in Gravelines, France, onboard a small boat (PA Wire) Changes to refugee status Under the proposals, asylum seekers living in the UK will have their refugee status reviewed every 30 months and if their home country is deemed safe, they will have to return. Some backbench Labour MPs have criticised the move and accused the Home Secretary of trying to chase Reform UK votes with anti-immigrant policies. Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said: The performative cruelty of repeatedly demanding that refugees prove they are still refugees or else face deportation cannot be understated. The Government hopes changes to refugee status, as well as a clampdown on illegal working and new visa restrictions for some countries, will help lower the record numbers of people crossing the Channel in small boats. A renewed deep-sea search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been unsuccessful. The Boeing 777 disappeared from radar shortly after departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport en route to Beijing - 12 years ago today. In a statement, Malaysia's Air Accident Investigation Bureau said 28 days of searching, covering more than 2,900 square miles (7,500 sq km), had yielded no new findings. A company called Ocean Infinity had been given permission to scour the Indian Ocean on a "no find, no fee" basis. The agreement meant it would only be paid $70m (52m) if the wreckage was located. Malaysian officials say they "remain committed to keeping the families informed and will continue to provide updates as appropriate". Voice370 - a group representing the families of those who were on board the flight - have urged the government to extend its contract with Ocean Infinity. The search, which happened in two phases, were periodically disrupted by poor weather and conditions at sea. It concluded on 23 January. However, campaigners fear a third phase won't begin before June, when the current contract ends, because the winter months are approaching in the southern hemisphere. Voice370 said: "A simple addendum extending the contract period without altering the core terms of the agreement would allow the search to continue without delay." The group added that other exploration firms should be given the opportunity to search on this "no find, no fee" basis. MH370 was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members when it vanished, becoming one of the world's most enduring aviation mysteries. In 2018, a report by Malaysian investigators drew no conclusion about what happened, but did not rule out the possibility that the aircraft was deliberately taken off course. (Getty) Iran has selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the countrys new supreme leader following the death of his father in recent air strikes. The 56-year-old cleric, regarded as a hardliner within Irans ruling establishment, was chosen by senior religious figures despite not possessing the high-ranking theological credentials traditionally associated with the role. His elevation to the most powerful position in Iran is expected to reinforce the countrys confrontational stance toward the United States and its allies. The decision could also heighten tensions with Donald Trump, who has previously dismissed Khamenei as a lightweight and warned that any Iranian leader lacking Washingtons approval would not last long. Mojtaba Khamenei has long been seen as a powerful behind-the-scenes figure in Iranian politics and maintains close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the elite military force that plays a dominant role in the Islamic Republics political and security apparatus. His father, the long-serving supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed last weekend during a joint US-Israeli air strike that also claimed the lives of his wife, mother and son. Clerics from Irans powerful Assembly of Experts took part in a series of consultations over nine days before agreeing on Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader. The assembly is responsible for appointing and overseeing the supreme leader. Members said the ongoing bombardment of Iran by US and Israeli forces prevented them from gathering in person to formally record the decision in official minutes. Instead, discussions took place informally as the conflict continued to disrupt communications and travel inside the country. The appointment comes at a moment of intense turmoil for Iran, as the conflict with the United States and Israel enters its second week. In recent days, American forces have launched a series of large-scale strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, missile bases and command centres across the country. Israeli fighter jets have also carried out raids against military facilities in Tehran and other cities. Iran has responded by launching waves of missiles and drones against US bases and allied targets across the Middle East, including in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The appointment is likely to further inflame tensions with Washington, after Donald Trump repeatedly insisted he wanted a say in who replaced Irans late supreme leader. Over the past week and again earlier on Sunday the US president said he expected to play a role in the selection process. While Trump suggested he might accept a figure linked to the previous leadership, he made clear he strongly opposed Mojtaba Khamenei taking power. Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me, Trump said earlier this week. Just hours before the announcement of the new leader, he added that any successor chosen without his approval was not going to last long. Israel also issued a stark warning before the decision was confirmed, saying it would continue to pursue every successor to the late ayatollah. Mojtaba Khamenei was born on 8 September 1969 in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad and is the second of Ali Khameneis six children. He attended the religious Alavi School in Tehran for his secondary education before later moving to the holy city of Qom to continue his studies in Shia theology. Iranian media reports that at the age of 17 he briefly served in the military during the Iran-Iraq war, the brutal eight-year conflict that helped shape the Islamic Republics deep mistrust of the United States and Western powers, many of which backed Iraq during the fighting. Unlike his father, Mojtaba has kept a remarkably low public profile throughout his life. He has never held a formal government position and has rarely appeared in public, giving no speeches or interviews and allowing only a handful of photographs and videos of him to circulate. Despite this, he has long been regarded as one of the most influential figures behind the scenes in Irans ruling establishment. Diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks in the late 2000s described him as the power behind the robes, suggesting he acted as a key gatekeeper to his father and wielded considerable influence inside the regime. The cables said he was widely viewed within Irans political system as a capable and forceful leader, according to reporting by the Associated Press. As you enter the village of Conna, the sign to welcome you informs you that you are entering the homeland of Grand National hero Montys Pass. Now 23 years on from that momentous occasion in Liverpool, there are dreams of adding a Gold Cup winners name to that roll of honour, Spillanes Tower prepares for his staring role at the Cheltenham Festival. A tight-knit community in the heartland of Irish National Hunt racing is preparing to descend on the Cotswolds en masse, driven by thoughts of the Jimmy Mangan-trained Trials day winner emulating Corks favourite son Imperial Call 30 years on from his Gold Cup haul. Theres plenty of excitement, I dont think psychologically weve gone there yet in our heads that he is a runner in the Gold Cup for us, said the trainers daughter and racing pundit Jane Mangan. For the village it is great and there are a lot of people who are going to travel to Cheltenham who have never been and also never been racing outside of Ireland. It says welcome to the home of Montys Pass on the sign at both sides of the village, but its time to add another name under that. Theres just a great vibe about having a runner in the best race in jumps racing and no one is expecting him to win. Its strong point-to-point and National Hunt country and the last Cork winner would have been Imperial Call. Although sporting the familiar colours of leading owner JP McManus, the Spillanes Tower story and his quest for Gold Cup glory is a throwback to the days of old, a time where Irish dominance at Prestbury Park was an unlikely dream. An underdog tale that harks back to the days of Danoli, Spillanes Towers resurgence on Festival Trials day has given credence to the idea of the much-loved 70-year-old Mangan and his fabled woolly hat ending racings biggest week lifting its most important trophy. Hes a runner in the Gold Cup for a trainer with less than 10 horses in training. It could be one of the stories of the week, its mega, continued Mangan. Its kind of Danoli, and Tom Foley wouldnt be too dissimilar to dad. I know the McManus family have got plenty of runners this week, but they get immense pleasure out of this horse as they bred him as well. His preparation has gone well and my parents are very happy with him. Its very comforting knowing how he handled the travelling in January, well just replicate that procedure here. If people are giving Grey Dawning a chance, then we must surely have a chance. Spillanes Tower already holds a special place in the hearts of the Mangan family, having lit up the last couple of seasons with his efforts in top-class company. Hes important for my parents in that when they get up in a morning and theres a horse like him there in his box, it gives you great belief you can still do it, continued Mangan. When its been 20 years since the Grand National you would only be human to start questioning yourself. It also just makes the job a pleasure because hes super easy and a hugely-intelligent horse. Hes very sensitive to his surroundings, so I think the little team around him are fantastic at keeping him happy. Dad goes out at 10pm most nights to give him a little extra bit of feed or just play with him or fuss him, hes another member of the family. Only a child when her family enjoyed their greatest moment in racing, it will be a test of keeping emotions in check for Jane Mangan as she balances enjoying her fathers moment in the Gold Cup spotlight with professional duties as part of the Cheltenham Festival TV coverage The eight-year-old with her grandparents and cousins playing didnt know what she was watching when Montys Pass won the Grand National, but she would love it to happen now at an age where she could appreciate what her parents are achieving, she said. Do you allow yourself to think that might happen? I dont know. Ill be on TV and it will be weird. Ill hopefully do the paddock analysis for the Gold Cup, wish my parents good luck and then watch it on air, but its the job. It will be hard to be completely neutral, but Ive hosted RTE when he won the Grade One at Punchestown as a novice, so Ill manage. Where else would you want to be when your dad has a runner in the Gold Cup? Where would you want to be indeed. M arch 8, 2026: Currently, Pakistani forces are still carrying out airstrikes against Afghan cities and concentrations of Taliban fighters. At the same time, Afghanistan still has problems with Islamic terrorists based inside the country in areas that border Pakistan and Iran. The Afghan government is not yet strong enough to suppress these terrorists or maintain peace throughout the country. Trade with Iran continues uninterrupted, despite the American and Israeli airstrikes against the Iranian military forces and military and government leadership. Last year Afghanistan had a ten-day war with Pakistan. That compelled Pakistan to carry out air raids on the Afghan capital Kabul and several other cities. There were about 500 dead and wounded. The IEA/Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has been trying to rule the country since 2021 and is having a hard time controlling, much less governing, the entire country. The Pakistani Taliban/TTP, has its bases in Afghanistan on the Pakistan border. TTP is popular in that area and the IEA has been unable or unwilling to eliminate them. In 2024 the country is suffering from hunger with half the population getting insufficient food. The Taliban enforced strict dress codes for women and prohibited women from working outside the home. Most women no longer have access to healthcare. All this began back in 2021 when the elected IRA/Islamic Republic of Afghanistan collapsed and was replaced by the Pakistan-backed IEA. It was the Pakistan military that backed the Taliban and the Afghan heroin cartels. Over the last few years, the Pakistan military had found a way to run the government without a coup and all the resulting criticism and sanctions. The defeat of the IRA was accomplished via corruption, intimidation, disruption of the economy and a bungled U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The original withdrawal plan was for a thousand or more U.S. and NATO troops to remain to advise and train the IRA security forces and monitor the corruption. The IRA wanted to survive but to do that they had to keep receiving billions a year from foreign donors, mainly the United States. Refusal to cooperate meant termination of aid and nearly all the foreigners would leave. The Americans got a new government in early 2021 and that led to fatal changes to the withdrawal plan. Everyone was ordered out but was given three additional months to do it. That gave Pakistan and the Taliban an opportunity to increase their pressure on the IRA, which now believed the Americans were going to abandon them. The new IEA declared a great victory but found that few people, not even most Afghans, saw this as a win. Foreign aid ceased. Nearly $10 billion of IRA cash, held in foreign banks in an effort to reduce corruption, was frozen and no one would recognize the IEA as the successor to the IRA. Several countries designated Afghanistan as a terrorist organization. For the people of Afghanistan, especially the women, that designation seemed appropriate. The 21st century saw substantial railroad construction. Before that there were less than 25 kilometers off track, most of it for use by foreign companies investing in Afghanistan. Currently there are 400 kilometers of track and more is being added each year. The primary use of current lines is to move cargo from an Iranian port, via an Iranian railroad, into Afghanistan. This liberates Afghanistan from dependence on road traffic from Pakistan. The other major railroad brings in cargo from Central Asia. Drug production in Afghanistan continues and depends on the Pakistan military for support. The drugs are winning as they usually do wherever they get established. There are not too many narco-states because they all follow the same script. Eventually locals get fed up with the local violence and the growing number of addicts. That leads to more violence and the drug gangs are crushed although usually not completely eliminated. Eventually can take a long time and such is the case with Afghanistan. Compare that to how it worked in Colombia from 2000 on, and Burma after World War II and Iran in the 1950s. The only thing that nearly everyone in Afghanistan can agree on is that opium and heroin are bad. Nearly ten percent of the population is addicted to drugs, mostly opiates and another ten percent make a better living or get rich from the drug trade. Most Afghans consider drug gangs the biggest threat and these are largely run and staffed, like the IEA, by Pushtun tribesmen from four southern provinces. The Pakistan-backed Afghan Taliban have created a heroin-producing Islamic terrorist and gangster sanctuary in Afghanistan. If you want to know how that works, look at Chechnya in the late 1990s and Somalia or Yemen in the early 21st century. No one has come up with any cheap, fast, or easy solution for that. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's core problem is that there is no Afghanistan, merely a collection of tribes more concerned with tribal issues than anything else. The IEA runs Kabul, the largest city in Afghanistan, but not much else. Another morning, another overnight broadside directed at the UK prime minister by the US president from his social media account. In a withering take-down of the disclosure that the Royal Navy was preparing one of the countrys two aircraft carriers for possible deployment to the Middle East, Donald Trump referred to the UK as our once great ally and said, in effect, thanks, but no thanks. Addressing Sir Keir Starmer by name, he said the US didnt need its aircraft carriers any more. But we will remember. We dont need people that join wars after weve already won! Another, perhaps even less welcome, intervention had come only hours earlier from rather closer to home. Former prime minister and elder statesman, Sir Tony Blair, used remarks at what was intended as a private gathering to remind No 10s present occupant of the importance of the transatlantic relationship and criticise his initial decision on the use of UK airbases. They were asking to use our bases to refuel. Its not like it was in Vietnam, not like the Iraq campaign where we had thousands of British troops. The American relationship matters... Its not a question of whether its this president or that president. If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security, you had better show up. At most other times, interventions of this kind would be excoriating stuff, fuel for domestic foes, and potentially damaging. In current circumstances, however, there are those Sir Keir has to fear who include some of his own cabinet and those whose criticisms can be seen, perversely, as safely ignored, or positively helpful. Both of these fall into this category. With the transatlantic relationship in its current parlous state, despite Sir Keirs best efforts, a US president as quixotic in his judgements as this one, and UK public opinion ranged as strongly as it is both against Mr Trump and against joining the latest US military adventure, Sir Keir has nothing whatever to lose maybe even something to gain from being the target of the US presidents sardonic ire. It may be a rare moment in history, but the more the White House rails against its once great ally and the wider the strip of clear blue ideological water becomes that separates Washington DC and London, the more credible Sir Keirs claim to be motivated by the UKs "national interest". This was the phrase repeatedly used by the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, on the Sunday political talk shows. Heard in isolation, it risks sounding weak. Juxtaposed with the criticism from Mr Trump, however, it carries a lot more weight, as acknowledging a genuine divergence in interests. The same applies to the intervention by Sir Tony. There have been times in recent years when his interventions have come across as wise and useful, among them some of the recommendations he made during the Covid pandemic. But his blunt call to show up whenever and for whatever purpose the United States might call is not one of them. With the irremediable folly of the Iraq war still well within living memory, and that negative view apparently shared by todays prime minister, advice from the author of this countrys role in that war is likely to fall largely on stony ground in the UK as indeed it should. If, as it appears, Sir Keirs concern to avoid repeating the mistakes of Iraq coloured his first response to the US-Israel attacks on Iran, that could be seen as a mitigating factor to the impression of hesitancy and muddle. This does not mean that there are no legitimate criticisms to be made of the prime ministers response. There are. They would include the rapid about-turn on the US use of UK military bases and the verbal gymnastics used to justify it; the absence of almost any UK naval presence in the region, despite the US having been openly engaged in preparations for weeks; inadequate readiness for the Iranian military response, which included insufficient protection for the bases on Cyprus. To these might be added a lack of preparedness for the economic and energy fallout that may still be to come. All these are serious concerns, some of which primarily the military deployments are being belatedly addressed. It has also to be acknowledged that the Trump and Blair criticisms contain their grains of truth: whether on the positioning of aircraft carriers or on the reality of the UKs security reliance on the United States. For now, however, their provenance guarantees the prime minister cast-iron protection from political damage, at least at home. And the more loudly such discredited voices shout their disapproval from the sidelines, the stronger his personal defences will be, along with his claim to be acting only in the national interest. 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. 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. 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. Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Goldstein took her dancing talents to St Jamess Palace with a performance for the Duchess of Edinburgh. The model and actress last year became the first Strictly contestant with Downs syndrome with Sophie, patron of the charity Mencap, sharing a video message during the final in which she praised Ellies impact in challenging perceptions. Ellie and dance partner Vito Coppola took to the dance floor again at the palace after the duchess hosted a special afternoon tea. Ellie, a Mencap Myth Buster ambassador who took her mother Yvonne to the event, said Sophie asked lots of questions about her time on Strictly and described the experience as amazing. The Duchess of Edinburgh watches former Strictly Come Dancing contestants Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola at St James Palace (Aaron Chown/PA (Aaron Chown) She said: It means so much to be recognised by a member of the royal family. Im proud to show that people with a learning disability can achieve their dreams and to never give up what they want to do. Coppola said working with Ellie had been an incredible experience and said he had gained a little sister for life. He said: Everyone learns differently and dancing with someone who has a learning disability means thinking outside the box and understanding how to communicate and teach in the best way that works for them. Jon Sparkes, the chief executive of Mencap which celebrates its 80th birthday this year, was among the guests at the event who said it showed how Ellies influence is helping to drive lasting change in attitudes and expectations. It recognises not only Ellies talent and determination, but the way she has challenged assumptions and opened hearts and minds across the country, he said. The site of a mass grave for children who died in the Tuam mother and baby home in Galway. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA (Photograph: Niall Carson/PA) Survivors of Irelands mother and baby homes have started to have benefits cut in Britain because they accepted compensation from the Irish government. The cuts to the means-tested benefits of survivors in Britain come as campaigners including the actors Siobhan McSweeney and Steve Coogan called on Keir Starmer to back a bill known as Philomenas Law, which would ringfence survivors benefits. Up to 13,000 of the survivors who are living in Britain risk losing access to essential means-tested benefits if they accept compensation, which can range from 5,000 to 125,000 (4,230 to 105,000) depending on the length of time people were resident. The Irish governments redress scheme was introduced after an inquiry detailed the horrific experiences of about 56,000 women and about 57,000 children who were placed or born in homes, mostly run by nuns, between 1922 and 1998. A 2021 report detailed an alarming number of deaths of babies in the homes and documented cruelty and neglect. Women were forced to take part in work and were separated from their babies, who were fostered or adopted. The Irish governments Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme started making payments in 2024. But because it is considered a recipients savings it can result in losing means-tested benefits in Britain, such as universal credit or pension credit, and have an impact on financial support for social care. As feared, councils have begun sending letters to notify people who received payments that they will lose support such as housing benefit. Some survivors of the homes have decided not to accept offers of compensation because of fears of losing benefits. After a period of six months this is considered a rejection, while some have since died. One woman in her late 70s who had experienced physical and psychological abuse from nuns in a mother and baby home said she had initially been delighted when her eligibility for a payment was confirmed and she had hoped to use the money to visit a recently discovered half-brother in the US. However, should she receive payment, she would face losing her pension credit and housing benefit, which she relies on for day-to-day expenses and rent. He had been born less than 16 miles away, but I did not know that he or his other brothers and sister existed until we did some family tracing, she said. It would have been lovely to meet him, but I do not feel that I can use the money for this as my benefits would be affected. The payment was meant to be a token of an apology from the Irish government for all the misery of the institutions, but now its become a rope around my neck. A bill known as Philomenas Law has been introduced in parliament by Labour MP Liam Conlon, and he and others are hoping the government will back the bill as it will struggle to get time as the clock runs out on the current parliament. Sometimes the system at Whitehall says no, and this has come about because a blanket rule has been applied. What Whitehall often misses is the human-sized picture. In this case, that is thousands and thousands of survivors of these cruel institutions living in Britain today, who are being denied the compensation theyre entitled to, said Conlon, the MP for Beckenham and Penge. The bill is named after Philomena Lee, whose story of forced separation from, and her later search for, her lost son inspired the Oscar-nominated film Philomena starring Coogan and Judi Dench. Survivors living in Britain were being forced to revisit their most traumatic experiences and faced a financial penalty for doing so, according to an open letter to the British and Irish governments. Signatories of the letter include Coogan and McSweeney, an actor known for her role in Derry Girls and as host of the Great Pottery Throwdown, comedian Dara O Briain and broadcaster Emma Dabiri. Were backing Philomenas Law to stand with survivors and help ensure that redress does not bring more hardship, it reads. It is a practical change that would make a profound difference in survivors lives. We are asking the British and Irish governments to find a way to pass Philomenas Law. Sean Kaluarachchi, Survivor Information Adviser at the London Irish Centre, which provides advice on making applications to the scheme, said Philomenas Law was urgently needed. He said he had been supporting survivors who had been receiving letters warning that their housing benefit and other means-tested support could be reduced or stopped because of this redress payment. While a ringfencing approach has been taken for other compensation schemes in the past, including to support Windrush families, the bill would mark the first time in history that the same approach has been applied to a foreign compensation scheme. A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: We are currently carefully considering the impact of these compensation payments and benefit entitlement and will update in due course. This article was amended on 10 March 2026 to remove a reference to the bill being due for a second reading on 28 March. The bill was first introduced in 2025 and the second reading was scheduled for 28 March that year. Smoke filled Tehrans skyline on Sunday after its oil depots were hit by a heavy wave of US-Israeli strikes as conflict escalated in the Middle East. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said around 20 large oil storage tanks were targeted in the attack on Saturday, which caused a major fire at Irans Aqdasieh fuel depot. Strikes on the oil storage facilities had lit up the night sky with plumes of orange flame. Footage shows plumes of dark smoke emanating from a facility, lingering and merging with the cloudy sky over the countrys capital. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. The National Iranian Oil Company said a number of oil depots in both Tehran and Alborz provinces were struck and that four of its employees were killed in the blitz. Smoke billows after overnight airstrikes on oil depots on March 8, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty) Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the large-scale attack marked a "dangerous new phase" of the conflict and amounted to a war crime. "By targeting fuel depots, the aggressors are releasing hazardous materials and toxic substances into the air, poisoning civilians, devastating the environment, and endangering lives on a massive scale," he wrote on X. Israeli military spokesman lieutenant colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters the depots were used to fuel Iran's war effort, including producing or storing propellant for ballistic missiles. "They are a legal military target," he said. Shortly after the attack, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would press on with the assault and strike Iran's rulers "without mercy". "We have an organised plan with many surprises to destabilise the regime and enable change," he said in a video statement. "We have many more targets." A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a U.S.-Israeli strike late Saturday in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he was not interested in negotiating an end to the conflict. "At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left to say, 'We surrender'," the president said. Meanwhile, the governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain reported Iranian drone attacks in their countries on Saturday and early Sunday, with a huge fire engulfing a government office block in Kuwait. As the conflict enters its ninth day, Kuwait's interior ministry said two of its officers were killed "while performing duties", while the UAE said four migrant workers had died in Iranian attacks there so far. Showing the intensity of the offensive, the UAE said air defence teams had knocked out 16 ballistic missiles and 113 drones fired towards the Gulf state on Sunday. One missile fell in the sea and four drones hit the country's territories. Bahrain said on Sunday that an Iranian drone attack had caused "material damage" to a desalination plant, though the country's electricity and water authority said the strike had not disrupted water supplies. Also on Sunday, Iran elected a new supreme leader following a meeting of its Assembly of Experts, a senior Iranian official has said. Ahmad Alamolhoda, a member of the panel, told state media that a leader had been chosen after an election - without naming who had been selected. Stevens said he fired to protect his fellow agents, police officers and the public from what he feared was a potential terrorist attack intended to cause mass casualties. (Officer Miguel Leal/Texas Department of Public Safety via AP) Newly released footage showing the fatal shooting of a man by a federal immigration agent in Texas last year calls into question assertions by the Department of Homeland Security that a driver intentionally rammed an agent with his car immediately before he was killed. The videos, including from officer body cameras, offer the first visual account of the shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, during a beach trip last year. Hours of footage and other law enforcement records were released Friday following a public records request from The Associated Press and other news outlets. Martinezs death was the earliest of at least six fatal shootings by federal agents since President Donald Trump launched a nationwide immigration crackdown in his second term, and is among several cases in which video has called into question the administrations initial narratives. The Texas Rangers closed their investigation into the 15 March 2025, shooting after a grand jury declined last week to file any criminal charges against Homeland Security Investigations Supervisory Special Agent Jack Stevens, who fired the fatal shots, according to records released by the Texas Department of Public Safety. In a written statement included in the files, Stevens said he fired to protect his fellow agents, police officers and the public from what he feared was a potential terrorist attack intended to cause mass casualties. A DHS spokesperson said last month the HSI agent fired defensive shots after the driver intentionally ran over his fellow agent, resulting in him being on the hood of the vehicle. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Jack Stevens pulls Ruben Ray Martinez from his vehicle after shooting Martinez at a roadblock in South Padre Island, Texas (Officer Miguel Leal/Texas Department of Public Safety via AP) The newly released body camera videos, taken from behind Martinezs car, do not clearly show the vehicle striking an agent. Another video shows Joshua Orta, who was riding in the car with Martinez, telling investigators that his friend had not intended to harm federal officers but had panicked because he feared getting arrested for driving while intoxicated. He didnt know what to do. Like he definitely didnt want to go to jail, Orta said. But as far as like running over an officer ... he wouldnt do that. Spokespersons for DHS did not respond to requests for comment about the videos. Shots fired, shots fired While local media reported at the time the shooting involved a police officer, DHS did not publicly disclose its agents were involved until after the AP and other media outlets reported it last month. Martinez was just days past his 23rd birthday when he and Orta drove from their hometown of San Antonio down to South Padre Island, a popular spring break party destination. They drank with friends and smoked marijuana before heading back out on the town, Orta told investigators. Martinez was driving his blue Ford sedan when, shortly after midnight, they came upon the scene where South Padre police officers were directing traffic around a two-car collision at a busy intersection. Also at the scene were three HSI agents from a maritime border security task force redirected to conduct immigration enforcement, according to documents. Martinez was driving his blue Ford sedan when, shortly after midnight, they came upon the scene where South Padre police officers were directing traffic around a two-car collision at a busy intersection. In body camera footage captured by two of the island's police officers, Martinezs car can be seen slowly approaching the intersection, appearing to go straight as vehicles were being instructed to turn left. Martinez's car slows to a crawl nearly a full stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. Once the pedestrians are out of the way, the car slowly pulls into the intersection before stopping again as the HSI agents approach, shouting instructions for the driver to stop. One of the HSI agents, identified in documents as Special Agent Hector Sosa, moves in front of the car. Stevens is on the drivers side and reaches toward the door. Get him out, get him out, one of the officers can be heard shouting. Martinez's car begins slowly moving forward and turning to the left, where other vehicles were traveling. Stevens, on the drivers side of the car, is keeping pace and appears to be leaning in toward the open drivers side window. As officers yell for Martinez to stop, Stevens pulls his weapon and rapidly fires three shots through the window before quickly backing away. Shots fired, shots fired, one of the police officers wearing a camera yells into his radio. The entire incident transpires in about 15 seconds. Agents pull the driver from the car The blue Ford quickly comes to a full stop and Martinez is pulled from the vehicle and handcuffed by multiple officers. Orta is also pulled from the passenger seat and handcuffed. Martinez remains in cuffs and on the ground, unmoving, for about a minute before paramedics already on the scene of the earlier traffic accident begin to provide medical aid. An autopsy report shows all three shots fired by Stevens hit Martinez, with bullets traveling through his left arm before entering his torso and piercing his heart, lungs, liver and other organs. The autopsy report also showed that Martinez's blood alcohol level was 0.12%, well above the legal limit to drive in Texas of 0.08%. Immigration-Enforcement-Texas-Fatal-Shooting (Officer Miguel Leal/Texas Department of Public Safety via AP) In a three-page written statement provided to the Texas Rangers almost two months after the shooting, Stevens said he fired his weapon as Martinez accelerated forward, striking Special Agent Sosa who wound up on the hood of the vehicle." He also said he narrowly avoided being run over, being struck by the driver's side and causing the mirror to break off of the vehicle. A photo from the scene showed the mirror damaged, but still on the car. As he fired, the agent said that still fresh on his mind were recent domestic and international events, including a man who had driven a pickup truck into a crowd of New Years revelers in New Orleans weeks earlier. The drivers eyes were open widely, fist clenched to the steering wheel, and he was looking past the officers on scene as he failed to comply with the loud and repeated verbal commands of multiple law enforcement officers, Stevens wrote. This is a behavior I have observed in my training and experience as a pre attack indicator and sign of noncompliance as the suspect is looking in the path of their intended movement and is not indicative of compliance. This path of movement, if left unmitigated, would, using the vehicle as a weapon, have resulted in numerous casualties." As reported by AP last month, an internal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation said the agent struck by the car was treated for an unspecified knee injury at a nearby hospital and released. The newly released videos show the agent after the shooting arresting Orta and walking without any visible injury or limp. That's when he panicked and turned the wheel' Orta said Martinez had been drinking earlier that night several shots and a beer and smoked marijuana when he approached the traffic checkpoint where a vehicle accident had occurred earlier. One officer spotted an open alcoholic beverage near Martinez but directed the car to keep moving and turn to the left. Instead, Martinez continued straight, toward the accident and more officers. Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen who was shot and killed in Texas by a federal immigration agent last year (Rachel Reyes) Thats when he panicked and turned the wheel, and he didnt floor the gas but we kind of went a little bit and I guess they thought he was like trying to run the cop over or something," Orta said. Orta said that their car came to a full stop at first. Then Martinez turned to the left with the car barely moving. I saw the officer kind of get on the hood. Like he didnt hit him, but like he kind of like, you know what I mean, caught his feet, Orta said. It was just slowly moving and they started shooting. Orta died Feb. 21 in a car accident in San Antonio. Lawyers representing Martinez's mother, Rachel Reyes, said in a statement the newly released videos and other evidence showed his car was barely moving when Stevens fired at point-blank range. This batch of evidence shows no justification for Rubens killing," lawyers Charles M. Stam and Alex Stamm said. Still, our pursuit of full transparency will continue until we have all the facts. We, and the public, have yet to see all of the evidence held by the government. Donald Trump has claimed that Iran is responsible for an air strike that hit a girls school in the Iranian city of Minab and killed at least 150 people. Neither US nor Israeli officials have publicly taken responsibility for the strike, which analysts and human rights officials believe is the deadliest incident for civilian casualties since conflict began on 28 February. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Saturday (7 March), Mr Trump said: In my opinion, based on what Ive seen, that was done by Iran. We think it was done by Iran because they're very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. He has not provided any material evidence to support his claim. Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer have spoken about US aircraft flying out of UK bases for attacks on Iran, says Downing Street. The US president and Prime Minister discussed co-operation between America and Britain on the conflict just hours after Trump launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir accusing him of joining the war once weve already won. No10 confirmed the two men had spoken by phone amid the high-tensions between them over the Iran war. Earlier, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper hit back at Trump, stressing that the Government would act in a calm, cool-headed way rather than resorting to hyperbole on social media. A US bomber arrives at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire (PA Wire) As the extraordinary bust-up between the US president and Sir Keir rumbled on, a Downing Street spokeswoman said on Sunday: The Prime Minister spoke with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon. The leaders began by discussing the latest situation in the Middle East and the military co-operation between the UK and US through the use of RAF bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region. The Prime Minister also shared his heartfelt condolences with President Trump and the American people following the deaths of six US soldiers. Sir Keirs decision not to grant permission for the initial and offensive airstrikes on Iran to use UK bases prompted a raft of criticism from Trump in recent days, including a personal attack on the Prime Minister as being not Winston Churchill. The PM later granted consent for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. The HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier may be deployed to the Middle East (PA Wire) After reports that the UK was preparing the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to go to the Middle East, the US president posted on Saturday that the UK was finally giving thought to sending two but said we dont need them any longer. He added: But we will remember. We dont need people that join Wars after weve already won! However, Foreign Secretary Ms Cooper responded to Trumps latest swipe, saying: The thing Ive learned doing this job is you have to focus on the substance and not on social media posts. Speaking on Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, she said that Sir Keir was taking a calm, cool-headed approach to these big serious international issues. She added: We are not going to do things in terms of the rhetoric or hyperbole. She also rebuffed criticism from Sir Tony Blair, saying it was important to learn the lessons from the Iraq War after the former Labour Prime Minister said the UK should have backed the US over Iran from day one. Sir Tony Blair who says Britain should have joined in Trumps Iran war from the start (PA Wire) The Prime Minister agreed a week ago to allow the US to strike Iran defensively from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia, on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. Four American bombers landed at Fairford in recent days and the US started using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles at Gulf states and other countries. The Ministry of Defence in London said it was increasing the preparedness of aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and reducing the time it would take to set sail, but that no decisions had been taken to deploy the warship. In the Middle East, Israeli forces expanded their bombardment of Iran overnight, striking fuel depots near Tehran, while Bahrain said an Iranian attack had damaged one of its desalination plants, signalling a widening assault on vital infrastructure across the region. Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes in a central area of the Iranian capital Tehran on March 6, (AFP via Getty Images) As fighting escalated on day nine of the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, Tehran moved closer to naming a new supreme leader after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with every indication suggesting his son Mojtaba could take charge. Israel's military threatened to kill any replacement for Khamenei, while Trump said the war might only end once Iran's military and rulers had been wiped out. Thick, choking black smoke hung over Tehran on Sunday, residents said, after strikes on oil storage facilities had lit up the night sky with plumes of orange flame. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the large-scale attack marked a "dangerous new phase" of the conflict and amounted to a war crime. The governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain reported Iranian drone attacks in their countries on Saturday and early Sunday, with a huge fire engulfing a government office block in Kuwait. At least four people were killed when an Israeli strike hit an apartment in the Ramada hotel building in central Beirut early on Sunday, with Israel saying it was targeting Iranian commanders operating in the Lebanese capital. While questions linger over the UK potentially taking a more proactive role in the conflict, the Government has faced criticism over the defence of Cyprus, where the UK RAF Akrotiri base was struck by a drone earlier this week. RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus (REUTERS) Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean in the next few days while France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands have already deployed naval assets to defend the island. The warship has started resupplying with air defence missiles at a facility in Portsmouth and will return to the berth for a logistics resupply before sailing. One reason it is taking time to prepare Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon 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. Meanwhile, a third Government charter flight to bring Britons home from the region is due to leave Muscat, Oman, on Sunday just before 7pm UK time and there are plans to charter a commercial flight from Dubai early next week. More than 32,000 British nationals have now departed the region, which includes the Gulf countries as well as Israel and Lebanon, by air since March 1. People watch a US C-17 cargo plane coming into RAF Fairford on Sunday. Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP (Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP) Two more US air force planes have landed at RAF Fairford, after the UK allowed Washington to use its bases to take part in defensive operations in Iran. Footage broadcast on Sunday showed two Boeing C-17 Globemaster transportation planes landing at the airbase in Gloucestershire, days after B-1 Lancer bombers arrived. One of the C-17s arrived from Glasgow Prestwick airport, after it was redirected there because of poor weather and visibility at Fairford. The BBC reported that the aircraft was carrying munitions and spare parts for the bombers. Another C-17 arrived from the McGuire airbase near Wrightstown, New Jersey, according to flight tracking data. It is unclear whether the aircraft will leave Fairford later to fly to the Middle East. The Ministry of Defence declined to comment. It came as the UK shot down a drone launched from Iran that was heading towards Iraq on Saturday night. The MoD said RAF Typhoons and F-35 jets had flown defensive missions in the region. A Merlin helicopter, which can carry out surveillance work, is due to arrive shortly. It can fly up to a mile high in the air, allowing it to provide early warning of drone or missile strikes. The increase of military traffic arriving at Fairford has taken place after Donald Trump said the UK was seeking to join wars weve already won after a week of US-Israeli bombing in Iran. Keir Starmer has allowed the US to use UK bases for specific defensive operations. His change in stance came after British allies and the RAF base at Akrotiri, Cyprus, were subject to retaliatory attacks in the last week. A hanger at the Cypriot airbase was damaged by an Iranian-made drone believed to have been launched by the Tehran-backed militia group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Starmer is also sending HMS Dragon, a destroyer with air defence capabilities, to the region. Meanwhile, the Royal Navy reduced the period of readiness needed for its flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, to five days before any potential deployment. The vessel is in dock in Portsmouth. Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday night: 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 added: 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! The UFC has finally announced the fight card for its unprecedented event at the White House, with superstars Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje squaring off in the main event over lightweight gold. On 14 June, the UFC will help US president Donald Trump, a close friend of UFC president Dana White, celebrate 250 years of the United States by staging a series of fights in Washington DC. The event in fact coincides with Mr Trumps 80th birthday. The Octagon is expected to be built on the South Lawn, with limited attendees permitted in the cageside area, but with other zones containing big screens potentially open to thousands of fans. Whoever is present will watch Topuria and Gaethje. clash in the main event, while the rest of the fight card is as follows: Ilia Topuria (C) vs Justin Gaethje (lightweight title) Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane (interim heavyweight title) Sean OMalley vs Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight) Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler (lightweight) Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus (middleweight) Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia (featherweight) Ilia Topuria became a two-weight UFC champion by beating Charles Oliveira (Getty Images) Topuria has not fought since knocking out Charles Oliveira to become a two-division champion in the UFC at the age of just 28, with the Georgian-Spaniard spending time out of the cage as he dealt with personal matters. In that period away, Gaethje outclassed Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 to become interim lightweight champion and will now hope to avoid becoming the latest legend to be slept by Topuria in their title unification bout, with the likes of Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski also falling to El Matadors power before. In the co-main event, Alex Pereira - fresh off relinquishing his light-heavyweight crown - will fight for interim heavyweight gold as he takes on Ciryl Gane, looking to conquer a record-breaking third division in the UFC. Alex Pereira will fight for interim heavyweight gold (Getty Images) Reigning heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall remains sidelined with a serious eye injury after being poked in both eyes by Gane in their title bout at UFC 321, though did confirm he had finally returned to the gym after four months out at his Matchroom unveiling on Friday. White confirmed during the announcement that Aspinall remained in his plans and would be set to face the winner of Pereira vs Gane to unify the titles. Elsewhere on the card, former champion Sean OMalley faces Aiemann Zahabi in a bantamweight title eliminator, and Michael Chandler - heavily rumoured to fight long-term rival Conor McGregor in Washington DC - squares off against Mauricio Ruffy. Michael Chandler features on the main card but there is no sign of Conor McGregor (Getty Images) Bo Nickal, a vocal Trump supporter, also features against Kyle Daukaus in a middleweight clash, while Diego Lopes will look to bounce back from a second failed featherweight title shot against Steve Garcia in the main card opener. Bo Nickal, a vocal Trump supporter, fights on the card (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The news was announced during the UFC 326 broadcast on Saturday night, before Holloway lost the Baddest Motherf***** title to Oliveira in the main event in Las Vegas. On Friday, White actually confirmed that a planned White House fight had fallen through that very day, showing how fragile matchmaking can be in a sport like mixed martial artists especially given how frequently injuries occur. Senior figures at the UFC and within its ownership group have suggested that the White House event will cost around $60m to put on, but allegedly at no cost to the taxpayer. Mr Trump previously said there would be eight to nine fights at the White House, and that every one would be a title bout. Back in September, White hinted at the possibility of snipers lining the roof of the White House as a security measure for this summers UFC event. Mathaios Stavrinides (left) holds anti-British base banner as protesters march through Nicosia. Photograph: Helena Smith/The Guardian (Photograph: Helena Smith/The Guardian) Britain is facing growing calls to withdraw its military bases from Cyprus as locals step up protests against facilities seen as a threat to their security after an unprecedented drone attack on RAF Akrotiri. Anger over the installations spilled on to the streets of Nicosia, the capital, as protesters chanting out with the bases of death marched to the colonial-era presidential palace on Saturday amid fears of the Mediterranean nation being dragged into the wider Iran conflict. They are a danger to our security and should never have been here in the first place, said Mathaios Stavrinides, decrying the existence of bases that were established as part of a negotiated independence deal for the island. We want them closed. The mounting opposition came as the countrys foreign minister, Constantinos Kombos, told the Guardian the Iranian-made drone that hit the airbase had been launched from Lebanon, home to the Iranian proxy group Hezbollah and units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Less than 12 hours after the explosive-packed device crashed into the facility late Sunday, two other combat drones were also intercepted at a distance off the island. They, too, were deployed from Lebanon, 150 miles east of the island. Right now its a fact that we have to be looking towards the Lebanese front, said the minister, confirming the drones provenance for the first time. We cannot exclude anything from the broader direction of the north-east. We have to be very careful we have to make sure that the systems in place are covering all possibilities of threat. Cypriot officials, who take pride in the neutrality and humanitarian role of an island nation that is also the EUs closest state to the Middle East, are adamant it is the British bases, not the republic, that have been singled out for attack since the onset of the US-led offensive against Iran. Nicosia, they say, had repeatedly raised the red flag about the threat posed to the facilities in talks with London beginning last year. The warnings went unheeded. RAF Akrotiri is the UKs main forward-mounting post for overseas operations in the Middle East and widely seen as by far the most important slice of territory retained by Britain in 1960, when it held on to 3 % of the islands landmass in exchange for independence. Weve consistently communicated that the bases could be a target if things move in a specific direction regionally, Kombos said. This is a concern we shared consistently but the outcome of those conversations is clear in terms of what transpired on Sunday night. It was evident, he said, not everything that could be done was done to the level of expectations that we have, that people living and working in the bases, Cypriots, also have, and Im sure the British government has as well but, right now, I want to focus on how the cooperation improves. The speedy deployment of warships and air assets from several European states military support that had arrived at the request of Cyprus would help bolster defence of the installations, he said. The UK has also resupplied air defence systems, sending in Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters capable of taking out aerial threats, in addition to extra fast F-35 fighter jets flown in last month. But for many the deployment is seen as too little, too late. The destroyer HMS Dragon, which is being repaired and refitted in Portsmouth, is not expected off the shores of Cyprus until the week after next. We dont just want to stockpile assets. We want assets that are useful, Kombos said. Defence plans were being applied with a whole-of-Cyprus approach and not only focused on military facilities in UK sovereign territory. Although the protective cordon thrown around the island is itself unprecedented, Kombos said his government would continue to press for Nato membership, long obstructed by opposition from Turkey. In the meantime, we are trying to make sure that we have the capacity to be able to link up to the Nato systems and structures as far as possible for someone who is not a member of the alliance. With the Cypriot government dealing with the worst security crisis since 1974, when an attempt at union with Greece prompted Turkey to invade, the president, Nikos Christodoulides, has insisted the country has no intention of becoming involved in any military operation, and also said nothing is ruled out when asked about the future of the British facilities. Late on Friday, the Cypriot defence minister, Vasilis Palmas, revealed that the Shahed-like drone had succeeded in going undetected and penetrating RAF Akrotiri because it was flying at an altitude of 1,000 metres and at a speed of 90 to 100 miles [per hour], too low and too fast to be easily picked up by radar. Anger over the bases has been fuelled not only by lingering resentment over installations seen as remnants of the colonial empire but also the change in narrative over what exactly happened at RAF Akrotiri. Stavrinides, holding a giant banner proclaiming Cyprus is not your launch pad, said: At first we are told it hit a runway, then theres pictures of a hangar being destroyed, a hangar we then find out is used by American military assets, specifically U-2 spy planes stationed there. Its lie after lie. Anything they tell us we have to take with an ocean of salt, and thats why these protests will continue. Questions about the Americas weapons stockpiles have grown as the US campaign against Iran escalates, with many Democratic lawmakers arguing that Trump is waging a war of choice. Missile defence systems are under the most strain, according to experts, with Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptors in high demand in Ukraine and Israel, respectively. 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 Defence of Democracies. Its about deterring China and Russia the day after this conflict is over. Investigators inspect the American embassy in Oslo after a loud bang was reported - Hans O Torgersen/NTB via Reuters The US embassy in Oslo has been hit by an explosion. No one was injured in the blast in the early hours of Sunday, which caused only minor material damage. Oslo police said it might have been an act of terror, but stressed they were also investigating other motives. Police did not provide details about what caused the blast, which occurred around 1am local time (midnight GMT) at the entrance to the embassys consular section, saying only that an explosive device had been used. Shattered glass could be seen in the snow outside the entrance, as well as cracks in a thick glass door, overhead lamps dangling from wiring, and black marks on the ground at the foot of the door, presumably from an explosion. The cracked glass door at the front of the embassy - Fredrik Varfjell One of the hypotheses is that it is an act of terrorism, Frode Larsen, the head of the polices joint unit for investigation and intelligence, told NRK, the public broadcaster. But we are not completely stuck on that. We have to be open to the possibility that there may be other causes behind what has happened, he said. Police were searching for the perpetrators but had no suspects yet, Mr Larsen told the press conference. US embassies have been placed on high alert in the Middle East over American military operations in Iran and several have faced attacks as Tehran hits back at industrial and diplomatic targets. Investigators in Oslo have not ruled out a possible link to the war. It was not immediately known what security the Oslo embassy had. It is natural to see this in connection with the current security policy situation, Mr Larsen said, adding that police had increased security at the scene after the attack. An unacceptable attack Espen Barth Eide, Norways foreign minister, said he and Astri Aas-Hansen, the public security minister, had been in contact with Eric Meyer, the American embassy charge daffaires. In a statement, they said this was an unacceptable act that we take very seriously [and] the security of diplomatic missions is extremely important to us. PST, the Norwegian security service, told the AFP news agency that it had called in extra staff to assist police with the investigation. Martin Bernsen, the PST spokesman, stressed there had been no change to the threat assessment level in the Scandinavian country, which has been at three on a five-point scale since November 2024. He refused to disclose whether any threats had been made against American interests in Norway before the explosion. Investigators examined the scene overnight, while dogs, drones, and helicopters were brought in to search for the perpetrators, Oslo police said in a statement. Several hours after the blast, police declared the area around the building safe for residents and passers-by. Police urged the public to report any tips or unusual observations from the area between midnight and 2am. Made the ground shake A 16-year-old identified only as Edvard told TV2 that he was watching television when he heard the blast. My mother and I first thought it came from our house so we looked around a little, but then we saw the flashing lights outside the window and a ton of police, he said. There were police dogs and drones and police with automatic weapons and helicopters in the air, he said. A group of three friends told TV2 they were waiting for a taxi near the embassy when the explosion went off. We felt three bangs that made the ground shake, Kristian Wendelborg Einung said. Once in their taxi, they drove past the scene and saw the street in front of the embassy covered in smoke. We arrived before the police. The blanket of smoke was very strange. It was like thick fog, he said. The Prince and Princess of Wales, pictured at last years Commonwealth Day ceremony, will be present at this years event, which will not be broadcast live on the BBC - Aaron Chown/Pool via Reuters The BBC has pulled its live coverage of the Commonwealth Day service and will replace it with an episode of Escape to the Country. The corporation blamed budget cuts for the decision not to broadcast the Westminster Abbey service attended by members of the Royal family, which has been screened live on TV annually since 1989. Instead, viewers of BBC One on Monday afternoon will see a Canadian couple being shown dream homes in Scotland. A BBC spokesman said the corporation had cancelled its live coverage because of funding challenges, explaining: Our decision not to broadcast the Commonwealth Day Ceremony in the same way weve done in previous years reflects the difficult choices we have to make in light of our funding challenges. We can confirm BBC News plans to cover the service across its platforms, including the BBC One bulletins and rolling news channel. Commonwealth Day has been marked annually since 1972 and is the only event celebrating the links between the 56 nations, including Canada and Australia, and their 2.7 billion people. The King and Queen, pictured at last years Commonwealth Day commemoration, will lead the royal contingent again on Monday - Aaron Chown/PA Wire The King and Queen will be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales at the annual service, as well as the Princess Royal, Vice-Adml Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. His Majesty, as head of the Commonwealth, is expected to release a message marking the day, and will join a congregation of 1,800 people in Westminster Abbey to celebrate. The guests will include Geri Halliwell-Horner, the former Spice Girl and Royal Commonwealth Society ambassador, who will make an address, and Oti Mabuse, the Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer. Ingrid Seward, a royal author and editor of Majesty magazine, described the BBCs decision to drop its coverage as appalling. She told The Sun: Its a ridiculous and appalling decision. The BBC has been doing it for years and its the most important date in the diary for celebrating the Commonwealth. If even the BBC doesnt think its worthy to cover and celebrate, despite its huge cultural significance for member states and the monarchy, then the Commonwealth could fade into an irrelevance with every passing year. Tensions between the BBC and the Royal family have previously run high in the wake of the Martin Bashir scandal, after which the Prince of Wales released a scathing statement about how Bashir obtained his infamous interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, by deceit. In 2021, Amol Rajans controversial two-part documentary, The Princes and the Press, also led to it falling out with the Palace. Last week, the broadcaster said it would support replacing the licence fee with a tax to make more people pay for its services According to its latest figures, only 80 per cent of adults in Britain pay for the BBC despite 94 per cent of the population using it each month. The broadcaster has faced a succession of crises in the last year, ultimately resulting in the resignation of Tim Davie, its director general, and Deborah Turness, its head of news. Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, said last week that the BBC has allowed too many mistakes to happen after the corporation was forced to apologise for broadcasting a racial slur during the Baftas awards ceremony. Regular swimmers say the rumoured construction of asphalt-roofs will spoil the natural aesthetic of the site - Hollie Fernando Hampstead Heaths wild swimmers are locked in a row over plans to install steward huts at the historic ponds. Campaigners fear that ugly huts will spoil the natural environment of the swimming spots in north London. In planning documents submitted to Camden council, the City of London Corporation, which runs the ponds, said the huts for the mens and mixed ponds were essential to provide a suitable working environment for staff. Representatives of the Mixed Ponds Association, which advocates swimmers interests at the site, have objected to the plans and claimed they had not been consulted on the current design. The association said in a planning objection: The Heath is a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation, which is the highest priority for protection through the planning system. The proposed design looks like a shed from B&Q The application drawings provide no detail of construction design, materials, finish or roofing design and materials. While flat asphalt is not specified, if that is the intention, we are concerned that a flat asphalt roof will be ugly and out of keeping with the local environment and vernacular. The council expects excellence in architecture and design. In so far as it is possible to discern what the structures will look like from the application drawings, we have to say that the proposed design looks like a shed from B&Q. The pond is a natural resource and that is what we value, said Jane Scott, a regular wild swimmer - Hollie Fernando Other regular swimmers fear the work is part of a wider vision by the City of London Corporation to commercialise the ponds, with particular concerns raised over rumoured plans for a sauna. We do not need a sauna heaven forbid Jane Scott, a regular swimmer, said: I swim all summer with the lifeguards there and in the winter with the winter swimming club. Like many of the regular swimmers, Im worried that any outsourcing of the pond would inevitably lead to commercialisation. The pond is a natural resource and that is what we value. We do not need or want extra buildings, facilities or, heaven forbid, a sauna. Any extra structures would take away from its loveliness and we love it as it is. Tom Miller added: As a regular user of the mixed pond, Im becoming very uncomfortable about the endless trickle of new developments there. My ultimate fear is the much-talked-about installation of saunas at the ponds. Not only will this change the natural state of the ponds, it also goes against the ethos of keeping the ponds environmentally friendly, as installing a heated room at the pond makes a nonsense of our efforts to arrive there and use it in a low-carbon manner. I fear that all these developments will inevitably lead to a situation where the prices of swimming will also rise out of the reach of a lot of the swimmers. The Hampstead Bathing Ponds began as reservoirs dug in the 17th and 18th centuries to provide drinking water for London. In the 19th century, their health benefits became popular, with formal bathing permitted from 1893 at the Mens Pond and 1926 at the Ladies Pond. Today, the mens, mixed and ladies ponds are popular spots for wild swimming. The huts need weather-proofing to house IT infrastructure The City of London Corporation said it is in the process of updating its online booking and payment system, and as such requires the existing huts at the mens, mixed and ladies ponds to be replaced. A spokesman added: The huts need to be secure and weatherproof as they will house IT infrastructure, and also need to provide a suitable working environment for our staff. These proposals are very minor in nature and the locations for the new huts have been selected to ensure there will be no impact on the existing ecology of the site. Earlier this year, womens rights campaign group Sex Matters lost a court challenge against the City of London to stop transgender women from using the ladies pond. The City of London has not changed its policy on keeping Kenwood Ladies Pond open to transgender women, despite last Aprils High Court ruling - Belinda Jiao Since 2019, the Kenwood Ladies Pond has been open to transgender women. However, the City of London has not changed its policy since the Supreme Court ruled in April last year that, under the Equality Act 2010, the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex, not acquired gender. The judgment has been interpreted as meaning that trans women must be excluded from single-sex spaces such as womens changing rooms, lavatories and hospital wards. In a ruling dismissing the legal action in late January, Mrs Justice Lieven said that the appropriate forum for the claim was a county court, rather than the High Court. She said the case should be brought by an individual, instead of a group, who claim that they have been discriminated against as a result of the trans policy. Sex Matters has applied for permission to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal on the basis that the judge was wrong in law. Ken Turnell with one of his sand drawings at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth Photograph: none (Photograph: none) My father, Ken Turnell, who has died aged 77, was an artist, sculptor and art teacher whose work explored the primal human need to mark our place within the natural world. As a young artist his sculptures featured in the 1976 Summer Show at the Serpentine Gallery in London and in 1981 his work appeared at the British Sculpture in the Twentieth Century exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, also in London. In addition Ken was a pivotal figure in the establishment of the Grizedale Sculpture Park in Cumbria, where a number of his works, including The Eye (1984) and Beech Watch (1978) are exhibited. From the mid-1980s drawing became his central practice, and then later he began creating large-scale sand drawings, between 2000 and 2016, on the beach at King Edwards Bay in Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear. His sand creations captured the temporal nature of existence delineating intricate forms only to have them erased by the turning tide. Born in Sheffield to Kenneth, a shipyard welder, and Anne (nee Wiffin), a housewife, as a child Ken moved to Heworth in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, where he attended Jarrow grammar school in the 60s and also went to Saturday art classes at Newcastle University. He later completed a foundation diploma at Hornsey College of Art in north London, then a diploma in art and design at Maidstone College of Art in Kent, followed by postgraduate studies at Chelsea College of Arts in London. He earned his living thereafter as an enlightened and enlightening teacher at various art colleges in the London area, including Wimbledon, St Martins, and Central School of Art & Design; in 1989 the last two merged as Central St Martins. On retirement in 2013 Ken moved to Tavira in southern Portugal, where he spent his final years observing the spectacular sunsets from his studio. He also exhibited locally, and ran art classes in Sao Bras de Alportel until late 2025. He is survived by his partner, Karen Livingstone, and two children, Tom and me, from his marriage to Audrey (nee Keenan), which ended in divorce in the late 80s. David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, is under pressure from Labour rebels demanding concessions on his courts bill - Brook Mitchell/AFP David Lammy will face challenges in the High Court over plans to strip thousands of defendants of their rights to jury trials, leading criminal barristers have warned. The Justice Secretary is likely to become mired in many legal claims over the decision to apply the changes retrospectively to defendants, victims and witnesses already in the Crown Court, the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) said. The CBA claimed this meant that as many as 30,000 defendants who had entered not guilty pleas in the Crown Court in anticipation of having their case heard before a jury would instead be transferred to new judge-only courts. Under Mr Lammys proposed legislation, defendants likely to face prison sentences of less than three years would no longer have a right to a jury trial but would instead be tried in a judge-only court or before magistrates. The barristers have issued the warning before MPs vote on the second reading of the courts bill on Tuesday. Rebel Labour MPs have said they might vote down the bill unless Mr Lammy offers concessions when it undergoes its line-by-line scrutiny in committee. Justice ministers maintain that the decision to apply the rules to defendants who have already been sent to the Crown Court is necessary because of the need to start reducing record backlogs as soon as the legislation is implemented. They say that further delays will only add to the trauma of victims and defendants who are having to wait up to five years for their trials because of backlogs of nearly 80,000 Crown Court cases. Ministers say they have legal advice supporting the lawfulness of the decision on the basis that there is no absolute right to a jury trial only a right to a fair trial, which defendants would get in a judge-only court. However, Andrew Thomas, KC, vice-chairman of the CBA, said that existing cases forced to change from jury trial to judge alone would become mired in satellite litigation when the reforms came into effect. Victims, witnesses and defendants who are expecting their case to be tried by a jury may be faced by an application to reallocate their case to judge-only trial, he said. Judges would have to listen to legal argument before deciding whether to direct a judge-only trial. That means up to 30,000 extra court hearings to decide whether the reallocation is lawful and fair. Decisions could be challenged by appeals or judicial review, leading to further delays while the higher courts determine the legal principles. Similar cases in the past have been fought all the way up to the Supreme Court. Karl Turner, the Labour MP leading a rebellion by as many as 80 backbenchers over the plans, warned that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) would face a legal challenge if it denied jury trials to defendants who had already been promised one. Karl Turner, a Labour MP and former barrister, claims as many as 80 Labour backbenchers have joined his rebellion - Jeff Gilbert for The Telegraph Mr Turner, a former barrister, said: This is inevitably going to lead to yet another unhappy, costly ending for this Government when an inevitable judicial review succeeds. The Law Society and the Bar Council will want to take advice from specialist lawyers on this, if it ever comes to pass. I will eat my horsehair legal wig, that I havent donned since 2010, if this ludicrous proposal isnt challenged. Mr Turner suggested such a legal challenge would be successful. He added: Thats without considering the politics of this, which must have been designed by a group of individuals that have little or no sense of the public mood on this issue. Ministers are confident they can get their plans through the Commons and have so far refused to offer any concessions to rebels. They argue that curbs on jury trials, efficiency measures and extra investment including unlimited sitting days will benefit victims by bringing down the backlogs and reducing delays. A spokesman for the MoJ said: We do not intend to change the court to which defendants have already been assigned. Any application to cases already in the system will only occur where proceedings are still at an early stage and cases where trial has already begun will proceed with jury trial. Silver Sands middle school, Florida A 12-year-old girl has been arrested as she's accused of being the person behind sinister messages threatening to shoot up a Florida middle school, according to the Volusia Sheriff's Office. The pre-teen Silver Sands Middle School student initially reported that she was the victim of a Snapchat sextortion scheme. She said she'd been sent a message by someone who said they'd shoot up the school if she didn't send explicit images via the photo-sharing social media platform, officials said. The threatening messages included pictures of guns as well as details about the girl's class schedule, according to deputies. The sheriff's office launched a joint investigation with the Port Orange Police Department and contacted Snapchat and the phone carrier for information about the messages, Fox 35 reports. The case took a turn when investigators discovered the girl had created the Snapchat account from which she received the messages. Authorities say the girl sent the messages to herself, using photos of guns she'd found on the internet. When questioned about why she did it, the girl told investigators she was dared to, officials said. She has been charged with making a false report and of unlawful use of a communications device. Advertisement Authorities said the girl sent the messages to herself (stock image) (Image: Getty) The incident comes just months after another case in which a 10-year-old girl was charged for allegedly threatening to bring a firearm to school and harm several students in South Carolina. The 10-year-old, who attends Kensington Elementary School, is accused of making threats against her classmates in January. According to the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office, the child has been charged in a juvenile summons with student threats. The alarming incident unfolded on the same day that an 11-year-old student from McDonald Elementary School reportedly declared her intention to "shoot up the school" following an altercation with another student. Both students are now facing disciplinary actions from the Georgetown County School District, as confirmed by the county sheriff. Authorities conducted a thorough search of the 11-year-old's residence but found no evidence of a weapon, reassuring concerned parents that there was no immediate threat. Subsequently, McDonald Elementary School resumed normal operations following the incident. No weapons were discovered at the 10-year-old's residence, and authorities noted that any potential firearms were securely stored. ]]> Painted sign at Tokyo Disneyland - Larry Zhou/Shutterstock While Tokyo Disney shares some similarities with Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida, there are some distinct differences, including in many attractions. Some rides and attractions are variations of ones you find at Disneyland, like Pooh's Hunny Hunt, but offer a completely different experience. Other attractions, such as Baymax's Happy Ride, are nothing like anything you'll find in the U.S. The Tokyo Disney Resort consists of two theme parks Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea and is operated by Oriental Land Company (OLC) under a license from the Walt Disney Company. Like the U.S. parks, there's an adjacent shopping and dining area, Ikspiari. Tokyo Disneyland opened in April 1983, becoming the first international Disney theme park, while Tokyo DisneySea opened 18 years later in 2001 and is currently preparing for a year-long 25th anniversary celebration. If you're planning a trip to Japan and are interested in visiting the theme parks at Tokyo Disney Resort, it's a good idea to get acquainted with some of the best attractions. Tokyo Disney typically doesn't offer park hopper tickets anymore, so it's best to allot at least two days if you want to experience both Disneyland and DisneySea. Currently, there's a limited offer for a one-day park hopper, but you'll need to visit before the end of March 2026. Read more: Unsettling Reasons You May Want To Avoid Taking A Walt Disney World Vacation Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast (Tokyo Disneyland) Teacup from Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast at Tokyo Disneyland - Erin De Santiago / Static Media The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast was part of Tokyo Disneyland's Fantasyland expansion that opened in 2020. After a walk-through storybook introduction featuring Belle and the Beast (in Japanese), guests are ushered into the boarding area to oversized teacups. Because this attraction is on a trackless system, the teacups twist, twirl, and move in ways that almost feel like they are dancing. Glide through different rooms in the castle that reenact different scenes from the movie. Sets in each room are extremely detailed and filled with advanced animatronics. One of the most impressive moments of the ride is when Beast turns into the Prince. This illusion is achieved using a popular Disney technique called Pepper's Ghost. If you've ridden Haunted Mansion, the infamous ballroom scene uses the same technology. While Beauty and the Beast characters appear in the U.S. parks, there is no equivalent attraction at either Disneyland or Walt Disney World. This ride was built exclusively for Tokyo Disneyland, showcasing the differences in storytelling at the Japanese theme parks. One thing to note: if you are especially prone to motion sickness, especially on rides that spin in circles, this may be a ride you want to skip. Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek (Tokyo Disneyland) Close up of Sulley from Monsters, Inc. - MSCT Pics/Shutterstock At first glance, Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek! might sound similar to the Monsters, Inc. attraction at Disney California Adventure. However, the experience at Tokyo Disneyland is entirely its own. Guests hop aboard ride vehicles equipped with handheld flashlights and then move through various scenes searching for hidden monsters. When you shine a light on a target, you'll trigger animated surprises and other fun effects. Disney California Adventure's Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! essentially retells events from the original 2001 film in a straightforward dark ride format, while Tokyo Disneyland's ride is an entirely new storyline. Here, you're transported to a post-movie world where Boo returns to Monstropolis for a game of hide-and-seek. It's more interactive and great for both kids and adults. You might've heard about a planned Monsters, Inc. attraction at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios. That one is going to be a suspended roller coaster a first at any Disney resort. This attraction might shift perceptions of Hollywood Studios, which has previously been rated Disney's lowest-rated theme park. The Happy Ride with Baymax (Tokyo Disneyland) Baymax ride at Tokyo Disneyland - Erin De Santiago / Static Media The catchy music is likely one of the first things that draws you in at The Happy Ride with Baymax. However, what truly sets this attraction apart is the audience's enthusiasm and participation. Repeat guests tend to linger nearby to sing along and mimic the signature moves from Disney Cast Members. Needless to say, it is quite the show. The Happy Ride with Baymax is set to six original, upbeat songs that pulse throughout Tomorrowland before you even get in line. The open-air queue wraps around the ride, so you'll get to watch plenty of fans singing in tune. Some days, it can feel more like an interactive mini-dance party than a theme park ride. Climb above your own vehicle that Baymax pulls behind. It's a whip-style ride, so you spin and whip around in time with the music. The only downside is that the ride lasts only 90 seconds, so the fun ends quickly. The line for this attraction is often pretty long, which is why Disney Premier Access is available. This Baymax attraction is one-of-a-kind, as there's no comparable ride at either Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Similar styles of attractions include Mater's Junkyard Jamboree at Disney California Adventure or Alien Swirling Saucers at Walt Disney World, but the similarities only go so far. Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall (Tokyo Disneyland) Close up photo of the front of Cinderella's castle at Tokyo Disneyland - Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images When you step inside Cinderella Castle's Fairy Tale Hall, you won't find a character queue or restaurant. Instead, it's a quiet, gallery-style walk-through attraction dedicated to storytelling. Here, you're invited to wander through ornate rooms filled with paintings, detailed dioramas, and dimensional scenes that retell the classic Cinderella story. You'll even visit the throne room and see Cinderella's glass slipper. Tokyo Disneyland approaches its castle differently from the U.S. parks. At Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle, there is a small vignette display that tells the story of Sleeping Beauty. At Walt Disney World, Cinderella Castle features Princess Fairytale Hall, which is a princess meet-and-greet. Walking through Tokyo's Cinderella Castle, it feels more like a museum exhibit than a traditional theme park attraction, one that lets you move at your own pace rather than feeling rushed. It's a great attraction if you need a little break between longer lines. Instead of rushing through, you're likely find visitors lingering for the great photo opportunities. It's an example of how OLC's creative control differs while maintaining Disney's intellectual property standards. Pooh's Hunny Hunt (Tokyo Disneyland) Storybook entrance to Pooh's Hunny Hunt at Tokyo Disneyland - Erin De Santiago / Static Media Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World feature a Pooh-themed ride called The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Tokyo Disneyland's version is called Pooh's Hunny Hunt, and it was one of Disney's first major trackless dark rides. Here, the honey pots glide, spin, and move separately without any visible guide rail. It feels very different from the rides in the U.S. and is definitely worth the lengthy line if you visit Tokyo Disneyland. Riders embark on a dreamlike interpretation of the Hundred Acre Wood. Hunny pots bounce through Tigger's room, drift through the blustery wind scene, and then swirl in the blacklight Heffalumps and Woozles sequence. Because of the trackless system, multiple ride vehicles can move independently within the same space. The result is a dynamic energy that feels different every time you ride it. Although the Winnie the Pooh ride is familiar to American park-goers, many visitors agree that the execution in Tokyo is far superior (as per Wandering In Disney). Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World use a track-ride system and static scene transitions, whereas Tokyo Disney's attraction feels alive in motion. This attraction is another clear example of how Tokyo Disneyland reinvents classic attractions rather than replicates them. Journey to the Center of the Earth (Tokyo DisneySea) Mediterranean Harbor and Volcano at Tokyo DisneySea - rezaalfaruqi8/Shutterstock Moving to Tokyo DisneySea, towering over Mediterranean Harbor is Mount Prometheus, and hidden inside it is one of the park's coolest attractions Journey to the Center of the Earth. As you walk around the harbor toward the ride, look for the drill in the mountain. This detail symbolizes the entry point toward the center of the earth. The queue is also interesting, filled with lava, equipment, maps, and more. Hop on a futuristic drilling machine vehicle ride that includes glowing caverns, subterranean seas, bioluminescent plant life, and crystalline formations inspired by Jules Verne's classic science fiction novel. While the ride starts off a little slow, the pacing is deliberate. The early scenes emphasize the atmosphere and the journey itself. Tension starts to build as your expedition vehicle encounters unstable terrain. That culminates in a sudden, high-speed launch that sends your vehicle toward the volcano's summit. It is quite the ride. There's nothing like this attraction at either Walt Disney World or Disneyland in the United States. The closest attractions, technology-wise, are Test Track or Radiator Springs. While both theme park resorts have dark rides and indoor coasters, neither combines this scale of immersive set design. Journey to the Center of the Earth is an example of how the park emphasizes attractions that feel inseparable from their environment. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Tokyo DisneySea) View of the lagoon area and a Jules Verne submarine - Erin De Santiago / Static Media Fancy a little more Jules Verne? Behind Mount Prometheus, you'll find 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This ride also feels like you've stepped inside a Jules Verne novel. Guests board submarine-style vehicles and look through illuminated portholes as they descend into an imagined underwater world. There aren't any fast movement or tension-building scenes. Instead, the story builds through detailed sets, lighting effects, and the illusion of depth. One major difference between this attraction and submersible rides at other Disney theme parks is that the vehicles on the Tokyo ride are suspended from an overhead track. The special effects create the sensation that you're deep in the ocean. Advertisement As you might expect, given the Jules Verne inspiration, the mood is atmospheric and dark. You'll pass sunken ruins, glowing sea creatures, and more. It's less of a thrill ride and more of a slow exploration. One cool interactive element is the light you can control with a joystick. Listen for the bell to ring and the spotlight to come on, then you can point it in any direction. Walt Disney World had a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction when it opened in 1971, which was similar to the old Submarine Voyage at Disneyland. The popular Walt Disney World attraction permanently closed in 1994. A Disneyland submarine ride operated until 1998, eventually transitioning into the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in 2007. Sinbad's Storybook Voyage (Tokyo DisneySea) Entrance to the Arabian Coast at Tokyo DisneySea - RaisaMacouzet/Shutterstock Located in the Arabian Coast section of Tokyo DisneySea, Sinbad's Storybook Voyage is a fun ride that tells the story of Sinbad and his adorable sidekick, Chandu. Some on the Disney Tourist Blog describe the attraction as a blend of "it's a small world" and Pirates of the Caribbean. Guests board colorful boats and follow Sinbad and Chandu the tiger on a journey across oceans and continents. Each detailed scene has animated figures with expressive moments and layered staging. The ride's central song is an original score written by the legendary Disney composer Alan Menken. He is known for work on a number of other Disney films, including "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "Pocahontas," "Tangled," and more. The song "Compass of Your Heart" is performed in Japanese, and essentially narrates the journey. Raging Spirits (Tokyo DisneySea) Sign for Raging Spirits roller coaster at Tokyo DisneySea - RaisaMacouzet/Shutterstock Hidden at the back of Tokyo DisneySea in the Lost River Delta is the Raging Spirits coaster. This ride is one of the few attractions at Disney parks that include a full 360-degree loop. The compact, high-speed coaster is designed to mimic an archaeological site set among crumbling temple ruins and jungle overgrowth. Once you're on the ride, the steel coaster weaves through weathered rocks before you climb into the signature loop. The footprint for this ride is quite small compared to some of the larger, more sprawling coasters you might be used to at other Disney parks. While there is no comparable ride at the American Disney parks, Raging Spirits shares some similarities with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril at Disneyland Paris, one of Europe's highest-rated theme parks. Aquatopia (Tokyo DisneySea) Aquatopia ride at Tokyo DisneySea - Erin De Santiago / Static Media Located in the futuristic Port Discovery area, Aquatopia appears deceptively gentle at first. However, it's not a thrill ride, which is why it's still family-friendly. The attraction features small, three-seat vehicles that glide across the shallow lagoon. There are no visible tracks, dramatic drops, or any obvious storyline. Instead, you travel around the lagoon in no discernible pattern. The unpredictability of where you are going is precisely the point. The ride relies on a trackless system beneath the surface, which allows each vehicle to change direction and movement mid-ride. Part of the journey might be a calm and smooth ride, while other parts might be filled with sudden spins and near-miss encounters with waterfalls. The playful misdirects keep riders entertained, making every ride feel different. And, if you visit during the summer months, you might find Aquatopia offering the "Get Soaked" line. It's a fantastic way to beat the Tokyo summer heat! You won't find anything comparable to Aquatopia at either Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort. There are several trackless-system rides in the U.S. parks, but none combine elements in the way Tokyo DisneySea's Aquatopia does. Unfortunately, you need to ride this one soon, as it is slated to close at some point to make room for the DisneySea expansion in a few years. Venetian Gondolas (Tokyo DisneySea) Venetian gondolas at Tokyo DisneySea - Sandra Foyt/Shutterstock Venetian gondolas might not be the first attraction that comes to mind when you think about a Disney theme park, but Tokyo DisneySea has them. Costumed gondoliers steer the boats through the Venetian canals and out into the Mediterranean Harbor. You'll even pass traditional Venetian-style pastel facades and a mini Rialto Bridge. While not as romantic as a gondola ride for two in Venice, Tokyo's gondolas are still worthwhile. Like authentic gondola experiences, the pace is unhurried. Take in the scenery around Mediterranean Harbor and use this as an opportunity to relax and recharge before getting back in line for some of the most popular attractions. Your experience on the gondolas will also vary depending on the time of day you ride, as the gondolas will stop running whenever there is a water show happening in the harbor. U.S. Disney parks have some water-based attractions and riverboats. However, neither resort offers an intimate, Venice-inspired experience like this. Rapunzel's Lantern Festival (Tokyo DisneySea) Rapunzel's boat ride at Tokyo DisneySea - RaisaMacouzet/Shutterstock Tokyo DisneySea opened the new Fantasy Springs area in June 2024. One of the main attractions is Rapunzel's Lantern Festival, which brings one of Disney's most visually iconic scenes to life. Here, guests will board a small boat and glide through familiar moments from "Tangled." The ride starts at Rapunzel's Tower and then passes other movie moments, including the iconic lantern scene. The ride includes both indoor and outdoor elements, and is great for kids and adults alike. One element that distinguishes it from other Disney boat rides is its emphasis on lighting and atmosphere. The finale with the lantern scene fills the building with warm reflections that create a sense of intimacy and depth. The set pieces, combined with modern-day animatronics and the immersive musical score, make you feel like you're part of the ride. Although you will find Tangled-theme elements at the U.S. Disney parks, there is no comparable ride at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. After all, Rapunzel's Lantern Festival was created specifically for the Fantasy Springs expansion. Peter Pan's Never Land Adventure (Tokyo DisneySea) Exterior of Peter Pan's Neverland Adventure at Tokyo DisneySea - iistran/Shutterstock Peter Pan's Never Land Adventure is unlike any other Peter Pan ride at Disney theme parks. It's not a simple update of the classic ride you might be used to. Instead, it's a complete reinvention. This next-generation ride system blends large-scale physical sets with immersive projection and 3D elements. Guests will join the Lost Boys on a mission through Neverland, where movement feels very different from traditional Disney dark rides. In U.S. parks and Tokyo Disneyland, Peter Pan's Flight suspends guests in pirate ships that glide through miniature sets. It's more storybook quality and nostalgic. In contrast, Peter Pan's Never Land Adventure at Tokyo DisneySea makes you feel like you're in the action. You dip, tilt, and accelerate through environments that feel cinematic. The queue sets the expectation for what's to come. You first move through caves before getting inside, which is essentially the base camp for the Lost Boys. There's also a pre-show, but like most Tokyo attractions, it's entirely in Japanese. Even if you don't understand Japanese, it's still entertaining. One thing to note: Because the ride is 3D and moves in multiple directions, it might be worth skipping if you are prone to motion sickness. Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey (Tokyo DisneySea) North Mountain from Disney Frozen at Fantasy Springs, Tokyo DisneySea - Hilang to Healing/Shutterstock Another signature attraction in Tokyo DisneySea's new Fantasy Springs area is Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey. The level of storytelling here goes beyond the Frozen-themed attraction at Walt Disney World. Here, guests board boats that travel through the entire arc of the "Frozen" film. The ride unfolds in expansive show scenes featuring advanced animatronics, perfectly timed musical transitions, and dynamic lighting. Walt Disney World's Frozen attraction was redesigned from an existing ride at EPCOT's Norway Pavilion and focuses on a few familiar scenes. Alternatively, Tokyo DisneySea's attraction was built from the ground up for the new Fantasy Springs land. That gave designers more freedom to create sweeping fjord backdrops and towering ice palaces. It doesn't feel like a quick swap. As one of the newest attractions at Tokyo Disney, you can expect the line for Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey to be long all day long. Fortunately, Disney has added a single rider option perfect for solo Disney park travelers. Methodology Mickey and Minnie Mouse on a parade float at Tokyo Disney - Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images This list was compiled using official Tokyo Disney Resort attraction information, press releases from the Oriental Land Company, and current ride documentation from both Tokyo Disney Resort and U.S. Disney parks. Attractions were included only if they do not operate in the same form at the Disneyland Resort in California or Walt Disney World in Florida, even if they share characters or themes with comparable attractions. The writer also brings firsthand experience to the attraction selection process, having visited Tokyo Disney Resort more than 30 times and previously holding an annual pass. Growing up near Disneyland in California and later spending significant time at Walt Disney World provided direct familiarity with the U.S. attractions referenced throughout this piece. Her combined experiences across multiple parks, seasons, and expansions helped ensure the distinctions outlined here reflect meaningful differences rather than minor variations. 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. Three people were arrested after authorities discovered $1.2 million worth of methamphetamine during a drug bust operation in Northern California. Following an investigation by federal and state authorities, agents served a search warrant at a Turlock property where 280 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and eight firearms were found. Three suspects were arrested at the scene, the California Attorney Generals Office announced on March 5. The meth lab on site was dismantled and processed by lab-certified California Department of Justice (DOJ) special agents and task force officers. Inside a wooden structure, agents found various common items associated with methamphetamine conversion laboratories including propane tanks, propane burners, acetone containers and fans. Three people were arrested after authorities discovered 280 pounds of crystal methamphetamine worth around $1.2 million during a drug bust operation in Turlock, California. (California Attorney Generals Office) Agents with the DOJs Merced Area Gang & Narcotic Enforcement Team (MAGNET) obtained forensic samples of various liquids and recovered several fingerprints for analysis. The California Department of Toxic Substances was contacted for the destruction of hazardous materials and equipment related to the lab. Advertisement This is truly an example of the good work that happens when multiple agencies come together for one, unified mission, said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Stopping the production of illegal drugs isnt just about law enforcement, it is about protecting families, saving lives, and defending the future of our communities. Public safety is job number one, and the California Department of Justice will continue to work for it, both in the courtroom and on the ground in our communities. Thank you to our state, local and federal partner agencies for their collaboration. The significant bust was part of a larger operation led by the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office SAINT (Sacramento Area Intelligence Narcotics Team) and Calaveras County Sheriffs Office CNEU (Calaveras Narcotics Enforcement Unit). The search warrant was executed by personnel with the California DOJ, Sacramento Area Intelligence and Narcotics Team (SAINT), Calaveras County Sheriffs Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). As part of California DOJs task force program, the participating agencies of MAGNET work in collaboration to combat drug trafficking organizations, violent repeat offenders and organized crime, the attorney generals office said in a statement. 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. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed Australia is considering providing military assistance to Gulf countries amid the US-Israel-Iran war but ruled out the deployment of Australian troops. She said many countries that are non-participants had been attacked by Iran following the start of the war. Through this, you would anticipate, as a consequence, that we have been asked for assistance, and we will work through that, Senator Wong told ABC Insiders on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if this assistance involved protection against Irans drone and missile attacks, Senator Wong said: Correct. We will work through that in accordance with the position I have outlined, which is we are not participating in offensive action against Iran, and weve made clear we would not participate in any ground troop deployment into Iran. She would not go into further details of discussions but said the government would be transparent with Australians, should any decision be made. Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia has been asked for military assistance. Picture: NewsWire /Martin Ollman Later, opposition defence spokesman James Paterson said in a statement the Coalition had requested a briefing following Senator Wongs comments. The Coalition has sought a briefing about potential deployment of (Australian Defence Force) ADF personnel to the Middle East in defensive combat roles following the Foreign Ministers comments in the media this morning, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Australia had a proud record of standing with our allies and friends in times of crisis, and the Coalition will carefully consider any deployment proposals in the national interest once briefed. Earlier, Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said Australia was not part of the US-Israel war on Iran despite the presence of ADF personnel on a US navy vessel that sank an Iranian ship in international waters. This week, Anthony Albanese revealed three submariners were on-board a US submarine that attacked Iranian navy frigate IRIS Dena on Wednesday, killing at least 87 people and leaving dozens missing. Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was sunk off Sri Lanka's coast after returning from a military exercise. Picture: US Department of Defense The trio were on board as part of training arrangements designed to deliver the AUKUS defence pact a trilateral agreement between the US, United Kingdom and Australia and did not participate in offensive action, the Prime Minister confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But experts have raised questions about whether the ship was a legitimate target, as well as the wider legality of the US and Israeli war on Iran. On Sunday, Mr Thistlethwaite denied Australia was being dragged into the war as a result of the trios presence on the vessel. This is part of a normal training rotation for Australian submariners, he told Sky News Sunday Agenda. Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite says the US attack on an Iranian frigate is up to the Americans to justify. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short In the wake of the signing of the AUKUS deal, weve increasingly had more Australians training with the United States navy there. The AUKUS training arrangement involved not just submariners, but engineers and designers doing courses in the US, he said, before adding the Americans come here to train as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were just about to start the next rotation of the marine rotational force in the north of Australia, where American Marines come in their thousands and train with Australians, Mr Thistlethwaite said. But he denied revealing any details about the trios identity or rank, for national security reasons. The Middle East conflict has expanded to include at least 12 countries in the region. Picture: AFP PHOTO /SATELLITE IMAGE (C) 2026 Vantor We dont disclose the details of operations and people involved in those operations overseas for the national security risk, he said. Mr Thistlethwaite would not be drawn on the legality of the attack itself, instead reiterating the Australian governments call for de-escalation. Grilled on whether Australia backed the US conduct in the conflict, he added: Our support is conditional upon removing the nuclear threat. Thats the basis upon which we supported the United States action, and thats consistent with the approach that weve taken for many, many months now, since this conflict broke out, he said. Image Credit: Shutterstock. Travel has a funny way of turning tiny habits into big signals. A simple excuse me can sound perfectly normal in one place and oddly intense in another. That mismatch is where most awkward moments are born, not from bad intentions. Once you learn the local default, everything feels smoother. The goal is not to act like someone else, but to stop accidentally stepping on invisible toes. The countries below are not ranked as good or bad. They are grouped by the communication style many visitors notice first. The first three are widely associated with softer manners and careful social pacing. After that, the tone shifts to two places where people tend to prefer plain, direct wording. Think of it as changing gears, not passing judgment. 1. Japan Image Credit: Shutterstock. In Japan, courtesy often looks like keeping shared spaces calm and predictable. Lines tend to stay orderly, voices usually stay low on transit, and people generally avoid putting others on the spot. Even disagreement may arrive through gentle phrasing, which helps the moment stay smooth. Many visitors feel that respect is baked into the rhythm of daily life. You might notice staff anticipating needs before you ask, then stepping back once you are set. A good strategy here is to slow down and watch the cues around you. Short requests, a patient pause, and a sincere thank-you usually land well. Shoes-off customs still matter in certain indoor settings, especially traditional stays. When you miss a rule, a calm apology and quick correction typically fixes it. If youre trying to read softer refusals (or give one), it helps to know that no often comes wrapped in context rather than a blunt rejection, like the chotto style of declining described by Psyche. If you want a fast refresher before you land, Japans national tourism guide has a clear overview of everyday manners and etiquette. 2. Canada Image Credit: Shutterstock. In Canada, manners often come through friendliness that does not feel intrusive. Personal space is usually respected, and turn-taking in queues is treated as basic etiquette. Small talk can appear quickly, but it tends to stay light with strangers. The familiar sorry is often used to keep things comfortable and de-escalate friction, not to assign blame, a point discussed in a Queens University working paper on apologies in Canadian English. Many travelers notice how often people hold doors, let others merge, and keep things moving without drama. Matching the vibe is mostly about tone. A relaxed voice, a clear request, and patience during busy hours go a long way. Holding doors, keeping your place in line, and giving staff room to work helps everything flow. If a mistake happens, focusing on the fix instead of the fault usually keeps the interaction pleasant. When someone offers help, a quick thanks and a smile often completes the exchange. 3. New Zealand Image Credit: Shutterstock. In New Zealand, politeness often feels casual, grounded, and modest. Courtesy shows up less as formal phrasing and more as considerate behavior, especially in shared outdoor spaces. Beaches, walking tracks, and campsites can feel like community living rooms, so pushiness stands out fast. Humility and fairness tend to land well. Visitors frequently describe the friendliness as genuine, without feeling performative. Advertisement Practical respect is the easiest way to earn goodwill. Stick to marked routes, yield on narrow paths, and keep distance from wildlife. Noise later in the day can bother people quickly in smaller communities. Cleaning up after yourself without being asked is a strong signal that you understand the local rhythm. The Tiaki Promise captures the care for the place youre visiting baseline that many locals want travelers to follow. Now the list turns in a different direction, and it is an intentional shift. Instead of softening every request, these next stops often value clarity and speed. Direct questions can feel blunt to newcomers, even when no offense is intended. The two countries with more direct social cultures here are the Netherlands and Israel. 4. Netherlands Image Credit: Shutterstock. In the Netherlands, many visitors notice communication that aims for clarity over cushioning. Questions can sound blunt if you come from a culture that wraps requests in extra softeners. Feedback may arrive quickly, especially in practical settings, because problem-solving is the priority. Once you expect the style, it becomes easier to read the tone correctly. A straight answer is commonly seen as helpful, even without extra warmth, as described in SBS Cultural Atlass overview of Dutch communication norms. Simple, plain replies usually work best. A concise request can land better than hinting, particularly at service counters or in busy shops. If something is not working, naming the issue calmly can speed up the fix. Many travelers end up enjoying the predictability because there is less guessing. When you want to be polite, clarity plus a friendly thank you often hits the sweet spot. 5. Israel Image Credit: Shutterstock. In Israel, conversation can feel fast, energetic, and comfortably direct. Interruptions may signal engagement rather than disrespect, especially in lively group settings. Volume can rise without anger, and debate can sound intense even when goodwill is present. For newcomers, the pace is often the biggest surprise. People may ask pointed questions quickly, partly because time is valued and directness is normal, a style often framed through dugri (talking straight) in University of Haifa research on dugri speech. A firm but respectful approach tends to work well. Asking clearly for what you need prevents confusion and saves time. Boundaries usually go down better when stated plainly rather than hinted at. Once you adjust, warmth often shows up through practical help and quick problem-solving instead of extra verbal padding. Staying calm while matching the tempo can turn a stressful moment into a surprisingly friendly one. Read More This article originally appeared on Guessing Headlights: 3 Countries Known For Politeness And 2 With More Direct Social Cultures Bottles of wine in crates at Costco - KK Stock/Shutterstock In the list of the items you may consider purchasing at Costco, fine wine may not be top of mind. However, it should be. The store carries widely available premium selections from producers such as Napa's Duckhorn Winery and Champagne's Veuve Cliquot, to exceptional, rare finds that may make you stumble over your grocery cart when you find them, including the seven options we are reporting on here. While many of these luxury wines sold at Costco will cost you a pretty penny, the wholesaler lives up to its reputation as one of the most affordable grocers in the country. Each of these rare selections is available for significantly less than you will pay at other retailers, if you can even find them. Shoppers spotted them at their local Costco within the past year. However, I would call your store to check availability if you are interested in investing in a bottle. And while most of the inventory at Costco rotates regularly, some pricier items may sit under the store's bright lights in an environment that is likely not temperature-controlled for some time, which may compromise the wine's quality. Additionally, Costco does not provide information on the older-vintage wines storage prior to their arrival. Still, if you opt to invest, these wines are worth it. I have spent the past 20 years as a Certified Sommelier and wine writer. During that time, I have had the opportunity to try several of these selections, and each time the wine was sensational. Read more: 10 Things Costco Employees Know About The Chain That Most Shoppers Don't 2021 Chateau d'Yquem Bottle of 2021 Chateau d'Yquem - Chateau d'Yquem/Facebook Located in Sauternes, in France's Bordeaux region, Chateau d'Yquem's liquid gold is one of the world's finest expressions of sweet, botrytized wine. When France classified the Chateau of Bordeaux in 1855, one white wine earned the top Sauternes-Barsac Premier Cru Superieur classification, Chateau d'Yquem. The selection was due to the historic estate's extraordinary, silky, honeyed, Sauternes dessert wine that pairs incredibly with seared foie gras or fruit tarts. Chateau d'Yquem earns its status as one of the wine rarities due to the painstakingly difficult-to-produce wine. It's creation can only come to fruition when ideal circumstances occur. In the late harvest wine's production, winemakers leave fully ripened grapes on vines past their full ripening. During this time, a fungus known as botrytis cinerea, or noble rot, invades the grapes, forming a mold on the fruit. This noble rot fungus produces a rare wine by causing the grapes to lose water and shrivel, concentrating the aromas, sugars, and flavors of honey, citrus, and sweet tree fruit, while creating new ones. Chateau d'Yquem's 290-acre vineyard is arguably the best terroir for botrytis, Cooling mists off of Bordeaux's nearby Ciron and the Garonne Rivers encourages the fungus development on thin-skinned semillon and sauvignon blanc. Each d'Yquem grapevine produces one single glass of wine. Known for its age-worthiness, a 750-milliliter bottle's average price is $448. Costco offers the 100-point-rated 2021 vintage as a part of the Duclot collection, alongside eight other Bordeaux selections, for $7,999. 2014 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne Bottle of 2024 Cristal Champagne with grapevines - Luxury Champagne is the nectar of the gods. One of the finest is Cristal Champagne from producer Louis Roederer. The wine is always a vintage expression, and the Champagne house only produces it in the very best years. The prestige cuvee debuted in 1876 when Roederer made the wine for Tsar Alexander II to be served in his court. The champagne's golden label was a popular style for the time, a decorative demonstration of the wine's quality and an indication of its caliber. The brand has showcased its golden label since its first vintage. Its style has adapted over the years, moving from a sweeter wine favored in the 1800s to a drier Brut style. The wine blends chardonnay with pinot noir from Grand Cru vineyards and ages for 6 years in the bottle before disgorgement, followed by an additional 8 months prior to release. The resulting wine's palate balances freshness with richness and a distinct mineral note. The wine bottle's glass is clear, as Tsar Alexander II needed to ensure the bubbly was not poisoned when it was presented to him. Roederer wraps the bottle in a golden cellophane wrapper to protect it from UV lights, which is very beneficial for the bottle sitting under Costco's warehouse lights. The wholesaler offers the 2014 vintage for $299.99. A nice discount off the typical average price of $362. Additionally, one lucky Redditor claimed they purchased a bottle last year for $148 at Costco, a steal for the price. 2021 Chateau Haut-Brion Premier Grand Cru Classes Bottle of 2021 Chateau Haut-Brion wine - Chateau Haut Brion/Instagram Bordeaux's First Growth wines are some of the world's most sought-after wines, so seeing a 2021 First Growth wine on a Costco shelf is undoubtedly unique. Many Bordeaux wines are sold based on the quality of the Chateau and the vintage. The cool, damp 2021 vintage in Bordeaux was challenging, delivering lower yields, lower production, and, in many cases, wines of great quality. Still, some Reddit commenters believe the quality was lacking in 2021 due to the vintage challenges. They questioned purchasing $399.97 bottles of First Growth wine from Costco, even with their considerable savings over their average $600 prices. However, when it comes to Chateau Haut-Brion Premier Grand Cru Classe, wine critics disagree. The First Growth wine received scores ranging from 95-98 points. Wines such as Chateau Haut-Brion have broad appeal due to their elegance and age-ability. The 2021 vintage available at Costco leads with merlot, with varying amounts of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc, revealing supple silkiness with refined complexity and a mineral-rich backbone. It pairs perfectly grilled ribeye steak. Advertisement The First Growth Bordeaux classification was created at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III in 1855. The ranking system based a wine's quality on its reputation, production, and dependability. The classification of the finest Premier Cru red wines focused on Bordeaux's Medoc region, with one exception: Chateau Haut-Brion within Bordeaux's Graves. The four wineries initially awarded the 1855 Premier Cru ranking will never lose their classification, contributing to their status, prestige, and allure. 2014 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon Two bottles of Screaming Eagle wine with box - winemerchantbh/Instagram Certain wines from Napa Valley have helped the region achieve international acclaim. Producers such as Harlan, Dominus, Chappellet, Joseph Phelps, and Inglenook put Napa on the international map. However, perhaps none represents a cult Napa cabernet sauvignon more than Screaming Eagle. In 2000, the Napa Valley Wine Auction sold a six-liter bottle of the wine for $500,000. The average price today for a 750-milliliter bottle is $3,558.00. While the price today is extraordinarily high, it didn't start that way. Still, founder Jean Phillips knew she had something special, pricing the initial 172-case release in 1992 at the expensive price of $75 a bottle. At the time, the most expensive Napa cabernet sauvignon was typically priced closer to $50. The initial release was produced by Napa Valley winemaking royalty, Heidi Pettersen Barret, earning a 100-point score from famed wine critic Robert Parker. Over the years, the acclaimed wine has received the perfect score multiple times. These high scores, the limited release of only a few hundred cases a year, the decades-long membership waiting list, and immense acclaim contribute to its rarity. These factors also make the availability at select Costco locations that much more unique and rather unheard of. And, you'll get not just one but three bottles of the highly allocated 2014 vintage for $8,200.29, a bargain by any standard. 2018 Dominio de Pingus Pingus Bottles of Dominio de Pingus "Pingus" - Belgium Wine Watchers/Instagram Quality wines from Spain don't often receive the notoriety and recognition that wines from regions such as Napa Valley, Bordeaux, or Barolo receive. Still, if you know where to look, you will find rare treasures that will set your heart on fire. Lying along the banks of the Douro River, in Northern Spain's Castilla y Leon, fruit grown in Ribera del Duero produces stand-out, age-worthy selections. Few showcase this more than Dominio de Pingus with its signature Pingus red wine. The region's dominant grape is tempranillo, known locally as tinto fino. Founder and winemaker Peter Sisseck crafts the rare Spanish wine from 100% of the variety, sourced from the oldest vines in the area, growing in sedimentary clay and limestone soils in arid, hot conditions. The roots of the biodynamically farmed, old-vines have dug deep into the earth to find water and nutrients to survive, resulting in fruit that optimally represents the region's terroir. Using only the finest fruit from the best, low-yielding vines, Sisseck produces less than 500 cases of Pingus annually. The first release of the wine was in 1995, which received immense notoriety for its expressive character, quickly earning it cult status and an increasingly high price. The average price today for a 750-milliliter bottle is $1,160. Costco is offering the 2018 vintage to California Costco shoppers as part of the Ultimate Great Wines of the World 6-pack for $6,999.99. 2017 Penfolds Grange Bin 95 Bottle of 2017 Penfolds Grange - Penfolds/Instagram Another exceptional selection in the Ultimate Great Wines of the World collection, priced at $6,999.99, is the 2017 vintage of Penfolds Grange Bin 95. The wine is arguably the most famous selection from Australia, earning multiple hundred-point scores since its debut in 1951. The wine did not start with the expectation of the greatness it has achieved. Critics at the time panned the robust and powerful selection from visionary winemaker Max Schubert. Schubert's goal was to put the New World wine on the international map, highlighting the quality and age-ability of his red wine blend, which would be similar to the finest Bordeaux selections. It would take years for the wine to achieve the acclaim it has come to know with name recognition among wine enthusiasts worldwide. This was mainly due to the need to allow for bottle aging. The wine needed time to allow the wine to soften and evolve, mellowing the tannins, while achieving optimal complexity. Penfolds Grange is an American oak-aged, shiraz-based blend from various regions across Australia, showcasing the country's premium growing areas. Penfolds ages the wine for 18-20 months, then adds several years of additional bottle aging in the cellar before release ensuring it is ready to drink upon release, and also had additional age-ability. In 2001, the wine was declared a South Australian heritage icon. In 2021, a bottle of 1951 Penfolds Grange Bin 1 from Schubert's first vintage sold for $150,000. Today, a typical bottle costs just north of $700. 2009 and 2010 Petrus Pomerol Grand Vin Bottle of 2009 and 2011 Petrus - ivar.bjurner_bordeaux.wine/Instagram Although the 1855 Bordeaux Classification focused solely on the Left Bank wines, it was certainly not representative of the entire region. To the east of the Dordogne River, Bordeaux's Right Bank Chateau crafts some of the most exceptional selections. These wines, which tend to have a merlot and cabernet franc base instead of a cabernet sauvignon base, are plush, rich, and supple, with distinction and refinement. They are the wines that pair as easily with slowly-braised short ribs to umami-rich roasted duck breast with mushroom stuffing. One of the finest is Petrus Grand Vin. Nestled within the prestigious Pomerol region, Petrus is perfectly situated to produce its noteworthy merlot-based wine due to its terroir. The estate sits atop a plateau of blue clay subsoil, the highest vineyard in the region. The blue clay soil's qualities help produce tannin-rich wines, which have considerable age worthiness. At the same time, the clay holds water, helping produce opulent, elegant wines with fully developed phenolic character. Petrus crafts a single 100% merlot wine each year. Only 2,500 cases are produced. Although the production is higher than some of Costco's other noteworthy rare wines, it doesn't compromise the wine's rarity, as it has a consistent reputation for premium quality, which justifies its price. The average 2009 vintage bottle price for Petrus is around $8,500. Costco offers the 2009 vintage for $5,699. Or, if you enjoy a splurge and live in California, you can purchase an 11-year-vertical ranging from 1971 to 1981 for $84,999.99. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Bruce Springsteen being interviewed in 20 Feet from Stardom - Tremolo Productions/Gil Friesen Productions Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska" opens with the eerie siren whine of a harmonica, setting the stage for what's to be an unsettlingly terse first-person account of Charles Starkweather's 1958 murder spree across Nebraska and Wyoming. If you've seen the cinematic memoir "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere," you know this was one of many songs the artist recorded in the bedroom of a rental house while working dealing with the onrush of stardom and a brutal bout of depression. What began as an instrumentally spare demo captured via a four-track recorder was ultimately released, after attempts to broaden the sound and make it more of a conventional sounding LP, as that instrumentally spare demo. It was a bold decision by an artist who'd firmly established himself as a rocker backed by the big, muscular E Street Band, but it paid off in critical acclaim. And for fans who were left cold by the downbeat songs on "Nebraska," they got a classic of E Street bombast two years later with "Born in the U.S.A." While the entirety of "Nebraska" is masterful, it's the title track that sets the despairing tone and looms over the rest of the songs. There's a pronounced Flannery O'Connor influence here (Springsteen comes close to directly quoting her short story "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" with the lyric "I guess there's just a meanness in this world"), but the opening verse draws from a cinematic source. It's very possible we wouldn't have "Nebraska," the song or the album, had Springsteen not run across Terrence Malick's brilliant 1973 directorial debut feature "Badlands" (which currently holds a 97% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes). Read more: The Greatest Character Actors Of All Time, Ranked Badlands' influence can be felt in the lyrics and composition of Nebraska Sissy Spacek as Holly and Martin Sheen as Kit cuddle in the backseat of a car in Badlands - Warner Bros. "Badlands" is a poet's riff on "Bonnie and Clyde." It's a film about two restless people eager to escape a lifeless South Dakota town. Holly (Sissy Spacek) is a shy, curious 15-year-old who can't stand to live another second with her cruel father (Warren Oates). Kit (Martin Sheen), a 25-year-old Korean War veteran who's eking it out as a garbage man, is her ticket to ride. When Holly's father attempts to end the relationship, Kit shoots him. Ready or not, it's time for the pair to hit the road. Advertisement After that siren-like harmonica opening to "Nebraska" the song, Bruce Springsteen sings the following: "I saw her standin' on her front lawn Just a-twirlin' her baton Me and her went for a ride, sir And 10 innocent people died" Those first two lines describe the initial encounter between Holly and Kit in "Badlands," and the film's influence can be felt throughout the rest of the tune. It's especially apparent in the way Springsteen incorporates a glockenspiel midway through the song, a clear nod to Terrence Malick's use of Carl Orff's "Gassenhauer" over the opening and closing credits of his movie. "Badlands" has inspired countless artists over time (legendary director Tony Scott, in particular, used "Gassenhauer" in his Quentin Tarantino-penned lovers-on-the-run masterpiece "True Romance"), but above all else, Malick's movie palpably transformed Springsteen as a songwriter and a thinker in general. What a gift to the world. 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. Actress Rosanna Arquette questions the reported suicide of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre in a new interview.mega Rosanna Arquette raised doubts about the death of her friend Virginia Giuffre. In an interview with The Times of London published Saturday, March 7, the actress said she does not believe Giuffre one of the most prominent accusers of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide. 'Fierce Warrior' Rosanna Arquette said she does not believe her friend Virginia Giuffre died by suicide.mega "I knew Virginia. I don't think she killed herself," Arquette, 66, said. Giuffre's family announced in April 2025 that she died by suicide at age 41. In a statement released at the time, they described her as a tireless advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking. "Giuffre lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking," the family said. "Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors." They added that despite the trauma she endured throughout her life, she remained a bright force for others. "Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure," the statement continued. "The light of her life were her children: Christian, Noah, and Emily." 'We Need to Protect Them' The actress said she had many conversations with women who accused Jeffrey Epstein.mega Arquette told the outlet she felt a deep connection to the women who accused Epstein, partly because of her own past allegations against disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The actress previously claimed Weinstein grabbed her hand and tried to force it toward his penis during an encounter at The Beverly Hilton in the 1990s. Weinstein has denied the allegation. "I had many conversations with the Epstein women," Arquette said in the interview. "Those women are warriors right now, and we need to protect them." When asked directly whether she believed Giuffre died by suicide, Arquette made her stance clear. Advertisement "I do not," she said. More Questions Surrounding Virginia Giuffre's Death Giuffre's family previously said she died by suicide in April 2025 at age 41.mega Arquette is not alone in questioning the circumstances surrounding Giuffres death. Shortly after her passing in 2025, Giuffre's father, Sky Roberts, publicly called for an investigation, pointing to previous social media posts in which she said she did not have suicidal thoughts. Her attorney, Karrie Louden, also expressed doubts after learning of her clients death. "When I got the phone call, I was like, 'Are you joking?'" Louden told The Sun in April 2025. "Because there was no sign that that was something she was considering." Virginia Giuffre's Claims Against Jeffrey Epstein Giuffre accused Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell of trafficking her as a teenager.mega Giuffre became one of the most recognizable voices in the case against Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She alleged that Epstein and Maxwell trafficked her to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor formerly known as Britain's Prince Andrew on multiple occasions, including when she was 17 in 2001. Mountbatten-Windsor denied the allegations and told the BBC's Newsnight in 2019 that he had "no recollection of ever meeting" Giuffre. The royal later reached a private settlement with Giuffre in 2022 after she filed a sexual assault lawsuit against him. The settlement included no admission of wrongdoing. Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges at age 66. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking-related charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison the following year. She has continued to maintain her innocence and has reportedly sought clemency from President Donald Trump. Last November, the UK government announced a bold plan to phase out animal testing in some areas of research. Animal tests for skin irritation are scheduled for elimination this year, and some studies on dogs should be slashed by 2030. The long-term vision is a world where the use of animals in science is eliminated in all but exceptional circumstances, the government policy reads. Other nations are making similar moves. Last April, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced plans to make animal studies the exception rather than the norm in drug safety and toxicity testing in 35 years. The same month, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealed an initiative to reduce the use of animals in research that it funds. This year, the European Commission plans to publish a road map to end animal testing in chemical safety assessments. Ethical and animal-welfare concerns have long fuelled efforts to curb animal use in research and now rapid advances in alternative scientific methods are accelerating the shift. These new approach methodologies (NAMs) include devices known as organs-on-chips, 3D tissue cultures called organoids and computational models, such as artificial-intelligence systems. The number of biomedical publications using only NAMs grew from around 25,000 to 100,000 between 2006 and 2022, according to an analysis of studies on seven diseases by Animal Free Research UK, an organization that promotes the replacement of animal experiments. And China is investing heavily in this area: in 2024, it launched the Human Organ Physiopathology Emulation System, an infrastructure project dedicated to developing NAMs, backed with an investment of 2,640 million yuan (US$382 million). Sign up for Today in Science, a free daily newsletter from Scientific American and join a community of science-loving readers. Proponents say that NAMs can be better than animals at mimicking human biology and predicting whether new drugs are safe and effective. Organs-on-chips and organoids are often created with human cells, and computational models can be designed using human data. The shift towards alternative models is long overdue, says Donald Ingber, a bioengineer at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering in Boston, Massachusetts, and a co-founder of Emulate, a biotechnology company in Boston focused on organs-on-chips. But NAMs are a long way from ousting all animal procedures in research, scientists say. Some biological systems are too complex and unpredictable to study without animals. And many of the alternative methods have yet to be validated to show that they represent the system they are modelling accurately and reproducibly enough to satisfy drug and chemical regulators. Not all of these [alternative] models are ready for prime time, Ingber says. On the decline Efforts to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (known as the 3Rs) have been ramping up for decades; in some places, use of animals is already falling. Data from the United Kingdom show that the number of scientific procedures on animals fell from 4.14 million in 2015 to 2.64 million in 2024. The total number of animals used in research and testing in the European Union and Norway dropped by 5% between 2018 and 2022. (The number used in the United States is hard to pin down because the law does not require reporting on rats, mice and fish.) In the United Kingdom, around 76% of experimental animal procedures are for basic and applied research: understanding organisms, modelling disease and developing new therapies. Another 22% are part of regulatory procedures mostly testing the toxicity and safety of new medicines and other chemicals before they can be used. Some 67% of all procedures involve mice or rats (see go.nature.com/3mzfkgw). But these and other animals have limitations, especially when it comes to understanding and intervening in human diseases. Medicines that work in animal models during preclinical testing often prove ineffective in humans. This is one major reason that around 86% of investigational drugs fail in clinical trials, and why many researchers are focused on developing alternatives. Take sepsis, for instance, a severe reaction to infection. Researchers have developed more than 100 therapies for sepsis that looked promising in rodent models but that were ineffective in clinical trials. Thats partly because of differences in human and rodent immune systems and the difficulty of mimicking a complex condition that varies from one person to the next in inbred mice that are genetically similar and raised in uniform conditions. Increasingly, researchers see NAMs as a way to help. Joseph Wu, a cardiologist and researcher at Stanford University, California, and his team have been developing an approach that they dubbed clinical trials in a dish. This involves generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a range of people with a medical condition, using these to grow cells or organoids and then testing whether potential drugs improve how the diseased models function. In one 2020 study, Wu and his team grew iPSCs and then endothelial cells which line blood vessels from members of a family carrying a mutated gene that can cause a common form of heart failure. Using these cells, the researchers were able to screen possible drugs and pinpoint one that helped to improve cardiovascular function in two members of the family with the mutation, and that might be used more widely. Integrating this method into a drug-development pipeline, says Wu, could help to reveal whether a drug works before animal testing, reduce the number of animals used and increase the success of clinical trials. Studies suggest that some NAMs are as good as, or better than, animal tests. Emulate has developed an organ-on-a-chip system called Liver-Chip, a USB-stick-sized device in which human liver cells are grown in tiny fluid-filled channels and used to test whether potential drugs might cause liver damage. A 2022 study by the firm suggested that the chips could correctly identify compounds known to have caused liver injury with 87% accuracy, without falsely flagging harmless compounds as toxic. The chips also detected 12 of 15 liver-harming drugs that were previously, using animal models, deemed safe enough to proceed to clinical trials. In 2024, Liver-Chip was accepted in the FDAs Innovative Science and Technology Approaches for New Drugs (ISTAND) pilot programme, which supports the advancement of tools for drug development. If approved, pharmaceutical firms could use the chip to test for toxicity in place of animal models and submit the data as part of a drug-approval application. Such chips are highly specialized, however. Edward Kelly, a toxicologist at the University of Washington in Seattle, and his colleagues developed a kidney chip that can reproduce aspects of acute kidney injury in humans and that is being considered for the ISTAND programme. But the device includes only one of the kidneys more than two dozen cell types, he says. Its a reductionist approach, which allows us to study those cells in greater detail. But understanding what happens in the whole human kidney still requires animal studies, he says. Organoid options Another popular alternative to animal testing is organoids 3D living systems that capture many of the features of real tissues or organs. Over the past decade or so, researchers have created a wide array of organoids that can model human diseases, including cancers and genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis and used those to screen for possible drugs and test for toxicity. In a 2021 study, researchers generated human liver organoids using iPSCs. They used these to create a toxicity screening tool that detected substances that curbed the organoids bile transport and mitochondrial function. The assay was highly accurate when tested on 238 marketed drugs. Advertisement And a third alternative is computational models, in which researchers test how a drug behaves in silico. In 2021, a team developed a tool for testing whether a compound causes skin sensitization an allergic reaction in people. This is a standard part of safety testing for chemicals in industrial and household products and medicines, and conventionally requires animal tests. The team built a virtual test using data on around 430 chemicals from previous human, mouse and laboratory studies, and showed that it could accurately identify chemicals with a 1% chance of causing a skin reaction. The tool was accepted as an approach for skin-allergy testing last year by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which sets internationally recognized guidelines for safety testing chemicals. Researchers hope that AI can help too. Several regulatory agencies, including the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), are working on integrating AI tools into their chemical or drug safety-assessment pipelines. In 2023, researchers at the FDAs National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson, Arkansas, and their colleagues used clinical data on more than 8,000 rats treated with 138 compounds to build a generative AI model called AnimalGAN. In a simulated experiment involving 100,000 virtual rats, the team showed that the model could correctly rank the liver toxicity of three drugs with similar chemical structures. This approach is now part of a broader programme at the agency to advance the use of AI tools in toxicology. The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly investing in NAMs. Marianne Manchester, global head of pharmaceutical sciences at the multinational drug company Roche in Basel, Switzerland, says that the firm has a growing number of studies using NAMs to test drug candidates in areas such as oncology and immunology. In 2023, the company launched the Institute of Human Biology, which is developing human model systems, including organoids, to speed up drug development. Animal data are still mandatory for most new drug applications for marketing approval in the United States and Europe, but the company has waivers to use NAMs data for 12 submissions to regulatory authorities, including the FDA and EMA, Manchester says. There is much more openness to considering these alternative approaches. Staged approach The 2025 announcements from the UK and US governments contained various commitments to accelerate the development and uptake of NAMs. The UK government strategy in line with some other policy and trade groups defined three baskets of animal tests, and targets for their replacement. The first encompasses tests that can be quickly phased out because good replacements exist, such as the skin-irritation tests due to be dropped this year in favour of computational, cell or chemical tests. The second includes procedures that will take longer to replace. NAMs in this group include pharmacokinetic studies that analyse how the body moves and metabolizes a drug. The government says that it will cut such tests in dogs and non-human primates by at least 35% by 2030. The third basket, methods for which no good alternative methods exist, contains just one example: use of fish to test endocrine disrupting substances as part of environmental testing. (In this case, the goal is to develop alternative methods by 2035.) As part of its April announcement, the FDA published a road map to reduce, refine and replace animals in drug testing. The programme will focus, at first, on doing this for testing of monoclonal antibodies because, the road map says, animal studies are expensive and poor at predicting human responses to these drugs. The NIH, meanwhile, announced last July that it would no longer issue funding opportunities focused exclusively on animal models of human disease as part of a wider programme to encourage studies with NAMs. One of the biggest obstacles to the use of NAMs in drug and chemical testing is validation. Researchers must typically submit data showing that a model system is accurate and reproducible to national and international validation bodies such as the EU Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing or the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods in the United States. These help other agencies to decide whether data from a model is sufficient for future regulatory applications. But this process can be costly and labour intensive, says Natalie Burden, head of NAMs strategy at the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research in London. And the validation studies needed can differ from one method to the next. The new UK and US strategies all put an emphasis on accelerating validation so that data from more alternative methods will be accepted by regulators. The UK government said that it would establish a Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods that will connect labs, policymakers and regulators in pursuit of this goal. Last September, the NIH announced a Validation and Qualification Network to speed up regulatory approval of NAMs, and said it was investing $87 million in a centre to develop standardized organoid models. The increasing adoption of NAMs makes rigorous validation essential, says Kent Lloyd, a geneticist and director of the NAMs Testing Center at the University of California, Davis. Unless we hold NAMs to the same level of rigour and transparency that we expect of animal models, there will be harm done, he says. Accelerating uptake Many researchers have welcomed the latest push to speed the uptake of animal alternatives, saying that these techniques have not been adopted at a quick enough pace. For years, its always been thought that animals should be the default, says Valerie Speirs, a cancer biologist at the University of Aberdeen, UK. Speirs, Wu and other scientists have expressed frustration at the slow pace of change and argued that peer reviewers and funders still favour papers or grant applications that include animal experiments. But scientists also have concerns. Some of the announcements from funders and regulators risk giving the misleading impression that NAMs are more advanced than they actually are, says Lloyd. And, he adds, drugs fail in clinical trials for reasons other than inadequate animal models. These include small sample sizes or other flaws in the design of animal experiments that can falsely suggest a potential drug is effective problems that NAMs can have too. My concern is that there will be just as much failure in clinical trials using NAMs as there has been using animal models, he says. Some animal studies remain essential for the foreseeable future, researchers say. Biological systems, such as entire organs with intricate networks of blood vessels and nerves, interacting endocrine and reproductive systems or the ageing of tissues are difficult to recreate and study in organoids or organs-on-chips, says Robin Lovell-Badge, a biologist at the Francis Crick Institute in London. Human behaviour and cognition also remain mostly impossible to model in a lab dish, says Sarah Bailey, a neuropharmacologist at the University of Bath, UK. When it comes to unpicking the complexity of biology, she says, we will still need to use animals in basic discovery science for a while to come. This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on February 25, 2026. Couple holding hands standing in front of old, European-style building with colorful shutters and plants on the terrace. The rising cost of raising a child in the U.S. from housing to childcare is pushing some families to consider building their lives abroad instead. As reported recently by CNBC, Washington-born couple Cassandra Tresl and her husband, Alex Ninman had been living in the Czech Republic before their daughter was born. When they welcomed their daughter in 2020, the birth set off a much bigger question: Should they head back to the United States or build a life overseas? Must Read When they started pricing out life back in the U.S., from housing to childcare, the numbers didnt add up. They decided to plant roots and bought a house in rural Italy. I really thought that if I had a kid, I would go back to the States, Tresl said, And then it ended up not happening, because I realized how much more expensive it would be if we did go back (1). Their decision highlights how housing and child-raising costs can shape where families choose to live, and why some Americans are looking overseas. How the couple bought and renovated a $30,000 home in rural Italy Heres how the couple found their property and what it ultimately cost to turn it into a livable home. In 2021, the couple toured about 15 properties before settling on a two-bedroom home in Abruzzo, a rural region in central Italy. They closed in February 2022 for 11,500, which was roughly $13,150 at the time. But like many low-cost Italian properties, the house wasnt move-in ready. It had been empty for decades and required major renovations, including resurfacing walls, new windows, electrical upgrades and redoing the kitchen and bathroom. After the renovations, their fully completed home came in at around $30,000. Thats a fraction of U.S. prices. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median existing home price in the U.S. has hovered around $400,000 in recent years (2). 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 Housing costs were one factor in the couples decision, but the cost of raising a child also played a major role. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that raising a child to age 18 costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, not including college (3). Childcare in the U.S. comes in at an average annual cost of roughly $13,000 per child, according to Child Care Aware of America (4). In Italy, childcare can look very different. Private childcare fees are often significantly lower than major U.S. cities, with the European Public Service Union reporting an average cost of 301 per month (5). Tresl shared a breakdown of the homes ongoing utility and property costs: Advertisement Internet: 12 euros per month Heating: 168 per month Water: 91 euros every two months Electricity: 217 euros every two months Property taxes: 61 euros per year Garbage: 286 euros annually Even with utilities, property taxes and heating costs, their annual housing expenses remain far below what many Americans pay for housing. Visas, taxes and legal realities While Italys shrinking rural towns have encouraged foreign buyers to purchase and renovate homes, relocating to a foreign country isnt as simple as finding suitable housing or childcare. According to a Forbes article, financial planning expert and President of International Asset Management Tom Zachystal cautions, Buying property abroad is a dream for many Americans. But whether you already live abroad or want a vacation property, rental property or "plan B," many Americans underestimate the financial implications (6). Many of the homes are advertised at one euro to entice buyers require competitive bidding. Buyers are usually required to complete renovations within a certain timeframe. And navigating Italian building permits, contractors and property law can add unexpected costs (7). Americans who want to live long-term in Italy typically need an appropriate visa, such as an elective residency visa (for those with passive income) or a self-employment visa. Applicants must demonstrate financial stability and secure housing (8). Once abroad, U.S. citizens are still subject to U.S. tax laws (9), meaning you may still have to file a U.S. return every year and report certain foreign bank accounts and financial assets, even if you also owe taxes in Italy. Families also need to consider language integration. Public schooling is free, but classes are taught in Italian. For young children, immersion can be manageable, but older students may face a more difficult adjustment. Healthcare access may also depend on residency status while Italys public system covers residents, newcomers may need private supplemental insurance during the transition period. Considering the move? Dont forget to factor in: Renovation costs Currency fluctuations Residency and legal fees Visits back to the U.S. Education costs Healthcare contributions For Tresl and her husband, the move wasnt just about dollars and cents. Beyond affordability, she says the slower pace of life, and what she calls a more wholesome childhood for their daughter, helped the couple make their decision and they plan to stay in Italy until their daughter is grown. For Americans feeling squeezed by rising home prices and child-raising costs, moving abroad might seem far-fetched, but in some cases, it can dramatically cut down housing expenses and eliminate mortgage debt. The real question isnt just whether you can buy a house for $30,000, but whether the full financial, legal and lifestyle equation works for your family. What To Read Next Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywises best stories and exclusive interviews first clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now. Article sources We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines. CNBC (1); National Association of Realtors (2); Department of Agriculture (3); Childcare Aware of America (4); European Public Service Union (5); Forbes (6); Newswire (7); Italy Visa Investments (8); IRS (9) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is facing fierce backlash after vetoing a bill that would have created a specialty license plate honoring slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, a move Republicans are blasting as a stunning act of partisanship after his assassination. Kirk, who was assassinated while speaking at a Sept. 10 Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, lived in Arizona with his wife, Erika, and two children. The proposed specialty plate, referred to as the "Charlie Kirk memorial" plate or the "Conservative grassroots network special plate," featured a photo of the late Kirk and the Tpusa logo in front of an American flag background. Below the license plate number were the words "FOR CHARLIE." State Department Revokes Six Visas Over Offensive Charlie Kirk Assassination Comments Of the $25 fee required for the plate, $17 would be an annual donation deposited into the Conservative Grassroots Network Special Plate Fund, according to the legislation. Read On The Fox News App While the recipient of the Grassroots Network Special Plate Fund was not explicitly designated as TPUSA in the bill, it noted the director of the fund would allocate revenue annually to a nonprofit organization, founded in 2012, that focuses on restoring traditional values, maintaining a grassroots activist network on high school and college campuses in Arizona, and assisting college students with voter registration and absentee ballots. People gather at a memorial to mourn Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk outside Turning Point USA headquarters Sept. 12, 2025, in Phoenix. (Getty Images) TPUSA, founded by Kirk in 2012, is well known for its grassroots activist networks on high school and college campuses. It is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. The $25 fee and annual $17 donation are consistent with the fees for the other 109 nonprofit license plates offered by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). We Are Not Afraid: Erika Kirk Vows Tpusa Will Continue Campus Debates Nationwide The state Senate passed the bill, 16-2, with the House of Representatives voting 31-23 in favor prior to Hobbs' veto. Specialty plates in Arizona are authorized by the legislature and sent to the governor to be signed into law. They have been offered since 1989. Advertisement In a letter explaining the veto, Hobbs cited concerns with the bill "bring[ing] people together," claiming it would "insert politics into a function of government that should remain nonpartisan." Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is facing fierce backlash after vetoing a bill that would have created a specialty license plate honoring slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Erika Kirk Battles For Cameras In Courtroom While Expanding Tpusa Chapters In New State Partnership "Charlie Kirks assassination is tragic and a horrifying act of violence," Hobbs wrote. "In America, we resolve our political differences at the ballot box. No matter who it targets, political violence puts us all in harms way and damages our sacred democratic institutions. "I will continue working toward solutions that bring people together, but this bill falls short of that standard." Specialty license plates with political interests already approved by the state include the "Choose Life" Plate, which benefits the Arizona Life Coalition and its mission to promote anti-abortion advocacy and education; the "In God We Trust" Plate, which benefits conservative Christian legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom; and the Arizona Realtors' "Homes for All" Plate, which funds affordable housing projects. Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, speaks during the Turning Point Action conference in 2023 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Democrat John Fetterman Decries 'Dehumanizing' Attack Against Charlie Kirk's Widow Erika Another approved plate, "Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Plate," which benefits Solid Rock Teen Centers, features a portrait of the legendary musician, who has made political comments about social issues including gender identity. Republican state Sen. Jake Hoffman, who sponsored the bill, posted a fiery statement on social media after the governor's action, claiming her "grotesque partisanship knows no bounds." "Even in the wake of a global civil rights leader an Arizona resident and her own constituent being assassinated in broad daylight for his defense of the First Amendment, Hobbs couldnt find the human decency to put her far-Left extremism aside simply to allow those how wish to honor him to do so," Hoffman wrote. "Katie Hobbs will forever be known as a stain on the pages of Arizonas story." Click Here To Download The Fox News App On Saturday, TPUSA COO Tyler Bowyer shared an X post that said, "Deport Katie Hobbs." TPUSA, Bowyer and Hobbs' office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Original article source: Arizona governor vetoes Charlie Kirk memorial license plate, sparking GOP outrage: This bill falls short FBI/DOJ Nearly four years after he was indicted, a Bangladeshi man has been captured and extradited to the United States, where he will be prosecuted for allegedly masterminding an international child sexual exploitation enterprise that targeted minors using social media. Zobaidul Amin allegedly "used computers and interactive computer services connected through the Internet to trick, extort, and persuade minors to produce sexually explicit images of themselves and send the images to [him] and others, and to transmit to [him] live visual depictions of the minors engaging in sexually explicit activity," according to the federal indictment against him. Amin, 28, appeared in an Anchorage, Alaska, court on Thursday, March 5, and entered not guilty pleas to conspiracy to produce child pornography, conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, child exploitation enterprise, production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, cyberstalking, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud charges. New Jersey Police Arrest 12 Child Predators, Including a Teacher, as Part of Operation Bad Santa "As alleged in the indictment, Amin used social media applications including Instagram and Snapchat to identify and coerce [hundreds of] minor victims to produce images and videos of sexually explicit and sadistic conduct," the Department of Justice said in a statement. He allegedly adopted false identities often posing as a teenager to trick his victims into sending him explicit images. Amin was arrested in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he had been studying medicine. Amin delighted in sexually abusing hundreds of minor victims over social media, reads a detention memorandum. 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. Advertisement Federal investigators first learned of Amin after a 14-year-old Alaska girl reported her abuse to law enforcement. She said she stopped talking to Amin, and he made good on his threats, sending pornographic images of her to her friends and followers. Investigators eventually learned his identity and realized he'd done the same thing to hundreds of minor victims. The only way the girls could quell his demands for more pictures was to recruit other victims, he allegedly told them. Wisconsin Man Paid Woman Living in the Philippines to Film Herself Molesting 13-Year-Old Girl 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. He will be held in custody until his trial, for which no date has been set. Yesterdays return from Malaysia of a Bangladeshi national who allegedly abused and sexually exploited hundreds of minor victims worldwide is another successful example of the Administrations increased efforts to find criminals hiding abroad, said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Together with our international partners and the U.S. Department of State, we are countering online child sexual exploitation, protecting our most vulnerable, and bringing these sick abusers to face justice on American soil. Parents, teachers, and guardians interested in learning more about protecting children from exploitation can find useful tools and information at Know2Protect. If you suspect child abuse, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit ChildHelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Oscar Fowler is seen in a booking photo. - Pinellas County Sheriffs Office Oscar Freemond Fowler was a free man for only four days. The convicted felon, whose federal prison sentence was commuted during the final days of Joe Bidens presidency, was released from custody on February 19, only to be rearrested for the same crime less than a week later this time on state charges. In October 2023, Fowler was charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute it after a 9mm pistol, 29 rounds of ammunition, cocaine and methamphetamine were found in his Florida home. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. About two years later, Fowler was one of nearly 2,500 people whose sentences Biden commuted. Once he was released, however, his freedom did not last long. What happened to Fowler is not new, and its a move that has happened before, most famously to former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon. Thats in part because federal pardons and commutations dont cover local charges, meaning defendants can be charged again for the same crime under state law, experts say. Its completely plausible to be arrested for the same underlying acts on the state level as on the federal and to be pardoned on the federal level, but not the state, said Bernadette Meyler, a law professor and associate dean at Stanford University. The presidential pardon power under Article Two (of the Constitution) covers only federal offenses, so it extends to someones liability within the federal government. Theres nothing legally or constitutionally wrong with charging someone with state charges after their sentence was commuted on the federal level, CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig said. It depends a bit on the nuances, but in general and the Supreme Court reaffirmed this in 2019 it does not violate double jeopardy for a person to be prosecuted separately in two separate cases by the state and then by the federal authorities, he said. Heres how the Constitution and a Supreme Court ruling make that possible. Dangerous repeat offender rearrested Before Fowlers release, the Oversight Project, a conservative watchdog group, warned officials that a violent repeat offender and career criminal was about to be set free. There are more than 60 cases listing Fowler as a defendant in Pinellas County, Florida alone. His criminal record there which ranges from simple traffic violations to aggravated assault dates back to 1991, court records show. In a news release announcing Fowlers rearrest, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier called Fowler a dangerous repeat offender with a lengthy criminal record. The Biden administrations use of the autopen is putting Floridians at risk by allowing dangerous felons back on the street, but we wont put up with it, Uthmeier said. An autopen a device that writes the presidents signature for him was used to sign Fowlers commutation, a point of contention to those who opposed his release, as they argue it is not valid. The Oversight Project later applauded Fowlers rearrest. Florida is safer because a violent criminal is no longer on its streets, the organization said in a statement. In bodycam video released by Uthmeiers office of Fowlers arrest, the 50-year-old man is seen in handcuffs being searched by officers. I aint sell no cocaine, man, Fowler is heard saying after an officer said he was being arrested on drug possession and distribution charges. An old charge? How old? I just got out of prison. Advertisement Fowlers attorney, Lee Pearlman, had no comment on the current case against his client. SCOTUS ruling upholds dual-sovereignty doctrine A 2019 Supreme Court ruling provides the legal basis for Fowlers rearrest on the same charges. That opinion, Gamble v. United States, upheld the dual-sovereignty doctrine, which says double jeopardy does not apply because two crimes are not the same if they are prosecuted by separate jurisdictions. That was saying that, yes, there can be separate state and federal prosecutions, Meyler said. The move to rearrest Fowler is possible both because of the Supreme Court ruling and because the federal pardon power doesnt cover state offenses, Meyler stressed. But its not just a question of whether its legal to re-charge someone the prosecutor in the new case should ask themselves if the new charges are necessary or fair, Honig said. On the one hand, you could say, No, this persons already been fully prosecuted, and the pardon or commutation ended that case, and thats the course of justice, and theres no need to redo it, Honig said. On the other hand, I suppose you could say, Well, the pardon or commutation led to an unjust result. Therefore, theres even more of a need for us to come in and prosecute it now. The result of this case could end up depending on the double jeopardy laws of the state where it is prosecuted, Honig said. That person might be able to raise a double jeopardy argument, it would probably be an uphill climb, but the argument would have to be that it violates Floridas state double jeopardy laws, he said. What presidential pardons cover A commutation is a lesser included act of a pardon, Meyler explained. A pardon gets rid of all of the conviction and punishment for that conviction, and it can include one offense or multiple offenses, Meyler said. A commutation is a reduction in a sentence, so it doesnt affect the underlying conviction. In the Bannon example, the former White House chief strategist was charged by federal prosecutors with money laundering, conspiracy and fraud. He was pardoned by Trump, but then faced charges in New York for the same offenses. Last February, Bannon pleaded guilty to a state charge in a deal that allowed him to avoid prison time. In another recent case, a Trump pardon did not affect state charges against a woman accused of election interference. Late last year, Trump announced he would grant a full pardon to Tina Peters, the former Colorado clerk convicted of state charges for participating in a scheme to breach voting systems that hoped to prove Trumps false claims of voter fraud in 2020. The president announced the pardon even though he couldnt erase her state charges, and his pardon had no legal impact on her state conviction and incarceration. The Trump pardon, because it can only extend to federal crimes, cant extend to her state prosecution under Colorado State law, but Trump was kind of claiming that it did, Meyler said. Peters remains incarcerated in Colorado. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Police discovered a woman's body near a Phoenix canal more than 100 miles from Tucson, where Savannah Guthrie's mother vanished.@savannahguthrie/Instagram A grim discovery in Arizona has raised new questions as the search continues for Savannah Guthrie's missing mother, RadarOnline.com can reveal. Authorities confirmed that a woman was found dead along a canal in Phoenix on Friday, March 6, more than 100 miles away from Tucson, where Nancy Guthrie, 84, vanished from her home on Feb. 1. Woman's Body Found A woman's body was discovered along a Phoenix canal as the search for Savannah Guthrie's missing mother continues.@savannahguthrie/Instagram Police responded after receiving a call about an unresponsive woman near the canal. "Details on the call indicated that an adult female was on the nearby canal bank and was unresponsive," police said in a statement, per The New York Post. "When officers arrived, they located the woman, who was ultimately pronounced deceased on scene." Officials have not publicly identified the woman, and investigators say there is currently no confirmed link between the discovery and the ongoing investigation into Nancy's disappearance. The Pima County Sheriff's Department told Fox News Digital that they have not been notified of any connection between the cases. Nancy Guthrie's Disappearance Police say the unidentified woman found dead near the canal has not yet been linked to the Guthrie case.@savannahguthrie/Instagram Nancy's disappearance has drawn national attention in recent weeks, particularly because of her daughter, Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. The television host rushed to Arizona after her mother vanished and has since offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy's safe return, or the recovery of her remains. Investigators believe Nancy may have been abducted from her Tucson home during the night. Advertisement Security footage captured on her doorbell camera showed a masked man lingering near the front door shortly before she disappeared. Authorities have said the footage is a critical piece of evidence in the case. Ongoing Investigation Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson home on Feb. 1, sparking a massive investigation.@savannahguthrie/Instagram Investigators have also recovered what they described as a significant amount of evidence from the home, including traces of blood. However, analyzing that evidence could take considerable time. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos previously warned that processing some of the materials particularly items that may contain DNA could take up to a year. Despite the lengthy forensic process, officials say the investigation remains a top priority. The sheriff's department told The New York Post that between 300 and 400 personnel are still assigned to the case, roughly the same number of investigators who were involved when the search first began. Savannah Guthrie's Plans to Return to 'Today' Authorities say analyzing key evidence from the Tucson home could take up to a year.mega This comes as Savannah made her first appearance at Today since her mother's disappearance. On March 5, the TV personality arrived at the studio, greeted with hugs and words of encouragement. After Savannah's appearance at the studio, NBC released a statement: "Savannah Guthrie stopped by the studio this morning to be with and thank her TODAY colleagues." "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," they added. Iranian state TV early Monday said Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the countrys late supreme leader, has been named his successor. He had long been considered a contender, even before an Israeli strike killed his father at the start of the war, and despite never being elected or appointed to a government position. Irans powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard answers to the supreme leader, and the younger Khamenei will have the central say in war strategy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. President Donald Trump told ABC News earlier Sunday he wants a say in who comes to power once the war is over; a new leader is not going to last long without his approval, he said. Here is the latest: Saudi Arabia says two dead in Kharj attack are Bangladeshi nationals Saudi authorities said the two people killed in an attack Sunday in a central city were from Bangladesh. The Civil Defense said in a statement that 11 other Bangladeshi people were injured along with an Indian national. An earlier statement from the Saudi agency incorrectly stated the dead included an Indian national. The attack occurred in Kharj on Sunday when a military projectile fell on the residential building of a maintenance and cleaning firm, it said. Sirens sound in Bahrain Bahrain said sirens are sounding Monday morning in the country ahead of an attack, urging people to head to safe locations. Four more drones attacking vast Saudi oil field destroyed Saudi Arabias Defense Ministry said forces destroyed Monday morning four more drones that were attacking the vast Shaybah oil field. Bahrain says 32 people including children injured in Iranian drone attack An Iranian drone attack hit a residential area in Bahrain and wounded 32 Bahraini civilians, including children as young as two years old, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attacks occurred in Sitra Island close to energy infrastructure, the National Communication Center said. Four of the wounded are in critical condition, including two boys aged 7 and 8 who suffered serious leg injuries and were undergoing surgeries, it said. US State Department issues order for non-emergency staff and families to leave Saudi Arabia The expected order was formally issued on the same day the U.S. military announced an American service member has died of injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on the kingdom. The service member died on Saturday from injuries sustained during a March 1 Iranian attack on the kingdom. The kingdoms Civil Defense also confirmed Sunday that a military projectile that fell onto a residential area killed two foreign-born residents and wounded 12 others in Al-Kharj governorate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Civil Defense spokesperson said in a statement that the two killed were of Indian and Bangladeshi nationality, and all wounded are Bangladeshi residents. They are the first casualties to be reported by Saudi Arabia since the war began on Feb. 28. Drone intercepted near US-linked base in Baghdad Iraqi air defenses shot down a drone early Monday as it approached Victoria Base, a U.S.-operated military compound inside Baghdad International Airport, a security source told the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press. There were no reported injuries or damage. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pro-Iranian Iraqi militias, such as Saraya Awliya al-Dam, have previously targeted the base. By Qassem Abdul-Zahra Saudi Arabia sharpens warnings to Iran Saudi Arabia sharpened its warnings to Iran early Monday, telling Tehran it would be the biggest loser if it continues to attack Arab states. The Saudi statement came after a new drone attack apparently targeted its massive Shaybah oil field. The kingdom dismissed comments by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday that Iran had halted its attacks on Gulf Arab states. The kingdom affirms that the Iranian side has not implemented this statement in practice, neither during the Iranian presidents speech nor afterward, Saudi Arabias Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran has continued its aggression based on flimsy pretexts devoid of any factual basis. It added the Iranian attacks mean further escalation which will have grave impact on the relations, currently and in the future. Israels military warns of Iranian missile launch Israels military warned of an Iranian missile launch early Monday morning. It also said it targeted Hezbollah in airstrikes on Beirut and began airstrikes targeting central Iran early Monday. Qatar arrests more than 300 people over misleading information Qatar said more than 300 people from different nationalities have been arrested over allegations of inciting public concern amid the war in the Middle East. The Interior Ministry said they were detained for filming, circulating, and publishing misleading information. Asian shares sink on high oil prices Japans benchmark Nikkei 225 index has plunged more than 6% after oil prices soared to over $100 a barrel due to disruptions from the war in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nikkei tumbled 6.2% to 52,166.92 shortly after trading began early Monday. South Koreas Kospi sank 6.3% and shares in Australia and New Zealand more than 3%. Crude prices are at their highest level in more than three and a half years as the war ensnares major oil-producing countries and hinders exports from the Persian Gulf. The price for a barrel of Brent crude was at $109.46 a barrel, and U.S. benchmark crude traded at $107.37 a barrel. Both were 18% above their Friday closing prices. Attacks in Gulf countries Qatars Defense Ministry reported a missile attack on the country early Monday. In Saudi Arabia, the Defense Ministry said forces early Monday destroyed two drones that were targeting its vast Shaybah oil field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, fire broke out at an oil facility in the United Arab Emirates early Monday following an attack in Fujairah, one of the UAEs seven emirates, authorities said. The fire in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone was extinguished, they said. Woman injured after Iranian missiles launched toward Israel One woman was injured by flying debris in Rishon LeZion city in central Israel and is in moderate condition, the countrys emergency service, Magen David Adom, said early Monday, following the launch of Iranian missiles toward Israel. The service added that it provided the woman with medical treatment at the scene. A video circulating on social media showed a car with shattered glass and debris scattered across the road. Trump says oil prices will drop rapidly once Iran conflict ends U.S. President Donald Trump offered assurance to consumers as oil prices eclipsed $100 per barrel for the first time in more than three and a half years Sunday, with the Iran war hindering production and shipping in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace, Trump said in a social media post. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY. Iranaligned Iraqi Shiite militia hails new Iran leader The Kataib Hezbollah militia praised the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's supreme leader, calling him a figure possessing the leadership qualifications and competence necessary to shoulder the responsibilities of this great trust in these critical times. In a statement, the group said the choice is further proof of the vigilance of the Assembly of Experts and their deep foresight regarding the existential challenges facing the nation in confronting global arrogance, adding that he is the best successor for the best predecessor. Israeli helicopter landing reported in eastern Lebanon An Israeli landing by helicopter on the eastern ridge near the Lebanese-Syrian border was reported early Monday, with heavy fighting ensuing, according to the state-run National News Agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Hezbollah said that Israeli helicopters were observed approaching from Syria, with some landing troops in the Sarghaya plain. The group said its fighters engaged the helicopters and ground forces, and the clashes were ongoing. No statement from Israel was immediately available regarding the reported landing and clashes. Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard pledges allegiance to the new Supreme Leader in a statement Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard announced its allegiance to the new Supreme Leader in a statement early Monday. The Guard as a powerful soldier and arm of the Supreme Leader is ready to follow the orders of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei while supporting the selection by the assembly, said the Guard in a statement broadcast by state media outlets. The Guard is in charge of missiles operation in the war against the U.S. and Israel. Trump has called new Iranian supreme leader 'a lightweight' The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Irans supreme leader, but Trump has previously stated he has a dim view of Mojtaba Khamenei. Trump has derided the 56-year-old who has never been elected or appointed to a government position, as a lightweight. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran, Trump said in an interview with Axios last week. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela, Trump said, referring to the acting president in the South American country. Delcy Rodriguez took power in January after a U.S. military operation captured Nicolas Maduro and whisked him to the U.S. to face federal drug conspiracy charges. Trump earlier on Sunday repeated that he expects to have a say in picking Irans next leader, warning that a new leader is not going to last long if the person doesnt have his approval. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Irans late supreme leader, has been named his successor Iranian state TV early Monday said Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the countrys late supreme leader, has been named his successor. He had long been considered a contender, even before an Israeli strike killed his father at the start of the war, and despite never being elected or appointed to a government position. Irans powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard answers to the supreme leader, and now the younger Khamenei will have the central say in war strategy. Saudi Arabia intercepts at least 3 drones and a missile The Kingdoms Defense Ministry said Sunday night it had intercepted a missile headed toward Prince Sultan Air Base, and two drones in northern Riyadh city In an earlier post on X, it said it intercepted a drone over the Empty Quarter desert while heading toward the Shaybah oil field. A separate post had the same details for the latter drone, but it was unclear if that was a different event. The ministry also shared footage it said showed Saudi air defenses intercepting and destroying a number of drones launched at it in recent days 7th American killed in Iran operations, military confirms The U.S. military announced an American service member has died of injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on troops stationed in Saudi Arabia. The seventh American service member killed in the Iran war was an Army soldier, a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed to The Associated Press. The service member died on Saturday from injuries sustained during a March 1 Iranian attack on the kingdom The American death toll since the start of combat operations now stands at seven. Six Army reservists were also killed in the March 1 attack on Kuwait. All seven casualties from the war in Iran were Army soldiers. The first six deaths were Army reservists killed in a March 1 attack on a command center in a Kuwaiti port. By Konstantin Toropin Israel says it destroyed headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard air force The military said in a statement that the headquarters struck in Tehran operated the ballistic missile command, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) array, and other air force units. The armys spokesman, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, said the headquarters were destroyed. Israel has pounded Iran with widespread airstrikes for days, hitting more than 140 targets on Sunday alone, according to Defrin. (edited) Israels army chief tells Israeli public to prepare for war to take a long time Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir spoke at an assessment held with the Home Front Command chief and other military officials, in comments provided by the army. Israel has already been in a state of prolonged emergency for two years, Zamir said. What we mainly need right now is perseverance and patience. It will take a long time yet, you need to be prepared for that, and however long it takes, it will take. Israel confirms it struck hotel in central Beirut, says 5 Iran-linked commanders killed The military said the overnight strike by its navy killed five top commanders in Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps while they were hiding in a civilian hotel. It said they served in the Guards Quds Forces Lebanon and Palestine corps and were involved in funding, arming and providing intelligence to Hezbollah and Hamas. The Quds Force works heavily with Irans allied militant groups in the region. Last week the Israeli military said it killed the acting commander of the Quds Forces Lebanon Corps in an airstrike in Tehran. Macron urges Iran to halt strikes in phone call with the countrys president French President Emmanuel Macron said he had talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday and urged him to stop the strikes. I stressed the need for Iran to immediately cease its strikes against countries in the region, Macron said on X. He also called on Iran to guarantee freedom of navigation by putting an end to the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Macron also mentioned the case of Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, two French nationals who were released from an Iranian prison in November and transferred to the French Embassy in Tehran, after more than three years in detention on spying charges. He called for their return to France as an absolute priority. Macron also stressed deep concern regarding the development of Irans nuclear and ballistic program and said a diplomatic solution is necessary. Both leaders agreed to remain in contact, according to Macrons post on X. Macron is the first Western leader to talk to Irans president since the beginning of the war. Macron speaks with Iranian president French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on the phone Sunday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. He also had separate talks with President Donald Trump, Macrons office said. No other details provided. Lebanon says over a half-million people have been displaced in the week of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah Lebanon says over a half-million people have been displaced in the week of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The actual number is likely higher. Lebanons count of 517,000 refers to those who registered on the governments online portal. The cash-strapped government has struggled to accommodate the large number of people who have fled their homes in large parts of southern and eastern Lebanon. Israel over the past week has called on residents in dozens of villages across southern Lebanon and the entirety of Beiruts southern suburbs to evacuate as the fighting intensifies. Read more Six Palestinians have been killed this week in interactions with Israeli settlers Palestinian mourners marched down the main street of the West Bank village of Khirbet Abu Falah Sunday, hoisting high the coffins of three men killed in an interaction with settlers. Earlier in the day, Israeli settlers had attacked Palestinians near the village, which is east of Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied territory, the military said. Two Palestinians were killed by gunfire and a third died from suffocation, likely due to tear gas, the military said. The deaths bring the total number of settler-related killings of Palestinians in the West Bank to six this week, and seven in the roughly nine weeks since the start of 2026. Thats a major spike. In all of 2025, the UN human rights office reported nine Palestinians killed by settlers. Sri Lanka plans to issue free visas for evacuated Iranian sailors Sri Lanka will issue a monthlong visa for the Iranian sailors evacuated outside its waters after a U.S submarine attack sunk another ship in the same area, killing more than 80 sailors. Public Security Minister Anada Wijepala told the media on Sunday that the government will issue a free visa for the Iranian sailors, adding that it will take sometime for them(sailors) to leave this country. On Saturday, 204 sailors were transferred to a Sri Lankan naval base from their ship IRIS Bushehr which was taken under Sri Lankan custody. The ship had sought help from Sri Lanka reporting an engine failure. The appeal followed the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by the U.S. torpedo attack, off Sri Lankas coast on Wednesday. The Sri Lankan navy rescued 32 sailors and recovered 87 bodies. The strike marked one of the rare instances since World War II in which a submarine sank a surface warship. Tensions on Israels northern border as military beefs up presence to counter Hezbollah Israelis along the northern border with Lebanon Sunday watched and worried as the area grew increasingly militarized during yet another round of fighting with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Military jeeps and trucks with tanks on them could be seen on roads close to the border. I believe that our army today will bring order regarding Hezbollah and eliminate them permanently so we can live here in peace, said Morris Yakuti, a poultry farmer from the area. Others werent so sure. Since I have enough experience in this area all my life, I think its just another circle of war and it will not end this war, so it will happen again and again, said Harella Matalon Aizenshtadt. Israels renewed offensive began last week after Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel during the wars opening days. The subsequent strikes have been the most intense since a November 2024 ceasefire. The first day of the Iran war was the deadliest, an independent monitoring group says Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, the U.S-based group known as ACLED, said over 43% of the fatalities were documented that day, Feb. 28, in 10 countries. ACLED has documented over 1,000 incidents in the first week of the war across 16 countries. The deadliest single strike during the first week was on Feb. 28 on a girls school near a Revolutionary Guards base in Minab in southern Iran, that killed 168 civilians. That was followed by another strike on a playground in Shiraz, in central Iran, on March 5, that killed 20 people. Another strike on a residential area in Lamerd, in Fars province, killed 19 on the first day of the war, ACLED said. Although ACLED recorded fewer strikes on civilian sites in Iran, they caused more causalities, it said. Over 57% of civilian casualties in Iran resulted from 3.4% of the recorded strikes by the US and Israel. Sirens spread to central Israel in successive barrages from Iran Moments after residents of southern Israel were warned of incoming ballistic missiles from Iran, sirens sent millions more Israelis in the Tel Aviv metro area and parts of the West Bank into shelters as the army said it had detected another missile attack. Analyst says separatism will strengthen Iranian government However disdainful of their government in Tehran, most Iranians are wary of Trumps courting of Iranian Kurdish groups, said Alex Vatanka, a fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. Iranians see the U.S. presidents calls to the Kurds and posts on social media as signals that Trump desires not the liberation but rather than the fragmentation of Iran. What Iranians are by and large hearing is not regime change in Tehran, not this glorious move to a secular democracy and so forth, but basically the dismantling of Iran, Vatanka said. Talk of separatism, from the Kurds and other minority groups like Baluchis, Ahwazi Arabs and Azeris is going to undermine that bigger effort aimed at the regime and it will demoralize the opposition. Vatanka said that territorial losses in Iranian Kurdish areas or perhaps three Iranian islands claimed by the United Arab Emirates would rally Iranians around the flag if not the authorities against foreign interference. Saudi Arabia reports its first deaths in the war with 2 killed The Kingdoms Civil Defense said Sunday evening that a military projectile that fell onto a residential area killed two foreign-born residents and wounded 12 others in Al-Kharj governorate. The Civil Defense spokesperson said in a statement that the two killed were of Indian and Bangladeshi nationality, and all wounded are Bangladeshi residents. These are the first casualties to be reported by Saudi Arabia since the war began a week ago. Analyst says defections final key signal to instability in Iran Three key signals might signal fatal cracks in the Iranian government, said Farzan Sabet, researcher at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Popular uprisings, foreign intervention, and defections from the political and military elites are key signals of big changes in Iranian history, he said. Foreign intervention is clear in the smoke and flames across Tehran from Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, he said, and the latest protest movement in 2026. But we have yet to see defections that might precipitate change, Sabet said. Israeli targeting of Irans domestic security infrastructure is likely aimed at demoralizing the police and giving opposition groups space to organize, he said. It potentially creates a structure where it makes both a kind of popular uprising potentially more likely and more likely to succeed in the future, but it also creates space for the opposition to have organized armed resistance in the core of the country, Sabet said. Starmer and Trump discuss military cooperation British Prime Keir Starmer has spoken to U.S. President Donald Trump about the military cooperation between the two countries in the Middle East. Trump has rebuked Starmer on several occasions since they last spoke over a week ago over the prime ministers initial decision not to permit the U.S. military to use British bases in the initial attacks against Iran, describing him at one point as not Winston Churchill. Starmer has now granted permission for defensive actions against Iranian missile sites from U.K. bases after Iran started attacking countries throughout the region. Starmers office in No. 10 Downing Street said the pair discussed the military cooperation between the U.K. and U.S. through the use of bases in support of the collective self-defense of partners in the region. Starmer also shared his heartfelt condolences following the deaths of six U.S. soldiers. Israeli drone strike kills three in Gaza, hospital director says The strike Sunday in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City killed the three Palestinians and wounded several others, said Mohamed Abu Selmiya, the director of Shifa Hospital, where the bodies were brought. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Israeli attacks have continued across the strip since the start of the latest war in the Middle East. More than 72,100 Palestinians have been killed in the war sparked by Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 attack into Israel, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Part of the Hamas-run government, its statistics are seen as generally reliable by the United Nations and independent experts. Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the initial attack and took another 251 hostage. The ceasefire deal ended major military operations and led to the release of all remaining captives but left major questions about Gazas future unanswered. Trump says members of Iranian regime could qualify to take power The president in an ABC News interview reiterated that he wants a say in who comes to power in Iran once the war is over, warning anew that the new leader is not going to last long if the person doesnt have his approval. Trump also expressed openness to someone with ties in the current regime. I would, in order to choose a good leader I would, yeah, I would, Trump said. There are numerous people that could qualify. He did not specify any Iranian figures who fit his criteria. US defends allowing India buy Russian oil amid reports Moscow is aiding Iran Trump has faced blowback in Washington after the Treasury Department announced it would allow India to buy Russian oil until April 4. The move, which temporarily gives Russia a stream of revenue to fund its war against Ukraine that the U.S. only recently managed to cut off, -comes even as Moscow is reportedly sharing information with Iran that could help it target U.S. troops and assets in the Mideast. But top Trump administration officials say the waiver is motivated by pragmatism. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Russian oil being sold to India had been expected to go to Chinese refineries but had been idling at sea. Instead of having it wait six weeks to unload there, lets just pull that oil forward, have it land at Indian refineries and tamp this fear of shortage of oil, tamp the price spikes and the concerns we see in the marketplace, Wright said in an appearance on CNNs State of the Union. Ambassador Mike Waltz, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, said on NBCs Meet the Press that it was kind of common sense to let the oil on idling ships go to India. Israeli ambassador envisions transitional Iranian government under US-Israeli guidance Michael Leiter, Israelis ambassador to the United States, has laid out a vision for a post-theocracy Iran, with Jerusalem and Washington providing guidance for a pluralistic transitional government. What were hoping for is that we move into a period of a transitional government where the minorities come together, where the majority of the people come together, all the various opposition parties come together for a transitional government where they can lead the country for a year or so together with the guidance from the United States and Israel and other regional allies, Leiter told CBS Face the Nation Sunday morning. Leiter said Israel has cultivated relations with Iranian ethnic minorities, such as the Kurdish and Baluchi communities. But he said the countrys ethnic Persian majority would need to buy in as well. We want a united Iran, he said. What were encouraging them to do is to coalesce. Leiter hailed the Israeli-American alliance that launched the ongoing unilateral war, saying, Weve reached a level of collaboration that weve never seen between our two countries and between our two militaries. Tornado rips through Cass County in Michigan Credit: Cass County Sheriff's Office NEED TO KNOW At least eight people have died and dozens of others are injured due to devastating storms in Michigan and Oklahoma Silas Anderson, 12, succumbed to injuries sustained in a weather-related incident on Friday, March 6 Silas was surrounded by family at the time of his passing, said Cass County Sheriff Clint Roach A young boy has been named among at least eight people dead after devastating tornadoes ripped through the central U.S. On Saturday, March 7, Cass County Sheriff Clint Roach announced in a news release shared on Facebook that 12-year-old Silas Anderson died due to injuries sustained in a weather-related incident" in Michigan. Cass County Central Dispatch received a 911 call at approximately 3:12 pm, said Sheriff Roach in the news release. Information received indicated that a possible tornado touched down in the 68000 block of Conrad Rd. North of US 12, Edwardsburg, Michigan, Milton Twp. The caller advised that they could not find their son, he continued. Upon arrival of First Responders, it was determined that he had been located and his parents were providing first aid. Tornado rips through Cass County in Michigan Credit: Cass County Sheriff's Office Silas Anderson was immediately taken to South Bend Memorial Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries soon after. Silas was surrounded by family at the time of his passing, according to the news release. Sheriff Roach asks that you respect the familys privacy as they try to comprehend and deal with this tragedy. The sheriff's announcement came a day after he said in a news release that several injuries and one fatality had been confirmed as a result of the storm that tore through the area on Friday. Advertisement Elsewhere in Michigan, Branch Countys Sheriff Frederick Blankenship announced in a news release that emergency officials responded to what is believed to be a tornado in the Union Lake area. There have been 12 reported injuries, with three individuals transported to the hospital, and three fatalities, he confirmed on March 6. Our thoughts are with those who have lost family, friends, and property during this incident. 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. Tornado rips through Union City in Michigan Credit: Bill Pugliano/Getty Since then, one of the victims has been identified as Penni Jo Guthrie, 65, who tragically died from injuries sustained from a tornado that destroyed her home, according to her obituary. The storms have left behind damage ranging from structural impacts to complete building destruction. Residents told local news outlet WXYZ that the aftermath of the tornadoes made it look like a bomb went off. I seen debris flying and everything, and that's when I grabbed the two dogs and we headed for the basement, and I didn't make it to the basement, Union City resident James Taylor told the outlet. I made it to the back of the house, and that's when I heard trees and all this, and you could see the tin shed, all that just blew right back," he continued. "In the backyard down here by the river, there's trees. It's a mess, man. Read the original article on People Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, speaks during the opening of the 39th Regional Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Adriano Machado SAO PAULO, March 8 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, underwent his annual medical checkup on Saturday morning at Sao Paulos Sirio-Libanes Hospital and all test results were normal, the hospital said on Sunday. Lula will receive routine followup care with his medical team, led by cardiologist Roberto Kalil Filho and physician Ana Helena Germoglio, the hospital said in a statement, adding there are currently no plans for additional exams. Advertisement Lula, 80, said in 2025 that he plans to seek reelection later this year. In 2024, he underwent two operations to relieve and prevent bleeding in his skull. He has been Brazil's president two times - from 2003 to 2010, and again since January 2023. (Reporting by Oliver Griffin in Sao Paulo; Editing by Matthew Lewis) On Saturday, Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management CEO Ross Gerber warned that California's spike in gasoline costs hits drivers unevenly, arguing the pain is avoidable for people who switch to an electric vehicle and pointing shoppers toward Rivian and Kia as alternatives to Tesla. His push to ditch the pump comes as tesla FSD limitations have also been on his mind, after describing how direct sunlight can disrupt the system even when other parts of the software perform well. In a post on X, Gerber framed EV ownership as a straightforward way to sidestep fuel spending, saying this is an opportune moment to buy if drivers still feel locked into paying for gas. In the same post, he said he would steer buyers who do not want a Tesla toward Rivian or Kia. Not if you drive an EV like a large portion of the state. This would be the time to buy an EV if you haven't figured out paying for gas is not necessary. I suggest a Rivian or Kia for those who don't want to buy a tesla. $rivn $tsla https://t.co/a0HrOlr84X Ross Gerber (@GerberKawasaki) March 7, 2026 Why Rising Gas Prices Demand Electric Solutions Gerber's comment was posted alongside a Los Angeles Times item dated March 7 about California being hit harder than other states as gas prices climb. His takeaway was that the financial squeeze is largely optional for households that can make an EV work. That consumer math is only part of the EV pitch, though, because the ownership experience is also shaped by software and driver-assist reliability. Last month, Gerber described using Tesla's FSD version 14.2.2.4 around West Los Angeles, including a drive through busy streets near Westwood during an Iranian protest. He said the ride went smoothly in that area, but the trip home exposed a different problem: the system struggled when the car headed into direct sunlight. Gerber argued the issue is rooted in hardware, contrasting it with how human drivers cope by using sunglasses, visors, or even a hand to block glare. Advertisement Gerbers Dire Tesla Forecast and Market Dynamics This perspective on the challenges of electric vehicle adoption comes as Ross Gerber, previously a strong supporter of Tesla, has recently expressed concerns about the companys trajectory, predicting a potential 50% plummet in Teslas stock price this year. He has cited the companys dwindling popularity and a significant offloading of around $60 million in Tesla shares as indicators of his skepticism. Gerbers apprehensions are further fueled by doubts regarding Elon Musks ambitious autonomous taxi network plans and the reliance on cameras over LIDAR for Teslas self-driving technology. These factors illustrate the growing competitive pressures that Tesla faces, particularly from manufacturers like BYD, further complicating the landscape for consumers considering electric vehicles. "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 California Gas Prices Surge, Ross Gerber Says It's 'Time To Buy an EV' originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Yellowknife from above - Cheng Feng Chiang/Getty Images On the northern tip of Great Slave Lake, in Canada's sprawling, sparsely populated Northwest Territories (NWT), sits the small city of Yellowknife. Taking its name from the tools once made and traded here by Indigenous American communities, Yellowknife was founded on Dene First Nations land back in 1934. Like other communities in the north and west of Canada, it started out as a mining camp and a huddle of log cabins. The mining industry may have shifted from gold to diamonds, and tourism is now a source of commerce in the city, but some of those original cabins remain. They stand in an area known as Old Town, which, though not on the main Canadian tourist trail, is arguably one of the most charming urban areas in the country. Yellowknife's Old Town offers lovely coastal views of Great Slave Lake, the deepest lake in North America some visitors even charter floatplanes to admire it from above. The neighborhood also hosts numerous public artworks and murals, as well as highly rated seafood grills and taverns. Colorful houseboats float in Yellowknife Bay; the residents of these cozy abodes commute to the mainland by rowboat in summer and skis in winter. While along the wonderously named Ragged Ass Road, you'll find a jumble of old shanty-town structures and handsome new homes. Old Town has been called "Canada's weirdest neighborhood," but in no way is that to its detriment. Read more: Florida Beach Towns That Could Pass For The Caribbean Exploring Yellowknife's Old Town Old Town art gallery - James_gabbert/Getty Images Ragged Ass Road is a good place to start exploring Old Town, leading up the peninsula towards The Narrows and upscale mansions of Latham Island. The street name was coined by an ale-soaked prospector who deemed himself and everyone around him "ragged ass" poor and thought the name of his street ought to reflect this state of affairs. The road harkens back to the district's shanty origins, while large, clapboard homes on either side show how far Old Town has progressed over the past century. At the other end of the architectural spectrum are jackpine timber shacks from the old days, some of which are still lived in or have been repurposed for public use. You'll see these dotted here and there around the neighborhood, but The Shed Museum is one of the best known, a weatherbeaten shack festooned with mining artifacts uncovered from camps and shafts across the NWT. A walking tour map of Old Town, which you can download from the Yellowknife website, shows where to find these structures. Advertisement Though it's often absent from articles detailing Canada's best art scenes, Yellowknife has a thriving artistic community, and you'll find many interesting public works scattered across the city. Download a map from the NWT tourism website and discover some of the most alluring pieces in Old Town, from woodcarvings and sculptures to interactive murals and glass mosaics. Also worth adding to your itinerary is the Snowkings' Winter Festival in March. Centered on a snow castle erected on the frozen lake, it's a showcase for intricately carved snow sculptures and live music performances. Yellowknife is also one of Canada's best places to see the northern lights another good reason to visit in winter. Dining and staying in Old Town The Wildcat Cafe in Old Town - T Schofield/Getty Images Old Town has a surprisingly cosmopolitan food scene that echoes the creativity found in the local art community. Wildcat Cafe (open only in summer) sits in one of the old log cabins and has been around since 1937, when it was opened by a pair of wonderfully named Yellowknifians called Willy Wilie and Smokey Stout. Though business has ebbed and flowed over the decades, it's once again a popular dining haunt, serving freshwater fish and a "Prospector's platter" that pays homage to the meals eaten by miners. Another popular restaurant is Bullock's Bistro, which has been serving fish caught in Great Slave Lake for more than three decades, including cod, trout, pickerel, whitefish, and Arctic char inconnu. The restaurant, also famous for its in-house sauces and dressings, has a 4.5-star rating on Google across 1,900-plus reviews. Just ask what fish they have in stock and tell them how you like it cooked: deep-fried, pan-fried, or grilled. Or, if you want to pair great food with a range of craft beer, head to NWT Brewing Co.'s Woodyard Brewhouse & Eatery on Franklin Avenue. Order poutine, smash patty burgers, Korean-style pork belly and fries, or wild boar meatballs and wash it down with a beer tasting flight. The most authentic accommodations in Yellowknife are the guesthouses and log cabins around Old Town. You can rent private log cabins here that sleep a family of four for $190 per night or $1,100 a week (at the time of writing). Alternatively, there are nice B&Bs on the lakefront, with intoxicating interiors and bay views. Yellowknife does have an airport, fielding flights from major Canadian cities, but if you'd prefer to drive, buckle up for a long journey. Even Edmonton, the Gateway to Jasper National Park and the closest major city, is 900 miles away. 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. When Isabelle Winkler and her colleagues learned at a staff meeting earlier this year that theyd be getting $300 more in monthly income, they were "baffled." "We had a lot of questions. Why? How? It was very uplifting a lot of like, Wow, this is life-changing, said the 19-year-old who had been making $14 an hour (or $1,700 a month) as an infant and toddler teacher at Early Impressions Preschool and Childcare in Jackson. Winkler joins 2,500 early childhood educators across Michigan who last month began receiving a $200- to $300-a-month pay increase as part of a state-funded subsidy pilot program that raises industry wages to address one of the main issues contributing to lacking child care: an unstable workforce due to low wages. The median hourly wage for a child care worker is $13.88, according to state data from 2024. Isabelle Winkler during story time with her infant and toddler classroom at Early Impressions Preschool and Childcare in Jackson, Michigan. Its incredibly hard to keep staff in early childhood, said Angela Mentink, who started at Early Impressions nearly 20 years ago. Early Impressions serves 700 kids and employs 125 people across its eight Jackson County locations. Because of the unique costs and low margins in child care, owners typically cant afford to pay well. Mentink said at Early Impressions, wages range from around $14 an hour to an annual salary of around $46,000 for those with a bachelors degree in state-funded pre-K classrooms that allow for higher than normal wages. Mentink said she often sees talented employees without degrees leave for jobs in retail or fast food and those with higher degrees transition to K-12 elementary education because most any other job pays better. There are a lot of people who do have passion but who just cant afford to stay in the field, she said. This kind of wage supplementation program for early educators is not new. Michigan follows a number of states, including DC, that have piloted or more permanently funded a monthly wage stipend program, in an attempt to stabilize the workforce, give kids access to high-quality early care and education, and get parents to work. Though data is limited, initial program evaluation in other states shows higher wages meant workers stayed in the industry. One study on Ohios program showed reduced employee stress levels. In Michigan, the program officially launched in November 2025. Last month, stipend payments started hitting bank accounts, "providing immediate support to the professionals who care for and teach our states youngest learners," said MiLEAP director Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea in a news release announcing the recent statewide participation in the pilot. "When we support educators, we strengthen the entire system, helping to ensure families across Michigan can access reliable, high-quality child care in their communities." The wage pilot program is temporary. The $16 million allocated in state funds will take it through Sept. 30, 2027, MiLEAP spokesperson Aundreana Jones-Poole said in an email. More money for Michigan's child care workers While the wage pilot was originally launched in November 2025, the program was still in the process of getting up and running and many regions across Michigan were working on raising enough funds to get the maximum $1.6 million in state match dollars to fully fund the program in their area. As of March 3, 2026, all of Michigan's 10 Regional Child Care Coalitions which administer the program locally are now onboard and have received the full $1.6 million in state funds. This funding match structure was designed to encourage a combination of private and public funds for this program, wrote Jones-Poole. Private donors varied by region and included local businesses, community foundations and universities. Michigans pilot program is a weighted lottery, Mentink said. Each regional coalition applied for funds on behalf of providers across the counties they represent. Child care providers and employees applied to be part of the wage pilot and were then selected by regional coalitions based on a number of factors that also varied by region. "Were supposed to be prioritizing those who serve underserved communities," said Annette Sobocinski, executive director at Child Care Network, which heads two of the regional child care coalitions. Annette Sobocinski, executive director of Child Care Network Great Start to Quality Southeast Resource Center This meant that each region's rubric for selecting providers who'd get the wage boost typically included whether the child care site operates in a child care desert, whether the program provides infant and toddler care (rarer because of the high cost), or whether a program serves low-income children through the state subsidy, known as the Child Development and Care program. Six of Mentinks employees, including Winkler, were selected to receive supplemental wages and are now starting to see the payments hit their bank accounts. Advertisement I was having a hard time paying my bills and getting by. Im 19 and I have college bills and a car payment and insurance and I was really praying for something to come along to keep me in this field because I love it so much, she said. Winkler said shed been looking for a higher paying job at least temporarily, like serving or private nannying, before she learned shed be receiving supplemental wages. But after receiving her first $300 in February (full-time workers like herself get $300 monthly, while part-time workers receive $200), she says she feels less stressed. Shes able to more comfortably pay her bills, especially her car insurance which, as a 19-year-old, was taking huge chunks out of my paycheck, she said. Isabelle Winkler, infant and toddler teacher at Early Impressions Preschool and Childcare in Jackson, Michigan. Now that each region across Michigan has received maximum funding, and programs continue to expand as a result, more child care workers like Winkler will start seeing bigger paychecks roll in. Permanent support? The pilot has funding to last for about a year and a half, through September 2027. MiLEAP has expressed hope that the partnerships and collaborations established through the pilot will continue to support solutions that strengthen the early childhood workforce beyond the life of this funding, though no further funding commitments have been proposed in Gov. Gretchen Whitmers budget proposal for next year. Child care providers and workers in Michigan are holding out hope for more. Its incredible for my six employees. Im relieved they can pay their bills. But I have 125 employees. Im ready for the next steps. Its time to spread this to all our providers, all our child care workers so that everyone can pay their bills and we can take care of the people who take care of our kids, Mentink said. She said many other state initiatives looking to improve the industry would fall flat without ensuring livable wages, pointing specifically to apprenticeships aimed at reducing barriers to getting people into early education. More: The state announced a child care audit, now providers are doing their own More: ICE rumors, fears push Ypsilanti child care centers to prepare for the worst If theyre not going to graduate with a degree or certificate thats gonna give them a livable wage, you can throw all the Band-Aids in terms of education and training you want, but at the end of the day people have to pay their bills. Theyre not going to go into it or stick with it, Mentink said. This advocacy comes amid state budget cutting or reducing early educator wage supplement programs in some places across the country. Washington, DC, for example often lauded as the first to install this kind of wage program faces the potential elimination of its funding next year amid a budget shortfall wherein officials look to find a place to cut. But Winkler looks toward a future where all her fellow early educators can be part of the program. We are shaping the future of children, Winkler said. I truly believe we all deserve this. Beki San Martin is a fellow at the Detroit Free Press who covers child care, early childhood education and other issues that affect the lives of children ages 5 and under and their families in metro Detroit and across Michigan. Contact her at rsanmartin@freepress.com. This fellowship is supported by the Bainum Family Foundation. The Free Press retains editorial control of this work. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan child care wage-boosting expands statewide as payments begin Jordan C. Brown and Colton Underwood at the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on March 5, 2026 Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty NEED TO KNOW Colton Underwood revealed how dates nights with husband Jordan C. Brown have changed since becoming parents They welcomed their son, Bishop, via surrogate in 2024 The Traitors star told PEOPLE he and Brown try to do a "good job of carving out us time" when it comes to date nights Although Colton Underwood and husband Jordan C. Brown have been adjusting to life as parents, the couple still tries to find time for themselves. Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE at the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 5, The Traitors star, 34, discussed how he and Brown, 43, have navigated changes in romantic outings. "We value our time with him as a shared experience, taking him to the park," he said about his and Brown's son, Bishop, 1. "Going to the farmer's market is our favorite thing to do on Sundays in Studio City," Underwood added. "So yeah, I think we have done a good job of carving out us time and our me time to take care of ourselves so we can show up for each other and show up for our family the best we can." The couple welcomed Bishop via surrogate in September 2024. Underwood had previously been candid about their fertility journey and his struggles along the way, as he launched his podcast, Daddyhood, in February of that year. Advertisement It was one of the things that bonded us early on. We both wanted to be dads. I was very vocal on that, Underwood told PEOPLE about his and Brown's relationship at the time. It's a traditional sort of part of my life that I really wanted to hold onto I wanted to have a family," Underwood said. "And just figuring out next steps and stages was sort of a mystery to us until it wasn't. 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. 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. Colton Underwood and Jordan C. Brown with their son, Bishop, on Feb. 6, 2026 Credit: Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures Via Getty Before the couple embarked on their fertility journey and welcomed Bishop, the two got married in Napa Valley, Calif., in May 2023. They first met at a party in Los Angeles in 2021 and were engaged the following year. Underwood and Brown have since loved being a family of three, bringing Bishop along with them to events, including the recent Goat film premiere on Feb. 6. Read the original article on People A high-speed train at the station platform - Kiraly/Shutterstock High-speed rail is generally considered to be the future of sustainable travel. High-speed trains are safe, comfortable, and convenient, with almost none of the hassle and setbacks that plague airports and road trips. Traveling by rail removes many of the delays and inconveniences of flying, with no long queues at security, fewer luggage restrictions, and no need to make long journeys to out-of-town airports. Countries all over the world are investing in their high-speed networks in order to provide alternatives for passengers, both commuters and tourists. When you think of countries with incredible high-speed trains, your mind probably heads straight to the rail system of Japan. The world-famous Shinkansen, usually known as the bullet train, is an engineering marvel that connects most of Japan, with trains that hit a top speed of 200 miles per hour on the Tohoku line that connects Tokyo and Shin-Aomori. Germany is another of the top five countries with the most high-speed rails in the world, with its ICE network operating across the country at speeds of up to 199 miles per hour. They have also developed a maglev train system, which can hit a top speed of 342 miles per hour, but it has never been put into service. However, the country that is currently setting the benchmark for fast rail travel is China, with its remarkable CR450 train. China has recently unveiled prototypes of its latest high-speed rail innovation, an electric bullet train that has hit top speeds of 280 miles per hour in testing, with plans to run it commercially at around 250 miles per hour. This would make it one of the fastest commercial trains in the world in regular operation, and probably the fastest conventional wheel-on-rail train. Read more: One Of The World's Most Spectacular Bridges Is A Very Dangerous Tourist Attraction In China Speed, safety, and comfort with China's high speed rail High-speed rail passes under the Yongding Tower in Beijing, China - Wenpu Wang/Getty Images The CR450 is packed with innovative technology and cutting-edge design, which helps it squeeze out more speed without impacting safety or sustainability. Remarkably, despite the significantly increased top operating speed, it actually uses 20% less energy than the CR400 Fuxing trains it is designed to replace. This is largely due to a more streamlined and aerodynamic design but also because the train is around 10% lighter than its predecessors, with a much lower running resistance and significantly improved water-cooled traction systems. This means the train can be faster without using more power, resulting in less impact on the environment and no need to increase ticket prices to cover costs. When racing through the countryside at speeds touching 250 miles per hour, safety is obviously of the highest importance. The CR450 has a multi-level emergency braking system, which allows it to come to a full stop from 250 miles per hour in the same amount of time (and, crucially, over the same distance) as the current trains running at 217 miles per hour. The train is packed with sensors that closely monitor all of its systems, from car bodies to fire detection. Advertisement Redesigning the trains to achieve these remarkable speeds hasn't come at the cost of passenger comfort either. Indeed, the engineers have put an enormous amount of effort into ensuring that these new trains are an upgrade on the older models. They have reduced noise inside the cars and increased the amount of space passengers have to move around, with four separate classes from Standard to Premium First. The train is expected to match or even better the total travel time of domestic flights within China, making the journey from Beijing to Shanghai, for example, in around two and a half hours. The future of rail travel Blurred image of high speed train - muratart/Shutterstock The CR450 is part of China's wider strategy to improve its already impressive rail network and make traveling around the country an even easier experience for both tourists and commuters. The CR450 is expected to enter full commercial service this year, operating across the 29,000 miles of track that connects all of mainland China, the largest rail network in the world. There are, of course, challenges to this strategy. Firstly, the infrastructure across the network needs to be updated and checked to ensure it can manage trains running at speeds of up to 250 miles per hour. There is also a PR campaign to be considered, as the wider plan relies on passengers choosing high-speed rail to replace driving or flying for cross-country trips. China already boasts the largest railway station in the world, Chongqing East. And given the success of China's previous rail strategy and the impressive test results that the CR450 has demonstrated, it feels like this is just the beginning of the super-high-speed rail story, and one that Japan and European countries will be emulating soon. Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Explore. The Sterkfontein caves have yielded many hominin fossil discoveries. - Emmanuel Croset/AFP/Getty Images Scientists can now come face to face with an early human ancestor nicknamed Little Foot who lived 3.67 million years ago, thanks to digital reconstruction technology. Renowned paleoanthropologist Ronald Clarke identified four tiny bones in the University of the Witwatersrands museum collection and went on to discover Little Foots nearly pristine fossil in the 1990s in the Sterkfontein Caves northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. Full excavation of the remains took a painstaking 20 years, but it was worth it. At 90% intact, the specimen is the most complete known skeleton belonging to Australopithecus, chimpanzee-like ancestors who were able to walk upright on two feet but also adept at climbing trees to escape from predators like sabre-toothed cats. The skeleton represents the oldest evidence of human evolution in southern Africa, said Dr. Amelie Beaudet, an honorary researcher in the School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, who has studied the fossil unearthed from the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site for years. However, Little Foots skull, which became crushed as surrounding cave sediment grew heavier and shifted over time, has been difficult to study. The skull distortion was so extensive that physical reconstruction wasnt possible. Now, Beaudet and her colleagues have digitally rearranged the facial bones to their rightful places, providing a clearer look at Little Foots face and hinting at features that may be shared across the human family tree. Only a handful of Australopithecus fossils preserve an almost complete face, making Little Foot a rare and valuable reference point, said Beaudet, lead author of the study published Monday in the journal Comptes Rendus Palevol, in a statement. Little Foots face preserves key anatomical regions involved in vision, breathing and feeding, and its skull will offer further key elements for understanding our evolutionary history. Reconstructing a fossilized face Little Foots fossilized remains left South Africa for the first time so researchers could capture precise images of the inner structures of her face, which had never been seen. The skull was shipped to England so it could go through high-resolution scanning at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. The machine scanned the skull using bright, nondestructive X-rays, generating over 9,000 high-resolution images and terabytes of data. A supercomputer at the University of Cambridge processed the images and rendered the facial bones in 3D, enabling a digital reconstruction of the face. Realigning the bones virtually in their correct anatomical positions revealed the upper part of the face for the first time, including the orbital region where Little Foots eyes would have been. Her reconstructed face was then compared with three other Australopithecus specimens, including one from South Africa and two from Ethiopia, as well as modern great apes. The size of Little Foots face fell between that of a gorilla and an orangutan, while the shape was closer to what is seen in orangutans and bonobos. Little Foot's skull (left) was scanned and digitally reconstructed to reveal a more complete view. - Amelie Beaudet/Wits University The team was surprised to find that the face size, as well as the shape and measurements of her eye sockets, were also more similar to the East African Australopithecus fossils, despite the fact that Little Foot was found in South Africa. All this shows the complexity of the patterns of variation in the genus Australopithecus and the latters proximity to the great apes, said Dr. Zeray Alemseged, Donald N. Pritzker professor of organismal biology and anatomy at the University of Chicago, in an email. Not surprising as they share a common ancestor. Alemseged was not involved in the research. Perhaps Little Foots lineage was more closely related to East African hominins, while South African hominins evolved distinct facial features later on, the authors wrote in the study. Advertisement Rather than viewing early hominin evolution as occurring in isolated regions, the study supports the idea of Africa as a connected evolutionary landscape, with populations adapting to ecological pressures while remaining linked through shared ancestry, said study coauthor Dominic Stratford, associate professor in the School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, in a statement. Understanding the faces of early human ancestors is of interest to researchers because their features represent a connection between hominins and their physical and social surroundings, Beaudet said. Studying the face may provide information on how our ancestors and relatives interacted with their environment, she wrote in an email. Moreover, characters identified in the face can be used to know more about the relationships between populations/species at that time. For example, the size of Little Foots eye sockets may have been due to changes in visual acuity or the environment and linked with an extended visual area in her brain, something identified during previous research by Beaudet and her colleagues. Where Little Foot falls on the family tree Little Foots skeleton is 50% more complete than the famed Lucy fossil, found in Ethiopia in 1974 by paleoanthropologists Donald Johanson and Tom Gray. While Lucy lived 3.2 million years ago and belongs to Australopithecus afarensis, the exact species designation for Little Foot has been the subject of recent debate. Lucy's fossil, about 40% complete, changed the way researchers understood human evolution. - Dave Einsel/Getty Images Researchers have suggested that Little Foot could belong to the prometheus or africanus species under Australopithecus, or perhaps even be a previously unknown human relative. The competing hypotheses, which seek to identify common traits between Little Foot and any of these species, highlight why the fossil continues to be such a rich resource of information that could contain clues to human evolution. Many researchers, including myself, are skeptical about the current attribution of Little Foot to Australopithecus prometheus, in part because this species is generally considered to be the same thing as Australopithecus africanus, said Dr. Jesse Martin, lead author of a recent study suggesting the fossil belongs to an unknown human ancestor, in an email. While pleased to see the digital reconstruction, Martin said the geological age of the fossil remains unclear since different techniques have arrived at varied dates. Martin, an adjunct professor of archaeology at La Trobe University in Australia, was not involved in the new study. I therefore think any discussion about the evolutionary trajectory of cranial shape based on an older date for Little Foot is premature, Martin said. The findings of the new study dont shed fresh light on the identity of Little Foot beyond what was already known, Alemseged said. However, the aim of the team was to focus on possible adaptations that could have shaped hominin faces, rather than testing hypotheses on species attribution, Beaudet said. Next, the team wants to use digital reconstruction methods to correct deformation on other parts of the skull, such as the braincase, to reveal insights about the brain size of Little Foot and potentially unlock clues about the cognitive abilities of our early human ancestors. 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 (Blake Taylor) Disney's Animal Kingdom is undergoing a significant construction project that will bring two of Disney's most beloved stories to this Walt Disney World theme park. The project will introduce a new land to Disney's Animal Kingdom that will include three new rides when it opens in 2027. There's still a long way to go until then, but construction crews have now installed what might just be the beginnings of Disney World's next iconic, picture-perfect structure. At Mickey Visit, we cover the latest Disney news, like the launch of Disney's biggest cruise ship ever and cast member changes to restore the guest experience. Check out Disney's new Monsters, Inc. restaurant and when Disney's new attractions in 2026 will open. READ MORE It's Long Overdue for Disney World To Fix Animal Kingdom's Big Problem What's Coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom in 2027 A new land at Disney's Animal Kingdom called Tropical Americas will depict a fictional village called Pueblo Esperanza. This land replaces DinoLand, U.S.A., which closed in phases over the past few years and officially shut down for good in February 2026. Within Tropical Americas, new Encanto ride will take place inside the Madrigals' casita. Riders are visiting on the day Antonio, the young boy in the film, receives his gift of being able to talk to animals. While Disney hasn't announced the ride system, expect a family-friendly ride in the style of a modern Fantasyland dark ride. Disney is constructing the Encanto ride from the ground up in a new building. Meanwhile, an Indiana Jones ride will repurpose the now-closed DINOSAUR's ride system. Inside, riders will be immersed in a new story about Indy exploring an ancient temple. A third ride in Tropical Americas will be a carousel with ride vehicles shaped like favorite Disney animal characters. Photo via @bioreconstruct on X As a reminder, the photo above is what this area looked like when DinoLand, U.S.A. was still almost fully operational, in October 2024 before construction began. The only attraction already torn down by that point was the Primeval Whirl roller coaster. Tropical Americas is one of several massive construction projects in motion throughout Walt Disney World. Others include Monstropolis at Disney's Hollywood Studios as well as Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land, both at Magic Kingdom. These are all projects of significant scale that will take up huge parcels of space. The ride is set to open in 2027, but no specific date has been announced yet. We break down predictions of when the new rides will open at Disney World here. READ MORE Hidden Secrets of the Disney World Hotels You Haven't Heard Of Construction Overview of Tropical Americas in Late February 2026 Photo via @bioreconstruct on X Now that DinoLand, U.S.A., is fully closed, we can start to get a lay of the land for how the attractions and facilities of Tropical Americas will be situated among one another. In the photo above, Discovery Island is just out of frame in the bottom right corner of the photo. As guests enter Tropical Americas from this spot, they'll encounter a vibrant town square with the carousel on their left. As they venture farther into Pueblo Esperanza, visitors can hang left to visit the Madrigals at the Encanto ride. This ride will be housed in a huge, new building, expanding the footprint of this area significantly beyond the real estate of DinoLand, U.S.A., and into what was formerly a backstage area of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Or, upon entering Pueblo Esperanza, guests can veer right to eat at a dining location that will reuse Restaurantosaurus's facilities. Continuing past the restaurant, guests can queue up for the Indiana Jones ride in what was formerly the DINOSAUR ride building. It's the Encanto ride in particular that we're excited about today because it just reached a significant milestone in its construction. Encanto Ride Construction at Disney's Animal Kingdom Photo via @bioreconstruct on X The Encanto ride will reside inside a huge building that construction workers built fast. Just four months ago, this area was largely still dirt and foundational work. Now it's a multi-level building with a roof. Although the Encanto ride will take up a large amount of space, much of the building is expected to be out of view or otherwise disguised to guests from ground-level. This is typical of Disney attractions. The same will be true with the Encanto ride. In this case, the themed entrance guests will see depicts the Madrigals' Casita from Walt Disney Animation Studios' Oscar-winning 2021 film. This structure will connect to the main show building, which will partially be disguised by trees along its exterior walls and themed mountainous structures on its roof. The rest of the building will be hidden backstage. Advertisement Tropical Americas scale model These elements are seen in the scale model of Tropical Americas currently on display in Walt Disney Presents, a walkthrough, museum-style experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Look closely at the top left of the photo above for reference. At the construction site, this structure just reached a significant milestone. Crews just installed the beginnings of the steel framing that will eventually become Casita! Photo via @bioreconstruct on X It may not look like much now, but this is a future iconic Walt Disney World building. Among the architecture coming to Tropical Americas, the Madrigals' Casita is easily the most recognizable structure. Guests are already emotionally attached to in a special way. We can imagine families turning the corner after entering Pueblo Esperanza, seeing Casita for the first time, and being so excited to finally visit the Madrigals in person. Photo via @bioreconstruct on X See the outline of the future house above. A Special Imagineering Process at Work Photo via @bioreconstruct on X Before we move on to the Indiana Jones ride construction, we have to point a cool step in the Walt Disney Imagineering creative process. Currently backstage at Disney's Animal Kingdom are a collection of rectangles of various shades and textures. They look at if someone removed a chunk out of a wall. On the contrary, the inverse is happening. These rectangles are tests of Imagineering disciplines referred to as character paint and character plaster. Before building entire exterior surfaces, Imagineers want to see how each surface looks in Orlando's natural light. This way, artists can make adjustments as needed to the colors or materials, the paint and plaster, respectively, or the walls before creating the entire structure. Photo via @bioreconstruct on X It's fun to imagine how we might see these surfaces show up within Tropical Americas or perhaps in other various projects Disney is planning. Photo via @bioreconstruct on X For more about this step in the creative process, we recommend reading The Imagineering Field Guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, an official Disney book written by Imagineers. We now continue with our construction tour, headed to Indiana Jones next! Indiana Jones Construction at Defunct DINOSAUR Building Concept art via Disney What was formerly themed as the prestigious Dino Institute will eventually resemble ancient ruins, as seen in the concept art above. DINOSAUR closed for good on February 2, 2026, and now Disney Imagineers and construction workers are transforming the thrill ride into a new Indiana Jones attraction. The Indiana Jones attraction was already much along than the Encanto ride right from the moment DINOSAUR closed, as the show building, track, and ride vehicles for Indiana Jones are all already in place. Even with all the work to be done on the scenery and new characters along the ride path, that's a significant head start compared to Encanto still being built from the ground up with a long way before the Encanto ride resembles anything close to its final form. Photo via @bioreconstruct on X Of course, we can't see most of the progress of the Indiana Jones ride because it's all taking place inside an enclosed building. However, Disney didn't waste any time in demolishing themed elements on the building's exterior entranceway, as seen above. Photo via @bioreconstruct on X As a reminder, seen above is what this area looked like while DINOSAUR was still open in January 2026. I hope Disney saves the statue of Aladar the iguanodon, which stood in the fountain outside of DINOSAUR's entrance. Before Aladar was in this spot, a triceratops stood there instead. Disney preserved the triceratops, and guests can still see it if they take some of the backstage tours offered at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It would be nice if the triceratops and Aladar were buddies. Carousel Construction in the Heart of Pueblo Esperanza Photo via @bioreconstruct on X Elsewhere in the Tropical Americas construction site, prep work continues for what will become the land's new carousel ride. The round shape of where the carousel roundtable will eventually be placed is visible, though the roundtable itself is not yet in place. To the left of the carousel in the photo above is vertical construction on what may be a shaded queue for the attraction. Photo via @bioreconstruct on X A few remnants of DinoLand, U.S.A., theming remain, but they'll eventually be removed. Still in place are the marquee signs for Restaurantosaurus and Dino-Bite Snacks, as well as the water tower with "Eato-osaurus" written on it. There's so much more progress to come as Tropical Americas continues on toward its 2027 grand opening at Disney's Animal Kingdom. We look forward to bringing you the latest updates right here on Mickey Visit. Don't Miss the Latest Disney News Don't miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips. The post Disney's New Encanto Ride Making Big Progress as Work Ramps Up on Two More New Rides appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips. Trump making a squishy face Donald Trump has held discussions with Sir Keir Starmer for the first time since the U.S. president's recent criticism of the prime minister regarding his approach to the Middle East situation. Trump attacked Sir Keir, accusing him of attempting to "join wars after we've already won." A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "The leaders began by discussing the latest situation in the Middle East and the military co-operation between the U.K. and U.S. through the use of RAF bases in support of the collective self-defense of partners in the region." She added: "The prime minister also shared his heartfelt condolences with President Trump and the American people following the deaths of six U.S. soldiers. They looked forward to speaking again soon." Sir Keir's initial refusal to authorize a first round of military operations triggered significant criticism from Trump in recent days, including a personal jab suggesting the prime minister was "not Winston Churchill." The Labour leader subsequently authorized "defensive" U.S. operations against Iranian missile facilities from U.K. bases. Sir Keir and Trump have been at odds over the Iran conflict (Image: Getty Images) Following reports that the U.K. was readying an aircraft carrier for deployment to the Middle East, the U.S. president posted on Saturday that the U.K. was "finally giving thought" to dispatching two, but noted, "we don't need them any longer." He continued: "But we will remember. We don't need people that join wars after we've already won!" Sir Keir has stood by his choice to deny the U.S. permission to utilize British bases during the initial strike against the Tehran regime, arguing it may have violated international law. Advertisement The UK Ministry of Defence announced it was enhancing the readiness of aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and shortening the timeframe required for deployment, though no final determination has been made to dispatch the vessel. A Merlin helicopter is also being dispatched to the area to assist with aerial surveillance, and RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets are maintaining air operations across Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus. DON'T MISS: Trump ally visits Mar-a-Largo to rescue US-UK base crucial to Iran attack Trump's pressure over 'stupid' Chagos deal sees Starmer pause handover talks Trump turns on UK after country blocks him from using air bases to strike Iran As questions persist regarding the U.K. potentially assuming a more active role in the conflict, Britain has drawn criticism from allies concerning the defense of Cyprus, where a U.K. base was hit by a drone earlier this week. Air defense destroyer HMS Dragon is anticipated to depart for the eastern Mediterranean within the coming days, while France and Greece have already positioned military assets to protect the island. The warship has begun receiving restocked air defense missiles at a Portsmouth facility and will return to the berth for a logistics resupply before departure. ]]> Schedules for China's "two sessions" on March 8 Xinhua) 09:35, March 08, 2026 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. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Zhong Wenxing) By Parisa Hafezi and Maayan Lubell DUBAI/JERUSALEM, March 9 (Reuters) - Iran on Monday named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel. Mojtaba, a cleric with influence inside Iran's security forces and vast business networks under his father, had been viewed as a frontrunner in the lead-up to Sunday's vote by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics tasked with choosing Ali Khamenei's successor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts, appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Assembly said in a statement issued just after midnight Tehran time. The position gives Mojtaba the final say in all matters of state in the Islamic Republic. Mojtabas appointment will likely draw the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump, who said on Sunday that Washington should have a say in the selection. "If he doesn't get approval from us, he's not going to last long," he told ABC News. Israel, ahead of the announcement, threatened to target whoever was chosen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with the Times of Israel after the new supreme leader was named, Trump declined to respond, saying only "We'll see what happens," according to the newspaper. Trump also said in the interview that ending the war would be a "mutual" decision with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mojtaba's father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed in one of the first strikes launched against Iran more than a week ago. Washington on Sunday ordered the departure of non-emergency employees at its embassy in Saudi Arabia, the latest drawdown of U.S. diplomats as Iran has struck U.S. facilities in the region. The U.S. military reported a seventh American has died from wounds sustained during Iran's initial counter-attack a week ago, a day after Trump presided over the return to the United States of the remains of the six others killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S.-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran's U.N. ambassador. OIL OVER $100 A BARREL The expanding war has severely impacted the oil trade and surging prices sparked a fall in share futures in Asia on Monday, amid fears of rising living costs. The dollar rose sharply against the euro and the yen. U.S. crude futures rose more than 20% in early trade on Monday, hitting their highest since July 2022, amid fears of tighter supply and prolonged disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent jumped 17% to $108.73 a barrel, having already soared 28% last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wall Street, S&P 500 futures ESc1 shed 1.6%, while Nasdaq futures NQc1 dived 1.7%. Trump, in a social media post, said oil prices "will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over," and said the price hike was "a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace." DEFIANCE FROM TEHRAN Iranian state media said the leadership of Iran's armed forces had pledged allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement they are ready to follow the new supreme leader. The Assembly of Experts met on Sunday to elect a new supreme leader despite threats that the body would be targeted, Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, said on state TV after the announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mojtaba Khamenei could lead the country under the current sensitive conditions, Larijani said, calling for unity around the new leader. Iran has launched strikes across the region in retaliation against U.S. and Israeli attacks. The U.S. State Department said on Sunday it had ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks, days after the embassy in the Saudi capital was damaged in a drone attack blamed on Iran. Early on Sunday, the Saudi Defence Ministry said that it had shot down a drone that attempted to target the Diplomatic Quarter, a calm tree-lined neighbourhood on the city's western edge that hosts most foreign missions including the U.S. embassy. The U.S. has already raised its warning level for Saudi Arabia and allowed some personnel to leave the country, and has ordered the departure of staff at embassies in Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain since the outbreak of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel continued to target senior Iranian figures, including Abolqasem Babaian, the recently appointed head of the military office of the supreme leader, saying he was killed in a Saturday strike. 'DANGEROUS NEW PHASE' As fighting escalated on Sunday, day nine of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, thick black smoke hung over Tehran, residents said, after strikes on oil storage facilities had lit up the night sky with plumes of orange flame. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the large-scale attack marked a "dangerous new phase" of the conflict and amounted to a war crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters the depots were used to fuel Iran's war effort, including producing or storing propellant for ballistic missiles. "They are a legal military target," he said. Netanyahu said his government would press on with the assault and strike Iran's rulers "without mercy". "We have an organised plan with many surprises to destabilise the regime and enable change," he said in a video statement. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Crispian Balmer, Charlie Devereux, Steve Holland and Simon Lewis; Editing by William Mallard, Alex Richardson, Ros Russell, Sergio Non, Diane Craft and Michael Perry) BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) One person was hurt in a shooting in the 1400 block of Azalea Park Avenue on Friday, March 6. The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office said deputies responded to the scene at 10:23 p.m. and began an investigation. According to EBRSO, deputies learned through an interpreter that the victim said an unknown man shot him in the leg before fleeing. Emergency medical services transported one person to the hospital in stable condition at 10:30 p.m. The sheriffs office confirmed the victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement An EBRSO unit, deputies, an ambulance, a fire truck, and police tape were observed at the scene. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing. Officials investigate two separate shootings that left 4 people hurt in Baton Rouge 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. Law enforcement officials have reportedly responded to several explosions near the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway, around 1:00 a.m. local time. -Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited (Reach Publishing Services Limited) Law enforcement officials have reportedly responded to several explosions near the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway, around 1:00 a.m. local time. According to a statement by authorities, "police have large resources in the area around the U.S. embassy." It added, "At approximately 0100, a loud bang/explosion was reported at the scene. The police are in dialogue with the embassy, and no injuries have been reported." Officials within Norway's police department noted that there is "currently no information about exactly what happened or who may be involved." The case, per officials and the statement, is ongoing, and police are still investigating the scene. The explosions come after a lip reader decoded Barron and Ivanka Trump's mysterious conversation just days before their dad attacked Iran. Device explodes at Harvard Medical School in apparent intentional attack Oslo suffers grenade attack with further explosives warning issued The Mirror U.S. reached out to the State Department for comment. A post on X showed the embassy being cordoned off by authorities with reports of minor injuries. One local outlet said that many residents phoned in, reporting that smoke was spreading across the Huseby neighborhood, where the embassy was located. "I was watching TV when there was a bang and the whole house shook," one resident reportedly told the outlet. According to the resident, 10 police cars arrived in the area immediately. One source reported that the authorities responding to the scene were "heavily armed." Advertisement The explosion comes several months after Downtown Oslo suffered a grenade attack in September. It was reported that authorities quickly apprehended the suspect. A post on X showed the embassy being cordoned off by authorities. -Credit:Getty Images Surveillance drones were spotted circling Oslo's downtown core just after 9 pm, as officers conducted a controlled explosion of a grenade. Local residents received emergency alerts on their cell phones from authorities The alert stated: "There has been an explosion in the area (called) Pilestredet." It was added, "Given that there is still an explosive device in the area, the police wish that people stay away from windows. As of now, we are not evacuating the area." According to the resident, 10 police cars arrived in the area immediately -Credit:Getty Images/iStockphoto The blasts occurred near a university campus. No casualties were reported at the location. It was reported that officers subsequently found another planted hand grenade and other unexploded ordnance at the location. The grenade is thought to have been placed on a tram line One local outlet said that many residents phoned in, reporting that smoke was spreading across the Huseby neighborhood, where the embassy was located -Credit:Getty Images Oslo's Fire and Rescue Service was also notified of the situation and responded to support police operations. Startled locals described how the explosions were so thunderous they caused ear pain. "There was a big bang," one resident told Norwegian media outlet NRK. "We just saw someone grab a man in a hood who ran from the scene." Another witness said the area near Bislett Stadium smelled like it was burning. Following the drone sightings in Oslo the day before, Norwegian media reported that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were flown over the Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle, leading to two arrests. In a separate incident, up to three autonomous UAVs were reportedly detected in the airspace over Copenhagen Airport in Denmark, prompting a swift police response and temporary closure of the airport. 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. 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. Advertisement The West Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office previously said the fire caused heavy traffic congestion near the port along I-10 and La. Highway 1. 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 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. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS DECEMBER 15: A sign with the Ford logo sits in front of a dealership on December 15, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Citing slow customer demand, Ford announced... Ford has issued two recalls affecting nearly 1.74 million of its cars in the U.S., due to software issues that impact the vehicles rearview camera displays. According to notices published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this week, an internal component inside the infotainment system of certain 2021-2026 Ford Broncos and 2021-2024 Ford Edges may overheat and shut down preventing the rearview image from displaying when drivers are going in reverse. The internal component prevents the rearview image from displaying when drivers are going in reverse. Getty Images Meanwhile, some 2020-2022 Ford Escapes and Lincoln Corsairs, as well as 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviators and Explorers, may show a flipped or inverted rearview image. The recalls cover 849,310 Broncos and Edges as well as 889,950 Escapes, Corsairs, Aviators and Explorers. Ford estimates that all of these vehicles have the defects. But the company is not aware of any injuries or accidents spanning from either recall, NHTSA documents show. Advertisement Still, the NHTSA is warning drivers that both issues could increase crash risks. The recalls cover 849,310 Broncos and Edges as well as 889,950 Escapes, Corsairs, Aviators and Explorers. For impacted Bronco and Edge owners, Ford is offering a free software update for the vehicles Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM). Owner-notification letters will be mailed out at the end of the month, with the fix available either at a dealer or through an over-the-air update. But a remedy is still under development for the recall impacting the Escapes, Corsairs, Aviators and Explorers, this weeks recall announcement noted. In the meantime, interim letters to notify owners of the safety risks are set to be mailed out in the coming months. The Associated Press reached out to Michigan-based Ford for further comments on Saturday. For more information, drivers can visit the NHTSA website and Fords online recall lookup using their vehicles VIN number, or call the companys customer service line at 1-866-436-7332. Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Sunday that he has doubts that the U.S. can successfully pull off regime change in Iran. Our track record in Iraq, where we actually chose the leader, in Afghanistan, where we chose the leader was pretty bad. So, it's a very, very difficult undertaking, Mullen told "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz. Mullen served as chair of the Joint Chiefs under Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, while the U.S. was fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. President Donald Trump in recent days has raised the possibility of regime change in Iran. Trump said the U.S. should be involved in choosing Irans next supreme leader. Trump has demanded unconditional surrender from the Iranians, but Mullen said that he does not expect that they will lay down their arms, even as their supreme leader and several top officials were killed. The supreme leader is dead, but I don't think the regime change that we're talking about is represented just by that, Mullen said. "They're going to sacrifice everything they've got in order to make sure that they can survive. MORE: Trump wants Iranian leadership that will not 'threaten Americans': Waltz Advertisement The war with Iran entered its ninth day Sunday, and Irans retaliation is increasingly widespread across the region. Mullen said he worries the conflict could spread in unpredictable ways. Wars expand, objectives change, circumstances come up that you didn't expect, Mullen said. And I worry this has already become a wide, regional war. MORE: 'Not what we voted for': Some MAGA voices warn Iran backlash will only grow the longer the war lasts The consequences of the war have also begun to extend beyond the Middle East. As of Sunday morning, AAA shows gas prices have risen $0.47 since the first attacks Feb. 28, the result of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for the worlds oil supply. Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: People inspect the rubble of a collapsed building near Ferdowsi square in Tehran on March 3, 2026. We've got the economy of the world in great part depending on the open waters that the Straits of Hormuz and how markets react to this. You've got a tourism, economic, livelihood in the region that's actually completely stopped right now, Mullen said. There's an awful lot in play that we can't anticipate. And as most Democrats continue to criticize the president and his administration, Mullen said he remains focused on the present. I think the debate about how we got in, when we got in, why we got in will continue, Mullen said. I'm much more focused now on the fact that we're in and how can we make it come out well. Rene Redzepi in 2021 Credit: THIBAULT SAVARY/AFP via Getty NEED TO KNOW Former employees of one of the top-ranked restaurants in the world, Noma, have come forward to accuse its founding chef of abuse Former employees allege that chef Rene Redzepi doled out violent punishments and verbally abused his employees at the Copenhagen restaurant "It felt like we were working in an E.R. or a submarine that was going down," one chef said Dozens of former employees of one of the most renowned restaurants in the world have come forward to accuse its founding chef of both verbal and physical abuse. In a new report from The New York Times published on Saturday, March 7, former employees at Noma an acclaimed Copenhagen restaurant that once held the title of the highest-ranked restaurant in the world before it closed in 2023 allege that chef Rene Redzepi doled out violent punishments and verbally abused his employees. One chef, identified just as Alessia, told the Times that "going to work felt like going to war." "You had to force yourself to be strong, to show no fear," she said. The new report described a February 2014 incident in which Redzepi, 48, allegedly ordered his whole kitchen staff to follow him outside the restaurant and gather around in a circle before he berated a sous-chef who was playing music that he didn't like in the kitchen. Redzepi then allegedly punched his employee in the ribs and screamed that no one would be allowed back inside the building until the sous-chef said, loud enough for all to hear, that he liked giving DJs oral sex, in a reference to the music that the sous-chef was playing. The employee eventually complied, and the staff went back inside the kitchen, the Times reported. The exterior of Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2014. Credit: Jorg Carstensen/picture alliance via Getty Though allegations have been made against Redzepi for years, according to the Times, Jason Ignacio White, a former head of Noma's fermentation lab, shared posts on Instagram last month stating that he witnessed countless instances of abuse at the restaurant during his three-year tenure there. The Times said in its Saturday report that it had interviewed 35 former Noma employees, who detailed instances where, between 2009 and 2017, Redzepi allegedly punched employees in the face, jabbed them with utensils and tools, slammed them into walls, and psychologically abused them using intimidation, body shaming, public ridicule and more. One incident reported by the Times occurred in 2011 when an anonymous former cook said that Redzepi noticed that he had left a tiny tweezer mark on a flower petal as he placed it onto a dish. Redzepi allegedly grabbed him by the straps of his apron and slammed him against the wall, then punched him twice in the stomach, the cook said, adding that he was attacked by the Noma founder countless times when he worked there. Yet another chef recalled saving up for a year and selling her car so that she could afford to take a job at Noma in 2013, as many of the restaurant's employees were unpaid. She claimed that one night during service, Redzepi saw her using a phone, which was forbidden during working hours though the chef said she was using it to turn down the music in the restaurant at a guest's request. She claimed that without saying anything, Redzepi turned and punched her in the ribs, causing her to fall against a metal counter and cut her hip. Advertisement Rene Redzepi in 2021 Credit: THIBAULT SAVARY/AFP via Getty Redzepi who has been lauded by figures like Anthony Bourdain, was awarded three Michelin stars for his work in fine dining and sustainable eating, and was also knighted by the queen of Denmark has previously apologized for inappropriate behavior at work, after he was captured yelling at employees in the 2008 documentary Noma at Boiling Point. In a statement to the Times on Saturday, Redzepi said he stepped away from leading routine restaurant service when Noma closed and has "found better ways to manage my anger" after going to therapy. "Although I don't recognize all details in these stories, I can see enough of my past behavior reflected in them to understand that my actions were harmful to people who worked with me. To those who have suffered under my leadership, my bad judgment, or my anger, I am deeply sorry and I have worked to change," he said. Some former chefs told the Times that while they experienced traumatic incidents while working with Redzepi, they don't regret working at Noma because of the restaurant's legacy and cultural standing. "It felt like we were working in an E.R. or a submarine that was going down," Ben, a chef who worked at Noma in 2012, told the Times. "It was hell, but I learned so much that I can't say I regret it." The Noma organization now focuses on selling luxury kitchen goods and creating pop-up dining experiences including an upcoming event in Los Angeles, which is reported to be charging guests $1,500 per person for dinner. The upcoming event has sparked a new conversation about Redzepi's behavior from former employees, who say that they are owed a further apology. 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. "Noma is not a story of innovation," White wrote in a February Instagram post. "It is a story of a maniac that would breed a culture of fear, abuse & exploitation." "His damage to young chefs & trusted team members created a generation of broken dreams and future abusers that spread globally," White continued. "It still matters & we are coming forward in hopes to build a better future for everyone in the culinary landscape we dedicated our lives to." Read the original article on People WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) Middletown native and former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was in Rhode Island Saturday evening to speak at a campaign rally for a Republican running in the 2nd Congressional District. Mellor speaking to the crowd during his March 7th Rhode Island First rally at Crowne Plaza in Warwick. The event, a Rhode Island First rally, happened at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. It was organized by the campaign of Vic Mellor, a Woonsocket native and Florida businessman challenging Democratic Congressman Seth Magaziner this year. RELATED: Magaziner targets potential GOP challenger over presence at Capitol on Jan. 6 Mellor joined the race in November after filing paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission. Flynn told reporters before the event Mellor is a great friend and that the candidates story is really what the American Dream is all about. He grew up in really the projects of Woonsocket as a kid hanging around he goes through the school system, ends up joining the Marines, the Marines gave him a great opportunity, he was a great marine, Flynn said. Mellor said the purpose of the event was to motivate the base. Theres such a high percentage of Republicans and independents that dont vote, Mellor said. We need to get them out to vote, thats how you make a difference. A no vote elects Democrats and if you keep electing Democrats, the status quo is gonna stay the same, this is the only way to change it. Mellor shared that when he was younger he had to leave Rhode Island after serving in the Marine Corps because there was just no opportunity for me here. So I moved to Florida, I became successful, I moved back here last year and now Im running for Congress to fix Rhode Island and make it first, were gonna make Rhode Island first, Mellor said. The rally featured other speakers, including former New England Patriots offensive tackle Matt Light. Flynns brother, Joe, was also an emcee for the event. The top issue Mellors candidacy plans to focus on is jobs. Right now, theres $18 trillion coming into our country that none of its coming to Rhode Island because theres nobody in the federal delegation that doesnt have Trump Derangement Syndrome and their willing to talk to the administration, Mellor said. I know people in the administration and I will be that conduit to bring those jobs here so now we can get back to where Rhode Island used to be when it was an industrial powerhouse. Magaziner first won the seat in 2022 after narrowly defeating former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung following the retirement of Jim Langevin. Magaziner won reelection by a wider margin in 2024 against Republican Steven Corvi. ALSO READ: Seth Magaziner wins 2nd term in US House A campaign spokesperson for Magaziner said the congressman is fighting to make life more affordable for Rhode Islanders by reversing President Donald Trumps costly tariffs and cuts to health care. He believes that is a better use of time than listening to Florida extremists Victor Mellor and Michael Flynn promote old conspiracy theories about vaccines and the 2020 election, the spokesperson continued. Advertisement Magaziner currently has a financial advantage over Mellor. The congressman had $1.3 million in his campaign account as of Dec. 31, 2025, while Mellor had $47,000. A Republican hasnt won a race in the 2nd District since Claudine Schneider in 1988. Schneider didnt seek reelection in 1990 and unsuccessfully ran against Democratic U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell. (Democrat Jack Reed succeeded Schneider in the House and later succeeded Pell in the Senate.) Mellor said his pitch to Democratic and independent voters hed need to win is to give it a chance. The path were on has made Rhode Island last. Lets change. Make it first, Mellor said. Dr. Stephen Skoly, a Cranston oral surgeon, is also seeking the GOP nomination. No other candidates have announced theyre running so far. The statewide primary is on Sept. 8 and the general election is Nov. 3. NEXT: Oral surgeon Dr. Stephen Skoly exploring run against Magaziner in 2026 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! 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. Greek Defence Minister, Nikos Dendias talks to the press, during joint press statements with Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz at the Ministry of Defence in Athens Greece, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki March 8 (Reuters) - Greece hopes to wrap up talks and sign a deal for the purchase of Bergamini class frigates from Italy by April, Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said in an interview released on Sunday. High-ranking officials from Greece and Italy last year signed memorandums for naval cooperation, opening the way for the acquisition of two FREMM frigates by Athens with an option for two more. "We hope that negotiations with Italy will be concluded and that we will have signed (a deal) for the acquisition of 2+2 frigates by April," Dendias told a Greek newspaper. Advertisement Dendias said Athens was working to ensure the frigates could also carry the new-generation ELSA missile. Greece plans to spend about 28 billion euros as part of a multi-year defence plan that includes the purchase of a fourth Belharra frigate from France and new submarines as it tries to keep up with historic rival Turkey. (Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou, Editing by Louise Heavens) A smiling Guy Fieri opens his arms on stage. - Jason Koerner/Getty Images Although Guy Fieri enjoys a range of cuisines in "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," classic barbecue joints make a frequent appearance. So when he cites a slow-cooked bite of meat that stands out, you know it's special an enthusiasm Fieri shared regarding The Pit Room's jalapeno cheddar sausage. Featured in season 34, episode 13 of the show, Fieri first took part in the meticulous assembly of the dish before giving his take on the meat. The homemade preparation involved the manual hand-grinding of pork butts, a combination of spices, cheese, and pickled peppers, all followed by two rounds of smoking at different temperatures. So by the time the sausages appeared on screen, Fieri's reaction hardly came as a surprise. "It's dynamite. Just the right amount of heat," said Fieri (per YouTube). He also commended the sausage's snap, internal meat texture, and the savvy use of restricted-melting cheese, which prevents the meat from turning overly gooey and the cheese from fully dispersing through the mix. All this is served alongside a scratch-made barbecue sauce; it added up to one of the more memorable moments on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." So while one of Guy Fieri's favorite barbecue joints is in North Carolina, the chef and television host will applaud Texas-style smoked meat, too. Read more: 18 Popular BBQ Chains, Ranked Advertisement The Pit Room serves acclaimed Texas-style dishes tacos sold at The Pit Room. - The Pit Room / Facebook While Fieri is no stranger to an overlooked eatery, The Pit Room has long been in the limelight. The Houston restaurant which operates two locations boasts a Bib Gourmand from Michelin and has drawn wider critical acclaim for nearly a decade. In part, the restaurant's success can be attributed to the thoroughly Texan style of American barbecue found on the menu. All under one roof, The Pit Room melds together several of the state's respected meat traditions. The Fieri-approved sausages draw from the Central Texas barbecue genre, where Czech, German, and Polish immigrants popularized tubed meats. Simultaneously, the sausage's use of spice and heat hints at the Creole and Cajun influences found in Houston. Meanwhile, menu offerings such as the chicken and brisket tacos, as well as chicharrones (which Fieri also sampled), draw heavily from Mexican cuisine. The tradition of brisket served in a tortilla is a beloved regional style found in the south of the state. Finally, The Pit Room sells an intertwining thread of more broadly Texan dishes, too. You can grab a tasty rendition of chili con carne, one of the first dishes that defined Tex-Mex cuisine, as well as statewide favorite chips and queso, and even barbecue-loaded breakfast tacos come morning time. As with other high-quality barbecue joints, a wait is to be expected, but for food of this caliber, it's worth it. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Food Republic. A cornerstone of the effort to combat the nation's HIV epidemic is beginning to show fiscal cracks. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has helped more than a quarter million Americans living with HIV to get life-saving medications, health insurance or both. But funding pressure has prompted 18 states to cut costs, jeopardizing care for thousands of Americans living with HIV, according to an analysis by the health policy nonprofit KFF. An additional five states are considering changes to stretch out limited funding for Ryan White AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, known as ADAPs, KFF said. While these states have enacted or are considering changes, some experts worry more states could follow. Not only do program cuts harm a portion of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV, people could get sicker without the viral-suppressing medications and transmit the virus to others. "We're worried about all states," said Tim Horn, director of medication access for the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. "Sometimes it seems budget deficits appear out of thin air." What is the Ryan White program? The federally funded Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides money to state-based ADAPs to pay for medications and insurance for people with HIV. ADAPs also received state funding and other sources of revenue such as drug rebates. The National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors and KFF said several factors are pressuring state-based ADAPs. HIV medication and health insurance costs have soared, straining state programs. These programs also have experienced a surge of people seeking assistance. Meanwhile, Congressional funding for Ryan White programs has been flat in recent years. In 2024, these state programs served more than 257,000 people, a jump of 30% from 2022, according to figures from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. The programs mainly serve lower-income populations. Nearly 1 in 4 people with HIV get services from ADAPs. Horn said the enrollment surge came when the federal government resumed Medicaid eligibility checks that were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. HIV patients who no longer qualified for Medicaid turned to state ADAPs to pay for their medication, insurance or both. Other federal health policy changes further squeezed ADAPs. Congress didn't extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced subsidies that lowered consumers spending on insurance plans. ACA plans became more expensive this year and consumers' average insurance costs spiked 114% because of the expiration of the enhanced tax credits, according to a KFF analysis. More pressure is on the horizon. President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending legislation is projected to trim more than $900 billion in federal spending on Medicaid over the next decade. The law's changes could leave millions of Americans uninsured over that time period, according to estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. These states are tightening eligibility Florida enacted changes that are expected to cut off assistance for an estimated 10,000 to 16,000 residents. Florida sharply reduced income limits for the program. Florida previously extended eligibility to people who earned up to 400% of the federal poverty level, or $63,840 per year. Now, Florida cuts off residents who earn more than 130% of the federal poverty level, or $20,748 per year. Florida's program also will no longer cover Biktarvy, the most widely prescribed HIV drug. A one month supply of the drug for those without insurance costs an average $5,132, according to GoodRx. Advertisement The Florida Department of Health said the program changes were needed to prevent a budget gap of more than $120 million. Florida's changes "are probably the most severe, but other states are cutting back on income eligibility," said Jennifer Kates, senior vice president and director of the Global and Public Health Policy Program at KFF. ADAPs in Pennsylvania, Kansas, Delaware and Rhode Island have changed income eligibility limits, according to the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. Changes enacted by other states include reducing funding for medical services, implementing twice-a-year eligibility checks and adopting annual or monthly spending caps per enrollee. No states have imposed waiting lists a common tactic used in the early 2000s when too many people sought help from ADAPs with too little funding. The administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama had to approve emergency funding to reduce waiting lists, Kates said. Though no state program has put people on a waiting list for the past decade, KFF said, states occasionally used other cost-cutting strategies. Florida's changes are "a new level of restriction we haven't seen in some time," Kates said. Why advocates worry about HIV service cuts Experts say cuts to HIV medications and other assistance could put more Americans at risk for the disease. While cases are far below the levels reached in the 1990s, more that 39,000 U.S. residents have been diagnosed with HIV as of 2023, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 4,500 deaths in 2023 were attributed to HIV, the virus that weakens the immune system and causes AIDS, the CDC said. People with HIV who are taking antiretroviral medications typically maintain their health, and pushing viral loads to undetectable levels also protects sexual partners from infection, Kates said. But that can change when they no longer get HIV medication. "If viral load goes up because they don't have their meds, or they have inconsistent access, they could be transmitting HIV to a partner," Kates said. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego estimated the potential impact of Florida's ADAP cuts on people living in Miami-Dade County, where about 1 in 3 new HIV cases in Florida are diagnosed. UCSD researchers estimated of the 7,400 Miami-Dade residents who currently get ADAP services, 3,700 people are no longer eligible under Florida's tightened restrictions. That lack of coverage could lead to 1,000 new cases of HIV in Miami-Dade County over the next five years, said Natasha Martin, a UCSD professor and vice chief of global public health. The lifetime cost of treating someone with HIV is slightly more than $1 million, so researchers project the ADAP eligibility cuts could cost an additional $1 billion for treating an additional 1,000 Miami-Dade County residents with HIV. "It just does not make economic sense," Martin said. "We are going to be paying billions of dollars to care for newly infected people with HIV as a result of these changes." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: States cut HIV drug programs amid budget shortfall The BYD Great Tang gets a 1,000-volt architecture, 1,500-kilowatt charging, and nearly 600 miles of range. BYD is leaving Western automakers in the dust with its new EV lineup. The Great Tang SUV is the companys new flagship, and its an absolute tech fest. The three-row EV boasts nearly 600 miles of range and a whopping 1.5-megawatt charging power. While some American automakers are scaling back their EV ambitions, Chinas BYD charges ahead with an updated portfolio of electric cars that leaves Western companies in the dust. BYDs new flagship SUV, the Great Tang, is similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Lucid Gravity in size and purpose, but it blows them out of the water when it comes to the underlying tech. Based on BYDs latest Super e platform, which uses the newly revealed second-generation Blade lithium iron phosphate battery, the Great Tang SUVs spec sheet is just out of this world compared to its closest rivals. BYD Great Tang Were talking about a 1,000-volt architecture and 1,500-kilowatt Flash charging capabilities that can replenish the cars battery as quickly as a traditional gas fill-up. According to BYD, its second-gen Blade battery can go from 10% to 97% state of charge in just nine minutes when connected to its latest Flash chargers, which means owners will barely have time to hit the bathroom during a charging stop. Advertisement Even at a freezing temperature of -22F (-30C), BYDs new LFP battery can charge from 20-97% in about 12 minutes, which is unlike anything available today in the United States. BYD Great Tang By comparison, the fastest-charging electric SUVs on sale in the U.S., the Lucid Gravity and Porsche Cayenne Electric, can accept up to 400 kW from a potent enough DC fast charger. Range-wise, the Gravity is EPA-rated for up to 450 miles (724 kilometers) when equipped with the 123-kilowatt-hour battery, while the Cayenne Electric, which is powered by a 108-kWh pack, doesnt have an EPA rating yet. That said, the Cayenne WLTP range rating goes up to 339 miles (642 km) for the entry-level version, which should result in roughly 341 miles (550 km) on the EPA procedure. Meanwhile, the BYD Great Tang in rear-wheel drive configuration boasts a 590-mile (950 km) maximum estimated range, but bear in mind that this figure is likely a result of Chinas CLTC procedure, which is known for producing rather optimistic results, mostly due to the cycles high city driving weighting. If the impressive electric SUV were to ever set foot in the U.S., its EPA rating would likely be somewhere around the 400-mile (643 km) mark, which is not as good as the top-spec Lucid Gravity, but still better than the 337-mile Lucid Gravity Touring. The Great Tang RWD will be available in China with either 402 horsepower (300 kW) or 496 hp (370 kW). Theres also an all-wheel drive version that adds a 288 hp (215 kW) motor at the front for extra grunt, but the range takes a slight hit, going down to a reported 528 miles (850 km) on the CLTC cycle. BYD Great Tang Measuring a solid 208.7 inches (5,302 millimeters) long and riding on a 123.2-inch (3,130 mm) wheelbase, BYDs Great Tang is quite the stately vehicle, especially when specced in a dual-tone color scheme. Inside, it comes standard with a three-row layout and captains chairs for second-row passengers. Advertisement Advertisement Theres a built-in fridge, a fold-down screen for rear passengers, and a trio of screens up front. That said, the company hasnt revealed the size of these screens or the usable capacity of the high-voltage battery, so well have to wait and see how it stacks up against its Western and Korean rivals. Rear-wheel steering, adaptive suspension, and BYDs Gods Eye B lidar-based advanced driver assistance system are also part of the features list. Its quite the compelling package, and its all expected to start from an estimated 400,000 yuan, which is roughly $58,000 at todays exchange rate. BYD Great Tang Advertisement Advertisement BYD Great Tang BYD Great Tang BYD Great Tang BYD Great Tang Advertisement Advertisement BYD Great Tang BYD Great Tang BYD Great Tang BYD Great Tang Advertisement Advertisement BYD Great Tang BYD Great Tang More Stuff Like This An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers badge is seen as federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court in New York City on June 10, 2025. | Michael M. Santiago, Getty Images via Idaho Capital Sun BOISE (Idaho Capital Sun) The Idaho House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require all local law enforcement to enter agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, in the federal 287(g) program. The bill faced opposition from associations representing county sheriffs offices and local police departments, who said the 287(g) program should be optional, mainly because of costs associated with forcing agencies to enter into them. House members voted 41-27, Friday, to send House Bill 659 to the Senate, where it may come up for another public committee hearing. Bill sponsorRep. Dale Hawkins, R-Fernwood, stressed that immigration enforcement was a top issue. The people in Idaho want answers, and they want action, Hawkins said. The debate on the bill lasted about half an hour, with opponents arguing that local law enforcement is already cooperating with ICE, but not all departments can absorb the costs of backfilling for officers while they complete federal training with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the parent agency of ICE. Supporters said that law enforcement wasnt doing enough in this area, and countered the idea that local law enforcement couldnt afford to enter the agreements because ICE would reimburse some costs and cover training. Boise Democrat, Rep. Chris Mathias, said he thought the bill would compromise law enforcements trust in the Legislature. He said hed support the requirement that agencies explain why they cannot participate if it were on its own. Because then we would be in a position to be able to address their pain points and incentivize cooperation, rather than forcing it, Mathias said. Reps. Kyle Harris, R-Lewiston, and Clint Hostetler, R-Twin Falls, supported the bill and both cited the costs to the state and counties for housing inmates who are undocumented. Harris said that ICE reimburses at a higher rate for detaining people who will be deported than the state pays counties for housing state inmates in county jails. Advertisement In most cases, if an unauthorized person is convicted of a crime in Idaho, that person must serve their sentence in the county jail or state prison before deportation proceedings may begin. Rep. Lori McCann, R-Lewiston, called the bill an unfunded mandate. She noted that other legislation has been rejected in the Idaho Legislature because it came with acceptance of federal money. The bill would also require local law enforcement to participate in any future program or successor to an existing program. McCann questioned why the Legislature would bind law enforcement to future federal programs without knowing what they may be. Republican Reps. Erin Bingham of Idaho Falls; Rick Cheatum of Pocatello; Ben Fuhriman of Shelley; Dan Garner of Clifton; Grayson Stone (a substitute for Twin Falls Republican Don Hall); Dustin Manwaring of Pocatello; McCann; Stephanie Mickelsen of Idaho Falls, Steve Miller of Fairfield; Jack Nelsen of Jerome; James Petzke of Meridian; Mike Pohanka of Jerome; Britt Raybould of Rexburg; and Jerald Raymond of Menan joined all House Democrats to vote against the bill. What are Idahoans perspective on immigration enforcement? Hawkins, in debate, said repeatedly that immigration was a top issue among Idahoans statewide. The group Secure Idaho, which has supported HB 659 and the rest of a slate of immigration bills brought by Hawkins and other legislators, has said on its Idaho Immigration Watch website that 81% of Americans want more action to stop illegal immigration. Secure Idaho cites a March 2024 poll from Rasmussen Reports that found 81% of likely U.S. voters said it is important that the government stop illegal immigration, and 55% found it very important. In Idaho, the annual Boise State University Public Policy Survey only asked two questions about immigration in its 2026 survey it found that 53% of respondents thought it would harm Idahos agricultural economy if ICE were to increase its presence in Idaho. Around 56% of Idaho respondents strongly supported, and 29% somewhat supported, a pathway to legal working status for dairy workers and their families who have lived in Idaho for over 10 years and have no criminal record. A poll of Treasure Valley and Magic Valley residents commissioned by ACLU of Idaho in 2025 found that 44% of respondents favored local law enforcement cooperating with federal immigration authorities. The survey also found that 64% of respondents believe deportations should apply only to serious crimes. TheBSU public policy survey released in 2025 reported that 27% of respondents felt it was solely the federal governments responsibility to enforce immigration in Idaho, around 30% said the state should be responsible, and nearly 28% said all levels of government. info@idahocapitalsun.com. The post Idaho House passes bill to require police, sheriffs offices to sign 287(g) agreements with ICE appeared first on East Idaho News. It's very rare for a difficult story to come together so easily. But that's what happened with my recent IndyStar investigation into suicides at Indiana State Prison, a maximum security facility in Northwest Indiana where nearly the entire mental health staff left amid a growing suicide crisis. That the story came together smoothly is less a testament to my skills as a journalist. Rather, it's made possible by the willingness of a handful of people to talk candidly about what they experienced and witnessed inside the prison, which has seen more suicides than any other prison in the state. That does not happen often. Lori Utesch, a former clinical mental health specialist at the Indiana State Prison, speaks with IndyStar on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, at her home in northwest Indiana. Utesch described failings on the part of the prison and Centurion Health to address the mental health needs of a volatile inmate population. This is what usually happens: I make dozens of calls that are never returned, send emails, LinkedIn and Facebook messages into the ether, or have doors slammed in my face. Once, I knocked on the door of a former police chief who promptly accused me of harassment. More than once, my intentions for reporting on certain stories are questioned, sometimes understandably and other times less so. Advertisement 'Fall in line or resign': This prison had a suicide crisis. Then its mental health staff left. When your job is finding and writing stories that expose failures or wrongdoing, convincing people to talk to you can be nearly impossible. Many people have never dealt with the media before or have much to lose by talking. But often, they're the ones who possess critical, insider information and specific expertise no one else has. In my line of work, they're the gold standard for sources and are often the hardest to find and reach. Whistleblowers employees who choose to expose abuses, unethical practices and other types of wrongdoing within private and public organizations do so at great professional and even personal risk. They do so because they're troubled by what they've seen and hope that coming forward will bring about change. When they choose to reach out to a reporter, that usually means they've exhausted other options. They've sounded the alarm, but no one listened. Revelatory reporting that holds to account agencies that wield significant control and power over people's lives is so often not possible without their courage. Our investigation into suicides at Indiana State Prison is one such example. Contact IndyStar reporter Kristine Phillips at (317) 444-3026 or at kphillips@indystar.com. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: When insiders sound the alarm The Iran-backed Houthi terrorist movement has yet to enter the conflict on Iran's side but in recent days has been ratcheting up its rhetoric in support of Tehran, with its leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, declaring that it was prepared to enter the war against the U.S. and Israel if necessary. "Regarding military escalation and action, our fingers are on the trigger, ready to respond at any moment should developments warrant it," al-Houthi said on Thursday. "The reason why the Houthis have not intervened is they are last line of resistance for the axis. Especially after other axis members were degraded," Nadwa Al-Dawsari, an expert on Yemen and an associate fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital. Iran Proxies Wage War On Israel, Threaten Us Interests As Iraq Slammed For Not Disarming Them Thousands of people gather at Sabeen Square, under the control of the Tehran-backed Houthis in Yemen, to protest the killing of Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Sanaa, Yemen on March 06, 2026. (Getty Images) The official slogan of the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) reads, "Allah is Greater. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam." Al-Dawsari, who has written extensively about Yemen and the Houthis, said: "I think the Houthis will intervene at some point. The longer the war continues, the more likely the Houthis will intervene. I think what the Houthis want to do and they have been itching for a while to do is to attack the Saudis. If the Saudis intervene, the Houthis will find a reason to attack the Saudis." Read On The Fox News App Hegseth Blasts Brits, Says Iran's Chaotic Retaliation Has Driven Its Own Allies 'Into The American Orbit' Houthi terrorists walk over British and U.S. flags at a rally in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, on Feb. 4, 2024, near Sana'a, Yemen. The Islamic Republic of Iran formed an "Axis of Resistance" prior to Hamas invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Irans axis coalition of Shiite and Sunni terrorist proxies, includes the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis, Shiite militias in Iraq, and the now-defunct Baathist regime in Syria. Within the first few weeks of his administration, President Joe Biden launched a reset with the Houthis and pressured the Saudis to end the war against the bellicose Houthi movement. "The war in Yemen must end," Biden declared in his first major foreign policy speech about the Mideast in February 2021. Advertisement Trump Urged To Aid Yemens Anti-houthi Forces As Terror Group Escalates Attacks On Shipping Smoke over Tehran, Iran, after explosions were reported on March 2, 2026. Bidens reversal of American support for the Saudi-led allies in their war against the Houthis was also coupled with his administration de-listing the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization. President Donald Trump swiftly reimposed the terrorist designation for the Houthis at the start of his second term and launched military strikes against the terrorists in Yemen. Al-Dawsari said another reason why the Houthis have yet to join the conflict is that it's not in the interests of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) "to drag the Houthis into a suicidal war." She argues "If the Iranian regime collapses, and if a new regime emerges, I think the IRGC will regroup in Yemen or Somalia. Yemen is the key ally." Israel Pounds Hezbollah Targets, Daring Lebanon To Reclaim Sovereignty From Iran-backed Terror Proxy There has been discussion between the IRGC and Houthis about why the "Houthis' continued existence is of strategic importance to the IRGC," she said. "The IRGC cant afford to lose the Houthis. Yemen is so important to them. They need to preserve the Houthis for tomorrow for the IRGC to continue even after the regime," Al-Dawsari continued. She noted that "Houthis have established themselves in the Horn of Africa. The IRGC is behind the Houthis. Intervention might be symbolic by the Houthis." She continued that Iran's "tactic now is to prolong the war and widen it across the region and to put more pressure on the U.S." In May 2025, Trump announced that the U.S. would stop its air bombing campaign against the Houthis because, he said, the Houthis "don't want to fight." "They just don't want to, and we will honor that. We will stop the bombings," Trump said. The Houthis had launched attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea, as well as the Jewish state, to support their ally Hamas in Gaza. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Al-Dawsari said after the Trump announcement the Houthis did not attack American ships. "They know Trump does not joke. They know they will suffer consequences." Original article source: Irans last line of resistance holds back but Houthi terror group warns its ready to act Debris at the site of overnight Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut (-) (-/AFP/AFP) 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. 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. "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. 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." 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. Advertisement 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. "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. 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. 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. "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 A demonstrator holds an image of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after he was killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes on Saturday, during an anti-Israeli and U.S. rally after Friday prayer, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 6, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS 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. 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. Advertisement 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. 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) As the Iranians get closer to naming their next supreme leader, President Donald Trump said Sunday the new leader "is not going to last long" if the Iranians don't get his approval first. "Hes going to have to get approval from us," the president told ABC News. "If he doesnt get approval from us hes not going to last long. We want to make sure that we dont have to go back every 10 years, when you dont have a president like me thats not going to do it." He added, "I dont want people to have to go back in five years and have to do the same thing again or worse let them have a nuclear weapon." When asked if he would be willing to approve someone with ties to the old regime, Trump replied, "I would, in order to choose a good leader I would, yeah, I would. There are numerous people that could qualify." Seeming to offer yet another justification for this war, Trump said Iran was planning to take over the entire Middle East, and suggested he stopped them from doing so. "They are a paper tiger. They werent a paper tiger a week ago, Ill tell you. And they were going to attack," he said. "Their plan was to attack the entire Middle East, to take over the entire Middle East." MORE: Trump wants Iranian leadership that will not 'threaten Americans': Waltz He also hasn't ruled out sending in special forces to seize Iran's enriched uranium: "Everything is on the table. Everything." Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to reporters while traveling aboard Air Force One en route from Dover Air Force Base, Del., to Miami, March 7, 2026. A senior administration official told reporters last week that Iran has enriched enough uranium to get to weapons grade material in 10 days or less. Much of the uranium is believed to be held at the sites bombed during Operation Midnight Hammer -- Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow -- according to the official. "In theory, if we had physical control of that territory, if we had physical control of those places where it's located, we could send our people in and dilute it on premise," the official said. Advertisement Vahid Salemi/AP - PHOTO: Plumes of smoke from a U.S.-Israeli strike on an oil facility late Saturday linger and merge with the cloudy sky over Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2026. Over the weekend, Trump met with the families of the six U.S. fallen soldiers. Did witnessing the dignified transfers give him pause? "No, not at all," he said. "The parents would be upset if I did that. The parents said to me, every one of them, please sir, win this for my boy, and in one case a young woman, as you know. Please, win this for my child." He added, "It was a beautiful event. It was a beautiful, beautiful event, where I met the parents. They were devastated but proud." MORE: Trump attends dignified transfer of 6 fallen service members killed in Kuwait amid Iran war Trump said he wouldnt predict how long the war would last when pressed on a timeline. "I dont know. I never predict. All I can say is we are ahead of schedule both in terms of lethality and in terms of time," he said. Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, March 7, 2026. Last week, the president told reporters this war would last just four to five weeks. In the interview, the president also dismissed rising gasoline prices as a "little glitch." "I think its fine. Its a little glitch. We had to take this detour," he said. "I knew exactly what was going to happen with the detour. But the nice part is we sank 44 of their ships which is their entire navy. Weve knocked out their entire AirForce. Weve knocked out all of their communications, telecommunications. Their anti-aircraft systems are gone. They have absolutely no defense. All they have is talk." Some of the president's longtime supporters have raised questions about this operation, but Trump denied there's been any pushback from his base. "Its more popular than ever. Its a very MAGA thing what were doing. A very very MAGA thing," he said. "Because otherwise we wont have a country either, well be hit. And MAGA is all about saving America Im at the highest point Ive ever been with MAGA." FILE PHOTO: Protesters supporting Iraqi Shi'ite armed groups stand amid tear gas as they attempt to move toward the U.S. embassy located in Baghdad's Green Zone, as riot police deploy to block their advance, following the Israel and U.S. strikes on Iran and the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad/File Photo 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. 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. 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. "No directive came from anywhere," one of the people said. Advertisement 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. 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. "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) I visited Lucca, a city in Italy's Tuscany region. Kayla Brock I'm an American who's traveled to 18 European countries throughout my life. Although I love exploring capitals, some of my favorite trips have been to smaller European cities. Two of my favorites are Cassis, France, and Tarragona, Spain. Throughout my life, I've visited a total of 18 European countries. That number climbed quickly when I moved from Chicago to London for college and spent four years living in my favorite city, thrilled by my newfound proximity to so many bucket-list destinations. Jumping on a two-and-a-half-hour train ride to Paris or a 45-minute flight to Amsterdam never got old. As I've explored big and small cities, I've been increasingly drawn to destinations beyond the major capitals that feel intimate and uncrowded. The more I've traveled, the more I've wanted to slow down. Here are five underrated destinations in Europe I'd return to in a heartbeat. Cassis, France, is a postcard seaside town with access to a national park. Cassis, France. xbrchx/Getty Images When I stopped in Cassis during a December 2025 Mediterranean cruise, I was immediately charmed by the fishing port's cafes, bakeries, and wine bars. The natural beauty alone is a draw. Part of Calanques National Park, which stretches between Marseille and La Ciotat, falls in Cassis. Approaching the towering limestone inlets feels like being in the middle of a canyon, and I desperately wanted to plunge into the impossibly blue seawater. Plage de la Grande Mer, a family-friendly public beach, is in the center of Cassis, and it was brimming with locals during my excursion. Although I didn't get a chance to summit Cap Canaille, one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe at over 1,300 feet, visitors can climb it for panoramic views over the Mediterranean. Whether you decide to embrace the town's nature-based activities or bask on its restorative beaches, it's an unassuming, slow-paced spot to immerse yourself in the South of France's magic. Tarragona, Spain, is perfect for a relaxed beach day away from Barcelona's hustle and bustle. Tarragona, Spain Antonio Lopez Velasco/Getty Images A little more than an hour's drive or train ride south of the Catalan capital along Spain's Golden Coast, Tarragona is a fascinating mix of historic Roman ruins, stunning beaches, and vibrant culture. During one visit, a friend and I stopped in Tarragona for lunch at Osteria del Lab, where we indulged in the five-course tasting menu. Every dish was excellent, but the standout was a fresh shrimp-and-octopus salad drizzled with balsamic vinegar. We walked around and stopped at the Catedral de Tarragona, a Romanesque and Gothic church built between the 12th and 14th centuries located in the center of the historic city. Of course, we couldn't skip the beach. I visited Playa el Miracle, which is within walking distance of the train station. Even when I was there in July, the middle of summer, I didn't see many people. If you're in search of a peaceful day by the water, Tarragona is worth a trip. I skipped the summertime crowds in Skiathos, Greece. Advertisement Skiathos, Greece SHansche/Getty Images I've been to several Greek islands including Rhodes, Crete, and Naxos, so I decided to check out Skiathos, which is tucked away in the Sporades island chain. I went in the fall, hoping that the summer crowds would have dispersed by then. Luckily, they had. The island was an easy 40-minute flight from Athens, and once I arrived, public buses made it easy to hop between beaches Skiathos has 60! I recommend Achladies Beach, a laid-back beach just a 10-minute drive from the main town, or Koukounaries Beach, a 22-minute drive south, for its natural beauty. Wine lovers should stop by Phaos World to try natural wines. When I was there, I sampled a curated selection based on my palate and received a detailed tasting sheet with notes about each wine. Lucca, Italy, is a picturesque city in the Tuscany region, known for its fresh pasta and scenic views. Lucca, Italy. English: Hours, Tower After a 30-minute bus ride from Pisa, I arrived in Lucca and walked through the city's Renaissance-era walls into the historic center. I found it to be the perfect place to wander in December, and because many roads were blocked off to cars, it felt very peaceful. Within the walls, there are Romanesque churches and striking medieval towers. I started at Guinigi Tower, where visitors can climb to the top for panoramic views of terracotta rooftops and rolling Tuscan hills. Afterward, I wandered along the city walls, where I admired colorful murals, and dined at Osteria da Pasqualino, where I enjoyed fettuccine with cream of zucchini and prawns with lemon, along with an afternoon glass of wine in a beautiful courtyard. Clothing shops and gelaterias surround Lucca's charming squares. When I was there, there were hardly any crowds, and the city felt cinematic. Innsbruck, Austria, is a dreamy mountain town brimming with history. Innsbruck, Austria Sasithorn Phuapankasemsuk/Getty Images Innsbruck is situated in the heart of the Austrian Alps, about two hours from Munich, Germany, by train or car. When I arrived during a December road trip with my aunt, I felt like I was stepping into an enchanted snow globe. We wandered the many cobblestone, shop-lined alleyways, embracing the slow magic of winter in the Alps. During our visit, we rode the Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen cable cars to ascend Hafelekar, a mountain peak known as the "Top of Innsbruck." In less than 30 minutes, we were looking out at panoramic views of snowcapped peaks. For a bit of culture and history, we toured Schloss Ambras, a Renaissance castle that houses an impressive armory and glass collection. It was the perfect way to end our day surrounded by centuries of art, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps. Read the original article on Business Insider JOPLIN, Mo. Four years ago today, Joplin faced a heartbreaking tragedy that claimed the lives of two police officers and left an indelible impact on their families, colleagues, and the entire community. SEE ALSO: https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/news/local/joplin/shooting-near-geneva-ave-e-9th-st-officers-on-scene/ March 8, 2022, two JPD officers, Jake Reed and Ben Cooper, responded to a shoplifter at The Buckle, a clothing store on Geneva Avenue, near Target. After the officers confronted the suspect, he struggled when they attempted to take him into custody. That suspect, Anthony Felix, 40, had a small handgun in his waistband and he pulled it out and shot Officer Reed and Corporal Cooper. They were left critically wounded. Felix then grabbed Reeds gun and drove off in his patrol car. He led officers on a chase through the streets of Joplin, still firing shots at officers. Felix crashed near East 9th Street and Connecticut Ave and when he tried to steal a van, Officer Rick Hirshey blocked him in. Felix continued firing at officers and thats when Officer Hirshey was shot in the face. Other officers who responded to the call, returned fire, eventually killing Felix. SEE ALSO: https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/news/local/joplin/live-jpd-shows-video-from-march-8th-joplin-shooting-answers-questions-and-more-in-press-conference/amp/ Corporal Cooper, 46, died from his injuries later that day. Corporal Benjamin Cooper Officer Reed, 27, remained in critical condition for 3 days before he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on March 11, 2022. Officer Jake Reed Officer Hirshey, who was shot in the face, recovered from his injuries after extensive medical care. The loss of Reed and Cooper was immediately followed by an outpouring of love and support from the entire City of Joplin and surrounding communities. Citizens began leaving flowers and memorials to the fallen officers at the police station and the area where they were wounded. Advertisement Funeral services were held on the campus of Missouri Southern State university due to the number of officers, first responders, and community members expected to attend. Corporal Cooper was in his 19th year of service as a police officer at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Officer Reed was in his 5th year with JPD. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife, parents, and brother. Following Officer Reeds death, his wife Bayley Reed announced she was pregnant with the couples child. In December 2023, Bayley gave birth to their son, Charlie. Charlie Reed, son of Officer Jake Reed. In October 2023, the bridge at 29th & Range Line in Joplin was named the Corporal Ben Cooper Memorial Bridge, and Coopers widow, Roxy, was presented with a replica of the bridges sign. He wouldnt have wanted any of this. Yeah, he would have been saying, I dont show pony. But I needed it. So, and he deserved it. So, its a great honor, said Roxy. The bridge on 20th Street near Joplin High School, was named the Officer Jake Reed Memorial Bridge in his honor. SEE ALSO: https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/news/local/joplin/watch-officer-jake-reed-funeral-services/amp/ Now, four years after the tragic event, March 8 remains a solemn day in Joplins history and serves as a reminder of the officers who gave their lives for their community. This is a list of other police officers killed in the line of duty in Joplin. Those Who Gave the Ultimate Sacrifice Officer Daniel Sheehan July 19, 1885 Officer Bert Brannon April 23, 1901 Officer James Sweeney April 23, 1901 Officer Theodore Leslie April 14, 1903 Officer John Ledbetter June 7, 1903 Officer Claude Brice December 31, 1904 Officer William Smith November 15, 1909 Reserve Officer Louis S. Wells June 3, 1916 Detective William Wolsey December 8, 1917 Chief of Detectives Jessie Laster August 23, 1926 Detective Alex Brown December 18, 1928 Captain Alex Lachman June 26, 1931 Detective Harry McGinnis April 23, 1933 Chief of Police Kendrick Lloyd April 17, 1948 Officer Raymond Endicott October 7, 1949 Officer Robert Clifton December 5, 1967 Officer Paul Harlan November 22, 1979 Lieutenant Richard Gammill September 7, 1989 Officer Timothy Nielson September 13, 2004 K-9 Cezar September 11, 2007 Officer Jefferson Jeff Taylor of Riverside, Missouri Police Division June 3, 2011 Corporal Benjamin Cooper March 8, 2022 Officer Jake Reed March 11, 2022 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Footage authenticated by AFP recorded the sound of a drone then a loud explosion and plumes of smoke (-) (-/UGC/AFP) Iran struck Gulf infrastructure Sunday, hitting fuel tanks at Kuwait's airport and a desalination plant in Bahrain, with at least four reported dead in the region as Tehran pressed its campaign there into a second week. In Saudi Arabia, the civil defence said a "military projectile" killed two people -- an Indian and a Bangladeshi -- and injured 12 others after it fell in a residential area in Al-Kharj governorate south of Riyadh. In Kuwait, two border guards were killed "while performing their national duty", the interior ministry said, without elaborating on the circumstances. Gulf countries have borne much of Tehran's response after the US and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran, with 18 people, 10 of them civilians, killed in the Gulf states since the war began, according to an AFP tally. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned Sunday that the Islamic republic "will be forced to respond" against its neighbours if their territory was used to attack it. On Saturday, the president had apologised to neighbouring countries hosting US military bases for attacks on their land. Gulf countries have said their territory has not been used in attacks against Iran, and before the war began they repeatedly said they would not allow such a move. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait all reported new attacks on Sunday. Fuel tanks at Kuwait's international airport were targeted in a drone attack, the military said. The official Kuwait News Agency said a fire at the airport was brought under control, reporting no "significant injuries". The military 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". - 'Drone threats' - Kuwait's national oil company announced a "precautionary" cut to its crude production, as the country's military said Sunday that it had responded to several drone and missile attacks. Authorities said Kuwait's main building for social security was targeted, causing material damage, and that it would not receive visitors there on Sunday. Advertisement Bahrain's interior ministry said Sunday that an Iranian drone attack damaged a water desalination plant, accusing Tehran of "randomly" targeting civilian infrastructure. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Saturday that it had struck the United States' Juffair base in Bahrain, adding it had been used to attack an Iranian desalination plant earlier in the day. Bahrain's national communication office later said the Iranian attack on the desalination facility had no impact on water supplies or network capacity. Falling missile debris also injured three people and damaged a university building in the Muharraq area, the interior ministry said in a separate statement. Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said on Sunday that it intercepted 33 drones, adding there were no reports of damage or casualties from the attacks. Among them was a drone aimed at Riyadh's diplomatic quarter, also thwarted with no material damage or civilian injuries, the ministry's spokesman said, adding the capital and surrounding areas were targeted by 26 drones. One drone targeted the Shaybah oil field in the southeast of the country, according to the Saudi defence ministry. - 'At the disposal of the enemy' - The UAE said its air defences detected 17 ballistic missiles on Sunday -- destroying 16, while one fell into the sea -- and intercepted 113 of 117 drones detected, with four falling inside the country. Despite the Iranian president's apology to the Gulf countries for earlier strikes, hours later its judiciary chief said strikes would continue on sites in Gulf countries that 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 briefly closed its main airport -- the world's busiest for international traffic -- on Saturday after authorities said an unidentified object was intercepted nearby. A witness told AFP of a loud explosion in the area followed by a cloud of smoke. 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. bur-csp/bou/ds/jsa Tesla's electric vehicles don't appeal to everyone, but they have undoubtedly made their mark. However, China intends to outlaw another EV feature popularized by the brand. Late last year, China moved to ban retractable door handles because of safety concerns, as first responders were having difficulty opening doors during emergencies. Now, it has added yoke-style steering wheels to the list of restrictions that will take effect Jan. 1, 2027, according to Autoblog, which cited a report from Chinese outlet Autohome. Advertisement China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a draft proposal on the new standards. In the document, it noted that 46% of driver injuries are associated with steering mechanisms and said airbags in yoke-style steering wheels may deploy unpredictably. Furthermore, it stated drivers may be at risk of flying over yoke-style steering wheels. "Regulators are essentially telling automakers, 'Don't reinvent the wheel,'" Autoblog wrote. Given that China is the world's largest car market, its ban on yoke-style steering wheels will likely influence the design decisions of manufacturers well into the future. As for Tesla, backlash over CEO Elon Musk's politics has previously hurt revenue, but its sales woes have also persisted as it reinvents itself as an artificial intelligence and robotics brand. In the meantime, Chinese automaker BYD has overtaken Tesla as the darling of the EV realm. Advertisement Advertisement At first glance, China's ban on yet another iconic Tesla feature may seem like a major blow to the American brand. However, a yoke-style steering wheel is no longer standard in Teslas. (It is available for an additional fee in the soon-to-be-discontinued Model X and Model S). What's more, the company surely anticipated some sort of regulatory crackdown on its controversial features. Electric vehicles regularly earn top safety marks, and Tesla's are no exception. Last year, though, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into Tesla's door handles after reports emerged of children becoming trapped after power failures. At the time, chief designer Franz von Holzhausen said Tesla would redesign its handles. Advertisement Advertisement "Definitely get rid of flush door handles. The yoke? Looks like it has benefits. I have long legs and always have to squeeze under steering wheels," an Autoblog commenter suggested. "Good for [China]. The U.S. needs to follow," another wrote. 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. FILE - Lindsey Halligan speaks as President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) The Florida Bar backtracked Friday on what it said was an erroneous earlier statement its representatives had made indicating that it had an open investigation into Lindsey Halligan, a former top federal prosecutor in Virginia who was named to the job by President Donald Trump but was later found to have been unlawfully appointed. A letter last month from a bar association representative to a nonpartisan watchdog group that had requested an ethics inquiry into Halligan over her conduct at the Justice Department said there was an investigation pending. Jennifer Krell Davis, a spokesperson for the Florida Bar, also said in an email to The Associated Press on Thursday that there was an open file on Halligan but declined to comment further, as active Florida discipline cases are confidential. On Friday, however, Davis issued a new statement saying, The Florida Bar wrote a letter to the complainant erroneously stating that there is a pending Bar investigation of Halligan. There is no such pending Bar investigation of Halligan. She said the Florida Bar had received a complaint and was monitoring the ongoing legal proceedings underlying the complaint, but did not explain the conflicting statements on the existence of an investigation. Halligan responded Friday evening to emails about the investigation with the message, Where's my apology? 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. Advertisement 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, 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. ___ Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press writer David Fischer contributed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. FILE PHOTO: A woman gestures while holding an image of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the day of an anti-Israeli and U.S. rally, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 6, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo DUBAI, March 8 (Reuters) - The clerical body that will choose Iran's 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. On Saturday, a senior cleric in the Assembly of Experts said its members would meet "within one day" to choose the leader. NEXT SUPREME LEADER MUST 'BE HATED BY THE ENEMY' Two members of the panel, Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir and Ahmad Alamolhoda, said the assembly had chosen a successor, according to Iranian media. Alamolhoda said the head of the assembly's secretariat, Ayatollah Hashem Hosseini Bushehri, is responsible for announcing the assemblys decision. Iranian media said the group had a minor disagreement over whether they would need to meet in person to issue their final decision, or bypass this formality. Heidari Alekasir said in a video released by Nournews on Sunday that an in-person meeting was not possible under current conditions, suggesting at remote and written alternatives. "This is an extraordinary situation, the assembly cannot meet in a plenary," he said, adding that targeting the assembly would only benefit Iran's enemies and "harm the revolution". Since the war began on February 28, Israeli and U.S. strikes have killed dozens of officials and commanders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Iranian media reporting on Tuesday that strikes flattened an auxiliary building of the Assembly of Experts in the city of Qom. Advertisement Heidari Alekasir said the candidate had been picked based on the late supreme leader's advice that Iran's top leader should "be hated by the enemy" instead of praised by it. "Even the Great Satan (U.S.) has mentioned his name," the senior cleric said of the chosen successor, days after U.S. President Donald Trump said Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was an "unacceptable" choice for him. Trump said on Thursday that the younger Khamenei, a mid-ranking hard-line cleric, was the most likely successor, according to Axios, but warned he would reject such an option and that he should be personally involved in selecting Iran's next leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was not in Tehran when his father was killed by air strikes early in the war, an Iranian source told Reuters on Wednesday. He has close ties to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and is one of the most influential figures in the Iranian clerical establishment, thanks to the influence he built behind the scenes and his role as his father's gatekeeper, according to people familiar with the matter. He has for years been seen as one of the top candidates to succeed the elder Khamenei, despite never holding a government position, aside from working in his father's office. Ali Khamenei ruled Iran from 1989 as supreme leader after serving as president for nearly eight years. Mojtaba Khamenei was a particular target for criticism by protesters during unrest over the death of a young woman in police custody in 2022, after she was arrested for allegedly breaching the Islamic Republic's strict dress codes. He is seen as having leverage over Iran's security apparatus, which has repressed several waves of protests in recent years. (Reporting by Parisa Hafezi, Writing by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by William Mallard) A photo of Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul Credit: DOJ 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. 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. 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. Advertisement 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. 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. 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 Roderic A. Covey serves as executive vice president of Crowl Marketing | Creative in North Canton. Roderic A. Covey serves as executive vice president of Crowl Marketing | Creative in North Canton. Covey, who grew up in Stark County and graduated from Glenwood High School and The Ohio State University, began his career as a journalist, working as a staff writer for The Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. That early experience shaped his belief in the power of clear storytelling a skill that would guide the rest of his career. After I returned to Canton and joined Covey & Koons Inc. as a copywriter, I brought a reporters mindset to advertising and client work," he said. "Over time, I had greater leadership roles, becoming an account executive in 1979, vice president in 1994, and president in 1999. In 2004, my wife Kathie and I purchased the agency from my father, continuing a family business while positioning it for the future. We relocated the firm to North Canton in 2005 and, three years later, acquired Odell Advertising/Marketing, forming Covey-Odell Advertising. In 2009, the agency was named Business of the Year by the North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce. That journey from journalism to advertising, and from family enterprise to regional agency came full circle in 2017, when Covey-Odell was acquired by Crowl Marketing | Creative, one of the Midwests premier marketing and design firms. He feels privileged to live and work in an area where people have deep roots, a strong work ethic, and a sincere concern for their fellow citizens. Volunteering in the community and serving on the publicity/fundraising committees of various nonprofit organizations has allowed me to develop business contacts and form friendships with people who share similar values and interests," Covey said. "I encourage young people to get involved in the community its good for the receiver as well as the giver, which is something I learned from my father. Roderic A. Covey serves as executive vice president of Crowl Marketing | Creative in North Canton. How did the job writing for a suburban Chicago daily newspaper come about? I got the job shortly after graduating from The Ohio State University. The Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Illinois, needed a reporter and contacted one of my Ohio State journalism professors, who told me about the job and encouraged me to apply. I mailed the newspaper a cover letter and resume. The newspaper flew me to Chicago to meet with the editors, and I was offered the job a few weeks later. What drew you to writing for marketing, advertising and public relations? After working at the newspaper for two years, I had the opportunity to return to Canton to join my father at Covey & Koons Inc. as a copywriter. Advertisement The transition from journalism to public relations was easy for me. I missed the excitement of the newsroom, but found writing for marketing, advertising and public relations to be more fun and rewarding. You were named Ad Person of the Year in 1997, and your company was named Business of the Year in 2009 by the North Canton Chamber. What do such accolades mean to you? Being named Ad Person of the Year meant a lot to me, because I was selected by my peers, people whom I looked up to and considered my mentors. Being named Business of the Year meant a lot because we had just acquired another agency, added three employees, and doubled our billings. The agency also won some new business that year, even though 2008 was the peak of the Great Recession. What do you feel is your proudest accomplishment in life? I am most proud of my family. My wife Kathie and I have been married for 23 years and have a blended family of five grown children; I am proud of each of them and their accomplishments. Kathie and I wondered if we would ever have grandchildren, but we now have six four boys and two girls. One for fun: If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? If I could travel back in time, it would be 1970 when I joined my high school buddies in a rock band named Cottonmouth and began gigging for audiences in and around Stark County. After the band broke up and I went away to college, I never thought I would get a chance to play in a band again. But about five years ago, my friend Tom Jepson invited me to join his acoustic duo, CrossRoads Band. We are now a quartet covering classic rock, pop and country songs at local wineries and breweries. It works well with my part-time schedule at Crowl Marketing | Creative. We already have 15 gigs lined up for 2026. Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Meet Roderic Covey, executive VP at Crowl Marketing | Creative Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Credit: Craig Barritt/Getty NEED TO KNOW Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to visit Australia in mid-April, a spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE The couple last visited the continent in 2018 and announced on the trip that Meghan was pregnant with their son, Prince Archie The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hinted at returning to Australia in a letter written to a celebrity astrologer in November Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are returning to Australia for the first time since they stepped down as working royals. On Sunday, March 8, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they will be visiting Australia in mid-April, marking their first visit to the continent in over seven years. A spokesperson for the couple said in a statement to PEOPLE, "Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will visit Australia in mid-April to take part in a number of private, business, and philanthropic engagements. Further details will be shared in due course." While the official engagements Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, will attend have not been shared publicly at this time, it is believed that they will visit Sydney and Melbourne during their trip, News.com.au reported. The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, will not be joining them in Australia. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, in October 2018 Credit: Paul Edwards - Pool/Getty Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Prince Harry and Meghan last visited the country in October 2018 as the Invictus Games were held in Sydney. During the trip, which came five months after their wedding, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child. They stepped down as working members of the royal family 18 months later and moved from the U.K. to California. Advertisement In November 2025, Prince Harry and Meghan hinted that they would be returning to Australia soon in a letter written to Australian celebrity astrologer Angela Pearl, whom they visited while in New York City. In the partially redacted letter, shared by Pearl on Instagram, the couple wrote, Dear Angela. We wanted to thank you for joining us(redacted). Your energy and insight were such a welcome addition ... we hope your family in Ukraine remain safe, and we look forward to staying in touch especially as we look to visit Australia again." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit Amman, Jordan, on Feb. 26 Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Prince Harry and Meghans upcoming trip to Australia comes after they went to Jordan in February. The two-day humanitarian visit was made in partnership with the World Health Organization, not on behalf of the U.K. government. During their trip, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex met with medical evacuees from Gaza and visited a refugee camp. They also visited the King Hussein Cancer Centre, which focuses on comprehensive cancer care, research, early detection and prevention. The couple's Jordan visit came nearly one week after the arrest of Harrys uncle, ex-Prince Andrew. Prince Harry and Meghan previously visited Nigeria and Colombia for philanthropic causes in 2024. The couple was invited to Nigeria by Nigeria's Chief of Defense Staff, where they met with service members and participated in a variety of cultural activities, which were poignant for Meghan, who has 43% Nigerian heritage. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Colombia at the invitation of Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez, where they met with activists and community members, along with Colombia's Invictus Games competitors. Read the original article on People MEMPHIS, Tenn. Spring Break season is here, and the Memphis International Airport is expecting thousands to fly in and out of Memphis over the next two weeks. WREGS Quametra Wilborn has the latest on what you need to know before hitting the road. Excited teens who spoke to WREG about going to Portugal for spring break, arent the only ones traveling this week. The Memphis International Airport expects 90,000 people to pass through its checkpoints during spring break. Birthday celebration ends in shooting outside Memphis restaurant Airport officials say the travel period typically runs from March 5 to March 16 with the busiest days being March 8 and March 15. While many Mid-South school districts start spring break on March 16, students at universities such as the University of Mississippi and the University of Memphis have already packed their bags and hit the road. Travelers prepare for spring break at Memphis International Airport. (WREGs Kenneth Hatch) How exciting is it to spend your Spring Break in Portugal?, asked WREGs Quametra Wilborn. Its better than being at school, said student Virginia. So, whatever is good with me. Spring break everywhere. You could tell, said Alina Gilmore, who is visiting Memphis. Advertisement However, not everyone is leaving the city. Gilmore and Daniel Turnage are flying into Memphis with their kids. We live in Hawaii. So, we came here to visit family, said Gilmore. We have family here for spring break. Airport officials say they anticipate more than 10,000 people will pass through its checkpoints on the peak travel days during the Spring Break travel period. AR cat lost during winter storm found year later miles away Memphis International isnt the only airport seeing an increase in travelers this upcoming week. Those WREG spoke to say theyve already noticed crowds at various airports across the country. Theyre filling up pretty good, explained Daniel Turnage. We came into L.A., and there was no seating. We came into Houston, and there was no seating. For those traveling out of the Memphis International Airport, you are encouraged to arrive at the airport at least two hours before your scheduled departure time. This is especially important for those who have early morning flights between the hours of 4 a.m. and 7 a.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 WREG.com. Julianna Fallon takes the stage as she is crowned the new Miss Teen Volunteer America during the crowning night of the 2027 Miss Teen Volunteer America Pageant in Jackson, Tenn., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect new information. Miss Missouri Teen Volunteer Julianna Fallon took home the crown as the newest titleholder of Miss Teen Volunteer America 2027. The 18-year-old high school senior from Kansas City began her pageant journey less than a year ago, with her win on March 7 commemorating her fourth pageant. Fallon's predecessor, Miss Teen Volunteer America 2026, Izzy Karns, was present to pass over the crown. Her performance of John Lennon's "Imagine" earned Fallon the recognition of being the talent winner for preliminary night two. "I love that song so much, but when you look into the deeper meaning, and then what is going on in the world right now, we need somebody to speak up about unity and being closer together and just loving one another," she said. "I knew that that was what I needed to sing on that stage because if I can get people to hear me and really understand my message, I'm going to do it anyway I can." Since the pageant began on March 5, 51 state titleholders aged 13 to 18 have competed for a chance at the crown on the Carl Perkins Civic Center stage. Fallon will receive a $10,000 scholarship for her education and continue the Miss Volunteer America organization's partnerships with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and The Salvation Army. The youngest of three, Fallon has played tennis the majority of her life and regularly volunteers at House of Hope Kansas City, a residential therapy home for teen girls. She reports that after graduating from high school, she plans to take a gap year to "truly embody" all that is Miss Teen Volunteer America. "I want to travel, I want to really bring girls in and just be a great representative for this organization, and I'm really excited for it," Fallon said. Miss Missouri Teen Volunteer Julianna Fallon has the tiara placed on her as she becomes the newest Miss Teen Volunteer America during the crowning night of the 2027 Miss Teen Volunteer America Pageant in Jackson, Tenn., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. On the final night of competition on March 7, 16 contestants were chosen to advance. Advertisement Those 16 competed in the fitness and health portion before 12 were selected to advance to the talent phase. Ten semifinalists advanced to the evening gown event before a final five were chosen to participate in an on-stage interview with Miss Volunteer America 2025 Berkley Bryant. During Fallon's on-stage interview, she was asked what she believes is a misconception people have about teenagers that she personally fights to challenge. "I think people think that just because we're young, we cannot make change in this world, and I hate that," she said. Miss Missouri Teen Volunteer Julianna Fallon answers her on-stage interview during the crowning night of the 2027 Miss Teen Volunteer America Pageant in Jackson, Tenn., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. "People who say that, they're wrong, and I personally challenge this misconception through my kindness workshops that I do through my S.E.R.V.E. initiative, 'Hope for Every Heart.' I strive to spread kindness and love throughout the world, and I want to enable others to also go out and be that change in their communities because I know it can start with me, but it can end with all of us. We can be united, we can all love each other, and I strive to share that." Julianna Fallon hugs Izzy Karns as she becomes the newest Miss Teen Volunteer America during the crowning night of the 2027 Miss Teen Volunteer America Pageant in Jackson, Tenn., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Fallon says her S.E.R.V.E (Scholarship, Education, Responsibility, Volunteerism, and Empowerment) initiative was prompted after her aunt passed away from pancreatic cancer. She recounted observing how the grief impacted her and her family and ultimately served as a catalyst for her to do something meaningful. "I thought to myself that I don't ever want to see anybody that I love go through that alone, so I started 'Hope for Every Heart,'" she said. "I want to spread hope. I want to tell people that there's always light at the end of the tunnel and just that I love them." The final five were Miss Maryland Teen Volunteer Tess Bond, Miss Rhode Island Teen Volunteer Lola Paolissi, Miss Missouri Teen Volunteer Juliana Fallon, Miss Wisconsin Teen Volunteer Ella Bey, and Miss Texas Teen Volunteer Lilly Roberts. Paolissi was the fourth runner-up, Bey was third, Roberts was second, and Bond was first runner-up. "I go to an all-girls private high school, like we're very women supporting women, so when I stepped into the world of pageantry, I have just been so blessed to be surrounded by such strong women, especially in the Volunteer America system," Fallon said. "You will never meet more strong-minded women, more empowering women, and people that will just hype you up no matter what, and they're truly kind." Sarah Best is a reporter for the Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing at jacksonsun.com. This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Miss Missouri is crowned Miss Teen Volunteer America 2027 A roll of I Voted stickers sits on a table at a polling place on Nov. 8, 2022. Photo: Phil Roeder / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 (The Center Square) Mississippi will hold its state primary elections on Tuesday, making it the fourth state in the nation to elect party representatives in preparation for the 2026 midterm elections. One Democratic primary in the state has been labeled a battleground race by election watchers. Several key primary elections will take place to determine the competitiveness Mississippi can expect going into the general election. Here are some of those races and the candidates who are running. U.S. Senate Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., is running for reelection on Tuesday. She was first appointed to the Senate in 2018. She won her first election in 2020. Hyde-Smith has made illegal immigration, gun rights and anti-abortion issues primary fixtures of her reelection campaign. President Donald Trump has endorsed Hyde-Smith in several elections, including for the upcoming primary. Trump wrote in a social media post, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith is 100% MAGA, and doing a fantastic job representing the Incredible People of Mississippi! Hyde-Smith faces a challenger in the Republican primary from Sarah Adlakha, a Mississippi physician. Adlakha completed BallotPedias candidate connection survey, a questionnaire where candidates can answer several questions about their policy goals, background and stances. Her campaign focused on increased access to healthcare and greater economic flexibility. Adlakha called for reducing taxes, increased workforce education, and greater defense spending. By focusing on pro-business policies, reducing taxes, and eliminating unnecessary regulations, Mississippi can foster an environment where local businesses thrive, Adlakha wrote. She called attention to several military installations in the state and their role in shoring up defense spending and continued ship building. Strengthening our national defense ensures these facilities remain vital contributors to our local economies, providing stable employment and supporting businesses throughout the region, Adlakha wrote. Several Democrats are also vying to take over Hyde-Smiths seat in the U.S. Senate. Scott Colom, a twice nominated district judge, is running for the Democratic nomination against Albert Littell Advertisement Former President Joe Biden nominated Colom to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi twice, both nominations were rejected by the U.S. Senate. Colom serves as a district attorney in Mississippi and has emphasized reducing crime in his campaign. "Our current U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith isnt working for us anymore, voting against Mississippi jobs and investments because it serves her donors agenda, Collom wrote. Scott will always put Mississippi first and hell work with anyone, Republican or Democrat, to get things done for our state. Collom is running against Albert Littell, who has advocated for expanded mental health services and lower prescription drug costs. Littell also promised to raise the minimum wage in Mississippi. U.S. House All four districts in Mississippi will hold primary elections for the U.S. House on Tuesday. In District one, incumbent Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss., is the only Republican candidate running in the district. Cliff Johnson, a law professor, and Kevin Buck, a former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, are running to face off against Kelly on the Democratic ticket. Johnson has focused his campaign on increased education quality, lowering healthcare costs and lowering grocery prices in Mississippi. While wages remain flat, prices for everything from groceries to health care are soaring, Johnson wrote in BallotPedias candidate survey). To make things worse, the Trump administration and politicians who support it are focused on giving tax cuts to the super-rich. In Mississippis second Congressional district, incumbent Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., is looking to hold onto his seat. Ballotpedia identified the Democratic primary in Mississippis second congressional district as a battleground race. Thompson was first elected in 1993 and has received endorsements from Planned Parenthood, federal workers unions and the Yeamsters in his reelection campaign. Evan Turnage, a practicing lawyer, is challenging Thompson for the Democratic nomination in Mississippis second congressional district. Turnage has advocated for holding government officials accountable for managing stock portfolios and trading. In order to restore trust in our system, we have to get corporate money out of politics, ban members of Congress from trading stock, and overhaul corporate lobbying, Turnage wrote in Ballotpedias candidate connection survey. Races across Mississippi will be unique to watch as voters head out to the polls to determine who appears on Novembers ballot. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, pictured addressing parliament on February 11 in Madrid, Spain, has criticized US military operations in Iran. - Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters Most European leaders have trodden a fine line between offering limited support for US military action against Iran and warning of a regional conflagration. Not Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. He has been outspoken in his criticism of US strikes, provoking anger and threats from the White House. But rather than back down, Sanchez and his government have doubled down. Spain has significant trade and investment ties with the United States and a fellow member of NATO. Last year 4 million Americans visited the country. And just this month, Amazon said it would expand its investment in data centers in Spain to total nearly $40 billion. The US also has major military facilities in southern Spain, at Rota and Moron. Its the employment of those bases that kicked off the latest spat, with the Spanish government forbidding their use in support of the Iran strikes. In angry comments at a news conference Tuesday, Trump threatened to cut off trade with Spain. And he added: We could use their base if we want, we could just fly in and use it, nobodys going to tell us not to use it. Sanchez did just that. Within 24 hours of Trumps tirade, he went on national television with a simple message: No to war. He described the US and Israeli strikes as reckless and illegal and said his country would not be complicit in something that is bad for the world and that is also contrary to our values and interests simply out of fear of reprisals from someone. Sanchez accused the US of playing Russian roulette with the destiny of millions. But he went further, arguing that leaders had a duty to make peoples lives better and taking an implicit dig at Trump. It is absolutely unacceptable that those leaders who are incapable of fulfilling that duty use the smoke of war to hide their failures and, in the process, line the pockets of a few, he said. Sanchez has refused to allow US use of the Moron military base in southern Spain, pictured on March 4, to support its military operations against Iran. - Francisco J. Olmo/Europa Press/AP When the White House said its trade threat had forced Spain to agree to cooperate with the US military, the claim was swiftly contradicted. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Madrids position on the war in the Middle East and the bombing of Iran, regarding the use of our bases, has not changed at all. Europes minefield Trump made his threats against Spain during a meeting at the White House with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who looked on in silence itself eloquent testimony to yet another dilemma for Europe in dealing with Trump. Over the past year many European leaders have tried to assuage Trump with a combination of flattery and accommodation, while drawing occasional red lines, such as with the American designs on Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said at one point of Trump: Daddy has to sometimes use strong language. This time round, its about whether Europe will allow bases on its territory to be used in support of US strikes. Trump praised Germany and Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for being cooperative. He told an Italian newspaper Saturday: I love Italy, I think she is a great leader. Advertisement Donald Trump, center, speaks as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, left, and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer watch during a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13, 2025. - Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Not so much the United Kingdoms Keir Starmer. The UK initially turned down Washingtons request to use British bases to bomb Iran, before Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would allow the US to use its bases for defensive operations. The concession didnt do him much good in Trumps eyes. This is not Winston Churchill that were dealing with, Trump said of Starmer. And on Saturday, responding to news that the UK would send an aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean, Trump posted on social media: We dont need people that join Wars after weve already won! Sanchez, by contrast, has at least been consistent, as well as a consistent irritant to Trump on multiple issues, including Greenland, relations with China and defense spending. I dont know whats going on with Spain; it seems they want to travel for free, Trump said in January after Sanchez refused to raise defense spending targets to 5% of GDP by 2035, in line with the pledges of other NATO members. Spain has tripled its defense spending since I became prime minister, Sanchez retorted. For Sanchez, a spat with Trump may be risky, but it may also be smart politics, shoring up center-left support for his fragile coalition government. Sanchez and Trump attend a meeting of the North Atlantic Council during a NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, in July 2018. - Francois Lenoir/Reuters Sanchez is using foreign policy to regain the political initiative at home, said Paco Camas Garcia, of public survey firm Ipsos, posting on X. The international stage allows him to project a sense of leadership and strategic clarity, and it also puts the conservative Popular Party in a particularly difficult bind. Camas Garcia notes that Trumps popularity in Spain is at an all-time low just 16% according to one survey conducted in February and that if the opposition harshly critique Sanchezs stance, they risk appearing to side with a US president whom their own base largely rejects. Sanchez is well aware that his Socialist partys opposition to the Iraq war was central to its victory in the 2004 elections, as Chatham House noted this week. Indeed, Sanchez has compared the current US campaign with the Iraq war. Trade matters Economically, Trumps threats to Spain Europes fourth largest economy may not be as grievous as they sound. Spain is one of Europes most vibrant economies, and only about 5% of Spains trade is with the US. The European Union would be duty bound to defend any member singled out for discrimination. But Spain is reliant on the US for much of its liquefied natural gas supply. A container ship is unloaded at the Muelle Sur terminal, operated by APM Terminals, at the Port of Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, on January 13, 2025. - Angel Garcia/Bloomberg/Getty Images There is another dimension to Sanchezs hostility toward American influence. For years he and his family have been the targets of abuse on social media, and he has railed against US tech firms for not doing enough to combat hate speech. The social media that was supposed to bring unity, clarity and democracy have instead given us division, vice and a reactionary agenda, Sanchez said in January, announcing that Spain would ban social media for children under the age of 16. Now in his eighth year as Spains prime minister, Sanchez appears no longer to worry about confronting Daddy or the broader MAGA movement. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Destruction at Sultan Ali Dinar Museum in Al Fasher, North Kordofan, Sudan. (Saleh Abu Alamah) (Saleh Abu Alamah) A statue of the Nubian god Apademak stands alone in the courtyard of Sudans National Museum, one of the few survivors of systematic looting amid a conflict that has developed into one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises. Inside the museums exhibition halls, display cases stand empty, stripped of their lightweight, high-value contents during a period of occupation by the Rapid Support Forces from April 15, 2023, until early last year. More than 60% of the museums holdings were looted, said Ghalia Jar Al-Nabi, director of the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums, noting the theft of gold and jewelry belonging to the kings of Napata and Meroe, two ancient kingdoms that inhabited the region. The towering figure of Apademak, a deity of the Meroitic empire, which ruled between 300 B.C. and 350 A.D., was likely too heavy to move. The war raging between the RSF and the Sudanese military has claimed at least 40,000 lives and displaced at least 13.6 million people, according to figures from United Nations agencies and the World Health Organization, though aid groups say the true death toll could be many times higher. An independent U.N. report last month accused the RSF of carrying out a coordinated campaign of destruction against non-Arab communities in parts of Sudan, the hallmarks of which point to genocide. Looted antiquities warehouses at the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum in April. (Khaled Abd Al Gader / AP) (Khaled Abd Al Gader) The preliminary losses across the culture, antiquities and tourism sector during the war stand at $110 million, according to an estimate from Sudans minister of culture and information, Khalid Ali Aleisir, who said that figure captures only part of the irreversible damage inflicted on repositories of African history. At least 20 museums have been destroyed or looted, he said, including the National Museum, the historic Republican Palace, military museums and the Sultan Ali Dinar Museum in El Fasher, North Darfur. Khartoum, where the conflict first broke out in April 2023, contains four museums for antiquities and heritage, all within the line of fire. For months of the war, no one could know what became of these museums, Al-Nabi said. Destroyed artifacts inside Sultan Ali Dinar Museum. (Saleh Abu Alamah) (Saleh Abu Alamah) In the Darfur region, three museums suffered complete destruction and looting during the first months of the conflict. The Nyala Museum was robbed of its antiquities and destroyed, followed by the looting and destruction of the Al-Geneina Museum and the destruction of the Sultan Ali Dinar Museum building in El Fasher. The same fate, Al-Nabi added, befell the Gezira Museum in Wad Madani following the RSFs invasion of Gezira state. There is no resolution in sight for the conflict in Sudan, with peace still distant amid worsening conditions for the millions trapped in the country. From the ground, the situation is not getting any better, and we continue to be very concerned by the deteriorating humanitarian situation, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned last month. Looting a nations history Once containing more than 150,000 artifacts representing various historical periods in Sudan, from the Stone Age until the arrival of Islam, the Sudan National Museum now lies mostly bare. Reports during the first months of war indicated trucks moving from the museum loaded with looted artifacts, Al-Nabi added. Priceless Sudanese artifacts were put up for sale on eBay after being smuggled out of the country, according to a report from the French news agency Agence France-Presse. UNESCO has expressed alarm over the illicit trafficking of goods from Sudan, warning that threats to culture have reached an unprecedented level. Shattered windows at the National Museum of Sudanin Khartoum in April. (Khaled Abd Al Gader / AP) (Khaled Abd Al Gader) A recovery committee has retrieved 570 pieces taken from museums and heritage sites, but thousands of valuable items remain missing, said Graham Abdel Qader, undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Information. The National Museum suffered the worst damage, he said, with its exhibition halls and concrete rooms looted of approximately 8,000 pieces. Advertisement The looted artifacts are not merely inanimate objects, but represent a peoples history and a nations entity, reflecting cultural identity and embodying the national memory that unites peoples and preserves the cohesion of their cultural and social fabric, Al-Nabi said. Archaeological sites under siege Ikhlas Abdel Latif, head of the looted antiquities recovery committee and an official at the Sudan Antiquities and Museums Authority, said that Naqa and Musawwarat es Sufra in northern Sudan, both World Heritage Sites containing artifacts from the Meroitic civilization, were at risk as the conflict rages. We feared for these sites, Abdel Latif said, expressing fears that they could lose their World Heritage status. The war also meant maintenance was halted at heritage sites, he said, along with security and archaeological missions. The massive displacement of people has created further pressures as some have sought temporary shelter inside archeological sites, with some instances of vandalism and graffiti on temple walls. Some have even begun constructing homes there, claiming ancestral land rights. We suffered greatly from these actions, Abdel Latif said. Mummy coffins lie destroyed on the ground, top, and broken antique vitrines, below, at the Sudan National Museum in April. (Khaled Abd Al Gader / AP) (Khaled Abd Al Gader) Illegal mining poses perhaps the gravest threat to archeological sites. On Sai Island on the Nile, bulldozers operate inside ancient burial sites, while miners use metal detectors that cannot distinguish between gold and buried artifacts. Many archaeological pieces contain precious metallic elements, Abdel Latif said. Some mining companies received licenses to work inside sites without clearance from the antiquities authority due to war conditions. Jibreel Ibrahim, Sudans finance minister, told reporters at a January event in Khartoum to announce the retrieval of some of the looted artifacts that the thieves understood the value of these artifacts and sought to erase the countrys identity, but failed. Sudan has also offered rewards for information leading to artifact recovery and compiled a comprehensive report outlining violations for journalists and researchers. But Al-Nabi fears these measures arent enough. Despite efforts made, she said, the process of tracking and monitoring stolen pieces requires broad international cooperation and joint efforts from various institutions concerned with protecting cultural heritage. This piece was published in collaboration with Egab. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images / Anadolu New battery could dramatically increase EV range Semi solid-state chemistry boasts 30% greater energy density Higher density, reduced weight and a smaller form factor promised Researchers from the Nankai University in Tianjin, China, have reportedly developed and tested a semi solid-state battery that delivers a 30% increase in energy density when compared to some of the leading lithium-ion batteries currently on sale. According to an announcement by the researchers (via Live Science), the current iteration of its semi-solid-state battery pack delivers an energy density of 288 Wh/kg at the system level, when cooling systems, wiring, structural supports and safety hardware are considered. Advertisement The energy density of the pack in isolation is said to be 500 Wh/kg, while scientists say they are already working on iterations could exceed 340 Wh/kg at the pack level. With a smaller form factor, a lower weight and an increased overall energy density, the Nankai University team claims that the 142kWh production version of its research pack enables an EV driving range of over 1,000 km after installation, which is more than 620 miles on a single charge. Details remain unclear on what EV was used during the testing and whether these are official China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) figures. But reports state the technology is already undergoing iterative upgrades and is expected to achieve a battery system energy density exceeding 340 Wh/kg, a total pack capacity of over 200 kWh and a driving range exceeding 1,600 km almost 1,000 miles of driving on a single charge. It is worth noting at this point that both Europe's WLTP testing cycles and North America's EPA figures are far less generous than those quoted in China, while real-world driving conditions reduce range figures even further. Advertisement Advertisement A rule of thumb is to subtract around 30% from those claimed figures to get close to something an EV owner can achieve under real driving conditions. So 620 miles quickly becomes around 430 miles and 1,000 miles becomes 700 miles. Still, that's hugely impressive when compared to the range quoted by some of the leading lithium-ion technology currently on sale. According to Live Science, the Nankai University battery relies on a lithium-rich manganese cathode and a hybrid solid-liquid electrolyte system. The hybrid design combines the advantages of the solid-state architecture with a super-wetting composite electrolyte, which is intended to improve ionic conductivity and safety. Super wetting refers to the electrolyte spread across and fully penetrating the surfaces and pores of battery materials, maximizing contact between itself and active materials so ions can move more efficiently, the report states. Advertisement Advertisement According to the statement released by Nankai University, the battery technology also introduces lithium anode technology for the first time, which addresses the issues of high cost and high risk associated with the use of metal lithium strips, apparently simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing production costs and achieving "significant breakthroughs" in battery cycle life and safety. Analysis: A huge leap if true Credit: Nankai University We must caveat this with the fact that the results come from a university-industry collaboration with the Technology Center of China Auto New Energy and have not yet been independently verified in peer-reviewed research. However, if the claims are true, the researchers are already working on semi-solid-state battery technology that could exceed 340 Wh/kg at the pack level. Pair this with an admittedly enormous 200kWh total capacity pack and range could effectively push past the 1,000-mile mark. While this is exciting, it feels like a huge jump from where we are at today. Advertisement Advertisement For example, MG recently became one of the first global manufacturers to widely introduce semi-solid-state battery technology in its MG 4 model. In this case, the pack includes just 5% liquid in the electrolyte, yet has an energy density of 180Wh/kg, delivering a 333-mile range on the CLTC tests from a 53.95 kWh pack. To reach the heady levels of a 1,000-mile range, the Nankai University researchers are suggesting almost quadrupling the battery capacity, which would naturally have a massive impact on the physical size and weight of the pack, not to mention the associated cost implications. That said, researchers claim that by drastically increasing the energy density, this would in-turn lead to smaller form factors and a reduced weight. Advertisement Advertisement If thats the case, we could well be looking at EV battery technology that far outweighs combustion engine counterparts when it comes to the distance travelled between stops. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too. One theory has been shot down by experts amid the ongoing Nancy Guthrie investigation -Credit:Instagram (Instagram) A widespread theory surrounding Nancy Guthrie's disappearance has been dismissed after Google weighed in on the matter. Numerous accounts have emerged about purported Google searches conducted before Nancy, 84, disappeared from her residence in the early morning hours of February 1. The claims indicate that someone in Arizona searched for Nancy's Tucson address between June 21 and 28, according to Google Trends information. Reports suggest Nancy's address was searched once more on January 11. Additional searches allegedly occurred between March 1 and March 8, and again between November 30 and December 1, reportedly focusing on images or maps of Nancy's residence. Toxic truth about Savannah Guthrie's Today Show return revealed Nancy Guthrie latest: Suspect 'someone close' as neighbors report 'weird' issue Additionally, the search term "Savannah Guthrie salary" was supposedly entered from Tucson during the period of December 13 to 20. However, true crime specialist Brian Entin has now stated that the widely shared search details are inaccurate. During a YouTube update on the case, Brian addressed viewer questions, including one that asked, "What about the Google search we keep hearing about?" Advertisement Nancy has been missing since February 1 His response was straightforward: "Google, we actually checked with Google and they say that those are not legit. So that's why I haven't been reporting on those." This development follows investigators conducting door-to-door inquiries near Nancy's home in Tucson, Arizona's Catalina Foothills area. On Thursday, March 5, the Pima County Sheriff's Department and FBI visited the neighborhood, asking residents about any suspicious activity involving their internet connections. Several homeowners in the area told NBC News that law enforcement officers came to their homes Thursday, asking about possible interruptions or problems with their internet service on the night Nancy vanished. Authorities believe that Nancy was abducted from her home -Credit:Instagram According to residents, agents indicated that many people in the neighborhood had reported experiencing internet disruptions that evening. Additionally, residents said that during Thursday's visits, investigators also requested any video footage from January 11. Law enforcement has not confirmed whether investigators were examining anything specific to January 11, nor have they revealed why they asked homeowners about that particular date. The three homeowners who spoke with NBC News on Thursday said they were either asleep or away from home when Nancy disappeared. They also mentioned they couldn't verify whether they had experienced internet disruptions. However, one couple living near Nancy told NBC News on Friday that they discovered a problem with one of their Ring cameras that evening. One Google search theory has been shot down by experts -Credit:AP The pair revealed that their property has four Ring cameras, and the one nearest to Nancy's house displayed "not available" when they reviewed footage from the overnight hours on the day Nancy disappeared. In contrast, their other cameras, positioned further away from Nancy's residence, functioned normally, the couple stated. They mentioned that they had never encountered the "not available" message previously and found it "uncanny" that it occurred precisely during that particular timeframe. "That's really weird, isn't it?" they told NBC News. During the Shield of the Americas summit in Florida Saturday, outgoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem thanked President Donald Trump for appointing her to a newly created role after she was ousted from overseeing the agency. Noem, who is moving to the newly created position of special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, showed no ill feelings toward the president and said she was proud of her work at DHS, arguing the department had secured the border and eliminated public safety threats. "I do want to thank the president for creating this and for giving me the honor and the opportunity to serve as a special envoy to this region, to the Western Hemisphere," Noem said during the summit at Trump National Doral outside Miami. "This Shield of the Americas will be a powerful example to the rest of the world about whats possible." Fetterman Backs Trump's Dhs Pick Mullin As 'Nice Upgrade' In Break With Democrats Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivers remarks during a working lunch at the Shield of the Americas summit Saturday at Trump National Doral near Miami. (Getty Images) Trump announced this week that Noem would shift into the new role after cutting short her tenure at DHS. Read On The Fox News App Noem was removed as the nations immigration chief after a turbulent stretch marked by internal clashes and two contentious congressional hearings where even some Republicans pressed her over leadership missteps, including an ad campaign she claimed the president had signed off on. Noem framed the initiative as an effort to expand border security cooperation beyond the United States. "The way that we cooperate on our shared ideals of freedom and of democracy and safety and security will be a shining light to all of those who wish to be more like all of us," she said. Whats Next For Kristi Noem? 2026 Senate Chatter Grows After Dhs Exit Trump removed Noem as the nations DHS chief this week after a turbulent stretch. Noem, who previously served in Congress and as South Dakota governor before leading DHS, defended her record overseeing immigration enforcement during the past year. Advertisement "In the last year, as secretary of Homeland Security, we have focused on securing our border," she said. "We have transformed our country from one that was being invaded by enemies, millions of them that were coming in unvetted, that we didnt know who was there and who wished to harm us. "Weve secured that border," she continued. "Weve focused on removing public safety threats, and over 3 million people have been deported or removed from our country in the last year." Noem argued that stronger border enforcement has allowed the administration to pivot toward economic and diplomatic engagement with neighboring nations. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill. "Secure borders has changed everything for our country," she said. "Now that America is secure, and our borders are secure, we want to focus on our neighbors and to help our neighbors with their borders and challenges that they have so that they may have the security that we enjoy." Trump announced on Truth Social that Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., will replace her effective March 31, while Noem shifts to the newly created envoy role. 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 attended Saturday's summit. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Leaders from other nations included 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, 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. Notably missing were the leaders of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, and Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. Fox News Digital's Alec Schemmel contributed to this report. Original article source: Noem thanks Trump for new Shield of the Americas special envoy role after DHS ouster Washington's Vesper Peak surrounded by clouds - Chomicky Captures/Shutterstock Which state ranks as America's best for hiking is subjective, but usually, you'll find Washington somewhere near the top, with over 4,000 hiking routes. Seattle is full of hiking groups that make use of the trails winding through the green hills surrounding the city, and for those feeling particularly adventurous, Mount Rainier National Park is less than two hours away. One of the more challenging hikes near the Emerald City is Vesper Peak in the North Cascades, where a vertiginous ascent is worth the effort, as summiters are rewarded with views of sharp, criss-crossing ridges studded with conifers a particularly magnificent sight at sunrise or when contrasted against a blue summer sky. You'll begin the climb to Vesper Peak from Sunrise Mine Trailhead, about two hours northeast of Seattle by car, accessed via the 55-mile Mountain Loop Highway, one of Washington's most underrated, scenic drives. The hike itself is tough, requiring an 8-mile round-trip trek and about 4,000 feet of elevation gain, so it's best-suited for hikers with some off-trail and route-finding experience. Many who complete it are glad they did: More than 2,000 hikers have ranked Vesper Peak on AllTrails, with an average rating of 4.7 stars. Washington has no shortage of expert-level hikes, including the challenging yet epic Enchantments Traverse Trail, but Vesper Peak is undoubtedly among the finest. Read more: These Are Michigan's 5 Deepest Lakes Outside Of The Great Lakes Hiking Vesper Peak Vesper Lake in the North Cascades Mountains in Washington - Elite_Progress/Shutterstock Before embarking on this trek, know that North Cascades National Park is one of the world's snowiest regions. Even though Vesper Peak is around 50 miles to the south, it still receives a healthy dumping of the white stuff each winter. This doesn't make it impossible to summit, but it does up the challenge even more: you'll need spikes, ice axes, helmets, walking sticks, warm gear, and good orienteering skills. Unless you're an experienced mountaineer, it's highly recommended to attempt the hike once the snow has thawed. Additionally, sections of the Mountain Loop Highway may be closed off during the winter, making the trailhead inaccessible check the official website for weather updates. Advertisement Contrary to Seattle's reputation for rain, summer days are often sunny, offering great viewing conditions for hikers. In the warmer months, the sometimes muddy trek to Vesper Peak winds through subalpine evergreens until it passes the treeline and requires hikers to traverse granite boulder fields and scramble over low-angle rock slopes. Once you get up there, the vista is quite spectacular, offering a 360-degree panorama, encompassing peaks like Del Campo, Big Four, Morning Star, and Mount Stuart, plus landmarks such as Copper Lake and Vesper Glacier. Bear in mind, the Sunrise Mine Trail actually leads to Vesper Lake to get to Vesper Peak, you'll need to ford a creek and head up an unmarked but fairly well-trodden route (this is where some route-finding experience will come in handy). Vesper Lake is moderately easier to reach than its namesake peak, offering wonderful scenery in its own right. The lonely alpine lake, nestled in a bowl between the summits of Vesper and Sperry, is a lovely, secluded spot to relax and enjoy a picnic. If the climb to the peak is proving too strenuous, reaching the lake is a solid plan B. 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. NEW YORK (PIX11) Time to wear anything green. Its a way to celebrate Irish Americans this month, even if you arent Irish. There was a one-day festival called Irish New York at the Museum of the City of New York. More Local News Professional Irish dancers from the Brooklyn Irish Dance Company performed for those in attendance. The festival examined how Irish immigrants shaped New York Citys political, cultural, and artistic life. Its a part of my culture. My parents are from Ireland, Erin ODonnell, co-founder of Brooklyn Irish Dance Company, told PIX11 News. But its available to anyone. You dont have to be Irish to Irish dance, she added. Another co-founder of the company, Alexandra Owensby, agreed. People want Irish dancing throughout the year, Owensby said, noting that their Irish dancers have performed during Pride Month and at the US Open. Advertisement In collaboration with the Irish Arts Center, workshops were held on Irish language and Irish step dancing. Make PIX11 your preferred news source on Google: Heres how At an exhibit called New York at its Core, there were displays on the first big wave of Irish immigration in the 1850s and pictures of many of the first Irish neighborhoods in the city, including Five Points. The unique Irish flavor is the ability to build community, Nick Michael, Museum of the City of New York Chief of Staff and Strategy, told PIX11 News. And that lasting ability you still see today in Brooklyn, the Bronx and downtown, in the bars, restaurants, music and artistry that keeps the Irish legacy alive, he added. To many in attendance, it was a chance to get in touch with their Irish roots. I learned about traditional Irish music, the difference between a jig and a reel, Alissa Buck, a museum visitor, told PIX11 News. I learned about the immigrant experience when they came over during the famine, and later, she added I was proud to be partially Irish. While Irish New York is just a one-day event at the museum, the permanent exhibit, New York at its Core, features the Irish contributions to the city. 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 PIX11. The wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing renewed scrutiny after a report that she liked a social media post dismissing an investigation into sexual violence committed during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack in Israel as a "mass rape" hoax. Rama Duwaji allegedly liked a February 2024 Instagram post claiming The New York Times investigation into sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attack was "fabricated," according to The Free Press. The report adds to a series of controversial social media interactions by Duwaji that have surfaced in recent days. Duwaji, a Houston-born illustrator who identifies as Syrian and married Mamdani in early 2025, also liked several posts in the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack that appeared critical of Israel, Jewish Insider first reported. Israel Accuses Mamdani Of Pouring 'Antisemitic Gasoline' After He Revokes Adams Executive Orders New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and wife Rama Duwaji listen to the national anthem during his public inauguration ceremony followed by a block party at City Hall in New York Jan. 1, 2026. (Getty Images) One post shared the day of the attack by the Instagram account "The Slow Factory" featured an image of a bulldozer breaching a barrier separating Israel from Gaza and people riding on top of a captured Israeli Defense Force (IDF) vehicle. Read On The Fox News App Text over the images said, "Breaking the walls of apartheid and military occupation" and "Resisting apartheid since 1948," along with the slogan, "Systemic change for collective liberation." As of Saturday, Duwajis like on that post remained publicly visible. Additional posts she engaged with were shared by the Instagram account The Peoples Forum and included promotion of anti-Israel protests, calls to cut U.S. aid to Israel and activist organizing efforts. Advertisement Mamdani's Nyc Health Department Staffers Reportedly Studying Effects Of 'Global Oppression' On Health New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and wife Rama Duwaji during a news conference at Gracie Mansion Jan. 12, in New York City. One post Duwaji liked included the slogan "from the river to the sea," which Jewish Insider noted is "often understood as calling for the total elimination of Israel from the lands between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea." A City Hall spokesperson told Jewish Insider that "Mayor Mamdani has been clear and consistent: Hamas is a terrorist organization, October 7th was a horrific war crime and he has condemned that violence unequivocally." When asked about his wifes social media activity during a news conference on Friday, Mamdani described Duwaji as "a private person." Jewish Safety In New York Depends On Clear Lines And Moral Courage From Mamdani An Israeli man in Jerusalem walks past a store entrance displaying a banner with the portraits of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. "My wife is the love of my life, and she's also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall," Mamdani said. "I, however, was elected to represent all 8.5 million people in the city, and I believe that it's my responsibility, because of that role, to answer any questions about my thoughts and my policies and my decisions." Click Here To Download The Fox News App Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Fox News Digital's Marc Tamasco contributed to this report. Original article source: NYC Mayor Mamdanis wife liked social media post calling Oct 7 sexual violence investigation a hoax: report Troops at Camp Buehring in Kuwait in 2014. Six American soldiers have died in Kuwait in the current military operation against Iran. (Mark Wilson / AFP via Getty Images file) (Mark Wilson) A New York City police officer has died while he was deployed to Kuwait in support of the war on Iran, according to city and state officials. Sorffly Davius died Friday at Camp Buehring in Kuwait, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. She described Davius as a true Citizen Soldier and a devoted husband and father. Davius had served in the 42nd Infantry Division in the Army National Guard and rose to the rank of major, the NYPD said in a statement on social media. He began his service with the NYPD in 2014, assigned to the 79th Precinct. Today, and always, we keep his family in our thoughts and prayers, the department said. May we never forget Officer Davius sacrifice and may his memory be a blessing. Advertisement NYPD officer Sorffly Davius. (New York City Fire Department) (New York City Fire Department) Davius was a decorated Army veteran who, before his overseas deployment, served with distinction on Joint Task Force Empire Shield, a New York National Guard security unit that defends the states highest-profile locations from threats, Hochul said. His life is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by our National Guard members, who balance their roles as citizens, first responders, and soldiers, she said. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch paid tribute to him in a statement Saturday. His career was defined by service to his country and to New York City, they said. NBC News has asked the National Guard and U.S. Central Command for comment. Seven U.S. service members have died in the joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which has been met with retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases in the Middle East. Six American soldiers have died in Kuwait in the military operation. A seventh U.S. service member died Saturday evening, succumbing to injuries sustained during a March 1 attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, U.S. Central Command said Sunday. The U.S. military is conducting tests with the Federal Aviation Administration in New Mexico of a high-energy laser to deal with drone threats, Reuters reported. "This upcoming event will specifically address FAA safety concerns while gathering data about the lasers material effects on aircraft surrogates," the Pentagon said on Friday, March 6, Reuters reported. More: UTEP drone research gets $2M boost, expanding facilities in Fabens, Tornillo The location of the testing in New Mexico over the weekend of March 7-8 was not disclosed. A military laser system to eliminate drone threats in the El Paso border region caused havoc last month. El Paso International Airport on Sunday, March 8, continued operations as normal. CBP drone shot down near Fort Hancock Two weeks ago, the military shot down a U.S. Customs and Border Protection drone that flew into military airspace, reportedly without notifying anyone, along the Mexican border near Fort Hancock, Texas, located about 40 miles east of El Paso. An unnamed U.S. official told NBC News that the military later determined the drone belonged to CBP. The Pentagon said proper protocols were followed before the laser was used on the drone. Advertisement Mexican drug cartels use drones to further their aims. These drones were seized by the attorney general of Mexico in Puebla in 2020. On Feb. 26, the FAA issued temporary flight restrictions closing a sliver of airspace near Fort Hancock, south of Texas Highway 20 to the Mexican border, designated as national defense airspace. The restriction which does not impact Mexican airspace continues until June 26 and emergency exceptions can be made for air ambulance evacuations and search-and-rescue operations in coordination with the military, the FAA notice stated. El Paso airspace drone fiasco Late night on Feb. 10, the FAA shut down the airspace in El Paso leading to an hours-long halt of all flights at El Paso International Airport in a drone fiasco due to a reported lack of coordination between CBP, the FAA and the Pentagon. The FAA had issued an order grounding all flights in El Paso as a precaution for 10 days which would've been longer than the airspace closure after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks only to lift the restriction about eight hours later. The airspace closure included a small section along the New Mexico-Mexico border west of El Paso. The FAA's El Paso airspace shutdown did not go into effect until more than a day after CBP fired a laser to shoot down an object that officials believed to be Mexican drug cartel drone incursion, which was later learned to be a party balloon, USA Today reported. Mexican drug cartels have used drones as scouts to provide aerial views of border smuggling routes and even in deadly explosive attacks in Mexico since before 2020, according to El Paso Times archives. Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X. Reuters contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Pentagon, FAA test high-energy anti-drone laser system in New Mexico On Thursday, Peter Thiel met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo to discuss emerging technology cooperation as Palantir Technologies strengthens its presence in Japan and broader U.S.Japan tech ties continue to grow. Thiel And Takaichi Discuss Future Of Advanced Technologies Thiel, co-founder and chairman of Palantir, held talks with Takaichi during a visit to Tokyo, according to Japan's Prime Minister's office. Don't Miss: The meeting was described as a courtesy call, though the discussion covered the evolving landscape of advanced technologies and opportunities for collaboration between the U.S. and Japan. Palantir Strengthens Presence In Japan The talks come as Palantir continues to expand its footprint in Japan through partnerships with major corporations. In August 2025, the company signed a licensing agreement with Fujitsu Ltd. that allows the Japanese technology giant to offer Palantir's Artificial Intelligence Platform to customers in Japan. Palantir has also deepened its long-standing collaboration with SOMPO Holdings through a new multi-year agreement with Palantir's Japanese unit. Trending: Before the IPO: How One Company Quietly Locked Up 500+ Iconic Character Rights USJapan Economic And Tech Ties Continue To Grow The meeting also comes amid broader economic cooperation between the two nations. Advertisement Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the approval of the first $36 billion in Japanese-funded infrastructure and industrial projects in the U.S. The projects are part of a larger $550 billion investment commitment from Japan aimed at strengthening U.S. manufacturing and infrastructure. At the time, Takaichi described the initiative as a mutually beneficial effort designed to enhance the economic security of both countries. Takaichi is expected to travel to Washington on March 19 for a meeting at the White House. Read Next: Photo: Mark Reinstein On Shutterstock.com "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 Peter Thiel Meets Sanae Takaichi In Tokyo As Palantir Expands AI Ambitions Amid Deepening USJapan Tech Alliance originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Police officers suffered minor injuries after patrol cars were rammed on Saturday (Stock image) Two police cars were rammed and officers suffered minor injuries during a pursuit following a robbery at a shop in Lisburn on Saturday afternoon. Two men are reported to have entered a newsagents on Milltown Avenue at about 14:45 GMT, before jumping over the counter and taking money from the till. The Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI) said one of the men also waved a metal object towards a staff member, however no-one was injured in the incident. The pair made off in a white Audi A3 with money and a staff member's handbag. Both men are described as being aged in their 30s, with the first man approximately 5'9", who was wearing a brown collared hooded parka with fur trim. Advertisement The second man is around 5'7" and was wearing a black beanie hat, black jumper, turquoise t-shirt, blue jeans and black trainers. However, police believe there were others also in the vehicle. Police said at various times during the pursuit the vehicle was being driven at speed, driving on the wrong side of the road, going around a roundabout the wrong way and refusing to stop for police. Items were also thrown out of the window at officers, including bottles of alcohol and a steel chisel. The PSNI said: "Thankfully our officers reported minor injuries - however, we could have been looking at much more serious consequences today - and those officers are being appropriately supported." They added they are working with An Garda Siochana (Irish police) to investigate the crime. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., at the Capitol last year. Congressional primaries happening now are going to shape the composition of the next Congress. (Jacquelyn Martin / AP file) (Jacquelyn Martin) As party primaries kick off ahead of the pivotal battle for control of Congress this fall, Democrats and especially Republicans say they are prioritizing ideological alignment instead of electability when they pick candidates, according to a new national NBC News poll. Meanwhile, the nation overall has a negative view of both parties, led by independents. The survey asked primary voters whether they prefer to vote for a candidate who comes closest to their views on issues over a candidate who has the best chance to win in November. Seven in 10 Republican primary voters prefer a candidate who comes closest to their views, while 27% prefer a candidate who has a better chance of winning the general election. Choosing ideological purity or electability has been a particularly fraught topic among Democrats over the past year as the party tries to find a path back into power following President Donald Trumps election victory in 2024. Democratic primary voters were more evenly split on the question: 56% say they prefer the candidate closest to their views, while 42% want a candidate more electable in a general election, according to the poll, which was conducted by the Democratic polling firm Hart Research Associates and the GOP firm Public Opinion Strategies. Voters who participated in the poll and spoke with NBC News say that choice is often complicated. I struggle with that question because I want someone whos close to my views, but I know that my views are not the most electable in the state, said Marley Ross, a 25-year-old California Democrat and self-described progressive. Im tired of having to go with candidates purely on electability, but it feels like once again thats where were stuck, Ross said. She was not sure whom she would back in Californias competitive primary for governor, describing the candidates as really weak. Jennifer Norkol, a 54-year-old Michigan Democrat, does not yet know whom shell be backing in her states competitive Senate primary. It would be, honestly, someone that has the ability to beat a Republican, Norkol said, noting Democrats regaining control of Congress is about saving democracy. For Republicans, who control both Congress and the White House, theres more interest in prioritizing values over electability. Vice President JD Vance in Washington in January. Multiple Republican voters referred to Vance as a potential future standard-bearer for the Republican Party. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images file) (Kevin Dietsch) At the end of the day, our vote is one of the best and only ways we can speak as Americans, said Coy, a 21-year-old survey respondent from Indiana who declined to share his last name and said he preferred a candidate closest to his own views. If youre wanting something to get done the way you want it to be done, then you need to stick with your own pack and pick the candidate who is best for you, he added. The parties havent always felt this way when asked similar questions in the past during presidential nominating fights. Republicans were more concerned about electability in June 2023, when NBC News asked GOP primary voters a similar question, though a majority still favored issue alignment. Then, 56% said they wanted a candidate who aligned with them on the issues, while 39% preferred a presidential nominee who could defeat then-President Joe Biden. In February 2020, 53% of Democratic presidential primary voters preferred a candidate with the best chance of defeating Trump, while 42% preferred the candidate closest aligned with them on the issues. A year prior, at the start of the presidential primary conversation, 56% of Democratic primary voters preferred a presidential candidate closest to their views and 40% wanted the candidate most likely to defeat Trump. These calculations are playing out in real time in primaries this year, including on Tuesday, where candidates in both parties Senate primaries in Texas made the case that they were best positioned to win. James Talarico, D-Texas, at a campaign rally in Houston on March 2. Choosing ideological purity or electability has been a particularly fraught topic among Democrats over the past year. (Danielle Villasana / Getty Images) (Danielle Villasana) Matthew Hackworth, a 50-year-old Texas Democrat, said he voted for state Rep. James Talarico, the eventual Democratic Senate nominee, because he viewed Talarico as the person whos able to win more so in the statewide election though Hackworth was still pessimistic about Democrats chances in November. Some Democrats said ideological alignment and electability are not always mutually exclusive. I think that the Democratic establishment has done an incredibly poor job evaluating which candidates have the best chance of winning, said Scott Damery, a 27-year-old Wisconsin voter who is backing state Rep. Francesca Hong in the crowded, wide-open Democratic primary for governor. Damery suggested Democratic Party leadership has used electability to elevate straight, white guys as opposed to candidates of different races or gender identities. I am definitely not a person that feels like every candidate that I vote for has to align with everything that I think, 100%, Damery said. But I also dont believe, at this point, when the Democratic Party tells you which candidate is more likely to fare well in the general election. Advertisement Distrust of the institutional Democratic Party among some Democratic voters helps explain why the party continues to receive historically low ratings. Just 30% of registered voters in the new NBC News poll view the Democratic Party positively, compared to 52% who view it negatively. By comparison, 37% of registered voters view the Republican Party positively while 51% view it negatively a higher rating, but still underwater. The lower marks for Democrats are driven in no small part by dissension among their ranks, with 62% of Democrats viewing their party positively, compared to 77% of Republicans who view the GOP positively. Independents have low marks for both parties, as 13% view the Democratic Party positively and 16% view the Republican Party positively. Multiple Democratic voters told NBC News that they havent seen enough fight from Democrats in Washington. I feel like theyre not not taking much of a stand. I feel like theyre not punching back. I feel like kind of theyre just getting owned, said Norkol, the Michigan Democrat. I just feel that were all about strongly worded letters and complaining to cameras, but no feasible action is being done consistently, said Ross, the California Democrat. The Republicans who spoke to NBC News, meanwhile, were broadly happy with the GOP. Tina Goldstrom, a 47-year-old from Florida, said she looks at the Republican Party primarily through the lens of Trump, whose 2016 candidacy compelled her to vote for the first time. I didnt get into politics until 2016 and I kind of wish I hadnt gotten into it. But I think things needed to be shaken up, she said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Tel Aviv last year. Two-thirds of Republicans view him positively as a potential future national candidate, while three-quarters of Democrats view him negatively. (Nathan Howard / Pool / AFP via Getty Images file) (Nathan Howard) She added that she believes Republicans in Washington are representing her well, primarily because of her support for Trumps agenda and those hes appointed to his administration. She is hopeful that someone like Vice President JD Vance could step into those shoes and keep it going. Im making money, Im saving money, Ive got money in my 401(k), I dont have a bunch of homeless people or migrants near me, I think things are going well, she said. Multiple Republican voters referenced Vance as a potential future standard bearer for the Republican Party. But the sitting vice president, just like all six politicians who were tested by name in the poll, is underwater with the general electorate. Thirty-eight percent of registered voters say they have a positive view of Vance, compared to 49% who have a negative view of him a slight change from October, where 39% viewed him positively and 45% viewed him negatively. Republicans feel overwhelmingly better about him (77% positive) than the majority of independents (56%) and Democrats (88%) who view him negatively. For Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the other Trump administration official regularly cited by the president as a potential future national candidate, 34% of registered voters view him positively while 41% view him negatively. Two-thirds of Republicans view him positively, while three-quarters of Democrats view him negatively. Independents are more split: 44% view him negatively and 23% view him positively. The Democrats who spoke to NBC News were less enthusiastic about a handful of potential future leaders, with some struggling to stay whom they want to see run for president in 2028. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 2024. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats say they have positive views of Ocasio-Cortez, according to the poll. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images file) (Brandon Bell) We have too many older people at the top. And they have not given enough young people a chance to get in and develop, [so] that we now have this weird, extreme age gap of very old and very young that I think has led to a leadership gap, said Ross. Damery, the Wisconsin voter, said he wants to see Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., elevated into a leadership role in Congress if Democrats take control of the House. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats say they have positive views of Ocasio-Cortez, according to the poll. But more voters broadly view her negatively (42%) than positively (31%), while 15% were unsure. Ocasio-Cortez did have lower overall negative ratings than two other Democratic leaders tested in the survey: former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Half of voters (51%) have negative views of Harris, while 34% have positive ones, and 27% view Newsom positively, while 45% have negative views of him. More Democrats say they have positive views of Harris (67%), while 52% say they have positive views of Newsom. The NBC News poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters Feb. 27-March 3 via a mix of telephone interviews and an online survey sent via text message. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Smaller subgroups have larger margins of error, including Democratic primary voters (plus or minus 5.1 percentage points) and Republican primary voters (plus or minus 5.5 percentage points). For several years, car buyers in the U.S. have used the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) score to evaluate the general customer satisfaction parameters surrounding car brands in the country. An interesting trend with car focused customer satisfaction indices is that the top spot is usually taken by an Asian carmaker, with some exceptions, while others have lagged behind. This also becomes evident once we look at historical data. In 2020, while Honda topped the charts for mass market segment, the subsequent years (2021 and '22) witnessed Subaru and Toyota tied for the top spot. The years 2022-23 saw Toyota retaining the top spot, while Subaru and Toyota were tied for the top spot again in 2024. As for 2025 the latest year for which ACSI data is available there is a slight change to the pecking order. Subaru, which has been a consistent player at the top, has yanked the title from Toyota once again. While Toyota retains the 2nd place, it shares the spot with another Japanese brand, Mazda this time around. Brands participating in the ACSI index are measured on a 0-100 scale, with scores exceeding the mid-70s widely thought to be great. In the 2025 ACSI survey, Subaru managed to hit a score of 85, two points up from its previous score of 83. Mazda and Toyota, are tied for the second place with 82 points each, and also with 82 points each, Honda, Buick, and GMC are jointly ranked third. What is clear from the ACSI Automobile Study 2025 is that Subaru has taken a comfortable lead over its rivals, and is easily thought to be the best car brand in the U.S. in terms of customer satisfaction. Advertisement Read more: Popular Synthetic Oil Brands Ranked Worst To Best What are the most customer-friendly luxury car brands? A 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid - Lexus If we move to the pricier, luxury car brands, we see Lexus another Japanese brand top the charts. With 87 points, the Toyota-owned subsidiary has leaped ahead of Mercedes-Benz, with which it shared the top spot in 2024. The German brand has to remain content with the second spot, scoring 82 points this time around, up one point from 2024. The third position is shared by Cadillac and Tesla, both notching up 81 points, respectively. Other notable entrants in the top eight include Acura with 78 points, Audi with 77 points, and BMW with 75 points. In addition to ranking the top customer-friendly car brands, the ACSI Index also reveals other interesting facets of the U.S car market. For example, the 2025 report reveals that while individual scores of top performers have seen a hike, the overall satisfaction levels have slightly dipped. ACSI blames this on the rising car prices, leading to customers having to stretch their loans. Another interesting trend observed by ACSI was the fact that owners of traditional gas-powered cars remain fairly satisfied, with numbers similar to those of hybrid owners. EV owners appear to be the most disappointed, which is mostly because of concerns around driving range, charging convenience, and future resale value. Advertisement Advertisement The findings of the 2025 ACSI Automobile Study are based on 9,949 individual surveys sent to random customers who were contacted via email. While this is a significant number, it is a noticeably smaller figure than the 12,173 people who participated in the 2024 study. 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. An inmate housed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York told the FBI he overheard guards talking about covering up Jeffrey Epsteins death on the morning he died. The federal governments online Epstein library contains a five-page handwritten report of an FBI interview with an inmate who awoke the morning of Aug. 10, 2019 to the loud commotion in the Special Housing Unit, or SHU, where he and Epstein were jailed. Breathe! Breathe! he recalled officers shouting about 6:30 a.m. Then he said he heard an officer say Dudes, you killed that dude. A female guard replied If he is dead, were going to cover it up and hes going to have an alibi -- my officers, the FBI notes said. The inmate claimed the whole wing overheard the exchange. Later, after learning Epstein had died, he said inmates said Miss Noel killed Jeffrey. He identified the female guard as Tova Noel, one of two correctional officers who were later charged with falsifying reports so that it appeared from their records that they had made their rounds that night when they had not. The charges against her and the other officer, Michael Thomas, were later dropped, but both were fired. Jeffrey Epsteins New York mugshot. File Photo courtesy of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice/ EPA-EFE The inmates account has not been substantiated, but it nevertheless raises questions about Epsteins in-custody death. Both the New York Medical Examiner and the U.S. Department of Justice concluded that Epstein died by suicide. Dr. Michael Baden, a forensic pathologist hired by Epsteins estate to attend the autopsy, has said he believes the injuries to Epstein were more akin to strangulation than suicide. Advertisement But the FBI report is likely to fan suspicion, as the New York Post also reported on Saturday that Noels bank flagged a $5,000 cash deposit she made to her Chase Bank account on July 30, 2019 a week after Epstein was found in his cell in what prison officials concluded was a suicide attempt on July 23, 2019. The official reports into that incident show that Epstein initially told prison officials that his cellmate had tried to kill him after extorting him for money. The Post also reported that on the morning of Epsteins death on Aug. 10, Noel searched the term latest on Epstein in jail twice once at 5:42 a.m. and again at 5:52 a.m., about 40 minutes before the other guard, Michael Thomas, found Epstein. Her bank records, which are in the files, showed that Noel received thousands of dollars in cash and Zelle payments in the months before Epstein died. She has not been charged with any crime. The Miami Herald was unsuccessful in reaching her attorney on Saturday. Epsteins former cellmate, Efrain Reyes, told prison officials that he told Epstein he would be safer if he paid inmates and guards for protection. Sources have told the Herald that Epstein did make protection payments. Noels bank records also reveal that she was making payments on a brand new Range Rover. But she was not asked about the cash during her DOJ interview. Epstein had three fractures on the left and right sides of his larynx, and Baden said it is rare for any bones to be broken in a hanging, let alone for multiple bones to be fractured. Those fractures are extremely unusual in suicidal hangings and could occur much more commonly in homicidal strangulation, said Baden, who added that there were hemorrhages in Epsteins eyes that are also more common in strangulation than in hangings. The DOJs official death investigation noted that none of the inmates who were interviewed had any credible information suggesting Epsteins cause of death was something other than suicide. The investigation also concluded that that three interviewed inmates with a direct line of sight into Epsteins cell door stated that no one entered or exited Epsteins cell after Epstein was locked into his cell the night before. A superbloom of wildflowers on the side of a road - Ovidiuhrubaru/Getty Images It's just about that time of the year again: spring. The days are lengthening, temperatures are cranking skywards, and snow is about to start melting across the mountains of America. It's prime time to begin planning those outdoor adventures, especially if you're a fan of wildflowers. And, let's face it, who isn't? According to Visit the USA, April heralds the beginning of the flower season in the stars and stripes. But there's an ace up the proverbial sleeve for 2026, because it looks as though some fabled "superblooms" could also be in the cards. These are rare natural phenomena that only occur once every few years, when an overload of flora bursts into life at the same time, usually in the wake of unusually high winter rainfall. And, according to weather forecasters, science publications, and other outlets, there could very well be some pinned on for the coming spring. Excited? This guide has done the legwork to list the five states that might just get the best darn superblooms of the lot. It's been inspired by publications across the travel industry, and cross-referenced with information from weather outlets and news agencies, all to pinpoint the places that could be in the running for incredible shows of flowers as winter gives way to warmer weather. Read more: 5 Unexpected Places You Can Park Your RV Overnight For Free California Wildflowers bloom on the flats of Death Valley, California - Ovidiuhrubaru/Getty Images California is very much ground zero for superbloom viewing in the spring of 2026. The main reason goes by the name of the Death Valley National Park, which, according to our research, is getting more press than just about any other springtime flower show in the whole of North America. Part of the hype is down to the fact that the region usually famed as the driest part of the United States has just seen one of the wettest falls on record. According to Weather.com, that's often a good precursor to a desert superbloom, and Death Valley isn't disappointing. Indeed, reports say that the national park is currently in the early stages of a once-in-a-decade bloom, with huge sweeps of blossoms emerging between the shifting sand hills and rugged canyons the valley is known for. The official National Park Service (NPS) page for Death Valley National Park lists the best places to spot the blooms in progress, noting how lower elevations will show early on in the spring, followed by superblooms higher up as summer approaches. Thing is, Death Valley is by no means the only place in California to chase flowers. Visit the USA name-drops Joshua Tree National Park, where cacti flowers, lupins, and poppies can all blanket the Mojave and Sonoran deserts come early spring. I can also personally recommend the whole of the Central Coast. I was there in April 2025 and, while it wasn't considered an official superbloom year, there were spectacular shows of California poppies, sorrel, and paintbrush dashing along scenic Highway 101 between San Diego and Sonoma. Texas A meadow of blue flowers in Texas at sunset - Billy Mcdonald/Getty Images A recent article on Travel and Tour World says that the Lone Star State will see upwards of 5,000 species blooming along its highways as it joins the various parts of the U.S. in what's proving to be a bumper year for native flora. And one flower is set to stand out more than perhaps any other: the bluebonnet. The website of the Office of the Texas Governor confirms it as the official state flower, and there's even a state highway budget for spreading bluebonnet seed a whopping 30,000 pounds of it each year! along the roadways here. According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center of the University of Texas, flowering patterns can vary across the state, though the Carolina jessamine is expected to start blooming early in 2026, followed by firewheel, purple horsemint, and other flora later in the spring season. The center notes, however, that weather and local irrigation make all the difference. It's a sentiment echoed by TravelTexas.com, who points out that, while blooms can be tricky to pinpoint between seasons, there are a few reliable spots to get your fix of the lovely bluebonnet and its wildflower pals. Where might those spots be, you ask? Well, surely, the wildflower capital of Texas in Cuero should be close to the top of the list. It's the hub of a county that counts over 1,000 wildflower types, with a designated wildflower month throughout all of April. Then there's Big Bend National Park in the far southwest of Texas, where the NPS website says there are regular blooms of bluebonnets and yucca even in years without much rain. Nevada Wildflowers in the canyons of Nevada - Denistangneyjr/Getty Images The fact that California is prepping for a big-bloom year means that things inevitably look promising just over the state line in Nevada, too. The reason? Many of the desert regions that see superblooms in the Golden State naturally spill across into the Silver State. Take the aforementioned Death Valley National Park, which actually extends over 43,000 acres into Nevada, hosting a unique eco zone on the edge of the high desert where juniper and Joshua trees will bloom come the spring. Advertisement True enough, recent reports by The Nevada Globe show that the Death Valley superbloom of 2026 is very much accessible from this side of the state line. But it's also not the only wildflower attraction in the region. The size, ecological diversity, and varied altitudes of this state mean that it can offer different flower spotting locations from the beginning of March all the way to the peak summer months. You might not even have to stray that far from the casinos of Las Vegas, since the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area located under 20 minutes' drive from the city offers visions of Indian paintbrush and fireweed when blooms begin, while agave and cholla cacti spring into life a little later. Others recommend the adventure-filled mountain escape of Carson City, a gateway to a whole valley that's filled with desert peach, poppies, and more. Arizona A carpet of yellow flowers in the mountains of Arizona - Jeffgoulden/Getty Images The Grand Canyon State is yet another part of the country where you might want to consider going in search of the fabled superbloom this year. Speaking to "The Show" on radio station KJZZ Phoenix in February 2026, Theresa Crimmins from the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona said, "I think we're in for a treat no matter what. Because when we get this much rain, something's going to flower. Lots of stuff is gonna flower." Promising words, but where's best to catch those flowers, and what sort of flowers can you expect to find in a state that lays claim to a city that's the "sunniest place on Earth"? AZ Central recommends the Picacho Peak State Park, a reserve that spreads out below the soaring bluff of its namesake mountain to showcase wide spreads of flowers sprouting straight from the desert. The vibrant desert hiking paradise of Lost Dutchman State Park is listed as another doozy. It's a mere 40 miles outside of Phoenix but reveals visions of desert hyacinths and gleaming golden brittlebush among other flora. Don't pin all your hopes on a superbloom courtesy of Arizona, though. As the official website of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum explains, the phenomenon relies on a delicate balance of temperature and rain to encourage germination, going back as far as the previous fall. It also stresses that if superblooms do swing by, they're usually only short lived often just two weeks in total! Tennessee A sunset over the blooming asters of the Great Smoky Mountains - anthony heflin/Shutterstock With the onset of the early blooms across Death Valley and the western deserts this 2026, it can be tempting to focus on just one side of the USA when it comes to a-hunting majestic flower displays. But there are other potential superbloomers in the east, with one national park in particular standing out from the crowd: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, America's most-visited national park. The NPS explains why budding (no pun intended) botanists should have this one on the radar. The park hosts over 1,500 species of flowering plants, for starters, plus, the shows begin nice and early with the sprouting of species known as spring ephemerals, which pop up, bloom, and disappear again within just 60 days. The Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage has been beckoning people to this corner of Appalachia for over 75 years. It runs programs to help people learn all about the unique array of mushrooms, trees, wildlife, and of course wildflowers that abound in the peaks of the Smokies. If you prefer to fly solo, then there are stacks of flower-filled hiking routes across two states, since this national park spreads across the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. However, Hikinginthesmokys.com picks out the Rich Mountain Loop on the Tennessee side as one of the most varied around, with its big showings of hawkweed, azaleas, laurel the list goes on! Methodology Wildflowers bloom under some bluffs in Utah - Lightphoto/Getty Images Since there's no official list of all the places expecting a superbloom across the USA in any given year, we crafted our selection from multiple sources. We searched for publications indicating specific destinations that looked set for high bloom activity in the coming spring. These included Visit the USA's guide to major wildflower destinations, an article on Travel and Tour World, a piece from the National Audubon Society, and a piece on national parks with major upcoming blooms on Travelhost. We cross-referenced places mentioned in these articles with news streams to check if weather publications or other travel publications were indicating potential superbloom activity in the spring of 2026, and formed our list of five spots by selecting the ones that showed most promise. Note that a mention on this list does not guarantee an official superbloom. Rather, the places here are ranked because they are generally well-known flower hotspots, and there's a buzz or expectation about potential superblooms in the upcoming season. 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. Some of the documents that helped shape the United States are temporarily leaving Washington, D.C., ahead of Americas 250th anniversary, giving many Americans a rare chance to see them in person. The "Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation" launched by The National Archives is bringing founding-era records out of the nations capital and into communities across the country. The nationwide tour kicked off Friday at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, where visitors can walk through a specially prepared exhibit room to see several historic documents up close. The historical records are traveling around the country on what organizers call the Freedom Plane, a specially marked aircraft for the tour. Rare And Original American Founding Documents To Fly On Freedom Plane Across Nation An early document related to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution is displayed inside the Freedom Plane exhibit at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City. (Fox News) Boeing pilot Joe Seymour, who helped fly the Freedom Plane, said the mission carried special meaning. Read On The Fox News App "These are the Founding Fathers of the United States, and theres a great pride that comes with that. To say its a privilege or an honor would really be an understatement," Seymour said. Jesse Kratzer, a historian with the National Archives, said many of the records rarely leave the National Archives building, giving the public an unusual opportunity to view history closer to home. Among the documents featured in the exhibit are the Articles of Association from 1774; George Washingtons oath of allegiance from 1778; oaths of allegiance signed by Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1778; the Treaty of Paris from 1783; a tally of votes approving the Constitution from 1787; a secret printing of the Constitution in draft form from 1787; and an 1823 engraving of the Declaration of Independence. This list shows several founding-era documents featured in the National Archives Freedom Plane national tour. Kratzer said some of the documents allow visitors to see the founders handwriting up close. "When I touch this piece of paper, Im touching the same piece of paper that Alexander Hamilton touched," Kratzer said. "He signed it Alex Hamilton." Advertisement America's 250Th Anniversary Sparks Travel Rush As Experts Issue Urgent Booking Warning The documents are displayed under carefully controlled conditions in a dimly lit room designed to protect the centuries-old paper. "We have them wrapped in mylar and then they are also encapsulated with plexiglass," Kratzer said. "So basically theyre in their own microclimates." A historical record showing votes approving the U.S. Constitution in 1787 is displayed as part of the National Archives Freedom Plane exhibit touring the country. The exhibit tells the story of the nations founding, tracing the events that led to the creation of the United States government. "This exhibit itself is really a history of the American Revolution, the creation of our government and then the creation of the Bill of Rights within one small space," Kratzer said. Read: The Declaration Of Independence Museum leaders say the exhibit brings together pieces of American history that many people have only read about in textbooks. "These fundamental documents record all those happenings as our forebears sought to define who we were and who we wanted to be as Americans," said Matthew Naylor, president and CEO of the National World War I Museum and Memorial. The Freedom Plane sits on the tarmac before transporting historic founding-era documents for the National Archives nationwide tour. Kansas City was chosen as the starting point for the national tour, a decision Naylor said highlights the importance of bringing the exhibit to communities beyond the East Coast. "Why not for them to be in the heartland, in the Midwest as the beginning of this tour," Naylor said. A map shows the cities included in the National Archives "Freedom Plane" national tour, which begins in Kansas City before traveling to Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, Denver, Miami, Dearborn, and Seattle. Click Here To Download The Fox News App The exhibit will remain in Kansas City through March 22 before the tour moves to Atlanta and other cities across the country. It will end in Seattle in August. A full schedule of tour stops and dates is available on the National Archives website. Original article source: Rare, historic US documents traveling country on 'Freedom Plane' ahead of America's 250th anniversary Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday underscored Tehrans relationship with Moscow, as reports that Russia is providing the Middle Eastern country with intelligence have surfaced amid the U.S. military campaign in the region. A military cooperation between Iran and Russia is not something new. Its not a secret. It has been in the past, and its still there, and will continue in the future, Araghchi told NBC Newss Kristen Welker on Meet The Press, describing the relationship as a very good partnership. Welker pressed Araghchi, asking the foreign minister, So they are helping you? They are providing intelligence? Well, they are helping us in many different directions, Araghchi responded. I dont have any detailed information. President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have dismissed concerns that Russia is supporting Iran, as its conflict with the U.S. and Israel stretches into its second week. Hegseth said no ones putting us in danger when asked by CBS Newss Major Garrett about reports that Russia provided information on U.S. bases to Iran. Were putting the other guys in danger, thats our job, so were not concerned about that, he told the outlet. Advertisement On Friday, meanwhile, Trump dismissed a question about reported Russian interference in the conflict during a White House roundtable about 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. Soon after the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran last week, Russian officials condemned the operation, calling for a ceasefire and labeling the military campaign a preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state. On Sunday, Araghchi dismissed international calls for a ceasefire, characterizing the conflict as unprovoked, unwarranted. [The U.S. and Israel] have to explain why they started this aggression before we come to the point to even consider a ceasefire, he told Welker. Of course, nobody wants to continue this war. This is not our war. 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 of the UAE Al Nahyan in Moscow Russia has issued a warning to its neighbor Finland regarding the potential placement of nuclear weapons on Finnish soil. Moscow responded angrily to the Nordic nation - a NATO member - moving to remove the current complete prohibition on atomic weapons. The two nations share an extensive 830-mile border, roughly equivalent to the distance in Britain from Land's End to John O'Groats. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned: "We have indeed seen this statement [from Finland], which leads to an escalation of tensions on the European continent. It is a statement that adds to Finland's vulnerability, a vulnerability that has been provoked by the actions of the Finnish authorities. Russia currently possesses the world's largest nuclear arsenal, whilst Finland has no atomic weapons (Image: East2west News) "The fact is that by placing nuclear weapons on its territory, Finland is beginning to threaten us. And if Finland threatens us, we will take appropriate measures." Russia currently possesses the world's largest nuclear arsenal, whilst Finland has no atomic weapons. Helsinki president Alexander Stubb announced that Finland was eliminating "legislative obstacles" to hosting nuclear weapons. Such a scenario would only be likely in the event of World War Three. The move "is not about Finland facing any acute or sudden security threat. Advertisement "It is about ensuring that we can participate fully in NATO's nuclear planning," he stated during a visit to India. Over the past year, Russia has been reconstructing bases and military infrastructure near Finland, whilst Helsinki has responded with stricter border measures, increased war games and an expanding NATO presence in the north. Satellite imagery reveals Moscow is expanding troop facilities, vehicle storage, and aviation infrastructure near the border. Finland has scheduled 122 military exercises for 2026 and has agreed to host NATO Forward Land Forces, transforming Europe's far north into one of the alliance's newest strategic focal points. EU member Finland only joined NATO in 2023, with neighboring Sweden following a year later in response to Vladimir Putin's blatant aggression in Ukraine. Finland lost significant portions of Karelia to the Soviet Union during World War II, territory that remains part of Russia today. Finland was under Russian imperial rule from 1809 to 1917 - 108 years - before gaining independence following the Russian Revolution. The Soviet Union occupied parts of Finland during 1939-40 and from 1941-44. ]]> Sunset over Clarks Hill Lake with boats docked - @jillbotosrealtor / Instagram Georgia is home to a number of quaint coastal cities, but some of its most underrated enclaves are hours away from the ocean. Tucked away in Lincoln County near the Savannah River, South Carolina's scenic river byway, and nicknamed "Georgia's Freshwater Coast," visitors will find the rural community of Lincolnton. Home to the freshwater Clarks Hill Lake one of the largest inland lakes in the country, at 150,000 acres Lincolnton is a prime spot for outdoorsy travelers seeking numerous trails, parks, and opportunities for waterfront recreation. For everything from swimming to camping or fishing, this under-the-radar small town is a gem. From exploring state parks like Elijah Clark State Park, where you'll find a portion of the expansive lake, to paddling along the Broad River Water Trail, Lincolnton offers an abundance of lakefront and outdoor fun. And apart from exploring Lincolnton's nature, you'll find lots of charm right within town too, thanks to its abundance of history. First named the seat of Lincoln County in 1800, Lincolnton was officially incorporated 17 years later. A number of surviving 19th-century buildings can be found within Lincoln County Historical Park, which is dedicated to preserving the history of rural Georgia, including a log cabin, a gin mill, a cane syrup mill, and a blacksmith's shop. Lincolnton is roughly an hour from Georgia's best college town,Athens, as well as Augusta, where you'll find the closest airport, Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field, which offers a limited selection of flights. For a larger airport with more options, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a little over two hours away. Read more: The Types Of Airport Food Every Traveler Should Avoid (And Why) Outdoor activities in Lincolnton, Georgia Lake in Elijah Clark State Park - @pamelas_vsgjourney2020 / Instagram Georgia is full of beautiful bodies of water, like Carter's Lake, better known as the "Miracle in the Mountains". Lincolnton is no stranger to waterfront views either. This little town's lakeside fun starts at Elijah Clark State Park, which encompasses a portion of Clarks Hill Lake. The lake offers 1,200 miles of coastline and extends past the South Carolina border, where it's known as J.Strom Thurmond Lake. The state park, for its part, covers nearly 450 acres and features a sandy beach and boat ramps, ideal for outdoor recreation like swimming, boating, and paddling. Visitors looking to stay overnight can even opt to stay in one of the park's 20 cottages or enjoy one of the campsites. Advertisement "I was not expecting just how big this (campsite) would be!" said the Trails and Taps travel blog when describing the park's campsite, which offers open space overlooking the water. "It really felt like a getaway because it was so different than the lakes we are used to at home." For paddling, head to the Broad River Water Trail, which is part of the Piedmont area, a unique geographic region of hills, valleys, and rivers, and one of the state's few remaining free-flowing rivers of its kind. Running for 70 miles, the water trail leads from the Hudson and Middle Fork Broad rivers into the 665-acre Bobby Brown State Park, which is home to a segment of Clarks Hill Lake and riverfront camping. Of the water trail's 10 different access points, eight are located on private property, but each still offers public boat launch access. Other things to do in Lincolnton, Georgia Water and trees in Elijah Clark State Park - @athena_sarah / Instagram Apart from getting out on the water, Clarks Hill Lake is also a prime spot for hiking. The Clark Hill Lakeview Trail is a popular choice, with a 4.5 rating on AllTrails. Winding around the lake for nearly 7 miles, the loop takes around 2.5 hours to complete. For a shorter trail, Cliatt Creek Nature Loop is just under 2 miles and offers quiet forest views. As of 2026, Lincolnton's population is just over 1,400 people, according to World Population Review, so you'll find plenty of small-town charm while exploring Georgia's freshwater coast. For lakefront dining, head to Soap Creek Social, located on the marina. Here, you'll find a range of burgers and sandwiches, along with Southern fare like fried catfish and shrimp po' boys. For classic Southern fried chicken, head to the Chicken House, rated a 4.5 on Google. 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. Forested hills spread out below Annapolis Rock in South Mountain State Park, Maryland - Tyangmd/Getty Images Western Maryland is a peculiar place. Far from well-known cities like Baltimore and Annapolis, the panhandle wedges itself between Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This narrow strip of land blends seamlessly with the Appalachian Mountains and forests all around, and travelers generally come here to enjoy nature and outdoor activities. If you know Maryland as a state of coastal charm and unmatched seafood on Chesapeake Bay, the Panhandle feels like a totally different world. Yet it's also far from Pittsburgh, the closest major city to the west. South Mountain State Park sets the tone for the whole region: These woods cover about 10,000 acres, and about 40 miles of the Appalachian Trail run across its corrugated terrain. Rocky trails wind among the trees, and you'll find trails here for hikers of all skill levels. If you're looking for a simple day hike, consider hiking the Appalachian Trail to Annapolis Rock spanning about 5 miles, it's a great way to soak in the views. For something more challenging, the trek from Washington Monument to Annapolis Rock sees you climb over 1,800 feet of elevation across 11 miles, making it a strenuous adventure for experienced hikers. If you decide to hike the latter, you'll get to witness the centerpiece of South Mountain State Park Annapolis Rock. Pictured above, this is a dramatic outcropping that overlooks the canopy and farmland below. A similar lookout point is Black Rock Vista, which is tethered to the same trail system and offers similar views. If you're ready to explore the park, you'll be glad to know it's fairly easy to reach. Located about 60 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., South Mountain Park is convenient to drive to along the Baltimore National Pike. Read more: 5 Unexpected Places You Can Park Your RV Overnight For Free The dramatic backdrop of South Mountain State Park A map introduces hikers to the Thurston Griggs Trail in Maryland - Alejandro Guzmani/Shutterstock You may be surprised to know that South Mountain State Park is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a range that is most commonly associated with Virginia and the Carolinas. The park has several parking areas, but there's no formal entryway, and admission is free. Naturalists will find plenty to enjoy here, especially in the warmer months. You're likely to spot white-tailed deer, rat snakes, and opossums, among other native species; the region is home to black bears, which are generally harmless but do appreciate some personal space. For much of the year, you'll hear songbirds in the trees, and this park is located along the Atlantic Flyway, so hawks and owls routinely migrate through here as well. Prime seasons here mirror the best times of year to hike the Appalachian Trail. Advertisement History buffs have long been attracted to this region. South Mountain State Park is close to Pennsylvania, and more importantly, the Mason-Dixon Line. Western Maryland was a hot zone during the Civil War, and armies from the North and South fought bitter battles along this rustic frontier. The Battle of South Mountain was a massive 1862 face-off between Union General George B. McClellan and Confederate General Robert E. Lee, involving 46,000 soldiers and resulting in 5,000 casualties. Today, you can visit the South Mountain State Battlefield, located just a few miles south of the park. How to get to South Mountain and where to stay A couple walks down a colorful street in Hagerstown, Maryland - John M. Chase/Getty Images The most realistic way to get to South Mountain is by car. Interstate 70 passes right by the park, so you can readily drive here from Washington, D.C. (1 hour and 45 minutes) or Pittsburgh (3 hours). The countryside is beautiful around these parts, and road-trippers with extra time have plenty of backroads to explore. Sizable Greenbrier State Park and Gathland State Park are both located nearby. Many travelers will pass through here on foot, thanks to the connective power of the Appalachian Trail, and local towns see a steady stream of thru-hikers in search of fresh supplies and warm showers. South Mountain is about 20 miles from the old Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal; this former tow path has been converted into a 184-mile bike trail between D.C. and Cumberland, where it joins with the Great Allegheny Passage, so cyclists can continue to Pittsburgh. For bike-tourists, South Mountain makes for a scenic detour. Part of South Mountain's appeal is its proximity to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia's wildly underrated town that boasts a national historic park, shops, and local dining. The town itself is one of the most beautiful communities in the region, with preserved 19th-century buildings, soaring cliffs, and the photogenic confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. You'll find lots of traditional country inns here. Meanwhile, dozens of regular hotels are located in nearby Hagerstown (9 miles from the park). For RVers and tent-campers, established campgrounds are scattered across the region. 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. The attack took place in Saudi Arabia -Credit:Getty Images (Getty Images) A seventh U.S. service member has died in the Iran war, according to officials. "Last night, a U.S. service member passed away from injuries received during the Iranian regime's initial attacks across the Middle East," US Central Command said on X. "The service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on U.S. troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1." The service member will not be identified until their next of kin have been notified. President Donald Trump on Saturday stood alongside mourning families at Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer ceremony honoring the other six U.S. soldiers who perished in the Middle East conflict. Key information about the four identified American soldiers killed in Iran war American soldiers captured in Iran war, says Tehran official The dignified transfer, a solemn ceremony that returns the remains of U.S. service members killed in combat, is regarded as one of the most heartbreaking responsibilities of any commander in chief. During his first term, Trump described witnessing the transfer as "the toughest thing I have to do" as president, reports the Express US. "It's a very sad day," Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew back to Florida later Saturday afternoon, saying that he was "glad we paid our respects." Advertisement A seventh U.S. servicemember has died following an Iranian attack -Credit:Getty He said the relatives of the fallen are "great people, great parents, wives, family" and said that the "parents were so proud." Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance attended the transfer ceremony, accompanied by their spouses. Numerous senior administration officials were present, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who posted on social media Friday about "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. Governors and senators from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Florida also attended the somber ceremony. The families remained mostly quiet as they witnessed the ceremony, which continued for approximately half an hour -Credit:AFP via Getty Images The fallen service members were Maj. Jeffrey O'Brien, 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, Iowa, who received a posthumous promotion from specialist. Following standard protocol, Trump - dressed in a blue suit, red tie and a white USA hat - remained silent throughout the transfer. The president rendered a salute as each flag-draped transfer case was carried from the military plane to waiting transfer vehicles, which would transport them to a mortuary facility for preparation ahead of their final burial. The families remained mostly quiet as they witnessed the ceremony, which continued for approximately half an hour. The six members of the Army Reserve, who perished in a drone attack at a command center in Kuwait, were all serving with the 103rd Sustainment Command headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, which delivers food, fuel, water and ammunition, as well as transporting equipment and supplies. Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories They lost their lives just one day after the U.S. and Israel initiated its military operation 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." BOSTON (WWLP) Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio detailed her offices work, ongoing transparency disputes with legislative leaders, and recent findings of waste and fraud during an appearance on 22News In Focus at the Statehouse. Focus on Massachusetts fraud has AG girding for another lawsuit The wideranging interview, hosted by Patrick Berry, focused on the auditors responsibilities, the legal fight over a voterapproved ballot initiative, and the need for stronger oversight across state agencies. DiZoglio began by explaining the basics of her offices mission: auditing state agencies, departments, and entities to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and effectively. She emphasized that the office does not audit individual residents and instead focuses on areas such as the MBTA, Department of Transportation, Department of Children and Families (DCF), MassHealth, and programs like Mass Save. Among the highprofile areas under review is the MBTA, where DiZoglio said audits routinely uncover issues in safety, employee training, vendor contracts, and accountability measures. She noted that public transportation has struggled across multiple administrations and that western Massachusetts residents have long advocated for an eastwest rail. DiZoglio also pointed to troubling findings within DCF, including inconsistent oversight of prescription drugs administered to children in state custody and gaps in access to behavioral health specialists. The auditors office issued a series of recommendations that DCF is expected to address. A January audit identified roughly $12 million in public benefit fraud, including cases involving SNAP and MassHealth. DiZoglio shared her personal experience growing up housinginsecure, stressing the importance of preserving these programs for families who truly rely on them. She said identifying fraud ensures resources remain available for residents in need. Massachusetts audit reveals over $11 million in public assistance fraud She also referenced recent findings from U.S. Attorney Leah Foley, whose office uncovered an alleged $67 million fraud scheme involving a convenience store, an example of how abuse can drain taxpayerfunded programs. Much of the interview centered on the stalled implementation of a 2024 ballot initiative, approved by 72% of Massachusetts voters, that would expand the auditors oversight authority to include the state Legislature. According to DiZoglio, legislative leadersHouse Speaker and Senate Presidenthave blocked the measure from taking effect by questioning its constitutionality. The auditor criticized the legislative leaderships resistance, saying lawmakers who support transparency risk losing stipends, chairmanships, or even funding for local projects. She argued that voters, not politicians, should determine the scope of oversight. Her office has since filed its own lawsuit, submitting more than 150 pages of communications documenting attempts to receive legal support. DiZoglio also noted that although the Attorney General originally approved the ballot question as constitutional, the office later shifted its position after receiving a significant budget increasean action DiZoglio implied reflected political pressure. One of DiZoglios primary concerns is the Legislatures ability to exempt itself from public records laws, unlike cities and towns that must release receipts upon request. She said residents can easily access municipal records, but spending by lawmakersincluding stipends, bonuses, travel, and office supply purchasesremains shielded from public view. Advertisement The pennies add up, she said, adding that millions of dollars move through the Legislature each cycle without standard transparency requirements. The auditor noted that her office employs about 200 staff statewide, including a Chicopee regional office, and is legally required to audit at least 200 state entities every three yearsa mandate she says her office met for the first time in decades. However, she argued that lawmakers have not granted her the increases needed to expand investigations into nonprofits or other areas receiving state funds. DiZoglio encouraged residents to contact their legislators to demand proper funding and support for the offices transparency efforts. Judge rejects DiZoglio bid for representation in legislative audit case We just want to be able to do our job, DiZoglio said, reiterating that the office seeks only to review financial documents and state contractsnot personal communications or legislative authority. She said the courts should decide the matter and emphasized that the Constitution is designed to protect the public. If the Legislature followed the law, she said, we wouldnt even need a court case. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. FIRST ON FOX: Nearly 28,000 Americans have returned from the Middle East, according to the State Department, which outlined a large-scale evacuation effort as Senate Democrats escalated criticism over the conflict in Iran. A top State Department official, in a letter to Senate Democrats first obtained by Fox News Digital, noted that since fighting in Iran escalated following Operation Epic Fury, the agency has "taken proactive, rapid action to support Americans in the region." That has included chartered flights, ground transport from closed-airspace areas and round-the-clock crisis staffing. Us Embassy Urges Americans In Iraq To Shelter In Place Until Further Notice Paul Guaglianone, the State Departments senior bureau official of legislative affairs, wrote in a letter to several Senate Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that before the strikes, the agency "planned immediate measures to protect and evacuate U.S. citizens." The letter comes as diplomats and officials have faced "multiple direct strikes from the Iranian regime." Read On The Fox News App "The professionalism and competence of Americas diplomatic corps are inspiring," Guaglianone wrote. "The Department has taken all necessary steps to protect its safety, both in the region and at posts worldwide." American Stuck In Middle East Escapes In Race To Reach Critically Ill Husband In California Rescue workers and military personnel survey the scene of a direct hit a day after an Iranian missile struck in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Images) "Despite ongoing threats, our diplomats remain active and focused," he continued. "They continue to communicate with our allies and partners and advance American diplomatic interests." His letter responds directly to criticism from Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., who argued that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Trump administration have "not prioritized getting experienced ambassadors in place in the Middle East," leading to a breakdown in evacuating diplomats and Americans since the strikes began. Advertisement The lawmakers noted that three ambassadors were dismissed in Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt "without explanation," and that the administration is behind in finding replacements and filling vacancies. Americans Stranded In Dubai Face Repeated Flight Cancellations Amid Iran Escalation Sen. Jeanne Shaheen speaks at a press conference with other Senate Democrats who voted to restore government funding on Nov. 9, 2025. "Of the 14 countries where the Department urged Americans to urgently leave last Monday, only six have confirmed ambassadors," the lawmakers wrote. "There are currently no pending nominees before the Senate for ambassadorships in the Middle East. As a result, many key posts are without experienced senior leadership at a time of crisis." "Simply put, abrupt decision-making and lack of planning by State Department leadership to ensure the safety and security of its own staff left our personnel and their families unnecessarily at risk," they continued. "Days into the conflict, the Department still appears caught off-guard and lacks a clear, comprehensive plan to safeguard American personnel, their families or other Americans in the region." Guaglianone noted that the agency is providing frequent updates to more than 106,000 Americans enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, operating a 24/7 call center with no wait times and responding quickly to congressional inquiries while coordinating closely with lawmakers to assist constituents. He also wrote that the agency is chartering additional planes for Americans as more commercial flights become available in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Oman, and that ground transportation is being offered to expand relocation options for Americans in places with closed airspace. Click Here To Download The Fox News App Americans in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel who complete the Crisis Intake form receive direct outreach about upcoming charter aviation and ground transportation options from the agency. "At this time, nearly one in three American citizens who requested help departing turn down U.S. government-provided transportation options when contacted," Guaglianone wrote. "Some American citizens wish to remain in-country, while others prefer an alternative departure option." Original article source: State Department defends 'proactive' evacuation efforts against Dems' claims of diplomatic chaos This story have been updated with additional information. The Springfield Public Schools board will review 13 applicants for the seat left vacant by Heather Quaas-Annsa. Among the applicants are several people who have sought public office before. Quaas-Annsa resigned Feb. 5 amid controversy, a flurry of complaints, a recall petition and mid-year layoffs, citing concerns about her and her family's well-being. She was the third SPS board member to resign in the past 18 months. Quaas-Annsa originally was appointed to fill a vacancy in September 2024 after Emilio Hernandez resigned. She then ran and won the seat in May 2025. Thirteen Springfield residents are now looking to take her place. This is a similar level of interest compared to when Quaas-Annsa was first appointed in 2024. She was selected from 12 candidates. The applicants will be interviewed during the March 9 meeting, which starts at 4 p.m. Whoever is appointed to the seat will serve through June 2027. The unexpired term will appear on the May 2027 special election ballot to finish out Quaas-Annsa's term that was set to expire in June 2029. Who applied for the vacant Springfield school board seat? SPS published the list of applicants in the upcoming special meeting agenda. The Register-Guard obtained the applications themselves via a public records request. Those who follow local school governance may recognize some of the applicant names. Zach Bessett Zach Bessett is a social services specialist in child welfare at Oregon Department of Human Services. Bessett previously served on the SPS board. He was elected in 2017 when he ran unopposed. He did not run for a second term in 2021. In his application, he stated his experience could be helpful in getting back to governance and attracting quality superintendent applicants. Bessett was board chair when SPS hired Hamilton in 2019 and much of his application centers around the need to find a new superintendent. The board intends to select an interim before July 1 and launch the search for a permanent superintendent in the 2026-27 school year. "I said Id never do this again. But it feels right and I cant stop caring about SPS," Bessett's application states. Bessett makes clear he's not seeking a long-term seat on the board. Matthew Brandt Matthew Brandt is a software service engineer for Inseego Corp. Brandt stated in his application his professional background would translate directly to board service: making decisions using evidence, understanding tradeoffs, asking the right questions, maintaining composure, and improving systems so the same problems dont repeat. Brandt listed his main interests if appointed as student-centered outcomes, well-rounded instruction, stability for staff and students, transparency and trust, and accountability with respect. He also mentioned fiscal clarity and stability. Brandt has spoken during public comment multiple times. After the mid-year layoffs that rocked the district in January, he started a petition at springfieldbridgeplan.org, calling for a reversal of the board's decision to cut licensed jobs. It garnered just over 1,000 signatures. Robert (Bob) K. Brew Robert (Bob) K. Brew is a now-retired former Eugene and Springfield city employee, where he worked in various financial management roles. He has also served on the Springfield City Council, the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission and the Oregon Student Access Commission. Brew stated that his years of public service have given him a collaborative mindset, fiscal expertise and a strong sense of accountability. Brew ran in the 2025 SPS board election, but lost to Amber Langworthy. He also applied to fill a vacancy on the Lane Community College Board of Directors, however, the board became deadlocked between him and one other candidate. If chosen, Brew stated he would want to focus on restoring public trust in the board and district. Jill E. Cuadros Jill E. Cuadros is the support services director for Eugene School District 4J. Cuadros stated in her application that with everything the district is facing, it needs policy-focused governance. As a school district administrator in a neighboring district, she said she understands the complexity of public education systems and can offer calm, thoughtful leadership grounded in experience. Cuadros stated if she were selected, she'd like to help restore trust internally with board members and SPS staff and externally with families and community members. She'd want to help the board function so the district can remain focused on student outcomes. Notably, Cuadros also applied for the vacancy on the Springfield City Council, left open by Beth Blackwell, who stepped down in December. Danea deGlee Danea deGlee has been a school psychologist at Bethel School District for over a decade. According to her resume, deGlee completes, on average, 50 to 60 special education evaluations per year. She said her understanding of special education could be useful in developing policies and making decisions on the board. She also served on the Oregon School Psychologists Association from 2017 to 2023. In her application, deGlee stated her role at Bethel has allowed her work in all levels of the school district and see firsthand the impacts district decisions have on students. If selected, deGlee said her focus would be on ensuring the best educational outcomes for all students and helping teachers and staff to have the tools necessary to achieve those outcomes. Emily Dodson Emily Dodson is a recent classified worker at SPS, having been an educational assistant, transition assistant and special education teacher. She also runs a nail salon, The Nail Niche. Dodson no longer works at SPS while she pursues her master's degree in teaching with a focus in special education, but said she still deeply cares about the district as a community member and parent. She also attended SPS herself. Advertisement Dodson stated in her application that her graduate studies have strengthened her understanding of educational law, instructional best practices, inclusive education and data-driven decision-making, which would serve her in the role. If selected, Dodson would want to focus on strengthening special education services, expanding access to career and technical education pathways and ensuring students receive academic and social-emotional supports. Kayleen Keller Kayleen Keller is an accounting receivable specialist at Two Rivers Surgical Center in Eugene. She stated in her application that she has administrative experience, excellent communication, organization and time management and knows she'd be a great addition to the board. Keller stated her special interests if appointed would be in extracurricular activities, lunch programs, mental health access, teacher hiring process and class sizes. She graduated from Springfield High in 2007 and has lived in the district for 30 years. Guy Latham Guy Latham is a commercial truck driver for Bigfoot Beverages. In his application, he stated he has two children who are eligible students, but doesn't say whether they are enrolled at SPS. He stated he's seen the issues at SPS and thinks the district can do better. Latham also mentioned he was formerly in law enforcement and has an interest in student safety as well as special education programs and staff. If appointed, Latham would like to help improve the communitys opinion of the school district and find ways to increase enrollment. Devon Lawson Devon Lawson is a student at Lane Community College who has been heavily involved in local and state government. He also serves on the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and on LCC's Bond Oversight Committee. He stated his work has prepared him for a role on the school board. Lawson is a 2025 Springfield High graduate with two younger siblings and a brother-in-law currently enrolled at SPS. Lawson mentioned the $10.4 million budget deficit, the superintendent transition and the ongoing Oregon Department of Education investigation in his application. He called the situation a "a five-alarm fire" that needs steady hands like his to handle. Lawson previously ran for the LCC board in the 2025 election, but lost to Julie Weismann. He was also a chief petitioner on a recall petition against Quaas-Annsa, Ken Kohl and Nicole De Graff, following their votes to approve the 27 mid-year layoffs. Lawson has since dropped the recall petitions for Quaas-Annsa and Kohl, and he told The Register-Guard that another individual is heading the petition against De Graff. He stated if appointed, he would be committed to working collaboratively with every seated member to bring stability back to SPS. Krista May Krista May is building operations manager for Eugene City Hall and a volunteer coordinator for Eugene Public Library. She is also a parent of two children currently enrolled at SPS. She stated her professional experience has given her a strong understanding of governance, budgeting and community engagement as well as taught her the importance of transparency, accountability and equity. If selected, May stated she would want to support policies that prioritize student well-being, academic excellence and inclusivity. She'd also want to strengthen collaboration between families, educators, and the community and ensure that SPS prepares students for lifelong success. May stated in her application that as a parent, she is deeply invested in the district's success. Hunter Murphy Hunter Murphy is a current senior at Thurston High School and the schools' Associated Student Body president. He regularly presents at board meetings as a student representative. In a February meeting, he also gave public comment, criticizing the board and district for its decision to go through with mid-year teacher layoffs. If selected, Murphy stated he would aim to bring students back to the forefront of how the board conducts its decision-making. He also said he has become an advocate for mental health and integration of people with both physical and cognitive disabilities at SPS. Murphy is set to graduate this year and is heavily involved in his church, East Side Baptist Church. Christina Scott Christina Scott is a mother of two an elementary schooler and a high schooler. She stated she had to transfer her older child from SPS due to "corruption" in the district, but now has time to fix the foundation. If appointed, she intends to rally the community in support of students becoming future community leaders. Scott stated she would like to step up for all children who are unseen and unsupported at home. She said she personally was saved by her public school system and wants SPS to offer the same. Scott's application states she operated a full food pantry during the pandemic, offering snacks, clothing and supplies to Springfield community members. She said she delivered meals to 150 children every day with the help of three lunch ladies. If appointed, Scott said her interest would be in special education as her younger son is in special education. Brody Wasson Brody Wasson is an executive administrative assistant for Affinity Property Management. He also is the current marketing committee chair for the Springfield Education Foundation. In his application, Wasson said his professional and SEF experience have allowed him to develop a strong understanding of board governance and equipped him to make complex decisions. Wasson is an SPS alum himself, having graduated from Springfield High School. If selected, he intends to run in the election in 2027. Wasson stated if appointed, his primary interest would be collaboration and stabilization, given the departure of former superintendent Todd Hamilton. He stated he is committed to working constructively with fellow board members, administrators, educators, and the community to ensure continuity, transparency and forward progress. Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on X @mirandabcyr. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: See who applied for Springfield's school board vacancy This image made available by the Swedish Coast Guard and taken Friday March 6, 2026, shows Swedish authorities boarding the Caffa, a cargo ship sailing in the Baltic Sea. (Swedish Coast Guard via AP) (Swedish Coast Guard) Swedish authorities are currently investigating a cargo ship in the Baltic Sea, which they suspect is a stateless vessel. The vessel, named Caffa, was sailing in Swedish territorial waters on Friday under a Guinean flag when it raised suspicions among officials, according to Swedish police. The Swedish Coast Guard subsequently boarded the ship to conduct a search and interviews, with particular concerns about its seaworthiness. Further information regarding the Caffa remains undisclosed at this time. 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. Russia uses its shadow fleet 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. This image made available by the Swedish Coast Guard and taken Friday March 6, 2026, shows Swedish authorities boarding the Caffa, a cargo ship sailing in the Baltic Sea. (Swedish Coast Guard via AP) (Swedish Coast Guard) 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. Advertisement Authorities have not said whether they believe the Caffa is part of the shadow fleet. Last month the UK threatened to seize a Russia-linked oil tanker in an escalation of tensions between the two countries over shadow fleets. Military options to capture a rogue ship had been identified in discussions involving Nato allies, British defence sources told The Guardian. The news comes weeks after the UK supported a US operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic. British armed forces supported the capture of the Marinera, a vessel initially linked to Venezuela and previously known as Bella-1, as it travelled north and eastwards through the waters between Iceland and Scotland. Days later, a defence source confirmed to The Times that options to seize further vessels were being considered, but no timeframe was given for potential missions at the time. The Special Boats Service (SBS) would likely lead the raids, it was suggested at the time. This image made available by the Swedish Coast Guard and taken Friday March 6, 2026, shows Swedish authorities boarding the Caffa, a cargo ship sailing in the Baltic Sea. (Swedish Coast Guard via AP) 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. 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. Advertisement 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. Smoke rises following an explosion, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 7, 2026. Stringer/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS By Orhan Qereman QAMISHLI, Syria March 8 (Reuters) - Kurdish residents of northeast Syria warned Iran's Kurds against aligning with the U.S. to fight the Iranian government, citing their own experience in Syria in recent months as evidence their Iranian counterparts would be "abandoned." Iranian Kurdish militias based in northern Iraq have consulted with the United States in recent days about whether and how to attack security forces in western Iran, as the United States and Israel pound Iran with air strikes, Reuters has reported. But Syria's Kurds warned their Iranian counterparts against partnering with Washington. "I hope that the Kurds of Iran will not ally themselves with America, because they will abandon them," said Saad Ali, a 45-year-old resident of the northeastern Syrian Kurdish town of Qamishli. "Tomorrow, if an agreement is made between them (the U.S.) and the Iranians, they will eliminate you. Do not make our mistakes," he told Reuters. Syrian Kurdish fighters aligned with the U.S. more than a decade ago to fight the Islamic State group, setting up their own semi-autonomous zone in the territory they had seized from the ultraconservative Islamist fighters. But in January, Syria's new army under President Ahmed al-Sharaa captured most of the Kurdish-held areas in a sweeping offensive. Syria's Kurds called on the U.S. to intervene on their behalf, and felt betrayed when Washington instead urged them to merge with Sharaa's forces. 'A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE' WITH THE U.S. It remains a bitter experience for Syria's Kurds and a lesson they say should be heeded by Iranian Kurds. "In my opinion, the Kurds in Iran should maintain a firm stance: they will not engage in any wars within Iranian territory without firm, signed guarantees from the United States regarding the future of these Kurdish regions in Iran," said Amjad Kardo, a 26-year-old Syrian Kurd in Qamishli. "We Kurds here in Syria, in particular, have had a negative experience with the Americans in Syria, and their abandonment of Kurdish resistance movements." Advertisement An Iranian Kurdish source said Kurdish leaders did have concerns about being "betrayed" like the Kurdish groups in northern Syria. The source said Iranian Kurdish leaders had requested guarantees from the U.S., without saying what they were. U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters on Thursday it would be "wonderful" if Kurdish forces crossed the border from northern Iraq into Iran, but declined to answer a question on whether the U.S. would offer them air support if they did so. On Saturday, he appeared to switch positions, telling reporters he doesn't want Kurdish fighters going into Iran. 'EXERCISE CAUTION,' SYRIAN KURDS SAY Ahmed Barakat, head of the Kurdish Progressive Democratic Party in Syria, told Reuters that Iranian Kurdish forces should exercise "extreme caution". Barakat said the decision was ultimately up to them, but he believed that "accepting the invitation of the United States and being considered the spearhead in confronting or weakening the Iranian regime is not, at present, in the best interest of the Kurds of Iran." 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, Reuters reported last week. The Kurds are an ethnic group which was left stateless a century ago when the borders of the modern Middle East emerged from the collapsing Ottoman Empire. Mostly Sunni Muslims, they speak a language related to Farsi and are concentrated in a mountainous region straddling the borders of Armenia, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey. In Iraq, they inhabit three northern provinces led by their own regional government. But in other countries - Iran, Turkey and now Syria - their dreams of an autonomous region or state have remained out of reach. (Reporting by Orhan Qereman; Writing by Kinda Makieh and Maya Gebeily; Editing by David Holmes) John Davidson, Delroy Lindo (left) and Michael B. Jordan (right). Credit: Gareth Cattermole/BAFTA/Getty; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty NEED TO KNOW The BBC claims in a new letter that the team editing video footage of the 2026 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) did not hear the racial slurs said by John Davidson to Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo The Tourette syndrome activist said the n-word while the Sinners stars were onstage at the awards show on Feb. 22 The BBC said the airing of the slurs was "a genuine mistake" and the company takes "full responsibility for our error" The team editing video footage of the 2026 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) did not hear racial slurs said by Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson to Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, the BBC claims. During the annual awards show on Feb. 22, Jordan, 39, and Lindo, 73, were presenting an accolade on stage when Davidson, 54 who began experiencing symptoms of Tourette syndrome, which causes involuntary verbal and physical tics, at age 12 yelled the n-word. (Davidson was invited to the ceremony to represent the film I Swear, which is based on his life and experiences with the nervous system disorder.) In a letter sent to the U.K.s Culture, Media & Sport Committee (CMSC) on Friday, March 6, Tim Davie, the director general of the BBC, shared more insight into the situation. The company aired the racial slur incident at the BAFTAs on BBC One with a two-hour delay, and the ceremony remained on iPlayer, the BBC's on-demand video service, until the following morning. "I want to assure you that the BBC profoundly regrets the events around the broadcast of the BAFTAs," Davie, 58, began. "The BBC has apologized for the serious mistake that was made, in allowing a racial slur to be broadcast and then remain on iPlayer overnight and into Monday morning. We understand the hurt and shock that the mistake caused." "Id like to make clear: although the racial slur was symptomatic of a disability and an involuntary tic, it should never have been broadcast. It was a genuine mistake, and we take full responsibility for our error," continued the British media executive, who resigned from his position in November following allegations that the BBC edited a speech by President Donald Trump surrounding the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6. (He is set to be replaced by Rhodri Talfan Davies in April.) 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. Tim Davie. Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty In his letter, Davie also said "a number of questions" were asked in the aftermath of the racial slur incident, including why the use of the n-word was not edited out, but other parts of the broadcast had been. "Although this is the subject of ongoing review, our initial evidence gathering has found that no one in the on-site broadcast truck heard this when they were watching the live feed," he wrote. "Because no one in the broadcast truck was aware it was on the live feed, there was therefore no editorial decision made to leave the language in." Referring to the instance when the racial slur was later shouted once more, when Wunmi Mosaku accepted her Best Supporting Actress award, Davie said, "In that instance, the edit team did hear the racial slur on the feed and removed it immediately from the version of the ceremony that would be broadcast later that evening. This was in line with protocols and procedures that were in place for this event." He further explained, "These two incidents happened within ten minutes of each other. It appears that soon after the second incident, the edit team in the truck started receiving reports, including from BAFTA, that a racial slur had been shouted during the ceremony. Our understanding at this point is that the team editing the show in the truck mistakenly believed they had edited out the incident that was being referenced, on the basis that they had heard and edited out the slur shouted out during the Best Supporting Actress award. Therefore, when they were told a racial slur had been shouted, they believed they had removed it." Advertisement The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! According to Davie, "Other edits were made to the ceremony before broadcast some were made in line with the protocols we had put in place in advance to deal with offensive language. Other edits were made for other purposes for example, length of speeches to cut the show to its allotted broadcast slot." "This is standard practice for live events and awards shows of this nature. Following broadcast on BBC One, further reports, including on social media, drew attention to the first instance of the racial slur. Our current understanding is that the on-site team did not believe that the slur was audible on the broadcast, and the show remained on iPlayer unedited that evening," he added. Davie also said that "the decision for the ceremony to remain on iPlayer was reviewed" and was "escalated to the Chief Content Officer, who authorised the removal of the broadcast from iPlayer." "We are now looking in more detail why the team did not ascertain sooner that there had been two instances of the use of the racial slur, and why post broadcast further action was not taken to edit or remove the programme from iPlayer sooner," he continued. Michael B. Jordan (left) and Delroy Lindo (right) at the 2026 BAFTAs. Credit: Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty In the aftermath of the racial slur incident, the organization behind the BAFTAs formally apologized to Jordan and Lindo, and the latter has spoken out about the incident on several occasions since. (Jordan has not yet spoken publicly about the situation.) Davidson, meanwhile, has opened up about and apologized for his use of the racial slur. In a March 1 Facebook post, he said, "Whilst I will never apologize for having Tourette syndrome, I will apologize for any pain, upset and misunderstanding that it may create." Looking ahead, Davie said in his letter that the BBC is working to make sure a similar instance does not happen again in the future. "The BBC will learn lessons from this incident and ensure appropriate action is taken to avoid such an incident happening again," he wrote. Representatives for Jordan and Lindo did not immediately respond on Sunday, March 6, to PEOPLE's request for comment on the BBC's letter, nor did StudioCanal, the film company that distributed I Swear and has been in contact with Davidson. Read the original article on People AUSTIN (Nexstar) Brandon Herrera claimed the Republican nomination for Texas Congressional District 23 after Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, withdrew from the race amid pressure from top Republican leaders. Herrera, a San Antoniobased firearms manufacturer and YouTube personality known online as the AK Guy, finished first in the Republican primary with 43.3% of the vote, Gonzales trailed close behind with roughly 41.7% in the four-candidate race. Because no candidate received a majority, the race was planned to go to a runoff on May 26, 2026. However, with Gonzales no longer being in the race, the nomination now goes to Herrera by default. Herrera said in a statement on X that he appreciated Gonzaless decision and said he looks forward to running for the seat in November. I appreciate Tony Gonzales for making the appropriate decision, Herrera wrote. I look forward to being the voice of TX23 that our district deserves. From the border, to oil theft, water rights, data centers, and many other issues. Its an honor to be chosen and together we will make Texas proud. Gonzaless campaign had been bogged down by allegations of an affair between himself and Regina Santos-Aviles, a former staffer who later died after setting herself on fire. The congressman had previously denied the affair allegations, calling them completely untruthful at a panel at the Texas Tribune Festival in Nov 2025. However, Gonzaless position shifted after Feb. 17, 2026, when reporting from the San Antonio Express-News revealed explicit text messages between the congressman and Santos-Aviles. Gonzales formally admitted to the affair on Mar. 4 one day after the primary during an interview with conservative talk show host Joe Pagliarulo. The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the congressman the same day. Top Republican congressional leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, issued a statement Thursday, Mar. 5, directly calling on Gonzales to drop out of the race and allow Herrera to run as the Republican nominee for TX-23 in November. We have encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues, Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, R-Lousiana, Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, R-Minnesota, and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain of Michigan, R-Michigan, wrote in the statement. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election. The TX-23 Republican primary had been one of the most closely watched races in the state. The district, which stretches across a massive portion of south and west Texas and covering dozens of counties from San Antonio west along the U.S.Mexico border toward El Paso, has been represented by Gonzales since 2021. Gonzales cultivated a reputation within the district as a pragmatic moderate willing to cross party lines, including supporting a bipartisan gun safety package after the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, which occurred in his district. In 2023, the Texas Republican Party formally censured Gonzales, citing that vote and his support for separate legislation protecting same-sex marriage. That same year, Gonzales won the Republican primary by less than a single percentage point against Herrera, who was running his first congressional campaign at the time. Herrera, running for the second time, framed his campaign as a conservative alternative to what he described as Gonzales willingness to compromise on conservative priorities. [Gonzales], even though a republican, kept making bad votes that just made no sense to me, Herrera said in his campaign announcement video posted to his Youtube, like voting for [the bipartisan gun control bill], opposing border security, selling out American interests on behalf of other countries and a bunch of other things that shocked me to learn that a Texas Republican would vote for. Advertisement Herrera built a national following through his broader social media presence, particularly his YouTube channel, which has nearly 4.2 million subscribers and features videos about firearms, gun manufacturing and political commentary. That online presence, while helping Herrera with name recognition prior to his entry to the race, has also generated growing controversy for the YouTuber turned politician. Past videos and social media posts have resurfaced showing Herrera making Holocaust jokes and referencing Nazi imagery. In one widely circulated video, Herrera demonstrated a World War II German weapon while jokingly referring to it as the original ghetto blaster. Another clip shows Herrera firing a MP40 submachine gun widely used by the German military during World War II while marching to Erika, a military song associated with Nazi Germany. Herrera has defended the videos as satire and historical commentary, punching back against criticism of his content on X. Its really funny that people [only] focus in on the videos and jokes about Nazi imagery when were doing German WW2 guns, but completely ignore when we did the same with Soviet or American weapons, Herrera wrote. When did conservatives become pearl clutching virtue signalers? Herreras nomination has signaled an opportunity to some democratic operatives, who see the allegations of neo-Nazism surrounding Herrera as serious hurdle for the candidate in November. Justin Chermol, a staffer for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, wrote on X in response to a video of Herrera displaying a 1939 English edition of Mein Kampf on the Unsubscribe podcast that Herreras actions were shocking and disqualifying, adding that the [National Republican Congressional Committee] must forcefully condemn this candidate now. Herreras democratic opponent for TX-23, Katy Padilla Stout, a former public school teacher who currently serves as an attorney and member of the Bexar County Child Welfare Board, has called him too far-right for the border district. This district has elected Democrats and its elected Republicans, but it has never elected an extremist, Stout said. Stout has centered her campaign on expanding health care access, protecting reproductive rights and addressing economic inequality across the sprawling border district. I think this district is full of hardworking families who are trying to raise families, feed families, send children to college by their first home, and I think that those are the issues that were centered on, Stout said. Were centered on affordability, were centered on health care, and were centered on education. Stout secured the Democratic nomination in the Mar. 3 primary, receiving the highest vote total of any candidate across both parties in the district including both Gonzales and Herrera. We have a lot of hard-working families who are ready to come over to the other side, Stout said. My inbox, my voicemail inbox, my computer inbox, everything is filled with people saying theyre ready to come over and help us to bring decency back to the 23rd. The general election between Herrera and Padilla Stout will take place on Nov. 3, 2026, setting up a contest that could test whether Republican primary voters shift toward more ideologically hard-line candidates will hold in the broader electorate. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. The following is the transcript of the interview with Energy Secretary Chris Wright that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on March 8, 2026. MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who joins us this morning from Denver. Good morning to you. SECRETARY OF ENERGY CHRIS WRIGHT: Thanks for having me Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: So 50,000 U.S. troops deployed, six Americans that we know of so far killed in action, civilians stranded. We look at our polling, Mr. Secretary, and we see that this is an unpopular war among the majority of Americans. More than half of them, 56% disapprove. When you speak to energy executives about the scope and duration of American involvement, what do you tell them? How long? SEC. WRIGHT: I tell them that for 47 years, Iran is warg- waged war against the United States, and they've- throughout that 47 years, they've tried to undermine the energy development and energy infrastructure of all their neighbors, as they're doing right now, and it's time to put it to an end. So yes, we have a, we have a temporary period of elevated energy prices, but it will not be long. In the worst case, this is weeks, this is not months, and it leads to a much better place. It leads to an Iran that's defanged, that can't threaten its neighbors, can't threaten American soldiers and can't continue to drive up energy prices by making a mess of the Middle East. They can move to commerce, not conflict. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, but you have the moment we are in right now, and as you know, gasoline prices up 14% in the past week. According to AAA, reports the national average is $3.45. We've seen oil prices spike. How high do you think oil and gas are going to go? SEC. WRIGHT: They shouldn't go much higher than they are here because the world is very well supplied with oil. There's no energy shortage at all in the Western Hemisphere. MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. SEC. WRIGHT: The United States is a net exporter of oil, a large net exporter of natural gas. But refineries in Asia and Europe are seeing an interruption from the normal crude flows. But there is massive energy stores around the world. What you're seeing is emotional reactions and fear that this is a long term war. This is not a long term war-- MARGARET BRENNAN: --But-- SEC. WRIGHT: --It's a temporary movement. MARGARET BRENNAN: Sorry, go ahead, temporary movement. SEC. WRIGHT: No, I'm saying look, we've seen previous administration have done everything they could. They begged, bartered and bribed the Iranian government to stop its nefarious activity, stop its murderous behavior, and it simply hasn't worked, and now, they're, they're expanding missile and drone program that are rapidly growing to protect their desire to build a nuclear weapon. We're going to cross the threshold where we can't put them back in the box. Now is the time to end their risk to America and the world. MARGARET BRENNAN: But as you know, when I ask you about energy prices, this is not a supply problem. You said there's plenty of supply. The head of the International Energy Agency said, lot of oil, logistics are the problem. It's dislocation. It's a serious problem. So what he's referring to there is being able to actually move it around. I know you said there's, there's one vessel that's gone through the Strait of Hormuz. 20 million barrels per day typically go through it. When do you get back to that level? SEC. WRIGHT: Oh, I think it will be relatively soon. Of course, I don't know exactly. All of our military assets right now are focused on ending Iran's ability to kill their neighbors, threaten American soldiers and threaten ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, but that's going swimmingly well. Their missile launches are down 90%, the drone launches are down over 80% I think in the relatively near term, you're going to see their capacity so low that we'll see more normal ship traffic return to the Strait of Hormuz. MARGARET BRENNAN: So you don't think Navy escorts of vessels are necessary? SEC WRIGHT: They might be. They might be. The U.S. is here to do everything we can to keep world oil markets supplied. Yes, if they have some residual-- MARGARET BRENNAN: --When will you make that decision? SEC. WRIGHT: We're, we're in engagement right now with people that want to get tankers moving out of the Gulf. And so, yes, there could be there- early tankers probably will involve some direct protection by the U.S. military, but most important is to defang their ability to threaten these ships. Advertisement MARGARET BRENNAN: So the president had said he was open to tapping the American stockpile of oil, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but I saw you on other networks this morning, kind of throwing cold water on the idea. You referred to it as depleted. Are you saying America doesn't have adequate stockpiles? SEC. WRIGHT: No. America still has over 400 million barrels of oil in our strategic petroleum reserve, and, of course, robust production. We're, we're, more than happy to use that if it's needed. But as you said earlier, it's a logistics issue. Where do they need oil? They need oil at refineries in Europe and in Asia. And that's why we took a very pragmatic step. There's over 100 million barrels of floating Russian crude waiting in line to deliver to China. That's going to be sold, it's going to be refined, but that could be one or two months from now. So in a pragmatic way, with no change in U.S. policy towards Russia, we told the Indians, bring that into your refineries. You know, if you, if you're feeling a shortage of crude, prices are being bid up, draw down that Russian crude stocks that are sitting right offshore. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah. So on that point, the U.S. has temporarily suspended some sanctions to make that Russian oil, you say was already going to be sold anyway, make it available. But doesn't Russia still financially benefit from that? Why isn't the U.S. seizing those Russian tankers if they are our adversary? SEC. WRIGHT: Because right now, because right now, we're worried about Iran and fixing a 47-year problem there, and we're worried about American consumers. We want to stop the rise in-- MARGARET BRENNAN: --Russia was helping Iran-- SEC. WRIGHT: --gasoline and diesel prices. Well, there's been rumors of that. We don't know if that's true or not. Certainly, they've gotten a strong message from us. But this is oil already on the ocean-- MARGARET BRENNAN: --These Iranian drones have Russian parts in them. The Russians have been buying Iranian drones. That is very well documented, and CBS has confirmed and reported that there was sharing of intelligence. Russia providing intel to target Americans. So how is Russia not part of this? SEC. WRIGHT: Look, Russia, Russia is expert at causing trouble around the world, so I'm not saying they're not. I'm saying I don't- if they're helping Iran, it's not working very well, but we're not helping Russia by just accelerating the sale of their oil to stop the rise of energy prices and keep European and Asian refineries in oil. We're just doing pragmatic things to get through a short period that will bring in an era of even lower energy prices because a major energy producing region of the world, the Middle East, will no longer have a strong, powerful Iran that can threaten their neighbors, that can threaten the United States of America and was not far away from a nuclear bomb. That's an-- MARGARET BRENNAN: --How much-- SEC. WRIGHT: --unacceptable scenario. That's the risk to energy prices was not doing anything. MARGARET BRENNAN: So when the Qataris say you could see $150 barrel in oil, that's something America could stomach? President Trump wouldn't say, I'm done with this war because I can't stand the political pressure and the American people saying I don't like what I'm paying at the pump? SEC. WRIGHT: No, the president's going to continue to stay focused on ending a 47-year conflict, stay focused on growing the global energy supply. This is actually part of that effort. It does involve a temporary impediment to energy production, but on the other side, it will allow much more energy production and much lower energy prices. But this is not a long term conflict. Most presidents have just thought, they'll kick the can down the road. The risk is simply too great to kick that increasingly dangerous can down the road. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah. SEC. WRIGHT: President Trump's bold leadership is enough's enough. We're going to put it to an end. MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you about Venezuela. The U.S. deposed Maduro. He's sitting in a prison. Just this past week, though, we had the interior secretary visiting Venezuela and sitting across from Maduro's Chief thug, Diosdado Cabello. This is someone who has a $25 million bounty on his head. He ran the prisons, he ran the militias. He was treated as a counterpart to an American official. Is this the same playbook the Trump administration is going to run in Iran, that you will deal with the same regime you've been telling me is terrible to deal with for 47 years? SEC. WRIGHT: We don't know what the regime will be in place at the, at the end of this conflict, but we do know that regime will not have a massive weapons arsenal, that that regime will no longer be a massive threat to Americans and to the Middle East and to global oil supplies. President Trump is using bold leadership. We can't change the world at a blink of an eye, but we can steer it in massively positive directions, and yes, Venezuela is a great example of that. Crime in the nearby Trinidad and Tobago has plummeted already from our actions in Venezuela, and President Trump's insistence that he's going to work with that our neighbors to reduce drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. Leadership takes- involves risks, but if you want to drive improvement, you've got to be confident, you've got to have the right agenda, and you've got to have the courage to do it. This president does. MARGARET BRENNAN: Energy Secretary Wright, thank you for your time this morning. Face the Nation will be back in a minute. Stay with us. Doctor adopts boy who came to surgery alone, then finds homes for his 5 siblings Russia helping Iran identify U.S. targets, sources say Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna says Russia is "absolutely a factor" in the war with Iran VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) A Texas man has been arrested on multiple charges after a traffic stop in Vigo County. Indiana State Police report that Alex Brown of Killeen, Texas was arrested on charges of: Weapon in Possession of a Violent Felon, Felony 4 Possession of Synthetic Urine, Class B Misdemeanor Possession of marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor Advertisement Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Class C misdemeanor Indiana State Police state that Brown was pulled over after exceeding the posted speed limit on Interstate 70 in Vigo County on Friday. The State Trooper reports that he detected suspicious activity and conducted a search, along with a K-9. During the search, the State Trooper states that he located marijuana, synthetic urine, and a loaded handgun. Further investigation revealed that Brown also displayed signs of impairment. The report states that Brown refused to submit a field sobriety test and a certified chemical test. He was arrested and taken to the Vigo 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 MyWabashValley.com. A picture of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is displayed on a screen in Tehran, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS By Parisa Hafezi and Maayan Lubell DUBAI/JERUSALEM, March 9 (Reuters) - Iran on Monday named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel. Mojtaba, a cleric with influence inside Iran's security forces and vast business networks under his father, had been viewed as a frontrunner in the lead-up to Sunday's vote by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics tasked with choosing Ali Khamenei's successor. "By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts, appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Assembly said in a statement issued just after midnight Tehran time. The position gives Mojtaba the final say in all matters of state in the Islamic Republic. Mojtabas appointment will likely draw the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump, who said on Sunday that Washington should have a say in the selection. "If he doesn't get approval from us, he's not going to last long," he told ABC News. Israel, ahead of the announcement, threatened to target whoever was chosen. In an interview with the Times of Israel after the new supreme leader was named, Trump declined to respond, saying only "We'll see what happens," according to the newspaper. Trump also said in the interview that ending the war would be a "mutual" decision with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mojtaba's father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed in one of the first strikes launched against Iran more than a week ago. Washington on Sunday ordered the departure of non-emergency employees at its embassy in Saudi Arabia, the latest drawdown of U.S. diplomats as Iran has struck U.S. facilities in the region. The U.S. military reported a seventh American has died from wounds sustained during Iran's initial counter-attack a week ago, a day after Trump presided over the return to the United States of the remains of the six others killed. The U.S.-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran's U.N. ambassador. OIL OVER $100 A BARREL The expanding war has severely impacted the oil trade and surging prices sparked a fall in share futures in Asia on Monday, amid fears of rising living costs. The dollar rose sharply against the euro and the yen. U.S. crude futures rose more than 20% in early trade on Monday, hitting their highest since July 2022, amid fears of tighter supply and prolonged disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent jumped 17% to $108.73 a barrel, having already soared 28% last week. On Wall Street, S&P 500 futures ESc1 shed 1.6%, while Nasdaq futures NQc1 dived 1.7%. Advertisement Trump, in a social media post, said oil prices "will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over," and said the price hike was "a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace." DEFIANCE FROM TEHRAN Iranian state media said the leadership of Iran's armed forces had pledged allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement they are ready to follow the new supreme leader. The Assembly of Experts met on Sunday to elect a new supreme leader despite threats that the body would be targeted, Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, said on state TV after the announcement. Mojtaba Khamenei could lead the country under the current sensitive conditions, Larijani said, calling for unity around the new leader. Iran has launched strikes across the region in retaliation against U.S. and Israeli attacks. The U.S. State Department said on Sunday it had ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks, days after the embassy in the Saudi capital was damaged in a drone attack blamed on Iran. Early on Sunday, the Saudi Defence Ministry said that it had shot down a drone that attempted to target the Diplomatic Quarter, a calm tree-lined neighbourhood on the city's western edge that hosts most foreign missions including the U.S. embassy. The U.S. has already raised its warning level for Saudi Arabia and allowed some personnel to leave the country, and has ordered the departure of staff at embassies in Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain since the outbreak of the war. Israel continued to target senior Iranian figures, including Abolqasem Babaian, the recently appointed head of the military office of the supreme leader, saying he was killed in a Saturday strike. 'DANGEROUS NEW PHASE' As fighting escalated on Sunday, day nine of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, thick black smoke hung over Tehran, residents said, after strikes on oil storage facilities had lit up the night sky with plumes of orange flame. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the large-scale attack marked a "dangerous new phase" of the conflict and amounted to a war crime. Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters the depots were used to fuel Iran's war effort, including producing or storing propellant for ballistic missiles. "They are a legal military target," he said. Netanyahu said his government would press on with the assault and strike Iran's rulers "without mercy". "We have an organised plan with many surprises to destabilise the regime and enable change," he said in a video statement. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Crispian Balmer, Charlie Devereux, Steve Holland and Simon Lewis; Editing by William Mallard, Alex Richardson, Ros Russell, Sergio Non, Diane Craft and Michael Perry) President Donald Trump said Saturday that the "hatred" between Russia and Ukraine is getting in the way of reaching a peace deal in that conflict, where the death toll is getting worse. Trump, speaking at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Fla., told world leaders assembled there that, "The hatred between Putin and his counterpart is so great." "It's so great that, you know, Ukraine, Russia, you'd think there would be a little bit of camaraderie, [but] theres not. And the hatred is so great. It's very hard for them to get there. It's very, very hard to get there. So we'll see what happens," Trump said. "But we've been close a lot of times and one or the other would back out." "But we're losing, you know, they're losing, you know, doesn't really affect us very much because we've got an ocean separating. I'm doing it as a favor to Europe, and I'm doing it as a favor to life because they're losing 25,000 souls," Trump added. "Think of that every month. 25,000. Last month, 31,000. Both sides, 31,000 people died, mostly soldiers." Ukraines Zelenskyy: Russia Trying To Play Game With Trump, Stall Peace Talks Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Fox News in late February that Russia is trying "to play with the president of the United States" and stalling U.S.-brokered efforts to end the war. Advertisement Read On The Fox News App Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to freeze the conflict along its current lines, proposing a ceasefire followed by negotiations. But he said he would not accept a Russian demand for Ukraine to surrender territory the Russian army has not been able to capture in four years of fighting. Russia Losing Massive 25,000 Troops Monthly In Ukraine As War Grinds On, Nato Chief Says President Donald Trump attends the Shield of the Americas Summit on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Reuters) NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in January that Russia is losing between 20,000 and 25,000 troops each month in its war against Ukraine as fighting drags on into a fourth year. Rutte told the Renew Europe Global Europe Forum in Brussels at the time that the staggering number of casualties reflects the intensity of Ukraines defense but warned that Russia remains NATOs most significant long-term threat. Fox News Simon Owen, Greg Palkot and Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report. Original article source: Trump says 'hatred' between Putin, Zelenskyy blocking Ukraine peace deal During the inaugural meeting of the Shield of the Americas in Doral, Florida, former President Donald Trump delivered a biting speech to an audience of Latin American leaders. -Credit:Getty Images (Getty Images) During the inaugural meeting of the Shield of the Americas in Doral, Florida, former President Donald Trump delivered a biting speech to an audience of Latin American leaders. Addressing the assembly, Trump quipped that he had no interest in learning the languages of the represented nations. He said, "I don't have time," and added, "And so good that we got to know so many of you. I mean, we're so many. And I'd love to get to your countries at some point." Trump humorously pointed out Secretary of State Marco Rubio's fondness for visiting these countries, saying, "Marco loves going to your countries," and "He's always at one of these countries." Donald Trump sends brutal 4-word message to UK PM Keir Starmer over Iran war Donald Trump brutally humiliates reporter after bizarre question "He likes your countries the best, okay? You know? Where are you? I'm in Chile. Oh, good. How's Chile doing? Good," Trump jested. "He likes it. He feels very calm. We all like him, right? It helps. He's got a language advantage over me." In a jest that was met with sparse laughter, Trump declared, "Because I'm not learning your damn languages," and "I don't have time. I was okay with languages, but I'm not going to spend time learning your language.", reports the Irish Star. Advertisement Trump humorously pointed out Secretary of State Marco Rubio's fondness for visiting these countries -Credit:AP "That much, I won't do. Just give me a good interpreter. Interpreter? Very important. And I know if somebody is good," Trump continued. "I may not speak the language, but I know I had an interpreter recently that wasn't good, talking to a very strong person from a different part of the world. "And I could tell, even though I - even though I don't speak the language, I could tell the interpreter was not good," the president continued. "When you go, uh, uh, uh, when I give a long, flowing, beautiful sentence, and in this case it was a woman, and she gave it in about one-fourth the time, I said, well, their language may be efficient, but it's not that efficient. Only a few people seemed to laugh at the president's jokes -Credit:Getty Images "And I could also tell when I have great interpreters," Trump remarked. Predictably, social media erupted with divided opinions. "Latinos for Trump should be ashamed," one user wrote. "What a disgrace he is. And the whole administration are a bunch of clowns," a third individual stated. Trump's words caused a mix of feelings on social media -Credit:AP One critic labeled the remark "short-sighted." They posted, "Trump's remark dismissing the need to learn other languages is disappointing and shortsighted. "As a leader, fostering mutual respect and understanding across cultures is essential, especially in international summits," she added. "This kind of rhetoric only divides rather than unites." Others rallied behind the president's words. "He's not learning their languages. He's just saving their countries one by one. Making the world a better place," one supporter cheered. "That's right, we speak English in America!" another commented. Reports emerged that Kristi Noem, recently removed from her position as Homeland Security chief, was appointed as Trump's envoy to the board. President Donald Trump on Saturday slammed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying he was joining the war in Iran after the U.S. has "already won." "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," Trump wrote on 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!" Trumps statement came after the U.K. Ministry of Defense said that one of the countrys two aircraft carriers had been placed on advanced readiness in Portsmouth, England, for a possible mobilization to the Middle East, according to the BBC. A British destroyer, HMS Dragon, is also in Portsmouth, waiting to leave for Cyprus after delays. Farage Slams British Prime Minister For Extraordinary Lack Of Support For Trump's Iran Strikes President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was joining the war in Iran after the U.S. has "already won." (Getty Images) Starmer said that while the U.K. wasnt involved in the strikes, it is "operating defensively in the region." Read On The Fox News App In an address to the British people Sunday, Starmer condemned "indiscriminate" attacks by Iran after the U.S. strikes, adding, "The only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source." Trump Slams Starmer As Not Winston Churchill For Refusal To Back Iran Strikes He added that Britain has agreed to the United States request to use British bases for that "limited" purpose. Advertisement After the strikes, Trump told the Telegraph in the U.K. he was "very disappointed" in Starmer, claiming it "took far too long" for the prime minister to allow the U.S. to use British bases in the region. British fighter jets are also flying over Jordan, Cyprus and Qatar to strengthen defense in the region, and a Merlin helicopter is on the way for additional airborne surveillance, according to the Ministry of Defense. Keir Starmer explains the situation in the Middle East to the British people this week. "While the region has been plunged into chaos, my focus is providing calm, levelheaded leadership in the national interest," Starmer said this week. "That means deploying our military and diplomatic strength to protect our people. "And it means having the strength to stand firm by our values and our principles, no matter the pressure to do otherwise. The longstanding British position is that the best way forward for the regime and world is a negotiated settlement with Iran where they give up their nuclear ambitions." Click Here To Download The Fox News App Smoke rises in Tehran, Iran, after explosions were reported in the city March 2. He said that's why he decided the U.K. would not join the initial coordinated strikes launched by the U.S. and Israel Feb. 28. In Parliament this week, Starmer added, "We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons. Any U.K. actions must always have a lawful basis, and a viable, thought-through plan," Starmer said. "This government does not believe in regime change from the skies." Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss reposted Trump's Saturday Truth Social comments on X, writing, "Justified and damning." Fox News Digital has reached out to Starmers office for comment. Original article source: Trump tells Starmer aircraft carriers no longer needed in Mideast, accuses him of joining war US 'already won' U.S. Central Command Eight days ago the United States and Israel launched a just and necessary military campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran aimed at eliminating the multifarious military threats posed by the worlds leading state sponsor of terror. The early stages of Americas Operation Epic Fury and Israels Operation Roaring Lion have produced astonishing achievements. The joint action has already severely weakened and may topple the brutal Islamist theocracy. Yet the Trump administration has given little evidence of gaming out the consequences for the post-war governance of Iran - a sprawling country of approximately 93 million persons, half of whom belong to non-Persian ethnic minorities. On the morning of Feb. 28, the United States and Israel struck with force and precision. In the opening minutes of the battle, Israel destroyed Ayatollah Ali Khameneis Tehran compound and with it the ayatollah himself, who had ruled Iran since 1989. Buried under the rubble as well were approximately 40 top members of the Iranian security establishment including the Supreme National Security Council secretary, the defense minister, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ground forces, the chief of the IRGC Intelligence Organization, and the Iranian army chief of staff. In the joint operations first 24 hours the United States and Israel hit more than 1,000 targets - air defenses, navy ships, command-and-control capabilities, and other military infrastructure. The onslaught of the joint action has been unrelenting. By the second day, the United States and Israel had struck more than 2,000 targets including missile stockpiles, launchers, and IRGC installations. By the third day, President Trump announced that the military projected that it might take the United States four to five weeks to attain its objectives. By the fifth day, according to Secrtary of War Pete Hegseth, the United States and Israel were well on the way to achieving "complete control of Iranian skies" and had accelerated operations, with the United States concentrating on eliminating Irans missiles, defense-industrial base, and political and military leaders. By the end of the week, the United States and Israel had conducted more than 4,500 strikes, and President Trump stated on Truth Social that he had ruled out negotiations with Iran and that operations would not cease until Tehran agreed to "unconditional surrender." Notwithstanding his antics and extravagances - and despite his at-best cursory steps to comply with the War Powers Resolution - President Trumps decision to pull the trigger was neither surprising nor impetuous. His extraordinary concentration of military assets in the Middle East generated a logic and a momentum of its own. The negotiations with Iran, moreover, were doomed to fail. The late Ayatollah Khamenei could not have agreed to the terms set by Trump negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Asking Iran to renounce nuclear enrichment, ballistic missiles, and Islamist-proxy funding was tantamount to asking it to renounce its reason for being, which is nothing less than to impose its Shia Islam rule on the Middle East by force of arms. And in early January, by seizing Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife from within a fortified military complex, the Trump administration demonstrated its readiness once negotiations had been exhausted to boldly and swiftly employ military force. Trumps first administration provides further evidence of both a willingness to act decisively and a determination to remove Irans multiple threats to America and American interests. In April 2017, Trump enforced a "red line" by firing 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian air base Iran-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad used to conduct a chemical strike on his countrys civilians. And in 2018, Trump withdrew the United States from the Obama administrations flawed Iran deal - also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - which delayed but did not end Tehrans quest for nuclear weapons and ignored Irans ballistic missiles and proxy-militia financing. Trump replaced it with a maximum pressure campaign of economic sanctions to compel Tehran to return to the negotiating table on terms favorable to the United States. To be sure, Trump has excoriated his predecessors military interventions and extolled his own dedication to peace. In 2016 during his first presidential run, he campaigned against "endless wars" and specifically the George W. Bush administration s launch of the 2003 Iraq War and its embrace of nation-building. As the nations 45th president, Trump stressed that he was the first commander in chief in decades who did not start an international conflict. At the July 2024 Republican National Convention, the former president asserted, "I will end every single international crisis that the current administration has created," and in his November 2024 election night victory speech he stated, "Im not going to start a war. Im going to stop wars." Operation Epic Fury comports with Trumps boast. Iran started the war 47 years ago with the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 66 Americans prisoner and holding 52 of them captive for 444 days. In 1987-1988, Iran mined the Persian Gulf to disrupt the flow of oil to the world. The USS Samuel B. Roberts nearly sank after striking a mine, provoking Operation Praying Mantis, the largest U.S. naval engagement since World War II. In 1993, Iranian proxies bombed the U.S. embassy in Beirut, killing 63, and the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241. In 1996, Iran sponsored the Hezbollah bombing of Khobar Towers, a U.S. military housing complex in Saudi Arabia, killing 19 U.S. airmen. In 1998, Iran-trained al Qaeda terrorists detonated bombs at the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 12 Americans and more than 220 Kenyans and Tanzanians, and injuring thousands. In 2000, Iran and Iran-backed Hezbollah were complicit in the al Qaeda bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 U.S. Navy sailors and wounded 39. In 2000 and 2001, Iran and Iran-backed Hezbollah, according to the 9/11 Commission Report, facilitated the travel of and otherwise assisted al Qaeda operatives involved in the 9/11 attacks. From 2003 to 2011, Iran-backed militias in Iraq planted improvised explosive devices that took the lives of more than 600 American troops. Substantial evidence gathered by intelligence agencies and the Department of Justice indicate that Iran has sought to assassinate Trump as well as former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Advisor John Bolton. And Irans nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and proxy militias threaten U.S. commercial vessels, Americas numerous Middle East military installations, and the security of key regional friends and partners. By eliminating Tehrans capacity to project military power abroad, the United States and Israel would end Irans long war against the United States and Americas friends and partners in the Middle East. At 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 28, Trump posted a video on Truth Social announcing the start of major combat operations and explaining that Americas war aims focus on the destruction of Irans armed forces. "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime" to "the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world," said the president. To accomplish that goal, the United States would target Irans nuclear program, missiles, navy, and other military infrastructure. The president did not present regime change as a U.S. goal. However, he called on Iranian forces to "lay down your arms." And he urged "the great, proud people of Iran" to take shelter until the bombing ends and then to "take over your government." Advertisement In a video statement the same day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concurred with the American president. The joint action to destroy Irans military capabilities, Netanyahu said, "will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands." Paying scant attention to the historical background, the geopolitical context, or the presidents and the prime ministers Feb. 28 statements, critics - including on the right - insist that Operation Epic Fury is unprovoked, reckless, contrary to the presidents rhetoric and assurances to the American people, and bound to destabilize the Middle East and subvert U.S. interests. On Feb. 28, former Obama administration deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes quickly decried the operation against Iran as "A war that has no domestic or international legal basis. A war that Americans do not support. A war in response to no imminent threat. A pointless war." Tucker Carlson, Sen. Tim Kaine, Rachel Maddow, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez among other prominent figures echoed Rhodes categorical denunciations. While war entails weighty risks and much still can go wrong, critics tend to overlook several crucial factors. First, it is worth repeating: On Feb. 28, the United States did not initiate a war but rather undertook an operation to end the war that Irans Islamist revolutionaries have waged for 47 years against the United States and Middle East friends and partners. Second, Iran rejected negotiations in favor of rearming. Following the extensive damage that Israel and the United States inflicted on Tehrans nuclear program last June, Iran repaired and began rebuilding its missile facilities, hardened and constructed harder-to-reach underground military installations, worked to restore its nuclear program, and, according to U.S. intelligence and international experts, likely retained enough enriched uranium to build multiple nuclear weapons. Trump only green-lighted military action after Witkoff and Kushner reported that Tehran had no interest in ending its decades-long war for supremacy in the Middle East. Third, those who know Iran best have sided with the United States. Americas major Sunni Arab Gulf partners, who themselves are prime targets of Irans hegemonic ambitions, are materially backing Operation Epic Fury, not least by hosting U.S. military bases involved in the operation. Fourth, eliminating Irans multifarious threat to the United States and its regional friends and partners thwarts the Chinese Communist Partys ambitions to bolster anti-American and pro-authoritarian forces in the region. Difficult days lie ahead for the United States, for Israel, and for Americas Gulf Arab partners. American planning for the day after the termination of major military operations should proceed expeditiously and consult widely, preparing both for a greatly weakened regime and for regime collapse. Assiduously explaining the justice and necessity of the joint U.S.-Israel operation to eliminate the military threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran will assist the United States in reconstituting order in the region and aiding Iranians who seek freedom and self-government. Peter Berkowitz is the Tad and Dianne Taube senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. From 2019 to 2021, he served as director of the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. State Department. His writings are posted at PeterBerkowitz.com and he can be followed on X @BerkowitzPeter. His new book is "Explaining Israel: The Jewish State, the Middle East, and America." U.S. And Israel Wage War Against Iran A U.S. army base in Iraq has been struck by a "suicide" drone, according to unconfirmed reports from Iraq. Prominent Iraqi content aggregator Naya included the claim. "A suicide drone attacked a US forces base at Sulaymaniyah airport in northern Iraq," it told its 207,000 subscribers. Daily Express US is working to verify this. It comes after several drones struck three different areas in Sulaymaniyah, located in Iraq's northern Kurdish region, on March 7. One person was killed in one of the attacks, according to an official with one of the Kurdish Iranian dissident groups. Advertisement Two drones hit a building in the Sulaymaniyah city center, an area that houses offices and commercial buildings, including a United Nations compound. Live footage shared by local outlets showed a building engulfed in flames, while another video appeared to show air defenses engaging drones overhead. Three other drones targeted Force 70, a Peshmerga unit of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan headed by Bafel Talabani, son of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and a senior Kurdish political leader. One drone also fell near Sulaymaniyah International Airport. No casualties were immediately reported. Separate drones targeted positions of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, killing one person, according to an official with the group, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the press. Iran's president says nation 'will not bow' to pressure Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian threatened to step up attacks on American targets across the Middle East, saying Iran "will not bow" to pressure from the United States and Israel. He appeared to backtrack from conciliatory comments toward his Gulf neighbors on Saturday. Those comments, in which he apologized for attacks on their soil, were quickly contradicted by Iranian hard-liners. ]]> 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' Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez speaks as she meets with U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum (not pictured), in Caracas, Venezuela, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria March 7 (Reuters) - Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, said on Saturday that "diplomatic dialogue" with the U.S. was the way to resolve the two countries' differences, after both governments agreed on diplomatic and consular relations. "We reiterate our willingness to build long-term relations based on mutual respect, equality, and international law, with a view to promoting a work agenda that strengthens cooperation for the benefit of both countries," Rodriguez said in a post on X addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday that the two countries would formally re-establish diplomatic ties. Advertisement Caracas severed diplomatic relations with Washington in 2019 after the first Trump administration refused to recognize Venezuela's then-President Nicolas Maduro as the country's legitimate leader, following a disputed election, and instead recognized an opposition lawmaker as the country's president. U.S. forces captured Maduro in January after months of heightened tensions between the two countries, setting off a chain of changes in Venezuela, including the swearing-in of interim President Delcy Rodriguez. The two have since gradually resumed bilateral relations, after Rodriguez's interim government expressed interest in rebuilding ties with Washington. (Reporting by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Edmund Klamann) Some in Cyprus feel the presence of British bases there is placing them at risk A drone strike on a British airbase in Cyprus has reignited an enduring debate about the UK's presence on the island. It's a week since the drone punched a hole in a hangar at RAF Akrotiri. That hole, for some in Britain, symbolises embarrassing gaps in UK hard power. For some in Cyprus, it's another unwelcome result of British military overreach. "We just want to have an independent Cyprus," said local business owner Natasha Theodotou. She was holding a banner that read "British Bases Out" at a demonstration outside the presidential palace in the capital, Nicosia. "Just as we're occupied by the Turkish government," said Natasha, "we are occupied by the UK." She wants to see a unified country where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots live together. Britain retained two major sovereign bases in Cyprus' south and south east, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, as part of a 1960 treaty that established the island's independence and ended its status as a British colony. Roughly 200 to 300 protesters joined the march In 1974 Turkey invaded and took control of Cyprus' northern third in response to a Greece-backed military coup. Not far from the protest tourists queue up at a checkpoint allowing passage into the Turkish-controlled part of Nicosia. The city, which sits on the UN-patrolled buffer zone known as the Green Line, is sometimes called the world's last divided capital. British military officials' best assessment is that the drone that hit RAF Akrotiri was launched in Lebanon by the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah. The UK government has said its bases in Cyprus are not being utilised by US bombers for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites. But the reported use of the base by American U-2 spy planes may explain why RAF Akrotiri was a target, as Iran and its proxies retaliated against US-Israeli strikes. A BBC map showing the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Cyprus is highlighted with an inset zooming in on the island, marking the location of RAF Akrotiri in the south. Surrounding countries labelled include Turkey to the north, Syria and Lebanon to the east, Israel and Jordan further south, and Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Iran to the east. A scale bar indicates 500km and 200 miles. A small globe in the corner shows the regions location. Roughly 200 to 300 protesters joined the march on Saturday, carrying signs that were also pro-Palestine and critical of the US and Israel. Advertisement Chants included: "Say it loud, say it clear, British bases out of here." The territory, kept by the UK, covers about 98 sq miles (254 sq km) and is even patrolled by a separate, special police force. These Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) are a lingering point of contention while also being highly interwoven into the island and a source of employment. They encompass communities well beyond the fenced-off airbase of RAF Akrotiri, on the island's southern tip. "I think that we'd be a lot safer without them here," said Shona Muir, holding up the British Bases Out banner with Natasha. "Their presence alone here makes us more of a target." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence told the BBC: "Our bases in Cyprus play a crucial role in supporting the safety of British citizens and our allies in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East." "Just this week, we have flown Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets on sorties around the region, shooting down Iranian drones and defending innocent civilians from Iran's indiscriminate attacks," they added. The Cypriot government has been at pains to stress that it's a UK base, not Cyprus, that was targeted by a drone. A UK foothold in the Eastern Mediterranean, RAF Akrotiri has long supported operations in the Middle East and, more recently, reportedly been used for surveillance flights over Gaza. Local business owner Natasha Theodotou (L) and Shona Muir hold up the British Bases Out banner. Protesters are calling for transparency about how the British bases are being used "We don't know what's happening in [the] British bases," said Stephanos Stavros, who also came to Saturday's demonstration. "There are worries now that there are things there that we were not aware [of]." Stephanos said the treaty establishing the bases should be complied with, but he wanted to see "full transparency". This week, Cyprus' Foreign Minister, Constantinos Kombos, said the matter of British bases had been "on the agenda" for a long time. "But I believe this is a conversation that one needs to have after we have a careful reflection as to what has transpired, especially in recent days and hours," he told BBC Newsnight. Any renegotiation, in reality, would be extremely complex, given that the foundational agreements involved the UK, Greece, and Turkey as well as representatives from the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. Weekend Roundup: Irans Next Leader, Oslo Explosion, and Questions After a Fatal ICE Shooting Several stories emerged over the weekend, so we rounded up a few of the biggest developments so you don't miss a beat. In Iran, the country has reportedly moved quickly to install a new supreme leader following last weeks U.S.Israeli strikes, a decision that could reshape the regions political landscape. In Norway, meanwhile, authorities are investigating an explosion outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, with officials not ruling out a possible link to the current security climate. Back in Texas, newly released footage appears to contradict officials account of a deadly shooting involving a federal immigration agent, raising fresh questions about what happened in the final moments before a 23-year-old U.S. citizen was killed. And in the skies, two separate security incidents disrupted air travel, including a Southwest flight diversion and temporary evacuation at a major U.S. airport. Heres what we know so far about these unfolding events. Iran has a new supreme leader The Assembly of Experts the powerful clerical body responsible for selecting Irans supreme leader has settled on Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of slain leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as his successor, according to The New York Times, citing Iranian state media. The name of Khamenei will continue, Hosseinali Eshkevari, a member of the council, said ahead of the announcement. Analysts expect the 56-year-old to take a more hardline approach than his father. He has close ties to some of the regimes most ideologically extremist clerics figures who have helped lead some of the governments harshest crackdowns on protesters. The decision could also deepen tensions with Washington. President Trump has called Mojtaba Khamenei unacceptable, saying whoever leads the country should bring harmony and peace. He has also suggested the U.S. should have a say in choosing the next leader an idea Iranian officials have firmly rejected. Israel, meanwhile, has indicated that Irans leadership could remain a target if the conflict escalates. Norway police investigating explosion outside U.S. embassy A loud explosion rocked the U.S. Embassy in Oslo early Sunday, and police say they arent ruling out terrorism. According to those on the ground, heres what we know so far: Authorities received several reports of a blast around 1 a.m. local time, which struck the front of the embassy. Damage appears to be minor, and no injuries have been reported. BREAKING: An explosion was at the consular entrance to the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway. Officials have confirmed that an explosive device was placed near the entrance. It is unknown who the suspect is at this time or whether this is related to Iran. The world is becoming a pic.twitter.com/BQlBNUXMFk Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) March 8, 2026 Investigators are still working to determine what caused the explosion. While its unclear whether it is connected to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, Norwegian authorities say they are examining that possibility. Frode Larsen, head of Norways joint investigation and intelligence unit, said at a press conference that it is natural to view this in the context of the current security situation, referencing the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran, and described the incident as a targeted attack on the U.S. Embassy. At the same time, Larsen stressed that investigators are still exploring multiple possibilities. When asked whether terrorism is being considered, he said it is one of the hypotheses, but emphasized police have not reached any firm conclusions. Advertisement New footage challenges federal account of a fatal shooting in Texas Newly released videos are raising fresh questions about the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen, by a federal immigration agent last spring. At the time, the Department of Homeland Security said agents helping South Padre Island police manage traffic after an unrelated accident were intentionally run over by Martinez, leaving one officer on the hood of the vehicle. But the latest footage tells a more complicated story: Martinezs blue Ford is seen slowly approaching an intersection as pedestrians cross. At one point, someone can be heard telling the driver to keep going. Moments later, officers appear alarmed and shout stop him followed by three gunshots. The agent who fired, identified as Jack Stevens, said he approached the car after another officer yelled to get him out. Stevens told investigators he smelled marijuana coming from the drivers window, and a toxicology report released with the footage found Martinezs blood alcohol level was 0.12 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08%. Stevens also told investigators that recent incidents involving vehicles used as weapons including the deadly New Years Day attack in New Orleans were fresh on my mind, according to DPS investigative documents. The footage doesnt show the moment from Stevens perspective, making it unclear whether Martinezs vehicle struck any officers. But Martinezs brake lights appear to be on when the shots are fired. In a recorded interview, passenger Joshua Orta said an officer initially told them to keep moving past the accident scene and that Martinez appeared to panic as officers began yelling. He didnt floor the gas, Orta said. He just kind of went forward a little bit and I guess they thought he was trying to run the cop over. Orta said he saw an officer end up on the hood of the car but believes Martinez never intended to hit anyone. Southwest flight diverted after midair security scare A Southwest Airlines flight from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale was diverted to Atlanta on Friday night over what the airline described as a possible security matter. A video circulating online shows a tense scene inside the cabin after the plane landed, with travelers seated and holding their hands above their heads as law enforcement officers moved down the aisle. 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 Atlanta police supported by federal officials arrived at the aircraft and removed an individual who has not been publicly identified. Exactly what happened on board remains unclear: Authorities havent said what the person allegedly did to prompt the security response, whether any charges have been filed, or if the individual has since been released. Still, despite the unsettling scene captured online, the situation appears to have been resolved relatively quickly. The remaining passengers later boarded another aircraft and continued on to Fort Lauderdale. A Southwest spokesperson said the airline has since reached out to apologize for the disruption. Then on Sunday, in a separate incident, parts of Kansas City International Airport were temporarily evacuated after authorities investigated what officials described as a potential threat. A spokesperson for the Kansas City Aviation Department said sections of the terminal were cleared as a precaution while airport police worked with the FBI to assess the situation. The threat was first reported around 11:15 a.m. local time. Several hours later, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the incident had been cleared and normal operations had resumed. The post Weekend Roundup: Irans Next Leader, Oslo Explosion, and Questions After a Fatal ICE Shooting appeared first on Katie Couric Media. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) The West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival is taking place at the Canady Creative Arts Center this weekend, which brings unique and innovative art to West Virginia in the form of narrative shorts, experimental, and visual art. The festival opened Thursday night with student works from West Virginia University and throughout the region. Friday, there were several galleries with art installations, including visual art projections and virtual reality. The evening featured the opening film showcase. Filmmaker Maggie Murphy was there to screen her piece Screen Memory, which she described as a collage type animation with archival VCR footage. Murphy said, I love seeing films and artwork and styles that Im less familiar with. I feel like I get a lot of inspiration. 41st annual Vaughn Ritter Chili Feed held in Bridgeport Advertisement Gerald Habarth is the Associate Professor at WVUs School of Art and Design and was the events organizer. Harbath spoke on the meaning of coming together for the film festival each year. Its really critical that people see this type of work because you literally cannot see it anywhere else. Youre not going to see this type of filmmaking or experimental animation or experimental video art on any streaming platform, Harbath said. By and large, you need to have festivals like this that support independent, self-fund work and people doing weird things, people doing strange things that are out of the mainstream. The film festival will continue into the weekend with more film showcases, including a screening of WVU professor Chris Haddoxs film Voices Faintly Heard, which deals with the folk music of Scots Irish immigrants in southern West Virginia. 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 WBOY.com. A tragic incident in Kokomo, Indiana has left a young mother dead and her newborn baby injured after what began as preparations for a night out took a devastating turn. Cameron E. Tomlinson, 21, was arrested and charged with reckless homicide and criminal recklessness after allegedly shooting his wife Jessica M. Tomlinson, 21, while their one-month-old infant was in her arms. The fatal shooting occurred on February 24 when Jessica reportedly retrieved a revolver from the couples safe and suggested her husband wear it because she thought it matched his outfit. What happened next would result in Jessicas death on the apartment floor and significant injuries to their babys hand. The case has drawn attention not only for its unusual circumstances but also for how Camerons account of events changed during police questioning. What he initially described as a self-inflicted accident evolved into an admission that he grabbed the gun from his wife while she was holding their child, leading to the fatal shot. Details and Aftermath of the Shooting The shooting occurred at a residence in Kokomo, Indiana, where police discovered a tragic scene involving a new mother and her husband. Cameron Tomlinsons account of events changed multiple times during the investigation, raising serious questions about what actually happened that evening. Timeline of Events on February 24, 2026 The Kokomo Police Department responded to a shooting call around 7 p.m. on February 24, 2026. A 911 caller reported that a woman in the home had been shot. Officers arrived to find Jessica Tomlinson seriously wounded while holding her newborn baby. Emergency services transported both Jessica and the infant to Community Howard Regional Health Hospital. The situation was critical from the start, with medical staff working to save the young mothers life. What Police and Medics Found at the Scene First responders encountered Jessica Tomlinson holding her baby when they arrived at the residence. Cameron Tomlinson was present at the scene and initially spoke with investigators about the incident. The gun was located at the home, and police began piecing together what led to the shooting. The chaotic scene required both police investigation and immediate medical intervention. Medics had to carefully separate the newborn from Jessica while assessing her injuries and preparing her for transport. Injuries to Jessica Tomlinson and Her Infant Jessica sustained a fatal gunshot wound during the incident. Her newborn baby was physically unharmed in the shooting but was taken to Riley Childrens Hospital as a precautionary measure. Despite medical efforts at Community Howard Regional Health Hospital, Jessica did not survive her injuries. The infants evaluation at Riley Childrens Hospital confirmed no physical trauma from the shooting itself. Medical staff conducted thorough examinations to ensure the baby hadnt been injured when the gun went off. Statement Changes and Confessions Cameron Tomlinsons story evolved significantly during police questioning. He initially provided one version of events but later changed his account multiple times. According to a WXIN report, he eventually told investigators that Jessica had handed him the gun because it matched his outfit. This explanation struck investigators as unusual and inconsistent with the physical evidence. Camerons shifting narratives became a focal point of the investigation, with detectives working to determine the actual sequence of events that led to Jessicas death. Advertisement Investigation, Legal Response, and Broader Impact Cameron Tomlinson faces serious criminal charges following the fatal shooting of his wife in their Kokomo home on February 24, 2026, with authorities detailing a troubling sequence of events that led to the tragedy and raising questions about domestic safety. Criminal Charges Against Cameron Tomlinson Authorities charged Cameron Tomlinson with reckless homicide and criminal recklessness after the shooting death of his wife. Officers from the Kokomo Police Department responded to a report of a shooting around 7 p.m. on February 24, 2026. The reckless homicide charge indicates prosecutors believe Tomlinson caused his wifes death through reckless conduct rather than intentional action. Criminal recklessness charges typically involve creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury to another person. Tomlinson was taken into custody following the incident. Hes being held at the Howard County Jail on a $15,000 cash-only bond, which requires the full amount to be paid in cash rather than through a bondsman. Details from Court Documents and Police Interviews Court documents revealed the bizarre circumstances surrounding the shooting. According to police interviews and reports from Law & Crime, Tomlinsons wife allegedly handed him a gun because it matched his outfit. The couples newborn baby was in the mothers arms at the time of the shooting. Investigators pieced together the events through witness statements and evidence collected at the scene. Police reports indicated the gun discharged while the woman was holding their infant. The baby was not physically injured in the incident, though the mother died from her gunshot wound. Custody, Bond, and Pretrial Proceedings Tomlinson remains in custody at the Howard County facility pending court proceedings. The cash-only bond requirement makes it more difficult for defendants to secure release, as they cannot use property or a bail bondsman. A pretrial conference has been scheduled to address procedural matters before any potential trial. These conferences typically involve discussions about evidence, potential plea agreements, and scheduling. The high-profile nature of the case, involving a newborn present during the shooting, has drawn significant attention to the legal proceedings. Domestic Violence and Community Reactions The case has sparked conversations about domestic violence and firearm safety in homes with young children. While specific details about marital issues between the couple havent been fully disclosed, the circumstances raise concerns about household safety. Community members expressed shock at the incident, particularly given the presence of a newborn during the shooting. The tragedy highlights ongoing discussions about gun storage and handling in domestic settings. Local advocates pointed to the incident as an example of how quickly situations can escalate in homes where firearms are present. The case continues to develop as legal proceedings move forward. More from Decluttering Mom: News / National by Staff reporter Authorities in Bulawayo are increasingly worried about the limited number of public toilets in the central business district (CBD), amid growing concerns over open urination and defecation in sanitary lanes and street corners.The concerns are highlighted in the latest council minutes on the provision of public toilets in the city centre.According to the report presented by Health Services director Edwin Mzingwane Sibanda, the CBD serves as the city's commercial and administrative hub and experiences heavy daily human traffic from residents, visitors, vendors, commuters and tourists.Officials say the availability of adequate sanitation facilities is therefore a critical basic service."Access to safe, clean, and well-maintained public toilets is critical for public health, dignity and the city's image," the council minutes state.However, the existing number and distribution of facilities remain insufficient, with some toilets located too far apart, while others are either in poor condition, overwhelmed by heavy usage or understaffed.The situation has reportedly resulted in increased incidents of open urination and defecation, particularly in sanitary lanes, open spaces and areas surrounding informal trading zones.Council noted that only 10 public toilets in the CBD are currently operational, a figure considered inadequate for the level of activity in the city centre.The facilities are also unevenly distributed, leaving some high-traffic areas without adequate sanitation services.For instance, between 11th Avenue and 15th Avenue there are no public toilets, while two toilets along 15th Avenue remain closed due to their deteriorated condition.Several of the existing facilities also require urgent rehabilitation and improved management to ensure acceptable hygiene standards, user convenience and sustainability.Authorities said the problem is worsened by a high rate of vandalism, which has reduced the effectiveness of some facilities.Of the 10 functional toilets in the CBD, three are free to use and are located at Fifth Avenue and 8th Avenue, while the remaining facilities operate as pay toilets.Eight of the facilities are owned by the Bulawayo City Council and operate as free, pay or leased-out amenities, while two are privately owned at Egodini Terminus and Pick n Pay.Outside the CBD, the city has 86 public toilets, but only 18 are currently operational, with the rest closed due to water shedding, labour shortages and disrepair.Council officials say a Public Toilet Strategy is being developed to guide the provision and management of sanitation facilities across the city.In the short term, the municipality is considering increasing staffing levels at existing free public toilets, noting that two of the facilities in the CBD are currently manned by only two pan cleaners instead of the required four."One pan cleaner cleans both the male and female toilets and due to the busy nature of the toilet, they cannot keep pace with the required rate of cleanliness," the minutes state.Authorities are also considering leasing at least six additional facilities to convert them into public toilets, rehabilitating existing infrastructure and upgrading ageing facilities by improving lighting, ventilation and security.In the long term, the council plans to construct additional permanent public toilets in strategic high-traffic areas and develop modern, durable and disability-friendly sanitation blocks.Officials are also proposing partnerships with private operators through build-operate-transfer or leasing arrangements, while exploring cost recovery through nominal user fees or advertising. A woman with tape reading in Portuguese "Living is my right" over her mouth takes part in a march marking International Women's Day on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Sunday's marches in Brazil for International Womens Day served as a rallying cry against gender-based violence, fueled by the latest case to outrage the country involving the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in Copacabana. The case in Rio de Janeiros famed, beachside neighborhood took place in January, but gained national traction this week when four suspects handed themselves over to authorities. Described by police as a gang rape, it has added fuel to the fire in a nation where reports of violence against women have surged in recent months, sparking nationwide protests and a flurry of digital activism. At least 15 protests were planned across the country, with organizers calling for the defense of women's lives and an end to femicide. Rio's Civil Police said the four young men in pretrial detention will be charged with rape, while a fifth suspect a minor turned himself in on Friday to face an equivalent charge under juvenile law. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for the minor after his alleged involvement in another case of sexual violence with a similar dynamic to the Copacabana episode came to light, Rio state prosecutors' office said in an email. Lawyers for two of the suspects have denied any wrongdoing, while legal counsel for the remaining three have yet to comment on the case publicly. A police investigation revealed that in January, the victim received a message from a classmate at her prestigious school inviting her to a friends home. Once inside the apartment, she was taken to a room and locked in with the suspects, where she was sexually assaulted and subjected to physical and psychological violence, a Mar. 4 police statement said. Earlier this week, security camera footage of the men arriving then leaving the scene of the alleged crime circulated widely on social media. Public interest in the case intensified after local press widely reported that the father of one of the suspects served as undersecretary for governance and compliance within Rios state social development and human rights department. Following the allegations against his son, the official was dismissed from his post, according to a decision published Wednesday in the state governments official gazette. Crimes against women on the rise Ordinary Brazilians, womens rights groups, and public figures including ministers Anielle Franco and Sonia Guajajara took to social media to denounce the case. Its impossible not to feel indignation when a 17-year-old young woman suffers such brutal sexual violence, said Racial Equality minister Franco, who is the sister of slain councilwoman Marielle Franco, as she called for mass protests on International Womens Day on March 8. Advertisement Violence against women in Brazil continues to climb, with 1,568 reported femicides in 2025 alone, a 4.7% increase from the previous year and more than three times the number in 2015, according to the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety. Other crimes against women such as threats, stalking, psychological violence, bodily injury, rape and attempted femicide have also been increasing consistently in recent years, the think tank said in a report released ahead of Mar. 8. Womens bodies continue to be seen as someone elses territory, which can be threatened, assaulted, sexually violated and murdered, it said. After a string of high-profile cases last year and the ensuing protests, Brazils government increased protective measures. And earlier this year, the administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced a multipronged effort to combat femicide involving the executive, legislative and judiciary powers. Rage and pain Earlier this week, Brazil's government introduced emergency measures that include a national task force to execute approximately 1,000 arrest warrants for known aggressors, the implementation of an electronic tracking system for individuals with protective orders and the deployment of 52 mobile units to assist women in situations of violence. Government actions have an important symbolic value and show that authorities deem violence against women unacceptable, said Isadora Vianna, a sociology researcher from Rio de Janeiro State University. But, she added, it would be more effective to invest massively in policies of prevention and support networks. Vianna also noted the importance of further regulating the internet to stop the rapid circulation of misogynistic content online. Tatianny Araujo, a 47-year-old longtime womens rights activist who has participated in more than 30 acts marking International Womens Day, said this year feels different for her in the wake of high-profile reports of sexual violence, including the alleged gang rape in Copacabana. Her 13-year-old son goes to the same high school as two of the suspects, who are in the process of being expelled. We feel bad, we cry, were consumed by rage and by pain, Araujo said. But at the same time we cannot stop. We have to mobilize, we have to do something. ___ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america KYIV, March 8 (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten discussed joint arms production during his visit to Kyiv on Sunday, and he stressed Ukraine's unique experience in defending against Iranian-made drones used by Russia. "It is important that we are producing weapons together with the Netherlands and we will certainly continue and expand this joint work," Zelenskiy said on X, adding they had discussed investments and possible production volumes in detail. In recent months, Ukraine has stepped up efforts to establish joint arms production with European countries, opening several factories to manufacture drones. 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 that the expertise it has built during four years of Russia's full-scale invasion could be invaluable to partners' own long-term security. Advertisement Zelenskiy said that Kyiv has unique experience in combating drones, which Iran actively uses in its attacks on Middle Eastern countries. He said that Ukraine is ready to sell the interceptor drones that are not used by the Ukrainian military, and the first group of Ukrainian military instructors will head to the Middle East on Monday. "They are coming with the means to help," Zelenskiy noted, adding that Ukraine would provide the expertise and experience in defending against "Shahed" model drones and cruise missiles. Ukrainian manufacturers of cheap interceptor drones designed to knock out enemy unmanned aerial vehicles have said they have the capacity to export in large volumes. (Reporting by Pavel PolityukEditing by Bernadette Baum, Alexandra Hudson) 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. 2025 was about experimentation and POCs [proof of concept] In 2026, were seeing much more realisation of value, he said. Early gains have come from chatbots and retrieval-augmented generation systems, but attention is shifting to agentic AI and automating core business processes using internal data. Customers are increasingly demanding results, pushing organisations to identify practical use cases, Taylor said. The board is saying, I need AI, he said. And then theyre coming to the partners and saying, help us find where the value points are. Industry validation is also growing with Taylor noting a rising demand for specialised data streaming platform engineers as a signal of market maturity. As AI moves from prototype to production, the consensus was that the competitive edge will not come from models alone but from the speed, governance and architecture of the data that powers them. A/NZ opportunity Taylor pointed out the growth opportunity in Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ) with partnerships being central to that strategy. Confluent has ecosystem partners such as Databricks, Snowflake, services firms including Deloitte and Accenture, and cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft. Customers across A/NZ include the likes of Bendigo Bank, Coles Group, Kmart and IAG, Telstra and Palmerston North City Council in New Zealand. Deasy particularly cited the Palmerston North City Council project, which involved automating manual consent processes, reduced dozens of steps and accelerated service delivery to citizens. Such use cases, Deasy explained, demonstrate how real-time streaming can unlock both cost savings and new revenue. Rather than re-platforming from scratch, organisations can extend existing streaming investments to support AI systems in production. Youre actually taking advantage of what you have for those AI pressures you have to deliver, he said. For organisations still experimenting with AI, Deasy urged a move beyond a POC. Wherever you are on the AI journey, I dont think anyone is starting from scratch, he said. You already have streaming use cases you can use those now to extend into your AI use cases and bring them to production today. As enterprises accelerate AI investment under board-level pressure, both executives emphasised that success will hinge less on the sophistication of models and more on the quality and timeliness of the data that powers them. AI requires real-time data, Taylor said. Data in motion makes this all possible. Changing the integration game Deloittes Alex Jara and Ian Hendry shared how the rise of AI has renewed focus on a core technology discipline that many organisations have long relied on. Jara said that integration is often underestimated in modern technology architecture discussions, despite playing a central role in connecting systems and providing data access. Jara described a project with a Victorian government department during the COVID-19 pandemic that illustrated the limitations of traditional integration methods. The original design followed a common pattern: when an event occurred in a system of record, an integration layer would retrieve additional data from a database to enrich it before sending it to another system. The problem is that every event triggers a round trip to the database, Jara said. The more events you have, the harder you hit that database. That approach creates risks including database locking and performance bottlenecks, he said. To solve the issue, the team adopted a streaming architecture built around Apache Kafka. Its very seldom in my integration career that technology comes along and really changes the way we solve problems, Jara said. Kafka is one of those. By streaming the entire data as events, systems could access enriched information directly from the data stream rather than repeatedly querying the source database. The context lives in the stream, he said. No more database calls. Very scalable, very quick. The approach also enabled historical replay of events when needed. All of that data was there from the beginning of time, Jara said. A fundamentally different way to solve an old integration problem. Hendry added streaming architectures allow organisations to build richer domain-driven data models that are better suited for modern analytics and AI systems. Context is absolutely key to being able to drive the right decisions at the right time from AI agents, he said. Organisations typically structure these domain events around core business entities such as customers, products and accounts. These streams can then power microservices, operational systems and analytics platforms simultaneously. Streaming platforms also allow companies to process and enrich data before it reaches traditional data lakes, shifting more intelligence into real-time pipelines. Data doesnt just want to be analytical, Hendry said. It needs to come out of those systems of truth in real time. AI systems depend heavily on the quality and governance of the data feeding them. If you dont have high-quality data, those AI agents are running blind, Hendry said. Streaming architectures also allow AI systems to access temporal data historical event streams that help models understand how situations evolve over time. Jara also introduced an internal Deloitte tool called Atlas, designed to help organisations track the business value of integration assets such as APIs and event streams. One of the things we struggle to measure is the ROI of integration, he said. The platform acts as a business-facing dashboard showing which data streams exist, who owns them, and how much they cost to build and operate. We can track where APIs and events are, whether theyre proposed, built, or live in production, Jara said. The system also helps teams understand which services depend on specific data streams a common operational challenge. Its great to understand youve created something, he said. But whos using it? As organisations move toward AI-driven operations, real-time data streaming and strong integration architecture will become increasingly important. Context is the key, Jara said. When people start building on those event streams, thats where the real value begins. The data race On the opening for Formula One season in Melbourne, New Zealand F1 driver for Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made a special guest appearance and emphasised the growing importance of data in modern Formula One racing. Unlike his early karting days when he said he had no data, todays cars are packed with sensors. In Formula One, theres a lot of sensors, and we have information from literally every single part of the car, he said. We spend a lot of time going through it. That data can influence everything from braking points to gear selection, heightening the pressure to maximise performance. Sometimes you feel like youre doing something the fastest way, and you look at what somebody else is doing, a different gear or a different approach to a corner, Lawson explained. It can teach you a lot. Behind the scenes, Lawson described a vast support network working in real time, from trackside engineers to factory teams operating through the night in the UK. They filter the important stuff and that basically feeds the important information through to us, he said. Julia Talevski attended Confluents Data Streaming World Tour in Melbourne as a guest of Confluent. 8 March 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The war between Iran and the U.S.Israel alliance is troubling the entire world. This conflict is critical for the global economy and could trigger tectonic shifts both in the region and globally. Yet developments on the ground raise many questions. The U.S. and Israel claim they seek regime change, bombing Iran and assassinating key officials. However, as seen in Venezuela, even the arrest of the president did not lead to the expected collapse of power. The undeniable truth is that without American boots on the ground, achieving any strategic objective in Iran is inconceivable. Yet there is no sign of preparations for such a deployment. So how will this confrontation end? There are three possible scenarios for the IranU.S.Israel war: Scenario 1: A Short-Lived War Ending in Mutual Claims of Victory Current reports from the field suggest this scenario is the most likely. In the early days, Washington and Tel Aviv fostered expectations that Iranians would quickly rise up and overthrow the regime. The governments brutal suppression of recent protests seemed to reinforce this belief. Yet by the second day of the war, evidence indicated that Irans leadership had overcome the initial shock and was gradually regaining initiative. International media report that by March 8, government institutions and banks will slowly resume operations. Although both sides insist they have sufficient resources to continue fighting, in practice this is unsustainable. If this scenario unfolds, the war will eventually be halted, with each side declaring victory. The U.S. and Israel will point to the assassination of Irans supreme leader and senior officials, while Tehran will claim triumph simply by surviving. In reality, however, this would amount to defeat for Washington and Tel Aviv. Iran could reassert its influence in the region for years to come. Scenario 2: The Syrianization of Iran Another possibility is that the U.S. and Israel will weaken Iran through sustained airstrikes, eventually fostering armed groups to fight against Tehran. These could be jihadist factions or ethnic groups within Iran itself. Recent reports of clashes between Kurdish forces and the Revolutionary Guard lend weight to this scenario. Yet Irans demographics differ sharply from Syrias. With a population several times larger, chaos in Iran would provoke strong reactions from Gulf states, the South Caucasus, Turkiye, Europe, and Russia. The world is still struggling to absorb refugee waves from Syria and Ukraine; a crisis in Iran, with its vast population, would unleash far greater social upheaval across the region and Europe. Moreover, Iran already absorbs significant migration flows from Afghanistan and Central Asia. Any collapse in Iran would compound these pressures. While some reports fuel speculation about this scenario, its realization would likely meet fierce resistance from many states. Scenario 3: The Iraqization of Iran The third scenario resembles Iraqs trajectory. Before the First Gulf War, Iraq possessed one of the regions strongest armies. Following the invasion of Kuwait, coalition forces intervened. Although the war forced Iraq out of Kuwait, it did not extend into Iraqi territory, allowing Saddam Hussein to remain in power for over a decade. During the First Gulf War, Iraq fielded over a million troops against 900,000 U.S. soldiers. Washington adopted a peculiar strategy: from 1990 to 2003, Iraq endured harsh sanctions, repeated bombings, and no-fly zones restricting its air force. By the Second Gulf War in 2003, Iraqs military had weakened dramatically, with only 300,000350,000 troops and outdated equipment. The war lasted barely two weeks, ending Saddams regime. A similar path could be pursued against Iran. Unlike Iraq, however, Tehran commands numerous proxy forces across the region. These were targeted first, followed by bombings nine months ago that killed several senior generals, and another wave of strikes more recently. If Washington and Tel Aviv choose this scenario, the war may pause after initial clashes, with both sides again claiming victory. But unlike the first scenario, Iran would be denied the chance to regain regional initiative. Periodic bombings and intensified sanctions would steadily weaken the country. Ultimately, as in Iraq, Iran could face invasion within 1015 years. Taking a broad view, the war between Iran and the U.S.Israel alliance is not only a regional conflict but a global concern. Each of the three scenarios carries profound implications: a short-lived war with symbolic victories, a drawn-out Syrian-style destabilization, or a long-term Iraq-style weakening leading to eventual collapse. Whatever path unfolds, the consequences will reverberate far beyond the Middle East, shaping the future of global security and economic stability. News / National by Staff reporter About 21 600 people in Zimbabwe were diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2025, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health and Child Care (Zimbabwe), highlighting that the infectious disease remains a major public health concern despite notable progress in recent years.Health authorities say the country has made significant strides in tackling the disease, including being removed from the World Health Organization list of the 30 high tuberculosis burden countries - a milestone viewed as a major achievement in Zimbabwe's public health efforts.However, officials caution that several challenges continue to threaten the gains made in the fight against the disease.These include delayed health-seeking behaviour among patients, persistent stigma associated with the illness, treatment interruption and declining global funding for tuberculosis programmes.Zimbabwe is set to mark World TB Day on March 24 under the theme "Yes! We can end TB!", part of a global campaign aimed at accelerating efforts to eliminate the disease.As part of preparations for the commemorations, the Ministry of Health and its partners - including the National AIDS Council (Zimbabwe) and the Zimbabwe National Network of TB Survivors - recently held a pre-commemoration event at Parirewa High School.Speaking during the event, the ministry's deputy director for the National TB and Leprosy Programme, Fungai Kavenga, said ending tuberculosis requires collective national responsibility.He said traditional leaders, community members and health workers play a crucial role in mobilising communities, addressing stigma and encouraging people to seek early testing and treatment.Health officials say tuberculosis, an airborne disease that primarily affects the lungs, can be cured if it is diagnosed early and patients adhere to the full course of treatment. 8 March 2026 15:50 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The war triggered by RussiaUkraine War has already reshaped the global food landscape. Before the conflict, Ukraine was widely known as one of the worlds most important agricultural exporters, often referred to as Europes breadbasket. The country held a crucial position in global markets for wheat, sunflower oil, and animal feed, supplying millions of tons of agricultural products to countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Ukraines role was particularly significant in two sectors. First, the country was among the worlds largest wheat exporters, playing a central role in stabilizing global grain supply. Second, it dominated the global sunflower oil market, accounting for a large share of international exports. The war, however, disrupted production, damaged farmland, and complicated logistics through the Black Sea, dramatically reducing the countrys export capacity. The conflict has also deeply affected Ukraines livestock sector. Destruction of infrastructure, loss of feed supply, and displacement of rural populations have severely undermined the countrys agricultural productivity. As a result, global markets that once relied on Ukrainian products have faced shortages and price volatility. At the same time, sanctions imposed on Russia have added another layer of uncertainty to the global agricultural system. Russia remains one of the largest exporters of wheat and fertilizers in the world. However, sanctions and Moscows own export restrictions on certain agricultural commodities have complicated trade flows and raised concerns about long-term supply stability. Against this already fragile backdrop, the possibility of a broader conflict involving Iran threatens to deepen the worlds food security challenges. Irans direct role in global food exports is considerably smaller than that of Ukraine or Russia. The country mainly influences niche markets such as pistachios, dates, and certain fruits rather than staple commodities like wheat or corn. Energy prices play a fundamental role in modern agriculture. If tensions in the Middle East push up global prices for oil and natural gas, the consequences will ripple through the entire agricultural supply chain. Natural gas, for instance, is the primary input used in the production of nitrogen fertilizers. Nitrogen fertilizers are essential for maintaining high crop yields across the world. When natural gas prices rise, fertilizer production becomes more expensive, forcing producers either to reduce output or to increase prices. For farmers, this means higher costs for one of the most critical inputs in crop production. The energy connection does not stop there. Fuels derived from oil and gas are also essential in greenhouse agriculture, where heating and energy costs represent a significant portion of operating expenses. Rising energy prices can therefore make greenhouse production far more expensive, particularly in regions dependent on winter cultivation. Diesel fuel, meanwhile, remains the backbone of modern farming. From plowing fields to harvesting crops, agricultural machinery relies heavily on diesel. Tractors, combines, irrigation systems, and transport vehicles all depend on this fuel. Even the supply chains that deliver animal feed, fertilizers, and seeds rely on diesel-powered transportation. As a result, higher fuel prices quickly translate into higher production costs for farmers. In other words, wars that push up energy prices can indirectly raise the price of food. What begins as a geopolitical conflict in energy markets eventually reaches the dinner table. For Azerbaijan, rising global food prices carry both risks and opportunities. On the negative side, the country is not fully self-sufficient in certain agricultural commodities. Azerbaijan still imports significant quantities of products such as wheat and meat. If global food prices increase due to supply disruptions or rising production costs, domestic markets in Azerbaijan may also experience price pressures. However, the picture is not entirely negative. Agriculture plays an important role in Azerbaijans non-oil economy. According to official statistics, roughly 20 percent of the countrys non-oil and non-gas exports consist of agricultural products. In several niches, Azerbaijan holds strong positions in international markets. The country ranks second in the world in the export of persimmons, stands among the top five exporters of hazelnuts, and is also a notable supplier of tomatoes, ranking roughly around eleventh globally. In recent years, Azerbaijan has also expanded its exports of table eggs, gradually increasing both the volume of exports and the number of destination markets. Another area where Azerbaijan has gained strategic importance is fertilizer production. Over the past decade, significant investments have been made to expand the countrys nitrogen fertilizer industry. During the pandemic period, when rising gas prices forced several fertilizer plants in Europe and other regions to suspend operations, Azerbaijan managed to increase production and exports. Exports of nitrogen fertilizers rose sharply from about $70 million in 2020 to $118 million in 2021, and then to more than $200 million in 2022. Although logistical challenges later reduced exports to around $83 million, efforts have since been made to strengthen supply chains. The state-owned Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company has acquired several handysize cargo vessels to ensure more reliable maritime transport, allowing not only Azerbaijani fertilizers but also other regional products to reach global markets. Taken together, the worlds food system is increasingly shaped by geopolitical shocks. The war in Ukraine disrupted grain supplies. A potential escalation around Iran could raise energy and fertilizer costs. And in the interconnected global economy, these shocks inevitably cascade through the agricultural system. For countries like Azerbaijan, this evolving landscape presents both challenges and strategic openingsreminding us that in the modern world, the price of bread is often determined far beyond the farm. 8 March 2026 00:38 (UTC+04:00) The post reads: I wish every woman robust health, a wonderful mood, inexhaustible love, joy, and family happiness! First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva shared a post on her social media accounts on the occasion of March 8 International Women's Day. 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! 8 March 2026 10:58 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov attended and delivered remarks at the informal meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS), held in Istanbul. According to AzerNEWS, cited Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, Bayramov noted that in recent years the organisation has developed into a dynamic and effective platform for political dialogue, economic cooperation and the strengthening of regional connectivity among Turkic countries. He emphasised that, amid growing geopolitical tensions, uncertainty in the international security environment and disruptions in global supply chains, reinforcing solidarity and coordination within the OTS has become increasingly important. In this regard, he highlighted the need to expand information sharing among member states, enhance institutional coordination and develop joint approaches to address emerging challenges. Addressing regional security developments, Bayramov said that recent events and military escalation in the Middle East were a source of serious concern. He condemned what he described as dangerous acts of escalation, referring to a missile attack launched from the territory of Iran targeting Turkey, as well as a drone attack directed against Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The Azerbaijani minister stated that Iran is expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, hold those responsible accountable and take necessary measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Commenting on the Gaza Strip situation and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Bayramov reiterated Azerbaijans support for resolving the issue on the basis of international law and relevant UN resolutions through the two-state solution. Turning to relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the minister said that the summit held in Washington, D.C. on 8 August 2025 had created a historic opportunity for achieving lasting peace in the region. Bayramov also spoke about key priorities for cooperation within the OTS, noting that Azerbaijans current chairmanship is focused on strengthening the organisations institutional capacity. In this context, he highlighted the importance of the OTS+ format, established by heads of state at the organisations 12th summit held in Gabala last year. According to him, this mechanism will serve as a flexible platform for expanding project-based cooperation between OTS member states, non-member countries and international organisations in areas such as transport corridors, logistics, energy security, trade, digital transformation and sustainable development. Bayramov also referred to several upcoming events during Azerbaijans chairmanship, noting that the country will host the second meeting of OTS prime ministers and vice-presidents on 2 April 2026. He additionally highlighted the significance of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum scheduled for 1719 April, the informal summit of OTS heads of state planned for May in Turkistan, and a commemorative event in Baku marking the 100th anniversary of the First Turkology Congress. The minister further noted that the UN World Urban Forum 13, which will take place in Baku in May, will contribute to strengthening international cooperation with the active participation of OTS member states. Concluding his remarks, Bayramov extended his congratulations to the Turkic world on the approaching Nowruz and Ramadan, wishing the brotherly nations peace, prosperity and continued progress. 8 March 2026 10:22 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijan has welcomed the statement by the United States Department of State condemning drone attacks carried out by Iran against Azerbaijani territory and expressing solidarity with the country. According to AzerNEWS, cited a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani side highly appreciates Washingtons position. The ministry noted that the statement demonstrates the United States support for its partners on the international stage. It added that the US stance is fully consistent with the spirit and provisions of the Strategic Partnership Charter signed between the governments of Azerbaijan and the United States on 10 February this year. The ministry also emphasised that many countries have expressed solidarity with Azerbaijan during the current period of heightened tensions, and Baku is grateful for their support. However, the statement underlined that backing from the United States described as one of the worlds most powerful nations carries particular significance. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry concluded by expressing its appreciation to Washington for what it described as a principled position. 8 March 2026 11:19 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Every year on 8 March, International Womens Day, Azerbaijan joins the global community in celebrating the achievements, resilience and contributions of women in society. In Azerbaijan, however, the day carries a particularly meaningful historical dimension. It reflects not only respect for women, but also a national tradition of recognising their role in shaping the countrys social, cultural and political life. Azerbaijan holds a remarkable place in the history of womens rights. In 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic became the first secular Muslim-majority country to grant women the right to vote, long before many European nations did so. At a time when women in several Western states were still struggling for suffrage, Azerbaijani women had already been recognised as equal participants in political life. This milestone demonstrated a progressive vision of statehood and a commitment to equality that continues to influence the country today. The advancement of women in Azerbaijan was also strongly supported by enlightened philanthropists and intellectuals. Among the most prominent was Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, a renowned oil magnate and philanthropist who believed that education was the foundation of national progress. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Taghiyev financed the establishment of the first girls gymnasium in Baku. At a time when educating girls was not widely accepted in the region, this institution opened new doors for Azerbaijani women, enabling them to pursue knowledge and professional careers. Education proved transformative. The girls who studied in these early schools became teachers, writers, doctors and cultural figures who helped modernise society. Taghiyevs vision demonstrated a powerful truth: empowering women through education strengthens the entire nation. Today, Azerbaijani women play a vital role across all spheres of public life. They are active in government institutions, academia, business, science and the arts. Women serve in parliament, lead companies, teach in universities and contribute to the countrys cultural and economic development. Their participation reflects the broader transformation of Azerbaijani society, where education and professional achievement are widely valued. Beyond their professional accomplishments, women remain central to the moral and intellectual foundations of Azerbaijani families and communities. In many ways, the success of society begins at home. An educated, thoughtful and determined woman often becomes the guiding force behind a familys progress. Her influence shapes future generations, instilling values of knowledge, responsibility and ambition. International Womens Day therefore serves as both a celebration and a reminder. It honours the women who have contributed to Azerbaijans past achievements while recognising the importance of continuing to support equality, education and opportunity. From the early pioneers of womens suffrage to the leaders and professionals of today, Azerbaijani women have played an essential role in building the countrys modern identity. Their strength, intellect and determination remain one of Azerbaijans greatest sources of progress and inspiration. 8 March 2026 13:23 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The evacuation process from Iran through the Astara State Border Checkpoint is continuing. AzerNEWS reports via Azertag that three diplomatic representatives from Kazakhstan crossed the border and were evacuated into Azerbaijan as part of the ongoing operation. Earlier in the morning, eight citizens of Russia were also evacuated from Iran via the same border crossing. After completing the necessary document checks and registration procedures, the evacuees were safely allowed to enter Azerbaijan. Authorities noted that evacuation operations at the Astara State Border Checkpoint are continuing without interruption, with crossings carried out in accordance with established procedures and under the supervision of the relevant state agencies. 8 March 2026 13:59 (UTC+04:00) The Chairman of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, held a telephone conversation with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova. According to AzerNEWS, cited the press and public relations department of the National Assembly and state news agency Azertag, the discussion focused on recent developments in the region. During the call, Gillani expressed concern over drone attacks allegedly launched by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Azerbaijan, condemning the incidents and reaffirming that Pakistan stands firmly alongside Azerbaijan. Gafarova thanked the Pakistani side for its support and solidarity. The two officials also exchanged views on the importance of strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation, particularly amid rising global tensions and ongoing geopolitical challenges. 8 March 2026 17:33 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia Gordan Grlic Radman has shared a post on X, in which has expressed his concern for the drone attack by Iran in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. According to AzerNEWS, the post reads: We strongly condemn the unjustifiable Iranian drone attacks yesterday on Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, including its airport, which constitutes a threat to regional and global security. We call on Iran to immediately cease such actions which risk further regional escalation. We stand in solidarity with Azerbaijan in the face of these unprovoked strikes. 8 March 2026 18:20 (UTC+04:00) On March 8, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Ahmed Attaf held a phone conversation with Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. During the telephone conversation, the parties exchanged views on regional and international security matters, as well as Iran's drone attacks on Azerbaijan. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov described these attacks as an unacceptable move against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, providing insights into the measures undertaken regarding this situation. Expressing concern over the current situation, Minister Ahmed Attaf said that the escalation of tensions is unacceptable, and stressed the importance of resolving issues based on the norms and principles of international law, through dialogue and diplomatic means. The Algerian minister expressed solidarity with Azerbaijan. During the call, the sides also exchanged views on the prospects for the development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Algeria. 8 March 2026 19:31 (UTC+04:00) On March 8, Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nadezhda Neynsky held a phone conversation with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. The FMs exchanged views on the recent security situation in the region, including the drone attacks carried out by Iran on the territory of Azerbaijan. Minister Nadezhda Neynsky condemned the attacks, expressing her concern over the situation, and stressing the importance of maintaining regional stability. She also thanked for facilitating the evacuation of Bulgarian citizens from Iran through the territory of Azerbaijan. During the telephone conversation, the sides also discussed the current state and development prospects of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria. They also exchanged views on energy security, regional connectivity, as well as collaboration within international organizations. News / National by Staff reporter Chairman of Alpha Media Holdings, Trevor Ncube, has publicly acknowledged the company's failure to pay staff salaries on time, describing the situation as a "broken trust" while outlining sweeping leadership changes and a strategic shift towards digital media.In a candid message to stakeholders, Ncube said the media group-publisher of titles such as the Zimbabwe Independent-deeply regrets delays in paying the 177 employees who work across its operations."Salaries are not abstract numbers. They are school fees and rent paid, groceries purchased, medical bills settled - and, above all, dignity preserved," Ncube said, apologising to staff for the distress caused by the delays.According to Ncube, the immediate cause of the salary crisis is a significant debt owed to the company by the Government of Zimbabwe and other clients, which has strained the organisation's cash flow. He said management and shareholders are actively pursuing recovery of outstanding payments while strengthening financial controls to prevent a recurrence.Despite the explanation, Ncube conceded that the responsibility to employees remains unconditional."Our employees are the heartbeat of this organisation. Their professionalism during this period has been humbling," he said.The AMH chairman also addressed controversy surrounding a recent report by the Zimbabwe Independent about licensing fees involving the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.The story and its aftermath have raised questions about the publication's editorial standards and credibility.Ncube said the company's Independent Editorial Advisory Board, chaired by prominent businessman and lawyer Muchadeyi Masunda, has set up a three-member panel to investigate the matter.The inquiry will examine how the story was handled, identify possible procedural failures and recommend safeguards to strengthen editorial processes."Editorial credibility is the only currency we have. Without it, we are nothing," Ncube said.In a major leadership shift, AMH chief executive officer Kenias Mafukidze has stepped down after leading the organisation through a period marked by economic instability and rapid changes in the media industry.Ncube said the board was grateful for Mafukidze's service and his commitment to independent journalism during difficult times.The board has appointed Takura Mapfumo, previously the company's chief technology officer, as general manager.Ncube said the appointment signals AMH's intention to place technology and digital innovation at the centre of its future strategy.The media executive acknowledged that print media is facing structural decline worldwide as advertising revenues shift online and audiences increasingly consume content through digital platforms.He said AMH is repositioning itself by embedding technology into its operations, investing in newsroom tools and expanding digital revenue streams.The transformation will also include data-driven decision-making, strengthening investigative journalism and developing platforms beyond traditional print publishing."Independent and credible journalism remains essential, especially in an era of misinformation and artificial intelligencegenerated content," Ncube said.Commitment to rebuild trustDespite the current challenges, Ncube said the company's publications and digital platforms remain operational and committed to serving readers.He assured shareholders, advertisers and audiences that AMH is focused on rebuilding trust, stabilising finances and ensuring long-term sustainability."In moments of strain, organisations reveal their character. Ours will be defined by responsibility, transparency and the courage to change," he said. 9 March 2026 00:12 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more On March 8, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his visit to the Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan to offer condolences over the passing of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, and numerous civilians, as well as for his intention to provide humanitarian aid to Iran. Noting that the incident involving airstrike on Nakhchivan had no connection with Iran, President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that the incident would be investigated. President Ilham Aliyev once again expressed his condolences over the death of numerous civilians in the recent events in Iran. The Azerbaijani President underlined the importance of investigating the incident that occurred in Nakhchivan. During the telephone conversation, the heads of state exchanged views on the development prospects of joint economic projects. 8 March 2026 18:49 (UTC+04:00) By Qaiser Nawab | AzerNEWS For the foreseeable future, China will continue to be the growth engine of the world, Erik Solheim, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations said. According to a government work report submitted Thursday to China's top legislature for deliberation, the country targets an economic growth of 4.5 percent to 5 percent this year and will strive for better in practice. This figure surpasses the IMFs growth projections of 3.3% for the global economy and 4.2% for emerging and developing economies in 2026. Number is one thing, and quality is not to be overlooked. As China transitions toward high-quality development, it implies translating growth into tangible income gains, improved access to public services, and the widespread adoption of advanced technologies, Tianchen Xu, Senior Economist from the Economist Intelligence Unit said. AI: magnet for global investors In 2025, Chinas output of industrial robots and integrated circuits rose 28% and 10.9%, respectively, according to the government work report. Data from OpenRouter, the world's largest API aggregation platform for large models, show that the total token consumption of the top ten models on the platform has exceeded 28.7 trillion as of the end of February. Among them, Chinese models contributed over 14.69 trillion, marking the first time in history that the monthly token call share has exceeded 50%. According to Xu, while AI has been a major consumer of power, China has been rapidly expanding its electricity generation capacity over the past few years, including renewable energy. This expansion will ensure that China's AI development is supported by an adequate electricity supply. Moreover, it is likely that China will be able to offer AI services to global users at a lower cost. With this advantage, China could potentially secure a dominant or even majority share of the global AI market. Attracted by Chinese technologies, there has been a fundamental reassessment of Chinese asset over late 2024 and throughout 2025, Xu observed. The MSCI China Index rose 31.4% in 2025, outperforming global markets. Much of this rally was driven by innovation-led themes, particularly in technology and artificial intelligence. As Chinas innovation ecosystem now extends beyond AI into areas such as robotics, autonomous driving, next-generation mobility, and advanced manufacturing, the momentum would continue, according to Muhammad Faran Khan, Associate Director of KTrade Securities, Pakistan. The government work report proposes to promote the commercial and large-scale application of AI in key industries and fields and support the construction of open-source AI communities. A new batch of smart factories and intelligent supply chains will also be built. Consumption market: vast opportunities In the next decade or so, China's middle-income group is likely to exceed 800 million people, representing the best application scenario for the current technological revolution and industrial transformation, according to Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the fourth session of the 14th National Peoples Congress at a press conference Wednesday. Bernardo Mendia, Board Advisor at Young Entrepreneurs Association of the EU, Secretary General of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCILC) highlighted enterprises appetite for long-term integration into Chinese value chains. The engagement of Portuguese businesses with the Chinese market is undergoing a profound maturation. We are moving past the era of simple transactional trade into a phase defined by strategic industrial presence. While the readiness for partnership remains high, it has evolved from a general curiosity into a targeted search for technological and capital synergy. Portuguese companies increasingly recognize that to succeed in China, they must offer something truly worth buyingvalue that is competitive not just on price, but on specialized quality and innovation, he said. Beyond large corporations, the opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are expanding through digital channels. China is the worlds largest e-commerce market, and cross-border e-commerce allows international SMEs to enter the market with lower risk and without the need for a physical local presence. We see a growing niche for gourmet food products, specialized lifestyle brands, and management consulting services, Mendia said. In 2025, total retail sales of consumer goods in China exceeded 50 trillion yuan for the first time, contributing 52% to economic growth. Lou revealed that that the country will formulate laws on social assistance, medical security and childcare services this year, and promote the allocation of more resources to areas related to people's livelihoods so that people are able, willing and confident to spend. China, US: towards broader space for cooperation On the Wednesday press conference, Lou said that China stands ready to strengthen communication with the United States at all levels and through various channels to create broader space for cooperation between the world's two largest economies. At the same time, China has its own principles and red lines, and will firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. According to Chinas customs, trade between China and the United States recorded 4.01 trillion yuan in 2025, accounting for 8.8 percent of Chinas total foreign trade. U.S. statistics show that in the first ten months of 2025, bilateral trade stood at $373.64 billion, representing 7.8 percent of overall U.S. trade. The composition of trade is undergoing a significant shift. High value-added and technology-intensive products are now the main engines of growth in Chinas exports to the U.S., with electronic equipment, machinery and electrical products, and photovoltaic modules leading the expansion. According to Xu, as the US looks to strengthen its manufacturing sector, economic cooperation with China, the world's largest producer, is necessary. Last month, the 20th anniversary event of the U.S.-China Commercial Matchmaking Program was held in Beijing. Wang Wenshuai, a spokesperson for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) said earlier this month that the Council will continue to strengthen industrial and supply chain cooperation with the U.S. by making full use of platforms such as the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) and the U.S.-China Commercial Matchmaking Program (CMP). He revealed the upcoming CISCE will feature a stronger presence from leading U.S. companies, along with prominent figures from business, government, and academia. In the expos AI section, Chinese and American AI firms will share the same stage. Wang also underlined promoting cooperation between the two countries business communities in emerging sectors including the digital economy, biopharmaceuticals, and new energy vehicles. As of now, CCPIT has approved 119 activities for Chinese enterprises to participate in U.S.-based exhibitions in 2026, of which 30 had been carried out by February, Wang said. Solheim highlighted the necessity of bilateral cooperation in renewable energy. China is the indispensable nation for the green transition, producing over 60% of green technologiesup to 90% in solar alone. Its new energy products are a global public good, aligning with the collective goal of sustainability. Any nation aiming for a green future needs to partner with China to achieve this, including the United States, he said. --------- Qaiser Nawab is Chairman of the Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD), an international platform focused on fostering cooperation and innovation across Asia, Africa, and Latin America --------- The views and opinions expressed by guest columnists in their articles may differ from those of the editorial board and do not necessarily reflect its views. 8 March 2026 08:00 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon on Saturday that the country would face the full price if attacks by Hezbollah persist. As reported by AzerNEWS, speaking alongside Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, Katz directed his remarks at Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, urging Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah or risk retaliatory measures. Katz emphasized that Israel does not seek territorial gains from Lebanon, framing the warning solely as a response to security threats. The statement comes amid a period of escalating Israeli military actions against Hezbollah, signaling heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border and raising concerns about potential regional instability. 8 March 2026 09:54 (UTC+04:00) By News Centre A classified assessment by the National Intelligence Council (NIC) indicates that even a major US military campaign would likely fail to dismantle Irans ruling military and clerical establishment, AzerNEWS reports via Anadolu. According to a report cited by The Washington Post, senior intelligence analysts concluded that Irans power structure would probably survive a large-scale attack, contradicting claims by US President Donald Trump that Washington could remove Irans leadership and replace it with a new government. The NIC which represents the combined analysis of all 18 US intelligence agencies prepared the classified report roughly a week before the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28. The assessment examined potential outcomes if Iranian leadership figures were targeted through either limited strikes or broader attacks on key government institutions. Intelligence officials reportedly determined that even if Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei were killed, Irans political and military elite would likely rely on established succession mechanisms to maintain the existing system. Sources familiar with the findings also suggested that Irans fragmented opposition groups would be unlikely to take advantage of such a scenario to gain power. The report did not assess other possible strategies, such as deploying US ground forces in Iran or supporting Kurdish groups in an effort to trigger internal unrest. It also remains unclear whether the scenario evaluated in the document reflects the current military situation. Regional tensions have escalated since the United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive on February 28. The attacks reportedly killed more than 1,000 people, including senior Iranian military officials and civilians. In response, Iran has carried out extensive retaliatory strikes targeting US military bases, diplomatic facilities, and personnel across the region, as well as several cities in Israel. 8 March 2026 05:47 (UTC+04:00) Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani has claimed that Iranian forces captured several American soldiers, accusing Washington of attempting to hide the incident. In a message posted on X on Saturday, Larijani said he had received reports that multiple US troops had been taken prisoner. He alleged that US authorities were instead describing the soldiers as having been killed in action. Despite their futile efforts, the truth cannot remain hidden for long, Larijani wrote. The United States quickly rejected the allegation. A spokesperson for United States Central Command (CENTCOM) told Al Jazeera that no American soldiers had been captured and described the claim as false. The spokesman said Irans statement was another example of what Washington called misleading and deceptive narratives from Tehran. Tensions across the region have intensified since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched large-scale air strikes against Iran. The attacks reportedly killed more than 1,000 people, including Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior military officials, and civilians. The conflict has sparked widespread instability in the region, with Tehran carrying out retaliatory strikes against US-linked targets and military facilities. 8 March 2026 12:58 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more European Union member states on Thursday approved a legally binding target to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2040 compared with 1990 levels, marking a significant step towards the blocs long-term objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, AzerNEWS reports via Juristnews. According to the source, the measure forms an amendment to the European Union Climate Law, strengthening the EUs broader climate framework. The decision was adopted during a council meeting in Brussels, where a reinforced majority of ministers backed the proposal despite opposition from several countries, including Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary. These governments warned that the accelerated pace of decarbonisation could place heavy pressure on energy-intensive industries, farmers and lower-income households. Critics also cautioned that the transition might lead to higher energy prices, job losses in carbon-intensive sectors and growing political backlash among voters. Nevertheless, the compromise ultimately adopted remains more ambitious than the climate commitments of many major economies, including China. To address concerns among member states, EU policymakers introduced a number of flexibility mechanisms. Up to five per cent of the emissions reduction target may be met using high-quality international carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The agreement also includes a delayed rollout of the second phase of the EU Emissions Trading System 2, alongside biennial reviews in which the European Commission will evaluate progress and consider possible adjustments. Environmental organisations have broadly welcomed the decision, describing it as a crucial milestone on the path towards climate neutrality. Stientje van Veldhoven, vice-president and regional director for Europe at the World Resources Institute, said the EUs 90 per cent target demonstrates the level of ambition required at a critical moment for global climate policy. According to her, finalising the target ahead of the upcoming COP30 climate summit signals that the EU intends to arrive with a credible contribution to global climate efforts and views climate action as central to Europes long-term economic strategy. The decision follows earlier criticism from some analysts and campaign groups who argued that the proposed reduction target was insufficient and relied too heavily on accounting mechanisms. The European Parliament had previously endorsed the European Green Deal in June 2021. The compromise agreement was ultimately reached in November 2025 after the European Commission proposed amendments to Articles 4(3) and 4(5) of the EU Climate Law earlier that year. Under the approved framework, the EU is expected to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by between 66.25 and 72.5 per cent by 2035 compared with 1990 levels. 8 March 2026 15:00 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more The United Kingdom has unveiled details of four maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities operating in Ukraine, designed to service and restore armoured vehicles and artillery systems supplied by Western partners. AzerNEWS reports, citing an official release by the UK government, that the facilities will repair equipment including the British-supplied CVR(T) armoured vehicle, Husky tactical support vehicle, AS90 selfpropelled artillery system, and L119 light gun, as well as older Soviet-era equipment still used by Ukrainian forces. Through cooperation with Swedish partners, the sites will also be capable of supporting the Archer artillery system supplied by Sweden. The repair hubs are operated under contracts with the UK Ministry of Defence by British defence companies. Their objective is to restore damaged equipment rapidly and return it to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while also creating skilled engineering jobs for Ukrainian workers. According to a government bulletin issued on 7 March, British engineers are currently working in Ukraine alongside local specialists to maintain and repair military vehicles. However, officials clarified that no British military personnel are stationed at the facilities. As reported by Kyivpost, during a recent visit to one of the sites, Luke Pollard, the UKs Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, reaffirmed Britains commitment to supporting Ukraine amid its war with Russia. Pollard said the UKs support remains unwavering and emphasised that Ukraines security is closely tied to Britains own. Speaking to The Guardian, Pollard acknowledged the risks associated with operating such facilities within a conflict zone but described the decision as a risk worth taking in order to strengthen Ukraines defence capabilities. Officials have described the initiative as pioneering. Beyond supporting Ukraines military in the ongoing war, the project also aims to develop long-term defence industrial capacity in partnership with Ukrainian companies. According to the British Defence Journal, the UK began developing the repair infrastructure soon after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Establishing facilities within the country enables damaged equipment to be repaired locally, significantly reducing repair times and returning vehicles to frontline units more quickly. The latest initiative is linked to Programme Lyra, a technology exchange agreement announced in June 2025 between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The programme focuses on integrating advanced British electronic warfare technologies with Ukrainian military platforms to enhance Ukraines operational capabilities. Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, the United Kingdom has committed more than 21.8 billion in support to Ukraine, making it one of Kyivs largest bilateral donors. 8 March 2026 14:31 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Several United States military transport aircraft have been observed arriving at and departing from an American air base in Osan Air Base in South Korea over the past week, prompting speculation that United States Forces Korea may be redeploying military assets to the Middle East as tensions escalate in the region. According to flight data from Flightradar24, several C5 Galaxy and C17 Globemaster III transport aircraft landed at the base, located south of Seoul, in late February before departing between Wednesday and Saturday. The movements were first reported by Yonhap News Agency. At least two C-5 aircraft arrived at the base in late February and were later seen departing on 28 February and again the following Monday. Meanwhile, several C-17 aircraft left the base between Tuesday and 7 March, with six confirmed to have flown to Anchorage in the US state of Alaska. The unusual flight activity has led to speculation that USFK could be preparing to relocate Patriot missile defence system units to the Middle East. Reports indicate that some Patriot batteries were recently moved to Osan Air Base from other US installations in South Korea. In June last year, the United States deployed at least two Patriot batteries to the Middle East during a period of heightened tensions following American strikes on Tehrans nuclear facilities. Those systems were later returned to South Korea in October. Both United States Forces Korea and South Korea Ministry of National Defense declined to comment on the recent aircraft movements, stating that operational troop activities are not discussed publicly. 8 March 2026 17:13 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The Foreign Minister of Oman, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, on Sunday called for coordinated Arab diplomatic efforts and increased pressure to halt the ongoing military confrontation involving the United States and Israel against Iran. According to a statement issued by the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the social media platform X (social media platform), Al Busaidi raised the issue during talks with Arab ambassadors in Muscat. He warned that the escalation could have serious consequences for regional stability and emphasised the need to safeguard both regional interests and civilian populations. His remarks come as hostilities continue between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other. Iran has responded to the strikes with missile and drone attacks aimed at Israel as well as targets in several Arab states. 8 March 2026 21:15 (UTC+04:00) Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday that 583 Afghan Taliban operatives have been killed and more than 795 injured during the ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, launched in response to what Islamabad described as unprovoked action from across the Afghan border, AzerNEWS reports, citing Tribune. Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched last week following renewed clashes along the PakistanAfghanistan border, after Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation by Pakistan. The neighbouring countries have been engaged in escalating hostilities along the frontier since then. The clashes intensified after Afghanistan launched a border offensive in response to earlier Pakistani air strikes targeting terrorists positions. Providing a summary of the losses of the Afghan Taliban regime as of 4 pm on Sunday, Tarar said security forces had destroyed 242 checkposts and captured 38 others during the operation. 213 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery guns have also been destroyed during the operation, he said. The minister added that 64 locations across Afghanistan had been effectively targeted in air strikes as part of the campaign. Separately, the Pakistan Army foiled an infiltration attempt along the PakistanAfghanistan border near the Chaman sector, security sources said, as forces continue operations to protect the border fence and prevent terrorist crossings, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. According to security officials, a group of three to four terrorists attempted to breach the fence in the border area adjacent to Chaman. Troops responded swiftly and targeted the group as they tried to cut through the barrier. During the operation, an exchange of fire took place in which one terrorist was killed, while the remaining attackers fled the area in a wounded condition, the sources said. The Army effectively targeted the Khwarij attempting to cut the fence, the security sources said. Officials added that four to five improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and fence-cutting equipment were recovered from the militants at the site. The latest escalation in tensions between the two countries follows a series of tit-for-tat actions over the past year. Pakistan earlier carried out air strikes targeting camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State Khorasan Province inside Afghanistan after a wave of attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad. Pakistani security sources said more than 80 terrorists were killed in those strikes. The strikes prompted attacks by Afghanistan along the border, leading to the breakout of the latest round of open conflict. Islamabad has long maintained that TTP leaders operate from Afghan territory, an allegation that Kabul has repeatedly denied. Tensions also surged after a series of explosions in Kabul on October 9 last year. Taliban forces subsequently targeted areas along Pakistans border, prompting Islamabad to respond with cross-border shelling. The exchanges caused casualties and infrastructure damage on both sides and led to the suspension of trade after border crossings were closed on October 12, 2025. Israeli army confirms attack on main military university in Tehran Xinhua) 10:28, March 08, 2026 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. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Zhong Wenxing) News / National by Herbert Moyo ZANU-PF party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo's lengthy suspension from the ruling party by the politburo last night, along with other allies of Vice President Joice Mujuru, all but brings to an end his long yet controversial political career in which he worked alongside the late Herbert Chitepo in Zimbabwe's 1970s struggle for Independence.Gumbo, the only surviving member of Zanu's Dare re Chimurenga which planned and directed the liberation war while President Robert Mugabe and other leaders like Ndabaningi Sithole were in prison, was handed a five-year suspension by the politburo on charges of plotting to oust Mugabe.Given his age (74, having been born in March 1940) this effectively marks the end of his controversial career. This is the third time Gumbo finds himself at the crossroads with the party he worked tirelessly to build up alongside the likes of Chitepo, the late Josiah Tongogara and the late Kumbirai Kangai, among others.Gumbo was first arrested by the Zambian government after the assassination of Chitepo along with Tongogara and other Dare members on suspicion of assassinating Chitepo.He was also later arrested and imprisoned in Mozambique along with other members dubbed the Vashandi group who were resisting the elevation of Mugabe to party president to replace of Sithole who had fallen out of favour allegedly for renouncing the armed struggle, among other charges.He was only released in 1979 on the eve of the elections that lead to Independence on the insistence of the British as one of the pre-conditions for the holding of the elections that led to Independence in 1980.He contested the elections on a Zanu Ndonga ticket - the party led by Sithole.After Mugabe's victory, Gumbo was frozen out and remained in the political wilderness for many years in which he worked in the corporate sector. He was later rehabilitated by Mugabe and given ministerial positions at the turn of the millennium, including as Minister of Economic Development in 2005 and later Agriculture minister in 2007. He also served in the party central committee and politburo leading to his appointment to the spokesperson portfolio.While he has previously picked up the pieces, it is highly unlikely that he will recover from his political setback this time given that he will be 79 years old at the expiry of his suspension in 2019.Gumbo's departure all but marks the collapse of Mujuru's own designs for the presidency as he was her most brave fighter in the party, defending her at crucial periods when she was under siege. 8 March 2026 22:20 (UTC+04:00) Chinas top diplomat condemned on Sunday the war in the Middle East and urged the United States to iron out its differences with Beijing, AzerNEWS reports, citing Arab News. Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a press conference in the Chinese capital that the war, which was sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, should never have happened. A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle, he told reporters. He was speaking during Chinas annual political gathering, which began this week, known as the Two Sessions. The parallel meetings of Chinas parliament and political consultative body are closely watched for clues as to the priorities of top leaders, in the face of a precarious geopolitical landscape Wang addressed a range of issues, including a trade war with the United States, regional tensions in the South China Sea, as well as wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. This year is indeed a big year for Sino-US relations, Wang said. Manage differences Ties between China and the United States have been strained since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year, followed by a trade war that saw the two countries impose tit-for-tat tariffs on each others products. We observe certain country erecting tariff barriers and pursuing decoupling and supply chain disruption, Wang said on Sunday. These actions are akin to trying to extinguish a fire with fuel. Ultimately, they will backfire and harm itself. While China and the United States cannot change each other, he said, we can change the way we interact with each other. Wang urged both sides to create a suitable environment, manage existing differences, and eliminate unnecessary interference. But a wide range of disagreements remain. Beijing has blasted US and Israeli military strikes on Iran, with which it has diplomatic and trade ties. It has in particular condemned the killing of the countrys supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Wang also maintained that Chinas relations with Moscow, which have been criticized by Western countries for sustaining the war in Ukraine, remained steadfast and unshakeable. China gym China has sought to profit off Trumps volatile foreign policies, positioning itself as a reliable alternative to once traditional US allies. Leaders from France, Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom, among others, have flocked to Beijing, recoiling from Trumps bid to seize Greenland and tariff threats against fellow NATO members. Wang welcomed the visits on Sunday, saying we have noticed that more and more insightful Europeans agree that China is not a competitor, but a global partner. We welcome our European friends to step out of the small attic of protectionism and come to the gym of the Chinese market, where they can strengthen their muscles and enhance their competitiveness, he said. In the spirit of warming relations, China has doled out visa-free travel agreements to around 50 countries including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Beijing has also agreed to reduced tariffs with Ottawa and London in their exports to China. Wang also addressed relations between China and Japan, which have been locked in a spat after comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on self-ruled Taiwan. Takaichis comments enraged Beijing, which views Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out taking by force. Wang emphasized on Sunday that Beijing will never allow anyone or any force to separate Taiwan from China once again. He warned Japan against repeating the same disastrous mistakes, adding that China will never allow anyone to stand up for colonialism, in an apparent reference to Tokyos actions during World War II. The issue of Taiwan, he insisted, is at the heart of Chinas core interests and a red line that must not be crossed or trampled on. 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?" Bennington, VT (05201) Today Cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 23F. W winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 23F. W winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter NORTH ADAMS Even through winter storms, a pilot nip redemption program in North Adams has kept bottles flowing in but funding to pay the 5-cent returns may soon run dry. Since Jan. 1, 14,835 nip bottles have been returned to Berkshire Family and Individual Resources' redemption center, said Laura Baran, BFAIRs senior director of employment and community-based day services, on March 5. However, it has received only one donation $40 since that time, which covers about 800 nip returns. Baran said BFAIR still has enough funds left to redeem roughly 9,000 more nips, or about $450. The program's grand total is now about 35,000 bottles redeemed, which also includes about 18,000 nips that were returned between the programs start in November and the end of December, City Councilor Keith Bona said at the council's Feb. 23 meeting. On Nov. 1, BFAIR began accepting the mini alcohol bottles for a 5-cent return and saw a steady response of at least 1,000 returns a week in the first two months. Since Jan. 1, an average of 1,854 bottles have been returned each week. The pilot program was created by Bona in response to Police Chief Mark Bailey raising concerns about nip disposal on the street and asking the council to discuss a potential ban. In late October, the Public Safety Committee, which was set to discuss the potential nip ban, postponed the discussion to see how the program performed. Nips are not currently redeemable in the state, unlike regular-sized liquor and beverage bottles, but in October, Bona asked if BFAIRs Redemption Center could take them if he secured funding for the returns. Within a few weeks, he had $1,000 pledged enough to cover 20,000 nips at 5 cents each. Some additional donations from individuals and other local organizations have helped support the program. BFAIR is a human services agency based in North Adams that supports adults and children with disabilities and their families. It provides jobs and services to individuals, including work at the redemption center. The nips are coming in from all around Northern Berkshire County, including from North Adams, Williamstown, Adams and Cheshire, according to BFAIR, which asks redeemers where they are coming from and logs the location and numbers. As the program ramped up into winter, Bona and other councilors wondered if the snow would hide nips or the cold would freeze them into ice, slowing down the number of returns. Hopefully, many of them were picked off the ground, but because of the snow, we won't see that fill effect and know how well it's working, Bona said. But I'm assuming with that many [being returned], they are coming from all over including the ground. At a recent Public Safety Committee meeting where the proposed nip ban discussion was referred, members Bryan Sapienza, Marie McCarron and Pete Breen discussed what they would recommend happen with the program at the next council meeting. They postponed further discussion to their first meeting in May, with the consideration of the success of the current program and to see the full effect once the snow has disappeared, said Sapienza. The areas are getting cleaner, he said. If we could get a second donation in the spring to promote that, it's heading in the right direction. From everything I hear, its a good program, Breen said. McCarron raised concerns about the sustainability of the program, asking what would happen if donations started to slow and the program ran out of money. She brought up the upcoming annual community Earth Month cleanup in April, this year at Noel Field, and wondered if that would put a dent in any remaining funds. The money they're gonna have to pay up that day [if people pick up nips on community cleanup day], what is planned for that? Are there enough funds? Maybe it will inspire people to make a donation. She asked if there were any grants, even $500 or $1000, that they could apply for to ensure the program continues. If this runs out of money, we're going to be back to square one, she said. Those interested in donating funds to the nip redemption program should make checks out to BFAIR with the memo line: "Nip program." Massachusetts law prohibits attempting to redeem nips or other bottles purchased in another state. PITTSFIELD Natalya Kauvil demanded answers Saturday from the Berkshire District Attorneys Office about the fatal police shooting of her brother, Biagio Kauvil, during a well-being check two months ago. She was joined by family members, friends and supporters who gathered in Park Square holding signs and calling for accountability. "We're just trying to show more awareness for the situation, and we just want some answers, and we want accountability," Natalya, 22, said. "We just feel like we can't let this go, and we're not letting it go." Biagio, 27, was shot and killed during a well-being check Jan. 7 at 53 Off South St. He was experiencing a mental health crisis and had called 911, according to Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. After about 30 minutes of verbal communication with Biagio through a door, the district attorneys office said police decided to break into the locked bedroom where Kauvil was. Once in the bedroom, police saw that Kauvil, who had his license to carry, was holding a handgun, the district attorneys office said. Kauvil's gun went off during a struggle with officers, according to Shugrue, striking the hand of Hinsdale Sgt. Dominick Crupi and Chief Shawn Boyne's bulletproof vest. Police temporarily "subdued" Kauvil with a Taser, the district attorneys office said, before a third Hinsdale officer whom the DAs office has not officially identified fired two shots. The first wounded Crupi. The second struck Kauvil in the head, killing him. An Eagle investigation found it was Officer Jeffrey Spratt who fired the shot. While holding a large banner that said "Justice for Biagio Kauvil," Natalya was overcome with emotion by the number of people who have supported the family over the last two months. "It genuinely means the world to me and to my family and to me that all the people came out to support this cause and to get justice for my brother," Natalya Kauvil said. "It's definitely a horrific situation, something that no one should have to experience, and I'm just trying my best to support my family." Natalya said there should be additional mental health training for officers who respond to wellness checks. "We were told there would be a crisis team there, so we trusted them, and that, unfortunately, didn't happen, and they didn't give him the opportunity to get the help he needed," Natalya Kauvil said. "It's just really upsetting for all of us." Nikki LeVardi, Kauvil's aunt, said that though being vocal in standouts like this is outside her comfort zone, she was fed up with not having answers about what happened to her nephew. "This should never have happened," LeVardi said. "This is not right from beginning to end. He didn't want to die. He asked for help, we asked for help." LeVardi has been an advocate for better men's mental health since she was 14 and said she will continue to fight until real change is made. "Now I really have an army," LeVardi said. "No one's going anywhere." LeVardi emphasized the need for better mens mental-health support and prevention resources and called for accountability. "From the very beginning, this has been a nightmare, but I know the truth," LeVardi said. "We have all these people who, at the end of the day, all want the truth. Scott McGowan, of Williamstown, said he showed up to demand updates from the Berkshire District Attorney's Office after the family responded to his posts asking him to support them. "There's a lack of professional transparency," McGowan said. "I'm very happy with the turnout. The amount of passerby motorists who support is tremendous." Anthony Gilliam, who knew Biagio from Aldi, said he showed up to support the family in their pursuit of justice. "He was wrongfully killed and his family is hurting every single day," Gilliam said. "It's really hurtful what they're going through, and they deserve justice." As the family continues to call for justice, Natalya said she wants him to be remembered for who he was, not how he was killed. Signs described Biagio as someone who loved music, nature and caring for others. "I just want people to know how great a person he was, and I don't want any of this to overshadow the fact that he was here, that he was struggling, and he deserved help, and he deserved care and not to have his life taken," Natalya said. "There was just so much that he deserved to experience and live." In the two months since the shooting, Natalya has leaned on friends and family as she navigates a "nightmare." "It's been a situation where it's hard to grasp and to feel like it's reality," Natalya said. "Every day I wake up and we just think nightmare that we're gonna see him again, and we're not." Prime Minister Mark Carney has called byelections in the Toronto ridings of University-Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest and the Quebec riding of Terrebonne races the Liberals will want to win to secure a thin majority government. The byelections will be held on April 13, according to a news release posted on the prime minister's website Sunday morning. Candidates will be looking to replace Chrystia Freeland who stepped down after accepting a voluntary role advising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Bill Blair, who's been appointed Canada's high commissioner to the United Kingdom . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Liberals have said family physician Dr. Danielle Martin will run in University-Rosedale. Former Ontario NDP deputy leader Doly Begum will run in Scarborough Southwest in a shocking defection. Begum's announcement in February rankled some members of the NDP, including interim federal NDP Leader Don Davies, who accused Begum of undermining democracy and argued her actions "breeds cynicism in our politics." Serena Purdy, a community organizer in the Kensington Market neighbourhood, will run for the NDP in University-Rosedale. She ran in the riding during the 2025 federal election and lost to Freeland. Fatima Shaban, the NDP's candidate for Scarborough Southwest, also ran for the party in the 2025 federal election and lost to Blair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Green Party will run Pooja Malhotra in Scarborough Southwest, Benjamin Rankin in Terrebonne and Andrew Massey in University-Rosedale. The Conservatives announced that Adrienne Charles, who ran for them in last spring's election, will once again be on the ballot in Terrebonne. Don Hodgson will carry the Conservative banner in University-Rosedale. Diana Filipova is the party's candidate in Scarborough Southwest. She was the Conservative candidate in the Toronto riding of Spadina-Harbourfront last election, but lost to Liberal Chi Nguyen. In a news release, Elections Canada said voters in the area can cast their ballots on election day or vote in advance polls from April 3 to April 6 at their assigned polling station. If someone wishes to vote by mail, they must apply by April 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they desire, voters can also cast their ballot anytime starting today if they go the Elections Canada office in any of the three ridings. All eyes on Terrebonne As things stand, the Liberals have 169 MPs in the House of Commons. They need 172 to form a thin majority government, making these three races vitally important for the party. The most eventful race will likely be in Terrebonne. Last month, the Liberals were dealt a blow after the Supreme Court of Canada annulled the 2025 federal election result in the Montreal-area riding. The electoral district was initially declared for Bloc Quebecois Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagne, but a judicial recount later found Liberal Tatiana Auguste had won the seat by one vote. The two will go head-to-head again in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sinclair-Desgagne, called on the courts to annul the results and call a new election after CBC News reported that a voter had their mail-in ballot returned to them due to a misprint on the return envelope. The voter, Emmanuelle Bosse, had marked her ballot for the Bloc. Elections Canada acknowledged the error but said the results had already been finalized. In October, a Superior Court judge rejected Sinclair-Desgagne's call for a do-over, arguing that a postal code mishap amounted to "human error" and does not constitute an irregularity as defined under federal electoral law. The top court overturned that ruling after hearing arguments in February. The byelection in Terrebonne will also occur shortly after the Liberals' national convention in Montreal, which is being held April 9 to 11. There were relieved family reunions at Dublin Airport after the Governments first chartered flight from the Middle East touched down. The flight from Muscat in Oman landed just before 5am, several hours after its scheduled midnight arrival. It made a stop in Cairo and was carrying around 194 people. The flight was chartered to bring stranded, vulnerable Irish citizens home amid escalating scenes of hostilities between Israel, the United States and Iran. Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said it had been a challenging journey. Family members wait for loved ones at Dublin Airport in the early hours of Sunday. (Evan Treacy/PA) I am pleased to confirm the arrival into Dublin of a chartered repatriation flight from Oman. I want to welcome home all those who travelled on the flight we have chartered to assist those stranded in the Gulf region, she said. I know their return will be an enormous relief for themselves and for their families and friends. Advertisement It was a challenging journey, in particular for those who travelled over land to Muscat, but I am glad that we have been able to directly facilitate the return of nearly 200 people, including a number of children and infants. Hundreds of Irish citizens returned recently from the region via commercial Emirates flights from Dublin. Another is due to land at 6.55pm on Sunday. Other Irish people have managed to get indirect flights to Ireland from Abu Dhabi or Dubai through London or Paris. McEntee said around 1,500 people have returned home to Ireland in recent days. I would encourage all those still in the UAE and who want to leave to avail of commercial options where those are available, she said. The last week has been incredibly distressing for our citizens in the Gulf. The situation remains volatile, with further attacks on the UAE and other Gulf countries today, and on Iran. I would ask any Irish citizens in the Gulf to register their presence in order to give my Department the clearest information possible of the situation on the ground. More than 18,000 people have done so since last weekend. Any citizen in the Gulf seeking assistance is encouraged to call the Consular Crisis Team in Dublin directly. The Governments chartered flight, which reportedly cost 800 a seat, departed Muscat in Oman on Saturday. I want to welcome home all those who travelled on the flight we have chartered to assist those stranded in the Gulf region. Helen McEntee There are about 24,000 Irish citizens across the region who have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs. An estimated 14,000 Irish people are living in Dubai, a further 2,000 in Abu Dhabi and more than 2,000 in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Advertisement On Friday, it was indicated that the consular crisis team had responded to more than 2,300 queries since last weekend. On Saturday, a Government spokesperson said: The Governments charter flight to assist citizens in the Gulf region has departed Oman. It will make one stop in Cairo and is due to arrive in Dublin later tonight. Dublin Airport said on Saturday that disruption to flights from the Middle East had continued for the eighth consecutive day, with just two scheduled flights to the Middle East operating, one inbound and one outbound Emirates flight to and from Dubai. All other flights to Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi have been cancelled by airlines, they said. Further disruption is likely in the days ahead. As always, passengers due to fly should contact their airline directly for the latest updates on the status of their flight. Kemi Badenoch has said the UK 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, Badenoch said the prime minister was sitting on the fence when it comes to the conflict in the Middle East. The Tory leader said last weeks by-election won by the Greens has spooked the Labour Party. 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. Badenoch addressed the Conservative Party Spring Conference at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire (Stefan Rousseau/PA) 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. Advertisement Badenoch has called on the UK government to authorise the RAF to strike Irans missile launch sites, which deputy prime minister David Lammy suggested on Friday was a possibility. It comes after a row erupted over 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? My plan to use welfare savings to boost the number of troops pic.twitter.com/Ya5wf7UpS4 Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) March 6, 2026 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. UK 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. In her speech, the Conservative Party leader also criticised Reform UK, saying of Nigel Farages party: Reform are not serious people and not going to solve your problems. This week, our Armed Forces have shown extraordinary professionalism and dedication. They are protecting British lives and British interests in the Middle East. And that work continues pic.twitter.com/0QZjja0joD John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) March 7, 2026 She also criticised the Greens for wanting to scrap our nuclear deterrent, saying: The Green Party leader only wants to make two things bigger, and neither of them is our army. Badenoch added: I have no idea what the Lib Dems think, and I dont think they do either. She also spoke of the Conservative pledge to bring back the two-child benefit cap and put the money raised into defence, and said the Iran conflict would bring an oil price shock that will play havoc with the economy. We have to drill our own oil and gas now, she said. Britain's Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle will visit Australia next month for a number of engagements. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will not be going with them, it is understood. A spokesman for the couple said: Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will visit Australia in mid-April to take part in a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements. Further details will be shared in due course. Harry and Meghan at the Invictus Games 2018 opening ceremony in Sydney (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Harry and Meghan carried out an official royal tour to Australia in 2018, five months after their royal wedding, and Meghans pregnancy with Prince Archie was announced shortly after their arrival. The couple had a busy two-day trip to Jordan last month, to learn more about the humanitarian effort to support the health and wellbeing of Syrians and Palestinians who have sought sanctuary in the country. Advertisement The couple hugged and comforted young cancer patients and their families when they heard the stories of their experiences at the King Hussein Cancer Centre, and Harry urged a group at the National Centre for Rehabilitation of Addicts to go back to their communities and help others, telling them: Theres no shame in having an addiction. Meghan and Harry also joined a discussion hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with individuals from leading bodies like the United Nations and many of its agencies, diplomatic representatives and donors. The couple, who stepped down as working royals in 2020 for personal and financial freedom, travelled to Jordan at the invitation of the WHOs director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. They also met World Central Kitchen staff co-ordinating food relief for Gaza from the Jordanian capital, Amman. Iran has launched at least 16 ballistic missiles and 117 drones in new barrages, according to the United Arab Emirates, as well as targeting a desalination plant in Bahrain. The UAEs Defence Ministry said it had intercepted 16 missiles on Sunday, while a 17th fell into the sea. It added that it intercepted most of the drones but four fell in UAE territory. The ministry said it is ready to firmly confront the threats. A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a US-Israeli strike in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP) The Emirati statement did not specify the locations of the attacks. Bahrain earlier accused Iran of striking a desalination plant, raising fears that civilian infrastructure may become targets in the war, as Irans president vowed to expand the countrys attacks on American targets across the region in the face of intense US and Israeli air strikes. Advertisement A late-night Israeli strike on an oil facility engulfed parts of Irans capital Tehran in smoke on Sunday, while Israel renewed attacks in Lebanon. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to press ahead with the nine-day-old campaign, which has rippled across the region and appears to have no end in sight. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian threatened on Sunday to step up attacks on American targets across the Middle East. He appeared to backtrack from conciliatory comments towards his Gulf neighbours on Saturday. Those comments, in which he apologised for attacks on their soil, were quickly contradicted by Iranian hardliners. In Lebanon, the health ministry said 83 children were among almost 400 people killed in a week of conflict, after Israeli ordered tens of thousands to evacuate ahead of an offensive aimed at stamping out the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The site of Israeli air strikes in a village in south Lebanon (Mohammed Zaatari/AP) The war, which Israel and the US launched with air strikes on February 28, has also killed at least 1,230 people in Iran and about a dozen in Israel, according to officials. Six US troops have also been killed. The conflict has rattled global markets, disrupted air travel and left Irans leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American air strikes. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Irans parliament, said on Sunday that the wars effect on the oil industry will continue to spiral, warning it could become harder to produce and sell oil. Advertisement Some regional producers, including in Iraq, have already curbed output amid dangers in the Strait of Hormuz. When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond. The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be, Mr Pezeshkian said on Sunday. Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression and it never has. (PA Graphics) While multiple Gulf states reported intercepting more missiles and drones from Iran, Mr Pezeshkian said the country was not looking to battle them and accused the US of trying to pit countries against one another. Iranian hardliners quickly contradicted those remarks. Judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei wrote on X: 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. The two men are part of a three-member leadership council that has overseen Iran since an earlier strike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Were not looking to settle, Mr Trump told reporters on Saturday on Air Force One. Theyd like to settle. Were not looking to settle. The Gulf nations of Bahrain and Kuwait also reported additional Iranian missiles launched towards them on Sunday, including several that hit new categories of civilian infrastructure. Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online. Donald Trump speaks to reporters as defence secretary Pete Hegseth listens on Air Force One (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) The island nation, home to the US Navys Fifth Fleet, has been among the countries targeted by Iranian drones and missiles. Attacks have hit hotels, ports and residential towers and killed at least one person. The desalination plant strike came after Iran said a US air strike had damaged an Iranian desalination plant. Abbas Araghchi, the countrys foreign minister, said the strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had cut into the water supply for 30 villages. He warned that in doing so the US set this precedent, not Iran. Advertisement Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region, raising new fears of risks in multiple parched desert nations. Iran also said on Sunday that overnight strikes from Israel hit four oil storage tankers and a petroleum transfer terminal, killing four people. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said on Sunday that about 10,000 civilian structures across the country had been damaged, including homes, schools and medical facilities. It warned Tehran residents to take precautions against toxic air pollution and the risk of acid rain after Israeli strikes set fires at oil depots in the area. Israel renewed its assault on parts of Lebanon early on Sunday, and health officials reported 12 more people killed. The Israeli military has ordered tens of thousands of people in large areas of the country, including parts of the Beirut area, to evacuate during an offensive that its military said was aimed at stamping out Iran-supported forces there. It warned residents of southern Lebanon to move north on Sunday morning. Bahrain has accused Iran of striking a desalination plant, raising fears that civilian infrastructure may become fair game in the war. It came after Irans president vowed to expand the countrys attacks on American targets across the region in the face of intense US and Israeli air strikes. A late-night Israeli strike on an oil facility engulfed parts of Irans capital Tehran in smoke on Sunday, while Israel renewed attacks in Lebanon. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to press ahead with the nine-day-old campaign, which has rippled across the region and appears to have no end in sight. The US military said a service member died of injuries from an Iranian attack on troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1. Seven US soldiers have now been killed in the war. Advertisement Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian threatened on Sunday to step up attacks on American targets across the Middle East, and appeared to backtrack from conciliatory comments towards his Gulf neighbours on Saturday. Those comments, in which he apologised for attacks on their soil, were quickly contradicted by Iranian hardliners. In Lebanon, intensifying Israeli strikes pushed the death toll higher as several hundred thousand people were displaced and Israel targeted the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. In Israel, three people were injured in a Sunday afternoon strike and the military said two soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon the first military fatalities since the start of the war with Iran last week. A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a US-Israeli strike in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP) The war, which Israel and the US launched with air strikes on February 28, has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, 397 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials. Six US troops have also been killed. The conflict has rattled global markets, disrupted air travel and left Irans leadership weakened by several thousand Israeli and American air strikes. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Irans parliament, said on Sunday that the wars effect on the oil industry would continue to spiral, warning it could become harder to produce and sell oil. Some regional producers, including in Iraq, have already curbed output amid dangers in the Strait of Hormuz. When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond. The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be, Mr Pezeshkian said on Sunday. Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression and it never has. The site of Israeli air strikes in a village in south Lebanon (Mohammed Zaatari/AP) The remarks came a day after he said Tehran regretted regional concerns caused by Iranian strikes and urged neighbouring states not to take part in US and Israeli attacks against Iran. Multiple Gulf states reported intercepting more incoming missiles and drones from Iran, but Mr Pezeshkian said the country was not looking to battle them and accused the US of trying to pit countries against one another. Advertisement Iranian hardliners quickly contradicted those remarks. Judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei wrote on X: 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. The two men are part of a three-member leadership council that has overseen Iran since an earlier strike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Mr Pezeshkians remarks on Sunday reinforced pledges that Iran would not surrender despite US and Israeli threats, with Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu saying their aim remains the replacement of Irans leaders. (PA Graphics) Were not looking to settle, the US president told reporters on Air Force One on Saturday. Theyd like to settle. Were not looking to settle. The Gulf nations of Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, reported additional Iranian missiles launched towards them on Sunday, including several that hit new categories of civilian infrastructure. Advertisement The UAE said Iran launched more than 100 missiles and drones in new barrages. Only four drones fell at unnamed locations, the defence ministry said. Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online. The island nation, home to the US Navys Fifth Fleet, has been among the countries targeted by Iranian drones and missiles. Attacks have hit hotels, ports and residential towers and killed at least one person. Donald Trump speaks to reporters as defence secretary Pete Hegseth listens on Air Force One (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) The desalination plant strike came after Iran said a US air strike had damaged an Iranian desalination plant. Abbas Araghchi, the countrys foreign minister, said the strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had cut into the water supply for 30 villages. He warned that in doing so the US set this precedent, not Iran. Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region, raising new fears in parched desert nations. Iran also said on Sunday that overnight strikes from Israel hit four oil storage tankers and a petroleum transfer terminal, killing four people. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said on Sunday that about 10,000 civilian structures across the country had been damaged, including homes, schools and medical facilities. It warned Tehran residents to take precautions against toxic air pollution and the risk of acid rain after Israeli strikes set fires at oil depots in the area. Advertisement Israel renewed its assault early on Sunday on parts of Lebanon, where health officials reported at least 394 people have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Health minister Rakan Nassereddine said on Sunday that 83 children and 82 women were among those killed. The Israeli military has ordered large areas of the country to evacuate, and Lebanese officials reported more than 400,000 people displaced during an offensive that Israels military has said is aimed at stamping out Iran-supported forces there. Keir Starmer has spoken to Donald Trump about the countries military co-operation amid the US presidents latest rebuke over the UKs support in the conflict in Iran. Starmer's decision not to grant permission for the first wave of military action prompted a raft of criticism from Mr Trump in recent days, including a personal attack on the Prime Minister as being not Winston Churchill. The Prime Minister has now granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. After reports that the UK was preparing an aircraft carrier to go to the Middle East, the US president posted on Saturday that the UK was finally giving thought to sending two, but said we dont need them any longer. He added: But we will remember. We dont need people who join Wars after weve already won! A Downing Street spokeswoman said the two leaders spoke on Sunday afternoon. The leaders began by discussing the latest situation in the Middle East and the military co-operation between the UK and US through the use of RAF bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region. Advertisement The Prime Minister also shared his heartfelt condolences with President Trump and the American people following the deaths of six US soldiers. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper defended Sir Keir on Sunday morning, saying he is right to stand up for Britain and Britains interests and that the UK needs to take decisions ourselves. She told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: Its for the US president to decide what he thinks is in the US national interest, and thats for him to do. But it is our job as the UK Government to decide whats in the UK national interest, and that doesnt mean simply agreeing with other countries or outsourcing our foreign policy to other countries. (PA Graphics) She also dismissed criticism from Tony Blair, who had told a private event that the UK should have backed America from the beginning. Having been a minister in the last Labour government, I also think it is important to learn lessons from what went wrong in Iraq, she said. Starmer has sought to play down the rift with the US, saying earlier this week that the special relationship is in operation right now as the two countries share intelligence and work together amid the Middle East conflict. Advertisement The Prime Minister has also 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. He agreed a week ago to allow the US to strike Iran defensively from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean. This weekend four American bombers landed at Fairford and the US started using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles in the region. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that UK forces successfully engaged a one-way attack drone fired from Iran towards Iraq last night as RAF Typhoons and F-35 jets conduct defensive sorties across the region. (PA Graphics) And a Merlin helicopter that can fly up to a mile in height and give advance warning of incoming drones or missiles is due to join. World Iranian strike on desalination plant stokes fears of attacks on civilian sites Read more 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 set sail, but that no decisions had been taken to deploy the warship. A third Government charter flight to bring Britons home from the region is due to leave Muscat, Oman, on Sunday just before 7pm UK time and there are plans to charter a commercial flight from Dubai early next week. More than 32,000 British nationals have now departed the region, which includes the Gulf countries as well as Israel and Lebanon, by air since March 1st. He spoke to the president of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Sunday afternoon and updated him on British counter-drone advisers who had been working with UAE military specialists to support defensive operations. Donald Trump has again hit out at Keir Starmer over the UKs involvement in the Middle East conflict, saying that the US does not need anyone to join wars after weve already won. 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. The UK 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 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. Advertisement 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! Starmer's decision not to grant permission for the first wave of military action prompted a raft of criticism from Trump in recent days, including a personal attack on the prime minister as being not Winston Churchill. He has also called Britains response very disappointing and that it should be allowing America to use its bases without question or hesitation. Starmer later granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. The prime minister has sought to play down the rift and, after Trumps latest rebuke, Downing Street pointed back to Starmer's earlier comments that the special relationship is in operation right now as the two countries share intelligence and work together. 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. (PA Graphics) Trump appeared to warn in an earlier post that more Iranian officials would become targets in the war, adding: Today Iran will be hit very hard! Questions linger over the UKs 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. Advertisement Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal 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. Keir Starmer has allowed defensive US strikes on Iranian missile sites from UK bases (PA) 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. 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 UK government must keep a cool head. Advertisement 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, Starmer 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. (PA Graphics) Tony Blair has also reportedly 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 havent 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, the Daily Mail reported. But the Lib Dems urged Starmer to stand up to the US and accused Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of wanting Britain to blindly follow Trump into his reckless war. The Prime Minister must stand firm against Trumps bullying and avoid getting sucked further into this illegal and damaging war, Sir Ed Davey said. In other developments: World Badenoch says UK is in this war whether Starmer likes it or not Read more Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates all reported they intercepted missiles and drones from Iran hours after the Iranian president apologised for attacks on neighbouring countries. A prominent cleric in Iran, Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, urged the countrys Assembly of Experts to act quickly and name a new supreme leader. A third UK government charter flight is due to leave Muscat, Oman, on Sunday and there are plans to charter a commercial flight from Dubai early next week. Advertisement Exclusive BusinessCompaniesModern slavery The cost of canned tuna: 18-hour days, 18 months at sea Elias Visontay March 8, 2026 2:08pm 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 Household tuna brands have been accused of using suppliers that received fish caught under slave-like conditions, including workers enduring work days up to 18 hours long at sea for months on end. A new report released by the Uniting Church and Greenpeace, based on interviews with 25 Indonesian fishermen and supply chain mapping, says some tuna from vessels with dire labour conditions is likely to be ending up in the products of companies including Sirena and Safcol. Benoa Port in Bali is one of Indonesias biggest fishing ports and tuna is one of its biggest catches. Made Nagi / Greenpeace Canned tuna and other seafood companies have made public their efforts in recent years to sever ties with problematic suppliers or push them to improve their practices but evidence suggests forced labour on fishing vessels remains prevalent overseas. The report, authored by environmental activist group Greenpeace and commissioned by the Uniting Churchs synod of Victoria and Tasmania, found indications of forced labour on 17 Indonesian boats, based on interviews with crew members. Advertisement It then tracked which companies those vessels deliver their catch to, using databases that firms give information to as a preliminary step to gaining sustainability certification. From there, the reports authors analysed international trading data in combination with federal government documents accessed via Freedom of Information laws to examine which Australian entities were likely to be importing tuna from the Indonesian processing companies. But the report could not track individual shipments of tuna, and its authors acknowledge that ships were often owned via complex networks of subsidiaries and that they mixed their catches at port. Sirena, which was named in the report, noted that while most of the vessels identified by Greenpeace used a fishing method which it no longer sources due to a reputation for poorer labour practices, there was one vessel referenced in the report which has sold fish to one of its suppliers. However, Sirenas owner, Iconic Food Distribution, pointed to an audit which found the operators of this vessel complied with human rights and social responsibility requirements, in a response sent to this masthead after publication. Safcol, another company named, said it received a very small amount of tuna from Indonesian processors, and these processors say none of their product comes from the vessels mentioned in a letter Greenpeace addressed to the company. We do not accept tuna from vessels that use slave labour. We have strict and detailed batch tracking of our raw materials, Safcol said. The alleged indications of forced labour have prompted calls from the advocacy groups to make public all details in importation records to boost transparency about where fish is sourced. Australias Anti-Slavery commissioner Chris Evans last week called for a due diligence system to compel companies to act on risks, and amid a federal government review of the nations Modern Slavery Act. Advertisement This masthead does not suggest the brands selling in Australia are engaging forced labour but rather that the researchers alleged there were indications such practices continue to persist in the industry despite efforts from retail tuna brands. There is also no suggestion the workers pictured in this story are victims of forced labour. Fishermen and workers unload baby tuna from fishing boat in Muara Baru Fishery Port in North Jakarta. Jurnasyanto Sukarno / Greenpeace Examples of forced labour indicators in the tuna vessels include claims of shifts of 15 or 18 hours long, often without proper rest, legal pay, or access to communication; as well as workers claiming they were out at sea for 10 to 18 months without a port visit. The report says: Tuna products are artificially cheap, and companies enjoy bigger profit margins. Instead of improving accountability, many seafood business actors shift their risks and responsibility up the supply chain. Greenpeace and the church want the Australian government to mandate full traceability of tuna products and to make such information publicly accessible, as well as to introduce a prohibition on seafood products linked to labour exploitations from entering the Australian market. They also want the Indonesian government to enforce more stringent policies, and suggested bilateral trade agreements could outline such a demand. Advertisement Advertisement NationalCBD Dominic Perrottet and wife Helen are expecting their eighth baby John Buckley and Fiona Byrne March 8, 2026 2:31pm 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 Former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has seven children. Of course, its a fact that became so well known during the 2023 NSW election campaign that Perrottet was challenged during a debate to name all seven of them in order of age, alongside his opponent, now NSW Premier Chris Minns, who has three. Such was the sorry state of the political contest between the pair. (Perrottet successfully rattled them off before losing the premiership.) Fast-forward a couple of years, and it looks like there will soon be a new Perrottet name to recall. Dominic and his wife, Helen Perrottet, are expecting their eighth child, CBD hears, which the couple are expecting to be born in May. We hear the baby will be a boy. But no word on whether the pair will have him in the United States, where they have been based since 2024, or in Australia. A big CBD congratulations to the Perrottets! The Perrottets are expecting their eighth child, a boy, in May. Wolter Peeters Speaking to this masthead in late 2022, Helen Perrottet kept her cards close to her chest on the prospect of having another baby after reflecting on how parenting can become easier with each child. From a large family of practising Catholics, she is the sixth of eight children. Advertisement Im 42, so I think the chances of that are pretty low, Perrottet said at the time. Were pretty lucky already. From afar, it looks like life after politics is treating the Perrottets well. Late last year, the former premier scored a promotion at BHP, where he landed in August 2024 to run US corporate affairs at the worlds largest miner from Washington DC. In December, he secured vice president status. We can only hope the $268 billion company is looking after him. After all, he has plenty of mouths to feed. Kyle Sandilands races to renew his rego Kyle Sandilands has been busy. The co-host of the Kyle and Jackie O show has spent the past week or so at the centre of a media frenzy after his employer, ARN Media, announced that his co-host Jackie O Henderson said she could no longer work with him after he berated her on air. Advertisement So its no surprise the talking meat sack left renewing the rego on his 2022 Maybach until the last minute. A quick check on the registration status of the Mercedes-Benz that Sandilands was seen driving on Thursday showed it was set to expire that evening. Well, it looks like he got to it just in time. Kyle Sandilands outside his home in Sydney on Thursday. Nine News The vehicles most recent Service NSW rego status shows Sandilands has since extended his rego for another six months. Is Sandilands considering selling his Benz? No, were told, just a funny quirk of Service NSW, which has only ever allowed him to register the car for six months at a time. Happy to be of service clearing that one up. We would guess that Kyle has more pressing matters on his mind, such as locking up the remaining millions on his 10-year, $100 million contract with ARN, which could well evaporate. On Tuesday, ARN accused Sandilands of breaching his contract for his behaviour in a segment on February 20, and told the market itd given him 14 days to remedy the breach, which this masthead has previously reported would mean convincing Henderson to return to air. The company told investors that Henderson had given notice that she cannot continue to work with Sandilands. Advertisement Related Article CBD Michelle Obamas Sydney tour to be held off the record Sandilands and Henderson are each now reportedly seeking advice from lawyers. On Friday, Henderson released a statement saying that she did not quit or resign from the show, and was addressing this through the appropriate legal channels. WhatsApp goes dark on laptops in parliament WhatsApp and Signal are among the most-used apps by MPs and staff, including within the upper ranks of government, thanks to the ability for users to send disappearing encrypted messages. So we were naturally intrigued to hear that federal parliamentary staff would be stopped from using WhatsApp, which is owned by Instagram and Facebook parent company Meta, on their laptops over phishing concerns. Advertisement In an email to staff on Friday, the Department of Parliamentary Services said it was taking the temporary measure while it assesses targeted phishing activity. As a precautionary measure, WhatsApp access is being temporarily blocked on laptops on the Parliamentary Computing Network while we assess the impact of a targeted phishing activity. It remains accessible from iOS devices, reads the email, seen by CBD. This is a temporary preventative measure to reduce risk. Further updates will be provided once the assessment is complete. On Sunday, the DPS would not be drawn on the nature of this phishing activity or whether it targeted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese or other cabinet ministers. The Department of Parliamentary Services has taken this step to protect the security of the information and communication technologies we manage and those utilised by parliamentarian offices, a spokesperson said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Exclusive EnvironmentClimate changeRenewables Energy chief: Trumps war on Iran will undermine his war on renewables Nick O'Malley March 8, 2026 3:05pm 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 Ongoing strikes on Iran will accelerate the global transition to renewable energy from fossil fuels, according to the chief of Californias lead energy policy and planning agency, who is in Australia this week for meetings with industry and political leaders. Energy prices have spiked since the United States and Israel launched their attack, and Iranian retaliation closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a quarter of the worlds oil and a fifth of the worlds gas is shipped. While this will cause fossil fuel profits to surge in the short term, David Hochschild, chair of the California Energy Commission, believes it will drive nations to ramp up their efforts to achieve energy security by ramping up deployment of renewables, just as it did after Russias attack on Ukraine. David Hochschild, chair, California Energy Commission. Hochschild said this was an unintended consequence of the war launched by Trump, who domestically is focused on derailing the energy transition. I think whats going on now [is that] his mistakes in foreign policy are starting to cancel out his mistakes in energy policy, or compound them. Advertisement The volatility that were seeing in fossil fuel projects around the world because of this war in Iran is yet another argument for renewable energy. Nations can insulate themselves from these price shocks that were seeing by going electric and going towards renewables because there is no cost for wind and for sunlight and for geothermal heat, [and] you dont subject yourself to the volatility of fossil fuel markets, said Hochschild, who described Trumps administration as a wholly owned subsidiary of the fossil fuel industry. Hochschild, who will deliver a keynote speech at Climate Action Week Sydney on Monday along with federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, said Trump was the most hostile president to climate action in US history, having dumped Biden-era subsidies to renewable energy technologies and sought to end construction on near-complete offshore wind projects. Related Article Exclusive Federal budget Red light for new green investment slows race to renewable target He said US energy policy was now being drafted by the most extreme elements of the fossil fuel industry, noting that Trump had told a group of oil company executives they should donate $US1 billion to his campaign because in office he would roll back environmental laws restricting the industry. Hochschild said that while the administration was hampering renewables deployment in the US, critical authority lay with states, many of which, like California, were still focused on the transition. He said that Californias economy had rapidly expanded as its transition progressed. Advertisement Twelve years ago we were the 10th-largest economy in the world We are now the fourth-largest economy in the world and were at 70 per cent of our electricity on the grid coming from clean energy sources like solar and wind. We have more EV charging plugs than we have gasoline nozzles. Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine created an energy crisis, China has hugely ramped up its renewables, deploying 88GW worth of solar in 2022, 217GW in 2023 and 277GW in 2024. Combined with its deployment of wind power, it has built the equivalent of the entire capacity of the US grid in renewables alone in that period. Observers view China as seeking to at once dominate future industries while cutting itself free of vulnerable foreign energy supplies. Related Article Analysis Paris Agreement If this is the worlds most hopeful chart, then why are we staring at catastrophe? Last week the Chinese military published five key lessons of the assault of Iran, the fifth of which was that the ultimate reliance was self-reliance. Hochschild, who was appointed by Californias Democratic governor Gavin Newsom, said his message to Australian policymakers would be that the green transition served as an engine of both economic and energy security. Advertisement The conference will feature the launch of a program based on a Californian initiative to direct seed funding for three Australian start-ups to each receive $A50,000 to test their clean energy technologies at Australian tertiary, government and private research institutions at no cost to them, no requirement to find matched private investment, and no IP claims. Bowen said that Australias deployment of renewables had absorbed some of the shock of international energy price volatility. This is energy that isnt priced by global fossil fuel markets and that helps better protect Australians from exactly this kind of shock. Our focus has been on building Australias energy resilience and security. Weve massively ramped up renewable energy solar, wind and batteries, taking advantage of our abundant and cheap natural resources. On Sunday this masthead reported that funding for the transition would be curbed in the May budget, despite warnings the nation may not meet its target to reach 82 per cent green energy by 2030. Advertisement The law that Governor Newsom signed requires us to reach 90 per cent clean energy by 2035 and 100 per cent by 2045. We are absolutely on a path to do just that, Hochschild said. Last year 96 per cent of new additions to the US electric grid were clean energy, and 96 per cent of retirements were fossil fuel-based. Get to the heart of whats happening with climate change and the environment. Sign up for our fortnightly Environment newsletter. Advertisement Exclusive Eating outRestaurant news An upmarket Sydney restaurant has been caught up in a fake Uber Eats scam Customers lashed out, with one angry victim declaring the venue had ruined Valentines Day. Scott Bolles March 9, 2026 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A The complaints about undelivered Valentines Day Uber Eats orders from upmarket Sydney restaurant The Sanderson started with a trickle of emails, turned into angry phone calls and escalated when unhappy customers fronted up at the restaurant. Trouble is, The Sanderson doesnt have an Uber Eats account. The Sanderson has been swept up in an online scam directed at the high-end venue, with a fake Uber Eats account hoodwinking diners into thinking they were ordering from the George Street restaurant. The Sanderson's plush booths and dining room. Edwina Pickles One angry victim screamed down the phone at staff that The Sanderson had ruined Valentines Day, said the restaurants co-owner, Speakeasy Group director Sven Almenning. With its elegant dining room and a menu that features $18 caviar bumps and wagyu striploin for $130, The Sanderson is pitched at dine-in customers. We are very much a special occasion business where people come to celebrate key milestones in their lives. Not exactly something we can do by shipping food out in a box, Almenning said. Advertisement Indeed, none of the venues at Speakeasy Group, which include Sydney and Melbourne outlets of Mjolner restaurant and luxe bar Eau-De-Vie as well as The Sanderson, offer food delivery through Uber Eats or any other platform. One angry victim screamed down the phone at staff that The Sanderson had ruined Valentines Day. Almenning is concerned for the scammed customers, but also for the negative effect the incident had on his staff and business. As a result of the listing, we have copped several one-star reviews from unhappy guests, our team has been abused over the phone, he said. The business has no doubt suffered significant reputational damage, especially among the guests who placed orders with the fraudulent listing, as well as among guests who frequent The Sanderson and who would have seen discounted menu items, two-for-one deals etc that we would never run in the restaurant, he added. In response to questions Good Food put to Uber regarding the fake Sanderson account, a company spokesperson said: Uber apologises to The Sanderson and to any customers impacted by this fraudulent activity. We understand the frustration and confusion this caused. Uber also confirmed customers who had placed orders had been refunded. Advertisement Speakeasy Group director Sven Almenning. Dominic Lorrimer Almenning has concerns about the verification process that allowed the fake account to be established, and why a new account from an upmarket restaurant didnt raise red flags with Uber Eats. We are aware of isolated attempts of this nature and act quickly to remove them when detected, the Uber spokesperson said. Accounts exhibiting suspicious behaviour are flagged and removed using a combination of human review and fraud-detection technology. Safeguards within the merchant onboarding process continue to be strengthened to help prevent this type of activity in future. Almenning said it took four days for the account to be pulled down after they notified Uber Eats. Then of course there are the concerns about food safety and hygiene, the restaurateur said. Uber said no orders placed on the fake Sanderson account were delivered. Juggling abusive phone calls when dealing with Valentines Day, one of the busiest days on the restaurant calendar, was not only difficult for The Sanderson team. Advertisement Can you imagine how upset youd be if youd planned your Valentines Day around a beautiful meal being delivered from one of your favourite restaurants and not have your food turn up? Almenning said. Related Article Good Food hat 15 / 20 Review Completely over the top and ridiculous: The Sanderson sells the sizzle and the steak Advertisement LifestyleLife & relationshipsRetail The new status symbol for Gen Z is not what youd expect Lauren Ironmonger March 9, 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 For primary school teacher Alouise Somera, 28, junk journaling a kind of scrapbooking that uses found materials has been a lifelong passion. My parents made scrapbooks when they were younger and in love, and I thought itd be a really nice way to preserve my memories and let my kids get to know me in the future and what I was like at their age, she says. [But] for a long time, it felt like an old lady hobby it was very lame to go, Oh yeah, my hobby is scrapbooking when you meet new people, but its really changed its been nice to see. Teacher and crafts lover Alouise Somera, left, and Christina Kelly, founder of Sydney inner west boutique Made590. Sitthixay Ditthavong Stationery and crafts are booming as part of Gen Z and Millennials broader embrace of analogue culture. Advertisement Editor's pick Friendship How this old practice is reviving snail mail, care of Gen Z Trent Rigby, director of Retail Customer Advisory, says being offline and by extension, engaging with stationery has become a status symbol in our increasingly online world (although ironically, the trend is being driven by social media). Its moving away from pure function instead of Im going to buy a notebook because I need it, its aspirational, he says. From artist-designed stickers to flashy pens and handmade paper, these are not just tools to get a job done, but accessories to flaunt. Some, like the Japanese Hobinichi planner, are a subtle nod to others in the know. Rigby sees the stationery boom as an evolution of the Lipstick Effect a phenomenon in which cosmetic sales increase during times of economic recession. Advertisement Alongside small indulgences such as frozen yoghurt and Labubu dolls, buying an $8 sticker pack or new pen might be seen as an extension of little treat culture. While Rigby says sector growth is on par with the broader retail category just over 2 per cent yearly he thinks the trend apex is yet to come. Editor's pick Friendship Why this ancient Chinese board game is such a hit with Gen Z Christina Kelly has been in business for more than two decades with her fashion boutique Made590 in Sydneys inner west. A lifelong lover of scrapbooking and Japanese stationery, Kelly had been trying to incorporate more crafting wares into the business unsuccessfully for years until things started taking off in August when she launched an in-house stationery range. From the get-go, its been so popular. Mainly through TikTok, weve had a new customer base visit us, she says. People walk in and theyre like a kid in a candy store. Advertisement Off the back of this success, she has launched regular journaling sessions for community to craft together. While she acknowledges the movement is trending now (with mass market retailers such as Kmart jumping on board), Kelly thinks practices like journaling and scrapbooking are here to stay. Those sorts of things have stood the test of time. People go, Oh my God, I used to journal growing up, or I had a travel journal, she says. Its so personal ... nobody regrets ever making a photo album. Japans reputation for impeccable paper products is nothing new. But with Australian tourists flocking to the country in record numbers, an increasing number of young travellers seem to be catching the stationery bug. Advertisement Japans trade ministry itself has suggested inbound tourism is a key way for visitors to discover homegrown brands, continuing to seek them out once they return home. In Australia, Japanese-founded brands such as Muji, bookstore chain Kinokuniya and variety store Daiso have enjoyed success for decades. Max Malone and Zoe Crook founded workshop and retail space That Paper Joint in Melbourne to build a community from their love of crafts. Justin McManus Artists Max Malone and Zoe Crook started That Paper Joint, a Melbourne art studio hosting collage and other craft workshops, during COVID. The space was an opportunity to share their love of the print medium with their community, particularly coming out of the citys tough lockdowns. Advertisement Related Article Explainer Real life Whats the secret to a well-rounded life? These researchers have a theory From the moment we had our doors open, we had people coming in with wide smiles and wide eyes just with the joy that there was this third space to be in, he says. It can be so meditative to have pen and paper in your hands, to be cutting up from old books and magazines. Its really therapeutic, says Malone, who hosts private workshops as well as corporate sessions. Their customer base is two-pronged spanning those in their 30s nostalgic for their childhood, and a younger generation who sense there was something they didnt have access to as readily with the digital age. Theres this yearning for something more tactile, says Malone. Teacher Somera, who has kept stickers from her youth, plans to share her love of crafts with her students through zine-making and scrapbooking workshops. Advertisement Advertisement Exclusive NationalCrime Nigerian scammers sentenced over sextortion that led to teens suicide Amber Schultz and Perry Duffin March 8, 2026 12:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A A global investigation involving state and federal police has led to the conviction of two scammers for their role in a vicious sextortion plot that drove a NSW boy to suicide. On Wednesday, a Nigerian court sentenced the two men, aged 25 and 29, to more than 40 years in jail for their role in the scam. It is the first time Australia has played a role in convicting sextortion scammers abroad. Two scammers from Nigeria have been convicted as a result of action by NSW police, the AFP and local authorities. The boy of high school age took his life in 2023 after being contacted by a girl who encouraged him to reciprocate sexualised photos. The girl sent a racy photo, and the boy sent one back. But NSW police said the tone of the social media messages changed instantly and radically to high-pressure threats and demands. Advertisement Related Article Exclusive Scams Sextortion pushed a NSW teen to suicide, cops traced culprits to Nigeria The girl immediately demanded $500 in online gift cards, threatening to distribute his naked photos to his family and school friends if he didnt comply. Hours later, the teenager killed himself. The Herald has chosen not to identify the teens age or town in accordance with the wishes of his family. In investigating his death and preparing evidence for the coroner, NSW Police found the messages that caused his suicide, establishing a strike force Prescribe with the State Crime Commands cybercrime squad, which traced the plotters to Nigeria. Advertisement Detectives discovered the Nigerian scammers were using a scattergun approach to target numerous children for relatively small amounts of money. Cybercrime detectives requested assistance from the Australian Federal Police, who connected with the Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre, which in turn worked with its dedicated cybercrime liaison officer in South Africa to share intelligence with the Nigerian authorities. The two scammers were tracked down to a crowded slum in Lagos, Nigeria, where they were arrested. Istock They were able to narrow the scammers online trail down to an immense sprawl of slums in Nigerias largest city, Lagos, home to 25 million people. In March 2024, local police swooped. The Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested and charged the two men with sextortion, fraud and money-laundering offences. Advertisement Related Article Exclusive Scams Once you pay I will delete the photo: How scammers are snaring hundreds of children each month On Wednesday, two years after their arrest, the two were jailed for more than 40 years, with a non-parole period of 10 years. Commander of State Crime Commands Cybercrime Squad, Detective Acting Superintendent Jason Smith, said the investigation was an Australian law enforcement first. This investigation pushed Australian cybercrime capability into new territory, using innovative techniques and unprecedented international cooperation that directly led to the offenders being identified and convicted overseas, he said. Any person who targets Australians online can and will be identified, traced and brought before the courts, no matter where they are in the world. Advertisement AFP Detective Superintendent Andrea Humphrys, based in Pretoria, South Africa, thanked the tenacious work of state and Nigerian police. This result highlights the importance of international collaboration in law enforcement, with these offenders sentenced to a maximum of more than 80 years combined jail time for their role in an abhorrent crime that sadly cost a young Australian his life, she said. Our collective work has hopefully brought a small amount of comfort through justice for this young mans family. The Australian Federal Police issued a warning in 2024 over the rise of sadistic sextortion online, by which children as young as 12 were coerced to self-produce explicit material to gain acceptance into extreme online communities. Advertisement Related Article Graphic content Good Weekend So your child takes their phone into their room? Stop it, say sextortion experts Offenders will then threaten to share the material with their family or friends unless the victim produces more videos and extreme content. They will relentlessly demand content escalating in its seriousness, including specific live sex, acts, animal cruelty, serious self-harm, and live online suicide. The eSafety Commissioners office has observed an alarming surge in sextortion cases. Reports to eSafety have soared from 432 in 2018-19 to 6187 in 2022-23, a 1332 per cent increase. Anyone needing support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 (lifeline.org.au), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467 and suicidecallbackservice.org.au) and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636 and beyondblue.org.au) Advertisement Updated NationalNSWCrime Gunshots ring out on Sydney street for second time this year Jack Gramenz Updated March 9, 2026 11:10am ,first published March 9, 2026 5:59am 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 man has been released from custody after another man was shot in suburban Sydney overnight, weeks after the home was targeted by gunfire. In the first of two shootings in the citys west on Sunday night, a 29-year-old man was taken to hospital in a stable condition after being hit on Northcott Road, Lalor Park, about 8.45pm. Loading NSW Police were told shots had allegedly been fired from a home onto the street, leading to the arrest of a 46-year-old man in the same street about 3am. He was taken into custody, but has since been released, pending further inquiries. Advertisement The home was previously targeted by gunfire in January, when a 46-year-old man was treated by paramedics for a gunshot injury before being taken to hospital in a stable condition. It is unclear if he is the same man arrested and subsequently released on Monday morning. Officers could be seen entering the home on Northcott Road on Monday morning. The listed owner of the home hung up when contacted by the Herald. A man was arrested in the early hours of Monday after a police operation at Lalor Park. Nine News The shooting was the first of two about an hour apart in western Sydney on Sunday night. Advertisement About 9.55pm, emergency services were called to Arundle Road, Bass Hill, where shots had been fired at a house. A Holden Commodore was found burning on Rex Road, Georges Hall a short time later. Detectives believe it is linked to the nearby shooting. A 20-year-old Greystanes man presented at Liverpool Hospital with gunshot wounds to his leg, arm and chest about 10.10pm and was in a serious but stable condition after being treated. This person is known to us, and we are looking at all aspects of this matter, NSW Police Superintendent Brett Van Akker said on Monday. It definitely was a targeted attack on an individual, and it was a brazen and violent attack, he said. Advertisement Police have appealed for dashcam or CCTV footage as investigations into both alleged shootings continue. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app. CLARIFICATION Police earlier reported the man shot in Bass Hill was aged 25. He has since been identified as a 20-year-old man from Greystanes. Advertisement NationalSchools Public schools signal cultural Palestinian scarf can be worn following accusations of racism Kate Aubusson and Matthew Knott March 8, 2026 5:00pm 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 NSWs Education Department has recognised the Palestinian keffiyeh as an appropriate cultural garment after reaching a confidential settlement with a student who had been punished because he wore the scarf to his graduation. The department said it regretted the experience of Jad Salamah, a former student at Condell Park High School in south-western Sydney, who said he was humiliated and felt distraught after staff members demanded he remove his scarf depicting the keffiyeh pattern and the Palestinian flag in September 2024. Salamah said the experience had ruined his high school memories. Max Mason-Hubers Salamah was not permitted to attend his Year 12 formal after he refused to remove the symbol of his Palestinian heritage. The then 17-year-old began legal proceedings against the state of NSW, alleging racial discrimination, which the state denies. Advertisement The parties reached a confidential settlement, according to an agreed statement published on its website, in which the department said it embraced cultural diversity, and listed the keffiyeh among examples of garments students can wear appropriate to their culture on Harmony Day to mark a time of cultural respect and celebration and Year 12 formals. This includes the wearing of cultural garments, including, but not limited to, the Hanbok, Idio, Kaftan, Keffiyeh, Kilt, Tallit, Yukata, cultural headdress, feather cloaks and garlands, the statement read. The spokesperson did not respond to questions regarding whether people with no Palestinian heritage would be permitted to wear a keffiyeh, but said schools are not the place for political activism. Using cultural items as political symbols can undermine the inclusive nature of our school communities, the statement said. Advertisement Salamahs solicitor, Abdullah Reslan of Kings Law Group, said: Jad appreciates the departments embrace of all cultures within the education system, including the equal respect and celebration of cultural attire. Jad Salamah wears the scarf depicting the keffiyeh pattern on his graduation day at Condell Park High School in September 2024. NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said he was concerned by the departments decision. Whilst every student should feel free to express their cultural identity, there is a widespread and sensible consensus that our schools shouldnt become political battlegrounds, he said. It is not appropriate for cultural symbols or attire to be weaponised in our classrooms for political purposes or to express views about contentious foreign conflicts. Advertisement At a time of strained social cohesion, schools need to be environments in which Australian kids of all backgrounds feel welcome and comfortable. At the time of Salamahs graduation, donning symbols of support for Gaza triggered deep ruptures within institutions, as well as warnings that public schools could be exposed to legal risk for banning keffiyehs and other markers of Palestinian solidarity following a department communique advising schools to reflect a neutral position. A report released in September, compiled by the Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network documented a rise in anti-Palestinian racism within schools. APAN Anti-Palestinian Racism Project lead Nour Salman said the situation had worsened in many cases. The anti-Palestinian register has received 250 incidents since November 2025, including vandalism, physical violence, dehumanisation, exclusion and silencing. Related Article Bondi shooting Antisemitism fight to be taken into kinders, schools and universities Advertisement Over the past two years, far too many Palestinian students have been made to feel that their identity is controversial, dangerous or inappropriate, Salman said. Some have been told not to speak about Gaza, not to wear Palestinian symbols, and not to express grief for their families. For Palestinian families watching their loved ones being killed and starved in Gaza in real time, being told their culture is inappropriate in a school is devastating. Salman said schools must ensure that staff understand Palestinian identity and cultural expression, with clear guidance that Palestinian symbols, history and political expression are not grounds for discipline. Greens MP Abigail Boyd said the departments statement amounted to admitting that stopping Palestinian students from wearing a keffiyeh was racism. It gives hope to those kids who have been told that wearing a keffiyeh is not an expression of their culture, and is something divisive or synonymous with terrorism, Boyd said. Advertisement Following his graduation, Salamah said the experience had ruined his high school memories. Ive been going there since I was in year 7. Its supposed to be a place where I feel safe, and Im not judged for who I am, but I was wrong, he said. Condell Park High School had a long tradition of encouraging students to wear symbols representing their cultural heritage. Salamahs sister said she had given him the centuries-old symbol of his Palestinian heritage to mark the pinnacle of his schooling. But Salamah said staff members told him to take off the scarf and accused him of making a political statement. Editor's pick Education Sarah thought she had years to pick a high school. By year 3, kids were already leaving Advertisement I kept explaining that its a cultural thing that I wear on special occasions, he said. The departments spokesperson said: All students and staff at all schools have the right to feel safe, secure and supported when they attend school We know many students and staff have been deeply affected by recent events, including the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Albanese government set up an antisemitism education taskforce, led by education expert David Gonski, in response to the Bondi Beach terror attack. The agreed statement published on the NSW Department of Education Website on 2 March. On 27 September 2024, Mr Jad Salamah attended his graduation at Condell Park High School wearing a doublesided scarf depicting the Palestinian flag and keffiyeh. He was asked by school staff to remove the scarf which he declined to do. As a result of not following that instruction, he was precluded from attending his school formal. Mr Salamah commenced legal proceedings against the State of New South Wales alleging racial discrimination. The State denied the allegations. Following mediation the parties have reached a confidential settlement and the matter is now resolved. The Department regrets Mr Salamahs experience. The Department embraces cultural diversity. We do this in part through Harmony Day. Harmony Day is an important celebration of Australias cultural diversity. In public schools we celebrate inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for all Australians, including the traditional custodians of the land to those who have come from many cultures around the world. The ongoing theme for Harmony Day in public education is that everyone belongs and is marked by a time of cultural respect and celebration, including the wearing of cultural attire, display of cultural heritage, cuisine and tradition. This includes the wearing of cultural garments, including, but not limited to, the Hanbok, Idio, Kaftan, Keffiyeh, Kilt, Tallit, Yukata, cultural headdress, feather cloaks and garlands. To similar effect, at Year 12 school formals, students may wish to wear attire appropriate to their culture. Advertisement NationalQueenslandWeather Heavy rain continues to soak south-east, with flash flooding possible Courtney Kruk March 8, 2026 9:44am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A A low-pressure system that drenched northern parts of Queensland over the weekend is set to bring more heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding to the south-east on Monday. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said northern parts of the south-east would be the focal point for heavy rain into Monday evening, with isolated falls up to 170 millimetres possible on the Sunshine Coast. Heavy rain is expected across south-east Queensland from Sunday, with possible flash flooding. Nine News Well be looking at the Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Gympie, Kingaroy, up towards Maryborough and Bundaberg, he said. Thats likely to be ... staying very wet across that area into Monday. Advertisement Hines said some of the heaviest rain would fall on Monday night and early Tuesday, before the low-pressure system would sweep off the coast. Brisbane City Council encouraged residents to monitor the bureaus website and prepare for severe weather, with sandbags available from five locations across the city at any time. Related Article Weather Brisbane braces for heavy rain, with severe storms possible 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, theyre available at 66 Wilston Road in Newmarket, and 33 Jennings Street in Zillmere. Hopefully by the time people are getting out of bed on Tuesday morning, or by the middle of the day, we should be saying that the worst of the rain is over, Hines said. Advertisement As of Sunday afternoon, heavy intense rainfall warnings were in place for Wide Bay and Burnett and parts of Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, the north-west, Central Highlands and Coalfields, central-west, Capricornia, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and south-east coast forecast districts. Various flood watches and warnings were in place across Queensland, with heavy rainfall likely to cause further flooding in some regions. On Sunday morning, Sardine Creek in the Central Highlands had recorded close to 150 millimetres, while Miles in the Darling Downs saw 131 millimetres. Those have been our highest observations, Hines said. As of Sunday afternoon, the bureau predicted six-hourly rainfall totals between 70 and 120 millimetres were likely in the south-east, with isolated totals of about 180 millimetres possible. Twenty-four-hourly totals between 80 and 140 millimetres were likely, with isolated totals of about 250mm possible. Advertisement A cyclone watch from Cooktown to Palm Island was cancelled on Thursday. Tropical low 29U crossed the coast on Friday, bringing heavy rain and flooding across north and north-west Queensland. More than 30 people were rescued from a bus that became stranded in floodwaters in the Gladstone area on Saturday, while several others were rescued from cars or after abandoning their vehicle. Heavy rain and flooding will continue in the north this morning, easing throughout the afternoon and Monday. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. I woke up in a panic and I was alone in the room. I was naked and there was a vomit to the side of the bed and then the bottom half the bed and a little part of myself was covered in blood, she says. I knew as soon as I woke up, I knew what had happened to me. I could feel what had happened to me. And the accused rapist was her boss, Micky Ahuja, a powerful and wealthy businessman in the midst of building an empire in Australias private security industry by winning the trust of the nations biggest companies, AFL clubs and sporting events . She had woken up at the scene. Sara was the alleged victim. Sara*, though, was no longer a police officer, having left the force two years earlier. And it wasnt a strangers ordeal she was meticulously documenting. Next, she made contemporaneous disclosure of what had happened, one of two such records of the grave crime allegedly committed in a hotel suite at Melbournes Crown casino in April 2019. When Sara discovered the bedsheets covered in blood, her training as a police officer immediately kicked in. Crime scenes need to be documented, so Sara reached for her phone and snapped pictures of the bloody sheets and vomit. The now disgraced business leader is at the centre of a scandal without precedent in Australias private security industry. As Ahujas empire expanded rapidly, so had the list of his alleged victims. After an eight-month investigation by this masthead and 60 Minutes the sheer scale of Ahujas perfidy was finally revealed. For Sara, the wealthier and better-connected Ahuja became, the more remote the prospect became of publicly calling him out. She did not know it, but Sara was far from alone. Federal government agencies , including the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission hired Ahujas guards, as did multiple federal and state agencies across the nation. Universities and prestigious private schools did too. Ahujas firm MA Services became a sponsor of multiple AFL clubs as his guards worked at the biggest sporting and cultural events in the country, including the Melbourne Cup. For seven years, Sara stayed mostly silent, apart from working with one of those she had first told about the alleged rape, her psychologist, to process the trauma. All the while, she watched on as Ahuja took the security world by storm, winning over Coles, Kmart and Bunnings as key clients. Those revelations contributed to the firms Christmas Eve implosion, but it was public scrutiny of Ahujas treatment of women that forced his customers such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Geelong Grammar and property giant CBRE to move to cut ties to the firm. Yet it wasnt MAs suspected mass worker exploitation, bikie gang links, tax evasion , or complicity of some of his clients all exposed by this mastheads ongoing investigation that prompted the firms sudden collapse in late December . His firms secret dealings with a bikie gang in order to secure a massive offshore contract indirectly bankrolled by the Australian government have been exposed and the scandal has engulfed some of his major customers, led by Coles, which a regulator accused of complicity in the MA syndicates comprehensive abuse of Australias industrial relations system and taxation system. He has fled to Dubai, accused of exploiting thousands of his own workers , mostly vulnerable foreigners, and a multi-agency law enforcement and regulatory taskforce is pursuing him as the key player in a syndicate that has allegedly stolen more than $100 million in unpaid tax and wages and engaged in criminal phoenix behaviour. Ahuja declined multiple interview requests but has denied any wrongdoing. On Monday, Ahuja issued a statement saying he would hold a press conference on Tuesday to respond to the allegations. Asked what she thinks of Ahuja today, she offers just a short description: Hes a predator. Ahuja presents a very slick public image as an entrepreneur, a guy involved in charity, very charismatic, recalls Rachael*, who didnt work at MA but whose husband was one of Ahujas right-hand men. It wasnt Sara, but another woman who, like her, thought she would be safe in what was known inside the company as the MA family the circle of employees and their partners whom Ahuja initially showered with attention. Despite the breadth and scale of the suspected wrongdoing, the start of the end for MA Services began with one woman saying enough. What Sara didnt know is there were other alleged victims of sexual predatory behaviour by him. And they, like her, were slowly gathering the courage to speak up. Rachael recalls her husband telling her MA had secured the Coles deal by undercutting everybody else. The deal with Coles was like the new car: shiny on the outside but with strings attached. That night the car was dropped off to our doorstep, she says. She says her husband worked really hard to get that contract and remembers the day it was won, because a yellow Mustang appeared in her driveway. Ahuja incentivised her husband to win over the supermarket giant by telling him he would be gifted a convertible car if he could secure Coles as a customer. Rachael and her husband became part of the MA family after he helped secure the firms biggest contract in 2021: a $50 million-a-year security services deal with Coles. They were underpaying other staff members to be able to make their costs lower, she says. What Rachael describes as pillow talk could be dismissed as idle chatter, but belied an ugly truth. On Sunday, this masthead revealed how Operation Hermes a multi-agency law enforcement and regulatory probe into what is known as the MA syndicate is probing tax evasion involving MA Services and a series of related companies that employed thousands of mostly foreign workers. The MA syndicate is alleged to have operated between 2015 and late last year, pocketing unpaid tax and worker entitlements of more than $100 million. According to Operation Hermes confidential assessments, the syndicate is suspected of running a large-scale and highly organised criminal phoenix operation involving a network of front companies with dummy directors which would collapse or disappear when tax debts or worker entitlements are due or demanded, only to resurface under new names. Internal MA records reveal some of the entities in the syndicate are the same firms used by Ahuja to supply guards to Coles. Labour Licensing commission chief Steve Dargavel, whose agency, the Victorian Labour Hire Authority, is working with the Tax Office, police and the Fair Work Ombudsman on Operation Hermes, has also claimed Coles must have known MA was rotten and the workers guarding its stores would be exploited. What we now know is that there were thousands of workers who had their wages stolen, Dargavelsays. Coles had enough information to know that workers could not be paid properly under the contracts that they entered into with MA Services, he says. Coles refused an interview but said in a statement it strongly disputed Dargavels claim while accepting MA Services was engaged in serious wrongdoing. Rachael says that as long as Ahuja and his managers were making money and buying fast cars care of contracts with Coles and other large firms, no one at MA cared about Ahujas rorting of guards. Her husbands gifts a Mustang and a Range Rover paled into comparison with Ahujas car collection. A fleet of luxury cars outside Micky Ahujas mansion. When administrators began searching for missing company assets in January, they discovered Ahuja had not only funnelled millions of dollars he owed the Tax Office and workers into bank accounts and related companies, but had bought about a dozen properties and a car collection that included a Rolls-Royce 4WD, two Mercedes G-Wagons and a Lamborghini. It was only after her husband had an affair and left Rachael that she discovered just how predatory Ahuja was. Rachael suspected Ahuja was hiding a large chunk of her estranged husbands salary so he could minimise his tax and child support obligations. Rachaels ex-husband did not respond when contacted for comment, but this masthead has confirmed a firm registered in his new girlfriends name has received regular consulting and other payments from Ahuja, including almost $200,000 last financial year. As a newly single mother in financial distress, Rachael asked Ahuja to come clean about the consulting payments. His response shocked her. He called me and he ... basically word for word, he said, Ive always wanted to [f---] you, and said, Im prepared to offer you X amount of dollars for you to do X, Y, and Z. It was explicit what he wanted me to do and I was just like, wow, it just threw me 100 per cent. Rachael refused but Ahuja bombarded her with sleazy disappearing messages on Snapchat, telling her if she needed money, he would pay her but only if he had sex with her. One message stated: Want to make love, kiss those lips. Lets make a deal? $1000 for every time we catch up. Another said: Happy to pay. Asked a zillion times already. A third message said: Its high time now. You dont have anything to worry about. Rachael says she felt like I was a piece of meat, like I was a commodity, something that could be bought. Unlike others in the MA family chasing a piece of Ahujas wealth, she also held to a simple truth: I cant be bought. She photographed the messages. When the story of MAs suspected rampant worker exploitation, tax evasion and bikie links first broke in this masthead in October with Ahuja denying all wrongdoing Rachael contacted one of the reporters and provided the messages. A few days later, when this masthead reported them, Ahuja stood down as CEO, hoping to prevent MA customers leaving. Coles was not one of them, although it had begun an internal investigation, but other large corporations and the Victorian government moved more swiftly to sever ties with MA. Rachael hadnt acted only to expose her own sexual harassment, as part of the MA family she knew of other complaints. As disgusting as Ahujas behaviour had been, she considered herself one of the lucky ones. I know of other things that hes done to other women, she says. Ahuja was not just a sex harasser, says Rachael. The man who had won Australian young entrepreneur of the year was also an accused rapist. A few days after her life-changing ordeal, Sara told her psychologist what she had endured at Ahujas hands. The self-described naive country girl had joined MA after leaving the police force aged 30 in late 2017 and, initially, Ahuja impressed her. Sara during her time as a police officer. 60 Minutes He was 29 and, after arriving in Melbourne from India, had transformed himself from a dishwasher and security guard to the owner of multiple companies, including the fastest-growing security firm in the nation. He was charismatic. Hes sort of a showman. I couldnt believe that he was so approachable being, you know, the head of the company, the boss, the owner. After Ahuja asked Sara to help him win clients, she joined an utterly foreign world of corporate networking. As another company insider explains: Micky is the Australian Wolf of Wall Street. Sara says it was all client dinners, long boozy lunches that turn into long, boozy dinners and I thought, not being around that before, this is how these people network. Crowns high roller rooms functioned as a second office for Ahuja and his business partner, a man called Rao Nabeel Roshnan (who, along with Ahuja, is now a key target of the multi-agency law enforcement and regulatory probe Operation Hermes). Sara alleges she was raped by MA Services Group founder Micky Ahuja. 60 Minutes The money that was going through those tables was obscene, Sara says. One night I had a drink and grabbed what I thought was a coaster to put my drink on and they all freaked out ... theyre like, Thats not a coaster. Thats a $100,000 chip. The divide between Ahuja and the security guards he employed could not have been starker. As he lived it up at Crown, Sara says, she was getting phone calls from distressed security guards who had not been paid in weeks or months. Sara fielded complaints from workers who cant feed their babies or they ran out of formula and theyve got no money or their wives are crying because they cant put food on the table. I couldnt figure out why they werent paying, when were sitting in this room and Im watching them put hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of chips down a hole. She says many guards were not only badly underpaid in cash but forced to work long hours, often in breach of their student visa working limit conditions. They would drive from job to job, sleep in the car. It was near on inhumane because it wasnt just a guard here or there, it was their workforce as a whole. Sara would ferry basic supplies, such as food and nappies, to the most desperate workers, while fielding demands from Ahuja to wine and dine clients. It was distressing. Still, Sara had no idea just how dangerous Ahuja could be. This she discovered after an especially boozy dinner and drinks evening Ahuja had arranged for his favoured managers. Sara recalls becoming very drunk, to the point where I was passing out in my chair, when Ahuja volunteered to take to her hotel. Ill make sure she gets home safe, she says Ahuja told their companions. Sara vaguely remembers the taxi ride to her hotel before Ahuja took her up to her room. Its only flashes and Im thankful for it being like that. She remembers Ahuja trying to help me sit or help me lay down and being super embarrassed as she passed out with her clothes on. The next thing, she woke up in a panic and alone in the room. I was naked and there was a vomit to the side of the bed and then the bottom half the bed and a little part of myself was covered in blood. The blood was from tearing Sara had suffered during the alleged rape. After calling her housemate and detailing what had happened, she went home. I had a bleach bath because I just felt so dirty and like violated and disgusting. As a former police officer and knowing the criminal justice system process that would follow Sara couldnt bring herself to report what had happened. She told her psychologist and tried to put it behind her, even returning to work at MA for six months. Ahuja pretended as if nothing had happened. Sara could not forget it and quit MA in late 2019. Even then, she could not shake off the ordeal. In 2020, she confronted Ahuja in a message after seeing a news story about MA. Next time you rape someone you might not be so lucky, she wrote. The only reason I never went to the cops that night after crown is because I had enough on my plate. In November, after this masthead revealed the sex-for-money demands Ahuja made of Rachael, Sara decided to publicly tell her story. Leaked MA files and correspondence reveal others who worked for Ahuja, both at MA and his other businesses, have also raised complaints. Many found their way to MA health and safety manager Tim Jones, who prior to joining Ahuja, was a bikie gang member. MA health and safety manager Tim Jones. In a recent message to an associate, Jones wrote that it suxs to be Micky and that he knew of seven women that I know that [have] come forward in the business in regards to sexual misconduct as well as the nine managers that have come forward in regards to bullying harassment. Among the cases raised within MA is a second allegation of rape. Jones bikie past made him a curious choice as Ahujas health, safety and compliance manager. It was Jones who, in late 2024, suggested MAs controversial partnership with a small security firm controlled by the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang including its successful pitch for an Albanese government-bankrolled Nauru contract. The Nauru deal was, at least briefly, a coup for the Finks (it came unstuck after this masthead revealed the bikie involvement) Jones was less successful pushing the gangs security firm into MAs Australian operations. He was blocked by yet another brave woman on the MA payroll. One NSW manager, Hela Mejri, was ostracised when she refused to put the Finks firm on the MA subcontractor payroll. Things got worse when she raised concerns about Ahujas underpayment of migrant cleaners. Hela Mejri says she felt threatened by Ahuja. Sam Mooy When Mejri took stress leave, Ahuja dispatched Jones and two other burly MA managers to her family home to collect her work car and laptop. She wasnt home, but her children were. She remembers her terror at learning her two young children were confronted by the MA trio. You are not dealing with the normal corporate company. You are dealing with, like, some gangsters coming to actually put me under threat. They wanted me to feel that. They wanted to threaten me and threaten my kids, says Mejri. Jones declined repeated requests to be interviewed. Mejri ultimately blames his boss, Ahuja. Micky will be the sweetest person when you first meet him. He will introduce himself as kind, charismatic. But the minute that he will find that you are trying to question how he runs his business, he will become a monster, she says. Ahuja also left a trail of distressed employees in his side-hustle businesses. This masthead has obtained multiple complaints from female staff at a cafe Ahuja previously owned. One waitress alleged that in her second day at work Ahuja pulled me close to him and tried to kiss me. Another worker describes how Micky Ahuja started to harass me with sleazy behaviour. A third described inappropriate and unwelcome comments along with inappropriate and sleazy behaviour. Two complainants have also contacted this masthead alleging Ahuja sexually harassed or preyed on women outside of businesses he owned, including a woman he met at Crown casino. The prospect of Ahuja facing justice for his alleged misdeeds from his new home in Dubai are unclear. In his Monday statement he attacked this masthead and 60 Minutes for one-sided reporting despite ignoring multiple requests for comment. The false and one-sided reporting has been incredibly damaging to me personally, and to my family, and I will address all of these allegations tomorrow to bring truth and context into the equation, he said. Briefing notes reveal the ATO has confidentially assessed that the MA syndicate for years breached Australias immigration, corporate and employment laws to allow Ahuja and other members to get rich. Ahuja remains a wealthy man. In January, administrators said that along with trying to recover a massive tax debt and repay workers, they were also pursuing $13 million in suspicious company loans, including at least $4.8 million that ended up in Ahujas personal accounts. Many more millions are still missing. Sara says she has waited a long time for Ahujas conduct to catch up with him. She hopes that by telling her story, she will save other women and workers from the man who wanted so badly to become an Australian business titan and did not care who he hurt along the way. A man that has built his pedestal on lies, deceit, rape, like every evil and terrible quality ... he needs that pedestal taken away, she says. I want the whole world to know who he is because then they wont be in the position Im in. *Names have been changed. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Advertisement Exclusive NationalWAPublic housing The housing authority says this Balga home is habitable. Laura says her son wakes up every morning with a nosebleed Hannah Murphy March 9, 2026 1:00am 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 Laura Westerns two children have been waking up with nosebleeds and persistent coughs in their public housing home for four years. Her Balga property is covered in mould spores and she first reported the fungus appearance in her laundry in 2022. Its just growing and growing, she said. When we get sick, we just wheeze. I get breathless just walking [the kids] to school my son wakes up with nosebleeds. He thinks thats normal, but its not normal. Laura Western says her mental health has also suffered due to the infestation. 9 News Perth Advertisement For the last four years, Western and her children have endured the illnesses that come with living in the Balga property. In January, the department sent her a letter saying the home was habitable while it tried to organise someone to clean up the mould. However, its an assessment Laura claims is dead wrong. Mould on the roof of the Balga home. 9 News Perth Western has recently been in contact with the Department of Housing and Works about getting the mould assessed and fixed once and for all. Advertisement However, she has one condition to the work being done. Western has repeatedly asked the department for somewhere to stay while the mould work is being done, but had received no reply to her request. Instead, she received legal notices forcing her to vacate the property while the maintenance workers come through. The Department of Housing and Works said it had repeatedly sent contractors to fix the mould in the last few months, but Western had refused to let them in. A department spokesperson said the work they intended to carry out would be completed within a day, and it should be safe to re-enter the property on the same evening. Advertisement The department have advised Ms Western that she may choose to remain away from the property for the day to allow access and return once works are completed and the property is secure, they said. The work zone will be isolated and controlled to prevent contamination of other areas as per the requirements that the licensed contractor must perform to remove [asbestos containing material]. The department has also provided Ms Western with information on relevant Australian Work Health and Safety laws to address her concerns. Works cannot be undertaken if contractors cannot gain access to the property. But Western said she continued to refuse entry until her demands for an alternative place to stay were met. Advertisement Its us it puts at risk, she said. Western said the last time the department did work at the property, the whole back end of her house was left open and accessible for days at a time. Western is a domestic violence victim whose perpetrator knows her address, and had been unable to sleep when she knew an intruder could easily walk into her home. She said the presence of asbestos was particularly concerning for her two young children, who were already dealing with complex respiratory issues due to the ongoing presence of mould in the house. Western believes any disruption during the work to either the asbestos or the mould could further compromise their damaged immune systems. Advertisement Western and her two children. 9 News Perth Mould experts told this masthead the work needed to get rid of the mould would be penetrative, and require extensive effort to eradicate the infestation entirely. Two contractors said Westerns situation was symptomatic of how the Department of Housing and Works deals with mould in public housing. My personal belief is that if the state government and departments were to take accountability and responsibility for the mould issues in properties under their direct control - hospitals, housing, offices - then the financial liabilities would be crippling, one contractor said. [Im] afraid most people keep their heads under the firing line - and so what youve seen in Balga continues and nothing changes. Advertisement More mould in the houses bathroom. 9 News Perth [It] sounds a bit dramatic, but ultimately for those trapped in these situations - its very sad. The companies that have the contracts for mould in public housing are not all bad, but they are dictated to follow WA advice. This masthead has seen correspondence from Western to the department requesting a place to stay while the work was carried out, to no response. Instead, a letter from the department was sent to Western on January 8 this year, claiming the property remained habitable in the interim. The mother-of-two is now facing eviction if she does not let workers into the property by mid-March to address the mould. Advertisement However, Western believes it should never have gotten this far. She said both her children were now forced to use asthma puffers and had experienced ongoing respiratory issues. She emphasised it had been four years since she first pointed out the mould to the department. I reported this in 2022 ... why has it taken so long? Why didnt you do it before we moved in? Its going to affect our health in the long run, she said. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. The phrase meat salad isnt all that appetising. And yet, think about laab, which is surely Laos greatest gift to the culinary world maybe even South-East Asias greatest gift and you immediately think, oh yeah. Ill take that. Because laab, technically known as a meat salad, is a spectacular cornucopia of flavours, all in perfect harmony. This dish is based, as mentioned, on meat, which could be pork, chicken, beef, duck or even fish, which is minced or chopped finely. This mince is usually cooked at low temperature to avoid browning though sometimes its raw and then mixed with lime juice, chillies, fish sauce, shallots, fresh herbs like mint and coriander, and then toasted ground rice. Laab is typically served with a big ball of sticky rice, and often tam som (green papaya salad) and its sour, spicy, salty, herbaceous, pungent, and just stunningly, joyfully delicious. First serve Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Hang on a second: is this dish not Thai? Because most of us will enjoy our first exposure to laab at a Thai restaurant in Australia (or even a Thai restaurant in Thailand). And its true that the Isan region in northern Thailand, which has deep historic connections to Lao people, is well known for its laab. However, this dish is unquestionably Lao in origin. Its thought to have emerged during the time of the Lan Xang kingdom, which ruled over what is present-day Laos from 1353 to 1707. Laab was made using raw meat back then, which cured slightly in lime juice, though a French explorer who visited Laos in 1883 found both cooked and raw meat being used in this staple dish, which was always served with sticky rice. Order there In Vientiane, try the laab at the historic, family-owned Pa Kham Tanh (pakhamtanh.com). If youve been stuck in the Middle East, some relief is finally on the way. Many Americans felt abandoned after the surprise attack on Iran, which closed airspace over much of the region. Videos show that the phone number the U.S. government urged Americans stuck overseas to call for help is just a recording saying: Please do not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation. This is insane.the phone number that Rubio has been telling Americans to call that need help getting out of the Middle East is just a recording saying "Please do not rely on the US government for assisted departure or evacuation" H/t @jonkarl pic.twitter.com/YtliypPDvX Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) March 4, 2026 One of my friends, Alyssa Ramos, who was stuck in Kuwait, confirmed that the U.S. government was of little help during the first several days. On Instagram, she wrote: Advertisement Advertisement "Also, for those who have said to check in/register with the embassy here and the STEP program, just FYIthey both have been zero help. We get no notifications, and even when weve reached out to the embassy, they just tell us to enroll in STEP. Clearly, government funding goes more to causing wars than protecting its people!" The good news is that the State Department is trying to help now. They shared a photo of Americans in the Middle East boarding the New England Patriots team plane. Thats pretty snazzyI thought team owner Robert Kraft was donating it, but according to Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson, the plane was chartered by the State Department and landed safely in Washington, D.C., Friday morning. "This flight was entirely paid for by the State Department," Johnson said. He also clarified, "The New England Patriots organization was not involved in this flight." One person (@heathermbd) commented on Instagram: "That plane was sold to a charter company. My daughter actually flew on it for college marching band a few years ago." This appears to be true so not sure why they havent repainted the plane. Flight Aware shows the plane's route (FlightAware.com) According to FlightAware, the 767-300 plane departed Abu Dhabi on March 5 and flew four hours to Sofia, Bulgaria. Four hours later, it flew three hours to Shannon, Irelandpresumably to make another fuel stop. After almost three hours on the ground there, it flew just over seven hours to Washington, D.C.s Dulles Airport. Three hours later, it flew to Fort Worth (AFW), which is Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, featuring a wide array of flight services, including air cargo, corporate, and government aviation. With the release of Pixars new movie Hoppers, in which a girl uses modern technology to plant her consciousness into a robot beaver, were taking a look at some of the best beavers throughout animation history. Its a good thing that Hoppers came along, because I feel that beavers have been underrepresented in animation, with the exception of the 90s Nicktoon The Angry Beavers. Creator Mitch Schauer explained that he selected Norbert and Daggetts species because he went through a list of animals and thought that beavers were the most absurd. All they ever do is chew down trees and build dams. They never bother anyone. I made them angry beavers because at the time there were animated characters like the Care Bears, Chip and Dale, and Strawberry Shortcake, all this soft, safe stuff I like to buck trends, so the opposite thing was to have characters that were angry. There arent any beavers who starred in their own series of shorts during the Golden Age of Animation, although most studios produced at least one beaver-themed cartoon (including Mintzs The House That Jack Built, Lantzs Nutty Pine Cabin, Famous Studios The Old Mill Scream) and some studios made several, like MGM (The Bear and the Beavers, Busybody Bear) and Terrytoons (Lazy Little Beaver, Beaver Trouble). Disney made one of the earliest beaver cartoons, Busy Little Beavers (1931), and later pitted Donald Duck against a couple of beavers in Old Sequoia (1945). The two tree-chomping rodents in the latter short bear a striking resemblance to Chip n Dale, who had already appeared as undifferentiated chipmunks in Private Pluto (1943) but wouldnt get their names and personalities until Chip an Dale (1947). As far as Im aware, the only beaver from the Golden Age to appear more than once is Buck Beaver, a carnival barker conman who shows up in a couple of cartoons from the Walter Lantz studio and had a long life in comic books. In Dick Lundys Scrappy Birthday (1949), the character is voiced by radio comic Eddie Marr, best known for his appearances on The Kay Kyser Show as a quick-talking snake oil pitchman. His catchphrase, Ill tell ya what Im going to do, is oft-quoted in old cartoons. Buck doesnt get to do much, but I wish he had been used more often; his design is fun, and he makes a good instigator of chaos. My favorite beaver cartoon is Chuck Jones The Eager Beaver (1946), starring a sprightly little guy with a compulsive need to chop down every tree he comes into contact with. Eager Beaver is just so appealingly drawn, and the way he snaps from one pose to the nextin perfect rhythm with Carl Stallings score, might I addis delightfully manic. Im not sure he couldve sustained a series, but the film is a terrifically zippy little one-shot. One of the better-known animated beavers comes from Disneys Lady and the Tramp (1955). Musical satirist Stan Freberg provided the voice, speaking his lines with a whistle near his mouth to create the characters unique lisp. The beavers design and speech patterns would later be repurposed for Gopher in the Winnie the Pooh films. Little-known animator George Kreisl handles the tricky scene of the beaver toppling down a hill. Moving into the TV era, its surprising that even given all of the animal-related shows produced by Hanna-Barbera and the like, beavers rarely seemed to cross their radar; Sawtooth, a minor Wacky Races character who rides the Buzzwagon, is one of the very few. At least Rankin-Bass gave big parts to Mr. and Mrs. Beaver in their forgotten TV special The Ballad of Smokey the Bear (1966). The characters jerky movements are a lot of fun, and I always love the practical effects animation in these old stop-motion specials, like using what appears to be cellophane to create splashes of water. And in terms of TV commercials, Bucky Beaver starred in a series of ads for Ipana toothpaste, fighting against the villainous Mr. Decay. These spots were designed by Tom Oreb at Disneys short-lived commercial division in the mid-1950s. Buckys biggest claim to fame nowadays is that Jan of the Pink Ladies sings along to his brusha brusha theme song in the 1978 musical film Grease. Venturing outside of the United States, we have Vasik, a crotchety beaver inventor who plans to flood the Earth in an act of revenge on mankind. Vasik appears in 1972s And Dont Call Me Vasik, an entry in Bretislav Pojars wonderfully creative Czech stop-motion series Who Threw That, Gentlemen? Speaking of stop-motion, if you watch a lot of Soviet puppet animation from the 1970sand who doesnt?youll see a lot of great beaver designs that are fun to look at even when you cant tell what the characters are saying. Here are a few that Im fond of: One beaver character that seems like he couldve lasted beyond one appearance is the deadpan tree-eater in the Roger Rabbit short Trail Mix-Up (1993), directed by Barry Cook. His design has a pleasantly goofy Tex Avery quality to it, and his wooden expression (no pun intended) makes a nice contrast to the hysterical slapstick mania happening all around him. The Angry Beavers might be the only cartoon series centered on beavers, but the creatures have occasionally been used as regular supporting players on preschool shows (Franklin, PB&J Otter, PAW Patrol) and even a few adult series (Happy Tree Friends). Usually, theyre depicted as friendly, although Oonski the Great from Breadwinners and Squint Eatswood from New Looney Tunes are quite nasty, and Boss Beaver from Timon & Pumbaa is an intimidating jerk who makes other people do his work for him. One thing to look out for when watching 90s TV cartoons is that they were often outsourced to multiple different studios, so the caliber of animation could vary noticeably depending on which team was behind a given episode. The work by Disney Animation Australia in this Timon & Pumbaa episode, Oregon Astray, looks almost feature quality. The body-swapping plot of Hoppers is certainly off the beaten track, but its far from the first oddball premise involving beavers to show up in a cartoon. In Pinky and the Brain, the Brain builds a beaver communication device to enlist their help in taking over the world by flooding it. In I Am Weasel, evil surfer dudes hold beavers at saw-point to force them to mass-produce surfboards with their teeth. In Johnny Bravo, an outlaw named Slimy Pierre assembles an army of beavers to overthrow Canada. In Courage the Cowardly Dog, a beaver defies his construction worker father by becoming a jazz musician, and he ultimately destroys a dam by slapping his tail in rhythm. And lets not forget the Tooth Beavers in the Ren & Stimpy episode Rens Toothache. This scene always makes me cringe. And although Hoppers might be the first animated feature based around beavers, the dam seems to have burst lately, to coin a phrase, and more beaver characters have been flooding into CGI movies like Sing and The Wild Robot. Conspiracy theorist Nibbles Maplestick was also a show-stealer in last years smash hit Zootopia 2. And for something a little more indie, theres The King and the Beaver (2010), in which a king enlists a beaver to help him build his castle. This was a group project from the Gobelins school in France, and its a great little parable about greed. It also contains some stunning effects, which are impressively detailed while remaining exaggerated in a manner that would only be possible to achieve with hand-drawn animation. Who are your favorite animated beavers? Let us know in the comments below. And as a final bonus, heres a clip from the live-action but heavily cartoon-inspired comedy masterpiece Hundreds of Beavers, directed by Mike Cheslik. If youre a fan of classic cartoons and you havent seen it, youre in for a treat. Sign up to get our news digest delivered directly to your inbox twice a week. Cartoon Movie has long been the leading European co-production event for animated features in Europe. During this weeks edition of the two-day gathering, 50 projects from 20 countries were presented by eager producers and directors in front of their peers, as well as investors, distributors, and international sales agents, with more than 250 buyers in attendance. Moving from one room to another and discovering more than 10 potential features in less than a full days work can seem overwhelming to newcomers. But Cartoon Movie also acts as a 48-hour catalyst for the European animation industry and beyond, one of the sparks that helps ignite the animated worlds of tomorrow. Since its creation in 1999, Cartoon has helped 513 feature films secure financing, with an overall budget of 3.42 billion ($3.7 billion). From this years 50 projects, Cartoon Brew has already profiled a couple with individual features, but we wanted to go beyond the big names and fan favorite studios such as Cartoon Saloons upcoming Kindred Spirits and Sacrebleus latest space opera Cosmo Princess to highlight five lesser-known yet similarly eye-catching features currently in concept, development, or production. From cynical adult comedy to heartfelt family stories, these projects aim to captivate audiences in the years ahead. Starseed Country: Romania, South Africa, France, Belgium & Canada Producers: Aparte Film, Known Associates Group, Special Touch Studios, Wrong Men, Quetzalcoatl, Yzanakio Length: 97 minutes Technique: 3D computer animation Status: In production From acclaimed Romanian filmmaker Anca Damian comes a female-driven family adventure with the directors distinctive touch. Written by Damian with award-winning Zimbabwean author NoViolet Bulawayo, Starseed opens in a township facing the drying up of its river. There, three children witness the arrival of a strange visitor who claims to come from the future. Loveness, a brave albino girl, seizes the opportunity to save the goddess of water, trapped in a knot in time. Currently in production, Starseed is an ambitious 3D animated feature with a striking visual world. Underwater goddesses and eerie sorcerers populate unusual settings where children navigate using only their innocence and curiosity. Produced with a 4.8 million budget, the team is still seeking gap financing, as highlighted by co-producer Sebastien Onomo (Special Touch Studios). To finalize the budget, they are looking for additional partners and aim to deliver the film in time for Cannes 2027. Riamise Country: Italy, France & Japan Producers: Ibrido Studio, Something Big, Studio 4C Length: 87 minutes Technique: 2D computer animation Status: In concept Indie anime powerhouse Studio 4C is collaborating with Ibrido Studio, an Italian company making its feature debut with directors Francesco Forti and Hirokazu Kojima. Forti, presenting alongside his French and Italian producers, introduced the audience to the dry streets of Riamisea city without water, consumed by drought, crime, and giant reptiles, the last non-human creatures on Earth. Its people survive by earning blue crystals, the only source of sustenance. While the rich thrive, two clans battle for control of the city. Order collapses when the police commissionerJonas fatheris murdered. Returning home, Jona searches for the truth behind his fathers death and the mystery of the crystals. Alongside Kala, a bold girl from the citys dump, he may uncover a secret that could restore the water supply and change Riamises fate forever. Nearly ten years after Mutafukaz, their first JapanFrance collaboration, Studio 4C returns to a European co-production, and the project already looks visually bold. Blending warm European color palettes with dynamic, anime-inspired camera movement, this teenage-driven adventure could appeal to audiences in both Europe and Japan. At this early stage, the team is finalizing the first draft of the script and seeking co-producers, investors, and partners. Once Upon an Egg Country: Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic Producers: Keplerfilm, A Private View, Hausboot Length: 85 minutes Technique: Stop-motion Status: In development From Wander to Wonder Academy Award-nominated director Nina Gantz comes an epic, comedic stop-motion musical about pigeons. In Once Upon an Egg, we follow two ordinary gray city pigeons, Molly and Mick, who have struck it lucky with their nest on top of a fries stand in the heart of Amsterdam. One day, everything changes when a cleaning crew washes away their nestalong with their only egg. Heartbroken, they set off in search of a new home and a renewed sense of purpose. Along the way they befriend a young ring-necked parakeet named Brutti and eventually discover an abandoned egg. While caring for the eggand for each otherthey learn that only by adapting to the changing city can they build a new life and family of their own. A Dutch-Belgian-Czech production in the early stages of development, Once Upon an Egg promises to be visually appealing for stop-motion fans. Gantz plans to use recycled materials, discarded cloth, wool, and other textiles to craft the pigeons, demonstrating the concept with a sock-turned-pigeon during one of the events most entertaining pitches. The project is backed by an experienced creative team including character designer Felicie Haymoz (Fantastic Mr. Fox, Isle of Dogs), storyboard artist Jay Clarke (Isle of Dogs, Wallace & Gromit), key animator Steve Warne (Pinocchio, Frankenweenie), puppet artists Mackinnon & Saunders (Corpse Bride, Pinocchio), composer Terrence Dunn (Wander to Wonder), and Dutch screenwriter Robert Alberdingk Thijm. A love letter to pigeonsanimals that were once close companions to humans before being dismissed as sky rats. Flick! Country: France Producers: Wizz, FOST Length: 80 minutes Technique: 2d computer Status: In development For their debut feature Flick!, Paris-based 2D/3D graphics studio Wizz teamed up with FOST, the studio behind The Summit of the Gods and Splinter Cell: Deathwatch. The pairing proves fitting for the unusual duo at the center of director Nicolas Pegons film. Joy, born to an American father she never knew and a French mother, has spent her life trapped in a sleepy valley in the Vosges mountains, bored out of her mind. Didier, a fifty-year-old history teacher who shares a house with her, is neither particularly captivating nor captivated by life, often seeming to drift on another plane. As Joy moves between the local bar and her apartment in a tedious routine, she stumbles upon the body of a dead cowboy. It soon becomes clear that, even if she had nothing to do with the crime, she could easily be accused. So she and Didier decide to hide the body. Thats when the cowboys ghost begins appearing in real life. Set in a decaying industrial landscape, Flick! recalls the tone of Joel and Ethan Coens Fargo, blending quirky characters with a grounded, darkly cynical sense of humor. Featuring actors Mara Taquin and William Lebghil making their animated voice-acting debut, the project positions itself as a distinctive arthouse animated feature that could aim for major festivals such as Berlin, Cannes, or Venice. With a budget of 6 million, the producers are seeking co-producers, partners, and investors, with a target delivery by the end of 2028. The Heart of the Djembe Country: France, Belgium & Ivory Coast Producers: Cottonwood Media, Booya Studio, Umedia Length: 80 minutes Technique: 2D computer animation Status: In development With many female directors present this year and gender parity nearly achieved (44.6% female, 54.9% male, 0.5% non-binary), Cartoon Movie continues to highlight female-driven stories and coming-of-age narratives. Presented by three women, The Heart of the Djembe is one such project. Eight-year-old Imani lives with her grandmother in the village of Alkeboulane and dreams of playing the djembe, just like her late father and her brother, who continues his legacy. But in Alkeboulane, women are forbidden from touching the instrument, and doing so is believed to invoke a powerful curse. When a relentless drought strikes, Imani embarks on a perilous journey into the wild to seek Denga, the god of abundance, and uncover the truth hidden deep within the forest. In this tale of music, magic, and couragewhere one girls rhythm could change the fate of her worldauthors Ani Eliam and Assa Ouattara, along with director Mathieu Vavril, bring together lush forest settings, emotional moments of connection, and a strong sonic dimension that extends beyond the physical world. With a budget of 5 million and a script expected before the summer, the producers are currently seeking investors and partners, with a planned release around 2029. Our government is willing to kill our own people to get what they want, be it ICE or Iran.This same government will even attempt to financially bankrupt companies that will not go along with their ideals, as in Anthropic. While the company hasn't been perfect in their goals, the ideals they will stand by for, do make sense. No technology created at this time is reliable enough to be used for the type of surveillance and lethal force the government is demanding. If drones used fire on innocent people, that seems to be completely normal and acceptable. Kristi Noem had signed bids for contracts worth $147,000,000 to a company owned by Ben Yoho, husband of Tricia McLaughlin (former DHS secretary). How many other friends of our administration are pocketing our tax dollars? Ads that featured Noem were created, using $220,000,000 tax dollars. I've seen these ads, and they could've been created with a GoPro, a green screen, and two days of filming, spending much less than what they allegedly cost. Let's be honest. This administration is fleecing our pockets in front of us, and laughing all the way to the bank. As far as this "conflict" in Iran, I find it reprehensible that Barron has not willingly signed up for service. He is of age and of sound mind, and capable of serving to the public's knowledge. I am not sure if any medical ailments, such as bone spurs, are passed from the parents, but hopefully not. After all, Trump's own father fled to the United States to avoid serving in his own country. I bring this up because Franklin Roosevelt's sons willingly signed up for service during World War II, and fought in battle. They weren't mandated, they chose to do so. Does Barron have the same fortitude and bravery? Only time will tell. John Spencer The administration's actions regarding Iran is troubling. Our country has no business trying to decide who runs another country. Like it or not, Iran gets to choose who their next leader is. We may not like it, but it isn't our choice even if it may affect us. The new policy, is "pick someone we like, or we will destroy more of your country." Apparently, over 100 schoolchildren are just the cost of collateral damage, as are six soldiers, at least one of whom was in an unfortified shack that was hit by one of our own missiles. Photo credit: National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference A group of Evangelical leaders gathered in the Oval Office on March 5 to pray with President Donald Trump, asking for divine guidance and for the success of the United States as tensions with Iran escalate. Pastor Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, shared details about the meeting in a statement posted Friday on X. Yesterday I had the privilege of joining a group of faith leaders in the Oval Office to pray with and over the President of the United States during a moment of significant responsibility for our nation and the world, Rodriguez wrote. He explained that the meeting was arranged through the White House Faith Office. The gathering was facilitated by Pastor Paula White-Cain and Jennifer Korn of the White House Faith Office and brought together several faith leaders to intercede for the President, our nation, and the decisions before him, he added. We prayed for wisdom, protection, and Gods guidance as he leads during a consequential moment in global affairs. Rodriguez also noted the timing of the prayer gathering as the president oversees military operations abroad. As the President continues to serve as Commander-in-Chief during Operation Epic Fury, with U.S. forces targeting Iranian Regime infrastructure and missile capabilities, the Oval Office was opened for prayer. The pastor shared video from the meeting showing several Evangelical pastors and ministry leaders standing around the president and placing their hands on his shoulders as they prayed. During the gathering, participants offered a collective prayer for Trump and for U.S. service members deployed around the world. I pray for your grace and protection over him. I pray for your grace and protection over our troops and all of our men and women serving in our armed forces. And Father, we just pray that youll continue to give our president the strength that he needs to lead our great nation as we come back to one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We pray your heavenly blessing upon him in Jesus name, the faith leaders proclaimed. Participants included Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas, Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California, Ralph Reed of the Faith and Freedom Coalition and Gary Bauer of the Family Research Council, along with about 20 attendees in total. Home News Francis Chan offers public apology for past endorsements of Mike Bickle, fallen ministry leaders Pastor and New York Timesbestselling author Francis Chan has issued a public apology acknowledging that his past endorsements of Mike Bickle and other Christian leaders who were later disgraced by scandal contributed to confusion, hurt and broken trust within the Church. In a statement published through his ministry, Crazy Love, Chan said he has been convicted in recent days by biblical passages warning that people will give an account for every careless word, prompting him to reflect on his own speech and leadership after more than four decades of teaching the Bible. The California-based pastor said he has faced criticism for responding slowly or not responding publicly when controversies emerge, stating that his first reactions often include pride, self-preservation, hurt or anger. He said he has tried to restrain those responses and speak only in ways that offer grace to those who hear. He said he has received repeated requests in recent years to publicly address leaders he once endorsed who were later exposed for wrongdoing. Over his 40 years in ministry, he said he has seen hundreds of leaders fall, with scandals involving immorality, false prophecies and greed. "Each time, it feels like a kick in the stomach," Chan wrote. "Years of immorality are uncovered, false prophesies are exposed, or greed is brought to light." Chan said Scripture teaches that when a leader falls, the sin should be exposed publicly so others are not misled. At the same time, he said modern expectations for public denunciations differ from earlier eras of ministry, when it was assumed that prior endorsements no longer applied once wrongdoing became known. For the sake of clarity, please know that of course I do not continue to endorse people like Mike Bickle (founder of the International House of Prayer Kansas City) who have been caught in unrepentant immorality, Chan said. He added that if he issued a public statement each time he realized he had trusted someone wrongly, the list would be very, very long," adding that he doesn't believe it is a "biblical mandate" for everyone to "weigh in" any time a ministry scandal is exposed. "I understand that some people see it as apathetic or irresponsible to refrain from commenting on these situations," Chan stated. "But I would ask you to consider that after issues have been disclosed about someone, there may be some of us who remain silent, not because we don't care, but because we believe there is already too much focus and discussion about these people. I've seen leaders get pressured by others to say things that God may not be leading them to say. I have fallen into this trap as well." Chan acknowledged that his previous support of leaders who later proved untrustworthy contributed to the pain experienced by fellow Christians. I know that my endorsements of leaders who have later fallen have added to the hurt and heartbreak experienced by the Body, and for this, I sincerely apologize, he said. He addressed a specific remark he made in 2021 defending Bickle, saying he regretted previously calling people so foolish for abandoning the leader because they had heard something from a friend. Chan said that the comment referred to theological disagreements circulating at the time, but now recognizes it could have discouraged people with legitimate concerns. A second statement accompanying Chans apology came from the network elders of We Are Church, an entity founded by Chan. In that statement, Kevin Kim, Rob Zabala, Sean Brakey and Joe Moore said Chan had no knowledge of hidden moral failure when he associated with or endorsed the leaders involved. The elders said Chans public words carried influence and that some of those statements unintentionally gave credibility to leaders who later proved deeply untrustworthy. They apologized for the confusion, hurt and loss of trust that resulted. They also acknowledged the victims of abuse connected to those leaders, writing that protecting vulnerable people and confronting abuse must take priority over protecting reputations or institutions. The statements address questions surrounding Chans relationship with Bickle of IHOPKC, which attracted a global following for teachings on prayer and prophetic ministry. Chan and the elders said that before working with Bickle, Chan had conversations with Bickles wife, IHOPKC leaders and other pastors who had known him for decades, and the consistent testimony he received described Bickle as a man of strong character and devotion. They said Chan also consulted ministry leaders outside the charismatic tradition before agreeing to speak at an IHOPKC event and heard no concerns about Bickles character at that time. The elders said they reviewed public criticisms of IHOPKC but found no verifiable evidence of moral misconduct before 2023. Allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power involving Bickle surfaced in the fall of 2023, leading to investigations and public scrutiny of the ministry. Bickle acknowledged inappropriate behavior in December 2023 while denying more serious sexual allegations. A 68-page report later released by the independent sexual abuse investigation firm Firefly concluded that Bickle used predatory tactics and spiritual manipulation to sexually abuse at least 17 females, including minors. The report also described sexual misconduct allegations involving other individuals connected to IHOPKC and identified 16 accused staff members implicated in such claims. Sam Storms, pastor emeritus of Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City and a longtime friend of Bickle, publicly apologized in February 2025 for defending the ministry leader over many years. Storms said he had once considered Bickle one of his closest friends, but changed his view after speaking with Deborah Perkins, one of Bickles alleged victims, in August 2023. Chan said he first heard the allegations about Bickle in 2023 and traveled with Storms to confront him in person, but Bickle refused the meeting. Home News This week in Christian history: Salvation Army arrives in US; John of God born Throughout the extensive history of the Church, numerous events of lasting significance have occurred. Each week marks anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths. Some events, spanning over 2,000 years of history, might be familiar, while others might be unknown to many. The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events from this week in Christian history, including the death of Civilla Durfee Martin, the birth of St. John of God, and the arrival of the Salvation Army in the United States. Home Opinion Childbirth shouldn't be a death sentence Childbirth should be a moment of joy but for thousands of women like Awawu, it is the beginning of a nightmare. Instead of celebrating a healthy delivery with a newborn baby in their arms, they are left with a stillborn infant and a life-altering injury: obstetric fistula. I met Awawu in her small, rural village in Ethiopia. She believed God had cursed her that her injury was proof she had done something unforgivable. People told her to her face, You are less worthy now. Awawu said she wanted to die. For thousands of women, they are married off too young, just as Awawu was. Shortly thereafter, they become pregnant, but their bodies are not ready. Years of malnutrition, hard labor, and stunted growth mean their body cannot safely deliver a baby. An obstetric fistula happens when a baby becomes stuck during prolonged labor, cutting off blood flow and causing devastating internal injury. The result is chronic incontinence, often leading to a woman being exiled from society. Without surgery, she can live this way for the rest of her life. In Awawus case, she was in labor for four days before losing her baby. To add to the heartache, an obstetric fistula is entirely preventable. It is not a rare tragedy. It is simply the outcome of being born female in places where maternal health care is out of reach. As the world celebrates International Womens Day on March 8, conversations turn to equality and opportunity. But womens health particularly maternal health too often remains an afterthought. Obstetric fistula is a stark reminder of what happens when it is. When I traveled to Ethiopia this past year, Awawu wasnt the only woman I met who had suffered from fistula. Some had endured it for years or even decades not because they did anything wrong, but because they had no choice but to give birth at home, hours from the nearest facility equipped to handle labor complications. What struck me most was not just the physical pain Awawu and so many others endured, but how they had been failed by a lack of access to basic maternal health care and education long before their labor ever began. Because they had never been told otherwise, these women, including Awawu, believed they were being punished. Cursed. Unclean. Rejected by God. A burden. Thankfully, Awawus story doesnt end there. After finally receiving fistula repair surgery, Awawu received medical treatment, post-surgery care, counseling, spiritual support, and the tools to rebuild her life. She was trained to raise livestock and run a small business and was given a cow to help regain her independence. But the most powerful transformation wasnt physical it was spiritual and social. She began to understand she was deeply loved by God. The same community that once kept its distance began to see her strength. She was trained to become a Safe Motherhood Ambassador, educating other women about prenatal care, safe delivery, and how to prevent fistula in the first place. Before I left, I watched Awawu stand before a group of expectant mothers in her village as a trusted guide. She was poised, and hope radiated from her. She educated them on the importance of prenatal care and how to prevent obstetric fistula in the first place. The woman who once hid in isolation, wanting to die, is now honored as a protector of mothers and babies. A life completely transformed. Yet there are so many other women like Awawu just waiting to receive that hope. The growing attention to fistula in global conversations about womens health signals progress. But awareness alone is not enough. If International Womens Day is truly about advancing women, then maternal health must be a key component of that. No woman should suffer a life-altering injury simply because she gave birth where health care was inaccessible. And fistula is only one example of what happens when women are overlooked. Around the world, millions of women face preventable suffering due to a lack of access to health care, clean water, education, opportunity, and the consequences ripple for generations. This International Womens Day, the call to action is clear: we must invest in women. When women are healthy and supported, children survive, economies grow, and futures change. Awawus journey from being labeled as cursed to becoming a source of hope for mothers is a reminder of what is possible when women are given access to care and empowered. Her story is an illustration of what can happen anywhere when women are no longer forgotten. Home Opinion Iranian womens courage must not be forgotten on International Womens Day While we celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, we must remember the many brave Iranian women who have endured decades of hardships under the harsh rules of Islam. Today, we are seeing the fruits of their struggles and suffering. But the job is not done, and their suffering has not ended. Under Islamic rules, Iranian women have been subjugated and suppressed for more than 47 years since the Ayatollah Khomeini took power in Iran. Iranian women lost all their rights after the revolution in 1979. The regime started suppressing women systematically and publicly through many misogynist laws, making women and womens rights only half of that of men. Women are forced to wear a hijab from the age of 7. Hundreds of thousands of Iranian women have been arrested in the streets, beaten up in public by morality police, and humiliated only for not having a proper Islamic hijab. One prominent example is Mahsa Amini, who was murdered in 2022 for allowing her hair to show. She was beaten mercilessly after her arrest, went into a coma, and died at the hands of her torturers. The humiliation of women under the Islamic Republic runs deep in the regimes DNA. Many Iranian girls and women have been murdered by their fathers, brothers, or husbands in what they call honor killings, for which the men face no severe consequences because, under Islamic rules, there is no capital punishment against a male who kills their female relative for the purpose of their honor. One of my personal examples is most telling. After I talked to my brother about my conversion to Christianity, he talked to a mullah about his confusion between Islam and Christianity, and mentioned my conversion to Christianity. The mullah told my brother to kill me, and he promised him there would be no punishment for him under the law of honor killing. There are countless other examples. So, when I think about International Womens Day, it reminds me of the suffering of millions of Iranian women like me. It reminds me of many horrible memories of being insulted and punished in school, and even at home by my brothers, who were brainwashed by the state to see me and all women as inferior. It reminds me of the gross harassment by men who would look at me as a whore. It reminds me that I lived 30 years in Iran, but I never had a chance to travel and visit my beautiful country because the hotels would not let women book a room alone. It reminds me of the terrible stories from my students who had to accept the sick sexual advances and extortion by judges to be able to divorce their abusive husbands. Under Islam, if a woman is abused or beaten by her husband, there is no law to defend her. Despite all these misogynistic Islamic laws, millions of Iranian women bravely fought against these harsh rules and did not submit. Many of them never gave up and tried to stand for their rights at any cost, even losing their lives. We should not forget that the brave mothers of all these young children who were killed by the regime have turned their mourning into another form of defiance. Instead of crying, many mothers displayed their defiance by dancing at the funeral of their children. It is unbelievable that they found the courage to turn their sorrow and mourning into dance, to tell the Islamic regime that even the death of their children cannot stop them from fighting for their rights and freedom. It is a shame that instead of making the Islamic regime accountable, the United Nations rewards them by giving them a seat to monitor womens rights around the world. This is an obscene joke and another type of insult against Iranian women by the buffoons at the U.N. On International Womens Day, we must remember brave Iranian women who have no rights and have been targets of discrimination and abuse for so many years. We must remember the high price that they are paying every day just to survive. We must remember many Iranian women who have no voice. Whose lives have been ruined by violence and discrimination. I salute Iranian women on this day for being the true symbol of courageous resistance and dignity under the harshest circumstances. I pray that they receive their long-awaited deliverance and freedom soon. It cannot come soon enough. 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) Editor: WXY President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend 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, on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 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. "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." 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 O'Brien, 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." Venezuela, Greenland and now Iran 2026 has been marred with geopolitical instability , but some on Wall Street think investors aren't as concerned as they should be about the latest conflict. In the beginning of the year, when the U.S. conducted a military operation in Venezuela that involved capturing and ousting that country's leader, U.S equities didn't move much . Stocks also recovered from the developments around President Donald Trump 's push to control Greenland , as the S & P 500 closed out the first month of the year in positive territory. That was no different last Monday the first trading day after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran last weekend. The S & P 500 came off its lows to finish just above the flatline that day. The index also settled well off its lows on Thursday and Friday . At one point on Friday, when U.S. oil futures reached their highest level since 2023, the S & P 500 was off 1.7%. The index ultimately ended the session down 1.3%. .SPX 5D mountain The S & P 500 in the past week "The initial investor reaction to this war has been very tame," said Jed Ellerbroek, portfolio manager at Argent Capital Management. "Investors learn really, really quickly, and we've seen Trump in a lot of times just in the last 13 months make the really extreme, maximalist demands, and then settle for something much more reasonable. I think investors are assuming that happens here as well." There were some risk-off movements last week, to be sure the CBOE Volatility Index rose above 29, the U.S. dollar index saw a weekly gain and stocks ultimately finished with weekly losses. In all, the S & P 500 fell 2% last week, but it is still only less than 4% from its recent high. Stocks would have posted much larger weekly losses than they did if investors weren't betting that the war will be short-lived, Ellerbroek said. That's even after Trump said last week that while he expects the war with Iran to last four to five weeks, it could go on " far longer than that ." "If investors believed this was a three-month thing, I think the stock market would be a lot lower," Ellerbroek said. The market tends to reorient away from events that don't "resolve quickly" or that don't bring about a "major persistent impact," said Baird investment strategist Ross Mayfield, who cited the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 as one example the market eventually moved on from. He fears that the flooding of the zone in this case, the rapid influx of geopolitical developments that's been seen this year could lead investors astray with how they view other potential events in the future, such as those related to tensions between China and Taiwan. "There are so many geopolitical events and so few do end up having long-term impact on the market that it could build a little bit of complacency in the investor base," Mayfield said. "The more people are rewarded for buying these mini dips, it just makes the one-in-a-decade big thing a little riskier for folks." Eyes on energy All of that could change with the Iran war if oil prices top $100 per barrel, according to CFRA Research chief investment strategist Sam Stovall. On Friday, U.S. oil prices broke above $90 a barrel , placing its weekly rise at 35% its biggest advance since 1983. Some have projected that oil hitting $100 a barrel a move that was last seen after Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to a global recession . "It's a fundamental as well as a sentiment level, above which investors, I think, would think we're heading for something worse," Stovall told CNBC. @CL.1 @LCO.1 5D mountain WTI crude vs. Brent crude prices, 5-day If oil doesn't reach that threshold, Stovall said he thinks the Iran war could turn out to be what he views as a "ping-pong-ball event," in which the conflict is something the market would "have to contend with, but we'll get around it." A key factor in determining that outcome would be the war's impact on energy infrastructure, which has been "relatively limited," said Matthew Aks, senior strategist of international political affairs and public policy at Evercore ISI. If a series of events led to permanent structural damage such as the Iranians putting sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz investors' concerns would surely be heightened as a result, he believes. "Most of what's happened so far, at least when it comes to energy, is still quite reversible when things settle down," Aks said. "That'd be the threshold that I watch going forward." Navigating Trump's moves Because of the uncertainty surrounding the conflict , Marko Papic of BCA Research cautions investors to "stay nimble" and be ready to take profits given the volatility the situation poses. While Trump said Friday that there wouldn't be a deal to end the war without an "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER" from Iran , the chief strategist said he thinks Trump utilizing an off-ramp is still in play. "Judging by President Trump's past behavior and negotiations and judging by the massive material constraints that the interdiction of shipping through Hormuz would impose on the U.S. economy/markets and thus his legacy, I do believe that President Trump will look to de-escalate much faster than most believe," Papic said. He added that Trump could be able to claim within a number of days that the mission in Iran is complete, say if the U.S. were to erode Tehran's nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities. However, it's possible the president's own tactics don't work as expected, said the strategist, who is long on Brent crude , the iShares U.S. Oil Equipment & Services ETF (IEZ) and the Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF (BWET) . "President Trump is not dealing here with Canada or China in trade negotiations, or Denmark in a geopolitical confrontation," Papic said. "He is dealing with a regime that has fought wars and that is backed up against the wall. As such, it is becoming difficult to forecast and handicap Iran." The conflict could unfold over a matter of weeks or months, said Dryden Pence, chief investment officer at Pence Capital Management. For that reason, he's watching defense stocks, including RTX , Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman . Those stocks have jumped between 2.1% and 4.4% in the past week. "Every time we fire one of these rockets or missiles, or every time our defense system goes off, that's just something that we've got to pay to replace," he said to CNBC. "I don't think the bombing stops anytime soon." In this article Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Morteza Nikoubazl | Nurphoto | Getty Images Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei its new Supreme Leader on Sunday, the Associated Press and Reuters reported, citing Iranian state media. Khamenei is the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening salvos of the war. He was considered a top contender for the role. The elder Khamenei had ruled Iran since 1989 until his death. Khamenei's appointment will hand him control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and other hardline groups. The Revolutionary Guard issued a statement expressing support, the Associated Press reported, and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah shared a portrait of the younger Khamenei on Telegram, captioned: "Leader of the blessed Islamic revolution." The selection ensures that hardliners remain in control of Iran's government, and is a direct affront to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has insisted that the U.S. will have a role in approving the country's next leader. Trump has previously referred to Mojtaba Khamenei as a "lite weight." He earlier threatened that a new leader in Tehran would be short-lived if the decision was made without his approval. "He's going to have to get approval from us," Trump told ABC News. "If he doesn't get approval from us, he's not going to last long. We want to make sure that we don't have to go back every 10 years, when you don't have a president like me that's not going to do it." The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. The Israel Defense Forces, which is leading the Iran offensive with the U.S., said Sunday it would "pursue every successor and every person who seeks to appoint a successor." "We warn all those who intend to participate in the successor selection meeting that we will not hesitate to target you either. This is a warning!" the IDF said in a post in Farsi on X. Gulf states bombarded Iran's neighbors in the Gulf reported more damage to infrastructure over the weekend as Iran continues to attack regional allies in retaliation for ongoing strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces. The United Arab Emirates said it was "dealing with incoming missile and drone threats from Iran." "UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the country's Ministry of Defense said in a post on X. It said its defenses were intercepting ballistic missiles while fighter jets were tackling drones and "loitering munitions." On Saturday evening, alarms rang out across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, warning residents to "immediately seek a safe place" due to missile threats, and CNBC's team confirmed hearing a loud explosion. A high-rise building in Dubai's Marina area, 23 Marina, was hit by falling debris. According to Dubai's Media Office, no one was injured, but authorities confirmed that "debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of a Pakistani driver." Also on Saturday, passengers waiting for flights at Dubai International Airport were ushered into train tunnels. Iran said it had struck an air base in the United Arab Emirates. Since the war started on Feb. 28, Iran has targeted several radar and air defenses in the Middle East in Qatar, the UAE, 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. Oil tops $100 a barrel U.S. crude oil spiked above $100 a barrel Sunday evening after major Middle East energy producers cut output because the critical Strait of Hormuz remains impassable due to the war. West Texas Intermediate soared 18.98%, or $17.25, to $108.15 per barrel by 6:12 p.m. ET. Global benchmark Brent advanced 16.19%, or $15.01, to $107.70. U.S. crude oil surged about 35% last week in its biggest gain in futures trading history dating back to 1983. The last time oil prices topped $100 per barrel was after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Oil prices rose more than 1.5% in Asian trade on Thursday, on increasing concerns of a U.S military attack on Iran that could disrupt supply from the region. Anton Petrus | Moment | Getty Images The fighting in the Gulf has greatly disrupted the oil market due to the effective closure of the strait, which carries about 20% of global oil production. The bottleneck has left Gulf nations unable to export their oil. Kuwait, the fifth-biggest producer in OPEC, announced precautionary cuts on Saturday to its oil production and refinery output due to "Iranian threats against safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz." The state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation did not detail the size of the cuts. Output in Iraq, the second-biggest OPEC producer, has effectively collapsed. Production from its three main southern oilfields has fallen 70% to 1.3 million barrels per day, three industry officials told Reuters Sunday. Those fields produced 4.3 million bpd before the Iran war. And the United Arab Emirates, the third-biggest producer in OPEC, said Saturday that it is "carefully managing offshore production levels to address storage requirements." The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said its onshore operations are continuing normally. In response to surging oil prices, the average price of gas in the U.S. has jumped to over $3.46 per gallon, according to GasBuddy, from an average of $2.94 a gallon a week earlier. Trump and his Energy secretary, Chris Wright, sought to assure Americans that the spike in fuel prices is just a short-term problem. "Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace," Trump said in a post on Truth Social Sunday evening. "ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!" Wright said earlier in the day that the disruption would just last for "weeks, certainly not months." "We believe this is a small price to pay to get to a world where energy prices will return back to where they were," Wright said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday." "Iran will finally be defanged, and now you can see more investment, more free flow of trade, less ability to threaten energy supplies." Desalination plants attacked Bahrain said Sunday that a drone attack struck a water desalination plant. "Iranian aggression indiscriminately attacked civilian targets and caused material damage to a water desalination plant following a drone attack," Bahrain's Ministry of Interior said in a post on X. In a statement to CNBC, Bahrain's electricity and water authority said the "Iranian attack on a water desalination facility has had no impact on water supplies or water network capacity." The country said "blatant Iranian aggression" damaged a university building in the Muharraq area, injuring three people, as missile fragments fell. Meanwhile, Iran has accused the U.S. of striking a desalination plant in its country. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a social media post that 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," Araghchi said. U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesman, told MS NOW that Araghchi's claim was false. "The Iranian regime is doing everything it can to peddle lies and deceive," Hawkins said. "This is the same terrorist regime that has attacked 12 different countries and continues to deliberately target civilian airports, hotels, and neighborhoods in those countries. U.S. forces do not target civilians period." Fuel depots targeted Elsewhere, Kuwait said two fuel depots at its international airport were hit by drones, causing a "huge fire at one of them." The country's Public Institution for Social Security said its headquarters were targeted, resulting in "material damage" to the building. Meanwhile, Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran have continued through the weekend. Fire breaks out at the Shahran oil depot after U.S. and Israeli attacks, leaving numerous fuel tankers and vehicles in the area unusable in Tehran, Iran, on March 8, 2026. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images Israel said it struck several fuel storage complexes belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. "The strike significantly deepens the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime," the Israel Defense Forces said in a post on X. The IDF also said it attacked "key commanders in the IRGC's Quds Force's Lebanon Corps who operated in Beirut." Arab countries condemn Iran attacks Arab foreign ministers on Sunday strongly condemned Iran's attacks on its neighbors as a "grave threat to international peace and security." In a communique following their virtual meeting, the ministers expressed support to Gulf states, along with Jordan and Iraq, in the "measure they take to deter and respond to these aggressions." The ministers called for Iran to immediately stop its attacks and cease "provocative acts or threats to neighboring countries." They urged the U.N. Security Council to condemn Iran and force it to "immediately and unconditionally halt its attacks" on Arab countries. The ministers also voiced support to Lebanese government in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah, and urged the international community to pressure Israel to immediately cease its attacks on Lebanon. The communique didn't mention U.S. and Israeli strikes, which triggered the war. More U.S. service member casualties The U.S. Central Command reported in a post on X that another U.S. service member has died in action in the war, bringing the total number killed to eight. The New York City Police Department said in a statement on X that Police Officer Sorffly Davius died as a result of a medical episode while deployed to Kuwait in support of "Operation Epic Fury." On Saturday, Trump joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, for the dignified transfer of 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. 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, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance during a casualty return, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Mark Schiefelbein | AP Photo U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a round table on collegiate sports in the White House in Washington, D.C., March 6, 2026. President Donald Trump threatened to withhold his signature from any bill that reaches his desk until Congress passes a controversial election measure known as the SAVE America Act, which would make it much harder for many Americans to vote. "It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE," Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday. "I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed." The SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote. The measure has been the subject of an immense pressure campaign from right-wing commentators and congressional Republicans. The House passed the bill last month, but it is short of the 60-vote filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Republicans hold a 53-47 vote majority in the upper chamber, and Democrats have vowed to oppose it. That has led some Republicans to call for subverting the filibuster, which Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D, has so far resisted. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the threat of gridlock does not change Democrats' stance. "If Trump is saying he won't sign any bills until the SAVE Act is passed, then so be it: there will be total gridlock in the Senate," he said on X. "Senate Democrats will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances." Trump has also called for Congress to deliver him an enhanced version of the bill, "NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION," he wrote. "GO FOR THE GOLD: MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. & PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY - ILLNESS, DISABILITY, TRAVEL: NO MEN IN WOMEN'S SPORTS: NO TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION FOR CHILDREN! DO NOT FAIL!!!" Trump added. U.S. Senate Candidate Kari Lake (R-AZ) Kari Lake speaks during Day 2 of the Republican National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., July 16, 2024. A federal judge ruled on Saturday that Kari Lake's leadership of the U.S. Agency for Global Media for much of last year violated federal law, invalidating a sweeping series of actions she took to cut staff and end many operations at its Voice of America unit. In another blow to the Trump administration's attempts to diminish various government agencies, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted a summary judgment in favor of plaintiffs including VOA journalists and a union representing federal employees who argued that Lake's appointment as acting CEO and actions she took in that role ran afoul of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Constitution's Appointments Clause. Lamberth ruled that Lake was ineligible to serve as acting CEO because she was not employed by USAGM when former CEO Amanda Bennett resigned in January 2025, and had not been confirmed by the Senate to any other federal post. Lake officially joined USAGM in March as a senior adviser. A November 21 news release from the agency called her deputy CEO. The judge also rejected the administration's argument that Lake could wield CEO authority through a delegation from the previous acting CEO, Victor Morales. Saturday's decision marks at least the third time Lamberth has ruled against the Trump administration in cases involving the Voice of America. The judge, in April and September, halted plans that would have put many VOA employees out of work, although the April ruling was later overturned by an appeals court. Lake vowed to appeal Lamberth's latest ruling. "Judge Lamberth has a pattern of activist rulings and this case is no different," she said in a statement. Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately return a request for comment. Under the Vacancies Act, actions taken by someone not lawfully serving in a vacant office "shall have no force or effect" and cannot be ratified, Lamberth wrote. That standard could threaten the legal standing of Lake's decisions, including a reduction-in-force affecting hundreds of employees that remains under a court-ordered suspension. "As a consequence, any actions taken by Lake during her asserted tenure as acting CEO between July 31 and November 19, 2025...are void," Lamberth wrote. Voice of America, which had broadcast in 49 languages to 420 million people across more than 100 countries, was limited to four languages under the administration's efforts to dismantle the agency. Embassy of India Doha ***** Advisory Indian Nationals who are currently stranded in Qatar as Tourists/Short Term Visitors (holding Hayya A1 visa) due to cancellation of flights out of Qatar between 28 February to 7 March 2026, are encouraged to fill in their details at the link pic.twitter.com/w2UlYjxHxQ India in Qatar (@IndEmbDoha) March 8, 2026 The Embassy of India in Doha has issued an advisory asking Indian nationals stranded in Qatar due to recent flight cancellations to submit their details through an online form.The advisory applies to Indian tourists and short-term visitors holding a Hayya A1 visa whose outbound flights from Qatar were cancelled between February 28 and March 7, 2026.As per a notice issued by the embassy, affected travellers can register their details through a link hosted on the embassys website. The mission said the exercise is intended to help authorities ascertain the exact number and details of stranded Indian nationals who are not residents of Qatar."The purpose is to ascertain the exact number and details of stranded Indian Nationals who are not residents of Qatar, the embassy said.The embassy also said that the registration link, which had earlier faced technical issues, has now been restored. Indian nationals who have already submitted their details through the earlier version of the form do not need to submit the information again, it added.The advisory comes after several flights out of Qatar were cancelled during the period amid escalating tensions, leaving a number of Indian visitors temporarily stranded in the country. Every generation needs an actor who fits into roles that are out of the ordinary. In The Wizard of the Kremlin, Dano proves, once again, that hes the man for the moment Paul Dano wears an outfit by Acne Studios. ANTONIO MACARRO A born polemicist, Quentin Tarantino appeared on Bret Easton Elliss podcast last December to talk about films (both his own and others). He decided to share his list of favorite movies from the 21st century. The ranking was eclectic and peculiar much like himself. After Black Hawk Down (2001), Toy Story 3 (2010), Lost in Translation (2003) and Dunkirk (2017), he placed Paul Thomas Andersons There Will Be Blood (2007) in fifth place. Regarding the film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, he added that he would have ranked it higher if it werent for one actor. There Will Be Blood would stand a good chance at being [number one or two] if it didnt have a big, giant flaw in it and the flaw is Paul Dano, Tarantino asserted. Obviously, its supposed to be a [two-character movie], but its also drastically obvious that its not a two-hander. [Dano] is weak sauce, man. He is the weak sister. Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role. [Danos] just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy. The weakest fucking actor in SAG (the Screen Actors Guild). Dano, 41, didnt respond. But the New York-born actor didnt need to, because Hollywood rallied to his defense: he was called the reverse-cancelled actor. Even Day-Lewis who suggested Dano for the role and who doesnt usually speak publicly came out in his favor through his representatives. Paul Dano, photographed exclusively for EL PAIS at the Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian, Spain. He wears an outfit by PRADA. ANTONIO MACARRO Paul Dano, photographed exclusively for EL PAIS at the Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian, Spain. He wears an outfit by PRADA. ANTONIO MACARRO Dano probably had a good laugh about all this. Hes been acting for more than half his life, since his debut in L.I.E. back in 2001. And hes grown accustomed to Hollywood constantly labeling him as intense, serious, weird The turning point in that labeling came in 2022, when he played a very dark version of the Riddler in The Batman. That same year, he also played Steven Spielbergs affable father in The Fablemans, a film based on the directors childhood. Married to Zoe Kazan, an actress, screenwriter and playwright, with whom he has two children, hes been struggling in recent years to find a work-life balance (Were both self-employed, he points out), especially while bringing his next project as a director to fruition. To find a balance, hes been more selective, taking on fewer acting roles. Success is about being able to choose, I suppose, he says, aware of his privilege. And he certainly knew that he wanted to step into the shoes of Vadim Baranov. In his novel, The Wizard of the Kremlin (2022), political essayist Giuliano da Empoli employs this fictional character to explain Vladimir Putins rise and how Russia transformed into what it is today. Director Olivier Assayas and writer Emmanuel Carrere adapted the novel for the screen. The result which premiered at Venice in 2025 is a complex political thriller that speaks to the corrupting effects of power in our world. During his visit to the San Sebastian Film Festival, months before Tarantinos statement, EL PAIS spoke with Dano about how he continues to be perceived in the film industry. But in reality, the fact that Olivier Assayas is working with him or that his next film is a co-starring role alongside Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz in Bunker (2026), French director Florian Zellers upcoming project is all the support he needs. Paul Dano wears an outfit by Acne Studios. ANTONIO MACARRO Question. A couple of years ago, you said that it had been a long time since youd had to go through a casting call. Did Olivier Assayas make you audition? Answer. No, actually, it was the typical call from my agent: Read this script. I read it, spoke with Olivier on Zoom, he offered me the role and I said yes. It was [obvious] I had to do it. Its the kind of project I fantasized about when I dreamed of being an actor. Its an extremely compelling story. A kind of behind-the-scenes look at power. There was so much to learn, to try to understand and to extract. Besides, Im a fan of Olivier. I didnt know him personally [when offered the role], but I was familiar with his work. In person, hes a very kind and intelligent man. [Hes a] very, very clever guy. And hes writing the script with another very clever person, [the novelist] Emmanuel Carrere. Q. I suppose, back then, you didnt know so much about Russia, about its politics, Putin, or his inner circle how did you begin to immerse yourself in such a complex story? A. Well, there [were] several different ways and I explored them all. The script, for me, is the Bible; I build the character from there. In this case, my characters grandfather was an aristocrat who fell out of favor with the Bolsheviks. His father was a bureaucrat who suffered the same fate under communism. So, hes someone obsessed with not conforming to his era. He starts out in avant-garde theater, but when he sees thats not working, he resorts to a kind of mercenary television [career]. And, from there, he makes the leap into politics. That, for me, was the emotional and psychological backbone of the character. And then, theres a great deal of research [involved] to help strengthen all of that, so I can act less and truly believe what Im saying. Q. What was it like seeing Jude Law play Putin for the first time? A. [Laughs] Very surprising! Alicia [Vikander] and I were called to see him the day before we started filming, at the final makeup test. And it was wonderful. Before seeing him as Putin, he was very open. But as soon as he got into Putins energy, you know Paul Dano wears an Acne Studios t-shirt. ANTONIO MACARRO Q. You play a fictional character in another era. And, in doing so, youre speaking to whats happening right now in your country. Whats this moment like for you? A. Im sure that the generations before me thought nothing could be worse than Vietnam and Nixon but it turns out that [they were wrong]. This is an extremely difficult time, especially in the U.S. Its terrifying: look at how theyve muzzled the media, [look at] the fear tactics I hope that the [essence] of our country, which was built on the ideas of democracy and hope, will, somehow, ultimately prevail. I hope we all find our way back. Q. As an actor, are you comfortable taking a political stance? A. I think that nowadays, with social media, its too easy for people to say anything they like. But I also think you need to be very well-educated and informed if youre going to speak in public. And what Im most comfortable talking about is my work and that work will speak for itself. I hope this film can be a useful reflection. Q. The film is a reflection on power. And youve mentioned that you have the power to say no. A. Anyone should be capable of that. But my characters motivations are ambition and lust and Im not talking about sexual lust, but rather the attraction to power. By making the leap from the theater to politics, he became a mercenary and an accomplice. Its as if an artist, while trying to be a good magician, ended up becoming a dark magician. Im very far removed from that kind of relationship with power. Paul Dano poses for EL PAIS while wearing an outfit by Balenciaga. ANTONIO MACARRO Q. Could you imagine yourself getting into politics? A. No, I couldnt. But theres clearly a type of personality that craves fame and that connection to politics. The sad thing about seeing celebrities get involved in politics is that it shows how impressionable we are. And I think [The Wizard of the Kremlin] is also about that: about controlling the narrative and the post-truth era we live in. How weve accepted that word is quite disturbing. A few years ago, it didnt mean anything but unfortunately, its ended up being a very powerful tactic for erasing the truth. Q. Speaking about controlling the narrative: youve been called a weirdo, the bad guy, the nice guy do any of those labels affect you? A. Today, I worry less about how people see me. When youre younger, its more important and it scares you. Now, Im more concerned about what I contribute to the world as a father, or as a human being, than about my work. Stylist: Pedro Canicoba. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A bird flies next to the damaged Ramada Plaza hotel building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in central Beirut, Lebanon, March 8, 2026. REUTERS/Claudia Greco A crater at the impact site after Iran sent a barrage of missiles into Israel, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in central Israel March 8, 2026. REUTERS/Itai Ron ISRAEL OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN ISRAEL The war between the United States, Israel and Iran entered its ninth day on Sunday, March 8, with fresh missile strikes, drone attacks and growing regional fallout.The conflict began on February 28 after coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran. Since then, the fighting has spread across parts of the Middle East, with incidents reported in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq and Kuwait.Preliminary estimates cited by Al Jazeera suggest the war has killed around 1,332 people in Iran so far, while at least 11 people have died in Israel. Six US soldiers and nine people in Gulf states have also been reported dead.Here are the latest developments from day nine of the conflict.Saudi Arabia confirmed its first fatalities linked to the conflict after a military projectile struck a residential facility in the city of Al-Kharj.According to Saudi authorities, the facility was used by a maintenance and cleaning company. Two workers one Indian and one Bangladeshi national were killed in the attack. At least 12 other Bangladeshi residents were injured, and the building suffered heavy damage.Saudi Civil Defense said emergency teams quickly reached the site and described the targeting of civilian facilities as a violation of international humanitarian law.Following the incident, Indias ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan, said the Indian embassy is ready to assist members of the Indian community and urged citizens to remain alert and follow safety advisories issued by local authorities.Israel said it carried out a drone strike in Beirut early Sunday targeting senior commanders of Irans Quds Force.The attack marked the first strike inside the Lebanese capital since hostilities resumed last week. Lebanons health ministry said four people were killed in the strike, bringing the total death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon to 394.Reports said the drone hit a hotel suite in Beiruts Raouche district, injuring at least 10 people.At least 10 explosions were reported over Tel Aviv on Sunday as Iran launched another wave of missile attacks toward Israel.The strikes came after Irans Revolutionary Guard warned it would intensify attacks against Israel and US assets in the Middle East.Images from central Israel showed a large crater at one of the missile impact sites following the barrage.The Israeli military said two soldiers were killed during fighting in southern Lebanon on Sunday.The deaths mark the first confirmed Israeli military fatalities since the start of the war with Iran last week.One of the soldiers was identified as 38-year-old Maher Khatar from the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. The name of the second soldier has not been released as authorities are still informing the family. Attacks on desalination plants have raised fresh concerns about damage to critical civilian infrastructure in the Gulf region. Iran said a US airstrike struck a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island, disrupting water supplies to around 30 villages, and called the attack a dangerous escalation. Soon after, Bahrain said an Iranian drone attack damaged a desalination plant, though authorities said the countrys water supply was not disrupted. Bahrains interior ministry said the strike caused material damage to the facility and injured three people after missile debris fell near a university building. Experts warn that such attacks could have severe humanitarian consequences because Gulf countries rely heavily on desalination plants for drinking water. The region hosts around 40% of the worlds desalination capacity, making these facilities vital for millions of residents. Strikes on oil storage facilities in Tehran overnight lit up the sky with large plumes of orange flames, while thick black smoke hung over parts of the city on Sunday, according to residents cited by Reuters. 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. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Irans foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the large-scale attack marked a dangerous new phase of the conflict and described the strike as a war crime. In a post on X, Baghaei accused the attackers of releasing hazardous materials into the air. He said targeting fuel depots could poison civilians, damage the environment and put lives at risk. Israel defended the operation, saying the facilities were being used to support Irans military operations. Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters the depots were linked to Irans war effort, including producing or storing propellant for ballistic missiles, and said they were therefore a legal military target. Image: Reuters Irans Red Crescent said strikes by the United States and Israel have damaged around 10,000 civilian structures across the country.The organisation said the damage includes nearly 8,000 homes along with commercial buildings, hospitals and educational facilities.Iranian drone and missile attacks were reported across several Gulf countries over the past 24 hours, highlighting the widening regional impact of the war.Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain all reported aerial attacks or interceptions.The UAE said its air defences detected 17 ballistic missiles and 117 drones, intercepting most of them while a small number fell inside the countrys territory. Kuwait also reported drone strikes targeting fuel facilities at its international airport, while Saudi Arabia said it intercepted multiple drones entering its airspace.Iran is moving closer to appointing a new Supreme Leader following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier in the conflict.Iranian media reported that the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting the countrys top leader, could meet soon to finalise the successor.Reports suggest that Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leaders son, is among the leading candidates. If selected, it would signal that Irans hardline leadership remains firmly in control during the ongoing war.Leaders in Israel and the United States indicated the conflict could continue with further escalation.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has an organised plan with many surprises and that the military would continue targeting Irans leadership and strategic infrastructure, Reuters reported.US President Donald Trump also suggested the war may not end soon, saying he was not interested in negotiations and indicating the conflict could continue until Irans military and ruling establishment are defeated. The world is rapidly sinking into the abyss of the law of the jungle, a savage state in which shared rules evaporate, common institutions become utterly irrelevant, and only force which is being used with increasing brazenness matters. The planet has never been a gentle place, but in the decades following the end of the Cold War, there were some elements of restraint that are now being destroyed by the unbridled actions of figures like Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Benjamin Netanyahu among others bringing about a return to a level of brutality reminiscent of another era. The war launched by the United States and Israel against the Iranian regime is the latest step in this worsening dynamic. The comparison with other U.S. wars in the region is illuminating. The 1990 Gulf War was a legal operation, sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council. The 2003 invasion of Iraq was an illegal operation, but it is worth remembering as Manuel Muniz, rector of Spains IE University, notes in a phone conversation the effort that the attackers made to obtain some form of legal endorsement, even if it relied on disgraceful lies. Today, Trump and Netanyahu show utter contempt for international law and institutions; they are not even trying to convince anyone with fabricated evidence. Meanwhile, Putin is not only illegally invading a country as the United States did in Iraq but it is also crossing the red line of seeking the annexation of Ukraine, a terrible Pandoras box. The horror of Israels actions in Gaza an indescribable form of collective punishment with no possibility of escape for civilians further exposes the extent of the breakdown driven by those who wield military power. Another historical comparison, highlighted by Jeremy Cliffe, editorial director at the ECFR think tank, also illustrates this decline: the vast difference between the level of international attention devoted to the crisis in Darfur (Sudan) at the beginning of the century with significant involvement from the U.N. and peacekeepers and the current atmosphere of indifference and helplessness surrounding todays crisis. These actions illuminate a change of era. The previous one was marked by abuses and heinous crimes, from the Rwandan genocide to the wars in the Congo and the Balkans. But it was also a time in which institutions, norms, and multilateral processes were established or strengthened, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Criminal Court, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The hegemonic power the United States committed serious abuses during that period, but adopted a more restrained stance in several respects compared to previous eras and to the present. At the same time, it assumed the burden of certain responsibilities: providing some stabilizing global public goods and helping build multilateral frameworks. It was not out of generosity, but because it believed it was in its interest. Not anymore. Muniz, who is also a professor of International Relations and a former Spanish secretary of state for foreign affairs, points out that the world is returning to a sad normality. What has been anomalous, atypical, are the last 30 years of hyperglobalization, strong integration in many sectors at the international level, extremely high mobility of people between countries, a very strong commitment to the multilateral order, and the expansion of its powers and functions, says Muniz. That is atypical in the history of international relations; the norm is a more fragmented, more atomized, more multipolar, more disordered world. The rector of IE University believes that among all the forces shaping the new scenario, two stand out. The first is the dynamic of fragmentation. Its a political fragmentation, reflected in a weakening of alliances, a decline in the reliability of bilateral relations that existed until now, and a more common use of force, says Muniz. But its also economic, through tariffs and other means. And in the multilateral sphere, because all the institutions of the international framework are being weakened. The second predominant factor that Muniz points to is the change in the position and attitude of the United States. The United States breaks boundaries Washingtons shift is key. There is a long-term dynamic at play, one that involves a reassessment of U.S. national interests in light of the changing global balance of power, especially given the rise of China. But Trumpism represents not only a tremendous accelerator of some trends, but also a disruptive force in others. The pattern is evident, beyond the war against Iran, and can be seen in the capture of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela; in the bombing of boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific; in the attempt to dismantle international institutions; in bypassing U.S. Congress, whether to launch military wars or tariff wars; and in the blatant interventionism in other countries domestic politics whether by supporting Argentine President Javier Milei with a bailout in Argentina or by seeking to cultivate resistance within the European Union, as explicitly stated in the recent National Security Strategy. The White House is acting without restraint, breaking limits in the pursuit of its interests while simultaneously weakening both the internal democratic framework and international legal structures. It is not only that the United States is abandoning [the previous order], but that in some areas it is actively dismantling it, Muniz says. U.S. President Donald Trump during an event at the White House on March 4. Associated Press/LaPresse (APS) The rector emphasizes the reasons for this shift. The process of political polarization in the Western world leads to the rise of forces at the extremes of the spectrum, especially on the right, which basically draws from nationalism and opposition to international integration in trade, rules, and institutions,says the former secretary of state. It has a strong anti-elite component anti-political, diplomatic, and intellectual elites who were fundamental in building the previous international order. So, when these political forces influence or even dictate foreign policy, they end up producing a significant revision of the international order. Putins project for Russia The breakdown driven by Trump adds to and at times seems coordinated with the one undertaken by Putin, with the largescale invasion of Ukraine beginning in 2022 as its major symbolic milestone. The Kremlin has gone straight for the jugular of an order that enshrines the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, that conceives the use of force only in legitimate selfdefense or with authorization from the Security Council, and that places universal human rights at its core. All of this stands in the way of the Putinist project. His project is an obsession with restoring, maintaining, and consolidating Russias greatpower status its prominent place among the major powers, says Carmen Claudin, a nonresident senior researcher at the CIDOB think tank and a specialist in the postSoviet space. To achieve this, he is willing to use every available mechanism. In domestic politics, that means the total repression of any dissenting position not to mention divergent ones, the expert argues. In foreign policy, efforts are directed at subjugating the countries that Moscow considers part of its sphere of influence. This logic of reestablishing a sphere of influence lies at the heart of the project to recover greatpower status, the expert continues. When Putin, [Sergei] Lavrov, and others complain that Russia has not been treated well, that it has not been shown the respect it deserves, what they mean is that they are not being recognized as having the right to their own zone of influence. In the Russian logic, the European Union is itself a sphere of influence, and they want one of their own. They do not care that EU countries freely choose to join, whereas in their sphere, countries should do so by force, Claudin says. Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on March 6. Gavriil Grigorov (AP) All of the Kremlins actions are, therefore, an unabashed assault on the core values of a rulesbased multilateral order. What Moscow wants is a multilateral order grounded in force, so that it can use it to achieve the reshaping of the international landscape it seeks one that the law does not endorse, since sovereignty implies the freedom to choose ones foreign policy, and each country is free to decide whether to join one international organization or another. Israel, another crucial player The Israeli government is another crucial player in the worlds drift toward brutality. Of course, it is surrounded by savage actors in a highly tense environment, fraught with complex historical resentments. There is no doubt that Hamass attack in October 2023 was a horrific act of terrorism that justified a response in self-defense. But the scale of the response is difficult to match in modern history. The matter is in the hands of international justice. Netanyahu, like Putin, is the subject of an arrest warrant, but in another sign of the worlds slide into the law of the jungle even countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute that underpins the International Criminal Court (ICC) have expressed their refusal to execute the warrant, despite it being their obligation. Meanwhile, the United States is pursuing sanctions against members of the ICC. Netanyahus government carries out airstrikes wherever it sees fit, expands settlements wherever it sees fit, and imposes oppression and collective punishment. Its regional enemies are forces with a long record of reprehensible actions, but Israels power gives it a far greater reach in its capacity for destruction whether of lives or of order. Chinas revisionism Given this situation, Chinas leaders are striving to portray themselves as responsible actors, who do not resort to violence and are opposed to the law of the jungle, advocating instead a rules-based world. This image is only partially true. China is a revisionist country because it wants to change the international order. However, its revisionism is cautious, not explosive, says Rafael Dezcallar, Spains ambassador to China from 2018 to 2024. Its not a country that is very inclined to carry out the kind of military operations that, for example, Putin or Trump have used. So, of course, faced with such extreme examples, the impression that China gives is indeed that of a more stable and responsible country. But China wants to change the international order, Dezcallar says. And the way in which China wants to change the international order represents breaks with the ideal of a rules-based world, because Beijing only wants certain kinds of rules while rejecting those that have universal value and are linked to fundamental rights. China wants to change the order, among other things, because it believes it was created when the West was very strong, that the balance of power has shifted, and that now China is stronger and wants its values and political principles to be more present in the international order, for example, the issue of human rights. It denies that there are universal values; it believes that each country has the right to follow its own path, observes Dezcallar, author of the book The Rise of China. China also shows little inclination to respect rules when they hinder its strategic objectives whether international norms regarding the control of disputed waters or bilateral agreements on the status of Hong Kong. Moreover, although without open military support, it is fueling Putins brutal assault on the rulesbased order through trade and technological assistance. Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening of the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 5. Ng Han Guan (AP) The reason [for this support] is that Russia is an ally of China in its attempt to change the international order, Dezcallar continues. When Putin visited Beijing in February 2022, three weeks before the invasion of Ukraine, they signed a bilateral declaration calling for a different, new international order in which each country has the right to follow its own path. Russia and China are aligned in their desire to end the rules-based international order created in 1945 and 1989, which they consider to be dominated by the West. Again, Chinas support is cautious, because it hasnt crossed certain red lines, hasnt sent weapons, and hasnt openly supported the Russian military industry, although many believe it is sending dual-use goods. But without a doubt, China is benefiting enormously from the war in Ukraine, and not only because it is supporting someone it considers an ally. The war in Ukraine is weakening the United States, especially in Europe. Europes difficult adaptation The European bloc rhetorically presents itself as a great defender of a rules-based multilateral order. There is little doubt that, in strategic terms, such an order is in its interest, since it lacks the autonomous military and technological power to navigate safely in a world governed by the law of the jungle. However, a set of factors has meant that, on many occasions, the bloc has not acted consistently with the values it claims to uphold. The EUs passivity during the Gaza massacre has earned it harsh criticism across much of the world. Jeremy Cliffe, editorial director of the ECFR think tank, points to several important elements for understanding the situation, which can be summed up as a difficult path of adaptation to a new era. The EU is fundamentally an economic construct. From this stems a strong respect for economic multilateralism, trade agreements, and so on, says Cliffe. Over time, it has been developing a geopolitical profile, an attempt to project that respect for rules into the realm of security affairs. It is evolving, but it was not built as an organization designed to uphold the international order. This reality complicates its action in that sphere. The complex process of adaptation to a new era is also a key lens through which to understand the positioning of a crucial country, Germany, which despite professing for decades a genuine devotion to the rulesbased international order has sent puzzling signals both on the Gaza issue and on Iran, with the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, declaring in the early hours of the offensive that framing the offensive in terms of international law contributes little. At the forefront is the question of Germanys identity, built on the lessons of the past, and encompassing its commitment to multilateralism and international law, as well as its support for Israel. The problem is that Israel has changed a great deal. And so these two elements of German identity are now in tension, says Cliffe. In the foreground, the expert says, we have to take into account that Germany was somewhat infantilized geopolitically during its early decades, and then, after the fall of the wall, there was this sense of the end of history. Since 2022, Berlin has been trying to adapt to a time in which power is what determines rights to an era of impunity, as David Miliband puts it. I think Merzs comments had to do with a desire to show a willingness to adapt to realism. But his more recent statements show that he is realizing that supporting that war as a way of adapting to realism is a mistake. There are further problems: the sense of danger stemming from Putins aggressiveness inhibits some Europeans from openly opposing actions by Trumps United States that undermine the rulesbased order, because they fear a complete loss of U.S. protection. In this complex landscape of adaptation, Europe is still not an effective bulwark in defense of a rulesbased multilateral order. The five actors highlighted in this analysis stand out for their relevance. Of course, there are other important ones for example, India, Japan, or Brazil that have the potential to make significant contributions to building a rulesbased world. The vast majority, however, have limited capacity to influence events and much to lose in a world governed by force. Reconfiguring mechanisms of cooperation so that these limited individual capacities converge into a collective front is a fundamental part of the struggle over the worlds future direction. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition At the start of the war in Ukraine, I remember reading about a British charity called Nowzad, founded by the former Royal Marines commando Pen Farthing in 2007 after he rescued a stray dog while on tour in Afghanistan. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Farthing stepped in to organise support for animal shelters overwhelmed by pets abandoned as their owners fled the fighting, supplying food, veterinary supplies and equipment. He set up staging posts in Poland and organised evacuations and re-homing. Farthing was not alone in his passion to rescue the dogs of war. One man, an Italian called Andrea Cisternino, who ran a shelter near Kyiv for around 400 animals, refused to leave them even as the soldiers advanced, saying he would 'rather die'. He was inundated with supplies and offers of help. As far as I know he is still there. Now the dogs and cats of Dubai need a similar hero. Expat Brits are flooding home, and many are either unable or unwilling to take their pets with them. There are reports of animals being left tied to lampposts, dumped by the side of road or outside veterinary clinics. Some vets say owners are simply coming to them asking for their pets to be euthanised, and shelters are full of terrified animals. I understand, of course, that most people would consider a human life more important than that of a pet. Nevertheless, I think if it were me, there is simply no way I could just up and leave my two dogs. I might as well abandon my two children. Sarah Vine's two dogs, Florence, left, a labrador/spaniel cross and Muffin, a lhasa apso The cats (I have two of those as well) would on some level probably be fine, although it's a myth that cats don't show affection for their humans: mine are highly demonstrative, especially when I'm cooking roast chicken. But they are to an extent ruthless hunters, and highly adaptable creatures who know how to look after themselves. Dogs, by contrast, are hopeless on that front. How they managed before they domesticated humans into providing them with food, shelter and endless belly rubs is a mystery, but suffice to say most dogs and certainly my two wouldn't survive in the wild. The younger, Florence, a labrador/spaniel cross, might just about be OK. She's highly intelligent and extremely resourceful, particularly when it comes to sourcing food and dirty socks. And as far as I can tell she's indestructible: the other day she ran smack-bang into a metal fence in pursuit of a ball and it barely seemed to register (where there's no sense there's no feeling, as my grandmother used to say). Still, to abandon her would break my heart and hers. My elder dog, Muffin, would be impossible. My daughter says she is soul-tied to me, and the feeling is mutual. When I leave the house, she seems to fall into a deep depression, waiting forlornly at the door until I come home. She sleeps on my bed and woe betide anyone (animal or human) who tries to usurp her. There is no way I could leave her. It would haunt me until the end of my days. But then, if an all-party parliamentary group for animal welfare gets its way, Muffin wouldn't exist at all. As a lhasa apso she belongs to one of 67 dog breeds that could be banned, along with chihuahuas, corgis, several varieties of common terrier and, mystifyingly, border collies. The criterion for such a ban is not that they pose a threat to others, as with XL bullies or similar, but more that they pose a threat to themselves because of so-called breeding defects, such as overly short legs, too-long bodies, excessive skin folds, mottled colouring, bulging eyes and deformed muzzles. Florence and Muffin with one of Sarah's cats, called Cersei. 'The problem is not dogs, it's people. Perhaps we should just ban them instead' It must be said that I know of more than one MP and several members of the House of Lords to whom those same criticisms could be applied, yet no one is suggesting banning them. By contrast, Muffin suffers from none of the above. At the age of 12 (84 in dog years), she is much healthier than any human I know of that age. As to the notion that her kind should not be bred, I find that highly objectionable. Lhasas the smallest of the Tibetan terriers have a noble history. Despite their diminutive size, they were kept as alarm dogs for monasteries and palaces. For centuries they were considered sacred, and could not be sold, only gifted. Their only real health issue is caused by the fact that they have hair, not fur, which needs to be trimmed regularly. Hardly a reason to advocate euthanising them as a breed. But this is the problem with initiatives such as this one: they lump all dogs together, totally failing to appreciate that, like humans, they may look similar and share similar characteristics, but each one is an individual, unique in its own way. No sane owner wants an unhealthy dog, but not all owners are sane, or care properly for their animals. The problem is not dogs, it's people. Perhaps we should just ban them instead. Meg's off - again! The Duchess of Sussex has parted company with Netflix, declaring that she is ready to go it alone. The streaming giant was instrumental in getting the Duchess's lifestyle brand off the ground, providing her not only with a platform but also backroom staff and development teams. Now she has got what she wants, she's off. Remind you of anything? Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a still from her Netflix show called With Love, Meghan War has many unintended consequences. In Iran, the death of between 160 and 180 people in a school in Minab, after it was struck by what are believed to be American missiles, is an unfathomable tragedy for which Washington must bear full responsibility. This catastrophic error does not, however, absolve the Iranian regime of its part in the slaughter of 30,000 citizens during its recent crackdown. No one will mourn the death of Soham child killer Ian Huntley. But the man who allegedly ripped him apart 'like a rat' is no angel either: he raped and murdered a pregnant woman and murdered a mother and son. How was he allowed access to a 'spiked metal pole' and what does it tell us about the state of our highest security prisons? Look out for token fraudsters Britons are wasting an average of 123 a year on unused subscriptions a cost of 1.6billion a year. I am painfully familiar with this, and the methods deployed by companies to get their hands on our money. I'm talking about the free trial that turns out to be anything but, and the curse of the auto-renewal. Yet there is one other thing I don't think many people know about (well, I didn't). Sites such as Amazon, Uber and Deliveroo attach 'tokens' to your bank cards, so even if you cancel the cards, the token automatically updates to the replacement card. This means if your phone is stolen and the thieves hack into your accounts, they can keep buying stuff. You can get these tokens removed, but you must request it from the bank. It's a lengthy process, but worth it for the sake of good financial hygiene. Gen Z men: the depressing truth A global study of 23,000 people has found that Gen Z males are far more traditional than older generations when it comes to sexual equality. For example, a third of Gen Z men and boys think that a wife should obey her husband; a quarter think that a woman who appears too independent is off-putting; and 21 per cent felt that looking after children was emasculating. Admittedly some of the countries surveyed such as Malaysia and Indonesia have much more traditional values when it comes to male/female roles, but I have to say, I find these results deeply depressing. Why is it that some men find it so hard to cope with successful, self-sufficient women who dare to have minds of their own? The killer of a couple who were brutally murdered in their Montana store may finally be unmasked after 40 years thanks to DNA analysis. In the winter of 1986, Richard and Carol Emineth were fatally shot at the Mini Basket Convenience Store in East Helena, a crime that sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community now home to about 2,300 people. Last month, the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office announced it is in the process of submitting previously untested evidence for DNA analysis in conjunction with statewide law enforcement and the FBI. Sheriff Leo Dutton said in a press conference: 'As we await the results, we are asking anyone with information or who may know someone with information about this tragic event to please come forward. Even the smallest detail can make a difference. 'Our goal is simple, to seek justice, provide answers and bring closure to a family who has waited so long, plus a community that has waited so long to hear that the case has been solved.' Lori Ruttenbur, 58, the couple's daughter, who was just 19 years old when her parents were killed, told KTVH: 'They were very social people, loved people, a good faith background, they were kind, they would help anyone, they liked fishing and camping in the outdoors, and loved their family.' FBI special agent Caroline Marshall said her office has been providing investigative manpower and analytical support to Sheriff Dutton and his team for the last three years. Police confirmed that items believed to have been dropped or used by the suspect are being tested. The evidence being tested is itself not new, authorities said. The items have been in storage for decades; they're just finally being re-examined for DNA. Richard and Carol Emineth (pictured) were shot dead by an unknown individual on January 19, 1986. Authorities have announced they are testing existing evidence in the case for touch DNA Lori Ruttenbur, the couple's daughter, was just 19 years old when her parents were killed at the Mini Basket Convenience Store in East Helena 'Any items that were handled at that time were handled for fingerprints. And the way you store things for fingerprints is not the same way you store them for DNA. So, it took a while to be able to find items that the labs...would take that hadn't been contaminated in a lot of different ways,' said Mike McCarthy, special services officer with Lewis and Clark County. On January 19, 1986, someone entered the Emineths' store on Wylie Drive and shot them dead in an apparent robbery. Richard was found in the parking lot near a broken door, while Carol was slumped over the cash register. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but died from her injuries the next day. Thomas Ellison, a resident who was 27 years old at the time, was shot outside the store but survived. He managed to go inside and use the business's phone to call police. Sheriff Dutton happened to be a responding EMT the night of the shooting and still remembers the scene vividly. 'Forty years and I can still remember what it smells like, I can still remember the chaotic scene of trying to get her out, preserve what we could. It's still fresh in my memory,' he told KTVH. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting local media reports said police were looking for two young men. Weeks later, 16-year-old Jeffrey Franklin Stewart was charged with two counts of deliberate homicide and one count of attempted homicide. A witness who was 50 feet away from the store picked Stewart out of a photo lineup with nine young men. Richard Emineth was found dead outside the store. Carol was found slumped over the cash register. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but died from her injuries the next day Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton was at the scene as an EMT in 1986 and is now leading the investigation to catch the Emineths' killer Stewart was tried as an adult later that summer in a sensational trial that consumed the whole town. Stewart's attorney, Ed Sheehy, argued he was visiting friends in another area of town at the time of the killings, the Montana Standard reported. After 18 hours of deliberation, the jury acquitted Stewart of all charges on June 20, 1986. Sheriff Dutton is hopeful that the possible recovery of touch DNA - the transfer of skin cells, sweat or oils onto a surface - will be the thing that finally brings the killer to justice. Ruttenbur is also eager to see what the results are. 'Basically, I'm not a person of revenge,' she told the Standard. 'I'm one that just wants closure. I want answers, and if they could come forward and help me and my family resolve and close this, that is all I want.' It's not clear how long it will take for the DNA analysis to be complete, but officials said it will take some time. Officials are asking anyone with information regarding the case to contact detective Josh Van Dyke with the sheriff's office at 406-447-8286. To make an anonymous tip, people can contact Crime Stoppers at 406-443-2000. At 12.40pm on February 10, a 13-year-old boy entered Kingsbury High School in Brent, north-west London, and stabbed two pupils in the neck. One victim was the same age, the second a year younger. The story made headlines around Britain as police, politicians and all those connected with the school tried to understand how someone so young could have committed such an act. Yet not everyone was surprised. For as one local resident told The Mail on Sunday, the attempted double murder fortunately, both victims survived was the culmination of a 'fortnight of terror' in the beleaguered borough, which also includes areas such as Wembley, Willesden, Harlesden and Neasden. On January 31, a 50-year-old woman was stabbed to death in Willesden. Witnesses recalled Amaal Raytaan banging desperately on neighbours' doors before being fatally wounded in the street. The killer escaped on one of the capital's notorious e-scooters. Ms Raytaan's 25-year-old son was later charged with her murder. Then shortly after 9pm on February 2, a woman was treated by paramedics in Neasden following a suspected hit-and-run attack. Later that same night, a man in his 40s was taken to hospital with significant head injuries from a brutal assault. The carnage didn't stop there. The following day, a five-year-old boy suffered life-changing injuries in another hit-and-run, while on February 4, a 41-year-old man was left fighting for his life after being struck by a vehicle. A 13-year-old boy entered Kingsbury High School in Brent, north-west London, and stabbed two pupils in the neck Police investigators at a property in Willesden following the death of a woman there Six days later and the double stabbing at Kingsbury High School brought a truly miserable chapter in Brent's recent history to a close. But for more than 350,000 people who live in the borough, the truth is that crime and thuggery are part and parcel of everyday life. Government figures reveal that recorded instances of anti-social behaviour are 18 per cent higher in Brent than the London average, while drug-related crimes are a shocking 35 per cent higher. Brent also beats city averages for weapon possession, violence and sexual offences. It is one of the most deprived boroughs in the capital with more than 14,000 people out of work. As many as 20 per cent of adults have no qualifications not even a single GCSE while child poverty sits at a deplorable 41 per cent. Perhaps it's no wonder that, last year, Brent was named the worst place to live in London. Last week, The Mail on Sunday pounded the filthy pavements stained red with 'paan', a betel nut stimulant which is chewed then spat out by South Asian and Chinese addicts to try to understand what has gone so horribly wrong. What follows is not so much a picture of decline as a portrait of defeat, with residents and business owners speaking of their sense of fear and isolation living in an area scarred by deep sectarian divides where even the most well-meaning citizens find their lives blighted by gang violence, petty theft and drugs. The Methodist Church in Harlesden is a prime example. Once a bulwark for the community, a place of worship and belonging, the property is now closed off by a line of austere metal fences. Beyond the barricade and taped to the brick wall of the church is a police sign declaring that the forecourt has been closed to the public because of anti-social behaviour. Leading me through the steel defences, an elderly parishioner explains that the problem has been years in the making. 'There were dealers and bad people who were coming in here and hiding drugs under the stones,' she explained, pointing out a number of paving slabs in the forecourt that had been deliberately ripped up. 'And here too,' she continued, pointing to a smashed window. The London borough of Brent, where crime is just one symptom of a systematic problem encompassing everything from mass immigration to high deprivation 'It was awful, as though the church had been taken over. People were too scared to come to the evening services.' Even more concerning, a small room next to the church is used by the Little Angels nursery. Drug dealers operating at the front door of the nursery was the final straw and the church began proceedings to get a court order permitting it to erect the fencing which surrounds the building today. 'The congregation is slowly coming back,' the parishioner concluded. 'But it may be some time before people feel completely safe and who knows when we will be able to take down the fencing and be proud of our church again.' Back on Harlesden high street, where piles of rubbish outnumber shoppers two to one, 59-year-old Angela Smith spoke of her regret at moving to the area to start a family 27 years ago. 'It's depressing,' she began with a sigh. 'Nobody talks any more. That's the main thing. I walk down the street and don't recognise anyone. When I first moved here, you knew your neighbour. You could meet people whether it be out shopping or in the pub. Now it's just gambling shops, dodgy barbers and ethnic food places.' Angela is right that Brent has quickly become one of the most ethnically diverse places in London. As one Londis convenience store in Willesden declares on its fascia: 'Portuguese, Brazilian, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, Italian, Filipino, Vape.' Everyone is catered for here. In the 2021 Census, more than 65 per cent of Brent residents identified as Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME), while just 15 per cent identified as White British. The year before, Brent was named the London Borough of Culture by mayor Sadiq Khan. According to City Hall, it was an opportunity to 'unite communities' by way of 'a digital music festival and visual arts programme'. There's not much sign of unity today. With the numerous different ethnic communities in silos, there is little effective integration. White people make up more than 40 per cent of affluent Queen's Park, for example, while BAME residents notably of Indian and Somalian heritage make up 88 per cent of Wembley Central and more than 80 per cent of neighbouring Alperton. 'Just look at the amount of rubbish everywhere,' continued Angela. 'People just throw stuff on the floor here. These are people from countries where there's different rules. Sometimes no rules. They have no respect for our way of living. There are even people who go to the toilet outside. British people are afraid of speaking up about it. It doesn't feel like the same country it was ten years ago. Beyond the barricade and taped to the brick wall of the church in Harlesden is a police sign declaring that the forecourt has been closed to the public because of anti-social behaviour Drug dealers operating at the front door of the nursery was the final straw and the church began proceedings to get a court order permitting it to erect the fencing 'I've been followed at night. I've stopped going out so much. I'd never drink and go out now, it feels too unsafe. I avoid buses. All we hear are cases where women are raped or schoolboys mugged.' 'When I'm gone that will be it,' Angela concluded, looking wistfully down the neglected high street. 'There will be no English people here at all. Nobody to care about this place.' Walking further down the high street, it is telling how many shops selling low-value products have large signs plastered in their windows warning of 24-hour CCTV or police protection. Pak's Hair and Cosmetics has a sign declaring that only one schoolchild is allowed in at a time. 'Sometimes the kids come in and they can be anti-social,' the manager Asad, 29, said. With slicked-back black hair and a clipboard to hand, Asad couldn't be prouder of the shop, where he has been in charge for three years. Despite being friendly with many of his customers, he is deeply concerned about the mayhem convulsing the high street, particularly after dark. 'There are drugs everywhere,' he continued. 'You can't walk safely down the street at night. It's just part of life. Well, I live here, so it's normal to me, but I know really that it's not normal.' No wonder Asad ensures that there are always at least two men working alongside his female staff. Further east towards Stonebridge and defeatism is replaced by fear. For it is here that over the past two decades the Thugs of Stonebridge have been engaged in gang warfare with the Church End Brigade, their respective territories separated by a railway line and a short stretch of the A407. 'It's about drugs and respect. A lot of nonsense over postcodes,' explained one local in the Stonebridge Estate. Perhaps overly familiar with local gang lore, he did not wish to be named. 'Young boys just imitate their elders and then get stuck in that lifestyle. They carry knives because they're scared of getting stabbed themselves. 'It never ends well. I've seen loads of people go to jail or be killed. It's misery. And they are fuelling misery with their drugs. That only leads to more bad crime.' In Willesden Green, to the east of the borough, criminality has spilled into everyday life. Young mother Sophia Govani told how just days earlier her supermarket shopping had been stolen from outside her front door. 'While I was feeding my toddler, my grocery shop arrived and I asked a delivery guy to leave it outside,' she revealed. 'Just look at the amount of rubbish everywhere,' continued Angela. 'People just throw stuff on the floor here' Last week, The Mail on Sunday pounded the filthy pavements to try to understand what has gone so horribly wrong 'Within seconds, 85 worth of shopping was stolen. It was so upsetting as it contained my child's food items.' Another local resident said his family puppy a Yorkshire Terrier had been stolen from inside his front door last week. 'She is chipped and I've reported it,' he said, teary-eyed. 'But we are devastated.' Thankfully for the people of Brent, the Met Police are attempting to crack down. Last month, a police operation in Harlesden saw the force deliberately ramming scooter riders off their vehicles known as a 'tactical contact' in a bid to stop petty crime such as phone snatching. Fourteen mopeds and three vehicles were seized during the one-day operation. 'We understand Londoners' concerns about how e-bikes and e-scooters are being used to commit offences, such as phone theft, burglary and other anti-social behaviour,' explained Superintendent Luke Baldock. 'That is why the Met is continuing to ramp up action and increase the roll-out of specialised operations across our neighbourhoods to tackle this type of crime.' For the borough of Brent, however, crime is just one symptom of a systematic problem encompassing everything from mass immigration to high deprivation and widespread unemployment. Until Brent Council is able to address these underlying issues, police enforcement is like putting a bucket under a waterfall. Additional reporting by Daniel Hammond Will it go ahead, or should it, or even can it? King Charles and Queen Camilla are due to pay a State visit to the United States next month. For any number of reasons this was always fraught with difficulty, but it now seems quite possible, as The Mail on Sunday reveals today, that it won't take place. The very fact that relations between London and Washington have recently been tense seemed in itself an argument for a royal visit. The King and Queen were seen as the latest 'Trump whisperers', who might mollify the President and calm his rage against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. But the ferocious American and Israeli assault on Iran was obviously unforeseen when the visit was first mooted, and the wholly unpredictable outcome of that conflict increases the difficulties of a visit. That, and Trump's even more unpredictable behaviour, as well as his unbridled tongue. When Trump says of Starmer, 'This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with,' he's obviously right, although it invites the retort that Trump is scarcely an FDR himself. He grumbles that our government hasn't given him more support in his latest, highly dangerous war, but a recent poll shows almost half of British people are opposed to the Iran conflict, against barely a quarter in favour. And don't imagine that this response is found only on the Left. Many traditional shire conservatives are just as troubled by Trump's radical brand of nativist populism, and where it could drag Britain. With an uncontrollable loose cannon in the White House, was this really the time for a royal endorsement? The visit is or maybe was to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, when American colonists shook off the rule of King George III. But that by no means ended the connection between the American Republic and the British royal family, or the endless American fascination with all things royal. At the conclusion of the Great War in 1918 President Woodrow Wilson became the first American president to visit England. The visit was no private success, despite public platitudes. Wilson dismayed his hosts by his offhand manner and his failure even to mention British sacrifices in the war. 'I could not bear him,' King George V told a friend, 'an entirely cold academical professor an odious man'. Trump is scarcely a cold academical professor, but it's not hard to guess King Charles is no fonder of him than his great-grandfather was of Wilson. The first State visit to America by a British monarch may have been the most important. In 1939 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth sailed to Canada, and after a long journey across the country crossed to the United States, visiting Washington, and then staying with President Franklin Roosevelt at Hyde Park, his country house on the Hudson. Americans were pleased at the sight of the shy, stammering king eating hot dogs. He looked a regular guy. That visit had an effect on American opinion, although not so much as to alter the country's rigid neutrality when the war began in September. They kept out of the war until December 1941 when Pearl Harbor and Hitler's declaration of war gave them no choice. King Charles during a visit to the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island in February US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives into Miami, Florida on March 07, 2026 Since then the two nations have been allies, and royal visits have played a part in keeping the relationship, if not 'special' in the dubious phrase, then generally quite warm, despite bumps in the road. One came in 1956 with the Suez expedition, when President Dwight Eisenhower pulled the rug from under Sir Anthony Eden's government. But the following year Queen Elizabeth II paid her first State visit to America, which was a triumph, in public and private. She and the president found an unlikely bond in their shared love of baking, and they would go on corresponding, exchanging recipes for cakes. She returned for the Bicentennial in 1976, and again in 1991, when she was the first monarch to address both houses of Congress. In between came a trickier royal visit in 1985, which I well remember as I was in Washington at the time. The visitors were the Prince and Princess of Wales, only four years after their wedding but with faint cracks in the marriage already just about detectable. The visit will be forever remembered in the hallowed annals of our monarchy as the occasion when Princess Diana took to the dance floor with John Travolta. Forty years on, Charles has married again and more happily, and inherited the throne. His and Camilla's duty as monarchs is to do the Government's bidding, even if that means massaging the ego of a president like Trump. In private, they must have misgivings about the approaching State visit, not least because of Trump's recent insult to this country and our Armed Forces, of which King Charles is commander. It was so outrageous and insulting that it alone should have called the royal visit into question. In January, the president claimed Nato troops in Afghanistan, notably including the British Army, had 'stayed a little off the frontlines'. Hearing that, I thought of a wildflower meadow near us a few miles south of Bath. There is a young oak tree, planted 'in loving memory of Lt David A.G. Boyce 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards killed in action in Helmand Province Afghanistan 17 November 2011 Aged 25'. One may imagine what David Boyce's family thought of Trump's words. They would have been contemptible from any American, let alone the Great Draft-Dodger himself. Sixty years ago, when the young Donald Trump was eligible to fight in Vietnam, he used every possible means to avoid military service and stay more than 'a little off the frontlines', including a plea that he had a heel spur, an affliction so grievous but he can't now even remember which foot it was. Last year there was a frankly ludicrous 'State visit' to Britain by the president. Such is Trump's unpopularity here that the visit was effectively held in private at Windsor Castle, Trump saluting the parade stiffly with a non-combatant's punctilio. The King didn't salute the Foot Guards since, as an ex-serviceman, he knows that you don't salute if you're in plain clothes and bare-headed. King Charles III and US President Donald Trump reviewed the guard of honour during the ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle last year Charles, of course, was a serving naval officer, like his father before him, and his brother, and they knew something of the frontlines. In March 1941 Prince Philip was a 19-year-old sub-lieutenant on HMS Valiant, and was mentioned in despatches for his part commanding his ship's searchlights at the Battle of Cape Matapan south of Greece, a brilliant night action that sank three Italian cruisers. There's not much to be said for the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, but don't forget that he served creditably as a naval helicopter pilot in the Falklands War. And the King's wayward son Prince Harry insisted that he should serve with his regiment, the Blues and Royals, when they were sent to Afghanistan, very much not 'off the frontlines'. So it is dimly that I imagine the King took Trump's sleight against our servicemen and women. The planned State visit was part of Starmer's misconceived strategy of flattering Trump, as was the unfortunate appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington. That did not end well, and the State visit might not either. Starmer may one day grasp that you can lick Trump's boots and he'll still kick you in the teeth. For the Prime Minister's sake and ours, this ill-considered visit should be postponed for as long as possible, if not for good. It's a silent epidemic that is taking over the world. Heralded by the World Health Organization as a public health concern and declared an epidemic by the US surgeon general in 2023, loneliness affects at least half of Americans. Now, doctors and psychologists are prescribing the growing trend of letter writing as a cure for loneliness and a way of building new connections. Christopher Fisher, a psychologist and the director of adult outpatient psychiatry at Northwell Zucker Hillside Hospital in Queens, New York, told the Daily Mail: 'The digital world is advancing at a pace far faster than human beings have had time to adapt to or emotionally settle into. 'Returning to old-fashioned activities can help heal parts of ourselves that feel neglected and address emotional voids that have quietly formed.' Letter writing can trigger nostalgia, which can bring comfort to a person by giving them a 'sense of safety, belonging, and emotional continuity,' Fisher said. According to a November poll by the American Phycological Association, 62 percent of US adults reported societal division as a significant source of stress in their lives. And beyond this was a deeper, more pervasive emotional strain: loneliness. Half of the 3,000 adults surveyed reported feelings of emotional disconnection, saying they have felt isolated from others (54 percent), felt left out (50 percent), or have lacked companionship (50 percent) often or some of the time, suggesting loneliness may have become a defining feature of life in America. Hope Reagan Harris was just a little girl when she discovered loneliness for the first time at a sleepaway church camp. Hope Reagan Harris received daily letters from her mother while at church camp as a child and has used that as inspiration to start a letter writing nonprofit Purpose Doesn't Pause Now, Harris sends 140,000 postcards to women all over the world through her Purpose Doesn't Pause project Doctors and psychologists, like Christopher Fisher, are encouraging people to get on the letter writing and snail mail trends, as it 'can help heal parts of ourselves that feel neglected and address emotional voids that have quietly formed' Like many children away from home for the first time, she was nervous about the trip so her mother pre-wrote her letters to be delivered at the camp everyday and give her a taste of home. 'Knowing there would be a letter waiting for me gave me comfort,' Harris, now a mother-of-two herself, told the Daily Mail. 'I saved every single one. They made me feel brave enough to be away from home.' Years down the line, when she was studying abroad in Switzerland, she and her now-husband who was in Oklahoma, would send letters to each other to stay in touch. 'When we were so far apart, [it] meant everything,' Harris told the Daily Mail. 'I still have those letters today.' The act of sending a letter has steeply declined in recent decades, as many have turned to digital communications such as social media, texting and emailing. For Harris, a stay-at-home mom, she wanted to change that. She started a worldwide postcard movement, Purpose Doesn't Pause, where 140,000 postcards per month are sent from the nonprofit to anyone that requests one. Many tell Harris the quirky postcards - which are decorated with fun little graphics, like a stack of pancakes or a duck in a swimming tube - arrived just on time. In one case, the tiny 4x6-inch mailer even saved the life of a 17-year-old girl in Iowa, who wrote back to Harris to tell her the postcard stopped her from suicide. Harris' postcards are often fun and quirky and are designed to bring joy to women across the world and make them less lonely. One postcard even stopped a girl in Iowa from suicide Harris' postcards have made it as far as Uganda, where students proudly showed off their mailers 'And that's why this movement matters so deeply to me, because I've lived the power of receiving words when I needed them most,' the Arkansas mother, whose nonprofit relies on donations to cover postage and materials, told the Daily Mail. 'Mail is slow. It's intentional. It requires someone to stop, think about you, write your name, and send something just for you. In a world that feels fast, digital, and often isolating, a handwritten postcard says: "You mattered enough for someone to take time."' And Harris - and the 140,000 people receiving her postcards - aren't the only ones picking up the pen again. Around 65 percent of Americans still send physical mail at least once a month. And nearly 50 percent of Gen Z, who have been attracted by the analog trend online, are also joining in, according to a November Stamps.com study. 'Our research shows that mail is still incredibly relevant today,' Stamps.com general manager Nick Spitzman said in a statement. 'People rely on mail for those important moments and essential communications that deserve more than a digital message.' Nearly 40 percent of those surveyed said the physical value of mail and being able to touch it was important to them. Dr Sanam Hafeez, a NYC-based neuropsychologist and the director of Comprehend the Mind, told the Daily Mail: 'It also allows the brain to slow down and get a break from constant alerts. Dr Sanam Hafeez, a NYC-based neuropsychologist, said the activity helps us focus on one thing and have an experience that is 'more human and lasting' 'It helps you focus on one thing instead of juggling ten tabs in your head. The physical act of writing can feel calming, almost like a form of mindfulness. 'Theres something satisfying about creating something you can hold. It makes time feel less rushed and a little more meaningful.' And the power of the physical paper transcends just the moment of receiving it, but lasts a lifetime. When one of Rebecca McMillan's customers was left to face her brother's death, she found herself without a trace of him. She had no letters or cards or any way to preserve his memory physically. 'Just one letter would mean the world to her,' McMillan, who owns a stationery store in Cheltenham, England, told the Daily Mail. That interaction birthed The Sunday Letter Project, which started with McMillan and her husband, Karl, sitting down with their seven-year-old daughter to write to anyone they wanted to every Sunday. McMillan had long received letters from her uncle growing up, who used to send her sketches and pencils along with his twine-wrapped letters. She has a visceral memory of receiving his parcels as a child. 'I think the reason that he used to write me letters was because he realized that I also enjoyed art and drawing, and I think he wanted to foster that creativity in me.' Since the start of The Sunday Letter Project - which expanded into their brand Wildflower Illustration Co in September - 9,000 people across the world have taken the pledge to write a weekly correspondence. Participants can write to strangers or develop pen pals by dropping off letters to participating shops, where shopkeepers pass the parcels onto the respective recipient. Rebecca McMillan and husband Karl started The Sunday Letter Project after a customer told them a story about losing her brother and not having a single card or letter from him. 'Just one letter would mean the world to her,' McMillan said They sat down with their daughter every Sunday to write a letter to whoever they pleased. They eventually branched the project out to their Wildflower Illustrations Co (pictured) Girls in India also received the brightly colored postcards from Harris It is estimated that 450,000 letters will be sent in 2026 from participants. If the growth rate continues, it will be two million letters within five years. And it wasn't just her one customer's touching story that sparked the project. Dozens upon dozens of customers had reminisced about the love of writing and receiving letters, but how they never got around to it. Her customers were craving connection. 'I think the really beautiful thing about letter writing is that it completely benefits the sender as much as the recipient,' McMillan told the Daily Mail. 'I think we spend so long swiping and tapping and kind of creating things in this world that doesn't even really exist. And it just feels so good to get something into the real world.' People, like her daughter, are accustomed to the digital world and lack the physicality of the past. Homework and tests are often done on laptops at school, messages can be sent via text and email, even art can be created digitally. 'I think there's a whole generation of people who have grown up without almost any kind of physical things,' she said. And the transition back to pen and paper goes beyond just letters, as snail mail clubs - whether it be poems or artwork - have also boomed online, many with monthly subscriptions cheaper than a cup of coffee. Brittany V Wilder, an artist and poet based in Pennsylvania, launched her Poem Club in June 2024. Each month, 1,800 participants receive a poem written by Wilder or a featured poet wrapped in a letter that explains the poems' deeper meanings and her headspace while she wrote it for the sum of $8. Brittany V Wilder, an artist and poet based in Pennsylvania, launched her Poem Club in June 2024. It has since garnered 1,800 subscribers Snail mail clubs often cost less than a cup of coffee and support local artists. Wilder's poem club cost $8 per month, her postcard club cost $5 In 2024, the US Postal Service saw 10.7 billion single pieces of first-class mail She has let readers into her breakups, her marriage, her favorite memories, and even her insecurities through the project. 'It's a little bit like a safer space, I guess, to be vulnerable,' Wilder told the Daily Mail. Wilder encourages her fellow poets to write her back, and said many have. 'I love when people write me,' she said. She sees around six or seven people per month who write her back. They, too, are allowing their vulnerability to shine through, talking about their relationships and life, moments they might not have admitted to in real life. 'I've gotten some really good letters back,' Wilder said. She also has a Postcard Club running for $5 a month, and back in 2015, she had a zine club. She's noticed the recent trend in mail clubs online, and although she doesn't see them staying as popular long-term, she does believe its buyers are looking for the same thing: Connection. 'I definitely think people are craving tangible things,' she said. 'People just want to feel connected to the real world... it's been a long time of not feeling that way. 'So, [mail clubs are] something that you can justify spending every month, and you feel like you get something real out of it. And you also get to support an artist.' Just about everyone experiences a nightmare or unusually vivid dream from time to time particularly during periods of stress, anxiety or major life changes. However, experts say certain strange or intense or disturbing dreams could also be an early warning sign that illness is about to strike even before the first physical symptoms appear. Psychologists believe that these 'prodromal dreams' may occur when the brain detects subtle biological changes in the body during the earliest stages of illness. The theory suggests that when infection first begins, the body produces subtle internal signals before symptoms appear, alerting the brain that something is wrong. During REM sleep the stage when dreaming occurs the brain processes these signals as it scans the body for signs of disturbance. These signals are thought to be processed in paralimbic regions of the brain, including the amygdala, which plays a key role in detecting threats when we are awake. If a threat is detected, the brain may create symbolic or unsettling imagery that reflects the disturbance inside the body even though no diagnosable symptoms have yet appeared. Professor Patrick McNamara, a psychologist specialising in sleep at Boston University School of Medicine, said: 'The brain is constantly monitoring signals from the body's internal organs to keep our physiological systems in balance. Known as prodromal dreams, some say that certain hallmarks during the night can predict the onset of illness before any other overt symptoms manifest 'These signals are integrated in paralimbic regions such as the anterior insula, which track the body's internal state. During REM sleep the brain effectively compresses and synthesises this information, producing a kind of snapshot of what's happening inside the body.' Dreams and illness have been linked for millennia. In Ancient Greece, patients visited specialised temples called Asklepieia, where they performed rituals and slept in the sanctuary in the hope of receiving a healing dream. However, Professor McNamara's theory paper, published in the journal Frontiers last August, is one of the first attempts to outline a possible biological mechanism explaining how dreams might precede illness. He hopes the idea will prompt larger longterm studies into the phenomenon. The strongest evidence supporting the theory so far comes from research into neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease and dementia. A 2017 study of more than 1,200 people with REM sleep behaviour disorder a condition where people physically act out their dreams found that within 12 years of first reporting the disturbance, 73 per cent had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease or dementia. Reviews of similar research have also suggested dreams may act as warning signs in a range of conditions, including gastrointestinal, lung, gynaecological, dental problems and arthritis. A small 2015 study even reported that warning dreams preceded a breast cancer diagnosis, with women saying the dreams they experienced were more vivid, real or intense than ordinary dreams in 83 per cent of cases. 'When we are talking about prodromal dreams though, we are not just talking about serious life threatening illnesses, they could also come before a cold or the flu,' says Professor McNamara. Based on the research so far, he believes certain recurring dream patterns may signal that the body is detecting a threat. 'Dreams that are detecting threats are often presented in similar ways,' says Professor McNamara. 'One of them is that there will be unwarranted aggression from somebody towards the dreamer, it may seem unusual but it is a metaphorical signal from the body. 'The other strong signal is the appearance of male strangers, who are mildly threatening.' Other research cited by the professor suggests insects may also appear in dreams before illness develops. A 2022 study analysing 2,888 dream reports from people later diagnosed with Covid found that in the days before testing positive, many described dreams involving maggots or snake bites. Professor McNamara believes the level of threat portrayed in a dream may help distinguish illnessrelated dreams from ordinary stress dreams. Theresa Cheung, a self-proclaimed dream decoder, says she has recieved countless messages from people saying that dreams have saved her life Theresa Cheung, a selfdescribed dream decoder who runs ITV's Good Morning Britain segment Your Dreams Explained, says she has heard many anecdotal accounts from people who believe their dreams alerted them to serious health problems. 'Over the years I have received countless messages from people who say that dreams have saved their lives,' she said. 'One woman messaged me to say that a dream with a shadowy man pointing at her breast led her to go to the doctor, where she was diagnosed with stage three cancer.' For now, Professor McNamara stresses that the theory remains largely speculative and requires much more research before it could be used in medical practice. However, he believes the concept may eventually have practical applications in some areas of healthcare. One possibility could be monitoring changes in dreams among people at high risk of severe mental health crises. 'We know that those with suicidal ideation experience threatening dreams for weeks before they consider an attempt on their life,' says Professor McNamara. A 2022 study of 89 patients found that 80 per cent reported altered dreams in the months before attempting suicide. 'There is a world where these high risk patients are given an AI recorder for their dreams, which monitors them and flags when they are at risk to their care management teams,' says Professor McNamara. 'However that is a long way off at the moment, we have the theory but we need large scale studies to support it.' For years, Alex Aitken's receding hairline meant he was regularly mistaken for a man a decade older. 'People used to think I was in my forties when I was only just turning thirty,' he said. 'It became something that really bothered me.' The owner of Manchester-based project manager first noticed his hair thinning at the front of his head in his mid-20s but wasn't immediately fussed about it. Over time, however, as his hair loss continued, and he felt he looked older and older for his age, Alex grew gradually more uncomfortable with the change in his looks. 'None of my friends had hair loss like I did,' he said. 'I decided I had to do something about it.' Today, aged 33, Alex's appearance is transformed. He looks no older than his late 20s, and is regularly mistaken for such, he says. The change? He now has a full head of healthy and natural looking hair, after undergoing a radical hair transplant three years ago. Alex Aitken, 33, first noticed his hair thinning at the front of his head in his mid-20s but wasn't immediately fussed about it 'None of my friends had hair loss like I did,' he said. 'I decided I had to do something about it.' Today, Alex's appearance is transformed. He looks no older than his late 20s, and is regularly mistaken for such, he says 'The change has been huge for me,' he explained. 'I'm not the sort of person who looks in the mirror and thinks, 'Oh my God, I look amazing,' because I'm not that vain, but the best way I can describe it is that I feel like a different person, like the version of myself I always should have looked like. 'Looking back now, the whole experience has been completely worth it. Now, after having it done, when people assume my age, they usually say late twenties, so it's taken about six years off how I look. 'And seeing my hair come back definitely made me feel younger too.' Alex is hardly alone in his struggle. A shocking 40 per cent of British men will experience visible hair loss by age 35, rising to 60 per cent by age 65. For more than half of these men, a new survey from the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery revealed, thinning hair can cause a considerable knock to self-esteem, while just over one third worry that it will impact their confidence in their social life. A further 34 per cent, meanwhile, like Alex, fear that their hair loss makes them look older than they are. The causes of hair loss can vary. The most common form, called male pattern baldness, is linked to genetics, meaning it runs in the family. Alex feels that his transplant massively exceeded his expections, making him look considerably younger Alex says his hair transplant has been huge for his confidence, making him feel like a 'different person' Some may develop alopecia areata, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the scalp tissue, making hair fall out in patches. Stress can also trigger the problem. In the UK, millions of men take drugs, such finasteride and minoxidil, which are proven to slow down or even reverse hair loss. But the drugs don't work on everyone, and can have nasty side effects including erectile dysfunction and low libido, depression, suicidal thoughts and even cardiovascular problems. Hair transplants, as a result, have seen a boom in popularity in recent years with demand increasing by 60 per cent in just the last five years. Jude Law, Elon Musk, Gordon Ramsay and Wayne Rooney have all reportedly succumbed to the temptation of rejuvenating their thatch. According to Harley Street Transplant Clinics, 30,000 men per year in the UK are getting one, while some 1.8million 'medical tourists' travelled to Turkey a hot spot for cheap transplants in 2023 alone. The surgical procedure, which usually costs around 5,000, sees hair follicles from one part of the scalp removed and grafted into an area with less coverage. The treatments are not always successful. And in some cases, where patients may have advanced hair loss, the procedure is unlikely to work. So for Alex, the decision to get the surgery was not an easy one. Unconvinced that existing medications for hair loss such as finasteride or minoxidil would be effective, and wary of side effects, Alex stuck to home remedies and over-the-counter solutions for the first few years after noticing his thinning locks He tried using Alpha Caffeine Shampoo a product often recommended on social media that claims to fight thinning with a caffeine-infused formula but found it made no difference Unconvinced that existing medications for hair loss such as finasteride or minoxidil would be effective, and wary of side effects, Alex stuck to home remedies and over-the-counter solutions for the first few years after noticing his thinning locks. He tried using Alpha Caffeine Shampoo a product often recommended on social media that claims to fight thinning with a caffeine-infused formula but found it made no difference. Alex also began using hair fibres to hide thinning patches cosmetic concealers that adhere to existing hair using static charge, creating a thicker, fuller appearance. But as his hair grew thinner, the fibres grew less effective. Eventually, on the cusp of his thirtieth birthday, Alex decided enough was enough. 'I hadn't considered surgery until that point, because I'd heard so many horror stories,' he said. 'But it got to the point where I needed to do something.' Alex wanted to go somewhere he thought would make the procedure safe and comfortable and that he'd easily be able to return if something did go wrong. 'The only real worry I had before having the transplant was the things I'd heard from people I knew who'd gone abroad for a hair transplant to Turkey,' he said. 'They didn't have very positive things to say about their outcomes. They talked about long-lasting pain, and outcomes that weren't consistent. You could also see that it wasn't natural, you could tell they had had a hair transplant.' After doing some research, and visiting a couple of clinics in the UK, Alex decided upon the Farjo Hair Institute in London. He went for an initial consultation and signed up for the procedure on the spot. Eventually, on the cusp of his thirtieth birthday, Alex decided enough was enough. 'I hadn't considered surgery until that point, because I'd heard so many horror stories,' he said. 'But it got to the point where I needed to do something.' 'I wanted to go somewhere safe, convenient and local, and the clinic was just that. I felt very comfortable immediately,' he said. On the day of the procedure, just weeks later, Alex arrived at 7am to have his head shaved, and given anaesthetic in his scalp. This, he says, was the most painful part of the whole procedure. For the rest of the morning, as the hair follicles were removed from the back of his head in large swatches, and the afternoon, which saw the clinicians carefully reimplant the follicles in the top and front bald parts of his head, Alex sat comfortably watching a film. 'That night, I felt like I was wearing a helmet my head felt so numb and heavy from the anaesthetic,' he explained. 'But apart from a tiny bit of blood on the pillow, it was fine.' Alex was back at work running his company, Woodside Design Joinery the following day. For the next week or so, Alex says his scalp felt slightly itchy easily soothed by a spray of salt water he was given by the clinic. But any discomfort was instantly worth it just one month later, says Alex, when his hair began growing back without any bald patches at all. 'I was looking forward so much for my first hair cut after the transplant,' he said. 'Before, getting my hair cut involved keeping the front and side bits as long as possible so I could comb them over if the wind blew, however, I looked bald.' Today, Alex says he feels years younger and looks it too. 'I'm 33, but people often think I'm in my 20s,' he said. 'The whole experience was definitely worth it. 'It exceeded what I expected, especially in terms of how natural it looks. You'd never look at me now and know that I've had anything done, which is exactly what I wanted.' New technologies help calculate the number of casualties, estimated at up to nearly two million, despite attempts by Kyiv and Moscow to conceal them General or partial assessments of the number of victims in the war in Ukraine reveal the high human cost of an armed conflict unprecedented in Europe in the last eight decades. With estimates of nearly two million military casualties, it is reminiscent of the worst conflicts experienced in the 20th century on the Old Continent. The most conservative figures around half a million deaths on the Ukrainian side are five times higher than those of the Balkan War (1992-1995), which totaled 100,000, of whom 13,500 were civilians. The Ukrainian Commissioner for Missing Persons in Special Circumstances has just raised the number of missing persons to 90,000, including military personnel and civilians of all ages, sources from that agency confirmed to EL PAIS. The majority, of course, are military personnel, and we assume, unfortunately, that many of them have been killed, the commissioner added, declining to provide a detailed breakdown to avoid giving the enemy any clues. The Ministry of the Interior, for its part, puts the number of missing adults at just over 99,300, of whom 3,400 are women. In the latest available overall estimate, the number of military casualties killed, missing, wounded, and prisoners of war during Russias invasion of Ukraine, which marked its fourth anniversary on February 24, is the highest in Europe since World War II. Although both governments try to conceal their losses in the armed conflict that has ravaged Ukraine and barely report on them, these figures are approaching two million (1.2 million for Moscow and between 500,000 and 600,000 for Kyiv), according to a report released a month ago by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington. Civilian deaths in Ukraine exceed 15,100, according to the U.N. tally. A child in the Lviv region during the burial of his grandfather, who died in the Ukrainian town of Bucha in 2022. Luis de Vega The last time Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed this sensitive issue was on February 4. He reported 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed, a figure far lower than estimates by independent sources. Meanwhile, authorities in Kyiv have even shut down websites dedicated to reporting on casualty figures, despite Ukraine not considering these a state secret. Ukrainian media outlets are also attempting to shed light on this thorny issue. Access to all kinds of open sources of information about the most documented and widely publicized war in history allows us to uncover a wealth of data, despite the wall of silence imposed by each side when it comes to reporting their own casualties. Cell phones, social media, drones, satellites, geolocation, cameras installed in public and private places everything makes it much easier for anyone to extract information than in previous conflicts. Dmytro Dzhulai, a reporter for Radio Free Europe, has amassed a vast amount of information on his computer thanks to the four years he has spent investigating the massacre of 500 civilians by Russian soldiers in 2022 in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv. Less data is available on another notorious massacre, and one with far larger numbers: the killing of 8,000 Bosniak Muslims by Bosnian Serb forces over three days after UN troops withdrew from Srebrenica in the summer of 1995. Dzhulai knows every corner of Bucha where a body has been found. He knows which Russian military unit was deployed on each street, who was responsible, their photos, their contacts In his office in the Ukrainian capital, he shows videos of soldiers executing residents in cold blood and, moments later, robbing them of their belongings. In many cases, the priority was getting hold of their cell phones. The Russian soldiers used the phones of the Ukrainians they murdered to call their own families or partners, and everything was recorded, the reporter points out. Posts on social media platforms like Telegram and VKontakte (VK), both from individuals and from the army brigades themselves, have also provided information that will be used to denounce possible war crimes. A wooden cross marks the temporary grave of a Ukrainian woman in a park in Irpin, outside Kyiv, where she died during the Russian occupation in March 2022. Luis de Vega As an example, he chooses the photo of a Russian soldier named Vladislav Ulianich, who participated in the occupation of Bucha in March 2022 and whose death was reported shortly afterward, occurring in the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine on May 22 of that same year. Dzhulai uses a photo comparison tool with the Russian soldiers face along with his first and last name to obtain more images of him. He then manages to pinpoint the exact location where the soldier was photographed smiling and holding his weapon outside a building in eastern Bucha at 10:36 a.m. on March 7, 2022. Information about him abounds, including a bank account number where donations were requested to support the soldiers mother, Oksana, after his death; condolences from the Federation due to his time as a weightlifter; and his participation in the Syrian war. All this information is being compiled and organized so that it can help identify those responsible and bring them to justice. For now, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague only has one general case open regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Unofficial calculations In both Ukraine and Russia, unofficial estimates of military casualties in the conflict are being compiled to fill the gap left by the lack of data provided by the authorities. The Russian media outlet Mediazona and the British broadcaster BBC have gathered the identities of more than 200,000 Russian soldiers killed in combat using family members social media accounts, news reports in various local media outlets, and official announcements from Russian regional authorities. The number rises to 219,000 according to estimates based on statistics showing an increase in male deaths in inheritance records. However, those responsible for the monitoring themselves acknowledge that this figure represents only a portion of the total. The same situation exists on the Ukrainian side, where a similar study puts the number of casualties including soldiers killed, missing, and prisoners of war at 186,000. The website Ukrainian Losses was temporarily shut down by the authorities. All indications suggest that its figures, much higher than those provided by Zelenskiy, were the reason for its closure, according to the Center for Human Rights in Armed Conflict (CHRAC), which cites a recent Mediazona report validating the websites figures with a 5% margin of error. The problem lies in the fact that the Ukrainian president is not taking into account those soldiers who have not died in combat other causes include traffic accidents, suicides, illnesses, friendly fire, alcohol or drug poisoning nor those who remain missing. The last time Zelenskiy addressed this issue he reported 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed, a figure far lower than the estimates from independent sources or the Missing Persons Commissioner. As for those who have died in non-combat situations, the estimate between 2022 and 2025 is 28,000, according to CHRAC. This same center puts the number of Ukrainian bodies returned at 22,800 following dozens of agreements signed between the parties, not counting the 1,000 bodies that Russia handed over last Thursday, according to the count being made by the prisoner of war authority in Kyiv. Until they are identified, they are not officially added to the death toll. Connecting the dots in identifications sometimes takes several years, even for those who didnt die on the front lines, which explains the difficulties in obtaining accurate data. In April 2022, EL PAIS photographed the body of a man lying in a street in front of a supermarket in Bucha. Until a year ago, when the city commemorated the third anniversary of the Russian occupation, it wasnt known that the man was Leontiy Dokiychuk, born on April 21, 1939, and who died on March 31, 2022. Municipal authorities managed to contact relatives and acquaintances, who were unaware that he was buried in one of the unmarked graves. According to forensic experts, his death was not due to Russian gunfire. Everything points to a heart attack. Victoria Mayor, who is waiting for the results of a DNA test to confirm whether the body of a missing person is that of her brother, in the location in Bucha where her husband was murdered. Luis de Vega As for Victoria Mayor, interviewed by this special correspondent on February 20, she continues searching for her brother, Sasha, a soldier who disappeared in 2024 when contact was lost with him on the front lines. According to Mayor, DNA evidence suggests that one of the bodies that arrived in Dnipro, in eastern Ukraine, may be that of her brother. In terms of prisoners of war, Russia is holding approximately 7,000 Ukrainians and Ukraine is holding approximately 4,000 Russians, according to figures provided by President Zelenskiy in the middle of last month. To date, through some 70 prisoner exchanges, approximately 7,450 Ukrainians have returned home, of whom more than 7,000 are soldiers. In this discrepancy of figures there are significant gaps, such as the number of victims in areas occupied by Russian troops. In the battle for control of Mariupol alone, which has remained entirely in Moscows hands since May 2022, the civilian death toll ranges from the 8,000 cited in a Human Rights Watch report to the 22,000 estimated in 2023 by Vadym Boychenko, then mayor of the city, during an interview with EL PAIS. The continued presence of Kremlin authorities and troops makes it impossible to clarify much of what is happening, or has happened, in the 20% of Ukrainian territory occupied by Moscow. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Daily vitamin supplements could reduce irritability in teenagers, researchers suggest. While moodiness and a temper are considered to be a normal part of adolescence, teenagers are also vulnerable to depression and anxiety. Studies show that roughly one in five of those aged 8 to 25 have a probable mental disorder, possibly triggered by hormones, academic stress or social pressures. Youth mental health has declined only in recent decades reaching a 'dangerous phase', according to a commission at The Lancet journal. Yet treatments for teens with mood issues including psychotherapy and medication can be either inaccessible or poorly tolerated. Scientists at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, now suggest there could be a far simpler solution: vitamins. Researchers gathered 132 youngsters aged 12 to 17 with moderate to severe irritability who were not taking medication. They were split into two groups and, for eight weeks, were given either four daily pills including vitamins A, B, C, D, K and E, or placebo pills. They were monitored monthly by a clinical psychologist. Scientists at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, now suggest there could be a far simpler solution to teenage moodiness: vitamins (stock photo) Teenagers taking vitamins were found to have had a significant improvement in mood (stock photo) Those taking vitamins were found to have had a significant improvement in mood outperforming the placebo in measures including irritability and emotional reactivity. The strongest effect was seen in teenagers with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, which can cause severe, chronic irritability and frequent, intense outbursts. Sixty-four per cent of this group were found to have improved symptoms compared with just 12 per cent on the placebo. And the parents of those taking vitamins rated their child's behaviour much more highly than parents of those on the placebo. 'The trial provides robust evidence that a simple nutritional approach can meaningfully improve symptoms, including emotional reactivity, conduct difficulties and even suicidal ideation,' said lead study author Dr Julia J Rucklidge. The Crystal Palace, which housed the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park, was an engineering marvel. Made from iron, glass and wood, it was three times the size of St Pauls Cathedral and yet was built in under five months. It housed over 100,000 exhibits and more than six million people visited. Stones dragged, using animal fats or seaweed as lubricants According to Roland Ennos, the palace, and indeed Britains economic and political power in the 19th century, depended on three new technologies wrought iron, high pressure steam engines and the hydraulic press. Ennos is a visiting professor of biological sciences at the University of Hull and his latest book is a history of how humans have used tools and technology to control and manipulate the world. He begins his account in the deep prehistoric past with our distant ancestors using sticks to prise edible roots from the ground, and then moves through sharpened flints to hand axes to metal woodworking tools that facilitated the development of wheeled vehicles and plank ships. We steam through the Industrial Revolution and end up on the brink of thinking machines. Ennos writes clearly and concisely and delights in suggesting that some of the ideas taught at school were wrong. For example, the notion that large stones used for Stonehenge were moved by being rolled on the tops of logs. For a start it would take a huge investment in time and energy to fell, debark, shape, and transport the large number of identical logs required, he writes. He suggests the stones were dragged, using animal fats or seaweed as lubricants. The Powerful Primate is available now Nor is he sold on the widely accepted theory that the advent of cereal farming was the key event that raised humans productivity. He argues that cereals are difficult to harvest, process, and eat; and they are extremely hard work to grow. For the most part, the book is an invigorating chronicle of human ingenuity but it ends on a gloomy note. Dominion over nature comes at a cost. We produce more food and worldly goods than ever before and more people are living relatively comfortable, healthy lives than ever before but we have damaged the planet and extracted more minerals in the past 50 years than in all of our previous history put together. His solution? We need to use less energy, obviously, but he also believes we should abandon industrial cereal farming and focus instead on cultivating higher-yielding root crops, vegetables and fruit trees on small-scale plots. Not everyone will agree with Ennoss conclusions but they are certainly food for thought. David Isaac was working as a graphic designer when his eyesight began deteriorating. He'd long excelled at projects requiring close attention to detail, such as image retouching and colour matching, but noticed he was making mistakes. David eventually had to leave his job due to his sight loss - a complication of diabetes. Unable to work and struggling with the limits of his sight loss, he went from a 'very outgoing' person who loved watching rugby and practising archery to feeling 'withdrawn from everyone'. Concerned about the effect this was having on his family, David made the decision to approach Guide Dogs. After a careful matching process, he was introduced to his new guide dog, Scooby, who would go on to change his life. David Isaac credits Scooby, his first guide dog, with improving his life. They are seen together in the kitchen of his home Before that transformative moment, David had been spending most of his time at home, leaving him feeling like a 'burden' on his wife, Donna, and their two daughters. Struggling to move around independently and suffering from hallucinations as a result of his sight loss, David stopped seeing his friends. Facts about Guide Dogs The charity Guide Dogs has trained over 37,500 guide dogs. That's more than one new guide dog every day since its first partnerships were created in 1931. It also offers a range of other services to support adults and children with vision impairment, as well as their families. The charity is almost 95 years' old, but can only continue its life-changing work thanks to people kindly donating or leaving gifts in their Wills. There are two million people living with sight loss in the UK and this number is set to double by 2050. 'Before I lost my sight, I was very outgoing,' he says. 'I used to enjoy going to rugby matches, I loved doing archery displays for English Heritage and going out for rides on my motorbike. 'When I first began to lose my sight, I withdrew from everyone I knew. I wasn't used to all the restrictions. 'All I focused on was what I was losing. I was miserable.' Nearly half of people with a vision impairment describe feeling isolated and cut off from the people and places around them. One person loses their sight every six minutes in the UK. For David, now 61, it was the impact on his family that made him decide to contact Guide Dogs to seek support, leading to him being partnered with Scooby, a friendly and sociable black Labrador cross golden retriever. Guide Dogs exists to help people with sight loss live a full and independent life - whether that's by matching them with guide dogs or offering other services, such as training to help young partially sighted people develop key life skills. David pictured with Scooby, who was trained by Guide Dogs While David had gained some independence using a long cane, which allowed him to avoid obstacles while out and about, having a guide dog changed things completely. 'The first time I put a harness on and walked Scooby, I instantly knew there was a connection there, it felt right,' he says. 'The thing with walking with a long cane is that you have to hit the obstacle to know it's there. 'It was like Scooby gave him his sparkle back. It was like dark then bright light I can hardly put it into words!' 'We did the same route that I'd done a hundred times before, but all of a sudden, I didn't have to hit anything. He walked around the lamppost, he walked around the A-boards, he took me straight to the drop kerb, he took me home. 'And I stepped into my house beaming from ear to ear. The first thing my wife did was give me a big hug and say, ''You've found your smile again!'' I couldn't believe the joy that it gave me to have my independence back.' Recalling the transformation herself, Donna says: 'It was like Scooby gave him his sparkle back. It was like dark then bright light I can hardly put it into words!' Having Scooby didn't just help David get from A to B - it also helped him get back out into the world and start socialising with people again. David loved all the compliments Scooby would get from passers-by when they were out and about. He's seen chatting to his wife, Donna 'The biggest gift I got from Scooby is all the social interaction,' he says. 'When I used a long cane, I'd be out all day but talk to nobody. Although my social life is different to how it was before my sight loss, Scooby helps me to do lots of new things. 'But when I went out with Scooby, I couldn't go ten feet without someone saying what a wonderful dog he is. Now I'm talking to everyone.' While David has had to stop some of his old hobbies, his new-found confidence has helped him take up new ones. 'Although my social life is different to how it was before my sight loss, Scooby helps me to do lots of new things,' he says. 'I can no longer ride my motorbike, but I have learnt to sail and I love meeting up with friends for coffee.' David also started a new job working for his local council - with Scooby accompanying him into the office every day. 'Scooby liked coming to work with me, he had his own bed there!' says David. David with his wife Donna, their two daughters, and Scooby David was matched with Scooby in 2016 after losing his sight four years earlier. Sadly, Scooby died on Christmas Day 2023, leaving his owner feeling like he'd lost a beloved friend. While adapting to life without his trusted companion was difficult, David went on to be matched with a new guide dog, an energetic yellow Labrador called Rye - who is now continuing Scooby's legacy. Like Scooby, Rye gets a lot of adoring comments from passers-by as she accompanies David along the street. But she manages to maintain her focus even at the trickiest times - like David's 30-minute walk to work during rush-hour! Back in his London home, David still keeps a picture of Scooby hanging on his wall - a tribute to the 'immeasurable' difference he made to his life. 'He put that smile back on my face, which was my first step in my journey towards becoming myself again,' he says. 'And that's all from Scooby and people who support Guide Dogs I can't thank them enough.' Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was mercilessly mocked over her firing on this week's episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL). The show's cold open saw SNL cast member Ashley Padilla impersonate Noem at a spoof press conference addressing her unceremonious exit. Noem was reassigned from her role earlier this week and given a new position as a special envoy to the Shield of the Americas. But many view her new venture as a demotion following a series of missteps and a disastrous grilling before Congress which finally exhausted President Donald Trump's goodwill. The SNL segment featured Padilla trussed up in Noem's signature 'ICE Barbie' look complete with long, flowing wig and heavy make-up. 'I just want to make it clear that I didnt get fired, I self-deported,' Padilla quipped, referencing her recent duties overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Padilla appeared alongside castmate Colin Jost, who took on the role of a boozy Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, complete with a keg stand. Introducing her, he joked that Noem had been 'reassigned under the bus' before inviting her to make some parting remarks. Saturday Night Live (SNL) took aim at former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in this week's episode Noem was played by Ashley Padilla, with castmate Colin Jost appearing as a boozy Pete Hegseth 'Though I may be leaving this job, I will not be ending my mission. As I told my plastic surgeon, the work is never done,' Padilla joked. 'I gave my all to the DHS and I have no regrets, because like they say, you miss 100 percent of the dogs you don't shoot.' The joke referred to backlash against Noem which erupted after she bragged about once shooting her pet. The anecdote appeared in her 2024 memoir as a misguided attempt to highlight her toughness as a leader. Since then Noem has gone on to make further blunders and faced mounting criticism of her handling of the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda. On Wednesday she was left squirming during a Congress hearing about her antics while head of DHS including signing off on a $220 million border security advertising campaign which she featured in prominently. She also swerved questions about her rumored affair with top advisor Corey Lewandowski, thought both have previously denied any relationship. Noem was spotted scowling at her first media appearance since being ousted by Trump as Secretary of Homeland Security. Jost performed a keg stand as part of the sketch before joking Noem had been 'reassigned under the bus' in reference to her new deployment as a special envoy Noem was reassigned from her role earlier this week and attended her first event Saturday as special envoy to the Shield of the Americas But prior to that she had made herself a deeply polarizing figure, loathed on the left as 'Bloody Kristi' and alienating independents. As the midterm elections loom in November, Republican strategists have been alarmed at how what was previously Trump's strongest issue - immigration - has become an electoral liability with Noem at the fore. A key moment in that damaging process came when she stepped to the microphones, just hours after the fatal shooting of activist Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on January 7 and made inflammatory remarks. She was similarly tactless when discussing the killing of Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents just weeks later. On Saturday Noem was forced to watch the president as he spoke at the Shield of the Americas Summit on Saturday, addressing his administration's plan to take on cartels and secure the American border. She was replaced at DHS by Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. An ousted CBS News anchor has filed for a messy separation from his glamorous ABC journalist wife after nearly a decade of marriage. Josh Elliott, 54, filed for divorce from Liz Cho, 55, in June of last year as court documents detail a nasty battle in court over their 'irretrievable' marriage. 'The marriage of the parties has broken down irretrievably,' court documents obtained by Page Six show. The pair married in 2015 after dating for two years, not long before Elliott was fired from CBS in February 2017. Cho's response to the filing in November, echoing a similar sentiment, bit back at Elliott's filing with a request for 'copies of written correspondence' between her estranged husband and 'any person other than the defendant, with whom [Elliott] have or have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship, from July 11, 2015 to present.' The request, according to the documents, covers a variety of platforms, including Facebook, WeChat, voicemails, text messages and social media messages. Elliott objected, claiming that it was 'unreasonable, unnecessary, harassing and not likely lead to the discovery of admissible evidence' based on the time frame, the outlet reported. However, Cho's requests for a thorough array of evidence continued with demands for Elliott to hand over bank statements, travel documentation such as invoices for hotels, motels, airlines or car services, as well as any evidence of the former CBS anchor's search for a job. Former CBS anchor Josh Elliott, 54, filed for divorce from his wife of nearly a decade in June of last year Elliott and Liz Cho, 55, have been revealed to be in the throes of a messy divorce, which has been going back and forth since November as Cho responded to the filing Elliott had been booted from CBS after he announced her was stepping down from a role to move onto a larger one within the company, allegedly unbeknownst to his bosses Elliot has objected to the requests, as a source told the outlet that the practice was 'standard in a divorce.' 'Her lawyer is doing a thorough document request,' the source said. 'The documents she is requesting are standard.' The source said there was no evidence that Elliott had engaged in a relationship outside of his marriage to Cho. In January, Cho filed for contempt against Elliott after he hired a moving truck to move out a 'significant amount of furniture and furnishings from the martial residence' while she and her daughter were on vacation, she claimed in documents seen by to the outlet. His removing himself from their home included taking their two Portuguese Water dogs, who she claimed were 'supposed to stay in the marital residence' that they had continued to share, Page Six reported. 'On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, [Cho] realized that she was missing a valuable watch and earrings from her jewelry bag,' documents state, according to the outlet. 'As [Elliott]s the only other person who had access to the missing watch and jewelry, [Cho] believes [Elliott] is in possession of such personal property.' Cho described the alleged actions as a 'willful violation' of court orders. The pair married in 2015 after dating for two years, not long before Elliott was fired from CBS in February 2017 Elliott was said to have been the main caregiver for the dogs and had only removed a 'small amount of furniture,' the source told Page Six. In his move to have the court object to Cho's motion for contempt, Elliott said that the allegations were 'false and inflammatory,' including claims from Cho that he had 'ransacked' the home, documents seen by the outlet state. '[Elliott] did not ransack the marital home. He did not damage the property. He did not render the residence uninhabitable. 'He removed limited personal property and furnishings so he would have a safe haven from [Cho's] escalating and erratic behavior direct at not only [Elliott], but his minor child as well,' the documents state, according to Page Six. He further claimed that he only took furnishings so that 'he and his minor child' could escape 'a hostile environment created by [Cho],' according to the filings. The filing also saw Elliott claim that Cho had been listening in and monitoring his phone calls, 'rifling' though his possessions and leaving their home for 'extended periods' without communicating 'despite the presence of two dogs requiring daily care,' according to Page Six. Elliott originally filed for a 'dissolution of the marriage' for 'an equitable distribution of all property, both real and personal.' Cho is seeking 'monies spent for the benefit of any person with whom you have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship, other than the defendant... property given or transferred by you to any person with whom you have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship, other than the defendant...monies spent for your benefit by any person with whom you have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship with, other than the defendant,' the outlet reported. Cho joined ABC's Eyewitness News team in 2003 after working as an anchor for World News Now and working stories for Good Morning America, World News Tonight and Nightline Cho's response in November requested 'copies of written correspondence' between Elliott and 'any person other than the defendant, with whom [Elliott] have or have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship, from July 11, 2015 to present' Elliott had been booted from CBS after he announced he was stepping down from his role to move onto a larger one within the company, allegedly unbeknownst to his bosses. 'Josh was told he had shown bad judgement by making the announcement, and was walked out of the building by security,' a source told the outlet at the time. He is rumored to 'likely' be returning to CBS Mornings while he continues to go through the throes of the messy divorce, Awful Announcing reported. The Daily Mail reached out to Elliott's representation with Needle & Cuda and Cho's with Blank Rome LLP and MeehanLaw LLC. When 42-year-old Frazer Downes moved into his new-build home in September, he couldnt have been happier. Hed bought the house in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, for 350,000 a fair price, or so he thought, for a detached home with three bedrooms and bathrooms in an attractive development. So imagine his surprise a few weeks ago when he found out that developer Bovis Homes had slashed the price of identical homes on the same estate by 30,000. He says: We viewed it last May and I thought it was a really nice estate with lovely houses. We were really happy. Bovis Homes even paid my estate agency fees for selling my previous house. But when, while out walking his dog last month, he looked on the developers website out of curiosity, and found identical homes were going for 319,995. I was flabbergasted, Frazer says: We trusted the initial valuation. He was even more surprised as Bovis has a five-star rating from the Home Builders Federation, which means 90 per cent of its customers would recommend the company to a friend. While it can feel unfair, there is nothing illegal in the price reduction. Frazers situation is a reminder of the difficulties facing home movers up and down the country who are navigating the current stagnant and in some places falling property market. Frazer Downes, 42, outside his new build home in Kidderminster, Worcestershire. He bought the property last year for 350,000 James Nightingall, of property search service HomeFinder AI, said that price cuts are more likely due to changes in the housing market based on local supply and demand, rather than sneaky sales tactics. Its no secret that the housing market is struggling with stagnating sales. The number of transactions fell 5 per cent from 99,710 in December to 94,680 in January, according to HM Revenue & Customs. The new-build market in particular is feeling the pinch, with builders struggling to sell homes at the end of last year as supply outstripped demand. The average price of a new build has fallen in the past 12 months in many regions of the UK, estate agency group Propertymark says. Some agents said developers were so desperate that they secured discounts as high as 17 per cent on new builds. Buyers may believe they must pay the price tag set by the developer, but you can and should negotiate. Experts advise to look at what other properties on the estate have sold for on portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla, and check how long homes have been on the market to see if demand is low. One of the best times to negotiate is if you are buying off-plan before a home is built, says the HomeOwners Alliance. Alternatively, if there are only a few left, you can typically snap up a discount as developers will be keen to wrap up the project. Developers are also under pressure to meet sales targets when their financial year ends. This is likely to be a different month for different firms. Find out by looking at their accounts on the Companies House website, and try to negotiate during that month. Nightingall says: Price changes on new-build developments, even for identical homes, are not uncommon and are typically driven by market conditions rather than individual transactions. Developers set pricing based on sales rates, funding requirements and broader demand. Frazer discovered that the developer Bovis Homes had slashed the price of identical homes on the same estate by 30,000 Where activity slows, particularly toward the end of the year, incentives may be introduced to support sales. Frazer could also face another blow, as the fall in value may leave him stuck on higher mortgage rates when his fixed-term contract comes to an end. David Hollingworth, of mortgage broker L&C, says: If house prices have taken a turn then it could mean that the value of the property could be lower when you come to remortgage. In the worst-case scenario it could even leave the borrower in negative equity. Frazer, an accountant, is particularly annoyed because whatever happens he will also end up paying more interest on his mortgage than those paying a cheaper price. For example, if he put down a 50,000 deposit on the 350,000 price, interest on the remainder over 25 years will total 200,000. But those paying 320,000 with the same deposit will end up paying back 20,000 less in interest, too, as well as the initial 30,000 saving. Frazer made a formal complaint to Bovis Homes, which told him that there had been a change in market conditions. The Vistry Group, which owns Bovis Homes, told The Mail on Sunday it regularly reviews pricing based on such variables as building costs, demand, sales strategies, including incentive schemes, and market conditions. It said that when Frazer bought his home, the price agreed was based on the circumstances at the time. You could be forgiven for missing it as the world's markets were gripped by fears over Iran. But following a campaign on these pages, City watchdogs are finally to review their rules to protect private investors against the likes of US raider Boaz Weinstein. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) needs to act fast if it is to protect small shareholders caught up in Weinstein's relentless effort to win control of a string of UK investment trusts through his vehicle Saba Capital. Instead, true to form, it is embarking on a lengthy consultation. That simply allows Saba to carry on with its siege and to ride roughshod over the interests of the private shareholders the FCA should be there to defend. It is a disgrace that the regulators have done nothing to end this saga, which has been going on for months. Through Saba, Weinstein has taken stakes in investment trusts, seeking to take control without launching an official takeover bid and paying the usual premium. His modus operandi is to attempt to install his own directors and fund managers, in order to commandeer lucrative fees. Some, though not all, targets have performed poorly, leaving a door open to opportunists like Weinstein claiming to want to improve performance. Predator: Boaz Weinstein's Saba Capital has been relentlessly trying to win control of a string of UK investment trusts But a core issue is shareholder rights. Weinstein has so far been roundly voted down by other investors, yet the regulators have allowed him to carry on. Two trusts, Herald and Impax Environmental Markets, are right at the sharp end. Both have offered investors the chance to sell their shares for the value of the underlying assets, minus costs. Saba has obstructed that route, regardless of the wishes of private shareholders. That then leaves a nuclear option of an exit tender, which would allow non-Saba investors to leave but would also be likely to spell the end of the trust in its current form. This all sounds arcane and complicated. It is which is what makes it so attractive for the clever chaps at Saba to exploit: the hope is that most people will find it too much of a headscratcher, leaving them free to get on with their cynical game. The FCA has a duty to ensure this does not happen. Investment trusts are extremely valuable to millions of British people, including those saving for a pension. Impax has assets of 763m and is the only listed fund in the UK concentrating on environmental solutions if it goes, private shareholders will have no obvious alternative. Herald, which invests in tech, has provided more than half a billion pounds of capital to UK listed companies in the past 30 years. The 1.2billion trust is an excellent long-term performer and has outshone Saba's own Capital Master Fund. It would have turned a saver who had invested their ISA allowance since 1999 into a millionaire, according to the Association of Investment Companies. If there is an exit tender, anyone who has made long-term gains would face a tax bill, at a time they did not choose. Investment trusts are a way for small shareholders to invest in innovators that are otherwise inaccessible, such as Elon Musk's Space X, TikTok owner Byte Dance and AI firm Anthropic. Yet Weinstein's behaviour risks making his targets and potentially others much less inviting to investors. Who would want to buy into a trust when he can force it to change strategy? The FCA should put a stop to this vexatious charade now. It has been running far too long. Business leaders have made a last-ditch plea to the Chancellor to scrap plans to hit family firms and farms with a damaging inheritance tax raid. Family-owned enterprises face paying death duties of 20 per cent from next month leaving many 'questioning the long-term future of their businesses', according to campaign group Family Business UK (FBUK). Warning that the looming tax raid is already costing jobs and investment, FBUK chief Neil said: 'At a time when the UK desperately needs the economy to grow, this is the wrong policy at the wrong time.' The comments came after the boss of Britain's oldest wine merchant, Berry Bros and Rudd, last week told the Mail the tax raid is 'a very real threat to the future success of the business'. Lizzy Rudd, whose business dates back to 1698, said: 'These changes are an additional burden for family businesses at the very time the Government should be encouraging us to invest.' Labour has launched an inheritance tax raid on family firms A survey by FBUK found the majority of family businesses fear they will be hit by the tax raid with a quarter worried they will not still be family-owned in a decade. In her Budget in 2024, the Chancellor announced changes to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) that left family farms and firms facing inheritance tax of 20 per cent on assets worth over 1million from this April. She later raised the threshold to 2.5million, or 5million for married couples, but the move has not eased concerns across the sector. Davy said: 'Next month, for the first time in a generation, family business owners will have to pay inheritance tax based on the value of their business and business assets. 'Since the change was first announced in October 2024, we have seen significant numbers of family businesses cut investment and jobs. Many owners have also told me that they are openly questioning the long-term future of their business. 'For a government committed to growing the economy this can't be the outcome it envisaged.' FBUK is now calling for a 'full reversal of the policy to support the family business sector and unlock investment in jobs, skills and economic growth'. A chorus of condemnation Lizzy Rudd, chairman of Berry Bros and Rudd, said: 'As a 327-year-old family business, we have always strived to be stewards for future generations. As a B Corp we also place great value on employing people, considering the wider community and the environment in all that we do. 'How are we expected to continue to build value for the long term when our children will one day have to pay inheritance tax on this value - a value which is on paper and not in our pockets unless business assets or the business itself is sold? 'Changes to inheritance tax are a very real threat to the future success of the business. In addition to the higher costs of operating right now, these changes are an additional burden for family businesses at the very time the Government should be encouraging us to invest. 'This tax will drive behaviour that I don't believe the Government really want, neither does it really understand the principles on which we operate.' Matthew Ayres, managing director of equipment supplier Bennie Group, said: 'The new inheritance tax rules force family businesses like ours to gamble on the future. 'Instead of focusing our energy on innovation, growth and serving our customers, we are being pushed into a defensive position. A position where we spend time and resources on complex tax planning that many other types of businesses never have to consider. 'It is an unnecessary distraction that pulls leadership attention away from investing, hiring and building for tomorrow.' 'Family businesses succeed when we look outward; at markets, opportunities, and longterm value creation. 'This policy turns us inward, encouraging riskaverse behaviour and shortterm protectionism. It is completely out of line with the UK's need for a clear economic growth strategy. 'If government wants businesses to invest with confidence, it cannot keep introducing policies that create uncertainty, drive up costs, increase risk, and divert efforts away from productivity and innovation.' James Reed, chairman and chief executive of recruitment giant Reed, said: 'Family businesses are the backbone of our economy and generally excellent employers, so there is a good reason that for decades it has been possible to pass them safely from generation to generation. 'The changes to the way they are taxed coming into effect in April put all that at risk. Great British companies will be broken up and sold off to foreign owners and private equity. 'Ultimately, this isn't good business because we know that once job losses and reduced economic activity are taken into account, this change will actually mean the exchequer collecting less money overall. 'My concern is that this will end up being a lose-lose for everyone, which is why Labour Chancellor Denis Healey introduced business property relief in the first place.' A top Michigan Democrat fundraiser has pulled down social media posts honoring her German grandfather after military experts identified what appear to be SS uniforms and Nazi concentration camp buildings in her family photos. Kelly Neumann, 46, removed the images and tribute to her grandfather Albert Neumann, who fought for Germany in World War II, following an angry backlash from the Jewish community and fellow Democrats. But a Daily Mail investigation has uncovered troubling details about her family's wartime history that suggest he was more than just a regular soldier. Military historians examining Neumann's photo collection said some images appear to show uniforms of the Nazi Party's elite Schutzstaffel (SS) paramilitary force. They also seem to have been taken at the notorious Sachsenhausen concentration camp north of Berlin, where at least 30,000 prisoners died. Millions of German men were conscripted into the regular army during World War II, often without ideological allegiance to Adolf Hitler's regime. But historians stress that service in the Nazi Party's SS units was fundamentally different - it was explicitly ideological and membership typically required demonstrated loyalty to the Nazi state. The controversy around Neumann has already seen prominent Democrats distance themselves the lawyer, who has worked as a fundraising co-chair for several high-profile Michigan candidates. Kelly Neumann, who is also a principal attorney at Neumann Law Group, said her grandfather was one of her 'best friends' who accepted her as a gay woman Kelly Neumann, a fundraising co-chair for several Democratic candidates in Michigan, posted a tribute to her German Army grandfather on Veterans Day in 2024 And the revelation put her own beliefs in new context. Neumann is an LGBTQ+ campaigner who reportedly co-chaired a Democratic fundraiser dinner last year with a sign outside that declared 'MAGA=NAZI.' She's also gone to war against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), offering legal support to those caught up in the agency's tough crackdown. Pedro Filipuzzi, an Argentine engineer and military historian, examined the aged and grainy photographs at the Mail's request. The buildings in the background closely match the distinctive architecture of Sachsenhausen, said Filipuzzi. 'At least 30,000 detainees died at Sachsenhausen, perhaps many more,' he told the Daily Mail. 'Any German service member who was there must have known about the horrors that took place there.' The color, materials and institutional style are consistent with structures at the concentration camp, which served as the SS administrative hub and training center, he added. The camp housed some 200,000 prisoners during the war, including Jews, gay people, Roma, political dissidents and others targeted by the Nazi regime. Neumann posted a selection of photos showcasing her grandfather Albert's military career Laurence De Mello, another expert on the Third Reich, analyzed the uniforms visible in the photographs. 'These men are most likely SS camp staff rather than standard German Army,' said De Mello, author of Churchill's Secret Commander. 'Although the image is too blurry for definitive identification, the collar braiding and overall cut of the uniforms appear closer to SS patterns, and there are no visible [German Army] branch colors.' She noted that the 'lower-ranking' servicemen were unarmed and posed casually, most likely at an administrative setting rather than on the frontlines. Neumann originally shared the photographs on Facebook on Veterans Day in 2024 as part of a tribute to family and friends who served in the military. The post only came to wider attention in January. She presented her relative as a regular soldier who fought for Nazi Germany and revealed he escaped to Brazil after 1945 before making his way to Detroit. Among the collection was this photo, showing what experts said appeared to be SS servicemen in a concentration camp The architectural features are remarkably similar to the Nazi's Sachsenhausen concentration camp, north of Berlin That detail raised additional red flags. Brazil was a popular destination for high-ranking Nazis fleeing justice during the Nuremberg trials, though many ordinary German migrants and former service members also settled there in the postwar period. As a regular Wehrmacht officer without specific war crimes allegations, Albert Neumann would not have faced trial. He would have been held in a prisoner of war camp and released within weeks or months. Records show Albert Neumann left Brazil for the US in 1949. He lived in Michigan until his death in 2012. His son Jurgen worked in the state's automotive industry, according to his LinkedIn profile. In her now-deleted post, Kelly Neumann wrote warmly about her relationship with Albert. 'My grandfather was one of my best friends,' she posted. 'He was one of the first people in my life that accepted me as gay when I was nervous and scared.' She added: 'I'll never forget him embracing me and loving me for who I am. His story is a true testament that people can change and love indeed can win.' Her post opened with a Veterans Day greeting, praising US service members, before switching to her family. 'Interesting story, I do not talk much about but my Grandfather, Albert Neumann was on the German side in WWI & WWII,' Neumann wrote. 'He escaped to Brazil with my Father after Germany lost in WWII and then made their way to Detroit, where they spoke no English and worked their way up to provide a stable life for their family.' The post, first reported by Jewish Insider, attracted fierce criticism online after resurfacing from two years ago. David Wolpe, a prominent American Rabbi, shared the outlet's coverage on social media. 'This is so outrageous I had to double check it wasn't a hoax,' he wrote in January. Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens was among the Democrats to distance themselves from Neumann, despite the lawyer hosting a fundraiser for her in March 2025. 'Haley rejects antisemitism in all forms, and has spent her career standing up to and calling out hate,' Stevens' spokesman told Jewish Insider. The SS ran the concentration camp system and carried out many of the worst atrocities of the Nazi regime. Allied forces were stunned to discover the brutal reality of Nazi Germany's concentration camps when they liberated the continent in 1945 The SS, led by Heinrich Himmler, served as Adolf Hitler's elite paramilitary force The political 'activist' (far right) also has close ties to the Democratic party in Michigan, including to the state's current Governor Gretchen Whitmer (far left) The images showed her grandfather wearing what appeared to be an officer's uniform 'Had Haley seen the post celebrating Ms. Neumann's grandfather's service to the SS, Ms. Neumann would not have hosted that event.' The controversy could not come at a worse time for Neumann's political allies. She serves as co-chair of the finance committees for Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson. She has co-hosted fundraisers for both campaigns. Neumann also maintains close ties to Michigan's Democratic establishment. She hosted a fundraiser for Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in December, according to her Instagram account. This month she announced on Instagram that she and her legal partner are taking on ICE and offering representation to anyone injured by federal agents amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Neumann, a principal attorney at Neumann Law Group, did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment. The Nazis, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party, ruled Germany under dictator Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945. The regime was responsible for the murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust. Millions more Poles, Slavs, Roma, disabled people and other minorities were also killed. Regular Wehrmacht soldiers were not necessarily Nazi Party members and should not be confused with the SS units that committed widespread war crimes during World War Two. The SS, led by Heinrich Himmler, served as Hitler's elite paramilitary force. It ran the concentration camp system and carried out many of the worst atrocities of the Nazi regime. Sachsenhausen was considered by the Nazis to be the model concentration camp. Located north of Berlin, it served as the administrative headquarters for the entire camp system. Prisoners were subjected to forced labor, medical experiments and mass executions. Many died from starvation, disease and abuse. The camp operated from 1936 until liberation by Soviet forces in April 1945. Three elementary school children were rushed to the emergency room after their substitute teacher allegedly handed them weed 'gummies' to celebrate one of the boys' birthday, a bombshell lawsuit reveals. Felicia Boyd, 59, is accused of giving the young students, three brothers, aged eight to 11, 'cannabis-laced candy' while she was on duty at an after-school program at Sierra Elementary School in Lancaster, California last April. According to the complaint filed in LA Superior Court, Boyd gave the children gummies to mark the youngest brother's eighth birthday. The supposed celebration, however, ended in a medical emergency instead. After consuming the marijuana-infused treats, the boys, identified in court documents only as A.V., J.V., and S.V., 'became lethargic and ill', and were then taken to the emergency room to be treated for poisoning. The boys are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit suing Boyd, the school, and the school district for negligence; negligent hiring, supervision, training and retention; and battery through their guardian, Cristal Sandoval. The boys aunt told the Daily Mail that she took them to hospital after seeing their symptoms. My dad picked them up from school, and when he picked them up, one of my nephews was already not feeling good, she said. Three young brothers aged eight, nine, and 11 were hospitalized last April after being given cannabis infused candy by their substitute teacher at an after school program, a new complaint claims Substitute teacher Felicia Boyd is accused of giving three young students weed gummies while she was on duty at Sierra Elementary School in Lancaster, California last April Substitute teacher Felicia Boyd is accused in a lawsuit of giving the brothers marijuana-laced gummies I asked them, whats going on? My nephew said I cant feel my body. My first question was, what did you eat? They were all scared. He told me it was some gummies that the teacher had given them. The lawsuit, filed on February 17, says 'the principal, teachers, nurse and other school administrators were made aware' of the incident. 'As a result of LUSD's employees including the principal's negligence in hiring, retaining, supervising, training, managing, and protecting students, Boyd possessed a controlled substance on school premises and then administered cannabis laced candy or gummies to students, including Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs sustained physical, mental, and severe emotional injuries,' the legal filing said. Government salary data list a Felicia Boyd who earned $8,384.64 as a teacher in Lancaster in 2023, the most recent published records. The lawsuit was filed by Michael Geragos and Robert Ounjian of Beverly Hills law firm Carpenter & Zuckerman. Boyd is alleged to have given the boys 'exotic dragonfruit' flavored Nano Gummies, from a lurid pink packet, emblazoned with the words Fast Acting Nano Powered Gummies, boasting 2000mg THC per bag. THC is one of the active chemicals in cannabis that causes a high. According to a complaint obtained by the Daily Mail, the cannabis infused candy was intended to mark one of the boys' birthday The packet said each gummy contains 20mg of THC, considered a large dose especially for a child weighing under 100lbs. The blurb on the gummies' lurid pink packaging states: 'Whatever you need, these gummies will get the job done. Melt your worries away with every bite and feel the relaxation you crave after a hard day. 'Or get the party started and feel the juice flowing through your veins with just one gummy!!! 'Strong. Precise. Made for the true connoisseur,' it adds. Sierra Elementary did not respond to a request for comment. Boyd, contacted by phone, confirmed she is a teacher in Lancaster, but when asked about the alleged gummies incident she took a long pause then said: 'I have no idea what you're talking about.' Lancaster School District Superintendent Dr. Paul Marietti told the Daily Mail: 'You are requesting private information that is currently in litigation, I am not able to speak, and therefore I have no comment.' The case will next be in court on June 15. Interview: China's whole-process people's democracy offers valuable insights for int'l community, says Serbian lawmaker Xinhua) 10:40, March 08, 2026 BELGRADE, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's whole-process people's democracy is "unique by its nature" and has proven effective through decades of practice, offering valuable insights for the international community, said Marina Ragus, deputy speaker of Serbia's National Assembly. Ragus told Xinhua in a recent interview that she is closely following this year's "two sessions," the annual meetings of China's top legislature and top political advisory body, noting that the event has attracted global attention. She described the meetings as a distinctive institutional arrangement, with lawmakers and political advisors coming from both local and national levels. Ragus was particularly impressed by the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), whose members include well-known scholars, entrepreneurs and individuals without party affiliation, demonstrating the diversity of participation in China's consultative democracy. On the aspects of this year's meetings that deserve particular attention, Ragus highlighted innovation, energy, improvement of people's well-being and balanced regional development. "For the outside world, especially for Europe, it is important to see where the new space for China's further growth lies," she said. She also noted that discussions related to China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and global initiatives, as well as cooperation between Serbia and China, will be closely watched. Speaking on China's whole-process people's democracy, Ragus said the governance model places the people at the center. In her view, democracy is not confined to electoral procedures, but should ensure that people can express their views, have their individuality respected, and benefit from merit-based opportunities and social inclusion. China, she said, has demonstrated with concrete results that its system works effectively for a population of more than 1.4 billion. Ragus also shared her perspective on Chinese modernization, describing it as a development path underpinned by long-term strategic planning and political stability. She noted that sustained investment in innovation, advanced production lines and automation has driven structural transformation, generated employment opportunities and improved living standards. On the international stage, she said, China has shared development achievements and economic opportunities with other countries. "You do not impose, you share," she said, calling it an important message conveyed by China's development philosophy. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Zhong Wenxing) The contrast between the high cost of living and housing and the difficulties faced by part of the population puts a strain on the social model of the small Central European state Every morning, tens of thousands of people cross the border to work in Luxembourg, drawn by some of the highest wages in Europe. Countless others have emigrated from all corners of the globe to a country where wealth is measured in record numbers. Poverty, on the other hand, is hidden in less visible statistics and in lives that dont fit the Grand Duchys image of prosperity. A short woman wearing a striking leopard-print hat pays the 50 cents for her meal and joins the queue at the soup kitchen run by the NGO Stemm vun der Strooss (Voice of the Street). She agrees to explain why shes there most of the other patrons wont on the condition that she doesnt reveal too much information. Madame Moufida, 67, will suffice. A French national, she worked for over 15 years in almost everything: hospitality, a museum, a healthcare center... She explains that a bureaucratic issue is holding up her pension and that, while she tries to resolve it, she lives on 300 a month (around $355) and sleeps in a nursing home. The soup kitchen is a necessity for her. Madame Moufida, at the soup kitchen on February 19. Carlos Martinez Its not so bad for Jhoana Rojas, a 46-year-old Venezuelan lawyer who works as a cleaner. She lives with her husband, a construction worker, and their son is in France, just across the border. Its impossible here, she says with a smile. She doesnt consider herself poor, but money is tight. I work nearby, and eating here doesnt cost me that much, she explains. The 50 cents is symbolic. Its requested so users can appreciate the service, explains Bob Ritz, a spokesperson for the NGO. But if someone arrives without money, theyll still get a meal. Theres also free laundry, a clothing bank with all kinds of donated garments, showers, a medical consultation, and a social worker. On this rainy Thursday in February, the menu consists of chicken and rice or sausages. Two elderly women, Ukrainian refugees, greet each other but sit at separate tables with their trays. Many of the diners are homeless, of all ages. Others have jobs. They earn minimum wage, or have weekly contracts, or work off the books. Some are delivery drivers, like a man from Madrid who says he never imagined living like this at 30. On average, 450 people a day eat at the Stemm vun der Strooss facilities. Carlos Martinez Ritzs organization has witnessed a decline in the country with by far the highest per capita income in the EU. In 2015, they served 50,000 meals a year in this soup kitchen (they have three others); now they serve over 100,000. The profile of those who benefit has also changed. Ten years ago, it was mostly homeless people who came; now we have more and more working poor, he says as his colleagues take the opportunity to eat before they open the doors. In the last two years we have also seen single mothers with children and retirees whose pensions are not enough to live a decent life in Luxembourg, he adds. The cost of living, and especially rent, explains the peculiar distribution of the working population. Some 230,000 workers in a country of around 690,000 inhabitants come from neighboring countries: Belgium, France, and Germany. They are the so-called border workers, and increasingly, Luxembourgers are being forced out by high housing prices, as Djuna Bernard, a Green Party MP, explains in a downtown cafe. With the highest percentage of workers at risk of poverty in the EU (13.4%), Luxembourg embodies an extreme paradox: high salaries in banking, insurance, and investment funds coexist with the precariousness of an increasingly large segment of the population. This precariousness is not mitigated by the highest minimum wage in the European Union, which in 2026 amounts to 2,704 ($3,195) gross per month. With the housing situation and the risk of poverty, which is much higher for people of migrant origin, coming to Luxembourg is becoming less and less attractive, and that is a structural problem for the country because we need workers, says Bernard. This striking contrast, as Social Democratic MEP Marc Angel points out, is not an exception, but rather the most visible expression of an inequality that permeates all of Europe. The major destabilizing factor in Luxembourg and throughout the Union is housing, as a recent report by Eurofound, the European agency that studies living and working conditions, highlights. High rental costs, in particular, absorb a disproportionate share of the income of lower-income households, limiting their ability to cover other basic needs and exacerbating inequality, the agency notes. Eurofound warns that the middle class is shrinking across Europe, and this is causing many people to fall into the trap of the far right. For years the housing crisis has been considered a matter for member states, but it is a European problem and must be addressed as such, says Angel, who, as a Luxembourger, is well aware of how the current government of his country, a coalition of conservatives and liberals, is tackling poverty. Aggressive begging has been banned in central Luxembourg since 2024. Carlos Martinez Begging has been the subject of heated debates in the country in recent years. At the beginning of 2024, the City Council in the capital decreed a ban on begging in the streets of a large part of the city center, with fines ranging from 25 to 250. It justified the measure by citing the increase in organized and aggressive begging, but critics like Angel and Bernard denounce it as a criminalization of poverty. Its a populist and very dangerous discourse, and all it does is hide the problem and shift it elsewhere, not address its root causes, says Bernard. Grand Rue, the main pedestrian and commercial thoroughfare in the city center, shows that begging has not disappeared. Last Thursday afternoon, several people could be seen asking for money. There are fewer than before, some passersby say, but the phenomenon persists, although more dispersed and, above all, less visible. Many, taking advantage of the fact that public transport is free in Luxembourg, moved to smaller towns when the ban came into effect. These small towns ended up complaining to the government because they lacked the resources to care for them. Corinne Cahen, councilor for social action at Luxembourg City Hall, February 21 in her office. Carlos Martinez The message was: dont come here to beg, and I hope that was understood, says Corinne Cahen, councilor for social action, in her office at City Hall, just a few meters from the Grand Rue. The liberal politician, a former minister of social affairs, maintains that there was a problem with people traveling to Luxembourg to beg because it is a wealthy country. Her government, she says, is focused on creating social housing to serve those who live in the country, so that workers dont spend almost their entire salary on rent. Angel Batum, a 55-year-old from Malaga, Spain, crossed the line between work and precariousness a few months ago. He was employed as a formwork carpenter on weekly contracts until an attack at Luxembourgs central train station landed him in hospital. When this newspaper found him at the soup kitchen, he was still recovering, unable to work, and unable to return to Spain because his documents were stolen. Here you get a plate of food, a shower, clothes theyre very charitable but when it comes to work and housing, forget about it, he lamented. Angel Batum, a 55-year-old formwork carpenter from Malaga, at the Stemm vun der Strooss soup kitchen in Luxembourg on February 19. Carlos Martinez He has seen both sides of Luxembourg. The first time he emigrated to the country, five years ago, he had a job contract and a place to live. A completely different life, he says. Now he sleeps in a shelter that only opens in winter. Theres no middle class here. You either work and have money, or you dont work and end up begging in the streets. People come thinking Luxembourg is paradise, that its easy to get a job paying 4,000 or 5,000, but when they arrive they realize they cant find work or anywhere to sleep and have to resort to soup kitchens. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Social media is often rife with strange food trends, and one of the latest may have many scratching their heads. Tinned fish has long been associated with the back of cupboards, but it's starting to fill up supermarket aisles - and the poshest variety can now be found for up to 12.50. And now the canned seafood has been described as one of the 'trendiest foods of 2026'. And while influencers have talked about it for years, supermarkets in Britain have finally caught up. For years the mighty tinned fish has been an easy sandwich filling or to add something to a salad. It doesn't cost an arm and a leg, has a long shelf-life. So it may come as a bit of a surprise then that after a quick browse of the tinned section of the supermarket, tinned fish can be found for up to 12.50 a regular tin usually costs less than a pound. Posh tins of sardines were found in Marks & Spencer for 11, while a can of 'white' tuna was available for 12.50. That's more than 10 times the regular price of sardines and tuna, which M&S sell for just 1. Waitrose sells a can of 'Cantabrian' Anchovy fillets for 10 a pop. Tinned fish has been spoken about by health influencers, online chefs and one Nottinghamshire man who has skyrocketed to fame for reviewing it. Known online as 'Tinned Fish Reviews', Marcus Ansell has amassed a following of more than 1.3 million people on both TikTok and Instagram. Marcus Ansell reviews tinned fish online and has more than 1.3 million followers on both TikTok and Instagram Mr Ansell reviews tins of fish from around the world, often wearing a fez on his head and accompanied by his dog, King Arthur He told the Daily Mail: 'I think people are realising how good tinned fish is and how interesting it can be. 'A lot of people were probably just used to the cheap supermarket type canned tuna but I think people just didn't realise the huge, fancy and exciting world of tinned fish. 'You can definitely get some really nice tins of fish for less than 5. 'If it was a fancy date night and you wanted to get something really nice for your girlfriend or something then I'd probably spend a bit more than that though.' Mr Ansell reviews tins of fish from around the world, often wearing a fez on his head and accompanied by his dog, King Arthur. He said: 'The expensive stuff is completely different from regular supermarket tuna. 'So for normal supermarket tuna, it tends to taste quite metallic. They might have a texture that's sort of a little bit dry and are more difficult to chew and swallow. 'With the fancy expensive ones, they have a delicate, buttery texture with no metallic taste. They are just delightful. Tinned fish has been described as the 'trendiest food of 2026' by food influencers like Sunna van Kampen Mr Ansell recommends going to the online shop Tinned Fish Market to try tinned fish varieties from abroad Waitrose sell a can of 'Cantabrian' Anchovy fillets for 10 a pop 'They do seem very expensive but when you consider them a really luxury item, like a special treat, it sort of becomes a lot more reasonable.' Mr Ansell started reviewing tinned fish after receiving some from his sister at Christmas two years ago. He posted his first video soon after and has now garnered such a following that he quit his full-time job to review tinned fish for a living. 'Asda and Tesco both have pretty good ranges, especially their Extra Special and finest range. M&S do some really good hot smoked mackerel that's really popular.' Mr Ansell said that some people in the US are importing M&S tinned mackerel because they can't get it locally. A stall in Borough Market, the Tinned Fish Market, which has a small following online, is the best place to get tinned fish in the UK, according to Mr Ansell. 'There are so many different varieties that it could become quite a big hobby of trying all the different ones.' He said that he bought a tin of Alalunga Hake for 23. It was so expensive because all the fish came solely from the cheeks. 'It's absolutely amazing,' he said. 'You can easily spend over 20 though.' Tonic Health, as he is known online, told his 900,000 followers that he did not know if this tinned fish was worth 12 Despite canned fish being one of the oldest foods on the market, with a history dating back to the 1700s, many young TikTok users are bizarrely only now discovering it due to its 'niche' appeal He said that he usually eats the tinned fish on its own or just with a bit of toast. 'The ones with sauce, the more expensive ones, you want to heat those up,' he added. 'Some have butter at the bottom, so you have to heat it up and pour the butter on some toast before you chew on it. It's fantastic. 'It's a completely different thing to normal supermarket tuna, it tastes completely different. And I think it's absolutely worth the price difference.' Another curious tinned fish trend has seen food influencers fold a paper towel on top of an opened can of sardines and setting it on fire. If the kitchen does not burn down, it can apparently make a tin of gently smoked fish within minutes. Former chef and TikTok cooking influencer Ben Slator set fire to a 13 can of Los Peperete sardines. He said in a video: 'This tastes like barbecued fishit's surprisingly delicious.' Despite canned fish being one of the oldest foods on the market, with a history dating back to the 1700s, many young TikTok users are bizarrely only now discovering it due to its 'niche' appeal. The craze sees creators routinely post recipe videos of how best to use the seafood, with many a far cry from the products' value-shelf roots. Expensive cheeses, posh wines and an assortment of charcuterie boards are a common theme of the viral videos, some of which rack up millions of views. Health food influencer Sunna van Kampen, with nearly 900,000 followers, called tinned fish the 'trendiest food of 2026'. He said: 'They are healthy, high in omega-3s and it's just olive oil and fish.' Tonic Health, as he is known online, said about the expensive supermarket tinned fish: 'Not sure it's worth 12 quid but it is delicious tuna and super healthy.' A fruit picker will face trial accused of murdering a grandfather whose leg was allegedly cut off with a circular saw outside a fish and chip shop in Far North Queensland four years ago. Vanuatuan John Yalu, 40, earned $800 a week picking bananas on farms around Innisfail when police allege local resident Kalman Tal, 66, asked him to amputate his lower left leg for him. But Mr Tal died after the alleged impromptu surgery with the battery-powered saw at the town's riverfront Fitzgerald Park in the early hours of February 19, 2022. He allegedly bled to death after collapsing into a gutter next to Innisfail Seafood, and his body was discovered at 3.48am by two brothers out walking. Yalu was arrested the same day and has been in custody ever since, with the case stalled in the Queensland legal system. Supreme Court judge Justice James Henry ordered Yalu to be arraigned to enter a plea and the court has now told Daily Mail the trial will begin in Cairns on May 18. Yalu will require a Bislama interpreter for his trial, while several witnesses will also require interpreters to give evidence. The case rocked Innisfail and the sleepy township's migrant worker community who live in a series of converted old houses in its centre known as the Non-resident Workers Accommodation Hub. Vanuatuan worker John Yalu, 40, will face trial charged with the amputation murder of grandfather Kalman Tal who died in 2022 after his leg was allegedly removed with a circular saw Kalman Tal (pictured with his daughter) had been living in Innisfail for about two years when he allegedly asked a migrant fruit picker to amputate his lower left leg with a power saw Mr Tal was discovered lying in the gutter outside this fish and chip shop on the Innisfail riverfront by two men out walking around 3.48am on February 19, 2022 Best known for its sugar and tropical fruit industries and high rainfall, Innisfail, population around 10,000, is situated on the crocodile-infested Johnstone River. Yalu was known at the town's newsagency where he sent money home to his wife and three children back in Vanuatu, a weekly event which ceased with his arrest. A retiree, Mr Tal had been living on the town's outskirts for about two years in a four-bedroom house with his daughter, son-in-law and their children. He was known around fishing haunts, local shops, and leading up to his death, had come to notice for a strange reason. Police allege on the night in question Yalu was out drinking with fellow farm workers at the Nite Rumours bar in central Innisfail. Police allege he then went with Mr Tal to an area near the riverbank where Yalu allegedly agreed to a request to remove Mr Tal's lower left leg with the circular saw. After the discovery of Mr Tal's body, Innisfail police officers arrived at the scene within minutes, ahead of paramedics who were unable to revive him. Detective Acting Inspector Gary Hunter revealed he found 'a very confronting' crime scene when he made it to the area by 5am. John Yalu has spent four years in custody but will finally face trial in the Cairns Supreme Court in May John Yalu had been working cutting bananas in the Innisfail area for several years before police allege he agreed to sever Kalman Tal's leg with a circular saw in February 2022 Vanuatu's High Commissioner to Australia Samson Vilvil Fare addressing an emergency meeting of around 300 emotional Vanuatuans after Yalu was charged with murder Insp. Hunter described Mr Tal's family as 'shocked' and 'distressed', and said the whole Innisfail community had been traumatised and affected. Mr Yalu has spent some of the years awaiting trial at the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre, just south of Mareeba in the Atherton Tablelands. Following his arrest and murder charge, Vanuatu's High Commissioner to Australia Samson Vilvil Fare travelled to Innisfail and held an emergency meeting with about 300 Vanuatuan migrant fruit pickers to urge calm among the distraught workers. A coffee shop owner said he felt 'violated' after a customer's bike was stolen at knifepoint in broad daylight and police arrived only to order coffee. Steve Bassi, 71, said the theft was 'beyond the pale' and claimed Met Police took more than an hour to arrive afterwards, though other uniformed officers came to order drinks in the meantime. Onar Cranny, 26, was drinking coffee outside Bartons coffee shop in Bermondsey on Friday, February 21 when two men dressed in black pulled up on a motorbike and grabbed her bicycle. When her friend Patrick Archer moved to block them from stealing the bike, they pulled out a knife and he backed away holding his hands in the air. One of the men then slowly slung the bike over his shoulder, before the pair drove away. Ms Cranny, originally from Delaware in the US, had only owned the Trek Madone bike, which can cost 5,000, for around a week. It was just her second ride and she had cycled 25km with Mr Archer, from Canada, before buying coffee and a pastry from Bartons. The pair had just finished their drinks and were preparing to leave the shop. Two men on a motorbike stole Onar Cranny's bike at knifepoint in Bermondsey last month Officers arrived at the cafe shortly afterwards but only for their lunch, not to investigate the crime The men were filmed earlier that day by a neighbour, who thought they looked suspicious She told the Daily Mail: 'It's definitely terrifying. 'I'm just shocked. Obviously I know people will steal bikes when they're locked up or someone's not with the bike but to be getting ready to get back on and have someone come up, it was just like, wait, what? 'I was literally just about to get on the bike. It all happened so fast.' After the thieves flashed the knife at Patrick, Ms Cranny said: 'We're not going to argue with that'. 'You're just in utter shock,' she added. 'It was like 11 in the morning on a Saturday, so brazen.' Ms Cranny said she had bought the bike with money inherited from her grandfather and was beginning to train for a half Ironman in October with her partner. Mr Bassi, originally from Forest Hill, said 'this shouldn't happen' in London and he was disappointed officers took so long to arrive. Steve Bassi, who owns Bartons coffee shop, said he and his staff felt 'violated' by the theft Onar Cranny had her Trek Madone bike, similar to that pictured, stolen in Bermondsey After the theft at 10.55am it took more than an hour for police to reach the shop. Around 35 minutes after the bike was stolen, four uniformed officers entered Bartons but only to order coffee, not to investigate the crime. Mr Bassi said: 'We had a police van turn up with several officers and we thought they had come to deal with this crime but they had just come for coffee and they said "Oh, I'm sure somebody will turn up soon." 'All of us, we feel violated by this and really, really angry.' After the theft Mr Bassi started a fundraiser for Ms Cranny on GoFundMe. 'I felt really guilty,' he said. 'Although they've been here a couple of years, they're visitors to my country and they've been robbed in broad daylight at knifepoint. 'I just feel so bad about it and I just had to do something, it's not something I could let go.' Ms Cranny said it was 'nice to know there's still good people in the world'. Mr Bassi also railed against crime in the capital and London's mayor Sadiq Khan. 'Weve got a mayor who doesnt fund proper policing and the Prime Minister does nothing,' he said. 'Crime in London is crazy.' Mr Bassi added a nearby shop was actually robbed at gunpoint late last year and we never see a policeman unless theyre coming for coffee. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said Sir Sadiq was 'determined to crack down on all thefts and robberies and ensure all Londoners are safe at all time'. They added neighbourhood crimes including personal robbery, theft and violent crime were falling but the mayor was 'committed to building on the progress achieved'. The spokesperson said Sir Sadiq had set out plans to invest 1.26billion in policing to help 'bear down further on these crimes with more visible policing in hotspot areas, greater funding for specialist proactive policing teams and an enhanced partnership led approach to deliver a safer London for everyone'. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'We recognise the distressing impact of these types of crime on victims, the community and business owners. 'All reports are taken seriously and while we understand the frustration surrounding response time, in this case no one was injured, the stolen item was not immediately traceable and the suspects had fled the scene.' They added a detective had taken a formal statement from the victim and outlined the investigation process. Officers have also spoken with the coffee shop owners to gather CCTV evidence and 'provide them with reassurance'. The spokesperson said the force's enquiries continue. CCTV captured the theft and a neighbour filmed the pair on the motorbike beforehand, having had their suspicions raised by the thieves' movements. A prolific professor dubbed 'China's Nostradamus' predicted that Donald Trump would win the 2024 presidential election and go to war with Iran; his next prediction presents a chilling forecast for what is to come. Professor Xueqin Jiang has been at the forefront of several political predictions that have since come true on his YouTube and Substack series, Predictive History. Jiang is a Beijing-based educator and writer. He is also on the research team for Harvard's Global Education Innovation Initiative, has authored a book on education reform, and coordinated study abroad programs at China's most prestigious schools. Jiang publishes his lessons for free online, and in 2024 he posted a lesson titled 'The Iran Trap.' The video has received millions of views, with people now flocking to the lesson after military tensions escalated in the Middle East last weekend. Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck Iran in a coordinated military effort to destroy the country's nuclear capabilities after diplomatic negotiations failed. Iran retaliated with a barrage of military strikes against countries in the Middle East that house US military bases. The strikes in Iran also killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei. Heightened tension in the region has led to fears of a full-blown war. The US and Israel began launching military strikes in Iran on February 28. Pictured is smoke from explosions in Tehran on Friday Trump justified the war as a means of destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities. He's pictured at the White House on Thursday Professor Xueqin Jiang, pictured above, correctly predicted that Trump would win the 2024 election and go to war with Iran, but his third prediction is the most chilling of all 'If Trump were to win a second term, he would likely contemplate invading Iran. While an initial invasion would seem successful, American forces would quickly become bogged down in Iran's mountainous terrain,' Jiang wrote in the description of the lesson. The professor predicted at the time that Trump would justify the war as a means of bringing democracy to the region and taking out Iran's nuclear capabilities. After the initial strikes in Iran on February 28, Trump issued a defiant video message justifying the attack, echoing similar themes that Jiang predicted. 'It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I'll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon,' the president said. Trump also denounced the Iranian regime, arguing that military force was in America's best interest. Jiang argued in his lecture series that the military conflict would eventually mirror Athens' invasion of Sicily in 415 BCE. The invasion occurred during the Peloponnesian War. Commanders Alcibiades and Nicias launched an ambitious effort, but underestimated their opponents' power, which ultimately weakened the Athenian empire. Jiang noted three major forces pushing the US toward war with Iran. He said the first was the Israel lobby, including AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), which he argued wants a war in the Middle East to advance its interests. The professor said the next two forces were America's desire to be a global empire and Iran's conflict with Saudi Arabia. 'America is now addicted to empire, because empire represents easy money. All money has to be channeled through the US,' Jiang continued. He argued that Saudi Arabia threatens the existence of Iran. The two countries have long engaged in a proxy war, with Saudi Arabian forces fighting rebel groups supported by Iran, and Iranian forces fighting insurgent groups supported by Saudi Arabia. 'How these three forces manifest themselves is through Trump, so basically Trump is their champion,' Jiang continued. He noted that Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is friends with Netanyahu, and Kushner's father was a prominent sponsor of AIPAC. Later on in the lecture, Jiang predicted that Trump would launch a 'full-scale US invasion of Iran' in March 2027, with the partnership of Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as the support of the United Kingdom, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Poland. He said he believed the announcement would be televised, and Trump would justify the invasion by claiming the Iranian people wanted democracy and freedom. Jiang lectured that the US would frame the military conflict as a means of liberating the Iranian people and destroying nuclear capabilities in Iran. The Trump administration has scaled back rhetoric advocating for regime change in Iran, but has still floated the idea of intervening in Iranian politics. The initial strikes in Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, pictured above in September Your browser does not support iframes. Professor Jiang predicted the military conflict in 2024 and now believes the US would lose the war. Rescue forces are pictured above in Iran after the initial strikes Jiang made a third chilling prediction in 2024. In addition to Trump's victory and the war in Iran, the professor said he believed that the US would lose the war. During a recent interview with Breaking Points, Jiang said he stood by his initial prediction, noting that Iran had 'many more advantages' over the US. He argued that Iran has been preparing for a conflict with the US and has generated power through their proxies, including militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. 'The United States military is not designed to fight a 21st century war,' Jiang continued. He explained that American military strategy is designed for 'muscle flexing' and is not sustainable, adding that the worst calamity for the US would be to send ground troops to Iran. Jiang predicted that American allies, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, will eventually push the US to either send ground troops or bribe Iran to stop launching strikes across the Middle East. When asked why the US would engage in a war abroad, Jiang speculated that the successful capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made Trump 'overconfident'. The professor added that if ground troops are sent to Iran, Trump could request approval from Congress for emergency war powers, which could grant him a third term. 'If there's a war going on and you can delay elections and you have emergency war powers and people rally around the flag, then he probably will get a third term,' Jiang predicted. Professor Jiang argued that Israeli lobbying forces influenced Trump's decision to strike Iran. The president is pictured above with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December Jiang also argued that Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has ties to Israel and Saudi Arabia. Kushner (left) is pictured above in December with US special envoy Steve Witkoff (middle) and Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi (right) during negotiations in February in Geneva Jiang noted Kushner's family friendship with Netanyahu. The two are pictured above at a meeting in 2017 Franklin D Roosevelt served four terms during World War II, but the 22nd Amendment was later passed to prohibit presidents from exceeding term limits even during wartime. However, Trump has previously floated the idea. He joked during a joint press briefing with President Volodymyr Zelensky: 'So, let me just say, three-and-a-half years from now if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections. Oh, thats good.' The Trump administration has touted that the conflict in Iran is going as they planned. The president announced a 'new phase' in the joint war on Friday. He's since ruled out negotiations with Iran, calling for an 'unconditional surrender' as military strikes continue across the Middle East. A father whose daughter died in the Dunblane massacre has told how he angrily confronted Tony Blair to convince him to back a ban on handguns. Kenny Rosss five-year-old daughter Joanna was one of the 16 children who were shot dead along with their teacher, Gwen Mayor, at Dunblane Primary School on the fateful day of March 13, 1996. The gunman, Thomas Hamilton, killed himself following his murderous spree, which remains Britains worst mass shooting. In the months following the tragedy parents of the victims met with then Labour leader Mr Blair in a bid to persuade him to outlaw handguns if he was elected Prime Minister. And Mr Ross, 62, told how he once lost his temper while discussing the issue and told Mr Blair to imagine his own daughter dead and buried. In the wake of the massacre a petition calling for a full handgun ban, The Snowdrop Campaign, was founded and supported by many of the grieving parents. Prime Minister John Majors then Conservative government implemented a partial gun ban, which did not include .22 calibre single-shot weapons. And Mr Blair has since admitted that the meeting with the families convinced him that he had to implement a total ban. Kenny Ross (left) with Tony Blair inside Parliament in 1996 Speaking in a new BBC documentary to mark the 30th anniversary of the massacre, Mr Ross said: We had the meeting with Tony Blair and he said that if they were elected he would do what he could to go by our wishes. He said, I will see what we can do and I was just fed up. I finally said to him, Have you got any children? and he said yes and I said, Well, I had a daughter, shes now six foot under. That is why you have to do something about these gun laws. And then there was total silence. You could have heard a pin drop. I was starting to think Have I said the right thing? Have I said the wrong thing?. It was to get his attention as to how serious this is and hopefully it hit home. After Mr Blair became Prime Minister in May 1997, one of his first actions was to invite the parents of the Dunblane victims to Downing Street to tell them that he would go ahead with a ban. Mr Ross added: I asked Tony, Has it got anything to do with what I said to you?. He said, Not entirely but I kind of hope it did have some effect. Kenny and Pam Ross lost their daughter in the atrocity at Dunblane Primary School Recalling his encounter with the families, Mr Blair told the documentary: I remember meeting them and part of the shock for me was that my children were a little bit older but they were still at school. I felt deeply for them but as a political leader you cant take all your decisions on the basis that there is a campaign to do something. People make demands on government the whole time, you cant meet all those demands. But this demand in this way wasnt about money, it wasnt about priorities. It was just about a terrible, terrible event that the country was determined should lead to a change. Speaking about her husbands exchange with Mr Blair, Mr Rosss wife, Pam, said: My chin fell and I thought, I cant believe hes just said that. It just hit home for me what we had lost. I think that it probably affected him (Blair) as a father. We kept up the pressure on politicians and anyone who was prepared to listen to us. Floral tributes were left outside the school in the wake of the tragedy When we are not here we want the next generation and the next generation to be as vigilant as they can be so that it doesnt ever change. Mr Ross also paid tribute to his daughter but said that the hardest part for him three decades later is that he can no longer remember what her voice sounded like. He said: She was just a lively wee girl. She was a daddys girl, she definitely was a daddys girl. What I miss most is, I cant remember what she sounds like. This was before the time of videos, mobile phones. We have plenty of photographs but no videos of her and I have forgotten her voice. Dunblane: How Britain Banned Handguns will air on the BBC Scotland channel on Tuesday at 9pm. Senator John McCain's widow has revealed she was left trapped in Dubai amid the chaos of the Iran war. Cindy McCain joined thousands of Americans scrambling to escape the Middle East amid airspace closures, retaliatory strikes and mass flight cancellations which left travelers stranded across the region. 'I want to thank all who were involved in getting me and my party out of Dubai,' McCain wrote Saturday on X. 'I'm grateful beyond words thank you.' Her message did not confirm why she was in Dubai or who she was with. The Daily Mail has reached out to McCain for comment. It came as the US government confirmed a massive evacuation effort following joint USIsraeli strikes on Iran and the country's retaliatory attacks on American bases in neighboring countries. Her escape followed a difficult year personally. McCain recently stepped down after three years as executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, citing ongoing recovery from a mild stroke suffered last October. The State Department said more than 28,000 Americans have returned home safely since the conflict escalated, though officials stressed the number does not include those still traveling or those who relocated to third countries. Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said the department 'will continue to actively assist any American citizen who wishes to depart the Middle East to do so.' But even as officials touted the scale of the operation, many Americans stranded overseas feel hopeless. Senator John McCain's widow Cindy McCain said she was evacuated from Dubai amid the escalating Iran conflict and publicly thanked those who helped her leave Cindy McCain was evacuated from Dubai amid the escalating Iran conflict and publicly thanked those who helped her leave. She is pictured alongside her late husband John in 2008 Dubai has been the target of revenge attacks by Iran including the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab luxury hotel A retired US general stuck in the United Arab Emirates said earlier in the week how Americans felt 'abandoned' as flights out of the region remained scarce. The Trump administration has since opened a 24/7 help center and increased charter departures from the region. Officials said the first US-chartered repatriation flight arrived Thursday, with more expected daily, although they declined to provide passenger totals or departure locations. Behind the official statements, thousands of civilians have been left to find their own escape routes. Travel blogger Alyssa Ramos said her evacuation from Kuwait took 48 hours and spanned four continents - all without US government assistance. 'They keep going on the news and saying they're doing everything they can to get Americans out,' Ramos said after landing in Miami on Thursday. 'I know for a fact they're not.' Smoke is seen rising from the Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international traffic. It led to operations being suspended on Saturday before partially resuming services A stranded passenger sleeps on the floor outside Dubai International Airport terminal as the airport resumes limited operations in Dubai Ramos said she repeatedly contacted the US Embassy in Kuwait before being directed to a consular office that told her it could not help her leave and advised her to enroll in the Smart Traveler program and shelter in place. Other Americans across the Gulf reported shuttered airports, canceled flights, and fuzzy government guidance, while countries including Poland, Australia, France and the UK deployed military or charter aircraft for their citizens. Chicago resident Susan Daley, who was stranded during a work trip to the United Arab Emirates, managed to return on Thursday aboard the first commercial flight from Dubai to San Francisco since hostilities began. 'Having the State Department or whoever tell us, "You need to get out immediately," but there's no help, so you're on your own to get your own travel plans. That was the most stressful thing,' Daley said. American Cory McKane said he and friends rented a car and drove across the Oman border, where he said taxi drivers charged up to $650 for rides to Muscat's airport in order to flee Dubai. 'Everyone's been sending each other resources because, quite frankly, the US has not done a single thing in any capacity. That's been really disappointing,' he said. The State Department said most made their own arrangements without government help. But two officials said 30 percent to 40 percent of Americans offered seats on charter flights declined or failed to show up. Travel blogger Alyssa Ramos said her evacuation from Kuwait took 48 hours and spanned four continents without US government assistance A family hugs after disembarking from an evacuation flight on a commercial flight from Muscat, Oman, at the Henri Coanda International Airport in Otopeni, Romania The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal operations, said roughly 13,000 Americans had contacted the department seeking information or assistance, though not all requested evacuation seats. Former Democratic congressman Jason Altmire also escaped Dubai after the UAE partially reopened its airspace, flying onward to Bangkok to resume a planned vacation. 'We never heard anything from the State Department other than the general email advising us to find our own way out,' Altmire said. 'I found this, along with the "you're on your own" State Department voicemail, to be infuriating.' Democrats in Congress condemned the response. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, they wrote that 'the lack of clear preparation, planning, and communication to Americans abroad is unacceptable.' Rubio acknowledged recovery flights were underway but cited major logistical barriers. 'We know that were going to be able to help them,' he said, cautioning that 'its going to take a little time because we dont control the airspace closures.' Those closures were sweeping. Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Syria remained shut, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. An Iranian drone reportedly struck the 23 Marina Tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged recovery flights were underway but cited major logistical barriers Azerbaijan closed part of its airspace after accusing Iran of a drone strike that injured civilians and damaged an airport facility. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that more than 29,000 of roughly 51,000 scheduled Middle East flights were canceled as of Friday. But there were signs of movement as Qatar announced partial flight resumptions for evacuations and cargo. Dubai Airports said it facilitated more than 1,140 flights in three and a half days and was adding more daily. Emirates said it expected to restore its full network soon, depending on airspace access. Deirdre McClean was in Abu Dhabi on a business trip when the fighting broke out. In the week since, shes done everything she can to get information from the Government about what she should do to no avail. This is her diary... Ive been to the UAE numerous times, both on family holidays and for work. While Dubai is a city on steroids, with its show-off skyline and Love Island influencers in their rented lime-green Lamborghinis, Abu Dhabi is like the more subtle, sophisticated sister city, just over an hour down the road. I feel the area is pretty misunderstood mainly by those who have never actually been. I love the people and the culture and both emirates have their own charm. Its a great place to do business, as theres a real air of opportunity and innovation. I often travel alone, and as a woman have always felt completely safe here. So when the opportunity to attend a communications conference here came up, I was excited about attending. My daughter is a firstyear business student and I felt it would be a fantastic opportunity for her too, to attend, to network and see how the media industry operates. The fact that we could maybe squeeze in a few hours by the pool was also very appealing. We arrive on Friday night and check into our hotel. Saturday, February 28 Deirdre McClean was in Abu Dhabi on business when the fighting broke out. In the week since, shes done everything she can to get information from the Government to no avail I wake to news that Israel and the US have attacked Iran. I know how close we are to the action but am unconcerned for our safety. Surely we wont be dragged into it? However, I decide to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), just in case. There is little other information on its website. At lunch on the hotel terrace, we hear a really loud noise in the sky like a jet plane. Then theres a loud bang and two tiny white clouds appear in the otherwise clear blue sky. Everyone turns their attention to the scene, but when it stops as suddenly as it started, we are largely unconcerned and head off to sit by the pool for a bit. Not 30 minutes later, theres a sound I will never forget as long as I live. Phones start to shriek as a message flashes up on the screen. Due to the threat of missile attacks we have to go inside immediately and shelter in place. It is terrifying and shocking but, at the same time, there is no panic, just the quiet air of disbelief. It is surreal as we gather our belongings and make our way back into the hotel. We head straight to our room and start looking for news updates. It makes for sickening viewing. But at the same time, it just doesnt seem real. Eventually, things quieten down again and so, together with other guests, we venture back to the pool around 5pm. That is when everything changes completely. Several missiles scream across the sky and are intercepted with intense accuracy and deadly force. We stare, openmouthed, as the missiles break apart and debris rains from the sky. Smoke billows from Zayed port after an Iranian attack, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, in Abu Dhabi Fire Breaks Out at Bin Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi More ominous clouds appear, as the scene is repeated while massive blasts blare over our heads. Now it is real. And terrifying. Saturday night is like living through a really crap madeforTV movie. Missiles rain over our heads until about 3.30am. Our sister hotel in Dubai is hit. So is another hotel. Out in the corridors, people mill around, not knowing what to do for the best. The official government advice is to stay inside and keep away from the windows. The hotel offers to bring people down to the ballroom but we choose to stay in our room. There is little sleep and absolutely no word from the DFA. We sleep in our clothes with a gobag ready in case we have to flee during the night. I check my phone constantly but theres nothing from the Department of Foreign Affairs. The website has been updated to say its at the secondhighest threat level, but beyond that, not much else. Sunday, March 1 Sunday morning, we head down to breakfast, blearyeyed and bamboozled by the news updates Dubai Airport has been hit, so has Abu Dhabi. The holiday is over and so is the peace this area has enjoyed for decades. The beach is closed, as is the pool. A spot in the few public seating areas becomes a premium as the temperature outside rises to over 33C. There are no balconies so your room, no matter how luxurious, soon becomes claustrophobic. We risk sitting just outside the hotel for some fresh air and a change of scenery but soon the blasts are back. We are in constant contact with loved ones at home but I feel the need to downplay how bad things are here. Theres nothing they can do to help and describing the fact that your windows are rattling from missile blasts isnt going to improve their sense of helplessness. Theres one thing keeping me going according to my Etihad Airline app, my flight is still due to leave late on Monday night, into Tuesday morning. Now, clearly common sense would dictate that theres no way any commercial airline is going to put its passengers in the sky alongside cruise missiles but that screen information telling me my flight is on time is the only thing keeping me sane. At this stage I wonder if I am actually correctly registered with the DFA. Maybe I should register again, to be safe, because surely I would have heard something. Anything. So I register again. This time I note that at the end of the process, it states I have successfully registered. I sit back, satisfied that I will soon be bombarded with messages from the DFA. I keep checking the website, but theres nothing further to report. Then my pal at home sends me a screenshot of Minister Helen McEntee on X, formerly Twitter, telling me to just stay where I am and hold tight. I avoid looking at anything apart from the necessary accounts. I am only getting my news from official sources. Then oh joy, oh joy I get a notification that I can check in for my flight home. My heart soars as I receive the email containing our boarding passes. I shed a tear. The feeling of letting my loved ones at home know that we are on our way is overwhelming. They are more relieved than we are, if thats possible. We get ready to settle down for the night and, as Im about to turn off the light, my email pings. Our flight has been cancelled. I cant believe it, but of course theres no way that flight was ever taking off. Its late here, but Ireland is four hours behind so certainly early enough to share the bad news with home, but I havent the heart. I leave them in blissful ignorance as we again go to bed fully clothed with our go-bags at the ready. Monday, March 2 The lobby is alive with tourists and their luggage. Then I notice two big yellow school buses parked out front. The rumour is that the British government is bussing its people to Saudi to fly them home from there. Good for them. I check X nothing further from the DFA. By now our days have fallen into a kind of uneasy routine. We have breakfast, find somewhere inside other than our room to hang out and hope we can get outside at some stage. When our loved ones at home wake up, I have to break the news that were not going anywhere. Their anger is furious and directed towards the department. If the British are moving, why arent we? My husband calls the emergency number but obviously they believe emergencies only happen during office hours as it goes straight to voicemail. My husband eventually gets through, inside office hours. He registers us again. They say theres nothing else we can do but stay where we are. At the hotel, things are heating up. The beach and pool are still closed so we sit, sweltering and sweating, looking at the cool water we are denied access to. Suddenly, a couple of Russians can take no more and rush into the sea. The poor lifeguard blows his whistle but this only alerts their comrades, who also rush to join them in the crystal blue waters. Theres a Mexican stand-off until the lifeguard has no choice but to let them carry on. The rest of us are the beneficiaries. That night we chance not bothering to sleep in our clothes. We still have the go-bag ready and have our passports with us now at all times. Finally, an email from the embassy arrives but the relief is short-lived as it gives us the same advice stay where you are. At 3.15am were woken by the missile warning sirens on our phones. Ill be honest, this breaks me a bit. Our windows rattle, the blasts feel closer than ever and I dont think Ill ever feel safe again. 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 I remind myself to let the DFA know that the Iranians operate outside of Irish office hours. Theres no chance now of going back to sleep so I go on X. Big mistake. To be fair, it does serve the purpose for which it was originally intended others in the area are sharing their experiences but theres so much misinformation, AI-generated videos of really terrifying stuff and just general horror. Tuesday, March 3 Ive not slept and neither, it seems, has anyone else. As soon as we arrive down in the lobby, theres an overwhelming feeling of fear. Even those leaving seem to be terrified. Iran is raining missiles from the sky above us how safe can it be to be flying in that same sky? Eventually our loved ones at home wake up and excitedly share the news that at last the Government is on the radio talking about bussing us out of here to Oman to try and fly us from there. Im not sure how I feel about that but rush to check my email to see what the DFA is telling us. Nothing. If the department cant manage a communications campaign, can it really get me home from a different country? In preparation for an approximately sixhour bus journey to Oman, we spend our time ordering water bottles and a power bank online for delivery. At the same time, the yellow school buses continue to leave loaded with tourists from different countries. The Italians, the Russians, they all seem to be on the move. Then someone shares an update from Helen McEntee. She confirms they are going to try to get a chartered flight out of Oman for 280 people. Great, Ill check my email. Nothing. Then intrusive thoughts start to take over. I really hope that the people from the Office of Public Works arent booking the flights. Or maybe I want them to. Imagine the calibre of plane they would get us I mean, look at how they do bike sheds. This might not all be bad. There are a few more skirmishes in the sky, but definitely quieter than previous days. Do I dare to breathe a bit more easily? Wednesday, March 4 We meet our first other Irish couple. They are as much in the dark as we are. We agree to keep in contact if either of us hears anything. I head down to the beach for a bit. Its warm and windy and I try to get my steps in along the shoreline. Then the screeching in the sky is back, and the blasts and the bombardment. Theres utter panic on the beach as parents grab their kids and race back to the safety of the hotel. This is the worst its been in a while. I die a little inside. Were never getting out of here. Thursday, March 5 I wake to a new sound. Its like gunfire, but really big guns. Dear Christ. But as I check my phone, I see theres a notification from our airline we have a flight out. Were going home! I note that the first Emirates flight has landed back in Dublin. This is really, really great news. So why am I so afraid to leave? Then, around 7pm, the reason for my reluctance is clear. The missiles are back, with a vengeance. The sirens go off but at this stage some of our fellow travellers clearly have fightorflight fatigue. They ignore them and the requests of the security staff to please move inside for their own safety. Theyve been through all this before and nothing happened, so they are quite happy where they are. Then the sky is alight again the screams of the missiles, the blasts as they are intercepted. Even the most battleworn among us races inside. This attack is more ferocious than ever. We are back in our room and the windows shake as we hear a massive explosion. I am back on X trying to find out whats happening. The Iranians are targeting a US air base beside the airport and we are just 10 minutes away from said airport. I feel sick. Every time I stand up, I feel lightheaded but I cant let on how bad things are, for the sake of my daughter. How on earth are families with small children managing? In an act of defiance, I proceed to check in for my flight the next night. Deep down I know were not getting on that flight but it passes an hour or two as we pack our bags and eventually things settle down outside. We check the airline website: all flights are cancelled until tomorrow morning at 6am. Thats okay, our flight isnt until 2.05am on Friday night/Saturday morning. Theres still hope. That helps me eventually pass out from sheer exhaustion. Friday, March 6 Its 5.55am and I am wide awake. I immediately check my phone and there it is, confirmation that our flight has been cancelled. I cant believe it, but of course I knew this was going to happen. Were back in limbo. Somehow this feels more hopeless than the last time we were here. I want to cry but know that if I start, I wont be able to stop. I dread having to let everyone back home know were going nowhere for now. I have been trying so hard to keep everyones spirits up but my blood pressure is through the roof, I am shallowbreathing and cant focus on anything. My physical situation isnt helped by the fact that I am running out of my HRT gel. The very lovely hotel concierge tried all day yesterday to source some for me with my prescription from home, but its a highly controlled substance here so my chances of securing it are very slim. I am now trying to ration it. We head down for breakfast and the place is deserted. Its the first day theres no one milling in the lobby, no big yellow school buses parked outside to take the lucky travellers to the airport. It seems theres only a few of us left. Mainly Irish, some French, some British. Theres still no word of a flight home for us but I see that Ms McEntee has started her repatriation flights as predicted, they cost almost twice what the British government is charging. Maybe shes gone with OPW Airlines after all... An Ohio mother is being held on a $2 million bond after her daughters were found dead inside suitcases in a park. Aliyah Henderson, 28, is accused of killing half-sisters Mila Chatman, eight, and Amor Wilson, ten. The young girls' bodies were discovered by a dog walker on Monday in the Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland. They were badly decomposed when they were discovered at Saranac Playground, prosecutors said Friday. Henderson said nothing during her appearance in Cleveland Municipal Court other than 'thank you', according to NBC News. The alleged murderer had no prior criminal record, according to prosecutors. Municipal Court Judge Jeffrey Johnson cited his concern for public safety and the nature of her alleged crimes when setting Henderson's bond. She has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder. Aliyah Henderson, 28, allegedly killed her daughters Mila Chatman, eight, and Amor Wilson, 10. The two girls were found inside suitcases in a Cleveland park Henderson can be seen holding Amor, then three, on the left, with Mila to her right. The girls were found after a dog walker encountered one of the suitcases The horrified dogwalker discovered the bodies after his pet was drawn to an area close to the suitcases between East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue on Monday night. 'It was like a pile of dirt, and she stopped to sniff,' Phillip Donaldson told News5. 'She was taking too long, so I went back and looked and it was a suitcase that was half buried. When he pulled up the suitcase and looked inside, he found a human head. Donaldson added that the pile of dirt his canine stopped to investigate had been there for at least a week. Mila's father, DeShaun Chatman, said that he had been pursuing custody of his daughter for five years before investigators told him about her death on Wednesday. 'I couldn't save my baby,' Chatman told the Associated Press, saying that he felt 'useless.' He added that authorities had not given him an explanation for how the girls died. Amor Wilson, left, and her half-sister Mila Chatman, in a living room fort in Cleveland in 2020 DeShaun Chatman claimed he last saw his daughter Mila, pictured here in February 2020, when she was three years old Chatman said he had been looking for his daughter through a child welfare agency but could not find her because he did not know where she lived. The grieving father claimed he last saw Mila in 2020, when she was three years old. He said he and Henderson were never married but lived together for about a year after Mila was born. Chatman remembered his late daughter as 'happy-go-lucky' and 'always smiling.' 'She swore that she was a princess,' he said. 'She was always happy. She was a kid's kid.' He said Henderson had been 'ducking' him before she allegedly killed their daughter. 'You told me I was too family-oriented,' Chatman told FOX8. 'That's why you ain't giving my daughter.' He added that Amor's father had also been trying to get his daughter back. 'We both was in a position where we couldn't get her because [Henderson] always left,' Chatman said. Chatman said he was trying to regain custody of his daughter but that Henderson had been 'ducking' him The girls' bodies were found at Saranac Playground, near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue in Cleveland Henderson was charged with two counts of aggravated murder after being taken into custody on Wednesday The girls' identities were confirmed by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office late Thursday. DNA relationship testing also established that Mila and Amor were half-sisters. Henderson was detained Wednesday after detectives conducted interviews and examined evidence. Authorities have not yet disclosed how the girls died or when exactly. 'We are hoping to find answers,' Dorothy Todd, the Cleveland Police chief, said. 'This is a terrible, tragic situation.' Todd said the children had not been dismembered and confirmed the bodies had been there for some time. Another child was also living in Henderson's home when she was arrested. Further information about the youngster's identity was not provided. They were placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, according to Todd. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Cuyahoga County Public Defender's Office, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office and the Cleveland Police for further comment. Henderson's legal representation going forward is unclear. County records did not indicate when she would be back in court. A plaque honoring police officers who battled rioters during the January 6 attack on the US Capitol has quietly been installed nearly three years after Congress ordered it. The Washington Post first reported that workers mounted the memorial around 4am Saturday near the buildings West Front, where some of the most violent clashes unfolded when rioters stormed the complex in 2021. The plaque honors law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol during the siege, but stops short of listing all those who responded to the violence as Congress mandated. 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 inscription reads. Their heroism will never be forgotten. However the decision to install the plaque in the early hours has prompted ire from Democrats, who said the memorial was installed quietly without a public ceremony. New York Representative Adriano Espaillat, the top Democrat on the spending panel overseeing the legislative branch, said the timing suggested congressional leaders wanted to avoid attention. Make no mistake: they did this at 4AM so no one would see, no ceremony, no real recognition, Espaillat wrote on X. The plaques installation follows a years-long dispute in Congress over how and where the memorial should be displayed. A plaque honoring police officers who fought rioters during the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol was installed inside the building around 4am Saturday, nearly three years after Congress ordered it The memorial was placed near the Capitols West Front, where some of the most violent clashes occurred when rioters stormed the building Lawmakers passed legislation in 2022 directing that a plaque be installed on the Capitols West Front within one year listing the officers who responded to the violence. But the deadline passed without the memorial appearing, angering Democrats and several officers who fought during the attack. Earlier this year, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis pushed through a resolution allowing the plaque to be placed instead on the Senate side of a Capitol hallway. The move followed delays under House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose office had previously said the law authorizing the plaque was not implementable. Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges and former US Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, both of whom responded to the attack, filed a lawsuit over the missing plaque. Hodges, who was crushed against a doorway by rioters during the attack, said the new installation was only a partial solution. He called the plaque a fine stopgap but said it does not fully comply with the original law, which required the memorial to be placed on the Capitols West Front and include officers names. During the January 6 attack, supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol as Congress certified the 2020 election results, injuring more than 140 officers Capitol Police Sgt. Harry Dunn hugs Washington Metropolitan Police Department officer Michael Fanone after a House select committee hearing on the Jan. 6 attack US Capitol Police Sergeant Harry Dunn wipes his eye during the House select committee hearing on the Jan. 6 attack on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 27, 2021 Instead, the installation includes a nearby sign with a QR code linking to a document listing the thousands of officers who responded that day. The January 6 attack unfolded as Congress met to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. Thousands of supporters of then-President Donald Trump gathered in Washington and later surged toward the Capitol, echoing Trumps false claims that the election had been stolen by Democrat Joe Biden. Rioters forced their way past police barricades and broke into the building, sending lawmakers scrambling for safety and halting the certification of Bidens victory for several hours. More than 140 officers were injured during the violence and more than 1,500 people were later charged in connection with the attack. US Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick died the day after the riot after suffering strokes, and four other officers later died by suicide in the months that followed. A proposal to rename an elementary school after Donald Trump has divided a New Jersey town. Colts Neck Township School Board member Robert Scales put forward the bold suggestion for Conover Road Primary School as a way to honor the president. The school serves students from pre-K through second grade and is located in Monmouth County, where 69 percent of voters backed Trump in the 2024 election. However the idea infuriated critics after it was president at a board meeting on Wednesday. Local Democrat Matthew Jenkins, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2024, blasted the proposal on Instagram, arguing that school names should reflect values of integrity, humility, service, respect for the law and a commitment to community over self. Donald Trump does not embody those values, Jenkins wrote. He represents division over unity, grievance over growth, personal loyalty over public responsibility. Another critic, former school board member De Noia, warned in a letter that naming a school after a current political figure would be both divisive and potentially dangerous. It poses safety concerns for our students, she wrote. A proposal has been put forward to rename a New Jersey school after Donald Trump Superintendent MaryJane Garibay has not indicated whether she supports the idea or not Superintendent MaryJane Garibay did not take a stance but noted that Conover Road is named after a historic Colts Neck landowner whose estate benefited the district. Despite the backlash, several board members signaled their support. I love the idea, member Vincent Rugnetta said, even suggesting the neighboring Conover Road Elementary School could instead be renamed after Revolutionary War figure Joshua Huddy. Scales urged the district to create an exploratory committee to study the cost, legality and feasibility of the change. He also suggested the renaming could coincide with celebrations later this year marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The debate has also drawn attention to the boards existing ties to Trump. Robert Scales, a member of the Colts Neck Township School Board, raised the idea during a meeting Wednesday The plan would see Conover Primary School renamed in honor of Trump Board president Angelique Volpe revealed she and her husband, fellow board member Kevin Walsh, have already reached out to the former president and would love for him to visit the district. Walsh has spent the past five years as director of security for the Trump Organization in Manhattan. The district also faced complaints after hosting former US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in December during her History Rocks! tour, which partnered with conservative groups including Turning Point USA and Moms for Liberty. The Daily Mail reached out o the Colts Neck Township School Board for comment. The world is rearming and humanitarian aid is collapsing. Tamanna, Hamada and Carmen Elena have felt the shock of the global upheaval firsthand. Like them, millions of women in the Global South feel the sting of decisions made in offices thousands of kilometers away. Three comics and a common denominator: being a woman Tamanna, Hamada and Carmen live in three countries hit by the unprecedented crisis shaking the humanitarian sector. Afghanistan, Nigeria and Colombia are just three examples of the enormous impact of the collapse in international funding, which several projections estimate could result in millions of deaths. The United States, along with major European donors such as the United Kingdom, Germany and France, has opted for drastic cuts to development aid. When world leaders prioritize rearmament over cooperation, women are the ones who suffer most. That is why, this March 8th, we wanted to focus on the women of the Global South. The stories of these three women were sought out and written by three reporters from their respective countries. Then, from Paris, Nade, who is Franco-Iranian, illustrated them, and in London, we coordinated and edited the work. What you have in your hands is a collaborative process, created by women, through which we have tried to convey with as little distortion as possible the reality that affects millions of women around the world. The reporters: Zohal Azad and Ghazal Mohammadi are the pseudonyms of two Afghan journalists. They are part of Rukhshana Media, an organization that reports clandestinely from Afghanistan on the brutal reality faced by women and girls since the imposition of gender apartheid by the Taliban after their return to power in 2021. The protagonist Tamanna lives in Afghanistan, the only country in the world where half of the population that is, women cannot work, study, or even sing. When one of the few options available to women, working for an NGO, became impossible due to the lack of international funding, her life came to a standstill. The reporter: Zubaida Baba Ibrahim is a Nigerian journalist who works at Nigeria Health Watch and seeks to challenge conventional narratives through multimedia storytelling. In her country, the cuts have hit mothers and pregnant women with particular severity. The protagonist Hamada lives with HIV in Nigeria, where the stigma surrounding the illness condemned her to ostracism. When, in 2025, the United States dismantled USAID and decided to halt the antiretroviral program that allowed her to access her treatment, fear overwhelmed her. The reporter: Valentina Parada Lugo is a Colombian journalist who works in the EL PAIS America newsroom in Bogota. She writes about the internal armed conflict, justice, and human rights, with special attention to the stories of women in contexts of violence. The protagonist Carmen Elena is a Colombian woman who fights to offer a refuge to mothers protecting their children from armed groups. Her husband and brother were killed, and she now lives far from home with other women who have been affected by genderbased violence and guerrilla attacks. The lives of these women were cut short from one day to the next, when thousands of miles away from their homes, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, decided to wipe out USAID, the development agency of what had been the worlds largest donor. They are just one example of the many who have felt the harsh sting of those decisions across the world. The three women featured in this special, like so many other aid recipients, are not passive subjects waiting for charity. They are people with dreams and projects whose geography and condition as women have condemned them to vulnerability. When the moral imperative of humanitarian aid that prevailed for decades collapses and conflict takes precedence over cooperation, they are the ones who suffer most. First, because poverty rates are higher among women, and they therefore depend more on humanitarian assistance; but above all because much of development cooperation focuses on issues that their governments often neglect, including maternal and child health, family planning, and programs addressing violence against women. And when crises intensify, girls are the first to be pulled out of school to work, or end up being sold or prostituted. And when funding for health fails to arrive and the sick cannot be treated, women are usually the ones who take on the burden of care, abandoning their life plans and even their own health. One figure helps illustrate the severity of the current moment: 2025 is the year in which child mortality rose again for the first time in 25 years, partly due to the lack of resources for pregnant women. What we are seeing now is the immediate impact. The long term is going to be devastating, predicts Kellie Leeson of the Womens Refugee Commission, whose organization has produced a detailed study on the impact of the cuts one year later. It notes, for example, that with the dismantling of USAID, 94% of U.S. funding for sexual and reproductive health was eliminated. The Guttmacher Institute estimates 17 million unintended pregnancies resulting from the cuts in just one year. The slashing of development aid has sparked deep reflection on humanitarian assistance and cooperation, starting from the premise that they are far from a cureall. They are part of an imperfect system that creates dependency, often reflects donor priorities, and has long been in urgent need of reform. But cutting aid abruptly, without time to build alternatives for selfsufficiency, pushes the most vulnerable countries toward humanitarian catastrophe and endangers decades of progress in global health that affect us all. ILLUSTRATIONS Nade is FrancoIranian and illustrates projects for children as well as for adults. She works on issues focused on reproductive justice, antiracist and queer feminism, and physical and mental health. The mother of a five-year-old boy who died from an anaphylactic reaction to cows milk at school has made an emotional plea for MPs to vote through a new law which could save childrens lives. Helen Blythe, whose son Benedict collapsed at Barnack Primary School in Stamford, Lincolnshire, after being accidentally exposed to cows milk, said passing a crucial amendment to a Bill going through the House of Commons on Monday would ensure all schools have adequate allergy plans in place to protect vulnerable children - and make it less likely that other families would go through the agony of losing a child. The amendment, which has been tabled by former Education Secretary Baroness Nicky Morgan, would require schools by law to buy and store adrenaline autoinjector pens, often known as EpiPens lifesaving medication used when someone experiences a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, which causes airways to swell. It would also require schools to provide allergy awareness training to staff and adopt policies to deal with allergies and anaphylaxis, as well as action plans to deal with the needs of individual children with allergies. The move comes amid a dramatic spike in the number of children with potentially life-threatening allergies to food such as nuts, cows milk, eggs and fruit over the last two decades. Last week the Government was asking its MPs to vote against the proposed amendment to the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill, because it said believed these measures could be achieved without the need to pass them into law. But it performed a dramatic U-turn last night and said it would look to table its own amendment, which would also cover any advances in allergy treatments. The Department for Education this week launched a consultation on new statutory guidance which aims to have the same measures in place by September. While Mrs Blythe and campaigners have welcomed the consultation, they argue it does not go far enough. Benedict Blythe, 5, died after suffering a severe allergic reaction to milk at his primary school Benedict's mother Helen Blythe has made an emotional plea for MPs to vote through a new law mandating schools to have EpiPens They warn that without legal enforcement independent schools are not covered by the guidance, and that others could choose to opt out. Speaking to the Mail, Mrs Blythe, who launched the Benedict Blythe Foundation to campaign for policy change in memory of her son, said: While were grateful for the statutory guidance, which is far more detailed than anything that was in place before, we know that there is a get out for schools if they have a good reason. A previous piece of statutory guidance which set out policies to help manage children with medical conditions in schools has seen 70 per cent of schools not implementing the recommended safeguards including Benedicts school. His inquest highlighted a systemic failure at the school yet theres no-one investigating, theres no accountability. That would be different if the measures were legally enforceable. Not only might those measures have saved Benedict, they would mean that if things do go wrong there are consequences. We know the Government cares about children and safety, and this is right at the heart of what they say is important. The Bill gives them the opportunity to complete the job, to save lives, and make it less likely that other families will go through what weve been through. Benedicts life mattered, and his death should matter too. Benedict, who had only started school three months before he died, suffered from asthma and had a number of allergies including eggs, kiwi fruit, nuts and milk. His parents helped the school put together a personal allergy action plan to cope with his needs, and a specific process to store, prepare and supply oat milk for him which minimised any risk of cross-contamination. Benedict Blythe (right) with his parents Pete and Helen and his sister Etta Blythe But in December 2021, he was exposed to cows milk by accident when that process was not rigidly followed. He vomited twice before collapsing, and was pronounced dead in hospital a short while later. An inquest in Peterborough last year heard there were delays in staff administering an adrenalin pen, which was a factor in his death. There were also missed opportunities to learn from a previous incident in which Benedict had been served pizza for lunch two months before his death, which led to him being sick. One of the main arguments against the new law has been that it would be too expensive for budget-restricted schools to implement the measures. But Mrs Blythe said any legal enforcement should come with additional funding to help schools. Modelling also suggests that by prescribing auto-injector pens to schools themselves rather than giving each pupil who needs one an additional pen to keep in school would save the Government around 1million. Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU teaching union said: Schools maintaining a supply of spare allergy pens could save the life of a child who has left their device at home or who experiences their first severe allergic reaction at school. We would, however, urge the government to provide additional funding to cover this as the devices need to be bought from pharmacies and regularly checked against expiry dates. Benedict Blythe who died in 2021 after eating a snack at school, with his sister Etta Benedict vomited twice before collapsing, and was pronounced dead in hospital a short while later Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, said: On Monday night, MPs have the chance to make sure no other family suffers as Helens has. The Government is whipping its MPs against this amendment. I urge Ministers to think again, and urge every MP to do the right thing and vote to save childrens lives. Just as we dont ask schools to fundraise for fire extinguishers or defibrillators, we should not leave schools to find the money to keep children with allergies safe. These changes can be funded without costing the Treasury a penny more. A Department of Education spokesperson said: 'There is nothing more important than the safety of our children and we recognise allergy safety requires the strongest possible protection, that's why we are legislating to make this happen. 'We will be bringing forward our own amendment which will see all schools required by law to have an allergy safety policy and give the Education Secretary the power to introduce further regulations on allergy safety if needed. 'Auto-injectors will soon become outdated, so our amendment will ensure regulations can keep pace with advancements in technology rather than quickly becoming unworkable. 'This will deliver the key protections for children with allergy and the flexibility for our requirements to evolve as clinical advice changes.' Britain's election watchdog was last night accused of a 'reckless' attempt to water down voter ID rules that risks 'opening the floodgates' to fraud. The Electoral Commission wants the Government to allow 'vouching' of voters who do not have identity documents when they go to a polling station. It would mean that those without any valid forms of voter ID such as illegal migrants or others with no right to vote could vote by simply getting someone else who did have the correct identification to vouch for them. Critics last night warned that the Commission's 'alarming' proposals would encourage even more fraudulent 'family voting', which was observed in record numbers at last month's Gorton and Denton by-election in Manchester. The illegal practice often involves a man entering a polling booth with his wife or other relative and telling them how to vote. The introduction of 'vouching', also known as attestation, could also encourage impersonation of legitimate voters and intimidation of voters, it was claimed last night. Legal expert Dr Patrick Nash said: 'This is the Electoral Commission itself calling for vouching to be used. It is incredibly alarming and counterproductive. You would have someone with ID saying "I can vouch for this person". In reality that person could be anyone. It destroys any kind of security whatsoever. 'We have already seen high levels of family voting during the Gorton and Denton by-election and this would open the floodgates further to voter fraud. The Electoral Commission wants the Government to allow 'vouching' for voters who do not have identity documents Nigel Farage has claimed Reform UK were robbed of victory in the last month's Gorton and Denton by-election by foreign-born voters 'It is extraordinary that the Electoral Commission is advocating for this.' Independent election observers estimated that up to one in eight votes could have been affected by family voting at last month's by-election. Reform leader Nigel Farage sensationally claimed in last week's MoS that his party was robbed of victory by foreign-born voters. In a bid to combat fraud the previous Tory government introduced new laws which mean voters must show photo ID in a polling station before being issued with a ballot paper. But last month Labour unveiled the Representation of the People Bill, which will water down the Tory reforms by letting voters 'prove' their identity using just a UK bank card. While the Electoral Commission has warned this change 'may not help improve security and voter confidence', it says vouching can be a good solution. 'The UK Government should enable registered voters who do have accepted ID to make an attestation at their polling station on behalf of someone who does not have any form of accepted ID (also referred to as "vouching"),' the Commission's website says. 'Canada uses "vouching" at its federal elections. It allows registered voters with an accepted form of ID to vouch for someone who does not have accepted ID. 'It keeps a link with a named voter who can prove their ID.' But last night former Communities Secretary Lord Pickles said he was 'deeply alarmed' at the vouching proposals. 'This would open the door to further family voting, intimidation and impersonation,' he said. 'I have seen firsthand how fragile the secrecy of the ballot can be. 'Once you let one person validate another, you destroy that secrecy and invite abuse back into our elections. We worked hard to close these loopholes. 'Reopening them would be reckless and would do lasting damage to trust in British democracy.' Army chiefs have been criticised for launching a review just as the Iran war intensifies into whether male soldiers can wear make-up. While British personnel in Cyprus called for more protection and HMS Dragon was stuck in port, all serving soldiers were asked on Thursday whether they thought men could apply cosmetics and wear their hair like women. They were surveyed on woke gender-free changes which could see men wearing make-up with long hair or hair extensions, painted nails and earrings. The consultation from Army HQ in Andover asked soldiers if they agreed rules on make-up should be gender-free, explaining this means that men, women and non-binary service personnel can all wear make-up in the same way. Women soldiers can wear make-up but it should be inconspicuous and after training. It includes natural eyelash extensions and nail polish although this cant be of bright colour. Soldiers were also asked if hair and jewellery policies should be the same for men, women and non- binary personnel effectively meaning men could style their hair like women and wear stud earrings. Make-up is currently banned for men and they must have short hair which does not reach to the collar or on to the ears. The review also suggests laying down rules for facial aesthetics such as fillers and microblading for the first time, plus recovery periods for tattoos and piercings. The war in Iran rages on: an explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on Saturday Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois said: Upgrading to mascara from camouflage cream is hardly likely to deter Putin. The Armys last major appearance policy change was in 2024 when a century-old no beards rule was reversed. The MoD last mooted allowing men to wear make-up in 2019. The then Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said it had to be camouflage colour. In 2017, Army chiefs sparked anger when they instructed personnel to avoid gender-focused phrases like best man for the job. An Army spokesman said: As the Chief of the General Staff has said, the Army is focused on enhancing our lethality and fighting readiness. There are no plans to change policy and this was not an official Army survey. Three teenagers have been charged with murder after a good Samaritan was allegedly stabbed to death outside a Melbourne train station. The 22-year-old security guard was allegedly attacked after stepping in to protect a student, 14, from four males near Mernda train station just before 6pm on Friday. Police allege the victim, who was from the Mernda area, led the schoolboy away from the group and out of the station on Bridge Inn Road. It's alleged the group then followed the pair onto the concourse beneath the platform and attacked the man. He was found by paramedics with critical injuries and could not be saved. The group were arrested, with police later charging three - an 18-year old man, and two boys aged 16 and 17 - with murder and armed robbery. A 17-year-old boy remains under police guard in hospital and is yet to be interviewed. The young student who was allegedly attacked first suffered a broken nose and has been discharged from hospital. Three teens have been charged with murder after a man was fatally stabbed on Friday The group were arrested near Mernda train station in Melbourne's northeast on Friday night It's understood the alleged offenders were known to police. None of the group were on bail at the time of the attack, the Herald Sun reported. Footage revealed what appeared to be a machete, or a machete sheath, left at the scene. The 18-year-old man is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday. The two teens charged will appear at a Children's Court at a later date. Detective Acting Inspector Nigel L'Estrange described the alleged attack as 'cowardly' and praised the alleged victim for his good deed. 'The community shouldn't have to put up with [these] sort of attacks. [The alleged victim has] just tried to do the right thing. He hasn't been aggressive at all,' he said. 'He put his own life on the line to try and help out this 14-year-old boy; he has to be commended.' Police allege the victim was set on by the group after he stepped in to protect a young student It comes as the Victorian government faces growing calls to address the state's problem with youth crime. Shadow Minister for Police and Corrections Brad Battin said more police and tougher sentencing measures were needed to address the issue. 'With nearly 2,000 vacancies on police rosters, more than 40 stations closed or operating on reduced hours, and PSOs to be stripped from 120 train stations, Victorians continue to pay the price for Labor's community safety failures,' Battin said in a statement on Saturday. 'The [alleged] fatal stabbing outside Mernda railway station yesterday afternoon will deeply concern all Victorians. 'This incident highlights the tragic consequences of Labor's failure to tackle youth crime and get dangerous machetes off our streets. Under Premier Jacinta Allan, crime is up and police are down.' The Daily Mail has contacted the Allan government for comment. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. An Australian mother of two has been left fighting for life in Bali after a horrific motorbike accident. Alivia Jane Campbell, 28, was on holiday on the Indonesian island when her dream trip was suddenly shattered by the crash. Ms Campbell had been riding her motorbike when it collided with a truck. She remains in hospital in a critical condition with severe brain trauma and a broken pelvis. Concerned family and friends have launched a GoFundMe to help support the recovery of the mother, who is from the NSW Central Coast. It's understood her two young daughters were not with her at the time of the accident. Ms Campbell's loved one Reese Campbell opened up on the dire situation she is facing overseas. 'She is fighting hard, but she has a long road ahead of her,' she wrote. An Australian mother of two has been left fighting for life in Bali following a horrific motorbike accident Alivia Jane Campbell, 28, was on holiday on the Indonesian island when it was suddenly turned upside down by the incident Ms Campbell remains in hospital in a critical condition with severe brain trauma and a broken pelvis 'Alivia is not only a friend to so many of us - she is also a devoted mother to two young daughters who need their mum home. 'Right now, her family and friends are doing everything they can to support her recovery and bring her back to Australia safely once she is stable enough to travel. 'The medical care, hospital bills, and potential emergency medical transport home are extremely expensive, and the costs are adding up quickly.' Reese said the money will be used to cover Ms Campbell's hospital and medical treatments. The money will also assist with ongoing care and recovery and help her travel back to Australia. 'She's still in an extremely bad way and not conscious but she's the strongest girl I've ever met, she's fighting so so hard,' Reese said. 'Livy please keep fighting.' Daily Mail contacted Ms Campbell for comment. An internationally acclaimed chef has been accused of violently abusing staff for more than a decade as he prepares to open a sold-out, $1,500-per-meal pop-up in Los Angeles. Rene Redzepi, founder of the Danish restaurant Noma, allegedly bullied and physically assaulted at least 30 employees between 2009 and 2017, per a report published Saturday by The New York Times. The Michelin starred chef would often ask colleagues to form a circle around alleged victims and watch as he inflicted abuse, former workers claimed. On one occasion, Redzepi allegedly punched a worker in the ribs after the employee played music he disliked in the production kitchen. Another claimed the celebrity chef regularly cussed at employees at close range and even struck them in the face. A former cook alleged Redzepi attacked him more times than he could remember, including slamming him against a wall and clobbering him in the gut twice. Redzepi is still set to open Noma's luxurious residency in LA's Silver Lake neighborhood on Wednesday, though the event is now facing backlash after the allegations emerged. The former head of Noma's fermentation lab, Jason Ignacio White, has called on workers to protest the pop-up starting next week and throughout the residency. 'For years, the culture surrounding Rene Redzepi and Noma has been celebrated without confronting the harm many workers experienced behind the scenes,' he said. Celebrity chef Rene Redzepi has been accused by at least 30 employees of bullying and physical abuse between 2009 and 2017 Noma, which was originally based in Denmark and ranked first five times on the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants List, is scheduled to begin a residency in Los Angeles on Wednesday White claimed to have 'witnessed intimidation, unpaid labor, and a culture that pushed people beyond their limits while expecting silence in return' at the restaurant. He has been sharing accusations sent to him by former employees for the past month, as well as derogatory pictures about Noma, on a public social media profile. One of the most recent posts on February 27 showed a text message thread that featured an anonymous worker who said working at Noma was 'the worst two weeks of my life.' The worker claimed that Redzepi had punched him in the stomach for 'not picking the herbs right' in 2012. Those claims echoed the ones made in the Times piece, where one chef named only as Alessia said that 'going to work felt like going to war.' 'You had to force yourself to be strong, to show no fear,' she added. In one incident, Redzepi was said to have repeatedly ridiculed a sous-chef in front of about 40 uniformed cooks. Public shaming like this was reportedly common. He allegedly punched the employee in the ribs several times and did not stop until the chef told the group that he liked performing oral sex on DJs. The violent confrontation was allegedly triggered by the chef playing techno music in the kitchen, a genre Redzepi disliked. Jason Ignacio White, the former head of Noma's fermentation lab, is urging workers to protest Noma's LA pop-up White has been posting accusations against Redzepi and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant on social media for the past month Another chef solely cited as Ben claimed that no one in the kitchen was exempt from Redzepi's alleged physical abuse. 'He just went down the line and punched us in the chest,' the former Noma worker said. 'Even the interns who had been upstairs picking elderflowers.' Redzepi was also accused of having interns work demanding 16-hour days while they went unpaid. 'Rene raised a generation of bullies, and they bullied us,' Mehmet Cekirge, a Noma intern in 2018, said. That allegedly included an American chef Blaine Wetzel, who was accused of physical and verbal abuse after leaving Noma to open a separate restaurant. He furiously denied allegations of bullying at his restaurant Willows when they first surfaced in 2021. At the time he gave a statement to the New York Times, which said: 'We are deeply saddened to learn that some former employees shared concerns about our business. 'Our goal is for anyone who works at the Willows to think of us as the most kind, caring, generous, and talented people they have ever worked with and that the Willows was the best job they have ever had. If we are missing that mark in any way, we must improve.' On Saturday, Redzepi apologized for his past behavior and said he understood that his 'actions were harmful to people who worked with me' Former Noma employees alleged that the acclaimed chef repeatedly punched and publicly shamed members of his staff (Photo of Noma workers in Copenhagen in 2021) Redzepi responded to the allegations on Saturday morning, saying he wanted to 'address past stories around my leadership in the kitchen that have resurfaced recently.' He claimed that he did not 'recognize all details in these stories' but that he saw 'enough of my past behavior reflected in them to understand that my actions were harmful to people who worked with me.' The Danish celebrity chef apologized and said he had 'worked to change.' 'Over the past decade that has meant therapy, deep reflection, and stepping away from leading the day-to-day service,' he said. 'I have found better ways to manage my anger, and I am still learning.' Redzepi previously wrote in 2015 that he had 'been a bully for a large part of my career.' 'I've yelled and pushed people,' he said. 'I've been a terrible boss at times.' He added then that he wanted to 'change things' in his profession, which included his restaurant. 'When we started trying to change the culture at Noma, we did it for the sake of our own happiness,' Redzepi wrote. 'I didn't expect that it would also make us a better restaurant. But it did.' In 2015, Redzepi wrote that he had 'been a bully for a large part of my career' and a 'terrible boss at times' Noma also addressed the new accusations with less than a week to go before its Los Angeles pop-up. The restaurant told the Daily Mail: 'Although the stories appear to date back many years, we take them seriously and are looking into them carefully.' Noma claimed that the stories did 'not reflect the workplace' of the restaurant today, and added that an independent audit would be taking place. 'This work is ongoing and we will continue to improve,' Noma said. The three-Michelin-starred restaurant was originally based in Copenhagen. It ranked first five times on the World's 50 Best Restaurants List. But Noma shuttered its doors as a restaurant in 2024 in favor of becoming a food laboratory with occasional pop-ups. Its Los Angeles event sold out in 60 seconds, according to Redzepi. Tickets cost $1,500 per seat. The restaurant's Silver Lake residency is scheduled to last 16 weeks, through June 26. White urged his followers and past Noma employees to gather for a protest on Wednesday, when the pop-up will start. Redzepi's Silver Lake pop-up reportedly sold out in 60 seconds. Tickets went for $1,500 per meal He will attempt to deliver a 'formal demand letter' to Redzepi to discuss his alleged abuses and 'clear protections against harassment and retaliation.' 'If Rene is willing to meet, listen, and take responsibility for the harm caused, there is a real opportunity to repair that damage and move the industry forward,' White said. He added: 'But we also have to ask whether we are willing to keep accepting a system that breaks people just to maintain the illusion of greatness.' The Daily Mail reached out to White and Wetzel for further comment. The US has denied outlandish claims by Iran's de facto leader that American soldiers have been taken prisoner - as he baselessly accused Donald Trump of lying about the number of American military deaths. Ali Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, who many consider the most powerful man Iran after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated, issued a series of outlandish, unverified claims about the conflict on X on Saturday night. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the stories were unfounded, and told Al Jazeera: 'The Iranian regimes claims of capturing American soldiers are yet another example of its lies and deceptions.' They issued the rebuke after Larijani accused Trump of 'promoting a misleading narrative' about the six American soldiers killed in Iranian strikes in the week since the war broke out. Larijani previously alleged that the true number of US casualties is 'over 500.' 'Then, soon enough, with the passage of time, they gradually increase the number of the dead, under various pretexts, such as incidental accidents or fabricated incidents,' he said in an X post. In another post minutes later, Larijani added: 'Under the pretext of an accident, they will inflate the number of casualties.' 'It has been reported to me that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner. But the Americans claim that they have been killed in action. Despite their futile efforts, the truth is not something they can hide for too long,' Larijani said in another post. Iran's de facto leader Ali Larijani made the extraordinary claim US soldiers have been captured amid the war in the Middle East and accused Donald Trump of lying about the number of war dead The Daily Mail has contacted CENTCOM and the US State Department for comment on Larijani's claims, which he provided no evidence for. It comes as Trump attended a dignified transfer of the six fallen soldiers in the war with Iran as their bodies returned to US soil on Saturday. Trump appeared somber as saluted as the six caskets passed by him, his wife First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General 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 draped over their coffins as they were carried to a vehicle to be transported to a mortuary facility. In remarks to reporters on Air Force One after the event, Trump recognized the somber moment, describing it as a 'very sad day.' When asked whether the ceremony made him reconsider his aggressive actions in the war, Trump dismissed the notion and said the US was 'winning the war by a lot.' Trump said the deaths of US servicemembers was 'always a very sad thing', but said their parents were 'so proud.' President Donald Trump saluted the six fallen soldiers as they were given their dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Soldiers carried their fellow comrades, whose caskets had an American flag overlayed A large plume of smoke rises over Tehran after explosions were reported in the city during the night on March 7 The president has previously alluded to the likelihood that there will be more US casualties in the war, and asked on Saturday if he thought he would have to attend more dignified transfers, he agreed. 'Im sure. I hate to but its a part of war,' he said. The president met with the soldiers' families while at the Air Force base. Trump vowed on Saturday to continue US military action in the Middle East, with Iran sending a barrage of retaliatory rocket fire at US bases across the Gulf. In a Truth Social post, Trump said Iran would be hit 'very hard' on Saturday evening. '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. A New Jersey woman has been arrested after police say she posed as a licensed dentist, began a root canal on a patient and then abruptly stopped mid-procedure. Ana Amato, 49, of Old Bridge, is accused of leaving a patient bleeding and in agony after she allegedly aborted dental work. The accused fraud came after Amato is alleged to have demanded $1,000 to perform a root canal for a patient who saw her services advertised in a WhatsApp group chat. The man arrived for the appointment at an office in South River, New Jersey on September 22, 2025, and Amato began by injecting his gum with anesthetic and drilling his tooth, prosecutors said. However, she allegedly halted the procedure midway through and told him to return one week later. Before a follow-up visit could happen, investigators say Amato informed the man she could not complete the work and provided a list of other local dentists who could finish the procedure. When the patient later returned seeking the return of a $300 deposit, police say she refused, leading to an altercation which saw police show up. The patient then went to police headquarters to file a complaint, still bleeding and with gauze in his mouth which ultimately led to Amato's arrest on February 19. Police say Ana Amato, 49, of Old Bridge, was arrested for allegedly practicing dentistry without a license in South River, New Jersey Police said she began a root canal procedure on a patient but aborted it midway through, leaving a patient in agony for days The dental patient spoke with Sgt. Roselli and Officer Szukics who launched additional follow-up efforts and alerted the department's Detective Bureau. The investigation was assigned to Detective Patrick Molina. South River police executed a Superior Court-authorized search warrant at Amato's place of business and seized several items as evidence. Amato was charged with Unlawful Practice of Dentistry, Aggravated Assault, and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. Police say the case underscores how a seemingly minor call can expose more serious dangers. 'What began as a routine dispute call demonstrated exactly why thorough police work matters,' South River Police Chief Mark Tinitigan said. 'Sgt. Roselli and Officer Szukics recognized that something did not add up and took the extra steps necessary to protect the public.' Amato was arrested and now faces three criminal charges - they are Unlawful Practice of Dentistry, Aggravated Assault, and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity Police executed a Superior Court-authorized search warrant at a business on Main Street in South River, New Jersey on February 19, 2026 The chief also praised the department's detectives for continuing the investigation. 'Det. Molina's persistence and attention to detail were instrumental in seeing this investigation through and securing these charges,' Tinitigan added. The case is still active and ongoing. Any community members with additional information that can aid the investigation are urged to contact Det. Molina at 732-254-9002 ext. 113. A California middle school teacher has been placed on leave after a video emerged that appears to show him urinating into a cup inside his classroom just moments before students walked in. The recording, captured by a student and later shared with families, set off outrage at Granite Oaks Middle School in Rocklin, where officials confirmed they are investigating what they described as conduct 'inconsistent with our professional standards.' The father-of-three was identified by students as Dan Champ, an eighth-grade history teacher and Associated Student Body adviser with more than 25 years of experience, according to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Video obtained by The Sacramento Bee appears to show Champ unbuttoning his pants and urinating into a container just out of view of the camera. As he adjusts his clothing, he can be heard saying, 'Gosh, that's good - gosh gosh gosh gosh gosh gosh.' Moments later, while picking up the container and walking across the room, he says, 'love it, love it.' A pouring sound is then audible off camera. About one minute later, the school bell rings and students begin entering the classroom. Whispering and giggling can be heard before the video ends. Dan Champ, a teacher at Granite Oaks Middle School in Rocklin, California was placed on leave after a video surfaced appearing to show him urinating into a container in an empty classroom A student said she received the video through Snapchat from a friend but it has also been posted online Champ is an eighth grade history teacher and Associated Student Body adviser at Granite Oaks Middle School in Rocklin, California, pictured The footage does not appear to show any students present while the incident occurred. School leaders said they first learned of the video on February 25 after a parent and a staff member brought it to administrators' attention. Families then received a message later that day confirming immediate action. 'This afternoon, after school dismissal, a parent and a staff member informed the School Administration of a video showing an employee engaging in conduct inconsistent with our professional standards,' the email states. 'While the unverified video does not involve any students or other staff, the employee has been placed on leave while Granite Oaks Middle School and the Rocklin Unified School District investigate the incident. 'Although we are unable to share specific details, this matter is being taken seriously and will be addressed in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and legal requirements.' An eighth-grade student who was previously enrolled in Champ's class told The Bee she had heard rumors earlier in the school year that he would urinate into a container between classes. Her mother requested anonymity due to privacy concerns. 'It personally makes me feel disgusted knowing that I was in the room prior to him doing that near the spot that I used to sit,' the student said, adding that she received the video through Snapchat. The incident also ignited fierce debate among parents in the Rocklin Unified School District community. Champ and his wife, Myla Champ, operate an educational student travel program with upcoming trips scheduled this spring and summer to the East Coast Champ has more than 25 years of teaching experience, according to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Some questioned whether staff are given adequate time for restroom breaks. Others rejected such an explanation. 'I saw the video. It was really weird and there was enough time for him to go to the restroom. Per the children, this is a regular occurrence,' one parent wrote. 'My daughter's friend who is a junior remembers being in his class and it always smelling weird.' Another parent disputed the idea that the episode was about scheduling pressures. 'I don't think it's a restroom break situation,' she said. Others focused on the legality and ethics of the recording itself. 'So this makes filming him secretly ok?' one commenter wrote. Another added: 'Although this is highly concerning, why are students secretly filming a teacher alone in their classroom? That to me is also disturbing.' Champ's professional resume includes more than two decades in the classroom and leadership of extracurricular programs. School officials said the footage shows an employee engaging in conduct 'inconsistent with our professional standards.' Dan Champ, right, is seen alongside wife, Myla Champ operates a yearly trip to the East Coast along with students from the school He and his wife run an educational travel program for local students known as Champ Tours, with upcoming trips scheduled to East Coast historic sites and New York City. District officials have not announced further disciplinary action and said the investigation remains ongoing. The Daily Mail approached Champ and the school for comment. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will arrive in Australia in the coming weeks for a surprise visit, marking more than seven years since their acclaimed royal tour. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to visit Sydney and Melbourne in mid-April for a range of activities related to their business and philanthropic work, reports news.com.au. It has not been confirmed whether the Sussexes children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, will join them on the trip or remain in Montecito, California. While details of their plans have not been confirmed, it is likely the couple will meet with Australias armed forces or veterans community, given Harrys connections to both. However it's understood Meghan could also venture into Australia's podcasting scene, with reports she is due to appear as a guest on the 'Her Best Life' podcast, launched and co-hosted by Jackie O Henderson through her 'Besties' company. The embattled radio star, who is currently in the news following the shock collapse of the Kyle and Jackie O Show last week, 'stepped away' from the podcast in February. Meghan is also rumoured to appear as a special guest at an upcoming Besties event, similar to actress Gwyneth Paltrow who took part in a Q&A with Henderson at Sydney's Darling Harbour in 2023. No events are currently advertised on the Besties website however followers are encouraged to 'sign up to be the first to know.' The Sussexes last travelled to Australia in 2018 as working members of the British royal family. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are expected to tour Sydney and Melbourne in mid-April Meghan is due to appear on Jackie O Henderson's podcast 'Her Best Life' Meghan had just announced she was pregnant with her and Harry's first child, with the trip widely considered a huge success for the-then newlyweds. Within 18 months of the tour, the couple had had stepped back from their royal roles and moved to California with their son Archie. Royal historian Tim Ewart told Sky News: 'Australia broke Harry and Meghan and was one of the catalysts for them leaving the Royal Family. She and Harry had expected they would get much more praise and recognition from that royal tour.' In their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, Harry said: 'It really changed after the Australia tour, after our South Pacific tour. 'It was the first time that the family got to see how incredible she is at the job. And that brought back memories. 'To see how effortless it was for Meghan to come into the family so quickly in Australia and across New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, and just be able to connect with people.' News of the Sussexes' upcoming trip comes just days after it was announced Meghan had split from Netflix and would take complete control of her As Ever jam brand, after the streaming giant dropped her lifestyle show amid savage reviews from critics. The Duchess announced a partnership with the company a year ago when it commissioned a new season of her show, With Love, Meghan. During the 2018 tour, the couple had just announced Meghan was pregnant with their first child The deal gave Netflix a stake in her As Ever brand, which includes her jam, rose wine and flower sprinkles. Insiders claim Meghan thought Netflix was being too 'cautious' and wants to 'go global', believing her brand can 'stand on its own'. Meghan's Christmas episode, 'With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration' attracted scathing reviews from critics, who accused her of being 'out of touch' in the 'tectonically tacky' show. A spokesman for As Ever confirmed to the Daily Mail: 'As Ever is grateful for Netflix's 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 can't wait to share more.' Jimbocho, a Tokyo neighborhood whose name was only uttered by insiders until recently, is now on everyones lips. Time Out magazine named it the coolest neighborhood in the world in 2025, making it quite famous. Even so, theres no need to panic: Jimbocho works for those who are obsessed with staying on top of trends as well as for those who distrust fashionable lists and prefer to wander at their own pace. The common thread running through this neighborhood is its over 180 bookstores, many of them secondhand, which frequently display their stock on the street, transforming the area into a kind of open-air book fair. This is especially true at the end of October, when the Kanda Used Book Festival takes place, which celebrated its 65th edition last year. Its no wonder, then, that the Japanese writer Satoshi Yagisawa set his novel Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (2023), translated into more than 20 languages, in Jimbocho. The density of used bookstores, publishers, and businesses related to writing is no accident: the proximity of several universities since the Meiji era (18681912) has transformed the neighborhood into an ecosystem where books are an everyday tool. The inevitable question remains for those who dont read Japanese: what can we find there? Quite a lot: the design of Japanese books is so beautiful that its easy to be tempted to buy some artwork, or those vintage Japanese movie posters that seem to whisper an insistent buy me. A book sale in Jimbocho, a neighborhood in Tokyo. World Discovery / Alamy / CORDON PRESS Among the many bookstores in the neighborhood are Kitazawa Shoten, specializing in foreign language books; Bohemians Guild, with its splendid collection of visual arts; Yumeno Shoten, specializing in manga; and Anegawa Nyankodo, proudly displaying its extensive selection of books, calendars, and cat-related items. Even an Italian bookstore, Italia Shobo, has ventured to open its doors in the neighborhood, counting on the cosmopolitanism of its passersby. All of this revolves around Yasukuni-dori, the main avenue, where most of the subway lines that give the neighborhood its name converge. Interior of the Kitazawa bookstore in the Jimbocho district, Tokyo. A bibliophile district cant live on ink alone. Jimbocho knows this and responds with top-notch cafes. Milonga Nueva is one of them: tango plays on vintage, high-fidelity speakers, and you really listen. As in so many traditional Japanese cafes with a retro feel known as kissaten the rule is simple: listen to the music or chat quietly. Groups looking for a good laugh would be better off going elsewhere. Big Boy, tiny and dedicated to jazz, functions almost like a private listening room: vinyl records, local whiskeys, and a charming couple who go out of their way to welcome their customers. Kazuma Coffee Shop, meanwhile, takes the European concept of coffee to the extreme of Japanese culture: down a flight of stairs, youll find a place that doesnt skimp on cigarette smoke, tiny drip coffee makers, English china, and a hand-crafted foam for the cafe creme. If we dont return with a book in Japanese, its quite likely well end up with a ukiyo-e print in our suitcase. These prints, typical of the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries), were made from woodblocks and have become icons of Japan, largely thanks to Hokusais ubiquitous Great Wave, which has overshadowed many others. To get your hands on one, simply visit the Fifty Gallery and Yamada art galleries, both located in the same building. They offer good quality prints at surprisingly reasonable prices 3,000 yen, about $19 at the current exchange rate and even small original woodblock prints for the equivalent of three or four dollars. Jimbocho also has its own themed hotel, the Book Hotel Jimbocho: the lobby has a library and its 32 rooms are decorated with original illustrations by contemporary artists. Meanwhile, veteran rockers, or those aspiring to be, have their meeting point on Guitar Street, or Meidai-dori, on the way to the Ochanomizu subway station. There youll find the citys electric guitar shops, where brands like Fender, Gibson, and Rickenbacker delight enthusiasts, as they are very reasonably priced and can be tried out in places like Big Boss or Kurosawa Music. Some of these shops also sell second-hand guitars, wind instruments, and electronic gadgets as eccentric as the local otamatone, a small electric instrument and an ideal gift for children or adults eager to experiment with sound. A love of books inevitably leads to an interest in paper and illustration. For anyone wanting to try their hand at traditional sumi-e calligraphy or doodle in a travel journal, Bumpodo stationery shop is a must-visit. Open since 1887, during the Meiji era, it was founded when Japan was beginning to open up to the world and the demand for art supplies linked to educational modernization was growing; thats why it specialized in oil paints and art supplies. The 1922 building it occupies, Western-style and with a concrete structure, survived the great earthquake of 1923. Today, it houses three floors of art supplies and, at the very top, a cafe with a gallery where you can sit and draw or escape the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood. Interior of the Honmaru Jimbocho bookstore in Tokyo. YUICHI YAMAZAKI ( AFP / GETTY IMAGES ) If we get hungry after our walk, Tokyo never disappoints, and Jimbocho even less so. On Suzuran Street, a tiny shop serves seafood tempura and fried vegetables right before our eyes: theyre so legendary that a line outside is a common sight. Its called Tempura Hachimaki and is easily recognizable, not only for being always busy, but also for the vintage photograph of its interior that adorns the entrance. A few meters away, the Chinese restaurant Yosuko Saikan offers cold noodles with vegetables (hiyashi chuka) arranged in the shape of Mount Fuji, just in case we need a reminder of which country were in. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Police have arrested a 25-year-old man after an Iranian anti-regime protester was reportedly struck with a bottle and then stabbed. Metropolitan Police officers swarmed Ballards Lane, in North Finchley, London, at around 7pm last night after the alleged attack. When officers arrived, they found a man in his 40s who appeared to have been knifed in an attack. It has been widely speculated that the victim was an Iranian anti-IRGC protester, but police have not yet confirmed his identity. Just last week, Ballards Lane was brought to a standstill as scores of Iranians celebrated the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Finchley has the largest Iranian community in London and is often referred to as 'Little Tehran'. Police have arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and he remains in custody. He is alleged to have attacked the victim with a bottle but police are hunting for others involved, including the knifeman who carried out the stabbing. The victim was treated at the scene before being rushed to a nearby hospital by the London Ambulance Service. While his injuries are serious, they are not considered neither life-threatening nor life-changing. Pictured: Police at the scene in Finchley, North London where a pro-regime change Iranian man was reportedly stabbed in an altercation between opposing groups earlier on Saturday evening A man in his 40s was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service where his condition has been deemed neither life-threatening nor life-changing A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and remains in police custody Eyewitnesses say police lights lit up the entire street as the incident caused significant congestion. They added that bypassing commuters on a bus were shocked, with many standing up to get a view of the chaos. A spokesperson for the Met said: 'A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after a man was attacked on Ballards Lane, West Finchley. He remains in police custody. 'Police were called at 19:03hrs on Saturday, 7 March following reports a man had been attacked. Officers performed emergency first aid on a man in his 40s who had been stabbed. He was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service where his condition has been deemed neither life-threatening nor life-changing. 'The man who has been arrested is believed to have attacked the man with a bottle. At this stage we do not believe he had stabbed the man. Urgent enquiries are underway to locate the other individuals involved. 'Officers remain at the scene and people can expect to see an increased police presence in the area. A dispersal order is in place, meaning officers can direct people to leave the area if their presence or behaviour is likely to contribute to harassment, alarm, distress, crime or disorder. 'We urge people to not speculate while officers work at pace to understand the circumstances around this incident.' They later clarified: 'The individual currently in custody is believed to have attacked the victim with a bottle. At this stage of the investigation, we do not believe he was responsible for the stabbing itself. Urgent enquiries are now underway to identify and locate the other individuals involved in this assault.' Residents have been told they should expect a heightened police presence in the area as forensic teams continue their work. A spokesman from the London Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 6.52pm on Saturday 7 March to reports of a stabbing in Ballards Lane, Finchlely, N3. 'We sent resources including ambulance crews, a clinical team manager, an advanced paramedic practitioner and an incident response officer. 'We treated a man at the scene before taking him to a London major trauma centre.' Iran's capital erupted into flames as Israel and the US last night launched a fresh wave of devastating strikes as the Middle East conflict rages on. The skies over Tehran turned a disquieting red and filled with acrid smoke after several oil and fuel depots were blown up across the Iranian capital. Huge fireballs could be seen erupting across the city's skyline, while residents complained of a lingering burning smell in the air, as both the US and Israel doubled down on their pledge to fight until the 'eradication' of the Iranian regime. Iran continued to mount its own attacks on Saturday, launching drones and missiles at Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Dubai - where one man was killed by falling shrapnel from an 'aerial interception' and two skyscrapers were damaged. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it had struck 'several fuel storage complexes' in Tehran as part of a 'significant strike' against the regime. One resident in Tehran said it looked as if 'night had turned into day' as the sky was lit up by explosive orange flames from intense overnight infernos. Saturday's attack on the Iranian regime's infrastructure came as US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of the war against Iran ending when there was no longer a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said: 'At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left maybe to say "We surrender".' The president also warned Sir Keir Starmer that he will remember the lack of support from 'our once great ally' for a war he has 'already won' - as he told the British PM he doesn't need Britain to send aircrafts to the Middle East in an extraordinary attack. In other developments: The skies over Tehran turned a disquieting red and filled with acrid smoke after US and Israeli forces struck several oil depots in the Iranian capital A huge fireball could be seen from miles away, while residents complained of a lingering burning smell in the air following the aerial military strikes The IDF confirmed it had carried out strikes on the Iranian regime's infrastructure on Saturday night. Pictured: Flames erupt near to Mehrabad International Airport Trump's sentiments were echoed by his Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Israel will continue its war with Iran 'with all our force'. He added that Israel has a 'systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime'. Alongside the United States, Netanyahu said Israel had gained near-total control of the skies over Tehran after a week of strikes, while the IDF has 'many surprises' for the next phase of the war. 'Citizens, you are telling me, the government and our heroic soldiers to continue until victory, and I thank you. I can assure you that we will continue with all our force,' Netanyahu said in a televised address last night. Speaking to the Iranian people, he said the 'moment of truth' was coming as Israel was seeking to help liberate them from the 'yoke of tyranny'. He said that Israel had managed to 'transform the Middle East' and shift the balance of power in the region. 'Together, we will roar like a lion. And with God's help together, we will ensure the eternity of Israel,' he added. The IDF said it had targeted Tehran's oil and fuel depots because Iranian forces make 'direct and frequent use of [them] to operate military infrastructure', the IDF said in a statement. Despite the strategic assaults on Tehran, Iran's Deputy Defence Minister unrepentantly insisted reserves of bombs, drones and missiles 'are fully ready and intact' and the country will 'confront any threat' over the long term. Depots in Tehran and Alborz provinces were among those struck, according to a statement by the National Iranian Oil Company. State media blamed 'an attack from the US and the Zionist regime' at one of the facilities, which supplies the capital and neighbouring provinces in the north. Earlier in the day, the IDF said it had also struck two Iranian sites producing ballistic missiles for the regime. The IDF said the two compounds, in Parchin and Shahrud, were used for the research, design and production of the deadly weapons. On a message posted to X, the IDF said: 'Over the past week, hundreds of IAF fighter jets struck the Iranian regime's production industries, which are used for the development and production of missiles and weapons.' Israel's military said earlier that it had carried out around 3,400 strikes on Iran during the first week of the war, with around 7,500 munitions dropped. While Trump has heaped support and praise on Netanyahu, he had less complimentary words for UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after he pointedly said on Saturday: 'We don't need people that join wars after we've already won'. President Trump pointedlytold Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer: 'We don't need people that join wars after we've already won'. Pictured: The leaders in September last year 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 (file photo) Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced fierce criticism for not acting fast enough to protect Cyprus from enemy drones and missiles. RAF Akrotiri was hit by an Iranian drone attack last Sunday. Pictured: Flashes in the sky over the base on Monday, when further drones were intercepted Trump revealed his thoughts on the UK's role in the conflict so far during a post to his Truth Social account, referring to the 'serious thought' Starmer is now giving to sending two aircraft carriers to the region. But the US President was quick to rebuff such help. He wrote: '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!' Earlier on Saturday, four American bombers landed in the UK and the US started using British bases for 'specific defensive operations'. The US president was referring to reports that the UK was preparing an aircraft carrier in response to the Middle East crisis. 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. Sir Keir's decision not to grant permission for the first wave of military action prompted a raft of criticism from Mr Trump in recent days, including a personal attack on the Prime Minister as being 'not Winston Churchill'. He has also called Britain's response 'very disappointing' and that it should be allowing America to use its bases 'without question or hesitation'. Sir Keir later granted permission for 'defensive' US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. The Prime Minister has sought to play down the rift and, after Mr Trump's latest rebuke, Downing Street pointed back to Sir Keir's earlier comments that the special relationship is 'in operation right now' as the two countries share intelligence and work together. 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. 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 Keir was not backed however by his predecessor Tony Blair, who rebuked the Prime Minister for his lack of support for Donald Trump's war on Iran, telling him: 'We should have backed America from the very beginning'. Amid mounting diplomatic tensions between London and Washington over the conflict, Sir Tony, who appeared at a private event hosted by Jewish News, warned his successor: 'If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security... you had better show up'. The Lib Dems however urged Sir Keir to stand up to the US and accused Mrs Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of wanting Britain to 'blindly follow Trump into his reckless war'. 'The Prime Minister must stand firm against Trump's bullying and avoid getting sucked further into this illegal and damaging war,' Sir Ed Davey said. Amid the political posturing over the situation, Saturday also saw the wider region feeling the impact of the conflict. In Dubai, a luxury residential skyscraper was struck by debris from a suspected Iranian drone that was intercepted by the UAE. Photographs and footage showed smoke rising from the 23 Marina tower, which stands 88-storeys tall and comprises more than 280 units. There were no reported casualties. In a separate incident, a man was killed on Saturday night in Dubai after debris from an 'aerial interception' fell onto his car, officials said. 'Authorities confirm that debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of an Asian driver,' authorities said without providing additional details. It is understood the debris came from a drone attack on the 19-storey Azayez Tower in upmarket Al Barsha area, near the well-known Lulu's Hypermarket. The night assault was one of two on residential skyscrapers in Dubai, which were both seen in flames. 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. Earlier on Saturday, Dubai's airport was evacuated and completely closed following explosions and a fire close to the complex around 8am local time (4am GMT). 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. Damage likely from debris shot down in the drone attack was visible after the small fire began on the side of the passenger walkway at the busy Terminal 3, which handles Emirates flights. The drone strikes occurred as the Foreign Office confirmed that a commercial flight from Dubai for Brits stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could depart early next week. British nationals, their spouse or partner and children under 18 are eligible to register for the flight, which is available for a charge. The flight will be in addition to commercial routes operating out of the UAE. More than 140,000 British citizens have been left unable to return home since the outbreak of the conflict last Saturday. The latest strikes occurred just hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for assaults on regional neighbours and pledged to cease its retaliatory attacks. Pezeshkian also described the American demand for an 'unconditional surrender' as a 'dream that they should take to their grave'. Iranian aggression against Israel continued unabated however. Sirens were heard across the country on Saturday night, amid warnings of a simultaneous Hezbollah rocket attack and ballistic missiles fired by Iran. Footage showed Israel's Iron Dome system going into action for the 12th time in less than 24 hours as scores of projectiles rained down on towns in northern Israel, including Haifa and Kiryat Shmona. Elsewhere, Trump said he had ruled out having Kurds join the Iran war. 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. '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'. His presence at the transfer came as he 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 Iran's leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American air strikes. Pezeshkian's message, seemingly filmed in a hurry, underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracy's 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. Pezeshkian's statement said Iran's 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,' Iran's parliament speaker and a former Revolutionary Guard general, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on X. He called defence policies in line with the late supreme leader's guidance. Iran's UN mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on non-military sites 'may have resulted from interception by US electronic defence systems'. Earlier on Saturday, Israel revealed it had struck a Tehran airport it said was used to transfer weapons and cash to militant groups. The US and Israel have battered Iran, targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. The war's stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the US has at times suggested it seeks to topple Iran's 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. It was the first reported strike to land in Baghdad's 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. Iraq's caretaker prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, called the embassy attack a 'terrorist act' carried out by 'rogue groups'. Sirens also sounded early on Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed 14 drones headed towards its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces. Eight drones were intercepted in the country's airspace and a further six were intercepted and destroyed 'east of Riyadh', the ministry said in separate posts on its official X account. Kuwait's defence ministry meanwhile said on Sunday that fuel tanks at the Gulf nation's international airport were targeted in a drone attack. 'The fuel tanks of Kuwait International Airport were attacked by drones in a direct targeting of vital infrastructure,' an official defence ministry spokesman said, according to a post by the Kuwaiti military on X. The spokesman added the country's forces were 'responding to a wave of hostile drones' that penetrated the country's airspace. Almost 1.4 million homes are facing an instant 600-plus rise in heating oil costs amid claims of 'shameful behaviour from rogue suppliers'. Latest figures show the bulk price of heating oil the main source of warmth for 'off-grid' homes in rural areas has doubled within a week to over 1.23 per litre. The spike follows warnings by Qatar's energy minister Saad al-Kaabi that the Iran War could halt all Gulf production with days and 'bring down the economies of the world'. The price of Brent crude a crucial benchmark stands at a three-year high of $93 and Mr al-Kaabi predicted it would hit $150 if the war continues for several weeks. The White House has made clear it expects military operations to last 'four to six weeks'. Shadow Energy Minister Claire Coutinho has now accused domestic suppliers of using the crisis as cover to 'price gouge' heating oil customers. She has called for the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate and demanded the government enforces proper price transparency. In a letter to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband she writes: 'Families are reporting shameful behaviour from rogue heating oil suppliers which can only be described as blatant profiteering. 'Some have had previously-booked deliveries cancelled by their supplier, only to be called back and offered the same oil, to the same address, on the same day, at twice the price.' The price of brent crude oil has shot up since the start of the war last week and now stands at a three-year high of $93 A huge explosion rocked Tehran on Saturday after the Israeli Air Force attacked an oil complex She said people were being forced to order large minimum quantities 'meaning they are suddenly facing extra bills of several hundred pounds just to keep warm. This is unacceptable.' The Mail on Sunday has established that online buying platform Boilerjuice is turning down tanker orders in some areas, instead offering customers 20-litre 'fuel boxes' at five for 296.99 an eye-watering 2.96 per litre. Distributors' trade group UKIFDA says the spike has been caused because heating oil, like jet fuel, is kerosene-based. Both are traded on European wholesale markets which depend on Gulf oil tankered through the Strait of Hormuz, now closed by Iran. UKIFDA CEO Ken Cronin said distributors bought oil 'almost daily' and had themselves been hit by fast-moving wholesale costs. 'In a market this volatile, lack of certainty is difficult,' he said. 'Our members are doing everything they can to support oil-heated homes.' Unlike electricity and gas supplies, there is no price cap on oil. A typical 1,000-litre order which cost 600 a week ago would now cost 1,230, according to Boilerjuice. According to latest Census figures, 865,000 homes in England and Wales mostly in eastern England, Wales, the north-east and the west country 127,000 in Scotland and 380,000 in Northern Ireland are affected. Campaigners fear these mostly rural areas, often with limited public transport, will also be hit with a 'double-whammy' through spiralling diesel and petrol prices. RAC head of policy Simon Williams said petrol had increased by 3.7p to 136.53p a litre inside a week, with diesel up by 6p to a 16-month high of 148.35p. Howard Cox, founder of the FairFuelUK campaign said small independent petrol stations should not be blamed. 'It is further up the fuel supply chain where greed is most endemic - notably the branded oil companies and their wholesalers,' he said. A Labour adviser suspected of spying for Beijing held a meeting with the Government's China minister in the Foreign Office shortly before his arrest, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. David Taylor, who is being held on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, met Seema Malhotra in her Whitehall office to help her to prepare for a speech she gave in January at his Asia House think-tank. On Saturday night, a Foreign Office source confirmed that Ms Malhotra had met Mr Taylor in her office with other Asia House representatives. But it was stressed that Ms Malhotra had requested that her office be swept for bugs before and after the 'recent events' relating to Mr Taylor. The source added that at no point had Ms Malhotra minister for the Indo-Pacific and minister for equalities been alone with the Labour adviser. Sources also said that they had not discussed the controversial proposal for a new Chinese 'super embassy' in London dubbed a 'spy dungeon'. Mr Taylor, the husband of Labour MP Joani Reid, was among three men arrested on Wednesday as part of a wider investigation into national security offences related to China. All three were released on bail. David Taylor (pictured, left, with his Labour MP wife, Joani Reid, right) is being held on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service Mr Taylor met Seema Malhotra (pictured), minister for the Indo-Pacific and minister for equalitie, in her Whitehall office to help her to prepare for a speech she gave in January at his Asia House think-tank On Saturday night, a Foreign Office source confirmed that Ms Malhotra had met Mr Taylor in her office with other Asia House representatives. Pictured: File photo of the Foreign Office Mr Taylor, a former special adviser to the Labour peer Peter Hain when he was the secretary of state for Wales, is a lobbyist and the director of policy and programmes at his think-tank. In her speech to Asia House in January, Ms Malhotra advocated engagement with China, saying: 'It is important that we co-operate where we can, challenge where we must and compete where we have different interests... choosing not to engage with China is no choice at all'. In response to the arrests, the Chinese embassy condemned what it described as attempts to 'fabricate facts and concoct so-called 'espionage cases' to maliciously slander China', adding that it had lodged a formal protest with the British Government. Ms Reid, who resigned the Labour whip on Thursday while an internal party investigation is carried out, said in a statement: 'This week has been the worst of my life. The shock of recent days has been difficult for me and my family.' The arrests have led the Tories to redouble their calls for China to be prevented from building the biggest diplomatic base in Europe on the site of the old Royal Mint, close to underground fibre-optic cables carrying sensitive financial information. This newspaper also understands that earlier this month the director general of Mi5 Sir Ken McCallum gave a cross-party briefing in the secretive Cobra bunker underneath Downing Street to warn about the risks of foreign interference. In remarks which have been interpreted by some sources as a 'shot across the bows of Reform', Sir Ken offered to 'vet' all the parties' potential candidates in the national interest. Questions were also raised about cryptocurrency donations. Mr Taylor, the husband of Labour MP Joani Reid, was among three men arrested on Wednesday as part of a wider investigation into national security offences related to China. All three were released on bail. Pictured: Matthew Aplin, left, and Steve Jones, right, who were the other two men arrested The arrests have led the Tories to redouble their calls for China to be prevented from moving forward with proposals for a 'super-embassy' in London on the site of the old Royal Mint (pictured, file photo), close to underground fibre-optic cables carrying sensitive financial information Reform UK is the only political party to accept crypto donations other parties refuse to accept the funds because of possible links to money laundering. Reform's record-breaking 9million donation from British-Thai crypto-tycoon Christopher Harborne last year was provided in the form of crypto-currency. There is no suggestion he is linked to money laundering. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman added: 'It would not be appropriate to comment on a live police investigation.' Police on Saturday night faced calls to probe an offshore company that appears to have been established to help Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor 'cash in' on his secret deals when he was trade envoy. Documents obtained by The Mail on Sunday reveal that Andrew jointly owned a company called Inverness Asset Management (IAM) with his friend, property tycoon David Rowland. IAM was registered in the British Virgin Islands, a secretive Caribbean tax haven, in 2007 and was only wound up in 2019. It appears to have been used to lure the former prince's wealthy contacts to invest in a tax-free offshore fund. Under a plan first exposed by the MoS, IAM was to target super-rich investors, many of whom Andrew would have met during his time as Britain's trade envoy, and persuade them to put vast sums of money into an investment fund called Blackfish Money Plus+ Fund. This fund was structured in the Cayman Islands, another tax haven, and only those willing to plough in $1million would be allowed to join the fund. A document outlining the fund said: 'The introductions will largely be from the contacts of IAM, consisting of royal families, high-net-worth families, heads of state and government institutions.' Mike Wood MP, shadow Cabinet Office minister said: 'These allegations are deeply concerning and the police must urgently investigate the matter to establish the full facts.' Documents obtained by The Mail on Sunday reveal that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (pictured, at the Duchess of Kent's funeral last September) jointly owned a company called Inverness Asset Management (IAM) with his friend, property tycoon David Rowland The company appears to have been used to lure the former prince's wealthy contacts to invest in a tax-free offshore fund. Pictured: Andrew with Mr Rowland at Ascot in 2006 Andrew, who was nicknamed 'Air Miles Andy' when he was trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, lived like a billionaire, holidaying on luxury yachts and travelling by private jet. Pictured: The former prince on holiday in Phuket, Thailand, in 2001 His fleet of cars included a green Bentley, while in 2014 he and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson bought a 13million ski chalet (pictured) in the Swiss resort of Verbier The leaked papers reveal how Andrew had a 40 per cent stake in IAM, while the Rowland family owned 60 per cent via their company Blackfish Capital Management. The firm was described as the result of a 'long-standing relationship' between David Rowland and Andrew 'whereby DR [David Rowland] has acted as adviser and mentor with regards to both general financial matters and specific investments'. Andrew, who was nicknamed 'Air Miles Andy' when he was trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, lived like a billionaire, holidaying on luxury yachts and travelling by private jet. For years he boasted a collection of expensive watches, including a 150,000 Patek Philippe and 12,000 gold Apple Watch. His fleet of cars included a green Bentley, while in 2014 he and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson bought a 13million ski chalet in the Swiss resort of Verbier. It is unclear whether the Blackfish Money Plus+ Fund ever operated but another document indicates IAM received a $640,000 payment from a different Blackfish fund in December 2008. Royal author Andrew Lownie said: 'The police clearly have to look at Inverness Asset Management and this offshore fund as part of their investigation. 'It raises a host of deeply worrying questions about whether these were used by Andrew to make money from his time as trade envoy. 'For years, the prince appeared to be living the life of a billionaire playboy despite having a limited income, and this fund could explain how he pulled it off.' The Iranian drone that hit a British airbase in Cyprus was equipped with Russian military hardware, it has been reported. RAF Akrotiri was struck by an Iranian drone fired from Lebanon on Sunday, and it is understood to have contained a Russian-made Kometa-B navigation system. The piece of technology was first seen in drones that were intercepted by Ukrainian air defences in December. Components of the drone recovered by the British military intelligence have now been sent to a laboratory in the UK for further investigation, The Times reports. Despite the discovery, which is the first evidence that Russian military equipment is being used in the Iran conflict, US President Donald Trump says he has received 'no indication' that Russia is assisting Iran. He added: 'If they are, they're not doing a very good job, because Iran is not doing too well.' It comes after sources claimed that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence on the location of US military assets, including warships and aircraft in the Middle East. Three officials familiar with the intelligence said the assistance had been ongoing since the war began on Saturday. RAF Akrotiri was struck by an Iranian drone fired from Lebanon on Sunday, and it is understood to have contained a Russian-made Kometa-B navigation system The piece of technology was first seen in drones that were intercepted by Ukrainian air defences in December. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin One source told The Washington Post the alleged Russian support amounted to a 'pretty comprehensive effort' to help its ally Tehran target American forces in the region. On Saturday, Andrey Kelin, Russia's ambassador to the UK, told Sky New that his country is 'not neutral' in the ongoing conflict, adding that Moscow's position was 'supportive to Iran'. Sir Richard Knighton, the chief of the defence staff, said he had 'no doubt' that Russia had been sharing intelligence with Iran. The head of the British armed forces also confirmed on Saturday that the attack on the airbase was launched from Lebanon by an 'Iranian-aligned group'. Concerns have since been raised that British military assets, including two Wildcat helicopters that arrived in Cyprus on Friday, could be targeted. The UK was preparing to deploy HMS Prince of Wales, one of its two aircraft carriers, to the Middle East, but Trump has since told Sir Keir Starmer that the US does not need Britain to send its aircraft carriers. 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. Sir Keir has 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. The Prime Minister has also been criticised for initially denying permission to let the US use British bases in its strikes on the Iranian regime. He 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. Trump said the PM took 'far too long' to lift the ban on US forces flying from RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia. Sir Keir only announced the deployment of HMS Dragon more three days after the conflict began, and the Type 45 destroyer is not due to leave Portsmouth until next week, as it still needs to be loaded with missiles, crewed for the deployment, and last-minute maintenance needs to take place. The UK was preparing to deploy HMS Prince of Wales (pictured), one of its two aircraft carriers, to the Middle East, but Trump has since told Sir Keir Starmer that the US does not need Britain to send its aircraft carriers 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.' 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. 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.' President Trump says he may 'possibly' deploy US troops on the ground into Iran, but there would need to be a 'very good reason.' Asked on Air Force One about reports that he is 'seriously considering' sending US soldiers into Iran, Trump initially brushed off the question, saying he didn't think it was 'appropriate.' 'I dont even want to talk about it now,' he said. 'You know, Im not going to answer it. Could there be? Possibly, for very good reason, have to be very good reason. 'I would say if we ever did that they would be so decimated that they wouldnt be able to fight at the ground level.' On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was 'certain' that Iran was receiving arms from Russia. He said: 'I think all of this is found in the fragments of the Shaheds striking the Middle East today. Iranian Shaheds contain Russian-made components. This is something we know for certain.' Iran first began supplying Russia with drones in 2022, which have been used in the daily strikes on Ukrainian cities. British defence intelligence understands Russia sent 55,000 one-way attack drones into Ukraine last year. Almost 600 civilians are believed to have been killed in drone attacks across Ukraine last year. For many audiences, trigger warnings have become a regular and deeply annoying part of going to see a play. But now theatres have come up with another way to 'protect' ticket-holders and it's a stinker. Those attending Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Hull Truck Theatre were advised to 'bring a favourite smell sprayed on a tissue to help them manage' the play's 'occasional loud noises and changing lights'. Theatregoers were also told that ear defenders would be given to anyone who needed them and that 'sensory toys', including weighted blankets and even wobble cushions, would be provided to help them cope with the 'busy or noisy' environment. The modernised adaptation of the Scottish play which ran in Hull throughout last month and is now playing at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton warns that the show 'includes mature and intense themes, gore and torture, depictions of violence and murder, death and suicide, and the practice of witchcraft'. An 18-page guide to the production on the Octagon Theatre's website contains a section entitled 'Content to consider', which lists dozens of potential triggers alongside the exact time at which they occur during the play. A number of 'sounds' are listed, including 'loud electricity buzzing', 'static sound' and 'frequent loud growling sounds'. Triggers highlighted include 'One of the Witches pulls a fake limb (a hand) from her bag and snaps off a finger' and 'Macbeth hallucinates and sees an 'invisible' dagger'. The Hull Truck Theatre has come up with another type of trigger warning to 'protect' ticket-holders Customers were advised to 'bring a favourite smell sprayed on a tissue to help them manage' Another says Lady Macbeth is seen 'sleep-walking and sleep-talking about death and murder' as 'her mental health is declining'. The guide adds: 'During the play you might feel excited, a little bit spooked, or even sad at times. 'That's all okay. Shakespeare's stories are full of big emotions! And although Macbeth is a darker tale, it reminds us how important it is to make good choices and listen to our conscience.' Last month, the Royal Court theatre in West London enlisted 'mental health first aiders' for its production of Guess How Much I Love You?, which is about baby loss and pregnancy complications. Hull Truck Theatre said: 'The creation of Experience Guides is in line with our core values and our ongoing commitment to making our theatre welcoming, inclusive and accessible and we are really proud of them.' A woman was horrified after claiming a stranger asked her a vile five-word question while she was shopping at Kmart. Kacie Stephens was at Bayside Shopping Centre, in Melbourne, when she was approached by an unknown man at around 9.15am on Friday. 'I'm standing in the middle of the aisle and I see this man at the end, and he's looking at me. He's coming towards me really quickly,' she said. 'I moved to the side and he moves his body to the side, and then he says to me: "Will you suck my c***?"' Ms Stephens said she was so horrified she hurried out of the store, calling her husband Kris for help. 'I see the man and he's followed me out of Kmart and he's gone in that direction so I think he's walking out of the shopping centre,' she said. 'But then he stands outside a shop, just turns around and so I'm walking towards him while he's facing my direction.' She said her husband soon arrived and recorded the man 'confessing', before security guards and police apprehended him. Kacie Stephens alleges she was sexually harassed by a random man while shopping on Friday A Victoria Police spokesman told Daily Mail a 42-year-old man was later charged with stalking and bail offences. 'The man allegedly made unwanted advances and remarks towards the woman before she was able to flee and seek assistance,' he said. Police also confirmed the man was from the Frankston area. He was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on March 7. Ms Stephens encouraged her TikTok followers to report any unwelcome attention or harassment they receive, no matter the location or time of day. 'If anyone says something filthy like that to you, make you sure you report it. It's worth doing,' she said. Ms Stephens' post drew in lots of support, with many applauding her for following through with making a report to the police. 'As a police officer - Im sorry it happened to you. I hope youre so proud of how you handled it though,' one commented. The incident allegedly occurred at Bayside Shopping Centre in Frankston 'A lot of people would have thought "what a creep" and would be worried or scared to take it further. 'You and your husband did amazing and I hope youre okay.' Another said: 'Youll never know the potential ripple effect of speaking up in this instance, but I imagine it will be significant.' Daily Mail contacted Bayside Shopping Centre and Kmart for comment. A British couple imprisoned in Iran have told their family they are fearful as US and Israeli bombs continue to fall on Tehran and prison guards abandon their posts. Craig and Lindsay Foreman, from East Sussex, said they sheltered under beds as missiles struck the Iranian capital and warned that conditions inside Evin Prison are deteriorating sharply. Mr Foreman, 52, and his 53-year-old wife were sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in February on espionage charges, which they both deny. The pair were arrested in January 2025 while travelling through Iran during a round-the-world motorcycle journey. They were among thousands of inmates at the notorious Evin jail thrown into a 'blind panic' when the first US and Israeli planes flew over the country last weekend, and said some air strikes were so close that the windows in their cell were blown out and plaster fell from the walls. During the initial bombardment, guards fled the prison, which is now under the control of Nopo, a US-sanctioned Iranian counter-terrorism unit known for killing unarmed women and children with heavy machine guns. Mrs Foreman's son, 31-year-old Joe Bennett, said inmates are surviving on rice and gristle after Nopo closed the prison shop, leaving them without fruit or vegetables. Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Bennett said: 'I am waiting for a call every day, minute-by-minute, just to know they are still alive. 'Sometimes it comes, sometimes it doesn't. On Saturday, my mum was just swearing down the phone. I didn't know what was happening. Lindsay and Craig Foreman (pictured), have told their family they are fearful as US and Israeli bombs continue to fall on Tehran and prison guards abandon their posts The couple (pictured), from East Sussex, were sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in February on espionage charges Joe Bennett (pictured), Ms Foreman's son, who has been campaigning for their freedom for over a year. He said the couple are 'not safe' 'I could hear screams and people scrambling for cover. Then the line cut. I was thinking what the hell is going on? It was mass panic. I thought that was it.' Three hours later, Mr Bennett said he received a call from Mr Foreman informing him that the war had begun. 'He told me a missile had landed less than a mile away from the prison and knocked his cell window out,' he said. Mr and Mrs Foreman, who are housed separately in the prison, told Mr Bennett the strikes have only intensified since Saturday. He added: 'It could happen any time. They are in a war zone. They are not safe.' The message comes as Mr Bennett previously appealed to the British government to aid the couple. In a statement, he said: 'We remain extremely concerned about their safety and welfare. They are currently in the middle of a warzone without local consular support. 'They are in danger of being hit by stray explosions, being caught up in local skirmishes or even being shot. The entrance of Evin Prison (pictured) in Tehran, where Mr and Mrs Foreman are being held, and say conditions are worsening Smoke plumes rise following missile strikes in Tehran (pictured) on March 1 'There is also danger of starvation and water supplies running out as they are back to having no funds to buy supplies even though the prison shop is open. 'We implore our government and that of the US to make sure that their safety and welfare, along with all the other foreign nationals held in Iran, is a priority at this time.' A spokesperson for the family added: 'The family remain extremely concerned that Lindsay and Craig, along with other political prisoners' safety and welfare, are not an obvious priority to the UK or US Government. 'They call upon the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and President Trump to call for Lindsay and Craig's release along with all of the other foreign nationals who are arbitrarily detained in Iran.' Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper previously described the couple's sentence as 'completely appalling and totally unjustifiable,' and pledged that the Government will 'pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian government until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned.' Dame Priti Patel, her Tory counterpart, condemned the couple's jail term as 'disgraceful' and called on Sir Keir Starmer to 'use all available leverage' to secure their release. The couple's sentence was confirmed to their families last month, after they had recently sent a letter to the Iranian authorities complaining about their treatment. Mr and Mrs Foreman (pictured) were arrested while travelling through the country on an around-the-world motorcycle journey and have consistently denied Tehran's spying claims Mr Bennett described the sentence as 'gut-wrenching' and has urged the UK Government to 'step up to the mark' in securing their freedom. News from Mr and Mrs Foreman comes after a week of intense bombing in Tehran, with strikes hitting hospitals, schools and residential buildings since last Saturday. The US and Israel began their attacks by targeting the heart of Iran's leadership and crippling its military in the opening days of the war, killing the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has since raised its so-called 'Red Flag of Revenge,' and fired ballistic missiles and drones at US allies and assets in the region. A series of strikes have taken place across neighbouring Gulf states, with explosions heard in Qatar, Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has acknowledged that Australia may take on a defensive support role in the Middle East as regional tensions with Iran continue to rise. During an interview on ABC's Insiders on Sunday, Wong confirmed that Australia had already received direct requests from Gulf nations seeking help to counter Iranian drone and missile attacks. 'Many countries who are non-participants have been attacked by Iran through this,' she said. 'You would anticipate as a consequence, that we have been asked for assistance and we will work through that.' While she emphasised that Australia would not participate in any offensive operations, Wong made clear that the government is actively considering limited defensive cooperation. 'We have been asked, and we will consider it in accordance with the principles I've outlined,' she said. 'If a decision is made, I'm sure we will be transparent with the Australian people.' Wong stressed that the Albanese government would not commit ground troops 'under any circumstances,' saying Australia's priority was to avoid escalation while still supporting regional stability. Penny Wong (pictured) said Australia has received requests for military assistance against Iran 'We are not participating in offensive action against Iran,' she said. 'We have made very clear the basis of the decision and the parameters of our engagement.' Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson said he had requested a full briefing on the potential deployment of Australian defence personnel to the Middle East in defensive roles. 'Australia has a long and proud history of standing with our allies and partners in moments of crisis,' he said. 'The Coalition will assess any proposed deployment carefully and responsibly, and we will do so in the national interest once we have been properly briefed.' The Foreign Minister's comments come as Iranian strikes have disrupted air routes across the Middle East, triggering one of Australia's largest-ever peacetime consular operations. Wong revealed more than 115,000 Australians were in the region when the crisis began, prompting the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to open emergency registration portals and organise evacuation pathways across multiple countries. 'This is a very big consular effort,' she said. Smoke seen rising from Dubai Airport (pictured) following attacks from Iran on Saturday 'We have opened the registration portal so people can register and indicate that they want to leave.' Wong confirmed that around 11,000 Australians had already been assessed as eligible for evacuation. Nine flights have departed Dubai for Australia, with more scheduled. She also detailed a rare landborder evacuation, with buses transporting stranded travellers from Doha to Riyadh after Qatari airspace became restricted. US President Donald Trump has argued that Washington should have a hand in selecting Iran's next leader, a suggestion that has sparked international debate. Wong declined to say whether the President's comments were appropriate, but she stressed that any attempt to impose leadership from outside Iran would be both unrealistic and unsustainable. 'The future of Iran, and the question of who governs it, is ultimately a decision for the Iranian people,' she said. 'That is not only a valuesbased position, it is a pragmatic one. History shows that regime change cannot endure without the support of the population.' Attacks were launched on US embassies in Norway and Iraq on Saturday night as the crisis in the Middle East threatens to spiral out of control. Rocket fire aimed at the US Embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad was blamed on 'rogue groups' by local officials. Footage appeared to show a US Army C-RAM interceptor system shooting down the rocket fire, sending a stunning red laser across the skies as it took down the munitions. A security source told AFP that four rockets were launched toward the embassy. Three were intercepted but one fell in an open area in the embassy's airbase. There have not been any reports of injuries so far. Non-emergency staff were ordered to leave the embassy four days ago amid the escalating tensions. Meanwhile in Norway, a large explosion was also reported outside the US Embassy in Oslo at 1am local time. The explosion caused 'minor injuries' and damage to the consular entrance of the embassy, Oslo Police Chief Michael Dellemyr told NKR. The source of the explosion in Oslo or who was responsible is unclear, police said. Rocket fire aimed at the US Embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad early on Saturday. The rockets were shot down by a US Army C-RAM interceptor system A security source told AFP that four rockets were launched toward the embassy, and three were intercepted (pictured) by the C-RAM system, while one fell in an open area in the embassy's airbase A large explosion was reported outside the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway, around 1am Sunday local time. A police officer at the scene is pictured Police at the scene of an explosion at the entrance of the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway Smoke was seen rising from the area around the embassy compound, eyewitnesses told Norwegian outlet Verdens Gang. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani indicated the attack in Baghdad was launched by a rebel group, saying that he ordered his security forces to find the perpetrators of the 'terrorist act.' 'The perpetrators of these attacks are committing an offence against Iraq, its sovereignty, and its security. These rogue groups that operate outside the framework of the law in no way represent the will of the Iraqi people,' Shia al-Sudani said. Iraqi security officials told AP that the missile that evaded interception landed on the helicopter landing pad in the embassy's airbase. The attack marked the first such strike on Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses government offices and diplomatic missions, since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran eight days ago. It comes as 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. 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 Israeli strikes on Tehran on Saturday night hit an oil refinery, sparking a huge fireball 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. In a furious speech on Saturday night to state media, Larijani said: 'Americans must know that we will not let them go.' 'When the enemy attacks us from military bases in the region, we will respond, this is our right and our policy. 'We dont want the region to be destabilized but the essence of this war will destabilize the region.' 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 reciprocal 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. Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, who many consider the most powerful man Iran after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated, issued a series of outlandish, issued a string of unverified claims about the conflict on X on Saturday night. The leader claimed that American soldiers have been taken prisoner, and baselessly accused Donald Trump of lying about the number of American military deaths. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the stories were unfounded, and told Al Jazeera: 'The Iranian regimes claims of capturing American soldiers are yet another example of its lies and deceptions.' They issued the rebuke after Larijani accused Trump of 'promoting a misleading narrative' about the six American soldiers killed in Iranian strikes in the week since the war broke out. Larijani previously alleged that the true number of US casualties is 'over 500.' 'Then, soon enough, with the passage of time, they gradually increase the number of the dead, under various pretexts, such as incidental accidents or fabricated incidents,' he said in an X post. In another post minutes later, Larijani added: 'Under the pretext of an accident, they will inflate the number of casualties.' 'It has been reported to me that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner. But the Americans claim that they have been killed in action. Despite their futile efforts, the truth is not something they can hide for too long,' Larijani said in another post. READ MORE: Penny Wong admits Australia could help defend Middle East Australians have vented their frustration as petrol prices surge nationwide due to the Middle East conflict. One Gold Coast woman said prices at her local service station jumped from $1.75 to $2.20 in three days, warning 'it's only gonna get worse'. Sydney resident Hannah revealed refuelling her Mazda cost $111, up from her usual $75-$85, with unleaded at $2.40 a litre 'I wasn't sure if I was being super sensitive or if this is just the new normal Fuel hike is in action,' she said. A Metro Petroleum in Liverpool in western Sydney was spotted charging drivers $2.99 for Unleaded 98. NSW mechanic Cody warned families to brace for more pain, revealing just how much drivers would have to pay if $3 a litre became the norm. He claimed a standard 60-litre tank usually cost $108 to refuel when prices were $1.80. Cody revealed it would jump to $180. He urged motorists to cut back, plan trips, and maintain their cars. Hanna (pictured) revealed it cost her $40 extra to fill up her car compared to normal Regular unleaded is consistently above $2.20-$2.30 in most metro areas. Lewisham's Tanwar Petroleum posted $2.45 for regular unleaded on Sunday, according to NSW Government Fuel Check. Average early March prices confirm the surge: Sydney sits at $2.09 a litre, Melbourne at $2.07, Brisbane at $2.10, with many servos well above these benchmarks as cycles peak. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most crucial oil supply routes. Australia imports about 90 per cent of its liquid fuel, making local prices highly sensitive to world events. Analysts warn prices could jump another 40c per litre in coming weeks if supply pressures intensify. NRMA data shows more than half of Sydney stations recently charged between 217.9c and 223.9c for regular unleadedfar above usual peak levels. The ACCC is closely monitoring retailers after NRMA and RACQ raised concerns about 'unconscionable' behaviour from companies exploiting public anxiety. NSW mechanic Cody (pictured) said that it could end up costing $180 to fill up a car at $3.00 Treasurer Jim Chalmers has called for tougher oversight, writing to the ACCC on Tuesday, calling them to crack down on price gouging. 'Service stations should not be doing the wrong thing by their customers, using the conflict in Iran and the Middle East more broadly as an excuse to gouge customers,' Chalmers told the ABC. Modelling from Westpac suggests average Australian drivers could soon have to pay as much as $3 a litre at the pump if the conflict continues. If disruption is limited to Iranian production, around 4 per cent of global supply, oil prices could rise another US$25 per barrel to around US$100, Westpac modelling suggests. But the real risk lies in the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow shipping corridor that carries around 20 per cent of the global oil trade. Iran has effectively shut down commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since Saturday, using a combination of drone strikes and explicit military threats to deter vessels, despite sustained US strikes targeting its naval assets. At least four oil tankers have reportedly been hit, while maritime data from Lloyd's List Intelligence shows seaborne traffic through the chokepoint plunged by roughly 80 per cent on Sunday. Meanwhile, major maritime insurers withdrew cover for ships operating in the area, further discouraging passage. The good samaritan who was allegedly stabbed to death after stepping into protect a young schoolboy in Melbourne has been identified as 22-year-old Aidan Becker. The security guard was allegedly attacked after stepping in to protect a 14-year-old student from a group of four males near Mernda train station, just before 6pm on Friday. Police say Mr Becker, who was from the Mernda area, led the schoolboy away from the group and out of the station on Bridge Inn Road. It's alleged the group then followed the pair onto the concourse beneath the platform and attacked Mr Becker, fatally punching, kicking, and attacking him with an edged weapon. He was found by paramedics with critical injuries and could not be saved. The group were arrested, with police later charging three - an 18-year old man named Mike Pikos, and 16-year-old boy from Whittlesea and a 17-year-old boy from Geelong - with murder and armed robbery. A 17-year-old from the City of Yarra is under police guard in hospital and is yet to be charged. Pikos fronted Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Sunday and was remanded in custody to re-appear on June 24. He was not required to speak during the short hearing. Aidan Becker (left), pictured with his father, died from injuries he suffered while protecting a young schoolboy from a group of males Three people have now been charged with his murder after he was allegedly stabbed on Friday Magistrate Steven Raleigh was told it was his first time in custody and he would be a vulnerable prisoner due to his age and appearance. No other information was given during the brief session and there was no application for bail. In court documents, police allege the man was armed with a machete when he robbed the 14-year-old of a phone and power bank valued at $500. It's understood the alleged offenders were known to police. None of the group were on bail at the time of the attack. The two teens charged will appear at a Children's Court at a later date. The young student who was allegedly attacked first suffered a broken nose and has been discharged from hospital. Detective Acting Inspector Nigel L'Estrange described the alleged attack as 'cowardly' and praised the alleged victim for his good deed. 'The community shouldn't have to put up with [these] sort of attacks. [The alleged victim has] just tried to do the right thing. He hasn't been aggressive at all,' he said. Police allege Mr Becker was set on by the group who attacked him with an edged weapon 'He put his own life on the line to try and help out this 14-year-old boy; he has to be commended.' It comes as heartbroken members of the Mernda community paid tribute to Mr Becker on Sunday while laying bouquets of flowers at the station. One woman told the ABC that Mr Becker wouldn't have hesitated to step in to protect the young boy. 'He couldn't hurt a soul, all he wanted to do was help people,' she said. 'He would do anything to help anyone, he'd give the shirt off his back to a random person.' Another said: 'Their son is a hero and he will be remembered for what he did.' Donald Trump is weighing a daring mission to snatch Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles amid fears about what could happen if rogue actors get to it first. The president has flirted with deploying US soldiers on the ground in Iran in recent days, although he said on Saturday that he would need a 'very good reason' to make the escalatory move. Insiders warn that troops may be needed to seize control of Iran's remaining enriched uranium - the main ingredient in building a nuclear weapon - amid fears it could fall into the hands of terrorists or another nation such as North Korea, Pakistan or a Gulf state. Military sources say Trump may wish to avoid a full-scale invasion and would rather send a small contingent of special forces to carry out a quick strategic operation. Sources familiar with the options on the table told Semafor that Trump may be considering an audacious mission to send Delta Force, the team which was used to captured Venezuela's dictator, to infiltrate, destroy or seize the nuclear material from Iran's enrichment sites. Last June, Trump said strikes 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordow and Isfahan, burying much of the nation's nuclear program underground. But analysts still widely believe that some sites are safely holding enriched uranium and the New York Times reported it may have as many as 20 scuba-tank-like canisters each with 55lbs of the substance. Andrea Stricker, director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies nonproliferation program, warned that if the enriched uranium is not secured, the nightmarish potential for it to fall into the wrong hands remains open. Donald Trump is reportedly weighing a daring mission to snatch Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles amid fears that a rogue nation could turn the tables and obtain it first Sources claim the president is mulling sending Delta Force to infiltrate, destroy or seize the nuclear material 'Terrorists would be a concern for radiological sources because of the dirty bomb risk,' she told the New York Post. Analysts doubt how total the damage was from Trump's strikes last June, which may have left much of Iran's enrichment capabilities intact deep underground. 'You can bomb a lot of it, but you cant bomb all of it. Its one reason the US needs to try to get a compliant regime,' Iran expert Andrew Apostolou of the Britain Israel Communications and Research Center told the Post. Apostolou said while a variety of scenarios could still play out in Trump's war with Iran, the risk of loose uranium could open the door to a worst-case outcome. 'The danger is loose nukes,' he said. He said an Iranian insider may see trading their secret hiding places or key information as the perfect way to flee the regime. 'When you have that kind of knowledge and theres a lot of bad actors out there looking for it, you have a survival ticket,' he said. The expert warned that rogue nations such as North Korea or even a neighboring Gulf state, which have been bombarded by Iran in retaliatory strikes in the past eight days, could look to capitalize on the moment. To seize the enriched uranium, military insiders say Trump may use Delta Force for a precision operation inside the nation, the same unit used to snatch Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January. On Saturday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he hadn't ruled out deploying ground troops in Iran, saying: 'Maybe we will do it later' Footage from Tehran on Saturday evening showed apocalyptic scenes across the capital after US and Israeli forces struck an oil refinery On Saturday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he hadn't ruled out deploying ground troops in Iran. 'At some point maybe we will,' Trump said. 'We wouldn't do it now. Maybe we will do it later.' It comes as the conflict in the Middle East threatened to spiral out of control on Saturday night. A fresh wave of airstrikes hit Tehran, engulfing the Iranian capital in fireballs as footage showed apocalyptic scenes after US and Israeli forces hit an oil refinery. Hours later, the US Embassies in Baghdad, Iraq and Oslo, Norway were both attacked. The first of the embassies to be attacked was in Baghdad, where Iraqi officials blamed 'rogue groups' for sending a barrage of rocket fire at the building. Footage appeared to show a US Army C-RAM interceptor system shooting down the rocket fire, sending a stunning red laser across the skies as it took down the munitions. A security source told AFP that four rockets were launched toward the embassy. Three were reportedly intercepted but one fell in an open area in the embassy's airbase. There have not been any reports of injuries so far. Non-emergency staff were ordered to leave the embassy four days ago amid the escalating tensions. Hours later, an explosion was reported outside the US Embassy in Oslo at 1am local time. The explosion caused 'minor injuries' and damage to the consular entrance of the embassy, Oslo Police Chief Michael Dellemyr told NKR. The source of the explosion in Oslo or who was responsible is unclear, police said Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani indicated the attack in Baghdad was launched by a rebel group, saying that he ordered his security forces to find the perpetrators of the 'terrorist act.' 'The perpetrators of these attacks are committing an offence against Iraq, its sovereignty, and its security. These rogue groups that operate outside the framework of the law in no way represent the will of the Iraqi people,' Shia al-Sudani said. The attack marked the first such strike on Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses government offices and diplomatic missions, since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran eight days ago. 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. In a furious speech on Saturday night to state media, Larijani said: 'Americans must know that we will not let them go.' US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last night guaranteed Iran will 'surrender' as oil prices soared past $100 a barrel for the first time in four years as the war causes global markets to rattle. Hegseth sat down for an exclusive interview with CBS News' '60 Minutes,' where he was asked what the president meant by his demand for an 'unconditional surrender.' 'It means were fighting to win. It means we set the terms,' the Defense Secretary replied. Meanwhile. the price of a barrel of oil has rocketed to above $100 for the first time in years, as the war in the Middle East spins the markets into chaos. An emergency meeting of the G7 has been called for today, where crisis options including the release of oil reserves will be discussed. And Iranian clerics announced Mojtaba Khamenei, the second eldest son of former leader Ayatollah Khamenei, as Iran's new Supreme Leader. Recap all the day's developments the US-Israel war with Iran Israel struck a group of Iranian commanders at a seaside hotel in the hear of Beirut, as the Revolutionary Guards warned today that it could carry on fighting for six months. Lebanon's health ministry said the strike killed at least four people at the hotel, where an AFP photographer saw shattered windows and charred walls. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press on with the war against Iran 'with all our force', with a plan to eradicate the country's leadership after joint US-Israeli raids killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week, sparking the regional conflict. Despite the threat, the Revolutionary Guards said Sunday that the Islamic republic's forces could wage an 'intense war' for six months at the current speed of fighting. Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said Iran had so far used 'first and second generation' missiles, but will use 'advanced and less-used long-range missiles' in the coming days. As the conflict spilled into its second week, the regional repercussions spiralled, with Saudi Arabia intercepting a wave of drones headed for targets including the diplomatic quarter in capital Riyadh and Kuwait saying an attack hit fuel tanks at its international airport. The strike on Kuwait's aviation fuel storage compounded fears over energy supplies with the country's national oil company also announcing a cut in crude production over threats to the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world's oil and gas transit. Tehran accused the US and Israel of striking an oil depot in the Iranian capital on Saturday, the first reported assault on the Islamic republic's oil infrastructure as stock markets have slumped and crude prices surged. Israel struck a group of Iranian commanders at a seaside hotel in the hear of Beirut Lebanon's health ministry said the strike killed at least four people at the hotel (pictured) Smoke rises from Tehran's oil refinery following last night airstrike in Tehran, Iran, March 8 2026 Smoke rises from Tehran's oil refinery following last night airstrike in Tehran, Iran, March 8 2026 The Israeli military said it struck 'a number of fuel storage facilities in Tehran' that were used 'to operate military infrastructure'. Israel's military also launched a new wave of strikes 'across Tehran' on Sunday, after carrying out a precision strike targeting 'key commanders' in the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, at a hotel in an area of central Beirut popular with tourists. The widening reach of the war and Iran's ability to inflict damage and harm were underscored by US President Donald Trump attending the return of six American service members killed in a drone strike on a US base in Kuwait last Sunday. Iran's security chief Ali Larijani accused the Trump administration of seeking to replicate a scenario similar to Venezuela where it ousted leader Nicolas Maduro. 'Their perception was that it would be like Venezuela - they would strike, take control and it would be over - but now they are trapped,' he said in a pre-recorded interview broadcast on state TV on Saturday. Iran's hardline judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei also warned Middle East neighbours which are 'openly and covertly at the disposal of the enemy' that 'the heavy attacks on these targets will continue'. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that Tehran 'will be forced to respond' if a neighbouring country were to be used as a launchpad for any attack or invasion attempt. Tehran had vowed to go after US assets in the region, and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait on Sunday all reported new attacks. Blood stains a duvet on ground at a hotel in Beirut that Israel struck on March 8, 2026 Smoke rises over Tehran on Thursday after another wave of Israeli bombardment Saudi Arabia said it intercepted more than a dozen drones while Qatar said Iran fired two cruise missiles and 10 ballistic missiles at the country on Saturday. UAE forces were intercepting incoming missile and drones from Iran, the defence ministry said in a post on X. On Saturday, video footage showed one projectile crashing at Dubai airport, while AFP journalists heard blasts in Iraq's Baghdad and Erbil on Saturday evening. Inside Iran, damage to infrastructure and residential areas is mounting as its people report growing anxiety and a heavy security presence. 'I don't think anyone who hasn't experienced war would understand it,' a 26-year-old teacher told AFP on condition of anonymity. Iran's health ministry said Friday at least 926 civilians had been killed and around 6,000 wounded - figures AFP could not independently verify. Israel launched strikes on a Hezbollah bastion in the southern suburbs of Beirut, after Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war this week when the militant group attacked Israel with rockets and drones in response to Khamenei's death. Lebanon's health ministry said at least 294 people have died in Israeli air strikes over the past week, prompting Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to warn of a looming 'humanitarian disaster'. The fresh Israeli strikes came after it launched some of its largest raids in Iran since the war began on Saturday, targeting a military academy, an underground command centre and missile storage sites. Netanyahu said Israel had achieved almost total control of the skies over the Iranian capital. Trump struck a similarly defiant tone, repeating the claim that Iran had been close to developing a nuclear weapon. He also suggested US troops could eventually be needed to secure Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles. Separately, he blamed Iran for what the country's authorities said was a deadly strike on an elementary school in Minab last Saturday that killed at least 150 people. Iran has blamed Washington for the strike. Neither the US nor Israel has claimed responsibility for the attack and AFP could not independently verify the circumstances. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Al Lailaki neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, with the city's international airport visible in the background, on March 4 Analysts warn there is still no clear path to ending a conflict that US and Israeli officials say could last a month or longer. Trump has suggested Iran's economy could be rebuilt if a leader 'acceptable' to Washington replaces the late supreme leader, which Tehran has rejected. China and Russia have largely stayed on the sidelines despite close ties with Tehran. China's top diplomat Wang Yi said on Sunday that the war in the Middle East should 'never have happened'. 'This is a war that should never have happened,' he told a press conference in Beijing, adding that 'a strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle.' Britain has just two days' worth of natural gas in storage, sparking fears of a shortage crisis as the Middle East conflict shut down the world's largest gas facility and Iran closed a key shipping channel. The UK's gas reserves have dwindled from 18,000 GWh last year to 6,700 GWh, enough for just 1.5 days of demand, according to new data published by National Gas. There is a similar quantity stored as liquefied natural gas (LNG). Europe is much better prepared to weather fluctuations in supply, with several weeks' worth of gas stored up. Traders have been exploiting the UK's situation by charging it a premium price on gas, knowing it has no choice but to outbid its European competitors. The UK is now paying the highest wholesale gas price in Europe. Disruption to the gas market is driven partly by the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 per cent of the world's natural gas and oil flows, and also by the shutdown of production in some places. Qatar announced at the beginning of the week it had suspended production at Ras Laffan, the world's largest natural gas facility, after it came under Iranian bombardment. Meanwhile, oil prices are set to soon hit $100 a barrel and that could rise to $150 if the war drags on, industry experts warned. The spike in gas and oil prices came as: Your browser does not support iframes. Disruption to the gas market is driven partly by the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 per cent of the world's natural gas and oil flows Natasha Fielding, head of gas pricing at Argus Media, a leading publisher of commodity data, said: 'The price of gas in the UK has increased by more than almost anywhere in Europe. 'The UK gas hub price is now above the Dutch TTF [the main European gas hub] all the way from now until the end of May. Before this week, the UK was priced below the EU.' She said this was partly because the UK's meagre gas stockpiles leave us 'more exposed to price spikes', and added: 'We cant rely on withdrawing more from storage, so we have to get that gas from abroad.' Ms Fielding said traders would be monitoring temperatures in Britain, and that if it gets cold, the UK would be more urgently compelled to outbid other countries for gas. The UK used to have up to 12 days worth of gas in storage, but the system collapsed after successive government ministers pulled its funding. National Gas data showed that gas stores were at 18 per cent of their former capacity on Friday, while LNG stores were just over half full. A National Gas spokesman said the UK gets most of its gas from Norway and its own North Sea. They told The Telegraph: 'The UK benefits from a wide range of gas supply sources. These provide the flexibility needed to balance supply and demand.' Meanwhile, fears of a significant spike in oil prices are also growing, driven largely by disruption to the flow through the Strait of Hormuz. Ras Laffan in Qatar, the world's largest natural gas facility, suspended operations at the start of the week after coming under attack The Rough natural gas storage facility off the coast of Yorkshire, which accounts for around 50 per cent of the UK's capacity Iran's Revolutionary Guard vowed to 'set ablaze' any Western tanker attempting to sail through the strait - and hundreds have since amassed at either end. Goldman Sachs warned that the current drop in the Middle East's oil output is 17 times larger than the peak drop in Russia's output after it invaded Ukraine. 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 bank said: 'We now think that oil prices would likely exceed $100 next week if no signs of solutions emerge by then. Goldman Sachs warned that the current drop in the Middle East's oil output is 17 times larger than the peak drop in Russia's output after it invaded Ukraine. Fire is seen at the Fujairah oil industry zone in the UAE after drone debris struck 'We now also think its likely that oil prices, especially for refined products, would exceed the 2008 and 2022 peaks, if Strait of Hormuz flows were to remain depressed throughout March.' Experts have told households in the UK to expect to be 'hit from multiple sides' by price rises driven by the Middle East conflict. Professor Mohamed El-Erian of the University of Pennsylvania told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: 'Once again, we see the UK more vulnerable to external shocks than otherwise that in turn is going to translate into higher mortgage rates. So the average person will get hit from multiple sizes, unfortunately. 'The average person is going to face higher energy prices, but also higher mortgage rates and slowly but surely, noticeable increases in a broad range of goods and services because of supply chain disruptions.' Any price rise in household bills would hit in July, when a new energy price cap will be set. A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'It is categorically untrue that the UK only has access to 2 days of gas supply. We have a diverse energy mix and are confident in our security of supply. 'Gas will continue to play a key role in our diverse and resilient energy system as we transition to more secure, clean homegrown energy. 'We are working with industry to ensure the gas system is fit for the future, including maintaining security of supply in the rarest scenarios.' Energy infrastructure has been a key battleground of the current conflict, with Israel overnight blitzing oil facilities in Iran. Tehran burst into flames, with residents describing the night sky being lit up like day, and a river of fire burned along an oil spill from one facility. Huge fireballs could be seen erupting across the city's skyline and an acrid burning smell hung in the air, as both the US and Israel doubled down on their pledge to fight until the 'eradication' of the Iranian regime. It follows US President Donald Trump's pledge to dial up the attacks as the war in the Middle East entered its second week. He last night targeted UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer - insisting 'we dont need people that join Wars after weve already won,' after it emerged the UK was preparing an aircraft carrier for deployment to the Middle East. Shocking footage shows the moment fire was seen flowing through the streets of Tehran in the apocalyptic scenes following US strikes on oil depots. Iran's capital erupted into flames as Israel and the US last night launched a fresh wave of devastating strikes as the Middle East conflict rages on. The skies over Tehran turned a haunting shade of red and filled with acrid smoke after several oil and fuel depots were blown up. Footage shows fire from a hit on the Shahran oil depot in north-west Tehran spilling over on to the streets as terrified locals look on. Huge fireballs could be seen erupting across the city's skyline, while residents complained of a lingering burning smell in the air, as both the US and Israel doubled down on their pledge to fight until the 'eradication' of the Iranian regime. Iran continued to mount its own attacks on Saturday, launching drones and missiles at Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Dubai - where one man was killed by falling shrapnel from an 'aerial interception' and two skyscrapers were damaged. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it had struck 'several fuel storage complexes' in Tehran as part of a 'significant strike' against the regime. One resident in Tehran said it looked as if 'night had turned into day' as the sky was lit up by explosive orange flames from intense overnight infernos. Shocking footage shows the moment fire was seen flowing through the streets of Tehran in the apocalyptic scenes following US strikes on oil depots The skies over Tehran turned a haunting shade of red and filled with acrid smoke after several oil and fuel depots were blown up (Pictured: An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7) Footage shows fire from a hit on the Shahran oil depot in north-west Tehran spilling over on to the streets as terrified locals look on Saturday's attack on the Iranian regime's infrastructure came as US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of the war against Iran ending when there was no longer a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said: 'At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left maybe to say "We surrender".' The president also warned Sir Keir Starmer that he will remember the lack of support from 'our once great ally' for a war he has 'already won' - as he told the British PM he doesn't need Britain to send aircrafts to the Middle East in an extraordinary attack. Trump's sentiments were echoed by his Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Israel will continue its war with Iran 'with all our force'. He added that Israel has a 'systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime'. Alongside the United States, Netanyahu said Israel had gained near-total control of the skies over Tehran after a week of strikes, while the IDF has 'many surprises' for the next phase of the war. 'Citizens, you are telling me, the government and our heroic soldiers to continue until victory, and I thank you. I can assure you that we will continue with all our force,' Netanyahu said in a televised address last night. Speaking to the Iranian people, he said the 'moment of truth' was coming as Israel was seeking to help liberate them from the 'yoke of tyranny'. Sarah Ferguson has been snubbed for a 1.5million book deal in America as no one wants to enable her to 'cash in on the Epstein scandal', Hollywood sources say. Fergie, 66, had pitched the idea of a tell-all memoir to major US publishing houses looking for a deal 'in the region of $2million (1.49million)', but all of them have rejected her, the source said. The former wife of the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been increasingly linked to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Emails in released files appear to show he was financially supporting her for 15 years and that she seemingly asked him to 'marry' her after he had been jailed for child sex offences. Following these apparent revelations, sources say Fergie decided to cross the pond to try to publish her side of the story in a new book. Hollywood sources told The Sunday Express: 'She ended up with a string of rejections and zero response in a few cases. 'It seems no one is remotely interested in being seen to be enabling her to cash in on the Epstein scandal that has torn her family apart and ruined her ex-husband.' It's a far cry from her previous foray in the States, where she has worked as a correspondent for NBC's Today show and appeared as the face of Weight Watchers in adverts. Sarah Ferguson with her previously published book A Most Intriguing Lady Ferguson and Andrew at the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in September 2025 Ferguson has a history in the publishing sphere as well as a prominent children's book author - most recently in 2024 with a kiddies' book called Flora and Fern, following her 2023 romance novel A Most Intriguing Lady. In her numerous mentions in the Epstein files, it appears he had been bankrolling her for over a decade and a half. In one 2009 email, she is thought to have said to the paedophile financier: 'I urgently need 20,000 pounds ($27,521) for rent today. 'The landlord has threatened to go to the newspapers if I don't pay. Any brainwaves?' The same year, emails suggest that the then-Duchess of York had been enthusiastically updating Epstein on opportunities for books and other brand deals opening up. In one gushing message, she appears to say 'Just marry me' after a string of compliments to the paedophile who had been convicted of soliciting sex from a minor the year before. Ferguson even seemed to involve her own children with Epstein, apparently talking of then-19-year-old Eugenie coming back from a 'shagging weekend' in 2010. She is also believed to have introduced her then-22-year-old goddaughter to Epstein following his release from prison. On her apparent failed book deal, one Sunday Express source said: 'Any notion she might have had about keeping her American dream alive now seems to have been killed off completely. 'Commercially, as the failed book deal shows, she has become a pariah.' Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, agreed. He said the former duchess 'will find it very hard to come back' last week after she has not been seen in public for quite some time. Fellow British royal author Robert Jobson previously described her in a US interview as 'desperate for money' after getting a taste of the royal lifestyle. The Daily Mail has contacted LA-based celebrity talent agency Artists First, who still represent her in the US, for a comment. King Charles will commend the importance of international alliances in his Commonwealth Day speech tomorrow as the world faces 'testing moments'. The annual celebrations of the Commonwealth, marked by a service at Westminster Abbey, will see the largest gathering of members of the Royal Family since the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The King will say it is when countries face 'testing moments', like 'conflict, climate change and rapid transformation', that the member-nations 'enduring spirits' come to the fore. Addressing the congregation of 1,800, made up with politicians and diplomats, he will say: 'We join together on this Commonwealth Day at a time of great challenge and great possibility. 'Across our world, communities and nations face the increasing pressures of conflict, climate change and rapid transformation. 'Yet it is often in such testing moments that the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth is most clearly revealed.' This comes as conflicts continue to afflict the world from Ukraine to Sudan and more recently from the war waged by America and Israel in Iran. Since February 28, the conflict has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. The Royal Family at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 10, 2025 It has also taken the lives of six US soldiers. Directing his annual message to the 56 member-nations, Charles will continue: 'Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good - grounded in community, committed to the kind of restorative sustainability that has a return on investment, enriched by culture, steadfast in its care for our planet, and united in friendship and in the service of its people.' The speech will also address climate change, with scientists dubbing 2025 the third warmest year on record, and it will raise concerns surrounding the growing presence of AI. The King's stance on climate change contradicts the approach taken by US President Donald Trump, who reversed a ruling that held up federal attempts to curb greenhouse gases. This follows reports that Charles and Camilla will visit the US next month for a three-day visit to coincide with America's 250th anniversary celebrations. However the visit has faced recent criticism from senior government officials as tensions between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer continue over the Iranian conflict. Charles and Camilla will be joined at tomorrow's event by Prince William, Kate, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner, who is an ambassador for the Royal Commonwealth Society that hosts the event, will also speak to the congregation, which includes Commonwealth high commissioners and members of the creative community. King Charles visited the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island, last month King Charles and US President Donald Trump reviewed the guard of honour during Mr Trump's ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle in September last year Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Oti Mabuse will also speak, while a poem will be read by the inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate, Selina Tusitala Marsh. The multi-faith service, which has been held since 1972, will showcase the diversity of the Commonwealth through a mixture of music, dance and readings - in line with the meeting's theme of accelerating partnerships and investment for a prosperous Commonwealth. This will include the world premiere of the Commonwealth Symphony, composed by Rekesh Chauhan, and performances by the Royal Ballet School and the Scottish ceilidh band, the Melodians Steel Orchestra. The BBC will not broadcast the live television coverage of the service at 3pm tomorrow for the first time in 37 years due to 'funding challenges' - a move branded 'ridiculous and appalling'. The Commonwealth event, hosted by its head, is to be held before the biennial meeting this year during the first week of November in the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, St John's. The matter of whether Mountbatten-Windsor should keep his position in the line of succession sits among the future challenges the Commonwealth leaders face, following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office last month - which comes amid the release of the Epstein files. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney called for his removal, a call that was echoed by Australia and New Zealand. Mountbatten-Windsor is currently eighth in line to the throne, with his removal requiring legislation in the UK and the approval of the 14 Commonwealth realms. He has denied any wrongdoing in relation to his association with Jeffrey Epstein. Palestinians attend the funeral of three Palestinians in the village of Khirbet Abu Falah, north of Ramallah in the West Bank, on March 8, 2026. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Sunday that three Palestinians were killed in an incident in the West Bank overnight. According to the statement, IDF forces and Israeli Border Police arrived in the Palestinian village of Khirbet Abu Falah, north of Ramallah, following a reported attack by Israeli civilians on Palestinians. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Sunday that three Palestinians were killed in an incident in the West Bank overnight. According to the statement, IDF forces and Israeli Border Police arrived in the Palestinian village of Khirbet Abu Falah, north of Ramallah, following a reported attack by Israeli civilians on Palestinians. The IDF forces used riot control measures to disperse the rioters, said the statement, adding that two Palestinians were killed by gunfire and another died of suffocation. Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported that the victims were Thaer Farouq Hamayel, 24, and Farea Jawdat Hamayel, 57, both allegedly shot in the head by Israeli civilians, and Mohammad Hassan Murra, 55, who died after inhaling tear gas fired by Israeli forces. The agency added that five other residents sustained live-fire injuries. Commander of the Israeli army's Central Command Avi Bluth said the incident was unacceptable and dangerous, adding that the actions distracted Israel from its mission of defense and counterterrorism, and undermined security and stability in the region. The incident came a day after a Palestinian was killed and three others seriously injured by Israeli gunfire in the Wadi al-Rakhim area of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, according to Palestinian sources. The settlers' attacks reflect a "dangerous escalation" intended to impose a new reality on the Palestinians, said the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. It accused Israel of exploiting the ongoing regional tensions to escalate violence and accelerate policies aimed at displacing Palestinians and expanding settlements. The ministry further denounced the Israeli government for inciting violence, and arming and protecting settlers, calling on the international community to impose sanctions on the settlement enterprise and protect the Palestinians. Palestinians attend the funeral of three Palestinians in the village of Khirbet Abu Falah, north of Ramallah in the West Bank, on March 8, 2026. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Sunday that three Palestinians were killed in an incident in the West Bank overnight. According to the statement, IDF forces and Israeli Border Police arrived in the Palestinian village of Khirbet Abu Falah, north of Ramallah, following a reported attack by Israeli civilians on Palestinians. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) Palestinians mourn during the funeral of three Palestinians in the village of Khirbet Abu Falah, north of Ramallah in the West Bank, on March 8, 2026. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Sunday that three Palestinians were killed in an incident in the West Bank overnight. According to the statement, IDF forces and Israeli Border Police arrived in the Palestinian village of Khirbet Abu Falah, north of Ramallah, following a reported attack by Israeli civilians on Palestinians. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) Hundreds of protestors marched through the streets of Cyprus's capital yesterday, demanding the UK to shut down its two military bases on the island. The demonstration was fuelled by local anger over fears Britain's sovereign bases have jeopardised the safety of Cypriots following a drone attack on RAF Akrotiri last Sunday. The protest was followed by today's arrival of the German frigate FGS Nordrhein-Westfalen at the port of Limassol, joining a growing fleet of international military vessels. Around 300 people wound through the streets of the city of Nicosia yesterday, chanting 'Say it loud, say it clear, British bases out of here' - and holding banners reading 'Cyprus is Not Your F****** Launchpad' as they marched from a union headquarters to the presidential palace. The protest was organised by afoa.cy and the Cyprus Palestine Solidarity Action, which warned the Republic's growing association with 'imperialist plans' was placing residents on a 'dangerous and destructive path'. In the statement issued ahead of the march, the coalition argued the presence of the military bases in Cyprus's south and south east - Akrotiri and Dhekelia - effectively forces the country to be used as 'a launchpad for war'. It read: 'The narrative that an alliance with them supposedly provides our people with protection is akin to the way organised crime sells protection from threats it creates itself. 'We will not accept Cyprus being used as a launchpad for war.' Hundreds of protestors marched through the streets of Cyprus's capital yesterday, demanding the UK to shut down its two military bases on the island The protest was organised by afoa.cy and the Cyprus Palestine Solidarity Action, which warned the Republic's growing association with 'imperialist plans' was placing residents on a 'dangerous and destructive path' It joins a series of anti-UK protests that have taken place in recent days across Cyprus, including a demonstration earlier this week in the city of Limassol. The drone attack on the RAF base has intensified tensions in Cyprus, where Britain retained control of the military bases under a 1960 treaty that granted the island independence. The drone caused 'no casualties' and 'minimal damage' at the British base, while two further drones were intercepted less than 12 hours later on Monday, according to a Cypriot government spokesperson. The missiles are believed to have been launched from Lebanon by the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah, according to British military officials. Sir Keir Starmer has allowed the military bases - otherwise known as Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) - to be used by US bombers for 'defensive' strikes on Iranian missile sites. However the reported use of the base by American U-2 spy planes has turned RAF Akrotiri into a target during Iran's retaliation to US-Israeli strikes. The country's foreign minister Constantinos Kombos has questioned who should ultimately control the bases, calling for discussions between the UK and Cyprus. Mr Kombos told the BBC's Newsnight: 'Right now we have the British bases on the island. Around 300 people wound through the streets of the city of Nicosia yesterday, chanting 'Say it loud, say it clear, British bases out of here' and holding banners as they marched from a union headquarters to the presidential palace Your browser does not support iframes. German frigate FGS Nordrhein-Westfalen arrived at the port of Limassol, Cyprus, today and joined a growing fleet of international military vessels 'There are questions. There are issues. There are concerns.' Protestors in Cyprus have criticised the UK for failing to protect their bases, arguing they should therefore be returned to the Republic. Alongside the deployment of warships and air assets, the UK has also bolstered air defence systems, including Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters and F-35 fighter jets that arrived last month. However the pace of the deployment - including some air assets sent in response to Cyprus's request - has slowed with the delayed arrival of the destroyer HMS Dragon. The deployment of the Type 45 air-defence destroyer has been stalled as crews scramble to complete essential welding and maintenance. According to the Prospect union, the delays are a direct result of 'cost-cutting' measures introduced by the Ministry of Defence and private contractor Serco. The claims follow reports the Portsmouth naval base has abandoned its 24-hour staffing regime in favour of a standard 9-to-5 schedule. Sir Keir was also criticised for only deciding to deploy HMS Dragon to protect the RAF Akrotri on Tuesday, more than 72 hours after the conflict in the Middle East began. Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch accused the prime minister of 'sitting on the fence' over the UK's response to the growing Middle East conflict. Speaking yesterday at the Conservative Party's Spring Conference in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Badenoch said: '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. 'We are at war, whether Keir Starmer likes it or not.' Girls as young as 11 can be seen in a haunting collection of criminal mugshots from a Victorian prison. Offences including stealing a chicken, mugging and drunken behaviour saw the girls locked up in Newcastle City Gaol. The mugshots date from the 1870s, when photography was in its infancy, and are part of an exhibition at Newcastle Cathedral documenting female prisoners' untold stories. Newcastle Prison stood in the city's Carliol Square between 1828 and 1925. Author and researcher Dr Clare Sandford-Couch studies the history of women in the city's former prison and co-wrote a book on the jail. She said: 'Some of the women come across as incredible characters. Dr Sandford-Crouch said there were some striking criminals contained in the mugshot collection. 'There's a fabulous character called Bridget Creggans who appeared before the magistrates 250 times. Ellen Woodman, Mary Catherine Docherty, Rosanna Watson and Mary Hinnigan were sentenced to seven days' hard labour after being caught stealing iron Thief Jane Farrell, 12, was sentenced to ten days' hard labour for stealing two boots Jane Carlisle thieved bed linen and served two months at Newcastle City Gaol after being caught 'If a pub landlord refused to serve her, she would smash the windows,' she told BBC News. No mugshot exists for Creggans, who had one of the most colourful criminal records of all of Newcastle's female criminals. Some criminals were as young as 11 in their mugshots. Ellen Woodman, aged 11 and 4ft 3in tall, was sentenced to seven days' hard labour for stealing iron in 1873. Her accomplices, Mary Catherine Docherty, 14, Mary Hinnigan and Rosanna Watson, both 13, received the same punishment. Another young thief, 12-year-old Jane Farrell, was sentenced to ten days' hard labour for stealing two boots. Mary Erskine Christie, 20, was jailed for six months after she mugged a person for money in 1873. Cleaner Ann Kirk, 35, racked up convictions for crimes including stealing money and was jailed for three months in the same year. Isabella Hindmarch was convicted of stealing money, she had no previous convictions and served 1 month with hard labour Elizabeth Rule was convicted of stealing clothing and bed linen five times between 1867 and 1872, serving 11 months 14 days in prison Jane Carlisle, a 'hawker', or mobile street seller, was jailed for two months after she stole bed linen, while 22-year-old Jane Cartner received six months in prison for stealing a silver watch. Meanwhile Mary Patterson, 25, was jailed for six weeks in 1873 for stealing a chicken. Wearing a dress with her hands crossed, Margaret Cosh, 15, stared defiantly at the camera after she was caught stealing a coat. The teenager had no previous convictions so was spared jail but was sentenced to two months hard labour. Isabella Hindmarch, 16, was also given a month's hard labour for her first offence of stealing money. Custody photos were relatively new at this time and each offender was seemingly ordered to pose the same - sitting down and facing the camera with their hands clasped. But some women rebelled, including Alice Mullholland, 18, who spent three months in prison for stealing a pair of boots. In her sepia mugshot, the teenage street trader frowned as she stared furiously at the camera. Catherine Cain King was convicted of stealing a pocket watch and served three months with hard labour - she had previously served 7 days for drunken conduct Sarah Cassidy was convicted of stealing money and served two months with hard labour Ann Garrett was convicted of stealing money and served one month with hard labour - in the previous three years she had been convicted six times and had served 42 days in prison Prolific thief Elizabeth Rule, 54, racked up five convictions for stealing clothes and bedsheets between 1867 and 1872, serving 11 months and 14 days in the city prison. Stealing was rife in late 1800s Newcastle while prostitution was also an occupation many women resorted to. Prostitute Catherine Cain King, 23, had a string of convictions including for 'drunken conduct' for which she went to jail for seven days. In 1871 she was caught stealing a pocket watch and given three months' hard labour. Another prostitute, 27-year-old Sarah Cassidy, was charged six times for breaking by-laws and stealing money. Stealing money also landed sex worker Ann Garrett, 22, in trouble as she was convicted six times of theft over a three-year period and served a total of 42 days in prison. In her mugshot, she refuses to have her hands together, instead nonchalantly resting one hand on the back of the chair with the other in her lap. Harriet Davison, 39, was convicted of stealing money in 1873 while working as a laundress. On March 27 1873 the widow was sentenced to two months hard labour. Most of the women and girls were jailed for stealing money and clothes and served sentences ranging from a few days to months. Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer today held crisis talks over the US-UK 'special relationship' amid a rift unseen in decades sparked by the war with Iran. The two leaders spoke this afternoon, for the first time since the fighting began, after a weekend in which the US president and the Labour administration traded barbs over the UK's refusal to join the fighting. In an astonishing outburst late on Saturday, Trump hit out at Sir Keir for agreeing defensive assistance only as Washington attacks Tehran alongside Israel. He used his Truth Social social media platform to warn the US will 'remember' the lack of support from 'our once great ally' and suggested the PM was attempting to join a war after it had already been won. In response, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper this morning hit back saying 'diplomacy through social media isn't our style' and said it was not in the UK's interests to be 'outsourcing our foreign policy'. The UK Government has not joined the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which began last weekend, with the PM saying last week he does not believe in 'regime change from the skies'. But it has accepted a request from the US to use its military bases for the 'specific and limited defensive purpose' of destroying Iran's missiles 'at source'. This afternoon No10 said the two leaders discussed 'the military cooperation between the UK and US through the use of RAF bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region'. The Foreign Secretary said 'diplomacy through social media isn't our style' and there was a need for a 'calm, cool-headed approach' after Trump warned the US will 'remember' the lack of support from 'our once great ally' Donald Trump last night told Sir Keir Starmer he does not need the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers in a new blow to the so-called 'special relationship' Appearing on Sky News today Ms Cooper defended Sir Keir for refusing to join offensive action, saying it was not 'in the UK's national interest' to attack Iran Appearing on Sky News today Ms Cooper defended Sir Keir for refusing to join offensive action, saying it was not 'in the UK's national interest' to attack Iran. Asked about the Trump attack, she said: 'Keir Starmer's style of doing politics is obviously very different, and I think that kind of calm, cool-headed approach to these big, serious, international issues I really think that is right. 'And we're not going to do things in terms of the rhetoric or hyperbole, we're going to do things on really practical, calm, steady decision-making. Because I think that is actually the British character more widely to do things in a serious and steady way.' She also lashed out at former Labour PM Tony Blair, who criticised Sir Keir for not lining up alongside the US like he did in Iraq at an event in London. 'I think the point is to make sure that, actually, we learn the lessons from some of the things that went wrong in Iraq, and I think that is exactly what Keir Starmer has done,' she said. A spokeswoman for Sir Tony said that his comments had been made at a private event and were not intended to be publicised. Trump last night told Sir Keir he does not need the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers in a new blow to the so-called 'special relationship'. He 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!' It comes after it was revealed on Saturday the Royal Navy is preparing one of its two aircraft carriers for potential deployment to the Middle East. The readiness of HMS Prince of Wales is being increased with its crew warned they should be prepared to sail in five days. Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is also due to set sail next week. Sir Tony rebuked Sir Keir for his lack of support for Trump's war on Iran, telling an event on Friday: '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.' It comes after it was revealed on Saturday the Royal Navy is preparing HMS Prince of Wales (file photo), one of its two aircraft carriers, for potential deployment to the Middle East The skies over Tehran turned a disquieting red and filled with acrid smoke after US and Israeli forces struck several oil depots in the Iranian capital 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). 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 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. Sir Richard Branson has warned that Britain must prepare for war in space and to 'dominate' the industry for the sake of national security. The British billionaire, 75, gave the eerie warning to crowds at Space-Comm Expo Europe in London this week. Speaking via video chat at the space conference, he said: 'I'm afraid we're 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.' Sir Richard said the UK is 'capable' of 'matching' competitors China, Russia and the US to dominate space, but added that government support for space 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,' he said. Maj Gen Tedman called on Britain to be 'more assertive', adding: '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.' Many countries are already utilising space as a war-fighting domain with satellites for spying, encrypting communications, guiding missiles and ensuring the smooth running of an advanced economy. Several countries have Space Commands within their militaries including the US, India, Russia, China and the UK - the latter based at RAF High Wycombe. Join the debate Should Britain put money into space defence or focus on urgent needs here on Earth? The British billionaire, 75, gave the eerie warning to crowds at Space-Comm Expo Europe in London this week For this decade at least, a war in space would primarily be about war on Earth. Given that technologically advanced powers now rely so much on space, it is central to modern military thinking. Without satellites, the commanders don't know where to position their aircraft carriers, long-range missiles and troops. Nor do they know precisely where the enemy is. There is an existing Outer Space Treaty, however this is a relic of the 1960s and has not been updated to reflect modern military technology - or the emergence of private enterprises such as the US's Space X and Blue Origin, or China's i-Space. The treaty prohibits placing nuclear weapons in space, for example, but makes no mention of conventional weapons. Nor, given they had yet to be invented, does it even mention laser weapons. We also lack guidelines about how close one country's satellite can get to another's which, given that parts of some countries' nuclear early warning systems are in their satellites, would seem imperative. On Wednesday, Space Minister Baroness Lloyd of Effra announced a 500million investment in Britain's national space programme, bringing total government funding to 2.8billion between now and 2030. This lagged far behind Germany's planned 35billion (30.4billion) investment in the next four years. The US now finds itself in a new space race with China, with both nations planning to land astronauts on the moon before 2030 and later build bases on its surface. Chinese satellites have been spotted 'dogfighting' in space, practising moving aggressively within less than a mile of each other suggesting they are preparing for space warfare. Elsewhere, Russian intelligence satellites have stalked orbiting European spacecraft, prompting suspicions Moscow is developing an anti-satellite weapon. Iran's Red Crescent society has warned that Tehran may soon be inundated by toxic rain that can cause chemical burns and damage lungs after Israel struck oil facilities in the capital. In a dire notification early this morning, the humanitarian group warned residents of Tehran that they risked chronic lung and skin diseases following last night's bombardment. The NGO warned Tehranians not to leave their homes even after rain ceases as 'evaporation of acid droplets from the hot ground or surfaces increases the concentration of toxins in the breathing air by several times.' They also warned citizens to ensure their food was wiped down, even if it is sealed, as 'microscopic acidic particles on the container wall can contaminate the contents when opened.' The Red Crescent society also told citizens to replace their water filtration systems, if possible, as toxic water can destroy older filters. Hellish scenes from last night's bombing campaign against Tehran have emerged. Harrowing footage showed a massive inferno from the Shahran oil depot in north-west Tehran lighting up an impossibly tall plume of smoke that appeared to consume the night sky. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. Flames rise from an oil storage facility south of the capital Tehran as strikes hit the city during the US-Israel military campaign, Iran, Saturday, March 7, 2026 Fire burns and smoke rises from Aqdasieh Oil Depot after being reportedly hit by strike, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran in this screengrab taken from a social media video released on March 8, 2026 Fire was seen raging through the streets of the city as lit oil got into the sewer system, lighting up whole roads. Residents complained of a lingering burning smell in the air, as both the US and Israel doubled down on their pledge to fight until the 'eradication' of the Iranian regime. Today, Israel struck southern Lebanon, Beirut and oil storage facilities in Tehran as the war in the Middle East keeps escalating, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised 'many surprises' for the next phase of the conflict. Iran also hit a desalination plant in Bahrain. Earlier today, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a US airstrike damaged an Iranian desalination plant on Qeshm Island, warning that in doing so 'the US set this precedent, not Iran.' Such infrastructure is critical for drinking water supplies in the parched deserts of the Gulf. An Israeli attack on oil storage sites in Tehran sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in Associated Press video as a glow against the Saturday night sky. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. The war, which erupted on Feb. 28 after joint US-Israeli strikes hit Iran, has so far killed at least 1,230 people in the Islamic Republic, more than 300 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials. A Pakistani driver was killed overnight when debris from an aerial interception fell on a vehicle in Dubai, authorities said on Sunday. It's the second death of a Pakistani national there in recent days. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths of the two Pakistanis in Dubai. Explosions erupt following strikes at Shahran Oil Refinery in Tehran on March 7, 2026 Hellish scenes from last night's bombing campaign against Tehran have emerged Two other civilians, from Nepal and Bangladesh, have been killed by missile debris in Dubai since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, triggering Iranian missile and drone attacks on its Gulf neighbours. Iran's parliament speaker says oil prices will surge more as the war continues Iran's parliament speaker said today that oil prices will continue to soar, inflicting pain on the global economy as long as the war in the Middle East goes on. Oil prices have soared since the US and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, reaching its highest levels since 2023. The price for a barrel of Brent crude jumped 8.5% to $92.69 on Friday - up from nearly $70 a barrel just late last week. Meanwhile, benchmark US crude climbed 12.2%, to $90.90 a barrel on Friday. 'If the war continues like this, there will be neither a way to sell oil nor the ability to produce it,' Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in a social media post. He said the war is not only impacting the US, but also the Middle East and the whole world 'due to Netanyahu's delusions,' referring to the Israeli prime minister. US and Israeli strikes in Iran have killed 200 children and around 200 women, the Iranian Health Ministry said on Sunday. They are among more than 1,200 people killed in the war, spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said in a social media post. He said more than 1,000 others, including about 400 women, have been injured since Feb. 28. Iran's president has threatened to step up attacks on American targets throughout the Middle East as the US and Israel press ahead with their air campaign. 'When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond. The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be,' President Masoud Pezeshkian said in video comments made on Sunday. 'Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression - and it never has.' Pezeshkian appeared to be backtracking from conciliatory comments toward his Gulf neighbours on Saturday. Those comments, in which he appeared to apologise for attacks on their soil, were quickly contradicted by Iranian hard-liners. Pezeshkian said Iran is not looking for a battle against neighbouring Arab countries, many of which host American military bases. 'They are our brothers,' he said, accusing the US of trying to pit the region's countries against one another. Many Iranian attacks have gone beyond US bases in the region, striking energy facilities, hotels and cities. A missile alert sounded on Sunday morning in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Bahrain says Iranian drone attack has caused `material damage' to desalination plant The skies over Tehran turned a haunting shade of red and filled with acrid smoke after several oil and fuel depots were blown up (Pictured: An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7) It is the first time an Arab country says Iran has targeted a desalination plant during the nine-day war. Hundreds of desalination plants sit along the Persian Gulf coast, and the Arab countries in the region rely heavily on the facilities for their drinking water Israel's military said on Sunday that it had struck a series of fighter jets that pre-revolutionary Iran purchased from the United States. The fleet of F-14s parked at Isfahan Airport, south of Tehran, was a pillar of the Iranian air force and historically used to defend its airspace. The Israeli military did not say whether the jets were destroyed. It also said it had struck detection and air defence systems. The Tories would allow police to dole out 'immediate justice' for low-level offences and crack down on cannabis as part of their policing strategy. The Conservatives pledged to recruit 10,000 extra police officers and order hotspot patrolling in the 2,000 neighbourhoods with the highest rates of crime. They would also triple the use of stop and search and expand the use of live facial recognition which has already been trialled in Croydon and is being piloted by British Transport Police (BTP) at some London stations. And they would give police powers to issue community sentences such as cleaning graffiti and tidying parks for offences including criminal damage, harassment without violence and first-time drug possession without going to court. Under the plans, police would be required to intervene in all cases of cannabis possession rather than give informal warnings. They also plan to update the law and raise penalties for dangerous behaviour on e-bikes. Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'People across Britain want the same basic thing - to feel safe in their own streets and communities. 'But Labour are more concerned with playing nice and worrying about the "rights" of criminals than standing up for the people who play by the rules. The Conservatives pledged to recruit 10,000 extra police officers and order hotspot patrolling in the 2,000 neighbourhoods with the highest rates of crime Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'People across Britain want the same basic thing - to feel safe in their own streets and communities' 'Conservatives are clear about whose side we are on and we will always support those who work hard and do the right thing.' Labour's policing plans including boosting numbers of neighbourhood police and police community support officers (PCSOs) by 13,000. Sarah Jones, minister for crime, policing and fire, said Labour's Crime and Policing Bill would crack down on anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, violence against women and girls, knife crime and child abuse. She said: 'Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives decimated neighbourhood policing and left our criminal justice system on the verge of collapse. 'Now they want the public to believe they can fix the dire situation they caused. Rather than lecturing others, they should be apologising to the communities and victims of crime they so badly let down.' Nobody will face prosecution over the deaths of young soldiers at the Deepcut army barracks, after a six-year investigation into allegations of abuse failed to turn up enough evidence. Four recruits were found dead with bullet wounds at the barracks in Surrey between 1995 and 2002. A fifth, Anthony Bartlett, 26, died from a suspected drug overdose in July 2001. The deaths of Cheryl James, 18, Sean Benton, 20, James Collinson, 17, and Geoff Gray, 17, were recorded as suicides at inquests. All except James's death were subject to a second inquest, with the final one concluding in 2019, where the findings were confirmed. But dozens of allegations of mental, physical and sexual abuse surfaced during the hearings, prompting Surrey Police to promise the families a police investigation. Despite combing over the first-hand testimonies and taking new witness accounts, police did not find enough evidence to lay charges. Last year, it emerged that a former member of staff at the camp, an ex-Army sergeant, had been interviewed under caution by police during the fresh investigation. The retired sergeant in his 70s was questioned in 2023 for the second time - 21 years after he was first quizzed in 2002. A group known as the Respirator Gang were also cited as being involved in late-night beatings. Cheryl James (left), who died at 18 in 1995 from a gunshot wound to the head, and Sean Benton, who died at 20 in 1995 from five gunshot wounds to his chest James Collinson (left), who died at 17 in 2002 from a gunshot wound to the head, and Geoff Gray, who died at 17 in 2001 from two gunshot wounds to the head There was allegedly a culture of bullying and fear that ruled over Deepcut Barracks in Surrey (pictured) Female recruits told the coroner how they were subjected to vile and abusive treatment in a highly sexualised environment at the barracks. Judge Rook found many of the witnesses who gave evidence had been truthful. Over more than 40 court days, the leadership at the barracks was described as a perfect storm of inadequacy and toxicity, for which few were willing to take responsibility. Hundreds of teenage soldiers were left unsupervised with access to drink and guns. The coroner concluded that a sergeant had physically assaulted at least ten trainees during his time as a Deepcut troop sergeant, specifically that he punched and kicked them. NCOs [non-commissioned officers] used excessive and repetitive punishments that went beyond legitimate sanctions, Judge Rook found. A government-commissioned independent review into the barracks by Nicholas Blake QC in 2004 found that there was a detrimental culture of 'ill-discipline, bullying and unofficial punishments'. But in September last year, the Crown Prosecution Service told the families that nobody would be charged. Des, father of Cheryl James, described the decision not to bring any charges after 30 years of campaigning as the final deceit. He said: 'I'm honestly lost for words, but as the years go on, this is the deceit I never seem to forget. Relations of the dead soldiers protesting at Deepcut during a visit to the barracks by Princess Anne in 2003 The Mail on Sunday's front page on March 26, 2006, led with allegations of abuse at the Deepcut barracks 'Surrey police visited our home more than once and said "We dropped a clanger," or words to that effect. 'Craig Denholm, in charge of the "re-investigation" did not tell us, ever, that the original officers who attended the scene on November 27, 1995, only stayed for 40 minutes or so before handing the case over to the Coroner, to be investigated as a suicide.' Des and wife Doreen have never accepted that Cheryl took her own life. 'That little piece of information took Doreen and I 21 years to discover at Cheryl's second Inquest. 'It's not the only deceit we experienced - but it is the one that stays with me - 30 years later,' Des said. Diane Gray, Geoff's mother, said: 'All I can say is it does not surprise me. We knew it was a cover-up from the beginning. 'Then when you are allowed sensitive information, but it comes with a gagging order, that tells you everything.' Yvonne Heath, mum of James Collinson, said: 'I'm aware that no charges have been brought and it comes as no surprise. 'Four dead recruits and no one is accountable and they wonder why we are cynical?' Sean Benton's parents, Harry and Linda, died before they could learn their campaign for a second inquest had been successful. After the conclusion of the last inquest, Surrey Police said a criminal investigation was underway into a number of allegations. An initial file for advice was submitted to the CPS in October 2019, and another sent in July 2020. This month, seven years after their investigation was launched, Surrey Police and the CPS confirmed nobody will be charged - though the families were informed in September. A spokesman for Surrey Police said: 'Surrey Police was asked to investigate a number of allegations relating to a male suspect at Deepcut Barracks between 1994 and 1997. 'These allegations were subjected to a rigorous and thorough investigation which was carried out by a dedicated team. 'Following this investigation, a substantial file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in July 2020. 'The CPS then undertook a detailed review of the material. 'This was complex and involved significant work and the instruction of counsel. 'Following this review Surrey Police interviewed the suspect under caution in April 2023. 'The CPS then conducted a full code test review in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, concluding that the evidential stage of the test was not met, and that no individual would be charged with any offence. 'That decision was communicated to all interested parties in September 2025.' Surrey Police said the time limit to prosecute anybody for common assaults in the 1990s and early 2000s had passed. A spokesperson said: 'There was no medical or physical evidence available to support any offences of assault due to the time that had passed,' a spokesperson said.The force only investigated allegations of misconduct in public office - the same potential charge Prince Andrew was investigated for during his arrest. The investigation included 'reviewing all the evidence, including inquest transcripts and witness evidence from the previous investigations', a Surrey Police spokesperson said. New witness statements were also taken. The only suspect was interviewed under caution in April 2023. Frank Ferguson, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'We were asked to consider allegations of ill-treatment of recruits in relation to a male suspect at Deepcut between 1994 and 1997. 'Following a thorough review of the evidence from Surrey Police and Sussex Police, we have concluded that no criminal charges should be brought. 'Offences of misconduct in public office were considered, but we concluded that our legal test for prosecution was not met. 'We offered to meet with close family members to explain our reasoning in further detail.' None of the victims' families took up the offer to meet with the CPS following their decision not to recommend charges. Tearful families were reunited at Dublin Airport today after the Irish Government's first chartered flight from the Middle East touched down. The flight from Muscat in Oman landed just before 5am, several hours after its scheduled midnight arrival. It made a stop in Cairo and was carrying around 194 people. The flight was chartered to bring stranded, vulnerable Irish citizens home amid escalating scenes of hostilities between Israel, the United States and Iran. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said it had been a challenging journey. 'I am pleased to confirm the arrival into Dublin of a chartered repatriation flight from Oman. I want to welcome home all those who travelled on the flight we have chartered to assist those stranded in the Gulf region,' she said. 'I know their return will be an enormous relief for themselves and for their families and friends. 'It was a challenging journey, in particular for those who travelled over land to Muscat, but I am glad that we have been able to directly facilitate the return of nearly 200 people, including a number of children and infants.' Hundreds of Irish citizens returned recently from the region via commercial Emirates flights from Dublin. Another is due to land at 6.55pm on Sunday. Tearful families were reunited at Dublin Airport today after the Irish Government's first chartered flight from the Middle East touched down The flight from Muscat in Oman landed just before 5am, several hours after its scheduled midnight arrival. It made a stop in Cairo and was carrying around 194 people The flight was chartered to bring stranded, vulnerable Irish citizens home amid escalating scenes of hostilities between Israel , the United States and Iran Other Irish people have managed to get indirect flights to Ireland from Abu Dhabi or Dubai through London or Paris. Ms McEntee said around 1,500 people have returned home to Ireland in recent days. 'I would encourage all those still in the UAE and who want to leave to avail of commercial options where those are available,' she said. 'The last week has been incredibly distressing for our citizens in the Gulf. 'The situation remains volatile, with further attacks on the UAE and other Gulf countries today, and on Iran. 'I would ask any Irish citizens in the Gulf to register their presence in order to give my Department the clearest information possible of the situation on the ground. 'More than 18,000 people have done so since last weekend. 'Any citizen in the Gulf seeking assistance is encouraged to call the Consular Crisis Team in Dublin directly.' The Government's chartered flight, which reportedly cost 800 euro a seat, departed Muscat in Oman on Saturday. There are about 24,000 Irish citizens across the region who have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs. An estimated 14,000 Irish people are living in Dubai, a further 2,000 in Abu Dhabi and more than 2,000 in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia. On Friday, it was indicated that the consular crisis team had responded to more than 2,300 queries since last weekend. On Saturday, an Irish Government spokesperson said: 'The Government's charter flight to assist citizens in the Gulf region has departed Oman. 'It will make one stop in Cairo and is due to arrive in Dublin later tonight.' Dublin Airport said on Saturday that disruption to flights from the Middle East had continued for the eighth consecutive day, with just two scheduled flights to the Middle East operating, one inbound and one outbound Emirates flight to and from Dubai. 'All other flights to Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi have been cancelled by airlines,' they said. 'Further disruption is likely in the days ahead. 'As always, passengers due to fly should contact their airline directly for the latest updates on the status of their flight.' Russia's ambassador to the UK said his country is 'not neutral' in the US/Israeli war with Iran, saying 'of course' Moscow supports the hardline Tehran regime. Andrey Kelin said Russia had a 'good relationship' with Iran but denied it had received any request for help with the air strikes that started more than a week ago. It came amid reports that an Iranian drone that hit a British airbase in Cyprus was equipped with Russian military hardware. RAF Akrotiri was struck by an Iranian drone fired from Lebanon on Sunday, and it is understood to have contained a Russian-made Kometa-B navigation system. The piece of technology was first seen in drones that were intercepted by Ukrainian air defences in December. Speaking to Sky News's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr Kelin said: 'We are not neutral. No way neutral. We are supportive to Iran, of course. 'And we consider, as I have said, very negatively what is being done.' Asked if they would provide material support to Iran he added: 'You know that we have all sympathies with Iran. They are our neighbours. 'We have had always a very good relationship with Iran. But for the moment, as it has been announced yesterday, Iran didn't ask for any assistance or help.' Andrey Kelin said Russia had a 'good relationship' with Iran but denied it had received any request for help with the air strikes that started more than a week ago RAF Akrotiri was struck by an Iranian drone fired from Lebanon on Sunday, and it is understood to have contained a Russian-made Kometa-B navigation system The piece of technology was first seen in drones that were intercepted by Ukrainian air defences in December. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin Components of the drone recovered by the British military intelligence have now been sent to a laboratory in the UK for further investigation, The Times reports. One source told The Washington Post the alleged Russian support amounted to a 'pretty comprehensive effort' to help its ally Tehran target American forces in the region. Despite the discovery, which is the first evidence that Russian military equipment is being used in the Iran conflict, US President Donald Trump says he has received 'no indication' that Russia is assisting Iran. He added: 'If they are, they're not doing a very good job, because Iran is not doing too well.' It comes after sources claimed that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence on the location of US military assets, including warships and aircraft in the Middle East. Three officials familiar with the intelligence said the assistance had been ongoing since the war began on Saturday. Sir Richard Knighton, the chief of the defence staff, said he had 'no doubt' that Russia had been sharing intelligence with Iran. The head of the British armed forces also confirmed on Saturday that the attack on the airbase was launched from Lebanon by an 'Iranian-aligned group'. Concerns have since been raised that British military assets, including two Wildcat helicopters that arrived in Cyprus on Friday, could be targeted. The UK was preparing to deploy HMS Prince of Wales, one of its two aircraft carriers, to the Middle East, but Trump has since told Sir Keir Starmer that the US does not need Britain to send its aircraft carriers. 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. Sir Keir has 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. The Prime Minister has also been criticised for initially denying permission to let the US use British bases in its strikes on the Iranian regime. He 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. Trump said the PM took 'far too long' to lift the ban on US forces flying from RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia. Sir Keir only announced the deployment of HMS Dragon more three days after the conflict began, and the Type 45 destroyer is not due to leave Portsmouth until next week, as it still needs to be loaded with missiles, crewed for the deployment, and last-minute maintenance needs to take place. The UK was preparing to deploy HMS Prince of Wales (pictured), one of its two aircraft carriers, to the Middle East, but Trump has since told Sir Keir Starmer that the US does not need Britain to send its aircraft carriers 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.' 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. 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'. President Trump says he may 'possibly' deploy US troops on the ground into Iran, but there would need to be a 'very good reason'. Asked on Air Force One about reports that he is 'seriously considering' sending US soldiers into Iran, Trump initially brushed off the question, saying he didn't think it was 'appropriate'. 'I don't even want to talk about it now,' he said. 'You know, I'm not going to answer it. Could there be? Possibly, for very good reason, have to be very good reason. 'I would say if we ever did that they would be so decimated that they wouldn't be able to fight at the ground level.' On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was 'certain' that Iran was receiving arms from Russia. He said: 'I think all of this is found in the fragments of the Shaheds striking the Middle East today. Iranian Shaheds contain Russian-made components. This is something we know for certain.' Iran first began supplying Russia with drones in 2022, which have been used in the daily strikes on Ukrainian cities. British defence intelligence understands Russia sent 55,000 one-way attack drones into Ukraine last year. Almost 600 civilians are believed to have been killed in drone attacks across Ukraine last year. Israeli tanks are massing at the Lebanese border as Israel continues to flex its military power to its enemies in the region and Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to produce 'many surprises' in the latest Middle East war. A mass of Israeli tanks were seen at the nation's northern border with Lebanon today. Soldiers were seen making preparations on a hill that the formation was sat on. It comes amid continuing Israeli strikes on the nation, as well as neighbour Beirut and oil storage facilities in Tehran. As the war continues to grow in scale, Netanyahu last night claimed that Israel has an 'organised plan with many surprises.' The Israeli leader added in his video statement that his nations aimed to 'destabilise the [Iranian] regime [and] to enable change.' Speaking to members of Iran's military, he said: 'You are also in our sights. Whoever puts his weapon down, no harm will come to him. Whoever doesn't do that, his blood is on his head.' And speaking to the Iranian people, he claimed Israel was not trying to divide the nation, instead stating: 'We are trying to free Iran.' A mass of Israeli tanks were seen at the nation's northern border with Lebanon today Soldiers were seen making preparations on a hill that the formation was sat on Explosions erupt following strikes at Tehran Oil Refinery in Tehran on March 7, 2026 Shortly after the video was published, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a US airstrike damaged an Iranian desalination plant on Qeshm Island, warning that in doing so 'the US set this precedent, not Iran.' Such infrastructure is critical for drinking water supplies in the parched deserts of the Gulf. An Israeli attack on oil storage sites in Tehran sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in Associated Press video as a glow against the Saturday night sky. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. The war, which erupted on February 28 after joint US-Israeli strikes hit Iran, has so far killed at least 1,230 people in the Islamic Republic, more than 300 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials. The UAE's Defence Ministry says it intercepted all 16 missiles, while a 17th fell into the sea. It says it intercepted most of the drones, but four fell in UAE territory. The ministry says it is ready to 'firmly confront' the threats. Iran's president earlier Sunday threatened to increase attacks on US targets across the region in the face of ongoing Israeli and US strikes. The Emirati statement did not specify the locations of Sunday's attacks. French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Cyprus on Monday to show France's solidarity with the European Union nation targeted by drones last week. Macron will meet there with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Greece Prime Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Macron's office said Sunday. 'Together with our European partners, the aim will be to strengthen security around Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean,' the statement said. Fire burns and smoke rises from Aqdasieh Oil Depot after being reportedly hit by strike, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran in this screengrab taken from a social media video released on March 8, 202 The visit will also help coordinating efforts to ensure the safety of European nationals in the region and support repatriation operations, it said. Cypriot and British officials haven't said where the Shahed drone that hit the Royal Air Force base in Akrotiri came from, but speculation is that it was the work of Iran's proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah. Warplanes intercepted a pair of drones in a second attempted strike on the UK base last Monday. US and Israel strikes in Iran have damaged about 10,000 civilian structures across the county, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said. In a social media post, the Red Crescent said the structures include 7,943 residential units and 1,617 commercial units along with several medical and educational facilities. The Iranian Red Crescent warned people in Tehran to take extra precautions to avoid toxic amounts of pollutants in the air stemming from a fire that broke out after Israeli struck multiple oil storage depots late Saturday. Heavy, black smoke from the fires blocked out the sun on Sunday morning. The Red Crescent advised the public to avoid turning on air conditioners or going outside immediately after rainfall due to concerns about toxic acid rain. The Red Crescent also encouraged people to protect exposed food and to gargle salt water to clean the throat from oily soot particles they may have inhaled. Tehran's governor recommended everyone wear masks outside. A Pakistani driver was killed overnight when debris from an aerial interception fell on a vehicle in Dubai, authorities said Sunday. It's the second death of a Pakistani national there in recent days. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths of the two Pakistanis in Dubai. Explosions erupt following strikes in Tehran on March 7, 2026 Two other civilians, from Nepal and Bangladesh, have been killed by missile debris in Dubai since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, triggering Iranian missile and drone attacks on its Gulf neighbours. Iran's parliament speaker said Sunday oil prices will continue to soar, inflicting pain on the global economy as long as the war in the Middle East goes on. Oil prices have soared since the US and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, reaching its highest levels since 2023. The price for a barrel of Brent crude jumped 8.5% to $92.69 on Friday - up from nearly $70 a barrel just late last week. Meanwhile, benchmark US crude climbed 12.2%, to $90.90 a barrel on Friday. 'If the war continues like this, there will be neither a way to sell oil nor the ability to produce it,' Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in a social media post. He said the war is not only impacting the US, but also the Middle East and the whole world 'due to Netanyahu's delusions,' referring to the Israeli prime minister. US and Israeli strikes in Iran have killed 200 children and around 200 women, the Iranian Health Ministry said Sunday. They are among more than 1,200 people killed in the war, spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said in a social media post. He said more than 1,000 others, including about 400 women, have been injured since February 28. Iran's president has threatened to step up attacks on American targets throughout the Middle East as the US and Israel press ahead with their air campaign. 'When we are attacked, we have no choice but to respond. The more pressure they impose on us, the stronger our response will naturally be,' President Masoud Pezeshkian said in video comments Sunday. 'Our Iran, our country, will not bow easily in the face of bullying, oppression or aggression - and it never has.' Pezeshkian appeared to be backtracking from conciliatory comments toward his Gulf neighbours on Saturday. Those comments, in which he appeared to apologise for attacks on their soil, were quickly contradicted by Iranian hard-liners. Pezeshkian said Iran is not looking for a battle against neighbouring Arab countries, many of which host American military bases. 'They are our brothers,' he said, accusing the US of trying to pit the region's countries against one another. Many Iranian attacks have gone beyond US bases in the region, striking energy facilities, hotels and cities. The sky over Iran's capital was blanketed with smoke Sunday morning, hours after Israeli strikes hit oil facilities in Tehran, Associated Press footage showed. An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026 Fars news agency reported that Saturday's strikes hit four oil storage facilities and an oil production transfer centre in Tehran and Alborz. Four tanker drivers in the centre were killed, it reported. The strikes sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in AP video as a glow against the Saturday night sky. It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. A missile alert sounded Sunday morning in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Bahrain says Iranian drone attack has caused `material damage' to desalination plant It is the first time an Arab country says Iran has targeted a desalination plant during the nine-day war. Hundreds of desalination plants sit along the Persian Gulf coast, and the Arab countries in the region rely heavily on the facilities for their drinking water Israel's military said on Sunday that it had struck a series of fighter jets that pre-revolutionary Iran purchased from the United States. The fleet of F-14s parked at Isfahan Airport, south of Tehran, was a pillar of the Iranian air force and historically used to defend its airspace. The Israeli military did not say whether the jets were destroyed. It also said it had struck detection and air defence systems. BEIJING, March 8 (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 Monday. At 9 a.m., the fourth session of the 14th NPC will hold its second plenary meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. NPC deputies will hear a work report of the NPC Standing Committee to be delivered by Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, a work report of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) to be delivered by SPC President Zhang Jun, and a work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) to be delivered by SPP Procurator-general Ying Yong. NPC deputies will also deliberate on a report of the NPC Standing Committee on the work of the overhaul of laws and the proposed handling of certain laws and decisions. In the afternoon, they will hold group meetings to review the NPC Standing Committee's work report and its report on the work of the overhaul of laws and the proposed handling of certain laws and decisions. In the morning, CPPCC National Committee members will sit in the plenary meeting of the NPC. In the afternoon, they will hold group meetings to discuss work reports of the top court and the top procuratorate, and review other documents. A beloved high school math teacher was killed in a freak accident outside his Georgia home after a group of teens played a prank on him. Jason Hughes, 40, stepped outside his Gainesville home around 11.40pm on Thursday after he spotted a group of five pranksters draping the trees on his property with toilet paper, the Hall County Sheriff's Office said. When the teens saw the North Hall High School teacher, they darted toward two vehicles and tried to speed away. As they did so, Hughes tripped and fell into the road and was run over by one of the cars driven by Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18. Wallace and two others stopped and attempted to render aid to Hughes until emergency responders arrived. The father of two was rushed to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he later died. Wallace was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering on private property. Four others, Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque, and Ariana Cruz, all 18 years old, were arrested and charged with criminal trespass and littering. It is unclear if any of them were students. Jason Hughes, 40, was fatally run over on Thursday around 11.40pm after he spotted a group of teen pranksters draping toilet paper across his lawn in Gainesville, Georgia After spotting the teens, Hughes stepped out of his home. He then tripped and fell into the road, where he was hit by a car driven by Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, police said Hughes has been remembered as a loving father to his two sons and a cherished husband to his wife Laura. He has also been described as a great teacher and mentor to students at North Hall, where he taught for the past eight years. 'If I ever had problems, I could always run and call to him, like if I have the financial questions, or if I just had some personal issues going on,' Shayden Maynor, one of Hughes' former students, told 11 Alive. Maynor, who graduated in 2002 and kept in touch with Hughes over the years, attended a memorial for the late educator on Saturday at North Hall High School. 'We grieved together, we laughed, we made jokes, and it was just really bad for the community that we had lost somebody so special like that,' he recalled. Olivia Williams, a sophomore at the school, said Hughes was always looking out for his students. 'He always tried to make conversations with students, and he always just tried to be the most supportive he could,' Williams told Atlanta News First. 'He would show up to events that he didnt even know anything about just to be supportive, and thats going to be a really big thing thats going to be missed.' Jason Hughes is pictured with his wife and children The beloved teacher was remembered by students and staff. He is pictured with his wife Wallace was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering on private property (L-R) Ariana Cruz, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque, and Elijah Tate Owens, all 18, were also arrested and charged Hughes has been remembered as a loving father to his two sons and a cherished husband to his wife Laura (pictured together) Williams said Hughes' wife also works at North Hall as a geometry teacher. 'I really just want her to know that theres so many people that love and care about them, and theyre not alone in this and that if they ever need a shoulder to cry on, there is always going to be somebody to turn to,' she told the outlet. Others took to social media to share their grief following his sudden death. 'Jason Hughes was as solid a man, leader, father, friend, mentor as one could expect to meet on our short time on this Earth,' a friend posted on Facebook. They added: 'From the first time you met Jason, there wasnt a question of the caliber of a human being this man was.' Another shared that Hughes was the kind of person who lit up every room he entered. 'Some people walk into a room and immediately make it better. Jason was one of those people,' they shared on Facebook. 'Always smiling, always ready with a joke, and always making everyone around him feel welcome. He had a way of turning an ordinary moment into something memorable just by being himself.' 'Jason Hughes was as solid a man, leader, father, friend, mentor as one could expect to meet on our short time on this Earth,' one friend posted on Facebook after his death He shares two young sons with his wife, who also teaches at the school Shayden Maynor, one of Hughes' former students, said he was an amazing mentor who he kept in touch with over the years A growing memorial has since been erected outside of the school as students, colleagues and community members left flowers in his honor. A GoFundMe page has since been set up to help raise funds to support Hughes' family. 'Jasons life was a blessing to so many, and his untimely passing will be indescribably difficult for his wife and two young boys for years to come,' the page read. As of Sunday morning, nearly $67,000 had been raised. The Daily Mail contacted the Hall County Sheriff's Office for comment. A stranded Aussie traveller has slammed the Australian government for abandoning its citizens in the midst of the US-Iran war, claiming she was 'dumped' in Riyadh by consular officials and left to fend for herself. Trina Hockley has claimed there is no way for her to get home after she became stranded in Doha, in Qatar, as fighting escalated through the Middle East on Sunday. Ms Hockley had been on her way to Helsinki, Finland, when the war broke out but now she says it is becoming impossible for her to get home. When she arrived in Doha, Ms Hockley said the city had already been 'abandoned' on Tuesday. Since then, she and dozens of others have been stuck trying to find their way back to Australia. For the most part this process has been done without the assistance of the government, she said. While the Australian government through DFAT did facilitate her passage through to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia by bus, the rest has been up to her. Ms Hockley said she was now in a competition with thousands of other Australians trying to get home. Trina Hockley is stuck in the middle east amongst the US-Iran war Ms Hockley says the Australian government has left her to deal with the situation herself (pictured is Tehran, Iran on Sunday) Foreign Minister Penny Wong had previously said the Albanese government was focused on getting Australians home and supporting regional stability. 'The Australian government doesn't want to know us so we're on our own,' Ms Hockley told 9News. '[The next step is] up to each individual traveller, I mean I've managed so far to get a flight through to Bangkok via Oman. I haven't got Bangkok to Australia yet. 'The costs are exorbitant and everyone's fighting to do the same thing, there's no help whatsoever.' Ms Hockley said her flight from Oman to Bangkok had cost her $7,000 alone. 'Every other country has repatriated their citizens either with charter flights or mass bookings. No one is doing this to their citizens, just dumping them in Riyadh and saying 'good luck',' she said. Along the 13-hour bus trip from Qatar to Saudi Arabia Ms Hockley said she was fed only an apple, sandwich and some chocolate biscuits. Although she said there was an Australian official on the bus for two-thirds of the ride apparently they left before any customs checks between countries, Ms Hockley said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said her focus is on getting Australians home Thousands of Australians are still stuck in the region (pictured is Tehran on Sunday) 'Now everyone who was on that bus is competing for flights from Oman towards wherever else they are able to manage.' This means that each traveller could be out of pocket by thousands of dollars on top of being stuck in a warzone. The transport is also extremely slow as the bus between Doha and Riyadh took more than five hours to traverse 100km, Ms Hockley said. On the same program that she appeared on, the reporter interviewing Ms Hockley also said both the Foreign Minister and Assistant Foreign Minister had declined to appear. The Foreign Minister previously said Iranian strikes had disrupted air routes across the Middle East, triggering one of Australia's largest-ever peacetime consular operations. Wong revealed more than 115,000 Australians were in the region when the crisis began, prompting the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to open emergency registration portals and organise evacuation pathways across multiple countries. 'This is a very big consular effort,' she said. Wong also confirmed that around 11,000 Australians had already been assessed as eligible for evacuation. Nine flights have departed Dubai for Australia thus far, with more scheduled. A California Democrat was left stumbling over his words after Bill Maher duped him with a presidential message on military operations following Trump's strikes on Iran. Adam Schiff stuttered through an answer after Maher revealed a quote on unsanctioned military operations was from former President Barack Obama, not Trump. The anti-Trump lawmaker has condemned the president's move to skip congressional approval in his latest controversy in striking Iran last month, but Schiff was left stumbling as he appeared on Maher's show. 'This statement from the administration,' Maher began. '"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." 'That's too vague for you?' he asked Schiff. The senator answered that the statement was 'totally vague' before Maher revealed it had actually come from the Obama Administration in 2011 regarding military operations in Libya and not President Trump. 'Well, Obama made the argument, initially, that he could go into Syria without authorization,' Schiff said, noting that he was against the move. 'I and many others pushed back on that argument. Ultimately, he did not go forward with going after [former Syrian President] Assad - even though Assad was gassing his own people - because he thought he might lose the vote in Congress.' Adam Schiff stuttered through an answer after Bill Maher revealed a quote on unsanctioned military operations was from former President Barack Obama Maher asked if the quote from Obama was 'too vague' before Schiff agreed that it was and Maher revealed that it was not from the Trump Administration Schiff went on to say he respected the fact that the issue was prominent to the former president, who, after he 'did not have the support of Congress,' did not 'go forward' with those operations. The senator has publicly condemned Trump's move to strike Iran with Israel on February 28, writing on X: 'There was no imminent threat to justify starting a war with Iran. Instead, Donald Trump chose the path of more chaos - with American lives on the line.' 'I'm joining my colleagues in forcing a vote to stop the president abusing his power,' he concluded. Maher, however, appeared to be in support of the move - despite his ongoing feud with Trump. 'This week, war. Did you hear about that thing? We bombed Iran and it's going on. Now, have you expected me to say I hate it? I don't, sorry,' Maher said. 'When he puts boots on the ground, yeah, then I'll hate it.' Democrats and Republicans alike have criticized the airstrikes which killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as other senior leaders. 'There would be nothing better than an end to this terrible, century- or decades-long dictatorship,' Schiff told ABC News on March 1. 'But there is no imminent threat to the United states that would justify exposing US troops to that kind of risk.' Yet, despite pushback, House Speaker Mike Johnson has denied that America is at war. House Speaker Mike Johnson has denied that America is at war, indicating that US military operations were being contained to a 'limited scope' Maher, who has been in a long-standing feud with the president, surprisingly admitted that he was not in opposition of Trump's move to strike Iran last month Johnson simply said that the military operations in Iran are 'limited in its scope,' The Independent reported. '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,' the president wrote on TruthSocial on Saturday. '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. '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.' However, Trump's move has many questioning the president's vow to end wars and not start them - as fears over a 'forever war' loom following the airstrikes. 'One this is certainly true though, the president broke his promise to the American people of no more regime change wars,' Schiff told ABC News. 'There's nothing in this action that's going to improve the lives of Americans.' On Saturday, the president suggested that there is a possibility that US troops will be needed on the ground in Iran at some point in the future for a 'very good reason' On Saturday, the president suggested that there is a possibility that US troops will be needed on the ground in Iran. 'I don't even wanna talk about it now,' he said on his Air Force One private plane. 'You know, I'm not going to answer it. Could there be? Possibly, for very good reason, have to be very good reason. 'I would say if we ever did that they would be so decimated that they wouldn't be able to fight at the ground level.' Trump's admission that he may end up deploying US ground troops comes after the White House denied an NBC News report on Friday night claiming that he was 'seriously considering' making the move. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed the report, alleging it was '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 at the time. The daughter of a former US intelligence director has been sentenced to 35 years behind bars for the fatal stabbing of a friend during a drunken argument at a Maryland home. Sophia Negroponte, 33, the adopted daughter of former Bush-era Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, was found guilty in November of second-degree murder for killing 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen inside an Airbnb in 2020. She was convicted in 2023 before an appeals court overturned the verdict last year, ordering a retrial after ruling jurors were wrongly allowed to hear disputed portions of her police interrogation and testimony questioning her credibility. On Friday, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Terrence McGann sentenced Negroponte to more than three decades in prison. 'The 35-year sentence mirrors the sentence imposed following the first trial in 2023 ,' Montgomery County State 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,' he added. The sentencing comes more than six years after she stabbed Rasmussen to death in what prosecutors described in court filings as an 'alcoholic rage.' Both Negroponte and Rasmussen - who attended the same Washington high school - had been drinking with another person prior to the killing. Sophia Negroponte (pictured), 33, the daughter of former US intelligence director John Negroponte, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of a friend in 2020 Negroponte was found guilty in November of second-degree murder of 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen (pictured) inside an Airbnb in Maryland during an alleged 'alcoholic rage' Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Terrence McGann (pictured) sentenced Negroponte on Friday On February 13, 2020, first responders arrived at a cramped Airbnb in Rockville and found Rasmussen suffering from fatal stab wounds - including a deep cut to the neck that severed his carotid artery - leaving him dead at the scene. Investigators described the events in charging documents as a night of escalating, alcohol-fueled chaos. After arguing twice that night, Rasmussen left the home but returned shortly afterward to grab his cellphone, McCarthy said. It was at that point, the attorney said, that Negroponte, then 27, 'stabbed him multiple times, one a death blow that severed his jugular.' County and city officers, along with fire rescue, responded to the property just after 11:15pm where they found Negroponte covered in blood, hovering over Rasmussen and yelling, 'I'm sorry,' according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. Rasmussen was pronounced dead at the scene as authorities swiftly took Negroponte into custody. She allegedly told investigators she had no memory of fatally stabbing her friend, only that she argued over a 'silly issue' and later removed a knife from his neck. The killing shocked their circle of friends. Negroponte had once called Rasmussen her best friend in police interviews - a detail that became one of the most haunting aspects of the case. Court documents revealed that authorities found Negroponte (pictured) covered in blood, hovering over Rasmussen and yelling, 'I'm sorry' Negroponte (pictured) was convicted in 2023 before an appeals court overturned the verdict last year and ordered a retrial On February 13, 2020, authorities found Rasmussen suffering from fatal stab wounds, including a deep cut to the neck that severed his carotid artery Montgomery County State Attorney John McCarthy (pictured) said Negroponte's sentencing is 'an appropriate and just outcome in light of the seriousness of this crime' After the Maryland Court of Special Appeals overturned her first conviction in January 2024, her case returned to Montgomery County in November. Negroponte sat silently as the second jury returned the same verdict as the first, and 'began dabbing her eyes' as it was read aloud, according to The Washington Post. A key difference in the second trial was the introduction of new DNA analysis by the defense, setting it apart from the first proceeding. Experts testified that the only DNA found on the knife sheath belonged to Rasmussen, not Negroponte. Defense attorney David Moyse argued that this supported the defenses position that Rasmussen had first unsheathed the weapon. 'There's a scuffle back and forth. There's a mutual fight,' Moyse told jurors in November's closing argument. Photos of cuts on Negropontes hands were shown to suggest a defensive struggle, while prosecutors told the jury the injuries resulted from the blade slipping during the stabbing. Eyewitness Philip Guthrie, the third person in the apartment that night, told the jury he saw Negroponte walk to the kitchen and grab the knife - a major piece of the prosecutions case. Prosecutors stressed Guthries sobriety and professional credentials to strengthen his credibility with the jury. Negroponte (pictured with mother) had once called Rasmussen her best friend in police interviews Negroponte told investigators she remembered arguing over a 'silly issue' before removing a knife from Rasmussen's (pictured) neck In a videotaped interview, Negroponte (pictured) told detectives, 'I have anger management problems' Negroponte was among five abandoned or orphaned Honduran children adopted by John Negroponte (pictured) and his wife following his appointment as US ambassador to Honduras Jurors were also shown police body-camera footage of Negroponte crouched over Rasmussen immediately after the stabbing, pressing a towel to his neck in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. Prosecutor Donna Fenton said the apology caught on camera was key to assessing intent and urged jurors to rewatch interrogation footage showing Negroponte making damaging admissions about her actions that evening. 'Honestly I think that I was trying to shut him up and I just did something horribly wrong,' Negroponte said in the videotaped interview. 'I have anger management problems,' she told detectives, though she never explicitly admitted to stabbing Rasmussen. 'Our hearts go out to the family of Yousuf Rasmussen,' McCarthy said after Friday's sentencing, according to WUSA 9 News. 'Their strength throughout this process has been remarkable,' he added. 'We hope this provides some measure of peace.' Negroponte was among five abandoned or orphaned Honduran children adopted by John Negroponte and his wife following his appointment as US ambassador to Honduras in the 1980s, according to The Washington Post. Former President George W. Bush appointed John Negroponte as the nations first Director of National Intelligence in 2005 after the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City. He later served as deputy secretary of state and held ambassadorial posts in Mexico, the Philippines, the United Nations and Iraq. Almost a quarter of Labour MPs are prepared to defy the government to block plans to drastically cut the right to trial by jury. Opponents to the proposal being spearheaded by Justice Secretary David Lammy believe around 80 will refuse to back it when it comes to the Commons for the first time this week. The Labour Government is planning to scale back the right to jury trial in a package of reforms designed to stop the backlog of cases spiralling out of control any further. Cases will instead be heard by a judge sitting alone in a bid to reduce the Crown court backlog - currently at a record 80,000 and set to hit 100,000 in just a year's time. It will bring the Courts and Tribunals Bill to the Commons on Tuesday for a second reading vote the government is expected to win. However, opponents, knowing they lack the overall numbers to defeat the whole bill, are expected to abstain to show the level of unhappiness, before trying to rewrite the specific parts of the law relating to juries further down the line. Karl Turner, the Labour MP who is leading opposition to the law change, told the Telegraph: '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.' Opponents to the proposal being spearheaded by Justice Secretary David Lammy believe around 80 Labour MPs will refuse to back the law change this week Karl Turner, the Labour MP who is leading opposition to the law change, told the Telegraph: 'The Government needs to realise that the votes against these unworkable jury proposals are solid' Official Ministry of Justice documents show that following an initial spike in the prison population the changes would see fewer offenders behind bars. Government research also showed that where similar judge-only trials have been introduced in other parts of the world it led to more defendants being acquitted and to shorter jail sentences being handed down. Sir Brian Leveson, a retired Court of Appeal judge, is the architect of controversial proposals to scale back the right to jury trials. Some trials in London are already being set for 2030 and modelling revealed by the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday predicts that the Crown Court backlog currently sitting at around 80,000 is expected to rise to more than 100,000 cases next year. Unlimited court sitting days, announced this week by the Government, is expected to make a dent in the growth of the backlog. But even the most optimistic projections with major structural reforms of the courts and an efficiency drive would only steady the backlog at 83,000 cases by the end of the Parliament in 2029. Last month Mr Lammy backed digital modernisation across the courts system, including using AI to keep notes and summarise judgments. He gave a speech at the Microsoft AI Tour in London on Tuesday where he said the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is one of the fastest-growing users of Microsoft's AI-powered assistant, Copilot. As part of his report on fixing the criminal justice system, Sir Brian suggested courts could rely on AI summaries of witness statements when they are taking case management decisions. The Magistrates Association said there is 'much to like' in Sir Brian's report, but warned that proposals to harness the power of AI may be too ambitious. 'The history of IT projects in the courts system is not a happy one', said the body, pointing out that some magistrates still do not have a working laptop and urging the courts service to 'get the basics right'. Police investigating a large explosion at a US embassy in Norway have said it could have been a terror attack. Rocket fire struck buildings in both Oslo and Baghdad last night - as the war in the Middle East entered its second week. Norway police said today it was considering whether the explosion had been an 'act of terrorism'. Frode Larsen, head of the police's joint unit for investigation and intelligence, added: 'But we are not completely stuck on that. 'We have to be open to the possibility that there may be other causes behind what has happened.' It comes after police said the source of the explosion in Oslo - and who had been responsible - was 'unclear'. Rocket fire aimed at the US Embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad was blamed on 'rogue groups' by local officials. Footage appeared to show a US Army C-RAM interceptor system shooting down the missiles, sending a stunning red laser across the skies as it took down the munitions. A security source said four rockets were launched toward the embassy. Three were intercepted but one fell in an open area in the embassy's airbase. There have not been any reports of injuries so far in either explosions. Non-emergency staff were ordered to leave the embassy four days ago amid the escalating tensions. A large explosion was reported outside the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway, around 1am Sunday local time. A police officer at the scene is pictured Police at the scene of an explosion at the entrance of the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway Rocket fire aimed at the US Embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad early on Saturday. The rockets were shot down by a US Army C-RAM interceptor system A security source told AFP that four rockets were launched toward the embassy, and three were intercepted (pictured) by the C-RAM system, while one fell in an open area in the embassy's airbase Smoke was seen rising from the area around the embassy compound in Oslo, eyewitnesses told Norwegian outlet Verdens Gang. Meanwhile Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani indicated the attack in Baghdad was launched by a rebel group, saying that he ordered his security forces to find the perpetrators of the 'terrorist act.' 'The perpetrators of these attacks are committing an offence against Iraq, its sovereignty, and its security. These rogue groups that operate outside the framework of the law in no way represent the will of the Iraqi people,' Shia al-Sudani said. Iraqi security officials said the missile that evaded interception landed on the helicopter landing pad in the embassy's airbase. The attack marked the first such strike on Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses government offices and diplomatic missions, since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran eight days ago. It comes as 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. 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 Israeli strikes on Tehran on Saturday night hit an oil refinery, sparking a huge fireball 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. In a furious speech on Saturday night to state media, Larijani said: 'Americans must know that we will not let them go.' 'When the enemy attacks us from military bases in the region, we will respond, this is our right and our policy. 'We dont want the region to be destabilized but the essence of this war will destabilize the region.' 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 reciprocal 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. Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, who many consider the most powerful man in Iran after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated, issued a series of unverified claims about the conflict on X on Saturday night. The leader claimed that American soldiers have been taken prisoner, and baselessly accused Donald Trump of lying about the number of American military deaths. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the stories were unfounded, and told Al Jazeera: 'The Iranian regimes claims of capturing American soldiers are yet another example of its lies and deceptions.' They issued the rebuke after Larijani accused Trump of 'promoting a misleading narrative' about the six American soldiers killed in Iranian strikes in the week since the war broke out. Larijani previously alleged that the true number of US casualties is 'over 500.' 'Then, soon enough, with the passage of time, they gradually increase the number of the dead, under various pretexts, such as incidental accidents or fabricated incidents,' he said in an X post. In another post minutes later, Larijani added: 'Under the pretext of an accident, they will inflate the number of casualties.' 'It has been reported to me that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner. But the Americans claim that they have been killed in action. Despite their futile efforts, the truth is not something they can hide for too long,' Larijani said in another post. President Donald Trump has blamed Iran for the deadly airstrike that hit an all-girls' school on the first day of the war. While speaking about the US's attack with Iran on Saturday on board Air Force One, Trump said American troops had nothing to do with the bombing that killed 175 people, mostly children, on February 28. Children between the ages of seven and 12, along with staff members, were among those who died in the school strike in the Iranian city of Minab. When asked if the US was behind the attack, Trump told reporters: 'No, in my opinion, based on what I've seen, that was done by Iran.' A reporter then turned to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who stood behind Trump as he spoke, and asked if the president's claim was true. 'We're certainly investigating,' he said before backing up the commander-in-chief. 'But, the only side that targets civilians is Iran,' Hegseth continued before Trump made another comment, doubling down on his claim. '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,' he told the press. Donald Trump has blamed Iran for the deadly airstrike that hit an all-girls' school on the first day of the war The bombing killed 175 people, mostly children, on February 28. People are seen at the site after the strike Trump's claim comes after Reuters and The Wall Street Journal reported that the US was 'likely responsible' for last week's strike. US officials told the WSJ: 'US military investigators think American forces likely were responsible for a strike that killed dozens of children at a girls' elementary school in Iran.' The investigation hasnt reached a final conclusion, the outlet reported on Friday. Meanwhile, two other US officials told Reuters the same thing, but the outlet '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 US might have struck the school.' Fox News reporter Laura Ingraham also hit out at the US for reportedly being behind the deadly airstrike. 'If true, this is horrific news -- and the U.S. military will have to address this publicly. Proximity of military compound obviously a factor, but our weapons also have pinpoint accuracy,' she wrote on X, linking the WSJ article. The attack stands among the deadliest incidents so far in the US-Israeli campaign against Iran. Officials said most of the victims were young children, and it remains unclear why the school was hit and which nation fired the airstrike. During a White House briefing on Wednesday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the airstrike was not launched by the US 'that we know of', and said the 'Department of War is investigating' the attack. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (right) said 'we're certainly investigating' who was behind the attack, but agreed with Trump that it is something Iran might have done Dramatic images released after the attack showed numerous graves dug up so the victims could be laid to rest Hegseth also addressed the tragedy in a press conference on Wednesday, saying: 'We of course never target civilian targets, but were taking a look and investigating that.' Dramatic images released after the attack showed numerous graves dug up so the victims could be laid to rest. The school attack has sparked controversy across the world, leaving many upset to hear that young, innocent children were killed. But on Wednesday, conservative firebrand Matt Schlapp suggested the Iranian schoolgirls would be better off dead than alive and wearing burkas. Schlapp, the head of the influential Conservative Union advocacy group, made the remark as he appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored last week. The commentator chimed in as Morgan was arguing with Peter Beinart, editor-at-large at Jewish Currents and a critic of the war, over the fatal airstrike. While the panel went back-and-forth over who was to blame for the strike, Beinart argued that it did not matter who fired the airstrike, because 'those girls would still be alive today if the United States and Israel had not launched the attack.' 'We dont know who launched the missile. But we know that if the US and Israel had not attacked a country that poses no serious threat to them Israel has hundreds of nuclear weapons, America has thousands that those girls would be alive,' Beinart said. As Morgan started to respond, Schlapp interrupted to state that he believed the girls were better off dead. 'Theyd be alive in a burka,' Schlapp said. 'This is a barbaric society.' Schlapp, whose Conservative Union runs the prominent annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), appeared to confuse the restrictive policies toward women in Iran. Women and girls under the regime are required to wear a hijab, which covers the head and neck, but are not required to wear a burka, which covers the entire body. A California driver was stabbed to death by a homeless man while he charged his Tesla, but when an ambulance came to save him, another vagrant stole the vehicle, according to the victim's heartbroken family. Reinaldo Lefonts, 68, was charging his electric car outside Downey City Library on September 13, 2025, when a transient man, later identified as Giovanni Navarro, 23, stabbed him following an argument in the parking lot, police said. Navarro then fled the scene toward Downey High School in Los Angeles County before he was taken into custody without incident. Meanwhile, while paramedics tried to provide life-saving aid to Lefonts at the scene, another homeless man, Nicholas DeMarco, 52, jumped into the ambulance and drove away in it, according to authorities. Lefonts, who worked in the lab at UCI Medical Center, died at the scene as a result, his family said in a $40 million claim they recently filed against the city. According to the tort claim reviewed by the Daily Mail, the grandfather did not get the necessary medical treatment he needed to survive his wounds. 'In that moment, every second mattered. The Citys paramedics and rescue vehicle were Reinaldos only realistic chance of survival,' the legal document read. 'However, the Citys paramedics failed to provide necessary medical aid and failed to transport Reinaldo promptly to a nearby hospital,' it continued. Reinaldo Lefonts, 68, (left) was stabbed to death on September 13, 2025, by a homeless man while charging his Tesla in the Downey City Library parking lot The ambulance that was supposed to take him to the hospital was then stolen by another homeless man, Nicholas DeMarco, 52 His alleged stabber, Giovanni Navarro, 23, is seen being arrested by police after he fled to a nearby school after the violent incident After snatching the emergency vehicle, DeMarco led cops on a high-speed chase to Alhambra, about 25 minutes from Downey. He then crashed the vehicle and was arrested, attorneys for the family said. Dramatic images showed both suspects being arrested, with Navarro seen shirtless as cops handcuffed him, and DeMarco without pants on as he was taken into custody. The complaint further detailed that the incident was not uncommon for the area, as city officials knew there was a surge in criminal activity occurring around the Civic Center and library before Lefonts's death. This also wasn't Navarro's first run-in with the law, as he was previously arrested for trespassing at the Civic Center less than 24 hours before he allegedly stabbed the man. He was charged with murder and a special allegation of using a weapon to commit the crime. The reported crimes were carried out by homeless people who loitered around the parking lot, the claim stated. After reviewing the history of crime in the area, Lefonts's family's lawyers found that a staggering 675 calls for service at the library and Civic Center came through between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2025. His family recently filed a complaint against the city, claiming it is responsible for his death because crime was known to have surged in the area, especially involving the homeless population Lefonts, who worked in the lab at UCI Medical Center, died at the scene as a result, his family said in a claim they recently filed against the city Just three months before his death, Lefonts retired from his job at UCI Medical Center, where he was an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic, Galindo said One of those offenses included the death of Downey Police Officer Ricardo Galvez, who was shot to death while sitting in his personal vehicle in the Civic Center parking lot - the same area where Lefonts was fatally stabbed. Those calls included calls for assaults, sex crimes, robberies, arson, theft and, narcotics violations, the claim detailed. During an August 26 meeting, just weeks before Lefonts's death, the city reviewed a report on homeless-related public safety concerns, the claim said. 'The City of Downey knew this parking lot was dangerous,' Alexi Galindo, the family's head attorney, said. 'They knew the man who killed Reinaldo had just been arrested there the day before. They knew their rescue vehicle wasnt properly equipped. And still, they did nothing. Reinaldo died within reach of help that should have been there. His family deserves answers, accountability and justice.' After hearing about the latest update in the case, several people, including Elon Musk, shared their frustration with growing crime rates in the liberal state. Musk, the CEO of Tesla, shared a post that read: 'Los Angeles is so bad that you will get stabbed charging your car at the city library by a homeless man, and when an ambulance comes to save you, ANOTHER homeless man steals the ambulance while theyre tending to you at the scene leaving you no way to get to the hospital, and you die.' To that, Musk simply wrote: 'Wow.' His son Michael said his dad was just living the 'American dream.' Following his death, Downey Mayor Claudia Frometa took to Facebook to share pictures from a memorial service that was held for Lefonts. 'While last night's vigil was all about celebrating Ray's life, I did speak on the troubling homelessness and crime issues we have been working diligently to address,' Frometa wrote. 'Municipalities like Downey have been handcuffed for too long by County and State laws that MUST change. Criminals MUST be arrested and put away, not released. Addicts with mental illness suffering from homelessness must also be put away. 'Our residents, Voters, must urge change at the ballot box. We will do our best to increase security measures,' the mayor added. Just three months before his death, Lefonts retired from his job at UCI Medical Center, where he was an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic, Galindo said. 'He tested medications, took blood samples and worked with and mentored young physicians in the field of diagnostic work,' the attorney continued. Outside of work, Lefonts enjoyed spending time with his family, riding motorcycles, and scuba diving. He was also training to hike Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous US, with his son Michael, according to Galindo. His son Michael (pictured) said his father lived the 'American dream' and made it possible for his family to do the same Lefonts also loved spending time with his grandson 'Little Ray', who was named after him. His son Michael said his father lived the 'American dream' and made it possible for his family to do the same. 'My dad was extraordinary. He's the American dream. He was born in Cuba, went to Spain, came to America with nothing and embraced what America had to offer,' Michael told KABC. 'He loved America. He loved Downey. He loved being an Angeleno.' The newly filed claim is seeking $35 million in general damages and $5 million in special economic damages for loss of financial support, funeral , and medical costs. The Daily Mail contacted Galindo, the Downey Police Department, and Frometa for comment. A guard manning Jeffrey Epstein's cell in Manhattan was found to have Googled the convicted sex offender just minutes before he was found dead, as mysterious cash deposits appeared in her bank in the days beforehand. Tova Noel, 37, was one of two Metropolitan Correctional Center officers charged with overseeing Epstein's jail cell in the days leading up to his trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Noel's coworker, Michael Thomas, discovered that Epstein had died in his cell by hanging at 6.30am on August 10, 2019. Around 40 minutes before Epstein was discovered, Noel was revealed to have Google searched 'latest on epstein in jail,' according to documents released on Thursday by the Department of Justice, first reported by the NYPost. The entries at 5.42am and 5.52am were included in searches on two other inmates held in the prison, Kenyatta Taiste and Omar Amanat, as well as a search for 'law enforcement discounts' at 6.17am and 6.19am, documents show. Noel denied Googling Epstein in questioning in 2021, and said: 'I don't remember doing that.' The documents also revealed a mysterious $5,000 cash deposit into Noel's bank account on July 30, 2019, just ten days before Epstein was found dead. Around 12 deposits were made in total dating from December 2018, totaling $11,880. Tova Noel, 37, was one of two Metropolitan Correctional Center officers charged with overseeing Epstein's jail cell in the days leading up to his death Noel's coworker, Michael Thomas, discovered that Epstein had died in his cell by hanging at 6.30am on August 10, 2019 Noel was previously accused of falsifying records, but charges were dropped. The new information that has come to light does not assume any guilt in connection to Epstein and his death. Noel was believed to have been the last correctional officer to have visited the SHU on the night prior to Epstein's death. An internal FBI briefing heard that at around 10.40pm an officer, believed to be Noel, 'carried linen or inmate clothing up to the L-Tier'. This was allegedly the 'last time any correctional officer approached the only entrance to the SHU tier', the briefing heard. Epstein hanged himself with strips of orange cloth, New York City Chief Medical Examiner found at the time. Noel said in a sworn statement that she had last seen Epstein alive 'somewhere around after ten', but said she 'never gave out linen, ever' or any clothing. She claimed that those responsibilities were done in the shift before. Around 40 minutes before Epstein was discovered, Noel was revealed to have Google searched 'latest on epstein in jail,' and ten days prior she had deposited $5,000 in cash She told investigators that she didn't know why Epstein had access to extra linen in his cell, and that the other guard had been asleep between 10pm and midnight. According to her statement, neglecting to do rounds in the prison's Special Housing Unit [SHU] was a common practice. 'I've never worked in the Special Housing Unit and actually done rounds every 30 minutes,' she told investigators, according to documents. Noel denied any involvement in Epstein's death. Both Noel and Thomas were fired from the facility after they were accused of falsifying records that show the pair had check on Epstein in his cell during the night, the Post reported. Charges against both guards were dropped. The Daily Mail reached out to Noel's lawyers for comment. A police officer who failed to enter a home despite overhearing dozens of 'thuds' as a 'ruthless and cold-blooded' man murdered his wife with a skateboard has received a written warning. The unnamed constable - who had visited the house the previous day when Olubunmi Abodunde assaulted his wife Taiwo - waited outside for 35 minutes despite hearing over 50 loud noises as he delivered the ferocious beating with the toy. By the time the PC and a probationary colleague entered, mother-of-three Mrs Abodunde, 41, had had her 'skull smashed in'. The blows delivered by Abodunde, 50, were so powerful that a pathologist was unable to say how many she had sustained. Neighbours today questioned how there were no serious consequences for the three officers who were initially investigated for misconduct or gross misconduct by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following the incident, saying Mrs Abodunde could be 'alive now' if they hadn't dithered. The PC on probation who attended the terraced house in Newmarket, Suffolk, while the murder took place on November 28, 2023, resigned from the force during the probe and didn't face any disciplinary proceedings. And a disciplinary panel, set up by Suffolk Police following the IOPC investigation, decided an acting sergeant who advised the officers not to enter the house despite concerns for Mrs Abodunde's wellbeing - and who handled her husband's arrest the day before should be cleared of any misconduct. The more experienced PC who attended the address was also cleared of gross misconduct but handed a written improvement notice for unsatisfactory performance. Olubunmi Abodunde, 50, admitted murdering his wife Taiwo, 41, during the violent attack that included hitting her so hard with a skateboard that it was damaged IOPC director Emily Barry said: 'The meeting organised by the force and held over four days - ended on February 27 and it found that a police constable failed to perform their duties. 'This relates to them delaying entry into Mrs Abodunde's home on November 28, despite having concerns for her wellbeing and suspicions that Mr Abodunde was inside the address. 'While the case was not proven for gross incompetence, it was found proven for unsatisfactory performance. They were given a written improvement notice. 'The case of gross incompetence against the officer's supervisor an acting sergeant was found not proven. 'This was in relation to them advising the officers not to enter the property on November 28, when they were aware of the officers' concerns for Mrs Abodunde, and regarding their supervision of the case after Mr Abodunde was taken into custody on November 27.' Ben Hudson, the branch secretary for Suffolk Police Federation, added: 'Officers regularly make complex decisions in fast-moving and uncertain situations, particularly during responses to domestic incidents. 'While such decisions are rightly scrutinised, it is important that the outcomes of formal processes, including those overseen by the IOPC, are communicated fairly and in line with the findings reached.' But a local, who asked not to be named, told the Daily Mail: 'How can they say it wasn't the worst kind of incompetence? Two officers waited for 35 minutes outside the terraced house while Abodunde meted out the fatal beating on his wife, despite being able to hear the sounds of 'thuds' from the blows 'They had two people outside who could hear what was going on inside but did nothing. 'While they waited, she was being attacked. She could be alive now if they'd done something.' Abodunde was jailed for life at Ipswich Crown Court in May 2024 and told he would serve a minimum of 17 years behind bars. The court was told he was jealous and suspicious throughout his marriage and accused his wife of having affairs. Suffolk Police had been involved with the couple several times over alleged domestic violence incidents before Mrs Abodunde's death. The day before, Abodunde was arrested after the same two officers arrived at the couple's home and found his wife with a split lip. He was freed on police bail later the same day with a condition to stay away from the marital home and not to approach his wife. But he went home the following morning after working a night shift at Tesco, claiming he wanted his mobile phone. Neighbours of the couple's terraced house in Newmarket, Suffolk, claimed Mrs Abodunde could be 'alive now' if the officers had acted immediately The PCs arrived at 9.20am to take a statement about the previous day's incident but didn't enter the property until 9.55am despite the commotion inside - when permission was granted. They immediately confirmed Mrs Abodunde was 'obviously dead'. A post-mortem examination found she had been throttled until she fell unconscious, then stamped on until her ribs were broken. Her husband used the skateboard to finish off the care home worker with blows that were so violent it was damaged in the process. Prosecutor Simon Spence KC told a previous hearing, where the defendant admitted murder after a jury had been sworn in, that the banging the police officers heard was likely to have been Abodunde continuing the attack after his wife was unconscious or dead. The family arrived in the UK from Nigeria in 2022 but clashed over money issues as well as the alleged affairs. Abodunde was a trained civil engineer but had been unable to find work in the sector since relocating here and took shifts at supermarkets and DIY stores. Following his arrest for murder, he told police he had acted in self-defence, saying: 'My wife has subjected me to physical abuse for a number of years. 'On November 28, we got into an argument. She ran at me with a knife. I grabbed the knife and cut my hand. I was defending myself.' But Ipswich Crown Court heard that, while he did have an injury to his hand, there wasn't a knife near his wife's body. Nneka Akudolu KC, defending, said the level of violence was 'completely out of character' for her client and might have been affected by medication he was taking. However, no medical evidence was provided to support the claim. A written improvement notice for unsatisfactory performance is a formal notice which remains in effect for 12 months. No further action is taken unless the officer's performance fails to improve, in which case the matter is referred to a second stage meeting. The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, held the third plenary meeting of the ongoing annual session on Sunday. 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 CPPCC National Committee, attended the meeting. Senior officials from the CPC Central Committee and the State Council were invited to the meeting. During the meeting, 14 national political advisors shared their views on a wide range of topics. Lian Yimin stressed the importance of advancing integrated urban-rural development to make solid progress toward realizing common prosperity for all. Chen Xingying said that Taiwan's future lies in China's reunification. She called for joint efforts to safeguard the overall peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and promote integrated development across the Strait. Sze Wing-wai said it is essential to strengthen the foundation of "one country, two systems," enhance social governance, and address the concerns of the people. Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po said that the prosperity and stability of a country provide the fundamental guarantee for the sound development of its religions. Tibetan Buddhist society will more consciously integrate itself into the country's overall development, he added. Ilzat Ahmatjan called for efforts to enhance interaction, exchange and integration among all ethnic groups and further develop the community of the Chinese nation. Wang Jinnan stressed the need to accelerate the green transition in economic and social development and promote eco-friendly lifestyles to advance the building of a Beautiful China. A mother died after crashing off a high-thrill extreme slide ride in Colombia on Thursday. Cristel Camila Garcia, 28, suffered fatal injuries after falling 15ft to the ground when she crashed off an amusement park slide, which opened just two weeks ago, to the ground below. Ms Garcia, who has a four-year-old daughter, was told 'don't be afraid' by a male worker at the top of the slide before she set off on the near-vertical drop. She was pushed on a tyre by a female colleague on to the slide after asking: 'Will anyone be waiting for me?' Workers had told Ms Garcia she would end up in a swimming pool below but she flew off the slide at the first bend. Ms Garcia died on the way to the hospital after suffering severe injuries, including to her head. She had been at an amusement park in Chinacota, a small town in Colombia's Norte de Santander department in the north-eastern region of the country, where she was visiting with her family. A police investigation was ongoing and the attraction, which opened on February 21 according to Colombian media, had been closed until it was finalised. Cristel Camila Garcia suffered fatal injuries after falling 15ft to the ground when she crashed off an amusement park slide, seen here at the top of the steep drop at the start of the attraction After being pushed off the slide she quickly gained speed She crashed off at the first bend in the slide and suffered fatal injuries Ms Garcia was the mother of a four-year-old girl and was told 'don't be afraid' before riding the slide The ride was closed while police investigated the fatal accident Council chiefs said the attraction had been closed after initial investigations revealed it had not been operating with the proper license. In a promotional video before Thursday's tragedy a female worker boasted: 'This is the only slide with a bend. Come and enjoy an extreme adventure with us.' Attraction operator Entre Flores said: 'In light of this painful event, we would like to express our condolences and sincere sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones of Cristel Camila Garcia. 'We wholeheartedly join them in their grief during this difficult time.' It said it had 'activated the emergency and assistance protocols provided for such cases and initial support was provided'. 'Entre Flores expresses its full willingness and commitment to cooperate with the competent authorities in the process of verifying and clarifying the facts,' it added. 'We are providing all the information required to ensure that the investigations proceed diligently. 'Our priority always has and always will be the wellbeing of those who visit us.' A relative of the dead woman, whose full name was Yuris Cristel Camila Garcia Manrique, insisted no-one from Entre Flores had been in touch with them. She said: 'So far this establishment has not contacted us at any time to say that they will assist us with the young woman's funeral or to say that they will respond. 'We reject what the lawyer for this establishment said, that they have contacted the family. 'At no point have they contacted the girl's mother or us. 'We demand that the investigation be carried out properly and that they answer for Camila's life, because she lost her life in an establishment where there was no security.' The Iran-backed Houthi terrorist organization has announced that it is prepared to get involved in the conflict raging across the Middle East and fight the US and Israel. The primarily Yemen-based Houthis are one of several terrorist organizations that are part of Iran's 'Axis of Resistance,' which also includes the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip and Shiite militias in Iraq. On Thursday, the leader of the Houthis, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, announced: 'Regarding military escalation and action, our fingers are on the trigger, ready to respond at any moment should developments warrant it.' And in a phone interview with the New York Times, a senior political official for the Houthis named Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said: 'The expansion of the conflict to include other countries, including Yemen, is only a matter of time.' 'Our hands are on the trigger,' al-Bukhaiti added, echoing the statement of his organization's leader. The official slogan of the Houthis is as follows: 'Allah is Greater. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam.' Nadwa Al-Dawsari, an expert on Yemen and an associate fellow at the Middle East Institute, explained to Fox News why the Houthis have just begun saber-rattling and have not yet joined the conflict. 'The reason why the Houthis have not intervened is they are the last line of resistance for the axis. Especially after other axis members were degraded,' Al-Dawsari told the outlet. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi announced on Thursday that his terrorist organization is prepared to get involved in the ongoing conflict raging across the Middle East. The terrorist leader is pictured on a poster during a parade in Yemen in solidarity with Gaza in 2024 The Houthis have de facto control of Yemen, and they are an essential ally to Iran. Houthi soldiers are pictured with heavy machine guns mounted on vehicles in 2024 The Houthis and their control of Yemen are essential for the survival of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps if the Iranian regime collapses. Houthi soldiers are pictured on the back of a pickup truck in 2025 The Houthi slogan is 'Allah is Greater. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam.' American and Israeli flags are pictured burning at a recent protest in Yemen Indeed, Hamas has been greatly weakened by its multi-year conflict with Israel, and the Iranian-aligned Ba'athist regime in Syria fell apart after its leader, Bashar al-Assad, was deposed by rebels in late 2024. But Al-Dawsari emphasized that the Houthis' threat should be taken seriously. 'The longer the war continues, the more likely the Houthis will intervene,' she told Fox News. 'I think what the Houthis want to do - and they have been itching for a while to do - is to attack the Saudis. If the Saudis intervene, the Houthis will find a reason to attack the Saudis.' Al-Dawsari said that another reason the Houthis have not yet joined the conflict is that maintaining the organization's strength is key for Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to survive if the regime in Iran collapses. In that case, she said, the IRGC would regroup in Yemen, where the Houthis control one-third of the country and up to 80 percent of the population, or Somalia, where the organization also has influence. 'The IRGC cant afford to lose the Houthis. Yemen is so important to them. They need to preserve the Houthis for tomorrow for the IRGC to continue even after the regime,' Al-Dawsari said. The expert on Yemen added that Iran's strategy is to prolong the war, expand it across the region and create pressure on the US. By disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world's oil passes, the Iranian regime hopes to survive by creating enough political pressure in the US to end the conflict early, which would essentially mean victory for the country. Houthi supporters and militia members are pictured at a demonstration in support of the killed supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Heavily-armed Houthi fighters are pictured while participating in a rally in support of Gaza in 2024 Iran has disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world's oil passes, in a bid to pressure the US to end the war. It is a strategy the Houthis have used in the Red Sea in the past. Houthi soldiers are pictured boarding a commercial vessel Houthi disruption of trade in the Red Sea took place during the Israel-Gaza war. Three soldiers with the terrorist organization are pictured occupying a commercial vessel It is a strategy that the Houthis have previously used against the US. During the Israel-Gaza war, from 2023 to 2025, the Houthis conducted attacks against US commercial and military ships in the Red Sea. The terrorist organization also targeted vessels from more than 40 other nations in a bid to help Hamas by disrupting the global economy and pressuring Israel to stop the war. The US was engaged in direct conflict with the Houthis and conducted several bombing operations against the organization. In May 2025, a tentative truce was reached and Trump announced an end to the bombing campaign, saying the Houthis 'don't want to fight.' 'They just don't want to, and we will honor that. We will stop the bombings,' the president said at the time. If the Houthis resume their attacks in the Red Sea or fight the US and Israel in other ways to support Iran, that will mark another escalation in the already broadening Middle East conflict. The Princess of Wales has marked International Women's Day with a heartfelt social media post honouring the 'kindness, resilience and quiet strength' of women. Kate, 44, took to the social media platform X on Sunday afternoon to share her sentimental message on an official social media account she shares with her husband Prince William. In commemoration of the annual celebration, she wrote: 'Today we celebrate the kindness, resilience and quiet strength of women in our families and communities. 'This day is about standing up alongside one another - recognising the influence of women, who nurture hope, encourage others and help make the world kinder and more compassionate. C. '#InternationalWomensDay.' Her words were accompanied by a photo posted by the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood of a mother and daughter embracing. Queen Camilla also commemorated the day with a post on The Royal Family's Instagram page to celebrate the day. Using a quote from the Queen in March 2024, it read: 'Let your lives be the stones that shatter glass ceilings everywhere and inspire generations to come.' The Princess of Wales visited the Aakash Odedra Company in Leicester, Leicestershire, this week, meeting with award-winning choreographer and dancer, Aakash Odedra Kate took to the social media platform X on Sunday afternoon to share her sentimental message across the official social media account she shares with her husband Prince William The Queen accompanied the post with photos of inspirational women she has met over the past year - which included Madame Gisele Pelicot, who 'bravely waived her right to anonymity as the survivor in France's largest rape trial'. The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood was founded in June 2021 by the Princess of Wales to support research into the early years of childhood and to shed light on the importance of the first years of life. It forms part of the charity Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, previously set up in 2009 as The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, which supports the couple's non-profit work. Kate marked International Women's Day last year with an emotional tribute to photographer Liz Hatton who died aged 17 from an incurable and rare form of cancer. She wrote: 'Celebrating the strength, resilience and creativity of Liz and her mother Vicky, it was an honour meeting them both at Windsor in November. 'Liz's memory lives on in Vicky's unwavering resilience. 'Thank you for such a moving moment.' Queen Camilla also took to social media on The Royal Family's Instagram page to celebrate the day. The post included the quote: 'Let your lives be the stones that shatter glass ceilings everywhere and inspire generations to come' The Queen accompanied the post with photos of her with inspirational women she has met over the past year - which included Madame Gisele Pelicot, who 'bravely waived her right to anonymity as the survivor in France's largest rape trial' Liz died at her home in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, in November last year, less than a year after being diagnosed with an incurable desmoplastic small round cell tumour. The teenager, who was a talented photographer, compiled a 'bucket list' of assignments she wanted to complete before she died - and caught the attention of Kate and William. She was invited by them to Windsor Castle to photograph the future king and queen and was asked to have tea with them afterwards. Kate, who had recently gone through her own cancer journey, gave Liz an emotional hug, and discussed their shared love for photography. The teenager was consequently flooded with offers of support to complete her list, including shooting a London film premiere. Liz's condition began to rapidly deteriorate and she passed away in November 2024. Her mother Vicky Robayna told the Daily Mail last November: 'Our lovely Liz died in the early hours of this morning. 'She remained determined to her last. Kate joined a group of four and five-year-old school children at the National Portrait Gallery in February 2025 as she launched a new project for The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood Liz Hatton was invited with her family by the Prince and Princess of Wales to Windsor Castle to photograph the future king and queen, and bonded over their shared love of photography 'Even yesterday she was telling me that I had better get nurses sorted so she could do more things. 'She went out in a blaze of glory with almost everyone she cared about seeing her for the last time at her exhibition last week. 'I could not be prouder of her. She has faced every day with unbelievable bravery. 'And now it's our turn to do her proud and give her brother the life she expects us to. 'She was never scared of dying but she was terrified of leaving him behind. It's our job to make that a little easier for her.' Fears are growing for a Brazilian psychology student who vanished nearly a week ago after boarding a bus from a campus she was visiting in Essex. Vittoria Figueiredo-Barreto, 30, was visiting the University of Essex and had been staying in the Southend area while she considered the option of completing a doctorate degree here. She was last seen at the university campus in Wivenhoe on Tuesday. Vittoria got on the number 87 bus in Boundary Road just after 1pm and got off 30 minutes later in Bellfield Avenue, Brightlingsea. Police also believe she may have been in the Brightlingsea Harbour area that evening. Vittoria was last seen wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans and black trainers. She was carrying a white shoulder bag with the words 'people over profit'. Vittoria Figueiredo-Barreto, 30, had been staying in the Southend area but was last seen at the University of Essex campus in Wivenhoe on Tuesday Two CCTV stills show Vittoria got on the number 87 bus in Boundary Road just after 1pm and got off 30 minutes later in Bellfield Avenue, Brightlingsea Detective Superintendent Anna Granger said: 'Vittoria's been missing for almost a week now and every day that she's missing our concerns for her grow. 'We have been studying CCTV, we've got officers going to door-to-door in the area she was last seen, and we've been speaking to her friends and family. 'Vittoria, if you're reading this, please get in touch. We just need to know you're ok. 'I need anyone living or working in the Brightlingsea area to check their CCTV, doorbell or dash cam footage to see if they may have captured her movements.' If you have any information or have seen Vittoria, please call 999 quoting incident 622 of 4 March. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Iran's next leader 'is not going to last long' without his approval. Trump's comments came about one week after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's former supreme leader, was killed in a targeted air strike at his compound on February 28. The strike, which was conducted by Israel, took advantage of sophisticated intelligence gathering by the US and Israel over several months and wiped out dozens of other top officials in the Iranian regime. In an interview with ABC News, Trump said whoever the Iranians pick as Khamenei's successor is 'going to have to get approval from us.' 'If he doesnt get approval from us hes not going to last long. We want to make sure that we dont have to go back every 10 years, when you dont have a president like me thats not going to do it,' the president said. Alluding to the US's repeated interventions in Iran over the past few decades, Trump added: 'I dont want people to have to go back in five years and have to do the same thing again or worse let them have a nuclear weapon.' ABC News asked Trump if he would consider approving a successor with ties to the old regime, similarly to the way he approved Delcy Rodriguez as the acting president of Venezuela after Nicolas Maduro's capture. Rodriguez was Maduro's vice president. Trump replied: 'I would, in order to choose a good leader I would, yeah, I would. There are numerous people that could qualify.' President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Iran's next leader 'is not going to last long' without his approval Iran's former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a targeted air strike at his compound on February 28 The ayatollah's palace was destroyed in the US-Israeli military operation, which was made possible by months of intelligence gathering. Smoke is pictured rising from the compound The president went on to say that Iran was planning to take over the entire Middle East, and his administration's actions have essentially stopped that from happening. Trump said that Iran is now 'a paper tiger,' before adding, 'They werent a paper tiger a week ago, Ill tell you. And they were going to attack. 'Their plan was to attack the entire Middle East, to take over the entire Middle East.' Those comments seem to be the Trump administration's latest justification for the war, continuing the disjointed messaging from top officials in the US over the past few weeks. Trump's threats against Iran heightened in January when the regime was killing protestors by the thousands. On Truth Social, the president wrote: 'The United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.' The president has also stated that 'something had to be done' about Iran's network of terrorist groups, which includes groups such as Hamas and the Houthis. He has also said that Iran would have had a nuclear weapon in a matter of weeks if the US had not attacked and that the country was on the verge of developing ballistic missiles with the capability to strike US soil. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Israel was going to take action, which 'would precipitate an attack against American forces.' The Trump administration has given disjointed justifications for attacking Iran. Fire and smoke are pictured rising from an oil depot in Tehran, Iran's capital, on Sunday Fire is pictured breaking out at an oil depot in Tehran on Sunday after attacks by the US and Israel 'We knew that if we didn't preemptively go after [Iran] before [Israel] launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties,' Rubio told reporters on March 2. That justification was widely criticized by people saying Trump allowed Israel to lead him to war. Trump's statements on Monday morning extended to other actions the US may take against Iran in the coming days and weeks. The president told ABC News that special forces may be sent in to seize Iran's enriched uranium, which is needed for the cores of nuclear weapons. 'Everything is on the table. Everything,' Trump said. A senior administration official said last week that Iran has enriched enough uranium to create weapons-grade materials in ten days or less. ABC News asked Trump if he had lost some resolve to keep the conflict going after meeting with the families of the six US soldiers who have died so far in the conflict. 'No, not at all,' the president replied. Trump said that 'everything is on the table' when it comes to further military action against Iran. A plume of smoke rising from an explosion in Tehran on March 2 is pictured Residents are pictured watching from a distance as flames and smoke rise from an oil storage facility in Tehran on Saturday 'The parents would be upset if I did that. The parents said to me, every one of them, please sir, win this for my boy, and in one case a young woman, as you know. Please, win this for my child.' 'They were devastated but proud,' Trump added. Trump declined to predict when the war would be over and said: 'All I can say is we are ahead of schedule both in terms of lethality and in terms of time.' He has previously stated that the conflict would last four to five weeks. When it came to the price of oil, which has been rising due to Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world's oil passes, Trump said: 'I think its fine. Its a little glitch.' He then pivoted his answer towards military successes and said: 'The nice part is we sank 44 of their ships which is their entire navy. 'Weve knocked out their entire AirForce. Weve knocked out all of their communications, telecommunications. Their anti-aircraft systems are gone. They have absolutely no defense. All they have is talk.' Trump also denied that there has been pushback against the war from his MAGA base. Trump declined to give a timeline for how much longer the war will go on during his interview on Sunday, but he previously said it would take four to five weeks. A US Stratofortress bomber supporting the military operation in Iran is pictured on March 3 'Its more popular than ever. Its a very MAGA thing what were doing. A very very MAGA thing,' he said. 'Because otherwise we wont have a country either, well be hit. And MAGA is all about saving America Im at the highest point Ive ever been with MAGA.' Iranian protesters marching through the heart of London chanted 'Trump and Bibi, thank you, thank you' as they danced in celebration at the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A large throng of demonstrators, which the Daily Mail estimates to have been around 2,000-strong, marched from Whitehall down to the Iranian embassy in Kensington. They called for the British government to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the main branch of Iran's military, as a terrorist organisation, as well as the installation of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the exiled king of the nation, to power in Iran. Footage from the protest as it sat on Whitehall, which several major government departments including the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Office and the Cabinet Office call home, showed a mass of people chanting: 'Trump and Bibi: thank you, thank you.' One speaker said: 'Trump and Bibi, we are eternally grateful. Thank you, from every Iranian whose dream for these wretched thugs to go away.' Israel and the US killed Khamanei in a series of airstrikes on Tehran on February 28, marking the start of an outbreak of violence across the Middle East. Protesters were also seen dancing to an EDM remix of Trump's speech in which he announced Khamenei's assassination. Many were seen emulating Trump's famous dance as music blared through Whitehall. Thousands of Iranian protestors marched from Whitehall to the Iranian Embassy in London on Sunday calling for the British Government to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Many held signs thanking both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their efforts in the war Iranian, American and Israeli flags were waved as the protestors marched through the capital towards Kensington The war, now on its ninth day, has seen Iran respond aggressively by targeting Western military bases located in its Gulf neighbours' borders, dragging them into the conflict. The mass of protesters were heard chanting 'Long live the king', referencing Pahlavi, in Persian. Others shouted in Persian: 'The final battle, Pahlavi will return!' Chants were started by, among many others, small children attending the demonstration with their parents. Dozens of police officers attended the protest, with many motorcycle-riding cops being sent ahead to warn traffic of the oncoming march through central London. Bemused cyclists looking on at the protest were quickly replaced by a column of motorcyclists who had attached Iranian flags to the back of their vehicles, with many slowing down as they rode past the protest and revving their engines in solidarity. Several effigies mocked the death of the Ayatollah. One depicted him as a rat being carried in a coffin. One of the protestors behind the coffin told the Mail: 'We want to show people that the Supreme Leader of the terrorist regime in Iran died. We call him (Khamenei) Moosh-Ali - it means he's a rat. A coward.' One painted sign read, in Persian: 'I swear I will stand behind the last drop of blood of the people we lost.' Though the majority of flags flown at the demonstration were Iranian, dozens were seen carrying Israeli and American flags. Just a handful of people were seen waving Union Jack flags. Protestors rallied for the installation of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the exiled king of the nation, to power in Iran Some arrived wearing Donald Trump masks, while others were spotted emulating the President's signature dance moves On top of national flags, several people were seen waving flags of the Israeli military On top of national flags, several people were seen waving flags of the Israeli military, including one man who was seen wearing a cape that had both Iran and Israel's flags on it. Dissident Iranians also held signs and wore hats that read 'Make Iran Great Again', referencing Trump's infamous slogan. Others were seen carrying banners depicting people who had been killed by the Iranian regime. Several people carried vuvuzelas, blaring them in support of the son of the Shah, who was exiled from Iran following the 1979 revolution. Niyak Ghorbani, who helped organise the demonstration, told the Daily Mail: 'This is the ninth week we've tried to ask the Labour government and Keir Starmer to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. '[This is] for the safety of British society. Lots of IRGC members and agents are here in the UK, and we are asking the UK to ban them and shut the embassy of the Islamic Republic down. 'We have a lot of IRGC members and supporters in this country. We have to be careful about these people, they are not coming here peacefully. They are planning to attack Iranians, Britons who support Iranians, and Jews. 'They are always planning to do something against British society.' He accused British politicians of being 'scared' of the Iranian regime: 'Unfortunately, they are scared to act. They're saying "they're already here on our soil. If we do something against them, our families are under threat". One protestor, who preferred not to be named, branded Sir Keir Starmer a 'coward' for refusing to join the war effort. He said: 'Joining the war benefits everyone. Sir Keir Starmer is a coward. I want to ask him, "Why are you not helping the people of Iran achieve freedom?"' One woman who spoke at the protest said: 'We will build an Iran so great, we will release our lions in [their] cages, we will release political prisoners. We will name streets after our fallen heroes.' She admonished the British government for not proscribing the IRGC: 'Lebanon has banned the IRGC, but they are walking free in London today. A free and safe Iran is a free and safe West. 'It means an end to Hezbollah, and end to the Houthis, an end to Hamas. A free Iran is a free world.' Despite the calls for the end of the regime, Iran today indicated that it has chosen Khamanei's son as his successor. Several effigies mocked the death of the Ayatollah were displayed. One depicted him as a rat being carried in a coffin One of the protestors behind the coffin told the Mail: 'We want to show people that the Supreme Leader of the terrorist regime in Iran died. We call him (Khamenei) Moosh-Ali - it means he's a rat. A coward' One protestor brought a huge sign of a golden lion - the animal which features on the Iranian flag 'The name of Khamenei will continue,' said Ayatollah Hosseinali Eshkevari, a member of the clerical council charged with electing a new leader, in a video published in Iranian media. 'The vote has been cast and will be announced soon,' Eshkevari said, without providing further details. The council's secretary, Hosseini Bushehri, would announce the successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - who was killed earlier in the conflict - Ahmad Alamolhoda, another cleric, told state media. Trump said on Sunday Washington should have a say in the selection. 'If he doesn't get approval from us he's not going to last long,' he told ABC News. Israel said it continued to target senior Iranian figures, including Abolqasem Babaian, the recently appointed head of the military office of the supreme leader, killed in a Saturday strike. Trump has justified the biggest US military operation in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq by saying Tehran posed an imminent threat to the United States, without providing evidence. He has also said Iran was too close to being able to build a nuclear weapon. The US and Israel have discussed sending special forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium at a later stage of the war, Axios reported, citing sources. Asked on Saturday about sending ground troops to secure nuclear sites, Trump said it was something they would only do if the Iranians were 'so decimated that they wouldnt be able to fight at the ground level.' The US-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran's US ambassador. Iranian attacks have killed 10 people in Israel. At least six US service members have been killed, with Iran saying on Sunday it had struck US bases in Kuwait. Israel said on Sunday that two of its soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon. Cyprus's president hugged Emmanuel Macron today as he arrived for talks on defending the island, vowing the EU would step up while Sir Keir Starmer and the Royal Navy stayed at home. Macron and Nikos Christodoulides embraced this morning at the start of the French leader's visit to discuss 'security' in the wake of an Iranian drone strike on RAF Akrotiri. The French president said that 'an attack on Cyprus is an attack on all Europe' after arriving by jet this morning, adding: 'The defence of Cyprus is obviously a key issue for your country, for your neighbour, partner and friend, Greece, but also for France and, with it, the European Union.' It came as a French-led carrier strike group containing ships from four EU member states steams east through the Mediterranean to help defend Cyprus, following a plea for help from Mr Christodoulides. At the same time, HMS Dragon, which has been ordered to deploy to the region, remains in Portsmouth taking on ammunition. Additionally, No10 signalled today that despite reports over the weekend suggesting the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was being readied to follow, it will not be going to the warzone. In a further blow to British naval prestige, he also announced France will send warships to the Red Sea to guard ships traversing the Straits of Hormuz off the south coast of Iran. At the same time, Sir Keir made a low-key visit to a community centre in London discussing the cost of living, amid fears that the US-led conflict with Iran could send fuel prices soaring. Experts warned that petrol could hit 2 a litre for the first time, amid a staggering spike in global oil costs. The AA and RAC have advised drivers to cut non-essential journeys and avoid harsh acceleration and braking to conserve fuel. Macron and Nikos Christodoulides embraced this morning at the start of the French leader's visit to discuss 'security' in the wake of an Iranian drone strike on RAF Akrotiri RAF Akrotiri was hit by Iranian drones equipped with Russian military hardware on Sunday As Macron visits local leaders today to provide reassurance, Sir Keir made a low-key visit to a community centre on London, where he talked about the cost of living Cyprus was again targeted by Iranian-made drones on Monday, leading Macron to order France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean. He also sent a frigate and air defence units to the island nation, which is home to around 2,000 British personnel and their families. The Elysee said: 'This trip is intended to demonstrate France's solidarity with Cyprus, a member state of the European Union with which we have a strategic partnership.' France has insisted its stance in the region is 'strictly defensive'. The visit will also allow Macron 'to emphasise the importance of guaranteeing freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, in particular through the European Union's Aspides maritime operation', his office added. There have been numerous attacks on ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint in the Gulf, since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28. A government spokesman for Cyprus, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said the visit will allow the leaders of Cyprus, Greece and France to assess the 'high level of coordination' between their nations. Letymbiotis also highlighted the role of Italy, which like Britain, has deployed a warship to Cyprus. Macron said that 'an attack on Cyprus is an attack on all Europe' after arriving by jet this morning, also announcing France will send warships to the Red Sea Britain is sending air defence destroyer HMS Dragon and readying the carrier HMS Prince of Wales, but they both remain in Portsmouth When they do sail it will take around a week for them to arrive, while the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle cleared the Straits of Gibraltar on Friday (pictured) On Sunday, Macron said he had also spoken with the Qatari Emir Sheikh, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the president of Azerbaijan. Discussing the region with the Qatari ruler, Macron said he highlighted France's 'defensive military support', particularly in the air, which he added is deployed to the 'benefit of Qatar'. The French president said: 'Qatar and France share the same conviction: beyond the clamour of arms, lasting stability for all must come through de-escalation and negotiation.' Macron also said he offered France's 'support and solidarity' to Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev after a drone strike on the country, which neighbours Iran, raised fears that the Middle East war could spill into the Caucasus. The Royal Navy faced further embarrassment on Thursday as more European countries sent warships to the eastern Mediterranean that will arrive before Britain's HMS Dragon. Defence Secretary John Healey visited RAF Akrotiri on Monday. He has refused to rule out deploying British troops as part of the the war in the Middle East Spain and the Netherlands confirmed their frigates will protect Cyprus, where RAF Akrotiri remains vulnerable. While the Royal Air Force delivered a Wildcat helicopter to Cyprus on Friday, the most significant British reinforcement to land on the island was Defence Secretary John Healey, who was accompanied by a journalist from The Guardian. Mr Healey refused to rule out British troops being drawn into the US and Israel's attacks on Iran but would not speculate on future commitments as he visited the military base. He was forced to take cover as another warning of Iranian drones was sounded following an attack on the base on Sunday evening. According to Cypriot officials, this attack, which damaged the runway and a hangar, was carried out by Iran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. They appeared to be targeting US bombers in a separate part of the base. It is understood the Iranian drone that hit RAF Akrotiri on Sunday, fired from Lebanon, was equipped with Russian military hardware. Components of the drone recovered by the British military intelligence have now been sent to a laboratory in the UK for further investigation, The Times reported. It comes after sources claimed that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence on the location of US military assets, including warships and aircraft in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump said he had received 'no indication' Russia is helping Iran. 'If they are, they're not doing a very good job, because Iran is not doing too well,' he said. However, three officials familiar with the intelligence said Russia had been assisting Iran since the war began. One source told The Washington Post the alleged Russian support amounted to a 'pretty comprehensive effort' to help its ally Tehran target American forces in the region. The UK's chief of the defence staff, Sir Richard Knighton, said he had 'no doubt' that Russia had been sharing intelligence with Iran. Russia's ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, told Sky News on Saturday that Moscow is 'not neutral', adding that Russia was 'supportive to Iran'. A British woman living in Dubai has said she went for a coffee after Iranian bomb strikes - and that she feels 'safer there than in England' despite the threat of more aerial attacks. Chelsea McCallister, 38, moved to the Gulf state in 2023 to work as a conveyancer for a real estate broker. She described hearing the 'loud bangs' of Iranian missile and drone impacts but says the level of threat has been drastically overstated, Birmingham Live reported. A night drone attack on two of Dubais most upmarket areas left one man dead and two residential skyscrapers in flames on Saturday. Smoke plumed from the 88-storey 23 Marina tower building near Dubai Marina after it was hit by the debris from an intercepted Iranian drone. Later, it emerged that a Pakistani driver was killed after material fell on his vehicle following a drone attack on the 19-storey Azayez Tower in the upmarket Al Barsha area. Dubai International Airport was also forced to close on Saturday after a suspected Iranian drone strike triggered a huge explosion near the complex, with passengers ordered off planes. 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. Chelsea McCallister, 38, moved to the Gulf state in 2023 and says she feels 'safer in Dubai than in England' - despite the Gulf state being hit by Iranian missiles and drones over the last week Smoke plumes from the 88-storey 23 Marina tower building near Dubai Marina after it was hit by debris from an intercepted Iranian drone on Saturday night But despite the aerial bombardment that has rained down on Dubai, Ms McCallister says the threat has been drastically overstated and she has no intention of returning home. The Briton says she is still going into work and said the day after Iran's first strike on Dubai on February 28 she went about her daily routine as usual. 'To put it into perspective, I visited my local supermarket, walked around the park and had a coffee the next morning,' she said. 'My mom's struggling to sleep at night worried and I'm sat in a hairdressers. It's not like there's explosions with buildings falling down, it's the defence systems doing their job. 'I still feel safer in Dubai than in England. I couldn't ask the government to do much more.' Ms McCallister described hearing as 'a loud bang' which sounded 'like thunder' - and which several of her friends' children mistook for fireworks. She said the fact that multiple of her social circle heard the explosion despite living relatively far apart made them 'a little scared'. However she added that people claiming that it was so loud it felt like their eardrums were being perforated was an exaggeration. The Palm Jumeirah hotel in Dubai was engulfed in flames after being hit by an Iranian suicide drone on February 28 Dramatic footage showed an interception near Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building While some online commentators have criticised Britons living in Dubai for being naive to the risks of the region, Ms McCallister said the Emirate was safer and cleaner than the UK. She said it had a better 'quality of life' and that no-one she doesn't know anyone 'who wants to go back [to the UK] anyway'. Tens of thousands have been stranded in the Middle East following the start of the US and Israel's joint campaign against Iran. More than 140,000 Britons have registered their presence in the region with the UK government, who has faced a daunting logistical challenge to get them home. An influencer trapped in a five-star hotel in Dubai has said Brits who have managed to flee the city have been lucky as she faces a 3,000 bill in living expenses while she remains stranded. Lily Mann, 25, arrived in Dubai with her boyfriend James Shires, 33, on February 26 with the intention of a week-long holiday. The couple has since spent the last two days trying to navigate a way back home after their Etihad Airways flight to Manchester Airport was cancelled, leaving them to either pay upwards of 10,000 each for a one-way flight or to wait indefinitely. 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. 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. However, Pezeshkian has faced major backlash within his own country, with many of Iran's senior military figures unwilling to rule out additional attacks on other countries in the region. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has issued a statement addressing an explosive that was thrown outside his home during a protest over the weekend. On Saturday, far-right influencer Jake Lang was leading an anti-Muslim protest outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City's mayor. The protest, called 'Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer,' drew about 25 people, while a counter-protest, called 'Run the Nazis out of New York City, Stand Against Hate,' drew about 125 people. Around 12.30pm, one of the counter-protestors, Emir Balat, 18, allegedly lit and dropped an explosive near cops. Balat then allegedly secured a second device from Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, and dropped it on the west side of East End Avenue between East 86th and 87th streets. Authorities initially said it was not clear whether the devices were functional bombs or hoax imitations. But on Sunday, Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the devices were real and could have been fatal if they had gone off. In a public statement, the mayor said: 'Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism. Emir Balat, 18, is pictured allegedly lighting and dropping an explosive at a counter-protest against an anti-Muslim demonstration organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang Balat is pictured fleeing after dropping the improvised explosive near police officers. Police initially were unsure if the device was an imitation or a real bomb An NYPD officer is pictured recoiling as the explosive rolls under him, and Balat jumps over a barrier. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the explosive was real on Sunday The anti-Muslim protest was organized by Lang (pictured) in front of Gracie Mansion, which is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's residence 'Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our citys values and the unity that defines who we are. What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable. 'The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are. I want to thank the brave men and women of the NYPD who acted quickly to keep New Yorkers safe. 'Our officers ran toward danger without hesitation, demonstrating once again the courage and dedication it takes to protect this city every single day.' The mayor added that his administration is 'closely monitoring the situation' and that he is in close contact with Tisch. On Sunday, the NYPD also confirmed that they had been sweeping a car on the Upper East Side and found 'suspicious device in a vehicle on East End Avenue between 81st Street and 82nd Street.' 'NYPD officers have frozen the area around the vehicle and are conducting limited evacuations of buildings in the vicinity while the Bomb Squad assesses and removes the device,' they said. The police commissioner released her own statement that said: 'The NYPD Bomb Squad has conducted a preliminary analysis of a device that was ignited and deployed at a protest yesterday and 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. Further analysis will be conducted, including on a second device.' Tisch also confirmed that Balat and Kayumi, the teenagers who allegedly set off the devices, were arrested by the NYPD and are in custody. She added that the department's Joint Terrorism Task Force is working with the US Attorney's Office and the FBI to investigate the matter, and like the mayor, she thanked the officers who 'ran towards the danger without hesitation.' Mamdani described Lang as a 'white supremacist' in his public statement addressing the explosives that were set off near his home Tisch confirmed on Sunday that her department had arrested Balat and an alleged accomplice and has them in custody. Balat is pictured after being tackled to the ground by police officers The actions of the teens who threw the bombs are reportedly being investigated as an act of terrorism, as one of the suspects apparently mentioned ISIS to law enforcement On Sunday afternoon, NBC correspondent Tom Winters reported that the NYPD and FBI are looking into the incident as a potential act of terrorism because one of the suspects repeatedly mentioned ISIS to law enforcement. Tensions between the two protesting groups on Saturday escalated around 12.15pm after a seemingly peaceful start to the day. An individual from Lang's protest named Ian McGinnis, 21, allegedly used pepper spray against the liberal counter protesters and was arrested before the teens allegedly attempted to set off explosives, police said. Shortly after the protest, Tisch said: 'Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke as [the explosive] travelled through the air before it struck a barrier a few feet from police officers.' Three others, who have not been identified, were also arrested over alleged disorderly conduct and traffic obstruction. Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, were not believed to be at home at the time, and no injuries were reported. City spokesperson Joe Calvello told NBC News: 'Thankfully, the Mayor and the First Lady are both safe, though the events are a stark reminder of the threats they both face regularly.' Lang is one of the more than 1,500 Capitol riot defendants who were pardoned by President Donald Trump last year after taking office. Mamdani released this public statement addressing the bombs thrown outside Gracie Mansion on Saturday Tisch released her own statement regarding the bombs a little before Mayor Mamdani did Lang was one of the more than 1,500 January 6 insurrectionists who were pardoned by Trump when he took office last January Lang's protest was titled 'Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer,' and only drew 25 people. One of the attendees is pictured Tisch described the pictured bomb as an 'improvised explosive device' that could have caused serious injury or been fatal if it had gone off He later described the January 6, 2021, rioters as an 'organized unit of patriots trying to take on tyrants.' The Daily Mail has reached out to the NYPD and FBI for comment about Saturday's incident and the investigation into whether it was an act of terrorism. Just hours before a Georgia teacher was fatally run over during a student prank gone wrong, the school district warned students to steer clear of 'engaging in destructive behavior' and going 'too far'. The Hall County School District shared a lengthy message on Facebook on Thursday around 1.50pm about responsibility and detailed how students are expected to act during its annual 'Junior/Senior wars' - about 10 hours before North Hall math teacher Jason Hughes, 40, was killed. Hughes, who had been teaching at North Hall High School for eight years, stepped outside his Gainesville home around 11.40pm that night after noticing a group of five mischievous students throwing toilet paper across the trees in his yard. The teens then darted toward two cars, but when Hughes stepped out into the street, one of the vehicles, driven by Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, struck and killed him, police said. Wallace and his four friends, Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque, and Ariana Cruz, all 18 years old, were arrested and charged in connection with the freak accident. But now it appears the school district feared something bad would happen before pranksters, some of whom make religious posts online, descended on his home. 'Parents and students, as we approach the eagerly awaited spring prom season, we want to take a moment to address an important matter regarding the conduct of our junior and senior students,' the district wrote. 'In previous years, some pranks during prom seasonsometimes referred to as Junior/Senior Wars have gone too far, resulting in damage to property. We urge all students to refrain from participating in any activities that may cause harm or destruction to school or personal property,' the post read before detailing what could happen if pranks got out of control. Jason Hughes, 40, was fatally run over during a student prank at his Georgia home on Thursday night. He is seen with his wife Laura Hughes Just hours before his death, the Hall County School District warned parents and students of the possible dangers associated with the annual 'Junior/Senior Wars' Elijah Tate Owen (Left), Jayden Wallace (middle), and Aiden Hucks (right) It's understood that Hughes' home (pictured in 2023) was a target - considering that the kids got two 'points' if they pranked the home of a teacher 'It's essential to recognize the serious consequences that can arise from engaging in destructive behavior. 'Damaging property can lead to criminal charges, not to mention the potential repercussions on your participation in graduation ceremonies and other special events planned for this time of year. We cannot stress enough the importance of making responsible choices and thinking about the long-term impact of your actions.' The district ended the message by urging students to listen to the advice so they can enjoy 'a time of celebration, camaraderie, and positive memories for everyone involved.' It's understood that Hughes' home was a target - considering that the kids got two 'points' if they pranked the home of a teacher. Hughes' wife was also a teacher at North Hall High School. But if the students were 'caught' by a teacher while doing a prank, they would have points deducted. This may possibly explain the quick getaway that the five kids were trying to make when Hughes was run over. Images from previous pranking years posted on social media show the Hughes' home covered in toilet paper - decorating their barren tree and drive way. Now, after Hughes' sudden death, the community has been left in mourning. After he was struck by Wallace's car, the teen and two others stopped and tried to render aid to Hughes under first responders arrived. The father-of-two was then rushed to the hospital, where he later died. Wallace was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering on private property. As of Sunday afternoon, Wallace - who often posted about his devout religious beliefs and Bible verses on social media - was set free on a $11,080 bail. His first court appearance is scheduled for April 1, according to arrest records reviewed by the Daily Mail. Ana Katherine Luque (left) and Ariana Cruz (right), both 18, were also arrested and charged with criminal trespass and littering After he was struck by Wallace's car, the teen and two others stopped and tried to render aid to Hughes under first responders arrived at the home Jason Hughes is pictured with his wife and children His four friends were also arrested and charged with criminal trespass and littering. They are no longer in custody, and it is unclear when they are due in court. According to their social media accounts, the group of students all appear to be seniors at North Hall, 'the premier school in Northeast Georgia,' according to the school's website. Hughes has been remembered as a loving father to his two sons and a cherished husband to his wife Laura. He has also been described as a great teacher and mentor to students he has taught over the years. 'If I ever had problems, I could always run and call to him, like if I have the financial questions, or if I just had some personal issues going on,' Shayden Maynor, one of Hughes' former students, told 11 Alive. Maynor, who graduated in 2002 and kept in touch with Hughes over the years, attended a memorial for the late educator on Saturday at North Hall High School. 'We grieved together, we laughed, we made jokes, and it was just really bad for the community that we had lost somebody so special like that,' he recalled. Olivia Williams, a sophomore at the school, said Hughes was always looking out for his students. As of Sunday afternoon, Wallace was set free on a $11,080 bail. His first court appearance is scheduled for April 1, according to arrest records reviewed by the Daily Mail (L-R) Ariana Cruz, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque, and Elijah Tate Owens 'He always tried to make conversations with students, and he always just tried to be the most supportive he could,' Williams told Atlanta News First. 'He would show up to events that he didnt even know anything about just to be supportive, and thats going to be a really big thing thats going to be missed.' Williams said Hughes' wife also works at North Hall as a geometry teacher. 'I really just want her to know that theres so many people that love and care about them, and theyre not alone in this and that if they ever need a should,' she said. A growing memorial has since been erected outside of the school as students, colleagues and community members left flowers in his honor. A GoFundMe page has since been set up to help raise funds to support Hughes' family. As of Sunday afternoon, more than $131,00 had been raised. The Daily Mail contacted the Hall County Sheriff's Office and North Hall High School for comment. BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Global Governance Initiative proposed by China could not be more timely, which quickly received support and responses from more than 150 countries and international organizations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday. A huge gas pipe explosion caused the ground to shake on the streets of Tehran after Israel struck oil depots in Iran. Israel hit Iran's fuel infrastructure for the first time in nine days as it launched a fresh wave of devastating strikes. Video footage showed the moment a gas pipe in central Tehran sent a shockwave of explosions through buildings on the busy Shahran Boulevard. Buildings shook and people ran for their lives as a flash of light swept through the street. The explosions left behind a 'river of fire' on the streets of the city as burning oil leaked onto pavements and roads and into the city's sewage system. The blast came after Israeli strikes hit the nearby Shahran oil depot in the west of the city, one of four depots targeted in strikes on the Iranian capital. Iran's oil distribution company said four of its employees were killed in the strikes. The skies over Tehran were turned red and filled with acrid smoke as fireballs erupted from the depots. A 'river of fire' was seen in the streets of Tehran after Israeli strikes on oil depots caused gas pipelines to explode Strikes on Iranian oil depots sent huge clouds of acrid smoke into the sky, turning it red Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei (pictured) has been named as the country's new Supreme Leader One resident in Tehran said it looked as if 'night had turned into day' as the sky was lit up by explosive orange flames from intense overnight infernos. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it had struck 'several fuel storage complexes' in Tehran as part of a 'significant strike' against the regime. The strikes came as US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of the war against Iran ending when there was no longer a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said: 'At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left maybe to say "We surrender".' The president also warned Sir Keir Starmer that he will remember the lack of support from 'our once great ally' for a war he has 'already won' - as he told the British PM he doesn't need Britain to send aircrafts to the Middle East in an extraordinary attack. Trump's sentiments were echoed by his Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Israel will continue its war with Iran 'with all our force'. He added that Israel has a 'systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime'. Alongside the United States, Netanyahu said Israel had gained near-total control of the skies over Tehran after a week of strikes, while the IDF has 'many surprises' for the next phase of the war. 'Citizens, you are telling me, the government and our heroic soldiers to continue until victory, and I thank you. I can assure you that we will continue with all our force,' Netanyahu said in a televised address last night. Speaking to the Iranian people, he said the 'moment of truth' was coming as Israel was seeking to help liberate them from the 'yoke of tyranny'. He said that Israel had managed to 'transform the Middle East' and shift the balance of power in the region. 'Together, we will roar like a lion. And with God's help together, we will ensure the eternity of Israel,' he added. Fire breaks out at the Shahran oil depot after US and Israeli attacks, leaving numerous fuel tankers and vehicles in the area unusable in Tehran A thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a US-Israeli strike late Saturday in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 8, 2026 The IDF said in a statement it had targeted Tehran's oil and fuel depots because Iranian forces make 'direct and frequent use of [them] to operate military infrastructure'. Despite the strategic assaults on Tehran, Iran's Deputy Defence Minister unrepentantly insisted reserves of bombs, drones and missiles 'are fully ready and intact' and the country will 'confront any threat' over the long term. Depots in Tehran and Alborz provinces were among those struck, according to a statement by the National Iranian Oil Company. State media blamed 'an attack from the US and the Zionist regime' at one of the facilities, which supplies the capital and neighbouring provinces in the north. Friday saw some momentous announcements when it came to the leadership of the countries involved in the conflict. Iran has announced it has chosen a new supreme leader, as Tehran continues to choke on thick, acrid smoke following US-Israeli airstrikes on fuel dumps last night. The clerical body tasked with choosing a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - killed just over a week ago in the strikes that triggered the war in the Middle East - has appointed his son Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's new Supreme Leader. Israel, meanwhile, issued a stark warning that its forces would not hesitate to target the new chief and members of the Assembly of Experts that met to confirm him. The news of an impending announcement of a new Ayatollah came on the same day the IDF claimed that the head of Iran's Military Office, Abu al-Qassem Babaiyan, has been killed in the latest wave of attacks. The Iranian military official was also the Chief of Staff of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters. He is the latest major figure in the regime to be killed in Israeli strikes, with President Trump previously admitting that a number of the figures the US considered as a potential successor for Ayatollah Khamenei had already been killed. An IDF statement today said: 'Babaiyan was responsible for coordinating between the Iranian terror regimes various force employment organizations to execute operations and emergency operations.' Earlier in the day, the IDF said it had also struck two Iranian sites producing ballistic missiles for the regime. The IDF said the two compounds, in Parchin and Shahrud, were used for the research, design and production of the deadly weapons. On a message posted to X, the IDF said: 'Over the past week, hundreds of IAF fighter jets struck the Iranian regime's production industries, which are used for the development and production of missiles and weapons.' Israel's military said earlier that it had carried out around 3,400 strikes on Iran during the first week of the war, with around 7,500 munitions dropped. An IRGC spokesperson said the country would retaliate if attacks on its energy infrastructure continue. 'If you can tolerate oil at more than $200 per barrel, continue this game,' said the spokesperson. Iran has continued to mount its own attacks launching drones and missiles at Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Dubai - where one man was killed by falling shrapnel from an 'aerial interception' and two skyscrapers were damaged. Irans parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has claimed the country is not looking for a ceasefire in the war with the US and Israel. He added that 'aggressors' should be punished for their actions. 'If the enemy attacks us from any country, Tehran will respond decisively,' he told state TV. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian previously apologised for strikes in the region and promised they would cease. However he faced backlash for his position and the country's military resumed the onslaught on Gulf states just hours later. They say a week is a long time in politics, but the last seven days probably felt like an eternity to Sally Donald. The 32-year-old has come under a sustained bombardment of terrible headlines. First there was the revelation that she was under investigation over her receipt of Adult Disability Benefit, an in-work payment designed to help disabled people meet everyday needs. Then she became the top talking point at First Ministers Questions, with Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay piling pressure on her boss, John Swinney. Next she announced her abrupt resignation as the SNP candidate for Edinburgh Southern. Finally for now at least she has reportedly been told to repay almost 20,000 to Social Security Scotland. The story gained traction despite events in the Middle East because it seemed to have everything. An aspiring SNP politician, one who infamously described the partys election vehicle as the gravy bus, accused of improperly claiming a benefit. (Donald maintains she has done nothing wrong; she has not been arrested or charged with any criminal offence.) The news came along at the worst possible time for her party, with the SNPs benefits agency in the spotlight for the low levels of fraud it has detected. Opponent say Social Security Scotland is not robust enough given the sums of taxpayers money it dispenses. Above all, it chimed with voters frustrated by an apparent double standard in which there is one rule for the SNP and another for everyone else. Now we are getting closer to the nub of it. This is about more than the legitimacy of a welfare claim or the fitness for purpose of Social Security Scotland; it is also a backlash against a certain kind of politician and a certain kind of politics. Sally Donald, who was standing as a candidate for Holyrood, with First Minister John Swinney Sally Donald looks and sounds like a great many politicians in 2026. Same buzzwords, same priorities, same estrangement from the median voter. For me, the most dismaying moment of this mini-saga was watching an Instagram video of Donald which someone posted on X. This was not a personal post but a 2025 day-in-the-life presentation sharing Donalds experience as the SNP candidate for Edinburgh Southern. It appears to have been produced for the Girls Who Talk Politics campaign, which focuses on young women working in a historically male-dominated field. The video features Donalds morning make-up routine, a jaunt to a fancy coffee shop in the New Town to be interviewed by a journalist, followed by a drop-in at a conservation charity. Then its a spot of lunchtime shopping, trying on and buying a winter jacket (which, in fairness, really suits her), and doing emails in a vibey co-working space (again in the New Town). Finally, its a spot of Lagree (its the new Pilates, seemingly) and watching the Amazon Prime Video series The Summer I Turned Pretty. I dont want to be a sourpuss. I like vibey coffee shops their prices I consider less vibey and am all for politicians sitting down with journalists. I also binge-watch Amazon series, though I say The Summer I Turned Pretty is just Dawsons Creek with smartphones. But Donald was a candidate for a constituency which, contrary to popular belief, has pockets of deep poverty, poor health outcomes, and below-average educational attainment. None of this is reflected in this supposed day in her life, and I couldnt help but wonder why. Why was her working day almost indistinguishable from the sort of froth gushed out in TikToks by aspiring influencers with email jobs? The absence of seriousness, of even a trace of gravitas, was pretty bleak. I dont know Donald. She might well be conscientious and driven by sincerely held principles, but she comes across like so many in the political world as someone with no real experience outside the corridors of Holyrood or Portcullis House. No hinterland. No grounding in life. No indication of a philosophical bent or a curious mind. Look around the parliament and you will see row after row of characters who already meet these unfortunate criteria. People who have never run a business, balanced books, created jobs, made deals, had to cut back and lay off, or meet competition with harder work and better service. People with no executive or managerial experience outside the public sector. Almost no one with the first clue about growth or how to achieve it. Holyrood is for the most part a parliament of arts and social science graduates, veterans of those job creation schemes known as the public and third sectors, white-collar trade unionists, and of course former parliamentary staffers. That seems to be the way into politics now: spend a few years bag-carrying for an MSP or MP and, provided youre on-message and inoffensive, youll eventually get a seat, a tidy salary and a generous pension. You will be thoroughly unequal to the task of running a country or holding a government to account but that wont matter, because everyone around you will be in the same position. Thats the unofficial motto of the Scottish parliament: unity in mediocrity. Why is the standard of debate so dire? Why is legislative scrutiny so pathetic and puny? Why are the policy priorities of the governing class so at variance with the people they nominally represent? This is why. No one wants to talk about it. I get the cold shoulder from MSPs whenever I write about it. But we need to face up to the problem: almost three decades into devolution, we still cannot find people of substance and ability to stand for election. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay raised the Sally Donald case at First Minister's Questions last week At Holyrood now, there are maybe a handful of MSPs who could hack it at Westminster, and a few more who couldnt but are nonetheless well-intentioned and hard-working, but these are the exception. The quality of MSP has and continues to be dire. Call me unpatriotic or a Yoon all you like. Say Im talking down Scotland if that makes it easier for you to ignore all this. But its a curious patriotism that is willing to allow your country to continue its decline to spare the blushes of the latest crop of toadies and talking-points spouters. Holyrood desperately needs a clearing out of driftwood and a washing in of gifted parliamentarians, or at least capable parliamentarians. Honestly, Id settle for mostly competent parliamentarians. If after all this time, the Scottish parliament still cannot attract members of sufficient calibre, it is perhaps a moment to stand back and evaluate the devolution experiment and consider that it might simply have failed. Sally Donald has been under the microscope this week but she was just unfortunate. That unsightly conurbation of concrete at the foot of the Royal Mile is absolutely hoaching with characters who are in politics to be in politics and, since they are so mesmerisingly bad at it, would do the country no small favour by getting out of politics. That will never happen, though. The permanent governing class, that technocratic elite which remains in charge no matter who wins elections, will not leave willingly and will require a democratic realignment on a scale comparable to Labours replacement of the old Liberal Party in the early 20th century. In the end, its not about the politicians. Not really. Its about us. Things are so dismal because we have learned to tolerate dismal. Nothing will get better until we demand better and refuse to vote for anything less. A building yards away from Glasgow Central Station has collapsed after a huge fire ripped through it, bringing all train services to a halt. The fire, which started in a vape shop, has sparked chaos for rail passengers and drivers after Scotland's biggest city came to a standstill. Glasgow's Union Street was closed off on Sunday evening when the blaze broke out in a building adjacent to the station. The dome on that building has now completely collapsed after the fire spread through it. The station has been closed 'until further notice' and evacuated, while traffic was brought to a standstill in the city centre. Travel disruption is expected to continue throughout today. National Rail have now confirmed the station will remain closed with 'no estimate on when it will reopen' and that no services will run in or out of the station. A spokesman added disruption is expected to continue on routes to, from and through Glasgow Central until 'at least the end of the day'. Thick smoke billowed through Glasgow as 15 fire engines, along with police officers and ambulances, attended the fire, which is said to have started in a vape shop. Glasgow's Union Street was closed off after the blaze broke out on Sunday in a building adjacent to the central station The dome on that building has now completely collapsed after the fire spread through it The fire has sparked chaos for rail passengers and drivers after Scotland's biggest city came to a standstill The four-storey Victorian building was built in 1851 and pre-dated the station. It was designed by architect James Brown of the firm Brown & Carrick. Fire crews continued to tackle the fire five hours after it began. By early Monday morning, the fire appeared to finally be under control. However, nine appliances remain at the scene and members of the public are urged to avoid the area where possible. MSP for Glasgow Paul Sweeney said on X that the Forsyth Building had collapsed. He told the BBC that he 'felt sick to see another part of Glasgow's built environment destroyed.' He wrote on X: 'It's a massive blow to Union Street with the restoration of the Egyptian Halls in prospect.' In a statement at 6.45am today, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: 'Operations remain ongoing and there have been no reports of casualties.' The train station itself does not seem to be damaged. A coffee shop that was based in the building that has collapsed, Sexy Coffee, posted on social media: 'We are absolutely devastated to confirm that the shop has sadly been destroyed in the fire. 'It is heartbreaking for us and our team, especially after the support and loyalty we have received from so many of you over the years. 'However, we want to reassure everyone that this is not the end. We will rebuild, revamp the shop, and reopen as soon as possible.' The owner of Willow Hair Salon confirmed on social media her business had also been destroyed. The fire had been reported via 999 just before 4pm, and saw several streets closed, including parts of Union Street and St Vincent Street, while the large Voco Grand Central Hotel located inside the train station was evacuated. Smoke billowed through Glasgow as 15 fire engines, along with police officers and ambulances, attended the fire ScotRail have now confirmed that the station will remain closed until tomorrow morning and that no services would run in and out of the station Among the crowds watching the scene unfold was Yvonne Kelly, 51, from Rutherglen, who said: 'It's not something you expect to see. I first realised there was a fire when I was on Buchanan Street, and could see smoke I was wondering what was going on. When I got closer, I thought, "this is going to cause chaos".' Ryan Dawes, 46, who works on Union Street, said he had left the building for a break when he became aware of the fire. 'I saw people running past looking quite panicked, and a lot of black smoke it looked quite dramatic.' On Sunday night, First Minister John Swinney said in a post on X: 'I am deeply concerned about the fire near Glasgow Central Station tonight and very grateful to all of the emergency services who are responding. 'Please continue to follow travel guidance, avoid the area and stay safe.' Paul Sweeney said the building which housed the vape shop where the fire started had partially collapsed. 'Sadly the building has now partially collapsed. I hope the fire can be contained. The corner of the Forsyth Building, as well as the Caledonian Chambers and Central Hotel, seem unaffected,' Mr Sweeney said. 'It's a massive blow to Union Street with the restoration of the Egyptian Halls in prospect.' A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said yesterday: 'We were alerted at 3.46pm on Sunday, 8 March, to reports of a building fire on Union Street, Glasgow. 'At its height, 15 fire appliances and specialist resources were mobilised to the area, where firefighters are currently working to extinguish a fire affecting the ground floor of a four-storey building. 'There are no reported casualties, and crews remain at the scene.' Police on Sunday evening warned people to avoid the area if possible, and said residents should keep their windows closed. Some ticket acceptance is in place, with Avanti West Coast passengers able to use their tickets at no extra cost on LNER services between Edinburgh and London King's Cross. No trains will run to or from the high-level platforms at Scotland's busiest station, while trains that run through the low-level platforms will not call at Glasgow Central. Avanti West Coast advised passengers an amended train service will run to Preston, Carlisle and Motherwell, 'enabling customers to connect with trains to Edinburgh and local services to the Glasgow area'. ScotRail warned of substantial disruption to its services and urged passengers to check for the latest information before travelling. It said that no ScotRail services will operate to or from Glasgow Central high level today. ScotRail services will not call at Glasgow Central low level but will pass through the station to stop at Argyle Street and Anderston. Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: 'We are sorry to customers for the impact this will cause, and we would urge them to check their journey options before they travel, and be aware there will be very limited replacement transport.' TransPennine Express said its services would not run between Glasgow Central and Liverpool Lime Street or Manchester Airport today, while trains between Edinburgh and Newcastle or Manchester Airport will be subject to delays and cancellations in both directions. John Swinney is embroiled in a new row with families of victims of the infection scandal at a flagship superhospital after they challenged his claim he offered them a personal apology. In a high-profile BBC television interview broadcast yesterday, the First Minister said he apologised to families during talks about Glasgows Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) on Thursday, although he also denied that the Scottish Government had failed to act on red flags. But some of those who took part insisted yesterday that neither Mr Swinney nor Health Secretary Neil Gray offered an apology during the video call. In the interview on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Swinney said of his talks with the families: I expressed my regret for the experiences of families, and in some cases for the loss of children who had been cared for in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. I said to the families that fundamentally I believe the hospital is a safe hospital, on the basis of all of the data that I have available to me, but we have a public inquiry that is looking at the original construction and development of the hospital and the issues that have emerged as a consequence. Asked whether he had apologised to the families who lost loved ones, Mr Swinney said: Of course I did, yes. On whether he regretted that SNP governments didnt take red flags about that hospital seriously enough, he said: I would contest that point because we set up a public inquiry. 'I think the SNP government responded to the concerns of members of the public by the establishment of a public inquiry, which was preceded also by individual case reviews of the circumstances and the treatment of individuals. First Minister was grilled by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg in an interview aired on Sunday Families of victims of the infection scandal at the flagship QEUH superhospital they challenged Mr Swinney's claim he offered them a personal apology And then in the here and now, where issues arise, where there are problems, the Scottish Government, through NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is addressing those issues. Following the comments, patients who met with the First Minister insisted that no apology had been offered during the talks. In a statement yesterday, the families of deceased and surviving patients said: While the families welcomed the opportunity to speak directly with the governments leadership, the absence of an apology has been noted as a significant oversight in the pursuit of meaningful reconciliation and justice. This morning the First Minister said to Laura Kuenssberg that he offered the families an apology during this meeting. We can confirm that this simply never happened. The families remain committed to seeking full accountability and ensuring that the experiences of their loved ones lead to systemic improvements within the healthcare service. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: Once again John Swinney refused to take responsibility for his governments shameful record on the QEUH. The SNP ignored warning after warning and backed up the Health Board as they lied to families and bullied whistleblowers. John Swinneys apology to the families affected by the QEUH scandal will ring hollow as long as he continues to obstruct the truth and cover up his governments failings. What happened at the QEUH was the worst scandal in the history of devolution and Scotland deserves to know why the hospital was opened before it was safe and whether it is safe now. Responding to the comments from families, Mr Swinney said: I expressed my sincere sorrow and regret during the long, and at times emotional, call with families. It was primarily an opportunity for them to tell me their experiences and for me to listen but I also tried to communicate to them how sorry I was about their experiences. I have obviously not communicated that effectively so I want to be crystal clear today: I am deeply sorry for the issues they have experienced at the QEUH and all that families have gone through. 'Their pain, trauma and suffering is unimaginable and I have said the conversation on Thursday was the start of a wider discussion to help families get the answers they deserve, beyond the work of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry. The daughter of a nurse who objected to sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor has rejected claims made during a tribunal that her mother is homophobic. Sandie Peggie was accused of being devastated at her daughter Nicoles sexuality during a lengthy employment case against NHS Fife last year. But the 26-year-old this week rejected the allegation after the tribunal found the health board had harassed her mother after it suspended her for objecting to sharing a female-only changing room with male-born Dr Beth Upton. She said: I'm 26 and I still live with her - rent free. If she was really homophobic, do you think I'd be in the house? Do you think she would be making my girlfriend tea when she comes over? The claim about her daughter's sexuality was made by the nurses former colleague and friend Lindsey Nicoll, an emergency nurse practitioner, as she gave evidence for NHS Fife. But speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Ms Peggie said: It was a bit of a shock. I knew that they would try to use that word against her, but I never thought I'd get brought into it. NHS nurse Sandie Peggie, who won a partial victory over her NHS employers after sharing a changing room with a trans doctor Her mother, 56, has now lodged an appeal against the tribunals decision, which was only a partial win for the accident and emergency nurse after it dismissed her victimisation and discrimination claims against Dr Upton. The judge also stated that some of her comments towards the doctor on Christmas Eve 2023 amounted to harassment. NHS Fife spent more than 320,000 of taxpayers' money on legal fees fighting the case. Since the ruling however, Mrs Peggie has continued to be signed off sick and Dr Upton, 30, is no longer working at Kirkaldys Victoria Hospital where they were both employed when the nurse raised the complaint. Dr Upton's departure was last month welcomed as a symbolic victory by women's rights activists, who said it was a sign that hardline transgender ideology was loosening its grip on Scotland's medical institutions. But Mrs Peggie, a nurse for more than 30 years, said it was a shame that the doctor, who is reported to have moved to Australia, had left the NHS. She said: Right from the start, they should have given him the option to go into a private space. For the board not to have done so, she believed it was also unfair to him. And she added: Because the NHS didnt deal with this properly, theyve lost a doctor, and theyve lost a nurse. Sandie Peggie (centre) with her daughter, Nicole, left and lawyer Margaret Gribbon, right Mrs Peggie says she is now prepared to take her case to Scotlands highest civil court, the Court of Session, should her appeal fail, saying: I am up for the fight. She told the publication: I just want them to stop all the nonsense. I want them to stop letting men go into women's spaces. 'I want them to stop confusing kids - bringing kids up to think that this is normal behaviour, because it's not. I know that the younger generation can be more liberal as far as this trans thing goes, but in a few years' time, I would like them to thank me. Because when they're having children, when they're having girls and they realise what their girls could be exposed to I think they might change their minds. The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has revealed he has dropped his support for Holyroods assisted dying legislation and will now oppose it putting the crunch vote on a knife-edge. Russell Findlay said he will vote against the proposal because of concerns around the risk of people being coerced into ending their life and the danger it will lead to a slippery slope where eligibility is extended over time. It means that the leaders of the three biggest parties at Holyrood are all opposed to the Bill proposed by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur. Mr Findlay also becomes the third MSP who supported the general principles of the Bill at stage one last year to announce that they will now oppose it in the final stage three vote. It puts the Bill on a knife-edge as only another four more MSPs will need to change their mind for the Bill to fall. Mr Findlay told the Scottish Daily Mail: While I remain in agreement with the general principle that individuals should be able to choose to end their own lives to avoid unnecessary suffering, I am not able to vote for the bill at stage three. He said there are numerous reasons behind his decision, with a primary concern being that the real risk that people could be coerced into ending their own lives. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a loving and supportive family. There are already cases in which unscrupulous relatives, or trusted medical or legal professionals, exploit elderly people for financial gain. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay says he has dropped his support for Holyroods assisted dying legislation and will now oppose it putting the crunch vote on a knife-edge And even without any coercion from others, some elderly people may feel pressured to end their lives because they think they have become a burden on loved ones. He added: The second concern relates to the possibility that any legislation, no matter how tightly defined upon its passage through parliament, could be potentially widened by way of later court challenges. It seems not just plausible, but inevitable, that people whose conditions do not qualify for assisted dying as legislated for would take legal action to extend that right to them. We have seen examples of this slippery slope in other jurisdictions, and I would be deeply uncomfortable at being responsible for legislation that might end up mutating beyond its original remit to, for example, allowing someone with a mental health condition to compel the state to prematurely end their life. Mr Findlay said that he has not been persuaded that the legislation can be amended satisfactorily to address his two primary concerns. He also said other issues have come to the fore, including concerns about the ability of health professionals to exercise their legitimate right to conscientiously object to having any involvement in assisted dying. He highlighted that medical regulation is reserved to Westminster and said any approach to assisted dying would be better applied across the whole of the UK. Mr Findlay said: If a form of assisted dying legislation could be made watertight to prevent the risk of coercion; subsequent extension by the courts; and which would fully protect medical professionals who conscientiously object, it would be my preference that a UK-wide approach is taken. All of the Holyrood parties have agreed that they will allow a free vote on the issue, meaning each MSP can make up their own minds as a matter of conscience. Mr Findlay stressed that he respects the views of those who have a different position but concluded that the risks are too great for this bill to become law. But his decision could still prove influential among other Tory MSPs who backed the general principles of the legislation but are now considering whether to support it at stage three. The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill passed the first stage of parliamentary scrutiny last May when MSPs voted by 70-56 in favour of its general principles in a stage one vote. It proposes allowing people with terminal illnesses to ask a doctor to help them end their life. MSPs will begin debating 328 proposed amendments to the legislation tomorrow, with the final stage three vote currently scheduled for next Tuesday, March 17. It would only take seven MSPs to switch their vote and oppose the Bill for it to fall. Join the debate Do YOU support the right to assisted dying or should it remain illegal? Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur brought forward the right to die bill Last month, SNP backbencher Collete Stevenson, who backed the bill at stage one, withdrew her support over significant concerns about issues including the practical operation of safeguards and the risk of coercion. Fellow SNP MSP Audrey Nicoll wrote to fellow parliamentarians earlier this year setting out why she has withdrawn her backing, including her biggest concern about the risk of coercion. Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of Care Not Killing, said: A majority of only 14 MSPs approved the Bill at Stage 1 with many voicing concerns that it required much more work to go any further. Only seven need to switch sides to defeat the Bill. Clearly, some have not had their fears allayed or concerns addressed. They have told us so and say they will not be voting for it in its present state. He said the bill is on a knife-edge and he is confident that MSPs will reject it. Mr McArthur said: The bill I have put forward is compassionate and robustly safeguarded. It introduces protections that we simply do not have in place just now. As always, however, I am committed to speaking with any colleague to address any questions and allay any concerns they may have. Elected parliamentarians in Westminster, in the Welsh Senedd, in the Isle of Man and in Jersey have now backed assisted dying. I recognise that this is a difficult decision for colleagues who want to do the right thing. I urge them not to hunt for excuses to vote against a bill that will put in place protections and choice that do not currently exist for too many dying Scots. President Donald Trump announced in a social media post on Sunday that he would not sign any bills into law until the US Senate passes the SAVE Act, also known as the Save America Act. In his Truth Social post, Trump noted, 'I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed,' because 'It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else.' Trump also added that he wants to see a version of the legislation from the Senate that includes, 'voter I.D. & proof of citizenship: No mail-in ballots except for military - illness, disability, travel: No men in women's sports: No transgender mutilization for children.' A 'watered down version,' passed by the House of Representatives, does not include bans on biological men playing in women's sports, or anything to prevent minors from undergoing transgender surgeries. The president's post was spurred by an appearance on Fox & Friends Sunday by conservative activist Scott Presler, who advocated that senators use the filibuster to bring the bill to the floor. Presler told the Daily Mail on Sunday that he never thought when he 'went on Fox and Friends this morning that the President of the United States would be watching our segment,' adding that he was 'beyond humbled and grateful for the work that President Trump is doing in order to secure our elections.' 'The SAVE America Act truly is country-saving legislation, and I urge everyone to call their senators in support of passing this bill with the talking filibuster,' Presler added. In his Truth Social post, Trump noted, 'I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed,' because 'It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else' A voter works on his ballot at a polling station at theElena Bozeman Government Center in Arlington, Virginia, on September 20, 2024 Congressman Mark Harris, a North Carolina Republican who has been one of the bill's top backers in the House told the Daily Mail Sunday that 'President Trump is right we have to get the SAVE America Act to his desk. 'The Senate must get their act together and bring the bill to the floor for debate now.' 'I'd love to see those stronger reforms President Trump is championing, but the Senate is struggling to even get the base bill done which over 80% of Americans support. We shouldn't move any other Senate pet projects until the SAVE America Act is passed,' Harris added. A filibuster needs 60 votes on a 'cloture' motion to end debate and proceed to a final vote on a piece of legislation. If every one of the 53 Republicans in the Senate moved to pass the legislation, they would still need to be joined by at least 7 other members of the chamber, Democrats or independents who caucus with them. President Donald Trump and Mark Harris, in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., October 26, 2018 Scott Presler with President Donald Trump Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman split from other Democrats early in February when he said during a Fox News appearance, 'It's not a radical idea for regular Americans to show your ID to vote, and absolutely those things are not Jim Crow or anything. Ken Paxton, Texas's Attorney General, who is headed to a primary runoff against incumbent Texas Senator John Cornyn after last week's primary election, offered to entertain dropping out of his race under the condition that the SAVE Act was passed in Washington, DC. 'I would consider dropping out of this race if Senate Leadership agrees to lift the filibuster and passes the SAVE America Act,' Paxton offered in an X post last week. Any bills passed by Congress without the President's signature and without a veto become law in 10 days, per the US Constitution. The House passed their version of the SAVE Act on February 11, 2026, by a 218-213 vote. The legislation requires people to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote in federal elections and mandates strict photo identification for in-person voting. Liberal groups have opposed the measures on the argument that it would disenfranchise voters, with VoteRiders noting that 1 in 10 Americans lack easy access to documents that the SAVE Act would require to register and stay registered to vote.' Millions of tourists will soon be slugged with an admission fee to visit one of Australia's most iconic natural wonders. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will on Monday announce plans to turn the Twelve Apostles into a paid attraction. The aim of the tourist tax is to better manage crowds, protect the coastline and boost local economies along the Great Ocean Road, which attracts 6.8 million visitors each year. Locals and members of the Eastern Maar Indigenous community will be exempt from the entry fee, which is currently unknown and will be based on consultation with local councils, traditional owners and businesses. The fee will come into effect later this year to coincide with the opening of the new $126 million visitor centre. A new booking system will also be introduced to manage visitor numbers and parking during peak periods. The decision comes six months after Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism and Corangamite Shire Council joined forces to propose a user-pays model and called on the government to seize the 'once-in-a-generation' opportunity. 'It's only fair that visitors to the region pay a small fee to visit this world-class destination so that we can,' Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said. Tourists will soon pay an admission fee for Twelve Apostles on Victoria's Great Ocean Road The tourist tax is to better manage crowds, protect the coastline and boost local economies along the Great Ocean Road 'We're investing in the future of the Great Ocean Road region and making sure every single cent spent in the region stays there. 'The Twelve Apostles are visited by more than two million people each year and the Great Ocean Road is visited by over six million people - and we want even more people to come and enjoy it.' The fee would be collected by the Great Ocean Road Parks and Coastal Authority to support upgrades to beach access and visitor facilities, and maintain historic landmarks. Just seven limestone stacks of the original 12 along the heritage-listed coastal stretch remain. The Great Ocean Road was closed for several days in January after extreme flash flooding left behind widespread damage. The entry fee will bring the Twelves Apostles in line with iconic tourist spots such as Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Kosciuszko National Park and Wineglass Bay Lookout. The decision has already divided Aussies. 'Disappointing from the government - fees and a booking system. This just stops people from being able to see our natural wonders,' one Aussie said. The entry fee will bring the Twelves Apostles in line with iconic tourist spots 3AW host Jacqui Felgate, who grew up in the region, previously described the move as 'utterly appalling'. However local state MP Richard Riordan welcomes the idea. 'This government has managed to find some $130m to build a new toilet block complex at the famed visitor centre but has failed to put a wastewater management plan in place. 'In essence we have found millions to keep foreign visitors happy but cannot find the funds to keep our native environment, our local coastline and the habitat in the area safe for future generations.' A seventh US service member has been killed as the war between Iran and America rages on. The unidentified service member died after being 'seriously wounded' during an Iranian attack on US troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1, the US Central Command said on Sunday afternoon. The agency said the fallen soldier's identity will be withheld for 24 hours following the contact of next of kin. The tragic news comes a day after President Donald Trump attended the first dignified transfer ceremony for those killed in the Iran war on Saturday. He traveled to Dover Air Force Base, where the remains of six US service members who died in Kuwait were returned to their families. The six Americans who were killed Sunday were Army reservists with the 103rd Sustainment Command based out of Des Moines, Iowa. Nicole Amor, 39, Cody Khork, 35, Declan Coady, 20, Robert Marzan, 54, Jeffrey OBrien, 45 and Noah Tietjens, 42, died in the conflict. The President told the Daily Mail during a phone interview last week that he was open to going, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt making the plan official during her briefing on Wednesday. A seventh US service member has been killed as the war between Iran and America rages on. They have not yet been identified Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance are seen at the dignified transfer ceremony on Saturday, along with other Trump cabinet members It marked the President's second trip to Dover for this type of military ceremony during his second term. Trump also attended one in December to pay tribute to two US Army soldiers and their US civilian interpreter who were killed by an ISIS-affiliated gunman in Syria. The President attended just four dignified transfer ceremonies during his first term, which sometimes put him in political hot water. 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. 'For two years prior, there were no boots on the ground in Yemen - everything was missiles and drones - because there was not a target worth one American life. Now, all of a sudden, we had to make this grand display?' Bill Owens told the Miami Herald. Bill Owens and his wife sat in a room away from Trump when the President was conducting greetings. Trump did not return to Dover for another dignified transfer ceremony until nearly two years later - on January 19, 2019. Army Reserve Major Jeffrey O'Brien (left), 45 and Chief Warrant Officer Robert M Marzan (right), 54 Captain Cody A Khork (left), 35, and Sergeant 1st Class Nicole M Amor, 39 Sergeant 1st Class Noah L Tietjens (left), 42, and Specialist Declan J Coady, 20 Once Biden was in office, his own conduct at a dignified transfer ceremony also became a political problem. Amid the disastrous Afghanistan pullout, 13 US service members were killed in a terror attack outside the Kabul International Airport. During the August 2021 dignified transfer ceremony for the 13 Americans killed, the Democrat was seen looking at his watch on several occasions, sparking fury online among veterans and GOP commentators. The violent US-Israeli war with Iran continued on Sunday, with Iran launching a series of ballistic missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates and Israel in retaliation for the overnight bombardment in Tehran. At least six people are injured in Israel, including one seriously, as a result of the barrage. Trump has gone on to promise that the US will dial up the attacks. On Sunday, it was also revealed that the head of Iran's Military Office Abu al-Qassem Babaiyan has been killed in the latest wave of attacks, the IDF claimed on X. The military official was also the Chief of Staff of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters. He is the latest major figure in the regime to be killed in Israeli strikes. Trump announced when the war first broke out that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in an airstrike. A man has been charged with murder after an alleged fatal stabbing at a remote campsite in the NSW New England region. Emergency services were called to the Woolbrook campsite off Danglemah Road, north of Tamworth, at about 6pm on Sunday. Police were told two men were involved in an altercation when one was allegedly stabbed multiple times in the chest and neck. The man, aged in his 50s, was treated by paramedics but could not be revived. He is yet to be formally identified. The other man, aged 43, was uninjured. He was arrested at the campsite and taken to Tamworth Police Station, where he has since been charged with murder. He will appear in Bail Division Court 5 later on Monday. Police allegedly seized a knife believed to have been used in the altercation. The campsite remains a crime scene as detectives launch an investigation. A man was allegedly stabbed to death at the Woolbrook campsite north of Tamworth on Sunday night The campsite is in the NSW New England region, 443km north-west of Sydney Inquiries are ongoing, with police scheduled to provide a further update later on Monday. Located 66km north-east of Tamworth, Woolbrook is a free camping ground along the Macdonald River. The secluded spot is ideal for tents, with only a few spots for caravans. The site also has no mobile phone coverage. The latest incident comes a week after an unrelated, alleged axe murder at the Little Styx River campsite, about 147km away near Ebor. Ahwen Kohn, 26, was refused bail when he faced court last week. Rimani Pena Hughes, 33, had been camping at the Little Styx River Campground on Point Lookout Road on March 1 when he was allegedly attacked by Kohn. A 25yearold woman drove Mr Hughes to nearby Thora seeking help, but he died before paramedics arrived. The woman was treated for bruising to her neck after she was also allegedly assaulted. COLOMBO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan authorities have transferred 22 Iranian sailors rescued after the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena to the Sri Lanka Air Force base in Koggala, in the Southern Province, after they were discharged from Karapitiya Hospital, officials said on Sunday. Ten other sailors remain under medical treatment, including eight receiving emergency care. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan authorities have placed all 204 people from the IRIS Bushehr, another Iranian naval vessel, at the Welisara Navy Camp. IRIS Bushehr was taken to the eastern port of Trincomalee on Friday. Sri Lanka has been providing medical care, shelter and logistical support to Iranian naval personnel following the maritime emergency off the island's southern coast last week. IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Dena are Iranian naval vessels which had taken part in the 2026 International Fleet Review, a cooperative maritime exercise held in India. IRIS Dena was sunk off the island's southern coast after a U.S. submarine attack on Wednesday. Speaking of the matter on Saturday, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath noted that the country takes all steps based on international law and humanitarian considerations, does not intend to support any side in the incident, and will continue to handle the matter within the framework of international legal obligations. The Capture (BBC1) Rating: Some people are easily bored. Paapa Essiedu, it appears, really can't be bothered with sequels. He stars in one series, then gets himself violently written out at the start of the next. His character in Gangs Of London chucked himself off a rooftop terrace rather than hang around for the second season. Now, in The Capture, he plays ambitious politician Isaac Turner, but even the promise of becoming the 'first black British PM' isn't enough to keep him in the show. The manner of his exit was certainly dramatic shot through the head at a press conference, seconds after directing a flirtatious smile at counter-terrorism heroine Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger). That'll teach him not to indulge in casual workplace sexism. Essiedu has been cast as the disdainful Potions master Severus Snape at Hogwarts, in the forthcoming Harry Potter remake for U.S. cable channel HBO. We have to hope he won't Expelliarmus himself after the first year. Luckily, The Capture isn't short of charisma in its cast. This convoluted conspiracy fantasy, set in a Britain where AI can instantly replace live TV and surveillance footage with deep fake videos, is compulsively watchable, not for its devious plotlines but because of its stars. Grainger has an exceptional ability to convey a wealth of emotion with barely a flicker of her face. She rarely shouts and never resorts to dramatic gestures, even when others are gunned down around her or she's staring down the barrel of a pistol herself. Holliday Grainger has an exceptional ability to convey a wealth of emotion with barely a flicker of her face Grainger plays Rachel Carey alongside co-star Paapa Esssiedu as Isaac Turner in The Capture Without this talent, her character might seem too cold, too icily competent. Grainger lets us know that, behind the snap decisions and callous jokes, Acting Commander Carey is prey to moments of self-doubt, weakness and traumatised grief. If Amazon, who have bought the James Bond franchise, do decide it's time for a female 007, she'd be my first choice. Sad finale of the weekend: A wedding, a funeral, a parting and, of course, a pregnancy . . . There wasnt a dry eye as Call The Midwife (BBC1) ended with nuns and nurses leafing through old photos. 'Nonnatus House, temporarily closed' read the sign on the door. Ben Miles plays her predecessor, a smarmy villain with a lethal line in ironic grins, and Ron Perlman is back as an insufferable CIA agent with a taste for single malt whisky and death threats. Special mention, too, for Adrian Rawlins, as the head of a public inquiry. He's one of those character actors who make you sit up and say, 'I've seen him in something!' He specialises in cameos that always leave an impression. All this star power is enough to make us suspend disbelief in a premise that is patently ridiculous. In the opening scene, a Russian assassin with plastic cheekbones was intercepted as he tried to evade facial recognition cameras at Heathrow by hacking them from his phone. Why would he take the trouble? If he wants to enter the UK illegally, all he has to do is get in a dinghy at Calais, and Border Force will escort him across before booking him into a hotel. Saves the Kremlin a lot of hassle. A Clumber spaniel has been crowned Best in Show at Crufts this year. Four-year-old 'diva', Bruin, beat thousands of dogs from around the world over the past four days to claim the show's top honour in Birmingham on Sunday. Bruin, handled by Lee Cox, was the winner of the Gundog group earlier in the show. It is the first time a Clumber spaniel has won Best in Show since 1991. The spaniel was chosen by judge Tamas Jakkel, beating the winners of six other groups to bag the trophy. Mr Cox said: 'It's just amazing, I mean, what can I say? I can't believe it. Thank you so much. 'It's just wonderful for this breed... for the first time in my life, I'm speechless.' He added: 'He's just, he's a dog of a lifetime, he really, really is. He's very, very special. I absolutely adore him. And he adores me.' Mr Cox then joked that 'I think he wants to eat your microphone', before adding 'he's just wonderful'. Clumber spaniel Bruin with his handler Lee Cox pictured with the Crufts trophy Mr Cox described four-year-old Bruin as a 'walking cartoon character in a fluffy white coat' A poodle wearing ski goggles poses for a picture at Crufts An Irish Setter in its sparkly blue costume on the final day of the competition Asked what his character is like, Mr Cox said: 'Bit of a diva, a bit like me really, likes his own way, very chilled, but will never, ever let me down. Never lets me down.' Earlier he described Bruin as a 'walking cartoon character in a fluffy white coat'. Mr Cox will receive a trophy replica and 200 in cash for winning this year's competition. After Claudia Winkleman handed Mr Cox the trophy, the Traitors presenter said: 'The atmosphere, when he came out. They loved all the dogs, but this one - they loved!' Bruin beat 18,000 other dogs to be crowned king of Crufts in Birmingham last night. A four-year-old Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen named Meghan, from Croatia - who earlier won the Hound group - was named reserve dog. Jannine Edgar, chief executive of the Royal Kennel Club, said: 'Congratulations to Bruin and Lee for closing this year's competition with a truly outstanding win and for taking home the prestigious Best in Show title. 'Their connection and skill in the ring have shone throughout, making them thoroughly deserving champions. Join the debate What do YOU think of this years Crufts winner? Was Bruin a paw-fect champion? Pictured: Pastoral Group winner Hazel, a Welsh corgi, is judged during the Best in Show competition on the final day of Crufts An American Cocker Spaniel is judged in the Gundog Group on the final day Dalmatians wait to be judged beside their chums Pictured: Hound Group winner Meghan, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Pictured: Toy Group winner Dublin, a cavalier King Charles spaniel Pictured: Utility Group winner Spencer, a miniature schnauzer 'We also extend our congratulations to all the finalists. Each dog, handler and owner should feel extremely proud of reaching such an iconic final. 'Crufts continues to be adored by dog lovers worldwide, and it has been wonderful to welcome so many competitors from around the globe this year. 'We've celebrated the extraordinary bond between dogs and their handlers across every competition and activity. 'Thank you to everyone involved for helping make Crufts the remarkable event that it is.' Australians have been urged not to travel to the United Arab Emirates after a new government warning. Smartraveller issued the 'do not travel' warning on Sunday as retaliatory military and drone strikes continue across the Middle East after joint US-Israel action on Iran. 'The UAE airspace may open or close at short notice, impacting flights at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports,' it said. 'Military conflict in the region may result in widespread movement restrictions, and other travel disruptions.' The government has told Australians not to travel to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the UAE and Yemen. 'Australians should reconsider the need to travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia and exercise a high degree of caution in Azerbaijan,' the notice said. The warning comes after Australians witnessed an attack near the main terminal of Dubai Airport, leaving thousands trapped inside the building and stranded on planes. The UAE said Iran had launched more than 1,400 missiles and drones at sites across the country. Australians have been urged not to travel to the United Arab Emirates following a new government warning (pictured, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong) SmartTraveller issued the 'do not travel' warning on Sunday as retaliatory military and drone strikes continue across the Middle East after joint US-Israel action on Iran Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government had told Australian diplomats and their families to leave the UAE. 'The Australian government has directed the departure of dependants of Australian officials posted to the UAE, due to the deteriorating security situation,' she said. But beyond officials, ordinary Australians have also been severely affected as they try to travel through the region. Australian mother Camille Thioulouse and her family live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but were stranded in the UAE's Abu Dhabi last week on their way home from a holiday. While aboard a plane approaching UAE airspace on their return from a holiday, they witnessed fighter jets flying past. 'Fleeing a conflict zone with two small children was something I never imagined I would ever have to do,' Ms Thioulouse told Daily Mail on Saturday. Wong said Australia was considering a request for military help from allies in the region, but would not be part of any ground troop deployment. 'You would anticipate, as a consequence, that we have been asked for assistance, and we will work through that carefully,' she told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. Join the debate Do YOU think Australians should avoid the UAE until the conflict calms down? Aussie mum Camille Thioulouse and her family (pictured) had to drive 10 hours from Abu Dhabi in the UAE to their home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, due to travel disruptions caused by retaliatory strikes Penny Wong also said Australia was considering a request for military help from allies in the region, but would not be part of any ground-troop deployment (pictured, an Iranian domestically-built missile at a rally in Tehran in February) 'If a decision is made, I'm sure that we will be transparent with the Australian people.' Iran has launched strikes against neighbouring countries including the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain following US and Israel-led attacks, which killed the country's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Ted O'Brien said he was open to helping countries in the Gulf. 'The United States and Israel have been doing the heavy lifting for the free world here,' he told ABC Radio National. Mr O'Brien said he had requested a briefing from the government on the issue. Jennifer Parker, an expert associate at the Australian National University's National Security College, said Australian forces may be called on to support allied militaries in the region. 'I would suspect that we will try and assist with the issues of missile and drone detection, and potentially missile and drone interception,' she told AAP. 'We could consider deploying fighter jets to the region to help defend the Gulf countries against these attacks. That would probably be the most effective deployment for Australia. 'That comes with some complications in terms of stressing that they're being used for defensive, rather than offensive, roles.' Australian forces could also be used to provide support in getting oil through the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of world supplies travel. Iran has been blocking access to the strait following the attacks, leading to petrol and diesel price spikes. If Australian defence personnel were sent to the region, it would be unlikely to put them at greater risk of attack, Ms Parker said. 'Australia is considered as allied with the US anyway, and so therefore, because of that relationship, Iran would consider Australians as targets in the same way that they have in some of the Gulf countries,' she said. Airports across the United States were thrown into travel turmoil on Sunday as security lines ballooned for hours, stranding passengers, triggering missed departures and igniting a fresh political firestorm over federal funding. Travelers reported waits stretching as long as four hours at major hubs including Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans and Houston as staffing shortages hit security checkpoints operated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Officials tied the disruptions to the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats refused to include DHS in a recent spending bill due in part to alleged mismanagement by recently ousted secretary Kristi Noem. The partial shutdown entered its third week since funding lapsed on February 14, 2026, and has left about 50,000 TSA screeners working without pay, spiking absences and creating massive lines at airports nationwide. The partisan standoff pits House Republicans, who passed clean DHS funding bills against Senate Democrats demanding ICE reforms and separate funding for TSA. The delays have only become worse during peak travel periods, particularly with spring break travel ramping up, with long queues snaking through terminals and into parking lots. In a sharply worded statement posted to X, the Department of Homeland Security's official account blamed the impasse squarely on Democrats in Congress. 'Americans across the country are now feeling the fallout from the RECKLESS Democrat shutdown of DHS,' the department wrote. Thousands of passengers could be seen waiting in line to get through security in New Orleans The official X accounts for the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration posted statements blaming Democrats for the DHS funding lapse and resulting airport screening delays Dozens of passengers were seen waiting outside the terminal in the parking garage at Houston airport 'Today, travelers are facing TSA lines up to NEARLY 3 HOURS LONG at some major airports, causing missed flights and massive delays during peak travel. 'This chaos is a direct result of Democrats and their refusal to fund DHS. Their political stunt is forcing patriotic TSA officers to work without pay - leading to financial hardship, absences, and crippling staffing shortages. 'Enough is enough: stop holding national security and everyday Americans hostage. Democrats must fund DHS NOW.' The Transportation Security Administration account posted a similar message. 'Americans are now missing their flights because of the Democrats shutdown of DHS. Their political stunt is forcing patriotic TSA officers to work without pay - leading to financial hardship, absences, and crippling staffing.' Both tweets from federal agencies working under the Trump Administration appear to adopt explicitly political language assigning blame to the Democrats for the funding lapse. On the ground, the effects were visible and immediate. At Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, airport officials described severe congestion as security lines swelled Sunday morning. Virtually every open space of the security concourse was filled with a person at New Orleans airport It was a similar scene in with passengers are seen waiting in long lines to get through the TSA security screening at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, on Sunday Both posts said TSA officers were working without pay and linked staffing shortages to missed flights and long security lines Homeland Security referenced Houston Airport's three hour wait in the TSA security line The delays have only become worse during peak travel periods, with long queues snaking through terminals and into parking lots such as here at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston Passengers are seen waiting in huge security lines on Sunday at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, in Kenner, Louisiana According to local reporting by WDSU, more than 2,000 passengers were queued at peak times, with lines stretching from the parking garage across ticketing areas and up to the second-floor TSA checkpoint. It was a similar situation in at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston with lines of up to three hours to get through screening. Pictures and video were posted of passengers waiting outside the terminal in the parking garage at Houston airport. Airport leaders said the disruption stemmed from the partial federal government shutdown and resulting staffing shortages. 'Due to impacts from the federal government's partial shutdown, there is a shortage of TSA workers at the security checkpoint at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), which is causing longer-than-average lines.' Officials urged travelers to build in extra time, warning delays could persist. 'Passengers are advised to arrive at least 3 hours before their scheduled departure to allow plenty of time to undergo security screening. Wait times can be up to 2 hours. The delays could continue through the rest of the week.' An airport official directs passengers through the chaos at New Orleans International Airport There seemed to be no end in sight to the lines which snaked around the terminal It caps off a terrible week for Homeland Security whose department head, Kristi Noem, pictured, was fired by President Donald Trump A second statement reiterated the operational strain. 'Due to impacts from the federal government's partial shutdown, the TSA at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is experiencing a shortage of workers at the security checkpoint, which is causing longer-than-average lines. 'Passengers with travel scheduled today are advised to arrive at least 3 hours before their scheduled departure to allow plenty of time to undergo security screening.' While security officers continued processing passengers, the bottlenecks left many travelers frustrated and scrambling to rebook flights. It caps off a terrible week for Homeland Security whose department head, Kristi Noem was fired by President Donald Trump. Trump's decision came on the heels of back-to-back hearings in Congress where Noem faced rare but blistering criticism from Republican lawmakers, especially over the $220 million ad campaign that featured the secretary on horseback. Noem had faced criticism for months, primarily from Democrats, about the administration's tough immigration crackdown , especially in the aftermath of the shooting deaths of two Minneapolis protesters at the hands of federal officers. Despite outrage over how she characterized the protesters as agitators, publicly Trump stood by her throughout her 13-month tenure. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer laid out a 10-point framework they say must be addressed to restore funding for the Department of Homeland Security - Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations detain a protestor wearing an 'Antifa' shirt outside a residential building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last month. The intensive immigration operation left local people stunned after two civilians were killed by agents As the travel disruption mounted, the political standoff driving it grew sharper on Capitol Hill. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer laid out a 10-point framework they say must be addressed to restore funding for the Department of Homeland Security - funding that would also resume full pay for Transportation Security Administration screeners. Their demands center on immigration enforcement rules and federal oversight. The proposal calls for judicial warrants before agents enter private property and procedures to verify that a person is not a US citizen before immigration detention. It also seeks to prohibit agents from wearing masks, require visible identification showing agency affiliation and ID number, and mandate that officers verbally identify themselves if asked. The Democratic framework would restrict enforcement actions near what it defines as sensitive locations, including schools, hospitals, child care facilities, churches, polling places and courts. It also bars racial profiling based on geography, occupation, language or accent, race or ethnicity. Additional provisions include statutory use-of-force standards, expanded training and certification requirements, and temporary removal of officers from duty following use-of-force incidents pending investigation. The plan calls for stronger state and local coordination, preserving the ability of states and municipalities to investigate operations and requiring local consent for large-scale enforcement actions outside targeted efforts. On detention policy, the proposal includes immediate access to legal counsel, authorization for states to sue over violations, and no limits on congressional visits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. It also mandates body-worn cameras, sets rules for storing and accessing footage, and prohibits the creation of databases tracking people engaged in First Amendment-protected activity. Another provision would prohibit what the lawmakers describe as paramilitary-style policing and require standardized uniforms and equipment aligned with civil enforcement. Jeffries and Schumer said the administration could demonstrate good faith by scaling back an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota and removing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Both actions have since occurred, although Noem's dismissal followed broader controversies beyond Minnesota enforcement operations. The two leaders have indicated those steps alone are not sufficient to resolve the funding dispute. Republican negotiators have reportedly signaled openness to concessions on body cameras, training standards, oversight measures, mask policies, limits on home entry and transparency requirements. However, divisions remain over warrant requirements, identification rules, enforcement scope, profiling standards, detention safeguards and limits on where operations can take place. Haunting tape recordings show Soham child killer Ian Huntley knew he was not getting out of jail alive. The double child killer died aged 52 on Saturday following an attack by fellow prisoners at around 9.30am on February 26 during a waste management workshop at HMP Frankland. He had been serving a life sentence for murdering ten-year-old schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in his home in Cambridgeshire in 2002. Triple murderer, Anthony Russell, 43, is suspected of having launched the assault on Huntley, multiple prison sources believe. In 2002, a phone call between Huntley and his friend whilst behind bars was leaked in which he can be heard apologising for the horrific murders and claimed he had no reason to lie about being remorseful because he was 'never' getting out. His voiced cracked as he was heard saying: 'What I will say is that I am so terribly, terribly sorry for what I have done. 'I know the people of Soham took me into their community, they trusted me, gave me a job and a home, and I betrayed them in the worst possible way. 'And I am sorry for what I have done, sorry for the pain I have caused to the families and friends of Holly and Jessica, for the pain I have caused my family and friends, and for the pain I have caused the community of Soham. 'I am genuinely, genuinely sorry and it breaks my heart when it is reported I have no remorse, that I relish something. I do not. Huntley, 52, was serving life for murdering 10-year-old schoolgirls Holly and Jessica in his home in Soham, a Cambridgeshire market town made infamous by his vile crimes in 2002 It is suspected that Anthony Russell (pictured), a 43-year-old triple murderer, was the one who led the assault 'I can't change anything. I cannot remove that day from history, what I have done. I know those girls would be 26 this year with families of their own, jobs and lives. 'I thought about them when they were turning 21 and when they were turning 18. 'I know no matter what I say that people are not going to think any better of me but I would much rather people have the truth about how I feel. 'I have nothing to gain by saying these things. 'I know I am never getting out. I have accepted that from day one.' Huntley was transported to hospital after being targeted in a behind-bars ambush on his prison wing, which saw him hit with the metal weapon and 'ripped apart like a rat', according to a woman who visited the prison previously. He was left with catastrophic skull injuries. The Ministry of Justice confirmed that Huntley died at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary yesterday morning, at around 8.45am. Security around him had been downgraded on Tuesday when doctors realised Huntley would not come out of his coma and survive. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'The murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman remains one of the most shocking and devastating cases in our nation's history, and our thoughts are with their families.' In the leaked audio from 2002, he went on to insist he would never apply for parole because he did not want to cause any more pain to Holly and Jessica's families. 'I accepted a long time ago my life was in jail,' he said. 'I don't really think about getting out, it is a non-starter. I hear about other prisoners coming up for parole. That makes you think a bit. 'I will never apply for it. I want it made quite clear that I never ever, despite legal advice, thought about appealing against [my] sentence. 'Because I did not want to cause the families any more pain, I did not want to prolong things. 'I will never ever apply to leave prison. Never ever apply for parole. I will die in prison. I accept that.' He added: 'I don't believe I should be free. Not because I believe I am a danger but because two young girls are dead and I do not deserve to be released.' Holly Wells (left) and Jessica Chapman (right) were both murdered by Huntley in Soham, Cambridgeshire in 2002 HMP Frankland on February 26, after Ian Huntley was attacked inside by another inmate Huntley murdered the two girls at his home in Soham, Cambridgeshire. They had been at a family barbecue in August 2002, when they left to walk to a nearby sweet shop. Their bodies were found nearly a fortnight later, around 14 miles away in a ditch near Lakenheath, Suffolk. Holly and Jessica's families were subjected to a full court hearing in 2003 because Huntley refused to plead guilty. He was later sentenced to two life terms, with a minimum 40-year tariff at the maximum security Frankland prison in Durham. Huntley whined in the tape about food in prison and said he spent his time playing chess and painting. 'Prison is a very strange thing,' he said. 'You develop acquaintances more than friends The prison food is shocking. We send out for meals like fish and chips every weekend. 'I am a painter, I play chess, I play scrabble, do crosswords. I used to be a good chess player but I keep getting all these headaches. 'Everybody knows I have had suicide attempts and I have been in a coma. I have had a lot of health problems since and they have deteriorated over the years to the point now where I am really struggling. Nobody can seem to figure out what is wrong with me. 'Every time they put me on medication, my body reacts very badly to it. They keep saying it is down to stress.' The murderer then spoke about things he misses while in prison, such as 'cuddling a girlfriend' and alcohol, adding: 'Prison is difficult, and the reason it is difficult, I mean they take away your independence and, believe me, people don't realise what that is until you lose it.' Huntley said he spent his days reflecting on his offences. 'I think about why I am in almost every day,' he said. 'When you don't read papers or see documentaries you lose contact with the reality of the situation because it is like a totally separate world out there to what I have in here.' The killer said he was 'answerable to the family and friends of Holly and Jessica, to the community of Soham and to my family and friends', but added: 'I understand and accept what I did did affect the country as a whole and I am sorry for the way I made the country feel and for how it has affected people.' A deep dive into Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice's very generous, six-figure 'wedding gifts' has sparked fresh speculation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's finances, a new book has revealed. Writing in Entitled, historian Andrew Lownie detailed how convicted Libyan gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni was among the guests at Eugenie's nuptials (and had given her an 18,000 diamond necklace for her 21st birthday) while Turkish millionairess Nebahat Isbilen 'sent some 750,000 into the disgraced Duke's personal bank account', allegedly for Beatrice's ceremony. The elusive attendees, and their plentiful sums, are often linked to the princesses' parents and their various financial endeavours throughout the years - inviting questions about how their daughters' notoriously lavish jet-setting lifestyles were funded throughout their youth. In 2018, when Eugenie tied the knot with Jack Brooksbank in a fairytale wedding at Windsor Castle, among the VIP guests (which included Naomi Campbell, Demi Moore, Ellie Goulding and Cara Delevingne to name a few) was a Hong Kong tycoon. Dr Johnny Hon was familiar with her mother, Sarah Ferguson, who had the year prior become a non-executive director at a venture capital company he was chairing, called Gate Ventures. Things turned sour, however, and a bitter court battle ensued soon after, when Chinese investors brought action against the company, with 'claims that it had given misleading information about loans provided to Ginger & Moss, a company founded by the duchess, and that of the 24million raised from shareholders, 19million had been "lost"'. Later media reports alleged 'lavish' spending at Gate, as well as 'unusual transactions with offshore companies and deals involving its directors, including a loan to former boyfriend Manuel Fernandezs company, vVoosh, in which the duchess had invested. According to Lownie, Sarah had been brought on to help with foreign expansion, but, it appeared, this led to the Dr Hon 'bankrolling the royals', with him charging some 3million in expenses which included 8,000 for tea with the Duchess of York - and, as a Judge pointed out, 'That is not the purpose for which these small Chinese investors paid their money in to the company.' Dr Hon 'stressed that all activities charged to the company were "for the benefit of Gate and were legitimate business expenses"'. He also reportedly claimed: No part of the spending was for my personal benefit or personal enjoyment. It was hard, often exhausting, but necessary work.' Dr Hon declined to speak with Lownie for the book - but he is not the only controversial figure to have been in attendance at the royal wedding. A deep dive into Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice's very generous, six-figure 'wedding gifts' has sparked fresh speculation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's finances, a new book has revealed. Pictured in 2018 Turkish millionairess Nebahat Isbilen 'sent some 750,000 into the disgraced Duke's personal bank account', allegedly for Beatrice's ceremony Also present was convicted Libyan gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni, who had known Andrew since 2005 Also present was convicted Libyan gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni, who had known Andrew since 2005. Three years later, they had also enjoyed a four-day holiday to Tunisia - financed by the Middle Eastern billionaire, which included a visit to Colonel Gaddafi. Kaituni and business adviser Selman Turk are both said to have held meetings with the ex-Duke, which invited more questions in 2022, when the Virginia Giuffre settlement raised fresh speculation into his finances. One such query ended up embroiling a Mrs Nebahat Isbilen, who was at the time suing Turk for 40million of funds, which she claimed he had 'misused'. She alleged one instance of this had been a sum of 750,000, which had been sent to Andrew's personal bank account in 2019. Turk had said to her that this was because the former duke was helping her get a Turkish passport. However, Andrew's office allegedly told Isbilen that 'it is a gift for the cost of the wedding or a gift to Princess Beatrice... I mean, Im not sure it makes much difference, does it? I think its a gift for the wedding What she and her family decide to do with it is really to do with them, isnt it? The wedding took place seven months later. The payment had also been made a mere nine days after Turk won an award at Pitch@Palace, for his idea of a digital bank, which according to sources was 'appalling'. The insider told Lownie: 'I just remember thinking, "How did he get through?" It was just nuts.' In 2024, Turk was jailed for 12 months following a High Court dispute, but just weeks later has had his sentence suspended at the Court of Appeal. In April last year, Judge Sir Anthony Mann concluded: 'In the light of all that I determine that Mr Turk shall contribute the sum of 390,000 in respect of his costs of defending the committal application brought against him, but the order shall be suspended until the removal of the freezing order and the determination of the proprietary claims of Mrs Isbilen, and Mr Turk shall have liberty to apply to vary the order in that event so that his obligation to pay shall not extend beyond the proper value of his equitable interest in the property (if any).' There were also questions about a series of payments that Andrew and Sarah got from an 'Alphabet Capital', which Isbilen's legal team believed was 'a front used by Mr Turk to make payments to persons associated with him', including the ex Duke and Duchess. It also included a further 350,000 (with the reference 'TK Wedding'), and Sarah had gotten 'at least 225,000 from the Alphabet account'. Lownie revealed that while reports claimed the latter sum was to cover her ambassador work, 'a payment of 10,000 made by Alphabet Capital Ltd to Eugenie of York was under the payment reference "TK008".' He continued: 'She claimed not to know Mr Turk or Mrs Isbilen and the money was from "a long-standing family friend to assist with the cost of a surprise party for my mother". 'The next day a further payment of 15,066.05 was made to Eugenie York under the payment reference "Birthday Gift" some five months before her March birthday. 'As the case continued through various manifestations in the courts, it was revealed that Turk was living in a multi-million pound flat in Mayfair owned by the Crown Estate and that Andrew had received half of a 100,000 payment that Turk claimed was a payment to businessman Adrian Gleave to fund a search for "finding yoghurt production facilities in America".' And yet another guest who was front and centre at Eugenie's wedding was a Mr Jonathan Rowland - a British businessman whose family has long enjoyed a relationship with the royals. According to Lownie, one exchange saw the banker and disgraced duke discuss keeping commercial activities under the radar. 'Like your thinking,' Andrew allegedly replied. The author had remarked however that 'it remains a mystery how Andrew has been able to enjoy such an extravagant lifestyle without any obvious sources of income beyond his naval pension, family money he may have inherited and handouts first from Queen Elizabeth and now King Charles'. There has been fresh speculation over Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's finances A friend of the former prince once said: I would compare Andrew to a hot air balloon. He seems to float serenely in very rarefied circles without any visible means of support. It comes amid a turbulent time for the Royal Family. In the latest developments following the tranche of explosive Epstein file revelations, Andrew was pictured leaving police custody, following his arrest last month, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former prince looked shellshocked as he cowered in the back of a car, leaving Aylsham police station in Norfolk shortly after 7pm on his return to Sandringham. Andrew, who recently turned 66, was detained by officers during an 8am raid on his new home at Wood Farm. In events that rocked the Royal Family, he became the first senior royal to be arrested in modern times. Thames Valley Police confirmed the disgraced former prince had been taken into custody just after 10am on Thursday, marking one of the worst days for the family in recent history. In a statement put out just minutes after Andrew's departure, Thames Valley Police said 'a man in his sixties' has been released under investigation - as images showed how the royal seemed to be trying to evade photographers following his bruising day in the cells. Wide-eyed and with his hands clasped in front of him, Andrew cut a lonely figure as he ditched his traditional suit and tie attire in favour of a shirt and cardigan more suited to the setting that is so far removed from the upper echelons of luxury he is used to. The photograph of the former prince, now stripped of all his titles and privileges, is sure to haunt the Royal Family in the days and weeks to come. Police added that searches being conducted in Norfolk, relating to Andrew's new residence, Wood Farm, have concluded. It is understood Andrew was arrested in relation to allegations he passed sensitive information to convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while acting as a trade envoy for the British government. King Charles issued an unprecedented statement confirming his 'wholehearted support and co-operation' with the investigation into Andrew just hours after he was detained on Thursday - with Buckingham Palace understood not to have known the former Duke of York would be arrested. The statement said: 'I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. 'What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. 'Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.' William and Kate are understood to support the King. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have been dragged further into the scandal engulfing their father after The Mail on Sunday discovered he pushed for them to receive 100,000 in secret payments from a controversial billionaire he was helping while trade envoy. The newspaper has previously exposed how Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor promoted the business interests of his financier friend David Rowland and his son Jonathan while on globetrotting taxpayer-funded trade missions. Now, our investigations have uncovered an email revealing how Andrew discussed payments of 50,000 to each of his daughters, which could have been used to fund their lavish lifestyles. Andrew was apparently due to receive 300,000. Last night, MPs demanded to know whether the payments were made in return for Andrew's help in pushing the Rowlands' commercial ventures. The extraordinary revelation plunges Beatrice and Eugenie further into the controversy over their father's alleged abuse of his trade envoy position and comes amid mounting questions over how the princesses afforded their jet-set lifestyle in their 20s. Beatrice is said to have enjoyed 17 holidays in 2015 while earning a salary of 19,500 as an 'international production analyst' at Sony Pictures. Sources close to the princesses said they had no recollection of the alleged payments. They are said to have requested their historic banking records. Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice have been dragged further into the scandal engulfing their father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor David Rowland, whose nickname is 'Spotty', amassed a 730million property and investment fortune and became a close friend and business associate of the then Duke of York, who was trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. A tax exile for more than 30 years, Mr Rowland returned to the UK before the 2010 General Election so he could pump 2.7million into the Tories' campaign. He attended Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in 2018 and was pictured in the front row of the congregation alongside supermodel Kate Moss. The following year the MoS revealed how his son Jonathan, now 50, had accompanied Andrew on official trade missions, during which he plugged Banque Havilland, his family's bank. We also showed how Andrew and David Rowland jointly owned a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, a secretive Caribbean tax haven, that appears to have been used to lure the then prince's wealthy contacts to invest in a tax-free offshore fund. How the payments were discussed Andrew to Jonathan Rowland: 'I have explained to Amanda what was intended. That is 50 [thousand] each to the girls. 50 [thousand] for me... All this to be done once receipt of the 300 [thousand] happens.' Jonathan Rowland to Andrew: 'Just so I am clear. 50k each to the girls?' Now new messages detail how Andrew discussed with Jonathan Rowland, then chief executive of Banque Havilland, the apparent transfer of money to him and his two daughters in June 2011. They suggest that Andrew was expecting to receive a payment of 300,000 from David Rowland, of which Beatrice and Eugenie would each receive 50,000. They would then apparently each invest half of their sum in Jellybook, an investment firm Jonathan Rowland had just launched, which was focused on bankrolling social media companies. The leaked messages suggest Andrew was first due to receive 50,000, which he would apparently invest in Jellybook. He was then expecting to be paid the remaining 150,000, plus an additional 100,000, to an account with the private bank Drummonds, the messages suggest. 'I have explained to Amanda [Thirsk, Andrew's aide] what was intended. That is 50 [thousand] each to the girls. 25 for Jellybook each. 50 for me. The remainder of the 300, 150 plus an additional 100k to be transferred to Drummonds. All this to be done once receipt of the 300 happens.' The messages show Jonathan Rowland clarifying the proposed arrangement with Andrew. He wrote: 'Just so I am clear. You have Euro 650k (575k) in the Bank. 50k each to the girls. Jelly I am clear on although the girls accounts might not be in place so you can do 100k and we work it out later.' Detailing the split of funds again, Andrew suggested the source of the money was due to be David. The Mail showed how Andrew and David Rowland (pictured at Ascot in 2006) jointly owned a company registered in the British Virgin Islands Andrew was expecting to receive a payment of 300,000 from David Rowland, of which Beatrice and Eugenie would each receive 50,000 '...if DJR [David Rowland] puts 300k in then 150 is used [for] the girls and Jelly. The 150 remaining and an additional 100k to D [Drummonds] thereafter.' It is unclear whether the payments were ever made. Last night, Labour MP Karl Turner said: 'This latest revelation is worrying. It is known that Mountbatten-Windsor had an association with the Rowlands and this friendship existed at the time when he was a trade envoy for the UK. 'Questions are bound to be asked if that association helped to further enrich his kids. We must surely see an inquiry into whether the payments for the princesses were made in return for the disgraced former prince's help in pushing the Rowlands' commercial interests.' Shadow business minister Harriet Baldwin added: 'We must get to the bottom of these allegations at once. If true, this would be a clear example of him being unable to distinguish between private affairs and his public role.' Royal author Andrew Lownie said: 'This raises serious questions for the two princesses. Did they receive this money and was the source David Rowland? 'If so, was it because their father had pushed Rowland's business interests and therefore abused his position as trade envoy? 'It is time for the princesses and their father to come clean.' Documents seen by the MoS suggest Andrew was known as 'Client X' at Banque Havilland and gave Jonathan Rowland 'authority to give instructions on his account'. David Rowland, in the back, can be seen during Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank In one message, Andrew reprimanded Jonathan for involving Amanda Thirsk in his 'private financial arrangements'. 'More than slightly annoyed this morning to find an email from Amanda asking me to confirm my private financial arrangements. I don't want or need my office to know what I'm doing with my family or necessarily my investments. 'Where is the issue that we need to resolve to prevent this happening again?' Chastened, Rowland responded: 'Apologies for this and I will make sure it doesn't happen again.' The revelations will throw a spotlight on the degree to which the two princesses have also been tarnished by their father's alleged improprieties. The Daily Mail reported in November that Prince William had urged his cousins to allow an 'ethics' check on their finances and investments while King Charles had offered the services of one of his senior advisers. The offers of help and scrutiny were said to have been politely turned down. The futures of Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, have been cast into doubt after their parents' dramatic downfall. They feature more than 300 times in Epstein Files released by the US Department of Justice and have recently been keeping a low profile. The Rowlands declined to comment. Andrew did not respond to a request to comment. The days of the traditional Florida snowbird may soon be a thing of the past as retirees are ending their yearly migration in favor of setting up permanent homes in the sun. Traditionally, snowbirds spend as many as six months at their beachy summer refuge and most snowbirds heading to the Sunshine State come from the Northeast of the US or Canada as they look to escape the frigid winter. But real estate experts have said retirees are making winter properties their full-time home, citing lower costs and better tax benefits. Florida Realtors president Chuck Bonfiglio Jr, who is also broker-owner of AAA Realty Group in Plantation, told the Daily Mail: 'People come to Florida for our sunshine, lifestyle, and natural beauty - but what we hear from buyers, year after year, is that they stay because Florida offers something more: longterm opportunity. 'While we dont track which snowbirds end up staying permanently, many are drawn by the same fundamentals that attract so many buyers in the first place: Floridas strong quality of life and the financial benefits of a lowtax, businessfriendly environment. 'Personal factors, such as wanting to be closer to family, often shape the timing of those decisions, too.' According to Redfin, in 2025 homebuyers across the country were in search of properties in peak snowbird states, including Florida, Arizona and the Carolinas. Since 2020, insurance premiums in the US have risen 30 percent and property taxes have increased by 27 percent since 2019, Kiplinger reported. More than 23,000 people are reportedly looking to relocated to Florida as of 2025. Naples in Florida is pictured Cheaper states including Florida have robust financial benefits for retired residents Florida Realtors president Chuck Bonfiglio Jr (pictured), who is also broker-owner of AAA Realty Group in Plantation, told Daily Mail people move to the Sunshine State for the lifestyle States with little or no income tax have become magnets for the wealthy, leading to permanent relocation. Financial adviser Brandon Summers wrote in Kiplinger: 'Wealth creators are integrating long-term wealth planning into their financial strategy, and more permanent interstate moves are a large part of that.' Summers reported that states, including California and New York, are losing billions because of outbound migration. There, regulations are cracking down on dual residence. Auditors reportedly closely examine how much time retirees spend in each state, voting registration and property ownership. At the same time, low-tax states have been gaining residents. Between 2011 and 2021, Florida accrued nearly 1.6 million residents, according to Forbes. Consequently, housing supply in the Sunshine State dropped 3 percent in the last year and demand is up, with more than 23,000 people looking to relocate for good. The state boasts no income tax or state estate tax and offers 'robust' finance protection laws, Summers said. Florida also does not tax pension or any other form of retirement income. Cities in Florida like Cape Coral (pictured) are among the top destinations for retirees Residents from colder states flock to Florida for the year-round sunshine and beaches like Daytona Beach (pictured) Financial advisor Brandon Summers reported to Kiplinger that relocating permanently could be the most financially savvy decision Bonfiglio Jr told the Daily Mail: 'Todays homebuyers want a place that delivers both a great quality of life and longterm value, and Florida consistently delivers on both. 'We continue to attract new residents at one of the highest rates in the country. In 2024, more than a quarter of the people who moved into Florida homes came from another state many from highercost, highertax areas in the Northeast and out West. 'International demand has also strengthened, with global buyers accounting for about five percent of existinghome purchases and international sales rising 50 percent year over year. 'As insurance premiums stabilize and mortgage rates continue to ease, affordability is improving and opening the door for even more people who want to make Florida their fulltime home.' AARP reported a rising trend in retirees choosing to move abroad or travel rather than bounce back and forth from winter homes, especially amid health concerns. Canada has always been a country that has seen snowbirds migrate for the colder months. But president and managing editor of the Snowbird Advisor Canada, Stephen Fine, told the Daily Mail that many are no longer looking towards the US and instead are looking to Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific. 'Travel to the US for Snowbirds is down this year, but not down nearly as much as other travel segments,' he told the Daily Mail. More than 23,000 people are reportedly looking to relocated to Florida as of 2025. The Villages retirement community is pictured More and more retirees are choosing to list their homes and move to warmer states for good President and managing editor of the Snowbird Advisor Canada, Stephen Fine, spoke with the Daily Mail about trends amongst Canadian snowbirds 'We're not sure if it was because of the current [political] environment or it was because of finances or increases in insurance costs in some destinations,' he added. The organization conducts an annual survey of snowbird trends for its website. Approximately 23 percent of snowbirds preferred to travel internationally last year. While rentals are a popular alternative for snowbirds who don't want to worry about year-long costs, even that has become financially impractical. 'Rental prices have gone up significantly over the last few years as well,' Fine said. 'So it's competitive. There are, in some areas that are popular with snowbirds, high demand, low availability and increasing costs.' Financial expert Summers recommends planning for a permanent move abroad or domestically years in advance. 'Visit potential destinations, build relationships and evaluate tax, insurance and health care systems as part of one integrated plan,' he wrote in Kiplinger. 'Seasonal migration is no longer necessary. Retirees can build a long-term lifestyle, but they need to plan now.' For centuries, the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred gold-plated chest said to contain the Ten Commandments, has been one of the greatest mysteries in religious history. The object, which once symbolized God's presence among the Israelites, vanished from the historical record more than 2,500 years ago, sparking endless debate about where it may have been taken. Some believers claim it was hidden in Ethiopia. Others insist it ended up in Zimbabwe or even Ireland. But a startling theory the Ark may lie thousands of miles away in one of the most remote places on Earth, buried deep in the jungles of the Solomon Islands. According to local traditions on the island of Malaita, ancient travelers from Israel may have carried the sacred relic across the ocean in an epic 8,000-mile canoe journey two millennia ago. Some religious groups believe the Ark was eventually hidden inside a lost temple modeled after King Solomon's Temple, built somewhere in the mountainous interior of the island. The theory may sound extraordinary, yet certain cultural clues have fueled speculation. In parts of the Solomon Islands, locals have been known to sing Hebrew prayers, use fragments of the Hebrew language, and wear Stars of David. The idea that the ancestors of the Solomon Islanders might be the descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel is relatively common among To'abaita speakers in North Malaita These unusual traditions have long intrigued researchers and missionaries alike. Within the island's northern region of North Malaita, small Christian movements believe the Ark itself could still be buried there today. Local rumors speak of a temple hidden in the dense rainforest where ancient inhabitants once practiced rituals resembling Jewish worship. Some residents even claim to know the approximate location where the temple's remains may lie. The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred religious object of the Israelites. Described in the Bible as a gold-covered chest built to hold the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, it was carried through the desert by the Israelites and later housed in King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. But after the temple's destruction, the Ark disappeared from history, and its fate remains one of the most enduring mysteries in biblical archaeology. The Solomon Islands theory pushes the search farther from the Middle East than almost any other hypothesis. The archipelago stretches across nearly 1,000 atolls and reefs scattered across the South Pacific, making it seem an unlikely destination for ancient travelers from Israel. The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred religious object of the Israelites, containing the Ten Commandments in a gold-plated chest The notion that To'abaita people are a lost tribe is popular - but for most To'abaitans their identification with Israel is not rooted in the idea of being blood descendants of Hebrews but rather as heirs of the biblical prophecies Yet among many To'abaita speakers in North Malaita, the belief that their ancestors descended from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel has become widespread. Not everyone who holds that belief thinks the Ark itself is buried there, but the connection between Malaita and ancient Israel remains an important part of local spiritual identity. Several religious movements have embraced the idea. One of the most prominent is the All Peoples Prayer Assembly (APPA), formerly known as the Deep Sea Canoe Movement, founded in the 1980s. Followers believe their ancestors may have journeyed from the Middle East to the Pacific centuries ago, bringing elements of the Israelite faith with them. Researcher Jaap Timmer, who has studied the movement, writes, 'I estimate there are hundreds of active followers and thousands of sympathizers. Most followers live in North Malaita, but the movement also attracts people, mostly Malaitans, in Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands, on Guadalcanal Island.' Daniel Suidani, the provincial premier of Malaita, stands outside his office in the town of Auki For many To'abaita people, the connection with Israel is not necessarily about being literal blood descendants of the Hebrews. Instead, it often reflects a spiritual identification with biblical history and prophecy. Believers frequently point to a verse in the Book of Acts as evidence that the Bible refers to distant Pacific islands: 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' To some believers in Malaita, the phrase 'ends of the earth' is interpreted as a reference to remote places like the Solomon Islands. Still, the idea that the Ark of the Covenant itself lies hidden in the mountains of Malaita is held by only a handful of religious groups. Yet those who believe it say their traditions describe how ancient voyagers from Israel arrived by canoe and established a sacred site in the jungle. The former Anglican Bishop of Malaita, Terry Brown, who died in 2024, said the belief reflects a broader attempt by local churches to connect Malaitan traditions with the stories of the Old Testament. Local movements such as the All Peoples Prayer Assembly (APPA), earlier called the Deep Sea Canoe Movement when founded in the 80s believe in a link between the Lost Tribes and Malaita 'There's a kind of general phenomenon among a lot of the churches in Malaita, especially the South Seas Evangelical Church to somehow try to put together the traditional Malaita genealogy and traditional Malaita culture with the culture of the Old Testament. 'And so groups will read in the 2nd Chronicles the stories of the various tribes, the tribe of Levi, and so forth, and then find a genealogy, and it ends with a lost tribe. 'And then they argue that it picks up with one of their, sort of, ancestors, same name, I think the name in particular is Zeral, somebody in the 2nd Chronicles, and then begin their ancestry. So this then involves a traditional story of people of Malaita having come from Israel many thousand years ago in a canoe. Come perhaps with the Covenant Box of the temple.' According to Brown, believers say the ancient travelers eventually ventured into the rugged interior of Malaita and built a structure modeled after King Solomon's Temple. Inside this temple, they believe, the Ark of the Covenant was hidden and worshipped by early Malaitans who adopted elements of Israelite religious practice. These beliefs blend Jewish traditions with Christianity, and some followers have even searched through the thick rainforest in hopes of locating the Ark's resting place. Others believe that mysterious stone formations deep in the jungle could represent the ruins of the lost temple itself. Some of these sites have even been associated with local militia groups over the years. Interest in the theory grew after filmmaker Frank Daifa produced a documentary titled The Lost Temple Discovery, which explored scattered stone remains hidden in the rainforest of North Malaita. In the film, Daifa reflects on the spiritual meaning of the site. 'If we look at this Temple here, we see nothing else than stones. But the power and glory are in your hearts, and you must take time for God. For the formula for power and glory is here, that is why the Temple is here.' Despite the dramatic claims, most historians and archaeologists remain skeptical that the Ark of the Covenant could have traveled across the Pacific Ocean in ancient times. There is currently no physical evidence linking Malaita to ancient Israelite civilization. But the beliefs themselves continue to fascinate researchers. Timmer says the traditions reflect deeper spiritual questions within the community about identity, faith and history. He explains that the ideas surrounding Israel and Malaita are 'about Malaita's lost relationship with God and with the nation of Israel.' For believers on the island, the possibility that the Ark of the Covenant could lie hidden somewhere in their mountains is more than just a historical mystery. It is a story that connects their remote Pacific homeland to one of the most powerful legends in the Bible, and to a sacred relic that has been missing for millennia. Fears of a global nuclear conflict continue to rise as more nations become involved in the war between the US, Israel and Iran. Nuclear-armed Russia has reportedly begun aiding Iran by sharing intelligence on the positions of US forces in the Middle East, a move that could be the final spark that ignites World War III. As the crisis deepens and President Trump vows there will be no negotiations until Iran unconditionally surrenders, concern has grown among Americans about the possibility of a nuclear strike on US soil. A recent investigative report explored this worst-case scenario, painting a grim picture of the devastation that would follow across the entire country. The projections were chilling as tens of millions could perish within minutes as nuclear warheads struck major metropolitan areas such as New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. The immediate aftermath would bring massive fireballs capable of vaporizing entire city blocks, crippling infrastructure, contaminating water sources and plunging survivors into a toxic, ash-covered landscape. Experts have warned the global death toll could rise into the billions by the end of the first week, triggering a nuclear winter that would drastically cool the planet. Agriculture would collapse, ecosystems would be disrupted and the world could regress into a pre-industrial state marked by famine, radiation sickness and the collapse of modern civilization. The US, Israel, Iran, and Russia have all warned of a catastrophic apocalypse nearing as the crisis in the Middle East spirals towards global war (Stock Image) Pictured: An explosion in Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike on March 6, 2026 As the risk of nuclear war has grown with each passing day, investigative journalist Annie Jacobsen laid out a horrific timeline of what would happen in the days, months, and years after America was nuked. In her book, Nuclear War: A Scenario, she featured exclusive interviews with world-leading scientists and experts on nuclear winter. Minutes after nuclear bombs launch: The US is crippled In her book, Jacobsen wrote about a fictitious scenario where North Korea fired intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) at the US. After detecting the launch, the US would respond by initiating its nuclear attack, sending missiles over Russia and into North Korea. Russia, an ally of the North Koreans, then ordered a nuclear attack on the US and allied nations. Thousands of huge fireballs erupt in American cities and towns, and in each location, buildings and monuments collapse as asphalt melts. Cities would be obliterated. Power grids and nuclear plants melt down, cutting off electricity and energy, and releasing radioactive materials into the air. Tens of millions of people would die almost instantly as the US would be left crippled. Join the debate What would you risk or sacrifice to prevent nuclear war and save humanitys future? Conventional explosives have decimated Iran (Pictured). A nuclear weapon would vaporize most neighborhoods in major cities Your browser does not support iframes. A global nuclear war would see an estimated 360 million people die almost instantly after the bombs hit. However, Jacobsen's book made it clear that these fatalities would be just the beginning. Her sources claimed five billion would die in the first 72 minutes alone. Hours after ICBMs make impact: Raging fires burn forests and towns Wildfires would break out across the northern hemisphere, and nearly everything burns in America, including cities, crops and forests. Rings of fire stretch from 100 to 200 miles from the 'ground zero' of each nuclear impact. Buildings would be set aflame, releasing airborne toxins from their materials. Burning insulation and fiberglass spews cyanides, vinyl chloride, dioxins and furans. These chemicals damage organs and the nervous system, leading to cancer, neurological symptoms and death. Forest fires rage in the Western states, with radioactive fallout killing conifers and creating fuel for future blazes. With the water supply across the country compromised, there would be nothing to fight the flames with, leaving them to burn freely across America. Days after the attacks, radioactive mushroom clouds filled the air Radioactive products from mushroom clouds, including Strontium-90, iodine-131, tritium, cesium-137 and plutonium-239, would poison the environment. These toxic particles damage DNA and have been linked to cancers, retinal and skin chemical burns, bleeding, coma and death. Whoever has lived past the initial fallout would begin to die from acute radiation sickness and poisoning, which causes nausea, vomiting, fever, dizziness, disorientation, bloody vomit and diarrhea, internal bleeding and infections. The high levels of radiation in such a short period would cause the insides of people's bodies to liquefy as their blood vessel lining decays. The few who survive will suffer chromosomal damage, blindness and sterility. A nuclear war would destroy cities and towns, crushing buildings and large structures and creating wildfires (Stock Image) Weeks after nuclear war breaks out: Soot blankets the atmosphere In the weeks following the ICBM launches, supplies of natural gas, coal in the Earth's crust and peat bogs - dense wetlands of decayed vegetation - would still be burning uncontrollably. As cities and forests are engulfed in flames around the world, approximately 330 billion pounds of soot could be released into the upper troposphere and stratosphere - the lowest and second-lowest layers of Earth's atmosphere, respectively. The heavy soot blocks the sun's rays, and the planet's temperature drastically falls, setting Earth up for a nuclear winter. Months after missiles hit: Nuclear winter descends on the planet Climatologist Alan Robock said: 'The density of soot would reduce global temperatures by roughly 27 degrees Fahrenheit. In America, it would be more like a drop of 40 degrees Fahrenheit, slightly less near the oceans.' The idea of 'nuclear winter' first came to the world's attention in an article by scientist Carl Sagan in 1983. The first scientific paper explaining the idea was dismissed by the Pentagon, which called it Soviet disinformation, but further studies revealed many in the military industrial complex knew it was a real risk. Scientists at the Defense Nuclear Agency wrote that there would be 'atmospheric trauma' and 'serious potential for severe consequences' after a nuclear exchange. The sun's warming rays could be reduced by as much as 70 percent. Temperatures would plunge, with the US and Europe being among the worst-affected areas. In the Central US, the temperature will not rise above freezing for years, and the lack of sun would kill most of the planet's vegetation and animal life. The idea of 'nuclear winter' first came to the world's attention in an article by scientist Carl Sagan in 1983 (Stock Image) Decades after the fallout: Humans forced back to hunter-gatherers Prolonged freezing temperatures and lack of sunlight after World War III would reduce rainfall by 50 percent, killing off crops worldwide. The surviving humans return to a hunter-gatherer state, with millions starving to death and survivors killing each other for the limited food supplies. Humans must scavenge for roots, insects, and the few sources of uncontaminated water. Years into the fallout, as the world finally unfreezes, millions of thawing corpses poison the water supplies, and survivors along coastlines would find filter-feeding shellfish have been killed off by radiation or are now too radioactive to eat. Several years later, soot would finally settle, but only after the ozone layer had lost 75 percent of its shielding power. Less protection against the sun's strong rays leads to deadly sunburns. A 2021 study on 'Extreme Ozone Loss Following Nuclear War' predicted that levels of UV-B would become 'hazardous to life' after World War III and force survivors to live in caves. Humans would also face plagues, with insects multiplying and thawing corpses forming a fertile breeding ground for disease. Insects are well-placed to survive nuclear war, studies have shown, and as the world warms, insect-borne illnesses would ravage the tiny population of humans left without antibiotics or medications. Thousands of years after nuclear bombings: All evidence of today's civilization is erased Albert Einstein famously said about nuclear war: 'I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.' Even as temperatures return to pre-war conditions, any surviving humans of the future, still living a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, may never know anything about the people that came before them. Jacobsen said they may never discover any trace of today's civilization, and all knowledge of the past would be lost in the disintegrated cities. 'With time, after a nuclear war, all present-day knowledge will be gone. Including the knowledge that the enemy was not North Korea, Russia, America, China, Iran, or anyone else vilified as a nation or a group,' the author wrote. 'It was the nuclear weapons that were the enemy of us all. All along.' US and Israeli forces killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during air strikes on the first day of the war After the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump warned that 'the big wave hasnt even happened. The big one is coming soon.' So far, US and Israeli forces have conducted a devastating campaign against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) using laser-guided bombs, fighter aircraft, and submarines, but neither nation has deployed a nuclear weapon. Both China and Russia, Iran's allies and economic partners, warned during an emergency UN Security Council meeting that America's continued strikes could eventually lead to nuclear escalation. Moscow has publicly called for an end to the war, which it has branded an 'unprovoked act of armed aggression.' According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia, the US and China have the three largest arsenals of nuclear warheads ready to launch, respectively. Their combined stockpiles of more than 8,600 nuclear weapons represent nearly 90 percent of all the weapons of mass destruction currently deployed throughout the world - ensuring that a war between those nations would devastate the planet. This photo taken on March 8, 2026 shows part of a hotel hit during an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 10 others, media reports said on Sunday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) BEIRUT, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed, and 10 others injured early Sunday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a hotel room in the Raouche area here, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported, citing the Ministry of Public Health. The strike occurred at dawn in the coastal Raouche district, the NNA said. Israeli forces also launched attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs late Saturday night after a roughly 24-hour halt. Additional strikes targeted several areas in southern and eastern Lebanon. In statements cited by the NNA, the Lebanese group Hezbollah said its fighters carried out attacks on Israeli military sites and troops, and confronted attempts by Israeli forces to advance toward the Lebanese border town of Aitaroun. Hezbollah also said it fired rockets toward northern Israel, including near Nahariyya, and carried out multiple attacks on Israeli military sites. The NNA noted that Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel on March 2 for the first time since a ceasefire was declared in late 2024, under which the Lebanese government restricted Hezbollah to political work and required the handover of its weapons. Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it had launched an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, carrying out airstrikes across multiple Lebanese areas and limited ground incursions along the border. Israeli authorities have issued warnings for residents to evacuate areas south of the Litani River and Beirut's southern suburbs. This photo taken on March 8, 2026 shows part of a hotel hit during an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 10 others, media reports said on Sunday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 8, 2026 shows a hotel hit during an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 10 others, media reports said on Sunday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 8, 2026 shows part of a hotel hit during an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 10 others, media reports said on Sunday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 8, 2026 shows part of a hotel hit during an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 10 others, media reports said on Sunday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 8, 2026 shows part of a hotel hit during an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 10 others, media reports said on Sunday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 8, 2026 shows part of a hotel hit during an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 10 others, media reports said on Sunday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 8, 2026 shows part of a hotel hit during an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 10 others, media reports said on Sunday. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua) A Harvard physicist who once fully embraced evolution says finding God turned his understanding of life's origins upside down. Dr Michael Guillen told the Daily Mail that for decades, he saw science as the highest authority, until the 1980s, when reading the Bible for the first time changed everything. Guillen now argues that modern science increasingly points away from Darwin's theory of evolution and closer to the Christian view of human origins. 'When you look at the continuum that evolutionary biologists say we are part of, in fact, we are not part of a continuum,' he said. 'All these animals are related to one another. And then all of a sudden, we appear without precedent. There's no precedent for the modern human species, the Homo sapiens.' One of the biggest issues with the theory of evolution, he said, is the fossil record. Early evolutionary scientists believed that as more fossils were discovered, they would reveal a continuous chain of life showing animals slowly transforming into new species. 'There was an expectation that if we kept digging, we would eventually fill in those gaps,' he said. 'But it became very clear that wasn't happening.' A Harvard physicist who once fully embraced evolution says finding God turned his understanding of life's origins upside down Guillen told the Daily Mail that science was once his god, until a 'pretty sorority girl' invited him to read the Bible. 'I thought to myself, well, I'm a scientific nerd, but I'm not that stupid,' he said, adding how it would allow him to spend more time with her. His mindset completely changed when, as a graduate student at Cornell University in the 1980s, he said he realized that science might be able to answer his burning questions about religion - one of those being the theory of evolution. Guillen said that when Darwin first introduced the theory of natural selection in the 19th century, scientists believed species evolved gradually from common ancestors. Darwin's theory proposes that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and produce more offspring. Under that view, humans were simply the latest branch on a long evolutionary tree stretching back millions of years. But Guillen argues that discoveries over the past century have raised serious questions about whether evolution actually unfolded as Darwin imagined. He pointed to the lack of fossil records that prove all species are related, share a common ancestor, and change over time through natural selection and genetic variation. Harvard physicist Dr Michael Guillen pointed to how humans appeared suddenly and the lack of fossil records to support his believe that God created humans Instead, researchers found large gaps between species rather than clear transitions. The lack of transitional fossils eventually led scientists to develop a new evolutionary concept known as punctuated equilibrium. The theory suggests that species evolve in sudden bursts rather than through a slow, continuous process. 'It's almost like driving a car with a clutch, and the car lurches forward, stops, and then suddenly moves again,' Guillen explained. Scientists have also theorized that the intermittent gaps are explained by geological processes which have destroyed or prevented fossils from forming. Niklas Hohmann of Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences, who led a team of British and Dutch scientists on a 2024 study into the issue, said the incompleteness of the fossil record does not disprove continuous evolution. 'We have a good understanding of where the gaps are, how long they are, and what causes them. With this geological knowledge, we can reconstruct evolution hundreds of millions of years ago,' he said at the time. But to Guillen, the gaps continue to highlight how uncertain the evolutionary timeline remains. He also pointed to what some evolutionary researchers have described as the sudden appearance of modern humans. Pulitzer Prize-winning evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond famously called the phenomenon the 'Great Leap Forward,' noting that Homo sapiens appeared relatively recently and rapidly compared with other species. According to Guillen, humans display abilities that are dramatically different from anything seen in the animal kingdom. These include advanced reasoning, complex language, art, music and abstract thought. But the most puzzling difference, he argued, is humanity's search for spiritual meaning. 'Our religiosity sets us apart from every other animal on the planet,' Guillen said. 'There's no other species that asks questions about God or eternity. Those questions have nothing to do with survival or reproduction.' Guillen acknowledged that scientists widely accept microevolution, the small genetic changes that allow species to adapt to their environments. Examples include insects developing resistance to chemicals or animals evolving traits that improve survival. He said such adaptations do not conflict with Christianity. 'If God created life, it would make sense that he designed it with the ability to adapt to changing environments,' Guillen said. But he strongly disputes macroevolution, the idea that entirely new species emerge from existing ones. According to Guillen, the fossil evidence supporting that process is weak. 'When you look at the fossil record and ask whether one species morphs into a completely different species, the evidence simply isn't there,' he said. Another unanswered question is how life began in the first place. Even if evolution explains how species change over time, Guillen said scientists still struggle to explain how the first living organisms appeared. Some researchers have suggested that the earliest life on Earth may have been seeded by extraterrestrial organisms. Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins once raised the possibility that advanced alien civilizations could have introduced life to Earth. But Guillen argues that such explanations only push the mystery further back. 'If aliens created life here, then how did the aliens come into existence?' he said. For Guillen, these unanswered questions highlight what he believes are the limits of Darwin's theory. He predicts that future discoveries could radically reshape how scientists view evolution. 'I think the theory of evolution is on very shaky ground,' he said. 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 Americas summit on Saturday that Cuba will be the next nation he will target after the war in Iran is finished. He said: 'Cuba is at the end of the line. They're at the end of the line. They have no money, 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 U.S. strike on the South American country, where forces captured President Nicolas Maduro, Trump has shut off Cuba from the oil. New target: Trump has promised Cuba will have a 'great new life' as he sets his sights on the Caribbean island after Iran The Trump Administration has already begun making moves to make Cuba dependent on America, USA Today reported. In late February, the administration allowed U.S. petroleum products to be sold directly to Cuba. This breaks the 1960 U.S. embargo on the island, which is still in place today, which bans most exports to Cuba. There are also reports that Rubio is in talks with the former leader Raul Castro's grandson, USA Today reported. Words of warning: Trump said 'Cuba is at the end of the line' Trump said at the time that Rubio was in talks with officials at a 'very high level', adding: 'Maybe we'll have a friendly takeover of Cuba.' President Miguel Diaz-Canel has promised to reform the island, but has done so in the past with little progress. Tensions between the U.S. 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. Political tension: Secretary Of State Marco Rubio is in talks with Cuba and Trump believed a deal could be 'very easily' made 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.' Contentious: President Miguel Diaz-Canel has promised to reform the island, but has done so in the past with little progress 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 U.S. politics until after the Iranian war, as that's 'our focus right now,' he said at the summit. The Republican has vowed to hit Iran 'very hard' on Saturday, he said in a Truth Social post. He wrote: '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.' 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. Eerie: In Suffolk County, New York, photographer Bryan Sansivero came across this home he dubbed The Bayport House 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. He told the Daily Mail: 'I stopped, took pictures, went inside and there was a piano from the 1800s and clothing in the closet. The history was just crazy. That really drew my attention, because there's so many more houses. There's so much to explore. '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. 'You just have to be really, really careful, because sometimes, half of the house is missing,' he said. '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.' 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".' Frozen in time: 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,' he said. 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' Creepy: 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' Disarray: While in New London County, Connecticut, Sansivero discovered a home he said had been almost entirely ransacked When he reached the back of the house, he found 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' Memories: The family's belongings, Sansivero noted, had all been left behind in this house, 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. He added: 'She had kids and they're grown now, and when he died - I believe he was a collector - she kind of just left everything. 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' Finding fame: 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. 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' Spooky: 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' Hunting enthusiast: 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. 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' Strange finds: 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' Beware: 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. It's a region famous for its sense of solitude, a vision of rolling hills, characterful villages and tranquil bodies of water - except that's not quite the reality of the Lake District in 2026. Year-round, hordes of tourists armed with camera phones and picnics now make for Cumbria to enjoy England's largest national park, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017. As the more central parts of the Lake District - such as Ambleside, Windermere and Coniston - are bustling with visitors, the outer areas are, say locals, fast in danger of becoming England's next overtourism hotspots, following in the footsteps of Cornwall and the Cotswolds. Some 18 million visitors go to the Lake District every year, with 41 million descending on the wider Cumbrian region and one resident, Dr Karen Lloyd, says tourism has become 'incredibly disruptive for local people' in recent years. The author and campaigner tells the Daily Mail those who live here now face 'gridlocked roads' if they want to visit the most beautiful parts of the Lakes - and fear the environmental impact such traffic will have on the landscapes made famous by William Wordsworth and Alfred Wainwright. It's a landscape made famous for its sense of quietness - but millions of tourists now flock to the Lake District every year to take in the breathtaking views Locals say the pitfalls of popularity include traffic, full car parks and an increase in holiday lets, which price out locals from buying a home Then there's the issue of 'second homes', which are snapped up by the rich to rent out to visitors, increasingly pricing out those who have spent their whole lives here. Dr Lloyd, who moved to Cumbria aged six, says she now 'hardly ever goes into the Lake District and haven't done for years'. She explains: 'Because if you don't go early or late, you won't get parked, you'll get snarled up in traffic. It's unpleasant and when you do get to places, they're too busy.' In a social media world, where capturing and sharing snaps of the nation's most photogenic areas has become almost an obsession for tourists, how do you turn the tourism tide? Author and campaigner Dr Karen Lloyd says tourism has become 'disruptive' for locals The author suggests an idea previously mooted: removing the Lake District's UNESCO World Heritage status entirely. 'It was very controversial when it was thought of, it was very controversial when it was going through and it's even more controversial now because of the hike in numbers, because of the relentless pursuit of tourism,' Dr Lloyd says. It's unlikely the UNESCO stamp will be rubbed out but Dr Lloyd suggests there are other things that can be done, including focusing on 'what makes a community vibrant' instead of just tourism, with a push for sustainable jobs that are well paid and needed all-year-round. When it comes to the numbers, Cumbria hasn't actually managed to return to its pre-pandemic levels of visitors just yet - but it's surely only a matter of time. Recent data from the Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor, STEAM, showed a 14 per cent decline in the number of visitors overall in 2024, compared to 2019. However, tourism in the area seems to be growing in different ways and last month, investigations journalist Jo Lonsdale told BBC Radio Cumbria: 'If you look at the period between 2019 and 2022, for example, the number of holiday lets in England went up by 40 per cent.' She highlighted the issue in Keswick and said: 'In 2011, 14 per cent of its properties were holiday homes or holiday lets. A decade later, that had gone up to 25 per cent.' This increase has been seen across the Lake District, Jo added. Dr Lloyd says she feels, as do a lot of locals, that she is being 'squeezed out' of the area by tourists Meanwhile, Westmorland and Furness Council told the radio show: 'High levels of second home ownership can have negative consequences for local communities and the premium encourages more permanent residents.' The government's Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 allows local authorities to double the council tax on second homes, which has been rolled out across Cumbria. Local authorities intend to use the additional council tax income to support communities and core services in the area While acknowledging that she's lucky to live in such a beautiful place, Dr Lloyd says 'in another sense I feel, along with a lot of people, that we're being squeezed out of our own home and that's very difficult'. She adds, 'It's not like I'm saying tourists shouldn't be here,' but she is worried that overtourism could spread further out, away from the main centre of the Lakes. 'If you're thinking about where's the next bit, well the next bit in the Lakes will be around the edges,' she says. Masses of people crowding to beloved spots across the Lakes 'doesn't work for anybody in the end', Dr Lloyd says. Just like the locals, visitors can end up struggling to get parked and have their 'expectations dashed'. She points out how some national parks abroad are strictly kept for protecting their wild inhabitants, restricting access from humans and says, 'I think we really need to think carefully about how our national parks are failing wildlife, and they're currently failing the communities that live in them.' Gill Haigh, managing director of Cumbria Tourism told the Daily Mail: 'Tourism contributes around 4.6billion to Cumbria, supporting more than 74,000 jobs and underpinning local facilities such as transport, shops, culture and schools. 'Our tourism industry was hard hit by Covid, with visitor numbers remaining 14.4 per cent down since 2019. 'It's a place people care deeply about, and like many popular holiday destinations there can be challenges at the busiest times. 'The county's shared Destination Management Plan is about ensuring tourism brings real benefits to business, communities, the natural environment and visitors. 'Lots of organisations are working together, improving and increasing public transport and parking management. Masses of people crowding to beloved spots across the Lakes 'doesn't work for anybody in the end', Dr Lloyd says 'Getting the accommodation balance right, including more affordable housing, is a key part of this and we look forward to the introduction of the Government's short term lets registration scheme.' Visitor management in the Lake District is handled through a partnership approach between various entities including Westmorland and Furness Council, the Lake District National Park Authority, Cumbria Police, Cumberland Council and Cumbria Tourism and the National Trust. The Strategic Visitor Management Group tackles issues like the safety and experience of visitors, as well as fly-camping and litter, and the disruption of local communities. The Daily Mail approached The Lake District National Park and Cumberland Council for comment. Dr Karen Lloyd's new book, Earthworks: Land And Nature In Uncertain Times, will be published on April 2, 2026. After a gruelling two-hour crawl through passport control and security, I finally break free of the queues and make a beeline for my gate at VC Bird International Airport in Antigua. My week of pure bliss sailing the Caribbean on P&O's Arvia cruise has come to an end, and it's time to wave goodbye to white sand beaches and coconut rum cocktails and prepare for my seven-hour plane journey back to the UK. Lengthy airport queues and post-holiday blues are a lot easier for me to handle knowing there's a glass of bubbly and extra legroom waiting for me on my Virgin Atlantic flight to London Heathrow. I've booked a seat in premium economy, which offers a complimentary drink before take-off, priority boarding, enhanced dining, wide leather seats with up to a 38-inch pitch, and amenity kits packed with essentials, such as toothpaste and lip balm. The average fare is what you'd expect with a superior flying experience; one-way tickets from the UK to hubs across the Caribbean typically sit between 1,300 and 2,000, even during the quieter months of the year. With the flight boarding, a curveball I've never experienced before comes my way. At the gate, my full name echoes through the terminal as yellow vest-clad staff call passengers up one by one. I already know this isn't going to be good. As I hurry over, I re-check my boarding pass and suddenly notice a blank space in place of what should be an assigned seat and aisle number. Upgrading is the dream - but what happens when you're asked to move to the cheap seats? Jowena Riley found out on a recent trip back from the Caribbean Jowena's holiday in the Caribbean had a surprise twist when it came to jetting home (Jowena pictured in Sint Maarten during her trip) 'Ma'am, I can see you have booked a premium economy seat for your flight to London Heathrow today,' a bubbly male agent begins. 'Unfortunately, we have had to switch to a smaller aircraft and are now overbooked in premium by two seats. 'We are now asking passengers if they would like to volunteer to downgrade to economy... Is this something you would consider?' While cabin upgrades are common, involuntary or voluntary business-to-economy downgrades are rare, and often as a result of last-minute aircraft changes or operational issues. At this point, I'm considering this a ludicrously easy choice. Would I like to forfeit a plush seat in a peaceful cabin for an uncomfortable journey home with little-to-no legroom? The obvious answer is a hard no. He's not finished though. What the agent suggests next sways my decision in a matter of seconds. 'As a token of gratitude, should you choose to downgrade today, we would like to offer you a round-trip in premium economy to anywhere we fly in the world.' After accepting the choice to downgrade, Jowena received an email with a voucher that entitles her to a complimentary round-trip in premium economy on any Virgin Atlantic flight What I'm being told is simple: a small sacrifice reaps an even bigger reward; in this case, an opportunity to fly to and from the likes of Mexico, the Caribbean or the US in a superior seat - free of charge. For passengers who voluntarily downgrade in a situation like mine, Virgin Atlantic will send an email (on the same day) containing a Select voucher. The voucher can then be exchanged for either a Premium return ticket on any flight operated by Virgin Atlantic, or 75,000 Virgin Points. Choosing a destination is the difficult part, with Virgin Atlantic operating long-haul flights from the UK to bucket list destinations like the Maldives, New York, Delhi, Dubai, Johannesburg, Cancun, Seoul, Toronto, Barbados, Phuket and more. In the unfortunate - and extremely rare - event the operating flight doesn't get any volunteers, Virgin Atlantic reserves the right to downgrade passengers at random on an involuntary basis. The small print can force you to the cheap seats, basically. Should you get selected to downgrade, the airline will pay compensation that equates to 75 per cent of the original fare paid at the time of booking. This is also an option for volunteers who would prefer monetary compensation rather over the Select voucher or points. All it takes to claim either of the three is to contact a customer service agent via phone or email, and quote the voucher number. Within moments, I accept the agent's offer of a complimentary round-trip and he quickly jots down my email address to send across the digital voucher. 'As an extra thank you, we'll also put you in an economy seat up front, meaning you'll still have a little more legroom than usual,' he added. I might not be getting wider seats, china crockery and a bag of amenities, but I'll be able to stretch my legs and get a decent night's rest. This is a clear win. Later, on board, I would also be offered a welcome glass of bubbly by a flight attendant who'd learned through the grapevine I downgraded. To a certain extent, I still manage to bag a premium experience in economy anyway. Even better, the voucher is valid for three years, giving me time to properly decide on where to go. A Home Alone-style Christmas in New York? A relaxing beach break in Jamaica? A wine tour in Cape Town? The world is truly is my oyster. There are a few terms and conditions to consider, however. The free Premium return ticket includes all applicable taxes and fees, but is valid only for travel on scheduled flights by a Virgin Atlantic Airways aircraft on any one route not involving a stop, change of aircraft or multiple flight numbers. The airline also reserves the right to limit the number of complimentary seats on any given flight, and it's worth noting that these would be limited on routes during very busy periods, including Christmas, July and August. Other than that, the voucher is free to use for up to 36 months from the date of issue. As for other major long-haul carriers, they tend to offer monetary compensation in these cases of up to 75 per cent of the original fare. If you ever find yourself being asked to downgrade, I'd recommend listening to everything the airline has to offer before accepting, but more often than not, the pros outweigh the cons. I've sacrificed a few hours of my life in exchange for a return trip that would have cost me nearly 2,000 - and I still manage to enjoy some of the perks I could have had in premium. Now I'll be saving a large portion of money on my next holiday. Strictly Come Dancing has been hit by a major shake-up after BBC bosses reportedly axed three professional dancers from the hit ballroom show. It is claimed producers want a 'fresh start' for the long-running series, with new presenters also set to be announced soon. According to The Sun, long-running professional dancers Gorka Marquez, 35, and Luba Mushtuk, 36, have been given the axe by TV bosses. Meanwhile, newcomer Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, has also reportedly departed the show. A source told the publication: 'There are major changes taking place with dancers having meetings about their contracts over the next few weeks. 'Bosses want a fresh start and to bring in new faces after all the drama in recent years and create a new era.' Strictly Come Dancing has been hit by a major shake-up after BBC bosses reportedly axed three professional dancers from the hit ballroom show Gorka, who met his partner Gemma Atkinson on the show in 2017, has starred in the series for a decade and featured in three finales. Meanwhile, Luba joined the show eight years ago but has not been given a celebrity dance partner in recent years. Michelle joined the series in 2022 alongside fellow professionals including Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu and Lauren Oakley. She got her first celebrity partner in 2024 when she was paired with Jamie Borthwick, though they were eliminated in week 10. Daily Mail has contacted the BBC and the dancers' representatives for comment. It comes after BBC bosses hoped they would have the pick of the UK's most-loved presenters as they look to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. But The Mail on Sunday revealed that, in fact, it is proving a 'struggle' to find new hosts, despite a number of high-profile names being touted. Sources say that Kate Phillips, the BBC's chief content officer, 'has her heart set' on Alex Jones stepping into Tess or Claudia's shoes but The One Show anchor is said to have 'not exactly jumped at the chance'. Join the debate Is it fair for Strictly to drop beloved pros and presenters in pursuit of a "fresh start"? Gorka Marquez, 35, who met his partner Gemma Atkinson on the show in 2017, has reportedly been given the axe by TV bosses Meanwhile, Luba Mushtuk, 36, who joined the show eight years ago, has also reportedly been axed by bosses Newcomer Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, has also reportedly departed the show Several big names are said to be disinterested in the 400,000 roles because of the long and unsociable hours on Fridays and Saturdays. Meanwhile, others are aware of what a high-profile job it is, and would prefer to stay under the radar. A source close to the show said: 'Strictly is the biggest show on television, it is a national treasure but it isn't as easy as you'd think to get people to do it. 'With Tess and Claudia it happened organically. Now the roles are hugely inflated. Kate Phillips is really, really keen for Alex Jones to do it but she lives a quiet life, as do many of the others being mooted. 'Then there is the matter of stars being able to earn money far more easily. Take Bradley Walsh he would be brilliant, but he earns fortunes pre-recording episodes of The Chase. 'Strictly is all consuming for four months of the year. It takes over everything. Even Tess and Claudia found that it was really hard. 'They'd be there at the crack of dawn until late at night on Fridays and Saturdays doing run-throughs and dress rehearsals.' There have been several names in the frame, including Walsh, Alan Carr, Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond. Bosses are keen for the new stars to have some kind of connection to Strictly, but that may not be possible. Should former BBC controller Ms Phillips persuade Alex Jones, 48 who reached the semi-final as a contestant in 2011 to take the Strictly role, there would be a vacancy on The One Show. This, according to sources, could be filled by Tess Daly, 56, as she and her husband Vernon Kay are increasingly being regarded as the next Richard and Judy. They hosted the early evening magazine show together on Wednesday and are said to have very much impressed the Corporation's upper echelons. Tess and Claudia stepped down from hosting Strictly after 14 years last October, saying they had been discussing it for a year and wanted to leave together. The search has been on for new presenters ever since, who are likely to be announced in early summer. While Tess is yet to reveal her next move, Claudia, 53, will host her own chat show, The Claudia Winkleman Show, on BBC One from March 13. Charmed fans will be delighted to learn this weekend the show may be back for a reboot. The iconic nineties series - which ended in 2006 - followed the story of three sisters who discover that they are descendants of a line of female witches. The eight series saw them fight against the forces of evil, using their combined power of witchcraft. It starred Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano as the Halliwell sisters as well as Kaley Cuoco and the late Shannen Doherty. Now another of the show's stars Drew Fuller, who portrayed Chris Halliwell, has said there could be plans to continue the popular series. Talking on a panel during a convention for the show in Paris, called Book of Shadows Con, the cast were asked about a potential reboot. Charmed fans will be delighted to learn this weekend that the show may be back for a reboot L-R: Rose McGowan, Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano The iconic nineties series - which ended in 2006 - followed the story of three sisters who discover that they are descendants of a line of female witches Drew responded: 'This is something that, it's been joked about for a long time and it's something that actually is really important to everyone. 'I know that if the opportunity comes to fruition, we will all jump at it. 'I've had a dream, with Holly, we've talked about this for over a decade, called Legacy, which continues the show the way it should have been done.' As Drew's ex co-star Holly looked around he then joked: 'Don't worry, you're in it guest star!' He then continued: 'In all seriousness, it's something we've thought about and we continually think about and hope it will come to fruition at some point soon. 'So, never say never. If enough of you raise your voices and ask for it, it will happen.' It comes after earlier this week Kaley looked back at one of the most nerve-wracking moments of her early career. During an appearance on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast, the 40-year-old actress opened up about what it was like stepping into the eighth and final season of Charmed and how one interaction on set left her shaken. 'The one question I didn't ask you last time that I was curious about is when I look at your resume, the thing that feels like it could have been a very dicey situation was walking into Charmed season 8,' Shepard told her. She admitted the experience felt overwhelming from the start. It comes after Charmed star Kaley Cuoco reveals she was 'terrified' after being snubbed by an icy A-list star on the set of the series 'I was 21 when I - because I remember I turned 21 on that,' she recalled. 'Can you imagine? If I knew what I knew now, I don't think I would have ever let this happen.' The actress explained that her very first day wasn't a casual meet-and-greet, it was the show's official gallery shoot for the new season. 'For those - a gallery shoot, you're starting season eight, you're going to go do new photos with the cast. It's an all-day thing,' she said. 'So I'm the new girl. You got Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan, and Holly Marie Combs. I've never met them. Do you think about that? I'm joining their family photo and I'm 21.' Despite joking that she was 'the hottest I've ever been' and 'thinking I'm like the coolest thing ever,' Kaley admitted she was simultaneously 'terrified.' Her anxiety only intensified when she arrived during the cast's lunch break. 'I walk in that gallery and I am so freaking nervous,' she said. 'It's on their lunch break. They're all in the corners eating.' That's when Alyssa made a lasting impression. 'I walk in. Alyssa Milano sees me and I will always tell this story about her. She got up, ran over to me, welcome to the show. Gave me the biggest hug in the world. We're so happy. You're so kind. So kind. I will never forget that,' Kaley shared. She added that the moment shaped how she treats newcomers on her own sets. 'That was the nicest thing she could have ever done to me,' she said. 'In fact, ever since then I make sure I do that to anybody. You've got to go the extra mile in a situation like that.' However, not every interaction was as warm. 'Rose maybe not as happy. I don't know. I don't know,' she said of McGowan. 'I still don't know if she liked me. I don't know. But Alyssa was amazing. I was terrified.' Kaley noted that joining a long-running series midstream can feel deeply awkward. 'It's a weird thing coming into a show with how many years. I was year eight. And I only did the one season,' she explained. 'It's walking into someone's family dinner. It's so weird.' She later carried that awareness with her when she starred on The Big Bang Theory for 12 seasons. 'I think about that with Big Bang We were on that show for 12 years. It's a weird - you know each other so well. So anyone that came in, I was very aware of like, this must be so weird for you,' she said. 'I always remembered that from Alyssa.' The Daily Mail has reached out to McGowan's representatives for comment, but has not heard back, at this time. Charmed originally premiered on The WB in October 1998 and followed three magical sisters navigating supernatural threats. Milano starred alongside Holly Marie Combs and Shannen Doherty, who exited after Season 3 amid reports of on-set tension. McGowan later joined the series in Season 4 as Paige Matthews. Kaley ultimately joined the series in 2005 as Billie Jenkins for its eighth and final season. She's earned a new legion of fans with her work in Paramount+ series, Landman. Yet Ali Larter, 50, has been a firm fixture on the showbiz scene since the Noughties after starring as Clear Rivers in the Final Destination Franchise. But Ali had a very unusual path to fame. Rather than breaking into the industry with a starring role or blockbuster film, she was propelled into the limelight with a genius hoax that fooled the world. When she was 20 years old she took the world by storm as she posed as the cover girl for Esquire Magazine, but she wasn't posing Ali on the glossy cover, she was known as 'Allegra Coleman'. Stumbling across the cover, one fan recently took to Twitter as they penned: 'looked up the name "Allegra" on Wikipedia and learned about "Allegra Coleman," a fictitious actress (portrayed here by Ali Larter) invented by Esquire magazine for a hoax article in 1996. 'why?? it wasn't even an April Fools thing, it was November'. Meet 'Allegra Coleman': How Landman star Ali Larter kickstarted her career with a hoax that fooled the world after she posed as the next 'It' girl for Esquire Magazine in 1996 Most recently she has starred in the Paramount+ series Landman as Angela Norris, the sex-crazed ex-wife of Billy Bob Thornton's fixer Tommy Norris (pictured) Stumbling across the cover, one fan recently took to Twitter as they penned: 'why?? it wasn't even an April Fools thing, it was November' Why indeed. Portraying a made up character, the magazine curated Allegra as 'Hollywood's next dream girl' and described her as one of the industry's most in-demand model. Fabricating details of her life, they made up that she had an on-off relationship with Friends star David Schwimmer, that Woody Allen was desperate to have her in one of his movies, and even featured comments from Indian-American author Deepak Chopra. Suddenly everyone was obsessed with Allegra, and if they thought she had come out of nowhere, it was because she had. American journalist Martha Sherrill used Ali as a social experiment that satirised celebrity culture, presenting them with a vapid star that the world soon jumped out due to her blonde looks and completely imaginary connections. Even the copy poked fun at Allegra and the shallow nature of celebrities. One quotation read: 'I am having thoughts. Really getting into thinking'. Lucky for Ali the experiment worked, and it wasn't long before she began landing acting roles herself, but as Ali, not Allegra. Reflecting on the cover on Dinner's On Me in January, Ali said: 'They really made it look like it was a profile on this rising actress'. The motivation for the article was 'Hollywood's fixation on making it girls,' and it was '[Esquire's] big old joke.' But the joked worked. 'People bought it, and I got a manager, and then, other doors opened,' added Ali. In 1999 she made her film debut in the coming of age dramedy Varsity Blues as she wowed in a whipped cream bikini while starring alongside Dawson Creek star James Van Der Beek. After starring in House On Haunted Hill, in 2000 she bagged her role in Final Destination which won her the Best Breakthrough Performance by a Female at the Young Hollywood Awards. There was also a big role on Heroes with Hayden Panettiere from 2006 until 2010. Most recently she has starred in Landman as Angela Norris, the sex-crazed ex-wife of Billy Bob Thornton's fixer Tommy Norris. In 1999 she made her film debut in the coming of age dramedy Varsity Blues as she wowed in a whipped cream bikini She then cemented herself on the showbiz scene since the Noughties after starring as Clear Rivers in the Final Destination Franchise (pictured in Final Destination in 2000) On Sunday, Ali set the red carpet ablaze when she arrived at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards, in a burgundy off-the-shoulder dress with a plunging neckline. Turning 50 one day before, she works hard to maintain her incredible looks, previously opening up about her strict exercise regimen and healthy eating habits. She said on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast: 'I take care of myself. So that's what I do. But also, when I say I go to the gym, yes, you need to strength train. 'You know, as you get older as a woman, it's part of it. You have to do it.' Ali continued: 'But I'm also there, babe. I am like getting through my terror of life. Like I'm working my anxiety out. The actress explained how she usually starts the day with celery juice and a coffee and then hits the gym. She said: 'I get up an hour and a half before call time before I get picked up. I just do it. I do the Peloton trainers. 'I fit it in when I fit it in. I don't do a lot. Sometimes I'll do half an hour. Sometimes I do 20 minutes.' She continued: 'For me, after I exercise and I sweat, I've burned off a lot of my fear and I spent a lot of time just breathing, and it just gets so much oxygen into my body, and then I just feel better about myself. 'Like, I've already won the day. For me, it's a life-changer, and I've never been this disciplined ever in my whole life.' A star of one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 1980s was glimpsed out in Los Angeles recently, still a platinum blonde at 74. She first embarked on her acting career in the 1970s, landing a sitcom with Martin Short that was ultimately canceled in the middle of its first season. Her ship came in during the late 1980s, when she was cast as the mother on a coming-of-age TV comedy that still inspires a rush of nostalgia in its fans. Over the ensuing decades she established herself as a soap opera stalwart, winning two Daytime Emmy Awards for her work in the genre. In her latest sighting, she exuded California style in a black and white striped tank top over a white t-shirt, teamed with black sweats, UGG slippers and a jacket. Can you guess who she is? A star of one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 1980s was glimpsed out in Los Angeles recently, still a platinum blonde at 74 She first embarked on her acting career in the 1970s, landing a sitcom with Martin Short that was ultimately canceled in the middle of its first season She is none other than Alley Mills, who played the mother of the main family on the hit coming-of-age ABC sitcom The Wonder Years from 1988 to 1993. When she was spotted in Los Angeles recently, she cut a sprightly figure, accessorizing her relaxed ensemble with dark butterfly shades, a gleaming bracelet and a tangle of necklaces including a jeweled cross. Mills was born in Chicago in 1951 and raised by a creative family - she had a TV executive for a father, an American Heritage magazine editor for a mother. Her stepmother meanwhile was the French cabaret chanteuse Genevieve, who became a comic TV personality frequently seen on Jack Paar's talk shows. Mills' own career began in the 1970s, during which she jobbed around on television and onstage, such as in an off-Broadway revival of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes. Among her early gigs was the 1979 sitcom The Associates about a Wall Street law firm, with Martin Short as one of its stars and James L. Brooks as one of the creators. Despite being showered with critical acclaim, the series sank like a lead balloon in the ratings and had only aired nine of its 13-episode first season when it was canceled. Mills' acting career continued with such projects as the 1983 comedy movie Going Berserk starring SCTV alumni John Candy, Eugene Levy and Joe Flaherty. After a string guest shots on such beloved shows of the era as Hill Street Blues, Punky Brewster and Moonlighting, she finally got her breakthrough role in 1988. Alley Mills is pictured as the mother on The Wonder years with Dan Lauria as the father, Olivia d'Abo as the daughter, Jason Hervey as the older son and Fred Savage as the younger son The Wonder Years, which ran for six seasons from 1988 to 1993, also featured Josh Saviano (left) in the role of Kevin's best friend Paul Pfeiffer Mills is pictured with Annika Noelle, Jennifer Gareis and John McCook on a 2024 crossover of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful When she was spotted in Los Angeles recently, she cut a sprightly figure, accessorizing her relaxed ensemble with dark butterfly shades and a jeweled cross Mills was born in Chicago in 1951 and raised by a creative family - she had a TV executive for a father, an American Heritage magazine editor for a mother Mills was cast on The Wonder Years as Norma, the mother of the main character, the young suburban boy Kevin Arnold, who was played by Fred Savage. Although it ran in the 1980s and 1990s, the show took place during the 1960s and early 1970s against the backdrop of the era's social revolution. Dan Lauria played the family's curmudgeonly patriarch Jack, with Olivia d'Abo as the hippie daughter Karen and Jason Hervey as the older son Wayne. The Wonder Years was canceled after six seasons in 1993 - a decision Mills later alleged was due to a lawsuit she dismissed as a 'joke.' Jason Hervey, then 20, and Fred Savage, then 16, were sued in 1993 for sexual harassment by a costume designer on the show, Monique Long, then 31. The case ended in an out-of-court settlement, which Mills explosively characterized as the network having 'bought' the plaintiff 'off,' in a 2018 interview with Yahoo!. Mills insisted the lawsuit was 'completely ridiculous' and that Savage was 'the least offensive, most wonderful, sweet human being that ever walked the face of the Earth.' She maintained that the out-of-court settlement was reached because ABC 'wanted to avoid a scandal or something, but it made them look guilty. You know, you dont pay someone off when there was no crime, you just fire the girl.' Mills moved into soap operas, landing a role in 2006 on The Bold and the Beautiful as Pam Douglas, the sister of Susan Flannery's character Stephanie Forrester. As recently as 2022, she snagged a part on General Hospital as the villainous Heather Webber, a role that netted her a brace of Daytime Emmys. On the personal front, she exchanged vows in 1993 with longtime TV personality and beloved showbiz raconteur Orson Bean, a habitue of talk shows and game shows. They were together until his horrifying death in 2020, when Bean, then 91, was hit by two cars while crossing Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles. Gia Carangi was one of the world's first supermodels who shot to fame in the late 1970s. Known for her olive skin and thick brunette hair - thanks to her Italian ancestry - Philadelphia native Carangi was one of the more exotic faces around. When the tomboy posed for sexy Cosmopolitan covers, she developed an intense fan base for her androgynous allure. For five years the 5ft8in star worked for top designers such as Versace and Christian Dior and landed numerous Vogue covers, all the while partying at nightclubs like the hedonistic Studio 54. But a devastating heroin habit derailed her successful career causing her to quit in 1983. Cindy Crawford, who had a similar look, happily filled Carangi's shoes earning her the nickname 'Baby Gia.' Carangi then died in 1986 at the age of just 26 from AIDS-related complications. Gia Carangi was one of the world's first supermodels who came to fame in the late 1970s. In November, it will be the 40th anniversary of her shock death at age 26 She was on several covers of Cosmopolitan magazine as a teenager When Angelina Jolie played the star in a 1998 HBO movie, Carangi's famed increased tenfold with many questioning what led to the beauty's shocking downward spiral. In November, it will be the 40th anniversary of her sad death. Carangi was born in 1960 in Philadelphia. Her parents fought so often her mother regularly fled the house, which caused young Gia trauma. When Carangi was sexually abused at the age of five, she was further damaged. She was an open bisexual with a tomboy persona who liked to hit Philadelphia's gay clubs and bars when she attended Abraham Lincoln High School. The student also idolized David Bowie when he was in his androgynous Ziggy Stardust phase. The photogenic teenager who resembled Julia Roberts started modeling for Philadelphia newspaper ads. When told she had the looks for a supermodel career, she moved alone to New York City to look for a top agent. She signed with the powerhouse agency Wilhelmina Models when she was only 17-years-old and was hired nonstop making her instantly famous. Here she was seen in one of her first photo shoots in July 1978 while in a fur coat She promoted a sexy image in the late 1970s when she was at the top of her game Carangi said of quick fame: 'I started working with very good people, I mean all the time, very fast. I didn't build into a model, I just sort of became one.' She often worked with top photographer Francesco Scavullo. Her magazine covers were for Vogue and Cosmopolitan while she was hired by couture design houses such as Armani, Christian Dior, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent. The star - who went mostly by her first name only - was the hot girl in the Blondie music video for the single Atomic. She coldly said of her career: 'Fashion is not art. Fashion isn't even culture. Fashion is advertising, and advertising is money. And for every dollar you earn, someone has to pay.' Quickly, Carangi turned to the dark side. She started to party heavily at Studio 54 and that is when it was rumored she started doing drugs like cocaine and heroin. Her work suffered as photographers struggled to keep her awake when in the studio and they also were forced to cover track marks on her arms from shooting up. It has been reported that two things caused her to turn to drugs: her failed romance with makeup artist Sandy Linter and the death of her mentor, Dutch model turned Wilhelmina Models founder, Wilhelmina Cooper. By 1980, after only two years of fame, she was not being hired as much. Carangi at the Julio Fall 1979 Ready to Wear Fashion Show in April 1979 Seen in 1979 for a magazine shoot as she wore a purple angora sweater She landed covers for Vogue magazine soon after she was discovered Here she modeled a disco dress while in front of a fireplace A rare playful moment at home In 1981 she moved home to bond with her mother again and attend rehab. Her healthy streak did not last as she was arrested in March 1981 after she drove into a fence while high on cocaine and alcohol. After she cleaned up, she looked for a comeback when signing with Elite Model Management. Her old friend Scavullo photographed her for the April 1982 cover of Cosmopolitan. It would be her last magazine cover. With a bad reputation and lacking that glow she once had, she was downgraded to working for humdrum catalogs. Her friend Richard Avedon tried to help her by casting her in a Versace campaign but she left the shoot before any good images of her could be taken and she missed out on a comeback. Her final photo shoot was for a German mail-order clothing company. Her old friend Scavullo photographed her for the April 1982 cover of Cosmopolitan. It would be her last magazine cover She eventually felt the pull of her addiction and unfortunately, went back on heroin. Broke and addicted, she entered a drug treatment program at Eagleville Hospital in December 1984. Once she was out, she picked up menial clerk jobs here and there for pocket money but could not stay employed. By late 1985, she started using heroin again and tried to kill herself with an overdose. She famously said before she passed: 'Life and death, energy and peace. If I stop today it was still worth it. Even the terrible mistakes that I made and would have unmade if I could.' In December 1985, Carangi was admitted to Warminster General Hospital in Warminster, Pennsylvania with bilateral pneumonia. A few days later, she was diagnosed with AIDS-related complex. Angelina Jolie played the model in a 1998 HBO movie titled Gia Carangi was hospitalized in October 1986 when she felt too weak to walk. On October 18, she was admitted to Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia where she was observed; AIDS was still a little understood health issue back then. Carangi died at the Hahnemann Hospital of AIDS-related complications one month later, on November 18, 1986, at the age of 26. The mother that had left her as a child was by her side during her last few months. A documentary titled The Self-Destruction of Gia was released in 2003. In the movie, her ex Linter was interviewed as were several fashion icons. Chinese-built jetty bridge improves access to Mozambique tourism island Xinhua) 10:45, March 08, 2026 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. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Zhong Wenxing) JERUSALEM, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military has killed Abu al-Qassem Babayian, who had recently been appointed the head of Iran's Supreme Leader's military office, according to a statement released by the Israeli Defense Ministry on Sunday. The appointment comes just days after his predecessor was killed in the exchange of fire triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, according to the statement. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was briefed on Babayian's killing during a situation assessment with army chief Eyal Zamir and other senior officers. On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military commanders and civilians. Iran later launched multiple waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. bases in the Middle East. On Sunday, Iran's Assembly of Experts has finalized a decision on its new supreme leader, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported. Their infrequent public sightings last year sparked speculation Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater were headed towards a split. Now, an insider close to Grande's family has shed light on the troubles the couple faced last year - revealing they are now in a much better place after hitting a 'rough patch.' While Grande, 32, and Slater, 33, never actually called things off, the source claims there was a moment when it was was unclear if their relationship would survive the storm. 'Ariana and Ethan hit a rough patch towards the end of last year,' the source exclusively told the Daily Mail. 'They never broke up, but it was questionable at a point if they were going to continue moving forward. 'They've really spent time working on their relationship and are in a much better place. It's been hard for them with the way their relationship began and they've had a lot to work through, but they seem to really, truly love each other. 'That's a huge reason why Ethan was at a lot of Ariana's Saturday Night Live duties. They also spent the holidays together with her family. Things are strong between them again now.' Slater sparked speculation about their relationship when he sidestepped a question about his girlfriend during an interview; pictured 2025 The source also shared insight into one of the attributes that initially drew Grande to Slater, revealing that the pop star tends to go for men who she knows she's better looking than. The source added that 'Ariana likes to date guys she knows she's better looking than' and above. 'It's due to her own insecurities,' they added. The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Grande for comment. The co-stars famously met in late 2022, when filming began in the UK for the two-part movie musical Wicked directed by John M. Chu. At the time, however, both Slater and Grande were in relationships with their respective spouses. Grande separated from her then-husband Dalton Gomez in February 2023 after two years of marriage, according to court documents. Meanwhile, Slater filed for divorce from his ex-wife Lilly Jay in July 2023, just days after news broke of his relationship with Grande. Slater and Jay also share a three-year-old son. Last year, Slater and Grande were trailed by breakup speculation, as they were not seen together from April until November 2025 for Wicked promotions. They appeared to quash the conjecture by posing side by side in cast group shots at the New York City premiere of Wicked: For Good. In September, he also gushed about Grande's fans after some struggled to obtain tickets to her Eternal Sunshine Tour. 'Ari's fans are unbelievable and incredible and ferocious in their support of her - and it's a beautiful thing,' he told People. 'And I really hope that there are other opportunities to see her perform,' he said. However, Slater kicked up another dustcloud of rumors by uncomfortably dodging a question about his relationship with Grande on the Today show in November. When he was asked about the experience of 'working with your girlfriend every day,' Slater sidestepped the subject and instead spoke in vague terms about how 'incredible' the 'entire cast' of his movie is. Slater did call Grande 'brilliant' but also hailed her co-star Cynthia Erivo as 'remarkable,' rhapsodizing that seeing them both act 'from such a high level up close' was a 'pretty special' experience for him. A source has told The Daily Mail that Grande and Slater never broke up, but there was a point when it was unclear if their relationship would survive the difficult period Grande and Slater, pictured at the New York City premiere of Wicked: For Good in November, have been dating since 2023 'Things are strong between them again now,' the insider said of the couple, pictured February 2025 Last month, a source told the Daily Mail the couple were finally 'in a solid place'. 'Ariana put Ethan on the back burner while she was promoting the movie,' one insider told the Daily Mail. 'But they're in a solid place now. They're like an old married couple at home. They'd rather hang out together and do simple things like play board games or binge watch shows rather than go out to fancy places.' Though the couple kept their public interactions to a minimum, that's not to say the Broadway star Slater didn't show his support for Grande behind the scenes. The couple's romance began after they started working together on the Wicked films Slater showed his support for Grande when she hosted Saturday Night Live last year, watching on from backstage In December, Slater was backstage at Saturday Night Live to watch Grande host the holiday episode that bid farewell to their other co-star, Bowen Yang - who had worked at the iconic sketch show for seven years. The couple have also now started to subtly post photos of each other to their respective Instagram accounts, giving fans a glimpse at their notoriously private relationship. The pair took to social media the day after Christmas to share photos of an intimate gathering with friends, seemingly confirming that they spent time together during the holiday season. Slater shared two short clips of the pop star posing with her dog Toulouse and smiling adoringly at him behind the camera, while Grande reposted the images to her own page with the addition of pink heart stickers. A rift between two prominent socialites is the talk of Sydney's eastern suburbs, with rumours swirling they may have fallen out once again. Billionaire Jessica Ingham, the so-called 'chicken heiress', used to be friends with influencer Laura Hazzouri, wife of Revelop property developer Charbel Hazzouri. But murmurs of discord first surfaced around ten months ago. The reason for their cooling relations was unclear, though it was joked at the time that they may have run out of things to talk about after they both dropped Roxy Jacenko, the PR maven who first introduced them. Roxy and Jessica, once BFFs, famously fell out years ago over their luxury candle business XRJ, and the Ingham family scion seemed to get Laura in the divorce when she left Roxy's talent agency The Ministry of Talent shortly thereafter. But by May last year, Jessica and Laura's friendship was reportedly strained - and now there's feverish talk of yet another fracture. A rift between two prominent socialites is the talk of Sydney's eastern suburbs, with rumours swirling they may have fallen out once again. (Pictured: Jessica Ingham and Laura Hazzouri) Laura (right) and Jessica (second from left) had formed a close friendship as they both drifted away from the influential PR boss who introduced them, Roxy Jacenko (centre) When contacted last week, Laura's representative declined to comment on the feud chatter with Jessica. Meanwhile, a source close to Jess downplayed any suggestion of a rift, citing an 'organic change' in her social life as a single parent to two young children. Whatever is happening behind the scenes, the evidence of Jessica and Laura's distance is clear: they have again unfollowed each other and seem to have scrubbed their socials of all evidence the friendship ever existed. There has been some mischievous speculation that Jessica and Laura's rift might have something to do with Laura being invited to a big artsy luncheon last week hosted by Holly Lucas - the daughter-in-law of Melbourne society queen bee Sarah Lucas and, according to some, the new 'It' girl of the moment. The lunch was held at the ritzy Japanese fusion restaurant Kisume, on Melbourne's Flinders Lane, and said by those in the know to have been a must-attend occasion. Laura, who lives at McMahons Point with her husband and three sons, scored an invite to the elite south-of-the-border gathering, which Holly loftily described as being 'as much about friendship and shared history as it is about design'. Her attendance was doubtless noted by the usual old money Sydney snobs who previously took umbrage at Laura's humble beginnings in Dubbo and her over-the-top displays of wealth online. The vlogger had ruffled feathers in January when her meticulously styled 'day in the life' video - documenting her preparations for a family trip to the Maldives - circulated widely in society WhatsApp group chats. Laura (second right) ruffled feathers in January when her 'day in the life' video - documenting her preparations for a family trip to the Maldives - circulated widely in society group chats The video, which was posted to Laura's 65,000 followers on January 6, certainly divided opinion among eastern suburbs tastemakers. Some admired her chutzpah, while others found it unbearably gauche. The chatter reflected the broader 'insider vs outsider' snobbery that has been a feature of Sydney high society since Federation, with one source noting that Laura originally hails from regional NSW, a long way from the Bondi bubble. It is not suggested Jessica was involved in the WhatsApp gossiping about Laura. The video followed Laura as she got her nails done at a high-end salon before returning to her sprawling home to prepare for business-class travel with husband Charbel and their three sons. Two YSL beach totes worth $800 apiece were zipped into protective dust bags, thousands of dollars' worth of Cartier jewellery was carefully arranged in travel containers, and a Louis Vuitton beauty case valued at roughly $3,000 was highlighted in a close-up. The family then bundled into a car packed with designer luggage, bound for the airport. Laura, whose maiden name is Marshall, filmed herself gliding through the terminal with her suitcase and a Goyard tote worth about $3,000, before the family settled into the Qantas Club ahead of take-off. The evidence of Jessica (pictured) and Laura's rift is clear: they have again unfollowed each other and seem to have scrubbed their socials of all evidence the friendship ever existed In November, the Daily Mail reported that Jessica had split from her second husband, building tycoon Roger Zraika. (The former couple is pictured in Port Douglas in March 2021) For some in Sydney's more refined postcodes, the video read less like lifestyle inspiration and more like an embarrassing and unnecessary flex. 'Her "day in a life" is not real or relatable. You don't see Deb Symond O'Neil - who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth - sharing videos like that,' a well-placed society insider told us at the time. Laura's origins in Dubbo added a compelling social edge to the jealous chatter - proving that the old-fashioned class system is still alive and kicking in the land of the 'fair go'. While the specifics of her early years are unclear, she has almost certainly upgraded her lifestyle since meeting husband Charbel, a businessman who founded property development company Revelop with cousin Anthony El-Hazouri. The couple, who have been together for many years, have been living in a mansion in McMahons Point for more than a decade, but are planning to upsize after buying a $13.5million Kurraba Point home in 2020. They have since knocked down the property and are building their dream house: a Luigi Rosselli-designed mansion with a swimming pool, landscaped outdoor areas and multiple living zones. 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. 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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 Kyle Sandilands may be facing intense scrutiny over the implosion of The Kyle & Jackie O Show, but insiders say the controversial broadcaster isn't going anywhere just yet. Back in 2010, Sandilands, 54, spent $5million on a six-bedroom mansion in the exclusive Los Angeles enclave of Holmby Hills. The multi-million-dollar home, in which Kyle often resides when he visits America, is located in the same neighbourhood as the Playboy Mansion. Sources claim the radio shock jock would normally leave Australia for his luxe LA bolthole whenever media scrutiny intensifies, but this time he's being kept firmly on home soil. The reason? His judging role on Australian Idol. According to industry insiders, Sandilands' contract with Channel Seven means travelling overseas during the current season simply isn't an option. Kyle Sandilands (pictured) may be facing intense scrutiny over the implosion of The Kyle & Jackie O Show, but insiders say the controversial broadcaster isn't going anywhere just yet Sources claim the radio shock jock would normally leave Australia for his luxe LA bolthole whenever media scrutiny intensifies, but this time he's being kept firmly on home soil With live episodes of the singing competition still airing, the network is reportedly expecting the shock jock to remain in Australia and fulfil his commitments on the judging panel. 'When things get messy here, Kyle's usual move is to jump on a plane and wait for the headlines to die down,' one insider claimed. 'But Idol has locked him in place. He has obligations, and Seven expects him to honour them.' The development comes as speculation continues to swirl about the future of Sandilands' radio empire following shocking developments surrounding The Kyle & Jackie O Show. KIIS FM's parent company ARN announced that Henderson's $100million contract had been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh on-air comments that left her in tears. Sandilands has been suspended and given 14 days to 'remedy' the breach, or else he faces termination. ARN provided written notice to Sandilands stating that it considers his behaviour during the show on February 20 to be 'an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN's service agreement with Quasar Media.' Meanwhile, the radio titan has 'called in lawyers' and is 'preparing to sue' ARN should his $100million contract be terminated following the collapse of KIIS FM's The Kyle & Jackie O Show, The Australian reported on Thursday. The reason? His role on Australian Idol. According to industry insiders, Sandilands' contract with Channel Seven means travelling overseas during the current season isn't an option 'When things get messy here, Kyle's usual move is to jump on a plane and wait for the headlines to die down,' one insider claimed. 'But Idol has locked him in place.' Kyle is pictured with Marcia Hines (centre) and Amy Shark (right) He is reportedly seeking a payout for the remainder of that contract, on which he has eight years and $88million remaining. 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 reports. 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. A source told The Australian that Sandilands would agree to leave his top-rated breakfast program only if he was compensated with 'the full $100million he is owed less what he has already been paid'. In the wake of the drama, Australian Idol viewers have already noticed subtle shifts on screen. Fellow judge Jessica Mauboy has appeared to take on a more prominent role in recent episodes, prompting chatter among viewers about whether the network could be preparing for potential changes to the judging line-up. Despite the headlines surrounding Sandilands, sources say Channel Seven is reluctant to release the outspoken broadcaster from his Idol contract mid-season. Instead, the expectation internally is that the radio star will continue to appear on the show and weather the storm. Back in 2010, Sandilands spent $5 million on a six-bedroom mansion in the swanky Los Angeles suburb of Holmby Hills The multi-million dollar home, in which Kyle often resides when he visits America, is located in the same neighbourhood as the Playboy mansion 'The message is basically: "turn up, do the job and keep the show moving,"' an insider said. Sandilands has long built a reputation as one of Australia's most polarising media personalities, with his blunt on-air style making him both widely criticised and hugely influential in the industry. But while he remains locked into the current season of Australian Idol, insiders say questions are already being asked about his longer-term future on the show. Whether Sandilands returns as a judge for a future season may ultimately depend on how the ongoing controversy surrounding his radio career unfolds. For now, though, one thing seems certain: Despite the mounting drama back home, Kyle Sandilands will not be leaving Australia anytime soon. It was one of the crowning moments of Noel Gallagher's long career as he was named Songwriter Of The Year at the Brit Awards on his home turf in Manchester. But sitting next to him and cheering him on as he enjoyed the plaudits at the Co-Op Live arena last weekend was not long-term girlfriend Sally Mash but another woman. The 58-year-old had quietly parted ways with Ms Mash after two years several months ago. The Mail on Sunday can reveal he has since 'grown close' to socialite Tori Cook. Friends of the pair have told the MoS: 'Tori and Noel are getting on really well and are enjoying each other's company.' Ms Cook, 44, is understood to have split from her husband of three years, Hugo Heathcote, with whom she has two daughters, and has been friends with the Wonderwall songwriter for almost a decade. The publicist, who had Sienna Miller as a 'mate of honour' at her wedding, partied with Gallagher at a Brits after-party in Soho House, enjoying cocktails with his daughter Anais, 26, with whom friends say she 'has formed a bond'. Ms Cook joined Oasis on tour last year and was pictured cheering Noel on from the crowd in South America, standing next to Ms Mash. Oasis star Noel Gallagher enjoys some retail therapy in London just days before the news of his split from girlfriend Sally Marsh had emerged Noel's ex Sally Mash (right) pictured with Tori Cook (left), with whom Noel is said to have 'grown close' She also appears to be friends with his ex-wives, Sara Macdonald and Meg Mathews. One holiday snap from 2017 reveals Ms Cook with Mr Heathcote, posing alongside the rocker, Ms McDonald and their children. Mr Gallagher split from Ms Macdonald six years later and, within a few months, had struck up a romance with Ms Mash, a high-society events manager, who was often pictured at parties with Ms Cook. Gallagher and Ms Cook have been contacted for comment. She's favourite to land a best actress Oscar next Sunday. But Jessie Buckley's journey to Hollywood stardom was almost halted at the outset by her very first trip to the theatre. The Hamnet star says that as a child she was 'traumatised' by a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar because she believed she'd seen a real-life crucifixion on stage. She tells Sunday's episode of Desert Island Discs: 'The first play [my parents] ever took me to was Jesus Christ Superstar. 'I was so transported by watching this production, I genuinely thought a man had been crucified in front of my eyes. I was traumatised. I was on the floor sobbing.' Ms Buckley, 36, tells presenter Lauren Laverne of the local am-dram production in her home town of Killarney, Co Kerry: 'My mum probably out of embarrassment or my dad had to ask could they bring me backstage to meet Mike Murphy, who had played Jesus, to show me he was okay. 'That was like the first kind of peek behind the curtain the magic of theatre. It was so real.' Jessie Buckley attended 'BFI Presents: Jessie Buckley in Conversation' at BFI Southbank at the end of January in London A shot from a performance of the crucifixion scene from Jesus Christ Superstar in Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London in 2016 Perhaps ironically, given the trauma she had felt watching Jesus Christ Superstar, its composer Lord Lloyd-Webber played a pivotal role in the young Ms Buckley's rise to stardom. He was one of the judges on BBC talent show I'd Do Anything which saw 17-year-old Ms Buckley battle for the starring role of Nancy in a production of Oliver! Although Ms Buckley was full of praise for Lord Lloyd-Webber's support, there were times when the show's obsession with her teenage looks left her feeling uncomfortable. Ms Buckley adds: 'I wish that hadn't happened... and I hope that doesn't ever happen to another young girl at that age.' Ms Buckley, who was runner-up on the show to Jodie Prenger, now a Coronation Street actress, turned down the chance to be an understudy, preferring to study drama at Rada instead. She is widely tipped to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Hamnet, which dramatises Shakespeare's life. Desert Island Discs is on BBC Radio 4 Sunday at 10am and is available via BBC Sounds. Eva Mendes raved about the surprise birthday tribute her longtime love Ryan Gosling gave her on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this week. The Hollywood couple, who have been together since 2011 and share two children, have kept their romance studiously out of the public eye. Although Mendes has referred to Gosling publicly as her 'husband,' they have never even confirmed whether they have officially gotten married. However Gosling, 45, made a rare public display of their love on the Tonight Show this Thursday - her 52nd birthday - calling her up onstage without warning. He then astonished her by singing Happy Birthday to You accompanied by a high school marching band, who held up a flag wishing her: 'Happy Birthday, Eva!' Mendes posted to Instagram two days later offering a 'huuuuge gracias' to the late-night talk show host and the marching band from New Jersey's North Bergen High School - as well as a sly warning to Gosling. Eva Mendes raved about the surprise birthday tribute her longtime love Ryan Gosling gave her on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this week and posted a backstage shot 'What a beautiful memory. And a special thank you to all the educators in the audience. We need you now more than ever,' she wrote. 'Lastly, my man .ill get you back for this,' wrote Mendes, adding a heart emoji and leaving open the possibility of her own tribute on his birthday in November. The message was accompanied by a behind-the-scenes snap of Mendes and Gosling sharing a laugh with Fallon in a dressing room at NBC. They met in 2011 while making the crime thriller The Place Beyond the Pines, which also featured Bradley Cooper and the late Ray Liotta. Gosling and Mendes have since welcomed two daughters into the world together - an 11-year-old called Esmeralda and a nine-year-old called Amada. Although they rarely make joint public appearances, Gosling famously paid a glowing tribute to Mendes onstage when he won a Golden Globe for La La Land in 2017. 'I just would like to try and thank one person properly and say that, while I was singing and dancing and playing piano and having one of the best experiences I've ever had on a film, my lady was raising our daughter, pregnant with our second and trying to help her brother fight his battle with cancer,' he said. 'If she hadn't have taken all that on so that I could have this experience, it would surely be someone else up here other than me today. So sweetheart, thank you.' However Gosling, 45, made a rare public display of their love on the Tonight Show this Thursday - her 52nd birthday - calling her up onstage without warning He then astonished her by singing Happy Birthday to You accompanied by a high school marching band, who held up a flag wishing her: 'Happy Birthday, Eva!' Gosling went on: 'To my daughters, Amada and Esmeralda, I love you, and if I may, I'd like to dedicate this to the memory of her brother, Juan Carlos Mendes.' He is currently promoting his upcoming sci-fi adventure film Project Hail Mary, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the duo behind The Lego Movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Gosling, who is one of the producers on Project Hail Mary, explained that he 'made this for' his daughters, in a recent interview with Access. 'As a family, I'd like a movie like this that I'd like to see. I just feel really honored that I got to make one.' He added: 'My kids have seen multiple cuts. They give me multiple notes. They're basically the only critics I care about, and they are very critical and very honest.' Weekend Today co-host Michael Atkinson has been slammed online after he made some shock comments about menstruation during Sunday's episode. The new presenter was chatting to two guests about International Women's Day, which is on Sunday, March 8, when one said they were taking significant steps to eradicate 'period poverty'. At one point, the male guest, Gavin, lowered his head as his female partner, Louise, spoke openly about the subject - prompting some questionable remarks from co-host Michael. 'Gav, are you all right, mate? You are basically speaking with your body language on behalf of the entire male population,' Michael quipped. 'We have got weak stomachs. At the end of the day we are all big sooks. We should get over it... It is confronting at breakfast time.' However, Michael's female co-host Alison Piotrowski was having none of it, and cheekily told him to 'get over it'. Weekend Today co-host Michael Atkinson has been slammed online after he made some shock comments about menstruation during Sunday's episode. Pictured with co-host Alison Piotrowski Shocked viewers quickly took to social media to slam the presenter over his remarks. 'Is anyone else watching Today? Why are the hosts laughing about periods and how the male population feels uncomfortable?' one person sniped. 'I was thinking the same thing. It's a real issue, periods are normal for everyone,' a second added. 'Literally International Women's Day,' a third chimed in. 'Men are uncomfortable talking about a natural bodily function that people have,' someone else wrote. In February, Michael was announced as the new co-host of Weekend Today. Channel Nine confirmed the news, revealing the Queensland father of three is joining co-host Alison Piotrowski on the weekend edition of the popular breakfast show. He joins the team permanently after a summer stint on the desk. Join the debate Why do you think conversations about periods still make people uncomfortable on national TV? The new presenter was chatting to two guests about International Women's Day, which is on Sunday, March 8, when one said they were taking significant steps to eradicate 'period poverty'. At one point, the male guest, Gavin, lowered his head as his female partner, Louise, spoke openly about the subject - prompting some questionable remarks from co-host Michael Shocked viewers quickly took to social media to slam the presenter over his remarks 'I'm excited and proud to be joining the Today family and becoming part of a program thats such a trusted part of Australians' weekends. I grew up in regional Queensland where weekends are about family, sport and catching up on what matters, so this role feels especially meaningful,' Atkinson said in a statement. 'Ive always had a passion for sport and the impact it has on our lives, so I'm fortunate to be continuing to host Stan Sports rugby coverage and my love for live sport, while taking on my new role co-hosting Weekend Today. 'I'm very lucky to be working alongside such professionals and outstanding people in Ali, Lizzie and Dan, as well as the exceptional team behind the cameras.' Meanwhile, Piotrowski praised her new colleague and said she is looking forward to working with him. Eric Dane's widow Rebecca Gayheart was seen moving the late star's belongings from the Los Angeles home that Johnny Depp had let him live in amid his ALS battle. The 54-year-old actress, who had still been married to Dane at the time of his death after their seven-year separation, carried a number of items out of the residence earlier this week on Wednesday. The Grey's Anatomy alum's passing at age 53 was confirmed by his loved ones in a statement on February 19 - less than one year after he announced his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis. Gayheart was spotted holding a box as she left the house which had 'Eric Yearbooks Kids Photos' written on the side. She later brought out a black guitar case while also carrying her phone in her right hand. It was recently revealed that Depp - who had met the late actor years earlier - let Dane live 'rent-free' in one of his homes to help ease his financial worries amid his health battle. Eric Dane's widow Rebecca Gayheart, 54, was seen moving the late star's belongings from the Los Angeles home that Johnny Depp had let him live in amid his ALS battle on Wednesday The Grey's Anatomy alum's passing at age 53 was confirmed by his loved ones in a statement to People on February 19 - less than one year after he announced his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis; seen in 2025 in L.A. The Pirates Of The Caribbean star owns two neighboring residences just above the Sunset Strip, and Dane had stayed at the smaller property leading up to his death. A source told Page Six, 'Eric [had] one less thing to worry about. 'He was living basically rent-free in one of the homes Johnny owns above the Sunset Strip. He told Eric to pay whatever he could or - couldn't for rent.' The insider continued, 'Johnny wanted to do what he could to ease the financial burden.' Gayheart had tied the knot with Dane in 2004 and the pair welcomed daughters Billie, 16, and Georgia, 14. The actress filed for divorce in 2018 but she reportedly dismissed the petition amid his health battle in 2025. The pair remained legally married until his death, with the stars being involved in separate relationships. Dane had been dating photographer Janell Shirtcliff since 2022 while Gayheart was seen kissing Hard Rock Cafe co-founder Peter Morton, 78, in Beverly Hills last year on December 3. Gayheart was spotted holding a box as she left the house which had 'Eric Yearbooks Kids Photos' written on the side It was recently revealed that Depp - who had met the late actor years earlier - let Dane live 'rent-free' in one of his homes to help ease his financial worries amid his health battle; Depp seen in 2025 in Saudi Arabia Gayheart had tied the knot with Dane in 2004 and the pair welcomed daughters Billie, 16, and Georgia, 14; seen in 2010 in L.A. Earlier this month, Dane's cause of death was revealed in his death certificate obtained by People. The actor died of respiratory failure while amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was listed as the underlying cause of death. Respiratory failure is known as a complication from ALS - which affects the nervous system, including the spinal cord and brain. The muscles can suffer from paralysis and there is currently no cure for the disease. The death certificate also confirmed that Gayheart and Dane had still been married - with the actress also listed as the beneficiary of Dane's GoFundMe page. The fundraiser was set up by close friends of the late actor to help support his daughters and has since nearly reached its goal of $500k. Before his death, Dane had secretly recorded his 'last words' to his teenage daughters for a Netflix documentary. The special became available on the streaming site and is titled Famous Last Words: Eric Dane. It is understood the project would only be released posthumously, according to reports. 'Billie and Georgia, these words are for you. I tried. I stumbled sometimes, but I tried,' he said. 'Overall, we had a blast, didn't we?' The actor died of respiratory failure while amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was listed as the underlying cause of death; Dane seen above in Grey's Anatomy The fundraiser was set up by close friends of the late actor to help support his daughters and has since nearly reached its goal of $500k; Dane and his daughters seen in 2024 in Hollywood He then shared four lessons that he learned amid his ALS battle, including to 'live now, right now in the present.' 'Second, fall in love. Not necessarily with a person, although I do recommend that as well. But fall in love with something.' Another lesson included 'choosing your friends wisely' while the fourth was 'fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity. When you face challenges, health or otherwise, fight. 'Never give up. Fight until your last breath. This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit...' He concluded with, 'Billie and Georgia, you are my heart. You are my everything. Good night. I love you. Those are my last words.' Dane also spoke highly of Gayheart and said, 'I will have never, by the time anyone sees this, fallen in love with another woman as deeply as I fell in love with Rebecca.' He also shared, 'I think Rebecca was more willing to show up and do her part than I was. I don't have that gene that just makes you wanna keep going regardless of what happens. 'I'm like, "If there's a hole in the boat, don't try to patch the hole." Scuttle the d**n thing and find a new one.' Before his death, Dane had secretly recorded his 'last words' to his teenage daughters for a Netflix documentary Dane also spoke highly of Gayheart and said, 'I will have never, by the time anyone sees this, fallen in love with another woman as deeply as I fell in love with Rebecca'; seen in 2012 in L.A. Dane continued that both he and Gayheart were 'still really best friends' who 'love each other deeply.' Earlier this week on March 3, Gayheart celebrated their daughter Billie's 'sweet 16' and shared photos of the teen to her Instagram stories. One image showed Billie as a young child flashing a cheerful smile towards the camera while enjoying ice cream. 'Happy Sweet 16 to the sweetest girl - mommy loves you to the moon and back unconditionally forever and ever,' she added in text at the bottom. Dane's family said in a statement to People at the time of his death: 'With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS. Earlier this week on March 3, Gayheart celebrated their daughter Billie's 'sweet 16' and shared photos of the teen to her Instagram stories 'Happy Sweet 16 to the sweetest girl - mommy loves you to the moon and back unconditionally forever and ever,' she added in text at the bottom 'He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.' They added, 'Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. 'He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he's received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.' Dane announced his diagnosis with the disease last year in April. Poppy Delevingne, Barbara Palvin and Annabelle Wallis ensured all eyes were on them as they arrived at Elie Saab's Paris Fashion Week show on Saturday. English socialite Poppy, 39, cut a striking figure in a head to toe leather look at the designer's Womenswear Fall/Winter 2026-2027 runway. The model showcased her edgy sense of style in a high-neck, belted co-ord that cinched neatly at the waist, creating a sleek and sculpted silhouette. Elsewhere Barbara proved understated elegance in a striking snake-print dress. The Hungarian model, 32, wore a long-sleeved, high-neck midi dress featuring a bold python pattern that created a sophisticated yet eye-catching effect. Meanwhile Peaky Blinders favourite Annabelle, 41, opted for sleek sophistication as she arrived in elegant grey tailoring. Poppy Delevingne (pictured), Barbara Palvin and Annabelle Wallis ensured all eyes were on them as they arrived at Elie Saab's Paris Fashion Week show on Saturday Elsewhere Barbara (L) and Annabelle (R) proved understated elegance in striking ensembles as they arrived at the star-studded catwalk The Mummy actress looked effortlessly chic in a structured blazer-style coat layered over a coordinated midi skirt, creating a polished, modern silhouette. The tailored ensemble draped neatly over her frame, striking the perfect balance between sharp power dressing and understated elegance. Annabelle completed the refined look with knee-high boots and minimal accessories, allowing the clean lines and muted tone of the outfit to take centre stage. Inside the event, Poppy rubbed shoulders with model and actress Bianca Brandolini D'Adda. Meanwhile Annabelle and Barbara were snapped on the front row alongside newly-redheaded Ellie Bamber. The socialite and sister of Cara Delevingne, Poppy welcomed daughter Kaia Moon with her billionaire businessman partner Archie Keswick on May 20 last year. But she waited to announce the birth until July, taking to Instagram to share a black and white snap of her clutching her baby girl's hand with the caption: '20.05.25 The stars aligned, & then there was you. 'KAIA MOON KESWICK. Welcome to the world baby bear. You have our hearts, our everything.' Poppy previously revealed she had discovered she was pregnant during London Fashion Week, after she noticed her clothes were tighter than usual while being fitted for a Burberry show. English socialite Poppy, 39, cut a striking figure in a head to toe leather look at the designer's Womenswear Fall/Winter 2026-2027 runway The model showcased her edgy sense of style in a high-neck, belted co-ord that cinched neatly at the waist, creating a sleek and sculpted silhouette The Hungarian model wore a long-sleeved, high-neck midi dress featuring a bold python pattern that created a sophisticated yet eye-catching effect Barbara paired the statement piece with sheer black tights and delicate heels as she posed confidently for photographers The structured silhouette skimmed her figure before falling neatly below the knee, while the intricate reptile print added a touch of high-fashion drama to the otherwise classic shape Meanwhile Peaky Blinders favourite Annabelle, 41, opted for sleek sophistication as she arrived in elegant grey tailoring The Mummy actress looked effortlessly chic in a structured blazer-style coat layered over a coordinated midi skirt, creating a polished, modern silhouette The tailored ensemble draped neatly over her frame, striking the perfect balance between sharp power dressing and understated elegance Inside the event, Poppy rubbed shoulders with model and actress Bianca Brandolini D'Adda Meanwhile Annabelle and Barbara were snapped on the front row alongside newly-redheaded Ellie Bamber (middle) Molly-Mae Hague looked radiant and glowing in a beige co-ord as she hosted The Maebe Village pop-up shopping experience in London on Saturday. The TV personality, who is expecting her second child with partner Tommy Fury, both 26, flashed a glimpse of her bump in the stylish ensemble from her fashion brand as she took to Instagram to share several highlights ahead of the event. The chic co-ord featured a funnel-neck collar, long sleeves and a zip-up fastening, paired with matching trousers. The Maebe Village pop-up was an immersive experience featuring shopping, coffee, food and wine, and was held to celebrate International Women's Day. For the event, the mother-of-one teamed her ensemble with a pair of comfortable black ballet flats. Molly-Mae proudly posed with a Maebe magazine inside the Maebe Village-branded cafe. Pregnant Molly-Mae Hague, 26, looked radiant and glowing in a beige co-ord as she hosted The Maebe Village pop-up shopping experience in London on Saturday The TV personality, who is expecting her second child with partner Tommy Fury, flashed a glimpse of her bump in the stylish ensemble from her fashion brand Thanking her team and her Maebe community, Molly-Mae captioned the post: 'The Maebe Village our first ever shoppable pop up and such a special moment for Maebe! 'I'm so proud of what our team created and so grateful for our amazing community that continues to show up for us. So excited for everyone who gets to experience it today.' The Maebe Village pop-up featured rails of clothing from the brand, alongside a wine bar, coffee station, branded drinks fridge and bakery counter where shoppers could grab a quick bite. It comes days after Molly-Mae accidentally revealed her exact due date as she shared a photo from a recent ultrasound scan. The influencer announced she is expecting her second child with Tommy last month and is already six months pregnant. Taking to Instagram this week, Molly-Mae shared an update on her pregnancy with a slew of recent photos, including showing off her growing baby bump. Included in her 'bits and bobs' photo dump was a picture of a recent sonogram of her unborn baby projected onto the wall with her three-year-old daughter Bambi gazing up at it. However the inclusion of the scan has revealed the date Molly-Mae is due to give birth, with fans quick to comment on it. The chic co-ord featured a funnel-neck collar, long sleeves and a zip-up fastening, paired with matching trousers complete with cuff button detailing The Maebe Village pop-up was an immersive experience featuring shopping, coffee, food and wine, and was held to celebrate International Women's Day The Maebe Village pop-up featured rails of clothing from the brand, alongside a wine bar, coffee station, and branded drinks fridge The pop-up also featured a bakery counter where shoppers could grab a quick bite Thanking her team and the Maebe community, Molly-Mae captioned the post: 'The Maebe Village our first ever shoppable pop up and such a special moment for Maebe!' The picture reveals she was 24 weeks and 6 days pregnant when she had the scan on February 26, meaning her due date is June 12. Fans commented: 'Due date is 2 days before me', 'June baby like my first .' 'We're literally due the same day', 'A June baby, also, my guess is boy based on skull theory!', 'I'm literally 3 days ahead of you that's crazy.' Molly-Mae's heartwarming snaps showed her displaying her growing baby bump and spending time with boyfriend Tommy and their daughter Bambi, as the family prepare for the arrival of their fourth member. She proudly displayed her blossoming bump in several mirror selfies, one where she wore the 95 brown Club London Aveny dress, alongside sweet shots of her with three-year-old daughter Bambi. After declaring last week that her bump has officially 'popped', Molly-Mae shared a black-and-white snap from her recent work trip to Abu Dhabi, posing in a bikini top and an open linen shirt, exposing her bare tummy. Elsewhere she shared an adorable photo of her and Tommy cuddled up with Bambi in bed. The Love Island star also shared a glimpse into the gender reveal for her unborn child, with a shot of a number of cream heart-shaped balloons filling their living room and an envelope that read 'Baby' on the front. Molly has confirmed that the couple already know the gender and even already have a name picked out, but she is saving the public reveal for another time. It comes days after Molly-Mae accidentally revealed her exact due date as she shared a photo from a recent ultrasound scan on Instagram Included in her 'bits and bobs' photo dump was a picture of a recent sonogram of her unborn baby projected onto the wall with her three-year-old daughter Bambi gazing up at it Fans previously became convinced that she had 'accidentally' let slip her baby's gender in a YouTube video last month. The reality star sparked speculation she was having another little girl after referring to her bump as 'she' in the vlog, as she lifted her jumper to show fans her growing tummy. She said: 'Everyone let me show you the bump. I'm nearly 24 weeks pregnant, the bump is popping more everyday and I'm trying to embrace my bump more this time because that is a regret I had last time, but I'm embracing it. Here SHE is!' Fans were quick to pick up on the comment and to claim the TV personality is expecting another baby girl. They wrote: 'Molly-Mae is having a GIRL?', 'THERE SHE IS!', 'Did you say 'Here SHE is'??' But others insisted she was just referring to the bump itself and not the gender of her baby, saying: 'She's on about the baby bump; I always called my bump 'she' so I feel like she's just referring to the bump rather than the baby.' 'She was on about her not the baby ..she says it a lot', 'If this was a slip up I don't think she'd miss editing it out x.' TEHRAN, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Assembly of Experts has finalized a decision on its new supreme leader, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Sunday. A majority consensus over a successor to the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has more or less been reached, Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri, a member of the Assembly, was quoted as saying. But some obstacles remain to be addressed regarding the process, he said, adding that the work must be accurate to avoid controversy. U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier that he must be personally involved in selecting Iran's next leader, the U.S. news website Axios reported Thursday. On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Khamenei, as well as many others, including some of the leader's family members, high-ranking military commanders and civilians. Ada Nicodemou has shared the sweet details of the day James Stewart got down on one knee to ask for her hand in marriage. The Home and Away co-stars were engaged on Valentine's Day and the 48-year-old says that she was 'very surprised' to find James, 50, kneeling before her. 'I knew it was coming, but didn't know when,' Ada told Perth Now. 'We were already going to dinner for Valentine's Day and Jimmy suggested that we should go for a little walk first, to our favourite spot and have a kiss and that's where he surprised me by going down on one knee. 'It was very special.' Ada was reluctant to share the couple's wedding plans, but indicated they were looking at venues. Ada Nicodemou has shared the sweet details of the day James Stewart got down on one knee to ask for her hand in marriage. Both pictured The actress says that working with her future husband has been a source of joy for both of them. 'I am also very lucky that I go home to my scene partner, so we can talk out anything we need to talk out as well, do our lines,' she told the publication. 'But we can also forget about it all, and just be with each other. It's good.' The couple announced their engagement in February, after almost two years of dating. James, 50, shared a precious clip to social media capturing the heartfelt moment he got down on one knee and proposed to Ada in public. The actor absolutely beamed in the sweet footage as he was seen sharing a heartfelt vow to Ada, who joyfully accepted the proposal by leaning in and giving her partner a huge kiss. Moments after Ada accepted, their friends and family were seen in the background cheering on the exciting news. Ada and James then shared a beaming photo for the camera in which she flaunted her eye-popping diamond engagement ring. The Home and Away co-stars were engaged on Valentine's Day and the 48-year-old says that she was 'very surprised' to find James, 50, kneeling before her 'I knew it was coming, but didn't know when,' Ada told Perth Now 'We were already going to dinner for Valentine's Day and Jimmy suggested that we should go for a little walk first, to our favourite spot and have a kiss and that's where he surprised me by going down on one knee. It was very special' In July 2024, Ada finally broke her silence on her romance with James after months of speculation. The lovebirds were first linked earlier that year when they were seen sharing a kiss on Anzac Day. Ada confirmed she was dating her long-time co-star in a magazine interview, describing their romance as 'unexpected'. 'Jimmy and I are together, yes. It's only early days. It's very recent and unexpected. I'm super happy. It's really lovely,' she told Stellar Magazine. But she insisted their Home and Away characters, Leah Patterson and Justin Morgan, getting married on-screen was not a sign of their real-life romance. The couple began dating after Ada split from her ex-partner, Adam Rigby, just before Christmas last year. James finalised his divorce from Sarah Roberts in March 2024. Jack Osbourne recalled the moment he realized his father Ozzy Osbourne was 'done' in the weeks leading up to the metal legend's death last year. Osbourne died at the age of 76 on July 22, 2025, just 17 days after he performed a finale concert with his band Black Sabbath in England, which saw Jack and the entire Osbourne family travel from Los Angeles to Birmingham. On Thursday, Jack, 40, appeared on an episode of the HATE TO BREAK IT TO YA podcast where he reflected on the final weeks of his father's life. At one point, he shared a stunning conversation he had with Ozzy the night after the Sabbath farewell show that left him with a devastating realization. While putting Ozzy to bed, Jack, who was getting ready to return to LA, said his father confessed to him that he wanted to 'cut [his] hair off.' 'Right before I left, I was putting him to bed and he was like brushing his teeth or whatever,' Jack recalled. 'He was looking at himself in the mirror and he goes, "I think I'm going to cut my hair off." Jack Osbourne recalled the moment he realized his father Ozzy Osbourne was 'done' in the weeks leading up to the metal legend's death last year; seen in 2011 Osbourne died at the age of 76 on July 22, 2025, just 17 days after he performed a finale concert with his band Black Sabbath in England, which saw Jack and the entire Osbourne family travel from Los Angeles to Birmingham Jack remembered asking him why and Ozzy replying: 'I've retired. I'm not a rock star anymore.' He also recalled how his father only ever cut his hair short once and shaved his head 'once to p*** my mom off' in the 80s. 'And so I think about that and I'm like, "Yeah, he was done. He was okay with his journey." Jack additionally opened up about his father's final day. 'I think we do have a choice to a degree,' he explained while offering a philosophical viewpoint. 'If you're sick, if your body's primed and in a place, where it's like, "Hey, you've got a choice here," on a deep spiritual level, I do think that maybe rather consciously or subconsciously, you have a choice where you're like, "Okay, I'm ready to move on."' But when the late star passed, Jack admitted that it had been 'a surprise.' 'Obviously everyone knew he was sick but we weren't expecting it to be as quick as it was. He was up, he was doing his thing, had some breakfast, and that was it.' On Thursday, Jack, 40, appeared on an episode of the HATE TO BREAK IT TO YA podcast where he reflected on the final weeks of his father's life During a one-on-one convo after the concert, Ozzy told Jack that he was considering cutting his 'hair off' because he was 'not a rock star anymore'; seen in 2011 At recent awards shows, Ozzy was honored for his decades-spanning career and legacy. His wife Sharon, son Jack and daughter Kelly attended the Grammys for a tribute to the rock star; seen in January Elsewhere in the podcast, Jack said his father was 'fired up' and 'gearing up' for his final Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham. He then added: 'We weren't expecting it to be as quick as it was, you know. I just think he was done.' Osbourne died from complications related to a long battle with a form of Parkinsons disease on July 22, 2025. Per a death certificate filed in London and obtained by The New York Times, he died of heart attack and had suffered from coronary artery disease. In 2020, he announced he had been diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson's disease just one year earlier. In the podcast, Jack noted that his father died 17 days after his final show, just like one of his closest pals did prior to his passing a decade earlier. He said that that Ozzy's longtime friend, Motorhead rocker Lemmy Kilmister, also died 17 days after his final show back in December 2015. Just last week, Sharon and her daughter Kelly accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award honoring the late Black Sabbath rocker; pictured in February They gave a heartfelt speech as they honored the music icon; pictured in February This comes after the late rock star was honored by his family - including wife Sharon Osbourne and daughter Kelly Osbourne - and other stars at the BRIT Awards last week. At the BRITs in late February, Sharon and daughter Kelly gave a heartfelt speech in honor of the late rock star as he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Sharon described her late husband as the 'most humble egomaniac you could ever meet' while Kelly stood onstage beside her. 'I'm honored to accept this award from my gorgeous husband, this Lifetime Achievement Award. God knows, I wish he was here to accept it himself.' Osbourne passed away at the age of 76 in July 2025, just 17 days after he performed his farewell show in Birmingham. He died after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, a diagnosis he received in 2019 and revealed to the world in 2020; pictured in December 2014 She went on to say that she knew her late husband would be looking down on them and how he hated speeches, but she couldn't help but 'waffle on' as she regaled the audience with tales of his achievements. Sharon said that she was accepting the award not only for Ozzy but also his 'incredible family' his fellow musicians who helped him along the away, as well as fans who lined the streets of Birmingham during his memorial. 'If Ozzy was here tonight with us, he would be showing us that gorgeous smile that he had and I know he would be so proud to receive this from the country that he loved,' she said. 'So he may not be here, but he left us one amazing body of work that will never be forgotten by the country that made him.' Sunday Rose is determined to remain down to earth as her modelling career soars her to new heights of fame. The model daughter of Nicole Kidman is staying in school and is planning to attend university to study filmmaking. The 17-year-old says that she dreams of being one of the great directors, like her heroes, Greta Gerwig and Bong Joon Ho, and hopes to make psychological horror films. Despite living a life of luxury, Sunday tells this month's issue of Elle magazine that she works hard to stay grounded. 'The privilege of having these experiences and meeting so many new people is so amazing, but as a teenager it's so easy to get sucked into all of it so fast,' the teenager told the publication. 'So being able to come back [to Nashville] and keep that perspective of being back at high school keeps me grounded.' Sunday Rose is determined to remain down to earth as her modelling career soars her to new heights of fame. Pictured with mother Nicole Kidman The model is staying in school and is planning to attend university to study filmmaking. The 17-year-old says that she dreams of being one of the great directors, like her heroes, Greta Gerwig and Bong Joon Ho Having an A-list movie star for a mother means that Sunday gets great advice from her mum, Nicole. 'The biggest piece of industry advice Mum has given to me is to always be on time,' Sunday said. 'There's always going to be something with an early call time that you don't want to get up for, but it's really important to be on time because it shows that you're prepared and grateful to be there.' Sunday has been modelling since she was 16 after making her runway debut during Paris Fashion Week in 2024 for Miu Miu's Spring/Summer show. Last year, she landed a major campaign with the Italian luxury fashion house Miu Miu. Sunday continued her runway streak when she made waves at New York Fashion Week this month- but for all the wrong reasons. She showed off her strut at the Calvin Klein Fall 2026 show over the weekend, but critics were quick to call out her technique on the catwalk, accusing her of 'stomping' her way around the fashion circuit. Nicole was endlessly proud of the teen as she reshared a video of her daughter walking during the show to Instagram, writing: 'New York Baby.' Sunday continued her runway streak when she made waves at New York Fashion Week this month (pictured) Sunday has been modelling since she was 16 after making her runway debut during Paris Fashion Week in 2024 for Miu Miu's Spring/Summer show (pictured) But others weren't so sure, accusing the teen of only being hired due to her famous parents. 'Looks like she's on her way to talk to her mom about her dad,' laughed one user. 'I love, love, love Nicole.. but Sunday Rose looks kinda weird as a model,' was someone else's opinion. The campaign came three months after she was roasted online over her runway debut at Paris Fashion Week, opening the Miu Miu Paris Womenswear Spring-Summer 2025 show in October. The teen shared the catwalk with fellow nepo babies Amelia Grey Hamlin, who is the daughter of Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna, and Eliot Sumner, who is the child of The Police frontman Sting and wife Trudy Styler. While her mum Nicole once again showed her support both at the show and following her runway debut, many critics on the internet hit out at Sunday Rose's walk. Some people suggested she take runway lessons, while others simply complained that too many nepo babies think they can model. Kerry Katona has revealed she may be fast-tracking her plans to move abroad next year with boyfriend Paolo Margaglione and her children, after receiving a 'sign to start fresh'. The TV personality, 45, and her toyboy partner, 33, revealed they were planning to relocate their blended family to sunnier climes next year in their first joint interview last month. However, she explained that the move might come sooner than expected after finding out that her youngest daughter Dylan-Jorge's school is closing down. Writing in her column for New! magazine, Kerry said that she was 'gutted' by the news, but was thinking it might be a 'sign' for them to leave the UK. She wrote: 'I recently got a message announcing they are shutting DJs school down in July. Molly, Lilly and Heidi all went to that school, so I am truly gutted. 'Now were running around trying to get her into a different school, but they favour pupils who already have siblings who attend, so DJs been put on a waiting list. Kerry Katona has revealed she may be fast-tracking her plans to move abroad next year with boyfriend Paolo Margaglione and her children, after receiving a 'sign to start fresh' The TV personality, 45, and her toyboy partner, 33, revealed they were planning to relocate their blended family to sunnier climes next year in their first joint interview last month (seen together in November) 'Im in touch with another school but we keep missing each other, so Im wondering if this is a sign to up and leave to Spain and start fresh...' Kerry, who currently lives in Cheshire, shares daughters Molly, 24, and Lilly-Sue, 22, who she shares with her ex-husband Brian McFadden as well as Heidi, 18, and Max, 17, with Mark Croft, and Dylan-Jorge, 11, with the late George Kay. While businessman Paolo is dad to two daughters, Milani and Nola, from a previous relationship. Speaking to OK! magazine last month, the couple opened up on where they see themselves in a year's time, admitting they wanted to move abroad. 'Hopefully somewhere hot and sunny. The idea is, at some point, to potentially move away from the UK,' Paolo said. He added: 'Its something I wanted to do and something Kerrys wanted, too', as Kerry echoed: 'We do have a plan'. The former Atomic Kitten star found love with Paolo after meeting on Celebs Go Dating, which began filming in April. The couple have gone from strength to strength since being on the programme and reportedly moved in together two months after meeting. Kerry previously boasted that the pair enjoyed an 'unbelievable' sex life and said: 'I am very happy. I don't think I have felt like this in my life.' Her revelation that she is eyeing up a move to Spain comes after she previously revealed she was considering following in the steps of a slew of other influencers by moving to Dubai. 'I can see why so many celebrities move to Dubai. Its definitely somewhere Id consider moving to,' she wrote in her New! column last month. 'Its safe, clean, its lovely, everyone looks after each other in fact I could probably see myself living there this time next year. And my children would come with me.' Kerry, who currently lives in Cheshire, shares daughters Molly, 24, and Lilly-Sue, 22, who she shares with her ex-husband Brian McFadden as well as Heidi, 18, and Max, 17, with Mark Croft, and Dylan-Jorge, 11, with the late George Kay (pictured with children) Kerry would join a long list of celebrities who have swapped the UK for the UAE in recent years, including Kate and Rio Ferdinand, Joey Essex, and supposedly her BFF Katie Price - who is said to be moving to be with new husband Lee Andrews. However, after the US-Israel war against Iran sparked chaos in the UAE, there has been a rush of stars jetting out of the Dubai to return to the UK. Petra Ecclestone became the latest celebrity to flee the city on Thursday alongside husband Sam Palmer and her four children, after more commercial flights began operating out of the UAE. However, the socialite daughter of F1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone, insisted in an Instagram post that she was not trying to 'escape', but was just trying to get to London for her daughter Lavinia, 13, to take part in a horse show in Europe. Amid the uncertainty about the conflict there have been several international influencers, including well-known British names, singing their praises and lauding Dubai as the 'safest place on earth'. However, The Daily Mail learned that behind the glitzy, public relations messages of solidarity lies a different reality and the hard-line regime would not hesitate to imprison or deport anyone whose output was judged 'harmful' to the reputation of the UAE. The government has even cracked down on those reposting genuine footage of the first of the attacks last week, which included drones or debris causing damage at the five-star Fairmont Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah and the iconic sail-shaped Dubai hotel Burj Al Arab in flames. The Dubai Media Office announced within a few hours of the first strikes that 'outdated images of past fire incidents' in Dubai were being spread to stoke fear among the city's residents and thereby garner clicks. 'Legal action will be taken against those who publish or republish such content in violation of UAE law,' the post read. And in a place with one of the worst human rights records in the world, where severe restrictions on freedom of speech are backed up by an opaque justice system and widespread torture, no one takes such warnings lightly. Criticising or insulting the UAE government or its institutions or spreading false rumours can result in fines of up to 200,000, or up to five years in prison, and possibly deportation. A situation made more intolerable if you own property there. There are estimated to be more than 50,000 influencers in Dubai, lured there by not just the weather and its tax-free status, but also by a coordinated government campaign under the name Creators HQ, which offers generous help and advice with setting up their businesses. For the most influential, there's even a renewable 10-year 'Golden Visa' for them and their families provided they say the right thing about Dubai, pushing its luxury lifestyle and above all, its safety. Yet while influencers have been quick to wax lyrical about the safety of the UAE, that hasn't stopped many from making their way out of Dubai. Earlier this week, Love Island's Laura Anderson said she was praying for 'safe skies' as she has managed to get a flight to Edinburgh out of Dubai. While Geordie Shore's Sam Gowland finally made a plane to Mauritius on his fourth attempt to flee the city. Fitness influencer Alice Liveing, who had been in Dubai when the strikes began, also managed to make it back to the UK. While assuring her followers 'everything is fine' in Dubai, The Apprentice star Luisa Zissman revealed her plans to return to the UK. Amy Adams brought along her daughter Aviana for a rare mother-daughter public outing on Sunday, as they attended Lacoste's show during Paris Fashion Week. The actress, 51, gave her only child, 15, an affectionate kiss on the head as they posed together, before taking their seats on the star-studded front row. Amy looked effortlessly cool in a leather bomber jacket paired with black high-waisted trousers and a semi-sheer shirt, flashing a racy glimpse of her bra underneath. The six-time Oscar nominee elevated her monochrome look with bold accessories, adding a couple of layered necklaces and a silver metallic handbag and rectangular shades. While Aviana - who Amy shares with her husband Darren Le Gallo - looked like her mother's mini-me, having inherited her red hair, albeit several shades lighter. The teenager cut a chic figure in a pleated navy maxiskirt teamed with an eye-catching green turtleneck and dainty white heels. Amy Adams brought along her daughter Aviana for a rare mother-daughter public outing on Sunday, as they attended Lacoste's show during Paris Fashion Week The actress, 51, gave her only child, 15, an affectionate kiss on the head as they posed together, before taking their seats on the star-studded front row Amy looked effortlessly cool in a leather bomber jacket paired with black high-waisted trousers and a semi-sheer shirt, flashing a racy glimpse of her bra underneath The duo were joined on the exclusive front row by a trio of fellow glam Hollywood stars, Kieran Culkin, Aubrey Plaza and Marisa Abela. Amy posed for a beaming snap alongside Succession star Kieran, with the Oscar winner putting on a casual display in a graphic long-sleeved shirt and charcoal trousers. Aviana's rare appearance with her mother at PFW comes after Amy gushed over what a support her daughter was to her at public events. After Aviana and Darren showed their support for the Arrival star at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of her film Nightb**** in 2024, she told People: 'It was really great to share that with her. I just love her! 'I get really nervous about public speaking, and she's never been around me [in those moments]. She was like, "Mom, you do this all the time. You got this!" She was supporting me, it was so sweet.' While Amy also revealed how Aviana used to ask her mum to be all natural and keep the glamour strictly for the red carpet. 'She didn't like me wearing make-up,' the American Hustle star explained. 'She's like, "I just want you to look like Mom, not like Amy Adams." And I was like, "You got it." 'So there were years where I didn't wear make-up wherever we went. I mean, I sneaked some mascara. But yeah, I wouldn't wear make-up because she wanted me to be just mom.' She lamented that she was 'the last person to get ready' and 'the least manicured at my household', adding: 'I think it's been that way since she was born. While Aviana - who Amy shares with her husband Darren Le Gallo - looked like her mother's mini-me, having inherited her red hair, albeit several shades lighter The teenager cut a chic figure in a pleated navy maxiskirt teamed with an eye-catching green turtleneck and dainty white heels The duo were joined on the exclusive front row by a trio of fellow glam Hollywood stars, Kieran Culkin, Aubrey Plaza and Marisa Abela Amy posed for a beaming snap alongside Succession star Kieran, with the Oscar winner putting on a casual display in a graphic long-sleeved shirt and charcoal trousers 'But lately, per my daughter's request, I'm working on an upgrade. She's like, "You can't wear workout clothes if you're not working out, Mom. You can't just do the leisure part of athleisure."' Amy and husband Darren met in an acting class in 2001, and began dating a year later when they collaborated on the short film, Pennies. Darren - who is a director, writer, musician and artist - popped the question in 2008 and the couple welcomed daughter Aviana two years later in 2010. They had an extended engagement and said they were in no rush to get married, before exchanging vows in 2015 on a ranch just outside of Santa Barbara, California. Amy told Allure in 2016 that the couple decided to finally get married because Aviana 'wanted a family wedding'. 'We always had the commitment, but now hes stuck with me and I can really act out. Im kidding,' she told The Times following their nuptials. 'The truth is, I feel a stronger sense of family, a bigger sense of permanence, which is a nice thing for me.' She has also gushed about her husband and the love he has for their daughter, telling Marie Claire back in 2018: 'It's sexy to see him raising a girl and teaching her how a man should treat her in a lovely way.' Aviana and Darren showed their support for the Arrival star at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of her film Nightb**** in 2024 (pictured) While she previously got emotional as she explained why her movie Disenchanted is a 'love letter' to her daughter. Visibly moved, she explained the fairytale sequel to hit Enchanted represented how she was learning to teach her daughter autonomy and 'love her no matter who she is'. 'Something I've learned - I think I learned it the minute she was born, not to be overly personal, that I had this idea of who she was going to be and what her essence was,' she said. 'It was just all projection. And then the journey since the moment she was born is finding out who she is, who she wants to be. Not even what I want for her, because of course I want the best for her, but she wants things for herself. 'And really learning to listen and give her that opportunity to be an autonomous being in this world is something that I have to remind myself every day as I sort of, you know, try to fix all her problems for her.' Amy went on to say everything she does in life is to make the world a 'wonderful place' for Aviana and 'no matter who she is in this world and who she chooses to be, I will love her no matter what'. The late Michael Jackson's only daughter Paris bore unusual facial markings while attending the Vivienne Westwood womenswear FW/26 runway presentation during Paris Fashion Week on Saturday. Make-up artist Lisa Potter-Dixon sketched a little design to the left of the nepo baby's blue eye and smeared black lines through her brows for the fashion festivities. 'There's a certain trust and respect that happens in the chair when you create a look like this,' Potter-Dixon wrote on Instagram. 'A shared moment of letting instinct lead. No overthinking, just expression. I took inspiration from Vivienne's love of starting her ideas with loose, expressive drawings before turning them into garments so this was makeup, but treated a little like a sketch. Raw, instinctive, and free.' Vivienne Westwood creative director Andreas Kronthaler designed the red-patterned halter catsuit over a grey-patterned maxi-blouse Jackson (born Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson) donned for day six of PFW. The Beverly Hills-born socialite - turning 28 next month - accessorized with black thigh-high slouchy boots and a matching skinny belt selected by stylist Jessica Paster. The late Michael Jackson's only daughter Paris bore unusual facial markings while attending the Vivienne Westwood womenswear FW/26 runway presentation during Paris Fashion Week on Saturday Make-up artist Lisa Potter-Dixon sketched a little design to the left of the nepo baby's blue eye and smeared black lines through her brows for the fashion festivities Hairstylist Luke Pluckrose coiffed Jackson's messy updo as she held court front row at Cesure in Paris alongside pop stars Chappell Roan and Lola Young. The Zadig & Voltaire brand ambassador - who announced January 6 that she's been sober for six years - has also attended the PFW runway presentations for Mugler, Chloe and Tom Ford. Jackson is in a lengthy legal battle with her famous father's estate co-executors John Branca and John McClain, whom she claims pocketed $148.2 million in 'bonus and premium payouts' through 2021. Branca and McClain's attorneys are seeking $93,924.63 in fees and $1,238.39 in costs from Jackson connected to their anti-SLAPP motion and, on February 26, her attorneys filed an opposition brief. In it, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation ambassador's lawyers call it 'a waste of resources' aimed to 'make it as expensive and time-consuming as possible for Paris' - according to People. 'The SLAPP [lawsuit] was a waste of resources that executors had a duty to avoid and likely could have avoided,' Jackson's attorneys wrote. 'It did not achieve dismissal of any cause of action, as Paris's requested relief in the Petition to Rescind remained unimpacted by Executors' SLAPP Motion.' An October 14 court filing claimed the heavily-tattooed millennial has received $65 million in benefits from the 13-time Grammy winner's $2 billion estate. Jackson has also publicly distanced herself from Lionsgate's fully-authorized musical biopic, Michael, starring her cousin Jaafar Jackson. Potter-Dixon wrote on Instagram: 'There's a certain trust and respect that happens in the chair when you create a look like this. A shared moment of letting instinct lead. No overthinking, just expression' She continued: 'I took inspiration from Vivienne's love of starting her ideas with loose, expressive drawings before turning them into garments so this was makeup, but treated a little like a sketch. Raw, instinctive, and free' Vivienne Westwood creative director Andreas Kronthaler (R) designed the red-patterned halter catsuit over a grey-patterned maxi-blouse Jackson donned for day six of PFW The Beverly Hills-born socialite - turning 28 next month - accessorized with black thigh-high slouchy boots and a matching skinny belt selected by stylist Jessica Paster Hairstylist Luke Pluckrose coiffed Jackson's messy updo as she held court front row at Cesure in Paris alongside pop stars Chappell Roan (2-R) and Lola Young (R) The Zadig & Voltaire brand ambassador - who announced January 6 that she's been sober for six years - has also attended the PFW runway presentations for Mugler, Chloe and Tom Ford Last August, the Hit Your Knees songstress blasted Antoine Fuqua's $155M-budget two-part movie - hitting US/UK theaters April 24 - as having 'a lot of inaccuracy' and 'a lot of just full-blown lies.' On February 1, the New York Post reported that Jackson's younger brothers - Prince and Bigi - are 'scrambling to heal rift' so they can all reunite at the biopic's red carpet premiere. '[Prince] feels like she's adding to the dysfunction label the family has always carried,' a source said. 'He wants the focus on the movie and their father's achievements, not headlines about internal fighting.' The self-described 'mediocre Thom Yorke impersonator' - who's rarely pictured with her birth mother Debbie Rowe - was only 11 years old when her father tragically succumbed to 'acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication' at age 50 back in 2009. Jackson has been hard at work promoting her new single Zombies in Love, produced by Linda Perry, which drops this Friday. The hippie at heart - who boasts 8.1 million social media followers - said on Instagram: 'I wrote this about being strung out back in the day with the love of my life.' Jackson is in a lengthy legal battle with her famous father's estate co-executors John Branca and John McClain, whom she claims pocketed $148.2 million in 'bonus and premium payouts' through 2021 The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation ambassador has also publicly distanced herself from Lionsgate's fully-authorized musical biopic, Michael, starring her cousin Jaafar Jackson Last August, Jackson blasted Antoine Fuqua's $155M-budget two-part movie - hitting US/UK theaters April 24 - as having 'a lot of inaccuracy' and 'a lot of just full-blown lies' On February 1, the New York Post reported that the Hit Your Knees songstress' younger brothers - Prince and Bigi - are 'scrambling to heal rift' so they can all reunite at the biopic's red carpet premiere (pictured in 2024) Jackson - who's rarely pictured with her birth mother Debbie Rowe - was only 11 years old when the 13-time Grammy winner tragically succumbed to 'acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication' at age 50 back in 2009 The self-described 'mediocre Thom Yorke impersonator' - whose new single Zombies in Love drops this Friday - is next scheduled to perform live on May 23 at BottleRock Napa Valley Jackson is next scheduled to perform live on May 23 at the California music festival, BottleRock Napa Valley. The Doctor Odyssey guest star will appear in Christopher Broughton's documentary Michael Jackson: A Celebration, which hits US theaters in June. Jackson's upcoming acting roles include the RZA's drama One Spoon of Chocolate, Ronald Krauss' horror thriller Wounds, Adam Sigal's comedy Skinemax, Catherine Hardwicke's drama Street Smart and Adam Rifkin's comedy Toad. Katie Price's son Harvey is now calling her husband Lee Andrews 'Daddy' despite never meeting him in person. The former glamour model, 47, shocked fans last month when she married the businessman, 43, following a whirlwind one-week romance. And despite not having met Harvey or any of her other children in person yet, Lee has hinted at an apparent bond in a new social media post on Sunday. Katie is currently back home in the UK after recently returning from Dubai, where she had been spending time with Lee. She has since reunited with her eldest son Harvey, 23, who appears to have made quite the impression on Katie's new husband. In a new Instagram Story, Lee shared a picture Harvey had drawn, showing two green frogs beneath a night sky with a love heart in the background. Katie Price's son Harvey is now calling her husband Lee Andrews'Daddy' despite never meeting him in person (pictured in 2022) The former glamour model, 47, shocked fans last month when she married the businessman, 43, following a whirlwind one-week romance In a new Instagram Story, Lee shared a picture Harvey had drawn, showing two green frogs beneath a night sky with a love heart in the background One frog is called 'Queen Mummy Bullfrog' with the other named 'Daddy Lee Bullfrog'. He captioned the snap: 'Harvey's beautiful picture for me and his mummy.' 'Aww Daddy Lee x cute. If you love your wife you love there children.' The businessman accompanied the story with the audio of Sister Sledge's hit song We Are Family. Lee is yet to fly to the UK to meet Katie's children in person, but it's thought that he's spoken to Harvey via FaceTime. It comes just a day after Lee showed his devotion to Katie by appearing to get her son Harvey's name tattooed on his hand. 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, Harvey's name can be seen in a cursive font alongside an image of a frog, the 23-year-old's favourite animal. It comes just a day after Lee showed his devotion to Katie by appearing to get her son Harvey's name tattooed on his hand 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. 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.' '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.' Poppy Delevingne set pulses racing with her revealing outfit on Sunday, as she led the glamorous arrivals at the Akris Fall/Winter 2026-2027 show during Paris Fashion Week. The socialite Poppy, 39, ensured all eyes were on her as she ditched a shirt of the runway presentation, posing up a storm in just a black lace bra. While over the top, she sported a chic semi-sheer co-ord, made up of wide-legged trousers and a matching long cardigan in an intricately woven wavy design. The model slicked back her blonde hair in a sleek bun as she flaunted her incredible figure, just nine months after giving birth to her baby girl. Poppy welcomed daughter Kaia Moon with her billionaire businessman partner Archie Keswick on May 20 last year. But she waited to announce the birth until July, taking to Instagram to share a black and white snap of her clutching her baby girl's hand with the caption: '20.05.25 The stars aligned, & then there was you. Poppy Delevingne set pulses racing with her revealing outfit on Sunday, as she led the glamorous arrivals at the Akris Fall/Winter 2026-2027 show during Paris Fashion Week The socialite Poppy, 39, ensured all eyes were on her as she ditched a shirt of the runway presentation, posing up a storm in just a black lace bra While over the top, she sported a chic semi-sheer co-ord, made up of wide-legged trousers and a matching long cardigan in an intricately woven wavy design 'KAIA MOON KESWICK. Welcome to the world baby bear. You have our hearts, our everything.' The sister of Cara Delevingne previously revealed she had discovered she was pregnant during London Fashion Week, after she noticed her clothes were tighter than usual while being fitted for a Burberry show. Poppy was joined on the front row of the Akris show by fellow nepo babies Scout Willis and Rainey Qualley, with the trio of glamorous stars sat side by side. Scout, 34, was a vision in red, donning an eye-catching draped maxidress with a coordinating collared shirt, left unbuttoned. The daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore added even more colour to her bold look with a bright yellow handbag, and finished the outfit with black peep-toe heels. Rainey exuded elegance in a black button-up shirt with see-through tulle sleeves, teamed with matching sheer trousers, flashing a glimpse of her long legs underneath. The daughter of Hollywood star Andie MacDowell, 36, kept her accessories minimal, opting for a plain black handbag and shoes, while sporting a fresh-faced natural makeup look. Rainey's arrival at Paris Fashion Week comes just four months after she tied the knot with filmmaker Tony Wilson in San Bernardino Mountains in California. The model slicked back her blonde hair in a sleek bun as she flaunted her incredible figure, just nine months after giving birth to her baby girl Poppy was joined on the front row of the Akris show by fellow nepo babies Scout Willis and Rainey Qualley, with the trio of glamorous stars sat side by side Scout, 34, was a vision in red, donning an eye-catching draped maxidress with a coordinating collared shirt, left unbuttoned The daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore added even more colour to her bold look with a bright yellow handbag, and finished the outfit with black peep-toe heels Rainey exuded elegance in a black button-up shirt with see-through tulle sleeves, teamed with matching sheer trousers, flashing a glimpse of her long legs underneath The daughter of Hollywood star Andie MacDowell, 36, kept her accessories minimal, opting for a plain black handbag and shoes, while sporting a fresh-faced natural makeup look Rainey's arrival at Paris Fashion Week comes just four months after she tied the knot with filmmaker Tony Wilson in San Bernardino Mountains in California The kooky couple revealed they wanted to make their Halloween wedding as 'fun, spooky, gorgeous, silly, and romantic as possible', with their one-year-old daughter Bluebell at the centre. As a result they had witch bridesmaids and warlock groomsmen and Rainey's mum Andie dressed up as a 'crow queen' for the ceremony. While they also had apple bobbing, costumes aplenty, 'creepy' photos pinned to trees and his and hers cocktails were called Corpse Bride and 'Til Death Do Us Part. Rainey's Hollywood star sister Margaret Qualley was also by her side for her big day, as well as Margeret's husband, Bleachers star and Taylor Swift co-collaborator Jack Antonoff, who performed the couple's first dance. Spilling all on the nuptials to Vogue, Rainey explained: 'We wanted it to feel like a big sleepover and just made it easy and cozy. 'We didn't do a rehearsal dinner, instead we did a pajama party and a vegan pizza and game night the following evening. The whole weekend was just such a blast.' When picking her bridal looks, she explained she opted against having various wedding outfits like many brides and revealed she was just four weeks postpartum when she started trying on gowns. 'I care a lot about the environment,' she explained. 'And I wanted a dress that was light, and easy to wear and dance in. 'Lots of women change dresses after the ceremony, but I wanted to wear mine all night because you only get to wear it once!' She wore a Mira Zwillinger dress at Loved Twice Bridal in Beverly Hills, detailing: 'It was off the runway, so hadn't been worn by a bride yet, but was still considered second-hand. It was perfect for me.' While in a heartwarming touch, her 'something borrowed' was Andie's antique wedding shawl sewn into her veil, which Rainey admitted 'was my favourite part'. Vicky Pattison has shared an update with fans as she and husband Ercan Ramadan attempt to flee Dubai after the US-Israel war against Iran sparked chaos in the UAE. The TV personality, 32, revealed they had been driven a whopping 11 hours across the border to Oman amid the 'rising panic' in a desperate bid to finally fly home to the UK after their three previous flights were cancelled. Vicky and Ercan abandoned plans to try to fly to Australia or New Zealand, but wanted to return home and be reunited with their beloved dogs Milo and Max as 'quickly and safety as possible'. Alongside snaps of their mammoth trip to Oman, she penned: 'We're so sorry for our radio silence over the last week, with everything unfolding the way it was and changing so rapidly we desperately didn't want to say anything insensitive or hyperbolic that would add to the rising panic around the situation'. 'We really appreciate all your messages of concern and just wanted to reassure everyone that we're fine. After 3 cancelled flights and the realisation that we definitely weren't going to make it on to Australia and New Zealand we wanted to try and get home as quickly and safely as possible'. She went on: 'I understand that there are a lot of people still in Dubai feeling really calm and safe however, we wanted to be back to our babies, work and normality and we felt like Oman was our best option'. Vicky Pattison has shared an update with fans as she and husband Ercan Ramadan attempt to flee Dubai after the US-Israel war against Iran sparked chaos in the UAE She revealed they had been driven a whopping 11 hours across to Oman amid the 'rising panic' in a desperate bid to finally fly home to the UK, after three previous flights were cancelled 'We made our way to Oman from Dubai with some of our friends via private transfer, we used this company @skyevipcarrental and found them to be professional, reasonably priced and comfortable'. Vicky continued: 'All in all, the journey took us around 11 hours, including around 2-3 hours at the border crossing, checking documents and passports and cost about 130pp'. 'For anyone stuck in Dubai and wanting to get home via Oman, I will put more information on @vickysvacays.. I just don't want to overwhelm or bore anyone on here. We are going to try and enjoy our last days away and explore Oman hopefully. 'The last week has been quite unsettled and we understand people feeling unsafe and uncertain.. we have experienced moments like that, but ultimately feel like it's important we acknowledge our position of privilege. She added: 'We are extremely grateful to be making our way home and are thinking of anyone feeling fearful or unsettled, anywhere in a world that is rapidly becoming an increasingly scary place to be. 'Finally just a little Thankyou to @addressbeachresort and @uaegov for keeping us safe, calm and informed when possible. We will keep you updated and are looking forward to getting home in the next couple of days.' Meanwhile an influencer trapped in a five-star hotel in Dubai has said Brits who have managed to flee the city have been lucky as she faces a 3,000 bill in living expenses while she remains stranded. Vicky also explained how she Ercan and pals had also abandoned plans to try to fly to Australia or New Zealand She explained how the couple wanted to return home and be reunited with beloved dogs Milo and Max as 'quickly and safety as possible' She penned a long caption alongside snaps of their lengthy journey 'We're so sorry for our radio silence over the last week, with everything unfolding the way it was and changing so rapidly we desperately didn't want to say anything insensitive' Lily Mann, 25, arrived in Dubai with her boyfriend James Shires, 33, on February 26 with the intention of a week-long holiday. The couple has since spent the last two days trying to navigate a way back home after their Etihad Airways flight to Manchester Airport was cancelled, leaving them to either pay upwards of 10,000 each for a one-way flight or to wait indefinitely. They join the thousands of British travellers stranded in the Middle East after US-Israeli strikes on Iran elicited retaliatory strikes by Iran across the region. This comes as the UK has halved the readiness time for aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales ahead of a possible deployment to the region, it was reported today. Ms Mann, who also works as a freelance social media manager, told the Daily Mail the flights home are just not there. She said: We have been very, very unlucky and people who have got out have been very lucky. The few flights that are showing are business class or first class seats, which are coming up to around 10,000. This has forced them to continue staying in the five-star hotel FIVE Luxe JBR, with the holiday extension costing upwards of 3,000 in holiday costs and dog care. The stars were out in force for the WhatsOnStage awards held in London on Sunday night. Amber Davies led the glamorous arrivals to the London Palladium and turned heads in a bright red feathered gown. The Strictly star is currently touring with the Legally Blonde theatre show where she is taking on the role of main character Elle Woods. Amber, 29, was joined by her partner Ben Joyce who she met while they starred together in the West End production of Back to the Future: The Musical. The former Love Island star looked incredible in the high neck number which was accessorised by statement pearl earrings. She wore her dark tresses pulled back and opted for a glowing makeup look complete with a light pink lip. The stars were out in force for the WhatsOnStage awards held in London on Sunday night, including Strictly's Amber Davies Amber, 29, was joined by her partner Ben Joyce who she met while they starred together in the West End production of Back to the Future: The Musical Also in attendance was Strictly professional Johannes Radebe who stole the limelight in an incredible black and white suit. Presenter Ore Oduba was also at the awards and wore a stylish pink top and brown trousers. The WhatsOnStage Awards are the only major UK theatre awards decided by the theatregoers themselves. At the annual concert ceremonies, alongside seeing the winners crowned, audience members also enjoy a host of exclusive live performances from top theatrical talent. Paddington The Musical leads the way this year with 14 nominations - breaking a record previously held by & Juliet. The show, written by Tom Fletcher and Jessica Swale, is up for the Best New Musical Award and has received recognition for its director Luke Sheppard and choreographer Ellen Kane, as well as for set design among others. Evita received nine nominations, including for Best Musical Revival. It's up against Regent's Park's Brigadoon, the Watermill's actor-musician Jesus Christ Superstar, Sheffield Theatres' festive Little Shop of Horrors, Curve's My Fair Lady, and the Menier and West End transfer of The Producers. Amber led the glamorous arrivals to the London Palladium and turned heads in a bright red feathered gown She is currently touring with the Legally Blonde theatre show where she is taking on the role of main character Elle Woods The former Love Island star looked incredible in the high neck number which was accessorised by statement pearl earrings She wore her dark tresses pulled back and opted for a glowing makeup look complete with a light pink lip Also in attendance was Strictly professional Johannes Radebe who stole the limelight in an incredible black and white suit He showed off his red painted nails and accessorised with a Gucci bag Paddington The Musical leads the way this year, with 14 nominations. The show was written by Tom Fletcher and Jessica Swale (pictured) The show, written by Tom and Jessica (seen at the awards), is up for the Best New Musical Award Tom wore a smart grey suit covered in embroidered birds Ncuti Gatwa turned heads in a red suit Strictly's Nikita Kuzmin was joined by his glamorous girlfriend Lauren Presenter Ore Oduba was also at the awards and wore a stylish pink top and brown trousers The WhatsOnStage Awards are the only major UK theatre awards decided by the theatregoers themselves (Heartstopper star Joe Locke is seen) Casualty star Evelyn Hoskins attends The 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards Gaby Roslin wore a chic white suit for the occasion Actress Harriet Thorpe cut a stylish figure in a patterned blazer Hannah Lowther wore a bright pink number Richard Kind looked smart in a black suit It comes after just last month Amber reflected on the 'nasty comments' she received during her stint on Strictly Come Dancing. The Welsh star joined the BBC show as a last minute replacement for injured Dani Dyer, and throughout the show she suffered a fair share of backlash due to her theatrical background. Before reality TV fame, Amber trained in musical theatre, graduating from Urdang, a performing arts university, on a full scholarship. Her first professional role was in the West End show 9 to 5, produced by global superstar Dolly Parton, and she has since gone on to star in six more musicals. Of the trolling, Amber told The Guardian: 'Well, I'm a woman. I am ambitious. And [people think] confidence comes across as being stuck-up. But if you're too sweet, you're fake, so you can't do anything right.' Amber rose to fame on Love Island in 2017, where she and ex-partner Kem Cetinay took home the 50,000 prize fund. Amber thinks trolling is getting worse since she first found fame. She said: 'With TikTok, when people jump on a bandwagon, they go for it. But I feel like the nasty comments I was getting [on Strictly] werent actually coming from the younger audience, they came from the older audience.' When Amber survived the dance off against Lewis Cope she was bombarded with cruel comments, forcing her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin to address the hate on the show at the time. Former X Factor star Matt Cardle also made his arrival Actress Mazz Murray dazzled in a shimmering blue gown Gina Murray attends the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards EastEnders star Kim Medcalf cut a sophisticated figure in a black suit Faye Tozer, Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards of Steps Members of the cast and crew of Paddington Matt Lucas looked smart in a blue suit Tom Fletcher, Jessica Swale and producer Sonia Friedman Matt Willis (Busted) and West End star Katie Hall are currently starring as the Emcee and Sally Bowles in the award-winning West End production of Cabaret Mei Mac turned heads in a white gown Actress and model Laura Harrier flashed some leg in a black number Stephen Fry with his award for Best Supporting Performer in a Play Timi Akinyosade with his Best Professional Debut Performance award for Paddington The Musical Fabian Aloise, with his award for Best Choreography for Evita presented to him by Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin Johannes Radebe (L) and Matt Cardle (R) and Timi Akinyosade, winner of the Best Professional Debut award He said 'you have had so much hate, every single day'. In December, Amber, who made it through three dance-offs and reached the series' final, said the contest 'completely changed her'. She said: 'Being in the dance offs, I'm kind of glad that happened because it was character building for me to see, "OK, how am I gonna deal with this?" I've had to be kinder to myself. 'What Strictly's given me is the space to be a lot more comfortable in myself. 'It has completely changed me. I have loved every second of it. It has honestly been the greatest experience of my life.' BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity is like a beacon lighting the way forward for humanity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday. Wang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the national legislature. Throughout history, even in the darkest times, there have always been those who never stopped chasing ideals and light, he said, noting that the truth and value of this vision are sinking in with people around the world. "Our enemies are not each other -- they are war, poverty, hunger, and injustice," Wang said. "We cannot defeat them by fighting alone or looking after only ourselves." Building a community with a shared future for humanity is both a beautiful vision and a historic process, which requires the united efforts of many generations, said the foreign minister. Wang said the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and its rise as a country of 1.4 billion people will not follow the beaten track where big powers vied for supremacy and territory. "On the contrary, we will take a path of peaceful development, and we encourage other countries to take the same path," he said. James Van Der Beek's widow Kimberly Brook posted over 60 Instastories on Sunday in honor of what would've been his 49th birthday, and she's missing him 'tremendously.' The Dawson's Creek alum tragically passed away, at age 48, on February 11 after a two-year battle with stage III colorectal cancer. Van Der Beek is survived by his six children - Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and Jeremiah, four - many of whom appeared in her heartbreaking tribute. The grieving 43-year-old - who has 482,000 Instagram followers - wrote: 'The way you were at births, held our newborns, revered me... I will cherish forever.' Brook posted 2025 videos of Van Der Beek using his bulging biceps to clear brush and install wood paneling on the walls of their 36-acre Texas ranch located 45 minutes outside of Austin. In one cute clip, the Sidelined 2: Intercepted actor starred in a social media video with his daughter Annabel where they nodded their sunglasses off the top of their heads down to the bridge of their noses in unison. James Van Der Beek's widow Kimberly Brook posted over 60 Instastories on Sunday in honor of what would've been his 49th birthday, and she's missing him 'tremendously' The Dawson's Creek alum tragically passed away, at age 48, on February 11 after a two-year battle with stage III colorectal cancer The 'medical intuitive' shared two sweet videos of Van Der Beek dancing with their children in their home or 'whatever random place' they stopped by on road trips. 'You are the light of our lives. You love, beauty, presence, tenderness, protection, safety, creativity and singing,' Brook wrote. 'Baby, you were the best humanity had to offer. This is a loss I don't know how to process. I will love you forever.' A GoFundMe created by family friends has amassed $2,755,015 from a $1.5 million goal through 51,000 donations - which will 'help cover essential living expenses, pay medical bills and support the children's education.' The married couple of 15 years - who originally met during a 2009 vacation to Israeli city Tel Aviv - renewed their wedding vows days before his death. 'We decided two days beforehand and our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles and we renewed our vows from bed,' Brook told People on February 17. '[The ceremony was] simple and beautiful and moving.' Van Der Beek's first marriage to former child star Heather McComb ended in 2010 after seven years, and she praised his 'incredible' second wife for her 'grace' under pressure and their deep love on February 12: 'True soulmates.' Van Der Beek is survived by his six children - Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and Jeremiah, four - many of whom appeared in her heartbreaking tribute (pictured June 14) The grieving 43-year-old - who has 482,000 Instagram followers - wrote: 'The way you were at births, held our newborns, revered me... I will cherish forever' Brook posted 2025 videos of Van Der Beek using his bulging biceps to clear brush and install wood paneling on the walls of their 36-acre Texas ranch located 45 minutes outside of Austin In one cute clip, the Sidelined 2: Intercepted actor starred in a social media video with his daughter Annabel where they nodded their sunglasses off the top of their heads down to the bridge of their noses in unison The 'medical intuitive' shared two sweet videos of Van Der Beek dancing with their children in their home or 'whatever random place' they stopped by on road trips 'You are the light of our lives. You love, beauty, presence, tenderness, protection, safety, creativity and singing,' Brook wrote 'Baby, you were the best humanity had to offer. This is a loss I don't know how to process. I will love you forever' A GoFundMe created by family friends has amassed $2,755,015 from a $1.5 million goal through 51,000 donations - which will 'help cover essential living expenses, pay medical bills and support the children's education' The married couple of 15 years - who originally met during a 2009 vacation to Israeli city Tel Aviv - renewed their wedding vows days before his death Audiences can catch Van Der Beek's final screen role as murderous pastor Jacob in John Burr's road trip thriller The Gates, which hits US AMC theaters this Friday Brook will next celebrate their son Joshua's 14th birthday this Friday, followed by her own 44th birthday on March 22 and their daughter Emilia's 10th birthday on March 23. Audiences can catch the Varsity Blues alum's final screen role as murderous pastor Jacob in John Burr's road trip thriller The Gates, which hits US AMC theaters this Friday. Van Der Beek also managed to find the strength to shoot a recurring role as Dean Wilson in Legally Blonde's eight-episode prequel spin-off Elle, which premieres July 1 on Amazon Prime Video. Laura Kittrell's nineties-set high school series - which has already been renewed for season two - also stars Lexi Minetree, June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Chandler Kinney and David Burtka. Rita Ora set pulses racing with her latest Instagram photo dump following her trip to sun-soaked Melbourne, Australia on Sunday. The songstress, 35, left little to the imagination as she posed topless before later taking to the stage in skimpy black lingerie Rita ditched her top and wore only a pair of red Adidas joggers as she held her arm across her bare chest to retain her modesty. The hitmaker showed off her jaw-dropping figure and rock hard abs as she gazed into her phone for the mirror selfie while attempting to capture the perfect shot. Next she slipped into lingerie and sheer stockings for her raunchy performance at the F1 2026: Australian Grand Prix. Rita looked nothing short of sensational in the racy look which she teamed with a white leather shoulder harness and belt as well as a pair of knee-high boots. Rita Ora, 35, set pulses racing with her latest Instagram photo dump following her trip to sun-soaked Melbourne, Australia on Sunday The songstress left little to the imagination as she posed topless before later taking to the stage in skimpy black lingerie Her beloved husband Taika Waititi, 50, could be seen throwing his arms in the air and dancing to the music as he watched her strut her stuff on stage. Rita captioned the post: 'Melbourne in a nutshell. You rock. Thanks for having me perform @ausgp and seeing all my friends and love ones!' 'I love you always and forever. You know that. See you soon hopefully!! Oh and its international womens day so yeah we rock!'. Rita recently revealed she has been through a 'real eye opener' after becoming a stepmother to her moviemaker husband's children. After tying the knot four years ago, Rita became a stepmother to his daughters Te Kainga o te Hinekahu, 13, and Matewa Kiritapu, nine. Last year, Rita shared rare insight into her marriage to Taika and credited their strong friendship as the key component to their romantic relationship. She said: 'Taika and I are basically just best friends and we wanted to just live in that element forever, I guess.' The couple wed in a secret ceremony in August 2022, after Rita bucked tradition and popped the question. Another racy look saw her go braless beneath a daringly plunging gown Next she slipped into lingerie and sheer stockings for her performance at the F1 2026: Australian Grand Prix Rita looked nothing short of sensational in the racy look which she teamed with a white leather shoulder harness and belt as well as a pair of knee-high boots She accessorised with statement jewellery and shades Her beloved husband Taika Waititi, 50, could be seen throwing his arms in the air and dancing to the music as he watched her strut her stuff on stage Rita captioned the post: 'Melbourne in a nutshell. You rock. Thanks for having me perform @ausgp and seeing all my friends and love ones!' Their low-key Los Angeles ceremony wasn't confirmed by the couple until a year later, which Rita told Grazia they 'winged with zero planning'. After years of not being in the right relationship during her 'messy twenties', Rita said that when she got together with Taika it felt 'right and safe'. The pair started dating in March 2021, before going public with their romance that August. Prior to their romantic relationship, Rita and Taika were close friends for five years. In a rare comment on her family life, Rita opened up about how being a stepmother changed her perspective on the world. Speaking to The Sun, Rita said she finds the role 'easy', but confessed it helped her understand how much more there is to life. She said: 'It's really easy. We wake up, we work out together with the kids running on the treadmills, it's a family affair. 'I have to say it's been a real eye-opener to understand that sometimes there's more to life than what you care about in that moment. I've realised there's so much more, so [becoming a stepmother] did give me that.' Film director Taika shares his two children with his ex-wife Chelsea Winstanley, also 50, who he split from in 2018 after seven years of marriage. Jamie Lee Curtis appeared to clap back at Timothee Chalamet's controversial comments about the popularity and relevance of opera and ballet. The 30-year-old Marty Supreme star has faced a barrage of backlash after making the controversial remarks during an hour-long Variety/CNN Town Hall with his Interstellar 'father' Matthew McConaughey on February 24. 'I don't want to be working in ballet or opera. Things where it's like, "Hey, keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore,"' Chalamet said smiling. Realizing his mistake, the native New Yorker attempted to recover: 'All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there... I just lost 14 cents in viewership. Damn, I just took shots for no reason.' Last Friday, the 67-year-old Oscar winner reposted Broadway thespian Zach McNally's Instastory about the scandal: 'Why is Timothee Chalamet taking shots at opera and ballet?' 'Why are any artists taking shots at any other artist in the time [when] artificial intelligence threatens literally all art forms, except performing art like plays, ballets and operas and musicals,' the 35-year-old SUNY Purchase-trained dancer asked. Jamie Lee Curtis appeared to clap back at Timothee Chalamet's controversial comments about the popularity and relevance of opera and ballet Curtis - who boasts 11.8 million social media followers - went on to re-post clips from prestigious companies like the Nationale Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam before showing a lot of support for Sinners star Michael B. Jordan. Gold Derby is now predicting that the 39-year-old Actor Award winner has a 48.28 percent chance of winning the best actor Oscar for taking on the role of twin brothers while Chalamet has slipped to 36.99 percent. However, many of the 11,000 registered Academy members probably cast their ballot before voting officially closed last Thursday at 5pm PT, so it's unclear if his chances will be affected. The boyfriend of Kylie Jenner is nominated for two trophies - best picture and best actor - for his part producing and starring in Josh Safdie's $70M-budget ping-pong drama at the 98th Academy Awards, which air next Sunday on ABC/Hulu. Chalamet was previously considered the frontrunner after winning best actor at the Critics' Choice Awards on January 4 and the Golden Globe Awards on January 11. Other celebrities to comment publicly against the Knicks superfan include Laura Benanti, King Princess, Sarah Hyland, Ashley Graham, Sam Taylor-Johnson, Misty Copeland, Eva Mendes, Poppy Delevingne, W. Kamau Bell, Helen Hunt, Alexis Knapp and Holland Taylor. To make matters worse, Chalamet's own mother Nicole Flender and late grandmother Enid Flender were both professional dancers. Enid - who died, age 95, in 2022 - danced in Broadway musicals Kiss Me, Kate at the Shubert Theatre from 1949-1951 and Make Mine Manhattan at the Broadhurst Theatre in 1949. Join the debate Team Jamie Lee Curtis or Team Timothee Chalamet? Tell us where YOU stand. The 30-year-old Marty Supreme star has faced a barrage of backlash after making the controversial remarks during an hour-long Variety/CNN Town Hall with his Interstellar 'father' Matthew McConaughey (L) on February 24 'I don't want to be working in ballet or opera. Things where it's like, "Hey, keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore,"' Chalamet said smiling Last Friday, the 67-year-old Oscar winner reposted Broadway thespian Zach McNally's Instastory about the scandal: 'Why is Timothee Chalamet taking shots at opera and ballet?' Curtis - who boasts 11.8 million social media followers - went on to re-post clips from prestigious companies like the Nationale Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam before showing a lot of support for Sinners star Michael B. Jordan Gold Derby is now predicting that the 39-year-old Actor Award winner has a 48.28 percent chance of winning the best actor Oscar for taking on the role of twin brothers while Chalamet has slipped to 36.99 percent However, many of the 11,000 registered Academy members probably cast their ballot before voting officially closed last Thursday at 5pm PT, so it's unclear if his chances will be affected (pictured February 10) The boyfriend of Kylie Jenner is nominated for two trophies - best picture and best actor - for his part producing and starring in Josh Safdie's $70M-budget ping-pong drama at the 98th Academy Awards, which air next Sunday on ABC/Hulu To make matters worse, Chalamet's own mother Nicole Flender (R, pictured in 2017) and late grandmother Enid Flender (2-L) were both professional dancers Enid - who died, age 95, in 2022 - danced in Broadway musicals Kiss Me, Kate at the Shubert Theatre from 1949-1951 and Make Mine Manhattan at the Broadhurst Theatre in 1949 The 68-year-old Actors' Equity Association councilor studied at the School of American Ballet and eventually taught dance from 1990-2015 Last Friday, the principal at Chalamet's alma mater LaGuardia High School - Deepak Marwah - wrote an open letter scolding him: 'We know your heart, and we know you know better' (pictured December 10 with his big sister Pauline Chalamet) The Metropolitan Opera, The Los Angeles Opera, London's Royal Ballet and Opera, The English National Opera and The Seattle Opera are only a few of the professional companies publicly blasting the Lucid Motors brand ambassador (pictured Sunday) The 68-year-old Actors' Equity Association councilor studied at the School of American Ballet and eventually taught dance from 1990-2015. Last Friday, the principal at Chalamet's alma mater LaGuardia High School - Deepak Marwah - wrote an open letter scolding him: 'We know your heart, and we know you know better.' The Metropolitan Opera, The Los Angeles Opera, London's Royal Ballet and Opera, The English National Opera and The Seattle Opera are only a few of the professional companies publicly blasting the Lucid Motors brand ambassador. Chalamet - who vows to be 'one of the greats' - concludes his role as Padishah Emperor Paul Atreides in Denis Villeneuve's space opera three-quel Dune: Part Three, which hits US/UK theaters December 18. Warner Bros. Pictures' big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1969 novel Dune Messiah will also star Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Momoa and Robert Pattinson. Costco shoppers have not refrained from sharing their honest views on products from the superstore's trademark brand, Kirkland Signature. One of the most popular retailers in the United States, Costco is known for offering customers the biggest bang for their buck. The company has over 630 warehouses nationwide as of March 2026, and continues to grow as big-box stores like Target struggle to keep up. Costco memberships start at $65, with members getting access to the store's iconic food court and a variety of household essentials from wine to tires. While the annual fee may seem steep, it can easily be recouped with Costco's bulk pricing on food staples. Some products are so cheap that shoppers insist they justify the rising cost of memberships, and others say that access to the quality of Kirkland brand products makes the fee more than worth it. But not every Costco product is a fan-favorite - here are the Kirkland Signature items that customers suggest you skip. Costco members say the Kirkland Signature Pepperoni Pizza falls flat for a frozen pie, even compared to DiGiorno or Red Baron Kirkland Signature Pepperoni Pizza It's hard to mess up a pizza, but some Costco shoppers claim the Kirkland Signature Pepperoni Pizza misses the mark. This is a frozen dish similar to DiGiorno or Red Barron. One Reddit user said they 'definitely taste cheap,' but that's expected for a frozen food. 'I didn't like it,' another Reddit user said. 'There didn't seem to be flavor anywhere, especially the pepperoni.' Kirkland Signature Reduced Sodium Dry Salame falls short for shoppers despite its 'healthier' label. Kirkland Signature Reduced Sodium Dry Salame Sure it's a 'healthier' option in a convenient resealable container, but this salami option is among the lowest rated on Costco's website. The 'Italian-style' meats are pre-sliced and milk-free, but one disgruntled member described it as 'very tough to chew with a wax jerky texture and not a lot of flavor'. Join the debate What disappointing Costco products have you wasted money on and how did you handle it? Some Costco shoppers say Kirkland Signature chicken breast chunks are overly salty or even 'rubbery.' Kirkland Signature Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks For a protein-packed option, Costco offers their pre-cooked Kirkland Signature chicken breast chunks. There are 16 grams of protein and no antibiotics, but some customers couldn't get over the 'salty' flavor of the chicken chunks. 'Is it just me or is anyone else getting more and more weird chunks, rubbery and tough...' one Reddit user wrote, 'the last two bags I've had have been pretty off-putting.' With a weird 'uncooked' color, Costco shoppers don't recommend the Kirkland mild sausage. Kirkland Signature Mild Italian Sausage For a product that should be snappy and juicy, the Kirkland Signature's mild sausage was a miss for some customers. One shopper said the sausage felt 'too mild,' missing flavoring or seasoning in general. For others, the sausage felt too salty. 'Weird consistency, too salty, not enough flavor, and when fully cooked have a weird 'uncooked' pink coloration,' one review said. 'Never getting these again.' Some Costco members described the Kirkland protein bars as tasting 'chemically.' Kirkland Signature Protein Bar It's definitely a good source of protein - one bar clocks in at 21 grams for 190 just calories. Customers deducted a few points for the taste and texture, though, which were described as 'chemically and slightly bitter.' For five more dollars (and five more bars per box), Costco has Pure Protein Bars available for purchase. Kirkland's version of Greek feta wasn't 'authentic' to some Costco shoppers. Kirkland Signature Organic Greek Feta In Tasting Table's ranking of Costco-branded cheeses, the Organic Greek Feta landed near the end, described as tasting 'different' than a typical feta. Outside of Costco, the white cheese is known for its salty flavor and crumbly texture, made with either sheep, goat, and/or cow's milk. This Kirkland version is a product of Greece and gets points for being organic, but it just isn't as 'authentic' as some customers hoped. 'This cheese is not for savoring or eating alone,' one review said. 'It is barely edible, very low quality feta. But you could use it as ingredient in a dish where you want feta and are not concerned about the taste, texture, or mouthfeel that it leaves. Will not be purchasing again.' Kirkland's organic ravioli had some issues with quality control, with one customer's product missing its filling. Kirkland Signature Organic Spinach & Cheese Ravioli They're quick and easy, but that isn't always a good thing. Kirkland Signature Organic Spinach & Cheese Ravioli come with about 12 servings per package and are ready in a speedy four minutes. However, some customers complained about the quality control for this pasta dish. One shopper claims that six ravioli were 'completely empty,' missing the spinach and cheese filling. Not every Kirkland product has to be a winner, though. A big perk of Costco is their 'satisfaction guaranteed' statement on their website, which encourages members to get refunded for lackluster Kirkland products. A 'dead' mall in the Bay Area has taken its next victim - and customers are heartbroken. Barnes & Noble announced it will close its branch in the Shops at Tanforan - a mall that just last year was slammed with the closure of another staple, JCPenney. In fact, only a few stores remain open at the Shops at Tanforan, including a jeweler, a bridal shop and a cell phone store. There's still a Target and Starbucks at the mall, as well as a Chipotle in the food court. Barnes & Noble, which is the largest retail bookseller in the United States, revealed on Facebook it will shutter the San Bruno location on May 2 - the final day of its lease. 'It is with great sadness that we confirm the closure of our Barnes & Noble bookstore as our lease has ended,' the statement said. 'We have loved being a part of this neighborhood, and it has been our honor and privilege to be your bookseller for the last 20 years.' The San Bruno storefront has been at this location for more than 20 years, making it a staple in the community. The mall itself originally opening in the 1970s, and has since fallen into disarray according to shoppers. 'I'd never set foot in a truly 'dead' mall before visiting Tanforan the other day,' one Reddit user said. 'It was a weird feeling.' 'Sad to see it go,' another Reddit user wrote. 'My parents would leave me in the Barnes & Noble childrens section for an hour or two before we would have pho and whatever dessert store was open right across. Special part of my childhood right there.' The Shops at Tanforan in San Bruno, California, currently have a Barnes & Noble location, but it will close by May 2026. Some of the biggest retailers at The Shops at Tanforan include Target and Cinemark Century at Tanforan and XD. Sears and JCPenney has since shuttered. Not all Barnes & Noble locations are suffering the same fate - the bookseller has seen an increase in sales across the board, making this closure stand out during a time of growth. As of 2024, the company's CEO confirmed it moved past its 'difficult phase,' punctuated by COVID. In 2025, Barnes & Noble opened over 60 new stores across the US, including some locations in California. The San Bruno area is a suburb south of San Francisco - and is generally considered one of the safer neighborhoods in the Bay Area. The Tanforan Mall losing its luster, however, follows a nationwide pattern of shopping centers closing. Despite the holiday season, two New Jersey malls were reportedly slowly dying - Livingston Mall and Hamilton Mall. One of Rhode Island's oldest indoor shopping centers was repurposed into affordable micro-lofts in response to demand for more urban housing. The US has an estimated 1,200 malls and by 2028, there could be as few as 900 still operating, according to Capital One's Shopping Research The San Francisco Centre, formerly known as the Westfield Mall, was left 'eerily empty' after 93 percent of its storefronts closed. The mall, valued at $1.2 billion about a decade ago, officially foreclosed in November 2025, citing customers' preference towards online shopping post-pandemic and surging crime in downtown San Francisco. Barnes and Noble in Union Square in New York is one of the bookseller's largest locations. Barnes & Noble is the largest retail bookseller in the United States (stock image) San Francisco as a whole built a reputation for being 'dangerous,' making it difficult for retailers to find and keep their footing. Crime and homelessness led several retailers to shutter in Union Square area. At the time, Nordstrom Rack released a statement saying, 'decisions like this are never easy, and this one has been especially difficult. 'But as many of you know, the dynamics of the downtown San Francisco market have changed dramatically over the past several years, impacting customer foot traffic to our stores and our ability to operate successfully.' Only recently have AT&T and luxury fashion reseller the RealReal opened storefronts in the area, leading some to believe the downtown area may be turning a corner. There is another Barnes & Noble location located in Emeryville - about a 30 minute drive from San Bruno. There are also more niche bookstores located nearby, including San Francisco's Dog Eared Books and City Lights Booksellers & Publishers. Californias legendary wine industry is facing what insiders are calling a Grapes of Wrath moment as layoffs spread, wineries shut down and tons of fruit is left rotting on the vine. A toxic mix of tariffs, falling alcohol consumption and soaring costs of doing business in California is squeezing vineyards across the state. Some winemakers say conditions have become so bad that harvesting grapes would actually cost more than the fruit is worth. Last fall, one California vineyard owner left around 50 tons of grapes to rot because processing them would have lost money. California has one of the highest state income taxes in the US, as well as imposing high taxes on sales and property, which dramatically increase the cost of doing business in the state. The latest blow came last week when Jackson Family Wines - the sixth largest wine producer in the United States - shut its Carneros Hill winery in Sonoma, with the loss of 13 jobs. The company, which has 40 brands and is best known for its Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, produces around six million cases of wine a year and operates more than 25 wineries in California. Jackson said the Carneros Hill facility had become underutilized and production would be consolidated elsewhere. The shutdown is just the latest sign of trouble sweeping California wine country. Already this year, America's biggest wine makers have shut a string vineyards - or put them up for sale - while axing axe jobs. Just days earlier, industry giant E & J Gallo Winery announced it would close a production facility in Napa Valley and cut 93 jobs across four sites. Wineries across California are the latest corner of America's alcohol industry to be hit by a perfect storm of forces working against drinking culture (Pictured: Vineyards in Napa Valley) Tariffs are squeezing exports and pushing up the cost of imported ingredients. Running a business in California is becoming ever more complex and expensive. And, crucially, Americans are going teetotal at sobering rates Gallo, which owns brands including Barefoot, Black Box and Dark Horse, also shut a winery in nearby San Luis Obispo last year too. In February, Foley Family Wines shut the winemaking headquarters of historic Chalone Vineyard in Soledad, Monterey County. The winery once produced the first American wine that famously picky chef Julia Child said she loved. The same month, Trinchero Family Wine & Spirits - the third-largest wine company in the country, producing 17 million cases a year - has put two of its top vineyards up for sale. Meanwhile, Australian-owned Treasury Wine Estates - the seventh-largest US wine producer - paused dividend payments to shareholders after making a big loss on its American business amid a 17 percent drop in sales over six months. In January, Constellation Brands - America's fifth-biggest wine company - laid off more than 200 workers at the historic Mission Bell Winery in Madera. The same month, Jean-Charles Boisset, a major Napa Valley winery owner, shut two tasting rooms in the region. For some growers the economics have become so grim that harvesting grapes no longer makes financial sense. The latest layoffs come less than a week after E. & J. Gallo Winery - the largest wine company in the US which owns Barefoot Wine (pictured) Stuart Spencer, owner of St Amant Winery in Lodi, said he left around 50 tons of grapes to rot on vines last fall because harvesting and processing them would have cost more than they were worth. 'We're doing our best to keep our head above water,' Spencer, owner of St. Amant Winery and executive director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission, told the LA Times. The departure of so many companies from the largest wine market in the US is a warning sign for an industry which is already struggling as Americans increasingly cut back on alcohol. In fact, industry insiders say the turmoil reflects several pressures hitting the sector at once. Tamara Bingham, founding partner at brand strategy agency Likely Story Strategies, said California's wine industry was already grappling with oversupply before tariffs and shifting drinking habits piled on new problems. 'Too many producers and too many tasting rooms are chasing too little foot traffic,' she said, adding that the high cost of making wine in California makes it difficult for smaller wineries to compete with cheaper imports. Bingham said the industry is likely entering a broader 'market correction,' but rejected suggestions that wine itself is in decline. 'Humans have been making and drinking wine for more than 8,000 years,' she said. 'It's not going anywhere.' Jim McClellan, founding partner of wine shipping platform FORT Systems, said sales are falling fastest among lower-priced wines, while ultra-premium bottles - which dominate direct-to-consumer shipping - have held up better. California winemakers are confronting a 'Grapes of Wrath' moment as their businesses begin to collapse But even high-end producers are seeing softer demand, he said, forcing wineries to rely more on customer data and targeted marketing rather than reputation alone. LaToya Jordan, founder of MarbleWines.com, said today's drinkers are becoming more selective about the brands they support and the experiences they want from wineries. 'The market isn't gone - it's evolving,' she said. 'Brands that focus on storytelling, direct relationships with customers and experiences will be better positioned to survive.' Keith Wallace, a sommelier program developer at the National Wine School, said the downturn is also being driven by demographic shifts as younger drinkers explore alternatives such as cocktails, hard seltzers and cannabis products. 'Most of the decline is happening in entry-level wines,' he said. 'Higher-quality wines remain relatively stable, and many analysts see this as a short-term adjustment rather than a collapse.' Aside from the wine industry, hard liquor distributors have been hit hard too. Stoli vodka and Kentucky Owl bourbon announced they would be shutting down earlier this year. Parent company Stoli Group said on Friday its US vodka and bourbon businesses are being liquidated after a bid to turn them around failed. The downturn is also being driven by demographic shifts as younger drinkers explore alternatives such as cocktails, hard seltzers and cannabis products Kentucky Owl built a cult following with limited-run bourbons that could sell for as much as $400 a bottle. Meanwhile, Stoli became a nightclub and bar staple as well as a being popular in stores where a standard 750ml bottle sold for around $20. The vodka was sold in the US as Stolichnaya - which roughly translates as 'capital city' in Russian - in the US until 2022. But the company rebranded as Stoli following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and widespread boycotts of Russian-branded items. The company said its troubles began after its public support for Ukraine. Its assets were seized in Russia and the company alleged that a massive cyberattack had undermined its US production facilities. Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Campari, Brown Forman and Remy Cointreau, the five largest alcohol producers, are reportedly stuck with $22 billion worth of aging inventory, according to Financial Times. They are behind household names like Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Absolut, Jack Daniels and Hennessy. It is a pileup that begin with overproduction to meet demand during the Covid-19 pandemic. Banks across America are effectively paying customers to walk through the door and start banking with them - sometimes to the tune of four-figure bonuses. From JPMorgan Chase to Citibank, lenders are dangling cash incentives worth hundreds - and occasionally more than $1,000 - for people willing to move their checking account. For households grappling with stubbornly high prices, the deals can look like easy money sitting on the table. But the payouts rarely come without conditions. Most banks require new customers to move their paycheck, maintain balances for several months or open multiple accounts before the cash lands. Still, the promotions have become so lucrative that a growing number of Americans are deliberately switching banks purely to collect the bonuses. The biggest bonuses on offer In one of the biggest offers currently available, Citibank is paying up to $1,500 to customers who open a new checking account and deposit large balances. The catch is that the biggest payouts require serious money. The top tier typically involves depositing up to $200,000 and leaving it in the account for several months. There are easier wins elsewhere. Your browser does not support iframes. Banks across America are effectively paying customers to walk through the door and start banking with them - sometimes to the tune of four-figure bonuses (stock image) JPMorgan Chase is currently offering bonuses worth up to $900 for customers who open both a checking and savings account. There is $300 for opening a checking account and setting up direct deposit, $200 for opening a savings account and another $400 for completing both parts. But there is one hurdle - customers must deposit at least $15,000 into the savings account and keep it there for around three months. Other banks are also throwing around sizable incentives. Huntington National Bank is offering bonuses worth up to $600 on certain premium checking accounts. KeyBank will pay $500 to customers who receive at least $5,000 in qualifying direct deposits. Meanwhile, Bank of America, PNC Financial Services and Wells Fargo are offering bonuses typically ranging between $300 and $500, depending on deposit levels. Online lenders have joined the scramble too. Digital bank SoFi is offering up to $300 to customers who move their direct deposit to its checking and savings accounts. Why banks are paying so much The reason banks are willing to hand out these kinds of bonuses comes down to one simple fact: once customers move their paycheck and bills, they tend to stick around. Research from J.D. Power shows that only about four percent of Americans switch their primary bank in a typical year. Roughly four in ten Americans have been with the same bank for at least a decade. That loyalty means paying a few hundred dollars upfront can be a worthwhile long-term investment for a bank. Once a customer moves their salary, mortgage payments and debit spending to a bank, the institution gains a steady stream of deposits it can use for lending and investment. Your browser does not support iframes. And the battle to attract those customers has intensified. And the battle to attract those customers has intensified. According to data from Curinos' Marketing Analyzer, the average cost for banks to acquire a new customer has surged to about $663, more than 125 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels. For regional banks, the cost is even steeper - averaging around $868 per new account holder. Much of that increase is being driven by richer incentives and heavier marketing investment as banks try to attract profitable new relationships. Cash bonuses, promotional offers and other perks have become a key part of that strategy, particularly as many institutions shift their focus toward wealthier customers who are more likely to keep larger balances and use multiple financial products. The rise of 'bank churning' Some customers have realized that repeatedly switching banks for the bonuses can be surprisingly lucrative. The practice - often called bank churning - involves opening accounts to qualify for sign-up incentives, collecting the cash reward, and then moving on to the next offer. Online forums are now packed with tips from savvy churners hunting down the next payout. On Reddit, one poster claimed they turned $50 into $17,607.88 after 12 months of bank churning. They explained: '12 months ago I started bank churning, my initial "investment" into this was $50. 'I had hoped I would get $3,000 by the end of 2024 but I far surpassed that goal. I decided to keep going. I never put any of my own money with this beside the initial $50s. I just rolled each bonus into the next bank, and then the next, so on and so on. Bank churning involves opening accounts to qualify for sign-up incentives, collecting the cash reward, and then moving on to the next offer (stock image) 'Here I am 12 months later with a return of 35,200 percent on that original $50. 'I've seen some people say that bank churning is not a viable 'side hustle' but this is proof that they're wrong. I suggest everyone try it at least once. You don't have to go as hard as I did but it's possible.' They said some of the banks they signed up to included Tennessee-based First Horizon Bank, which was offering $450 for a $1,000 deposit at the time, and Truist Financial, a North Carolina institution offering $400 for the same paydown. 'Google 'bank account opening bonuses' - there are literally hundreds of them,' they advised others. The user also revealed that they closed accounts soon after receiving the bonus and would only keep them open if there was a fee for closing them within a certain time. 'I close them as soon as possible because you're eligible for another bonus with the same bank 12 months and one day after closing,' they added. Banks try to limit the practice While determined switchers have earned thousands from the strategy, banks have introduced rules designed to limit abuse. Most promotions are limited to new customers who have not received a bonus from the same bank within the past one or two years. Many deals require qualifying direct deposits from an employer or government benefit. Banks also often require accounts to remain open for at least six months, otherwise customers may face early closure fees. Applications are usually screened through ChexSystems, a database used by banks to track account openings and closures. People who open too many accounts in a short period can find their applications rejected. In one of the biggest offers currently available, Citibank is paying up to $1,500 to customers who open a new checking account and deposit large balances JPMorgan Chase is currently offering bonuses worth up to $900 for customers who open both a checking and savings account Why bank switching is so popular in America Switching accounts - and bank churning - is particularly common in the United States because of fierce competition between banks, higher interchange fees and aggressive reward strategies compared with countries like the UK. Based on Curinos' primary checking churn model, primary bank switchers make up about 6.6 percent of the total adult population each year. Analysts say that is consistent with a long-running trend of around six to seven percent of consumers - roughly 20 million people - choosing a new primary bank annually. 'The sheer volume makes this consumer group highly sought after, and increasingly expensive to acquire,' they added. But the whole process can be time consuming. The US lacks a centralized switching service that automatically moves direct debits and payments. Instead, customers typically have to move payroll deposits, subscriptions and bills themselves - a hassle that keeps many people loyal to their existing bank. Even so, the bonuses can easily beat the returns from traditional savings accounts. A $500 bank bonus, for example, is roughly equivalent to the interest you would earn in a year on about $12,500 sitting in a savings account paying four percent. With banks battling aggressively for deposits - and millions of Americans willing to switch - moving your money has rarely paid quite so well. Transcontinental (OTCMKTS:TCLAF Get Free Report) is projected to post its results before the market opens on Tuesday, March 10th. Analysts expect Transcontinental to post earnings of $0.1656 per share and revenue of $258.00 million for the quarter. Transcontinental Stock Up 0.5% OTCMKTS:TCLAF opened at $17.06 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $16.88 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $15.38. Transcontinental has a twelve month low of $11.77 and a twelve month high of $18.00. Get Transcontinental alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have commented on TCLAF shares. National Bank Financial reissued an outperform rating on shares of Transcontinental in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Transcontinental in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Scotiabank reissued a sector perform rating on shares of Transcontinental in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. About Transcontinental (Get Free Report) Transcontinental Inc is a Canada-based company specializing in printing and flexible packaging solutions. Through its print segment, the company provides commercial printing, specialty media and label products for a range of industries, including publishing, retail and healthcare. Its flexible packaging segment designs and manufactures printed and laminated films, pouches, wrappers and labels used primarily in food and beverage, personal care, home care and pharmaceutical markets. Founded in 1976 by Remi Marcoux, Transcontinental has evolved from a regional printing operation into one of North Americas largest printers and a leading flexible-packaging manufacturer. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Transcontinental Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Transcontinental and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rathbones Group PLC lessened its holdings in Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 926,992 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 78,145 shares during the quarter. Rathbones Group PLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $47,824,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of America in the second quarter valued at approximately $5,091,641,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 124.8% during the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 17,619,837 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $833,771,000 after buying an additional 9,782,208 shares in the last quarter. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. acquired a new stake in Bank of America in the 2nd quarter valued at about $202,439,000. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp increased its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 881.5% in the second quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp now owns 4,210,388 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $199,236,000 after purchasing an additional 3,781,417 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LSV Asset Management increased its stake in shares of Bank of America by 96.5% in the 2nd quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 6,882,719 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $325,690,000 after acquiring an additional 3,379,335 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.71% of the companys stock. Get Bank of America alerts: Bank of America Stock Performance Shares of BAC stock opened at $48.68 on Friday. Bank of America Corporation has a 12-month low of $33.06 and a 12-month high of $57.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $53.27 and a 200-day simple moving average of $52.52. The company has a market cap of $349.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.28. Bank of America Announces Dividend Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $0.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.96 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $4.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $27.73 billion. Bank of America had a net margin of 16.23% and a return on equity of 11.07%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.82 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be paid a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is presently 29.24%. Insider Activity In other news, insider James P. Demare sold 83,832 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $4,191,600.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 307,240 shares in the company, valued at $15,362,000. This represents a 21.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Thomas M. Scrivener sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.82, for a total transaction of $2,491,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 227,973 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,357,614.86. This trade represents a 17.99% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock. Key Headlines Impacting Bank of America Here are the key news stories impacting Bank of America this week: Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have issued reports on BAC. HSBC raised their target price on Bank of America from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Bank of America from $68.00 to $64.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Oppenheimer increased their price target on Bank of America from $55.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Argus boosted their price target on shares of Bank of America from $58.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on Bank of America from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $60.30. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BAC About Bank of America (Free Report) Bank of America Corporation is a multinational financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It provides a broad array of banking, investment, asset management and related financial and risk management products and services to individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, governments and institutional investors. The firm operates through consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking and markets businesses, offering capabilities across lending, deposits, payments, advisory and capital markets. Its consumer-facing offerings include checking and savings accounts, mortgages, home equity lending, auto loans, credit cards and small business banking, supported by a nationwide branch network and digital channels. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KHARTOUM, March 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 40 people were killed and 59 others injured in drone strikes targeting two local markets in the cities of Abu Zabad and Wad Banda in West Kordofan State in Sudan, according to a medical source, an eyewitness, and a local community body. A medical source in Abu Zabad told Xinhua on Sunday that a drone strike targeted a local market in the city around midday on Saturday. Abu Zabad Central Hospital, the city's only functioning health facility, received the bodies of about 24 victims and more than 31 wounded, the source said. Meanwhile, an eyewitness from the city of Wad Banda, about 16 km west of Abu Zabad, said a drone targeted the city's main market at around 2 p.m. local time on Saturday, killing 16 civilians and injuring 28 others. For its part, the Dar Hamar Supreme Council, a local community body in West Kordofan State, condemned in a statement on Sunday what it called "a treacherous drone attack targeting civilians in the markets of Wad Banda and Abu Zabad on Saturday afternoon, the 18th day of Ramadan." The council said the assault killed more than 40 civilians, describing the incident as "a horrific crime and a blatant violation of all humanitarian laws and norms." The council held the Sudanese Armed Forces responsible for the attack and called on the UN Human Rights Council and international and humanitarian organizations to open an urgent and independent investigation into the incident and hold those responsible accountable. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted in April 2023 and has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions inside Sudan and across its borders. GW&K Investment Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of CACI International, Inc. (NYSE:CACI Free Report) by 99.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 162 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 46,182 shares during the period. GW&K Investment Management LLCs holdings in CACI International were worth $81,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of CACI. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake in CACI International by 344.7% during the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 885 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $325,000 after purchasing an additional 686 shares during the period. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of CACI International by 110.5% during the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 80 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the period. Wedbush Securities Inc. increased its holdings in shares of CACI International by 291.1% during the 2nd quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 3,446 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,643,000 after buying an additional 2,565 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT increased its holdings in shares of CACI International by 5.1% during the 2nd quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 6,674 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $3,181,000 after buying an additional 323 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey raised its position in shares of CACI International by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 8,283 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $3,949,000 after buying an additional 279 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.43% of the companys stock. Get CACI International alerts: Insider Activity at CACI International In related news, EVP J William Koegel, Jr. sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $615.06, for a total transaction of $1,230,120.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 25,931 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,949,120.86. This trade represents a 7.16% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. CACI International Stock Up 0.6% Shares of NYSE CACI opened at $616.38 on Friday. CACI International, Inc. has a 12-month low of $355.85 and a 12-month high of $683.50. The company has a market cap of $13.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.39, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a current ratio of 1.97, a quick ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $599.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $561.39. CACI International (NYSE:CACI Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 21st. The information technology services provider reported $6.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.41 by $0.40. CACI International had a return on equity of 15.93% and a net margin of 5.77%.The company had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.28 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $5.95 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. CACI International has set its FY 2026 guidance at 28.250-28.920 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that CACI International, Inc. will post 23.94 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have issued reports on CACI. Citigroup boosted their price target on CACI International from $683.00 to $721.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on CACI International from $645.00 to $700.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b-) rating on shares of CACI International in a research note on Monday, December 29th. UBS Group boosted their target price on CACI International from $752.00 to $787.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of CACI International from $670.00 to $765.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $659.09. Read Our Latest Analysis on CACI International CACI International Company Profile (Free Report) CACI International Inc is a leading provider of information solutions and services to the U.S. federal government, with a primary focus on defense, intelligence, homeland security and federal civilian agencies. The company delivers advanced technology and domain expertise to support mission-critical operations, offering capabilities in areas such as data analytics, cyber security, network integration, enterprise IT modernization and logistics support. By integrating software, hardware and professional services, CACI helps clients enhance situational awareness, improve decision making and maintain critical infrastructure resilience. Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, CACI has evolved from a small consulting operation into a global enterprise. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CACI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CACI International, Inc. (NYSE:CACI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CACI International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CACI International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rathbones Group PLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX Free Report) by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 740,376 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 6,546 shares during the quarter. Rathbones Group PLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $114,973,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Chevron by 17.9% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 183,790,028 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $28,540,753,000 after purchasing an additional 27,961,463 shares in the last quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc increased its stake in Chevron by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc now owns 122,064,792 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $17,478,458,000 after purchasing an additional 3,454,258 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Chevron by 4.0% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 34,772,753 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $4,979,255,000 after buying an additional 1,342,723 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Chevron by 1.6% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 21,152,060 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,284,704,000 after buying an additional 325,255 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in shares of Chevron by 27.9% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 19,627,146 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,047,900,000 after buying an additional 4,279,918 shares during the period. 72.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Chevron alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on CVX shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Chevron from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $176.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. UBS Group restated a buy rating and issued a $212.00 target price on shares of Chevron in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Bank of America boosted their price target on Chevron from $188.00 to $206.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Barclays increased their price objective on Chevron from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Chevron in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Chevron has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $178.95. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Vice Chairman Mark A. Nelson sold 139,600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $187.92, for a total transaction of $26,233,632.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 11,337 shares in the company, valued at $2,130,449.04. This trade represents a 92.49% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Michael K. Wirth sold 320,700 shares of Chevron stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.99, for a total value of $52,270,893.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 14,450 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,355,205.50. This represents a 95.69% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 1,052,197 shares of company stock valued at $187,128,404 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock. 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 Stock Up 0.1% Shares of CVX stock opened at $190.01 on Friday. Chevron Corporation has a twelve month low of $132.04 and a twelve month high of $192.41. The stock has a market cap of $379.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.67. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $173.38 and a 200 day moving average of $160.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 30th. The oil and gas company reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $45.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $48.18 billion. Chevron had a return on equity of 7.89% and a net margin of 6.51%.The businesss quarterly revenue was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.06 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 EPS for the current year. Chevron Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be given a dividend of $1.78 per share. This is a boost from Chevrons previous quarterly dividend of $1.71. This represents a $7.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. Chevrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 106.91%. Chevron Profile (Free Report) Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is an American multinational energy company engaged in virtually all aspects of the oil and gas industry. As an integrated energy firm, Chevrons core activities include upstream oil and natural gas exploration and production, midstream transportation and storage, downstream refining and marketing of fuels and lubricants, and petrochemical manufacturing through joint ventures and subsidiaries. The company markets fuels under brands such as Chevron, Texaco and Caltex and supplies a range of products and services to retail customers, industrial users and commercial fleets worldwide. Chevron traces its corporate lineage to the early petroleum companies that eventually became Standard Oil of California and has evolved through significant mergers and restructurings, including the acquisitions of Gulf Oil and Texaco. See Also 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. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd raised its position in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI Free Report) by 52.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 3,272 shares of the communications equipment providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,129 shares during the quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltds holdings in Motorola Solutions were worth $1,496,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of MSI. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Motorola Solutions by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,171,959 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $10,139,015,000 after purchasing an additional 286,366 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions by 1.3% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,681,622 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $3,237,985,000 after buying an additional 101,408 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Motorola Solutions by 1.2% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,386,899 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $1,839,569,000 after buying an additional 51,474 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. grew its position in Motorola Solutions by 0.8% during the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 3,401,738 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $1,430,295,000 after buying an additional 27,206 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Motorola Solutions during the second quarter valued at approximately $872,307,000. 84.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Motorola Solutions alerts: Motorola Solutions Stock Down 1.3% MSI opened at $461.11 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.47, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.04. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $359.36 and a fifty-two week high of $492.22. The firms fifty day moving average is $420.96 and its 200 day moving average is $422.93. The stock has a market cap of $76.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.96. Motorola Solutions Announces Dividend Motorola Solutions ( NYSE:MSI Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The communications equipment provider reported $4.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.35 by $0.24. The business had revenue of $3.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.34 billion. Motorola Solutions had a return on equity of 110.75% and a net margin of 18.44%.Motorola Solutionss revenue for the quarter was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $4.04 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 13.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 20th will be paid a $1.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 20th. This represents a $4.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. Motorola Solutionss dividend payout ratio is 37.93%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Motorola Solutions news, CEO Gregory Q. Brown sold 28,435 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $477.95, for a total value of $13,590,508.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 90,721 shares in the company, valued at $43,360,101.95. This represents a 23.86% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Cynthia Yazdi sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $471.01, for a total transaction of $3,297,070.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 9,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,488,254.29. This trade represents a 42.35% 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 129,069 shares of company stock worth $60,779,964. 1.44% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have weighed in on MSI. Argus upgraded shares of Motorola Solutions to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and issued a $470.00 price objective on shares of Motorola Solutions in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Motorola Solutions from $515.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Motorola Solutions from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Motorola Solutions from $495.00 to $506.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $497.14. Get Our Latest Analysis on MSI Motorola Solutions Company Profile (Free Report) Motorola Solutions, Inc is a provider of mission-critical communications and analytics solutions for public safety and commercial customers. The company designs, manufactures and supports a range of communications equipment and software aimed at enabling first responders, government agencies and enterprises to coordinate and operate reliably in high-pressure environments. Its offerings emphasize secure, resilient connectivity and situational awareness for organizations that require dependable voice, data and video communications. Product lines include land mobile radio (LMR) systems and handheld and vehicle-mounted radios used by police, fire and emergency medical services; broadband push-to-talk and LTE-based solutions; command-and-control center software for incident management and records; and video security and analytics systems. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Motorola Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Motorola Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC cut its position in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Free Report) by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 331,032 shares of the companys stock after selling 21,663 shares during the period. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $42,452,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. increased its holdings in Novartis by 15.6% during the 3rd quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 85,200 shares of the companys stock worth $10,926,000 after purchasing an additional 11,500 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 5.5% in the third quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 132,536 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,001,000 after purchasing an additional 6,924 shares in the last quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Novartis by 5.8% during the third quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 439,879 shares of the companys stock valued at $56,411,000 after buying an additional 23,978 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Novartis by 1.7% during the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 7,239,366 shares of the companys stock valued at $928,376,000 after buying an additional 117,952 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in Novartis by 27.7% during the third quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 64,760 shares of the companys stock worth $8,305,000 after buying an additional 14,032 shares in the last quarter. 13.12% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Novartis alerts: Novartis Stock Down 0.5% Shares of NYSE:NVS opened at $160.21 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $338.43 billion, a PE ratio of 22.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $152.44 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $137.23. Novartis AG has a 1 year low of $97.71 and a 1 year high of $170.46. Novartis Announces Dividend Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $2.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.99 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $13.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.85 billion. Novartis had a return on equity of 40.53% and a net margin of 25.65%.The businesss revenue was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.98 EPS. Analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 11th will be given a $4.773 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 11th. This represents a yield of 312.0%. Novartiss payout ratio is currently 36.31%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. TD Cowen reiterated a hold rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Novartis from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. HSBC reissued a reduce rating and set a $112.00 price target on shares of Novartis in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Novartis from a buy (b) rating to a buy (a-) rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $119.75. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Novartis About Novartis (Free Report) Novartis is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel that researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes prescription medicines and related health-care products. Formed through the 1996 merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, Novartis operates globally and focuses on bringing therapeutics from discovery through clinical development to commercial markets worldwide. The companys activities center on innovative pharmaceuticals across several therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neuroscience and ophthalmology, alongside capabilities in advanced therapies such as biologics, cell and gene therapies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Novartis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novartis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC trimmed its holdings in ING Group, N.V. (NYSE:ING Free Report) by 9.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 220,316 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 21,923 shares during the quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLCs holdings in ING Group were worth $5,746,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Abound Wealth Management boosted its stake in ING Group by 2,757.6% during the 3rd quarter. Abound Wealth Management now owns 943 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 910 shares during the period. Salomon & Ludwin LLC grew its position in ING Group by 2,440.8% during the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 1,245 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,196 shares during the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in ING Group in the third quarter valued at $34,000. Rexford Capital Inc. acquired a new position in ING Group in the second quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA raised its holdings in shares of ING Group by 210.3% in the third quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 1,626 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 1,102 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 4.49% of the companys stock. Get ING Group alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes ING has been the subject of several recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of ING Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. They set a hold rating for the company. Zacks Research upgraded ING Group from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of ING Group in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen raised ING Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, February 14th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded ING Group to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy. ING Group Price Performance Shares of NYSE ING opened at $26.45 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.73, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11. ING Group, N.V. has a one year low of $16.47 and a one year high of $31.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $76.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.07, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.78. The companys fifty day moving average is $28.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $26.68. ING Group (NYSE:ING Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $0.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.50 by $0.06. ING Group had a net margin of 27.50% and a return on equity of 12.05%. The business had revenue of $4.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.67 billion. Analysts forecast that ING Group, N.V. will post 2.14 EPS for the current fiscal year. ING Group Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 17th will be issued a $0.8796 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 17th. This represents a yield of 589.0%. ING Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 28.87%. About ING Group (Free Report) ING Group N.V. is a Dutch multinational financial services company headquartered in Amsterdam. Formed through the consolidation of Dutch financial businesses, ING operates as a banking and financial services group that serves retail, small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporates and institutional clients. The company is organized under a two-tier governance model common in the Netherlands, with an Executive Board responsible for day-to-day management and a Supervisory Board providing oversight. INGs principal activities include retail and direct banking, commercial and wholesale banking, corporate lending, transaction services and cash management, and a range of investment and savings products. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ING? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ING Group, N.V. (NYSE:ING Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for ING Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ING Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intech Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor purchased 3,996 shares of the aerospace companys stock, valued at approximately $1,150,000. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Evergreen Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 3.9% in the third quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 1,011 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $291,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. 1834 Investment Advisors Co. boosted its position in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. 1834 Investment Advisors Co. now owns 2,535 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $730,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. O Keefe Stevens Advisory Inc. boosted its position in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. O Keefe Stevens Advisory Inc. now owns 5,758 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,658,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries by 10.1% in the 3rd quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 438 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $122,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. Finally, Spire Wealth Management increased its position in Huntington Ingalls Industries by 12.6% in the 3rd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 367 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. 90.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Huntington Ingalls Industries alerts: Insider Transactions at Huntington Ingalls Industries In related news, EVP Eric D. Chewning sold 1,700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $433.44, for a total value of $736,848.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 1,949 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $844,774.56. This represents a 46.59% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.72% of the companys stock. Huntington Ingalls Industries Price Performance Shares of NYSE HII opened at $430.37 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $16.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.00, a PEG ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.13. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $177.42 and a fifty-two week high of $460.00. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $408.85 and its 200 day simple moving average is $336.69. Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The aerospace company reported $4.04 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.72 by $0.32. The firm had revenue of $3.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.09 billion. Huntington Ingalls Industries had a return on equity of 12.28% and a net margin of 4.85%.The companys revenue for the quarter was up 15.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.15 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. will post 13.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Huntington Ingalls Industries Dividend Announcement 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 issued a dividend of $1.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. Huntington Ingalls Industriess dividend payout ratio is 35.91%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently weighed in on HII. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Huntington Ingalls Industries from $384.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a market perform rating and issued a $421.00 price objective on shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Melius Research upgraded Huntington Ingalls Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. TD Cowen increased their target price on Huntington Ingalls Industries from $440.00 to $460.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Huntington Ingalls Industries from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research report on Thursday. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $384.13. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Huntington Ingalls Industries Huntington Ingalls Industries Profile (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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HII? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII Free Report). 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. Rathbones Group PLC lowered its holdings in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 5.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 801,879 shares of the companys stock after selling 48,779 shares during the quarter. Rathbones Group PLCs holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $148,684,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. raised its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 7,392 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,371,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the period. Ethos Financial Group LLC lifted its position in Johnson & Johnson by 0.6% in the third quarter. Ethos Financial Group LLC now owns 9,110 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,689,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Holdings LLC boosted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 0.5% during the third quarter. Pinnacle Holdings LLC now owns 11,214 shares of the companys stock worth $2,079,000 after buying an additional 54 shares during the period. Bouchey Financial Group Ltd increased its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.8% during the third quarter. Bouchey Financial Group Ltd now owns 7,249 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,344,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 3.5% during the third quarter. Heritage Oak Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,639 shares of the companys stock valued at $304,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.55% of the companys stock. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Insider Activity In other news, EVP Timothy Schmid sold 1,322 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated 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 of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,251,310.02. The trade was a 4.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Vanessa Broadhurst sold 6,197 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.39, for a total transaction of $1,508,287.83. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 23,003 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,598,700.17. This trade represents a 21.22% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 30,142 shares of company stock worth $7,360,528. 0.16% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Key Johnson & Johnson News 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 progressionfree 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 progressionfree 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 / dividendaristocrat 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 dividendfocused funds and conservative investors. 24/7 Wall St.: Dividend Kings Inclusion in dividend lists / dividendaristocrat 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 dividendfocused 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 nearterm 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 nearterm conviction. Neutral Sentiment: Directtoconsumer website launch J&J rolled out a site to sell certain drugs directly to U.S. patients who are uninsured or pay outofpocket; potential to improve access and margin over time, but impact on revenue is unclear near term. Reuters: direct-to-consumer site Directtoconsumer website launch J&J rolled out a site to sell certain drugs directly to U.S. patients who are uninsured or pay outofpocket; 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: Nearterm price volatility / recent pullback a few market reports noted a dayoverday 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 Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Here are the key news stories impacting Johnson & Johnson this week: Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley set a $262.00 target price on Johnson & Johnson and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. TD Cowen upped their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $222.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Wolfe Research lifted their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $225.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $234.87. View Our Latest Analysis on Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson Price Performance Shares of JNJ opened at $240.57 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $579.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.77, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.34. Johnson & Johnson has a fifty-two week low of $141.50 and a fifty-two week high of $251.71. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The firms 50 day moving average price is $228.36 and its 200 day moving average price is $204.19. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Saturday, January 31st. The company reported $2.46 EPS for the quarter. The company 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%. On average, research 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. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 24th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 24th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 47.06%. About Johnson & Johnson (Free Report) Johnson & Johnson is a multinational healthcare company headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of products across pharmaceuticals, medical devices and previously consumer health. Founded in 1886 by the Johnson family, the company has grown into a global healthcare organization with operations and sales in many countries around the world. The companys pharmaceuticals business, organized largely under its Janssen research and development organization, focuses on prescription medicines across therapeutic areas such as immunology, infectious disease, oncology and neuroscience. Featured Stories 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. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 17.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 63,627 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 9,445 shares during the period. Pinnacle Associates Ltd.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $48,547,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Steph & Co. lifted its position in 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 acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc grew its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 263.6% in the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 40 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company News Summary 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 analyst reports. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Friday, December 19th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $1,313.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday. Truist Financial reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Zacks Research lowered shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating and set a $1,285.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Friday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $1,229.59. Read Our Latest Research Report on LLY Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 0.7% Shares of NYSE:LLY opened at $990.58 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $934.47 billion, a PE ratio of 43.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,045.63 and a 200 day simple moving average of $940.90. 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 has a 12-month low of $623.78 and a 12-month high of $1,133.95. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $7.48 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $19.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.85 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 31.66% and a return on equity of 102.94%. The firms revenue was up 42.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $5.32 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend 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 given a dividend of $1.73 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio is 30.15%. About Eli Lilly and Company (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 Articles 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. Rathbones Group PLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 539,230 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 23,886 shares during the period. Mastercard comprises approximately 1.2% of Rathbones Group PLCs portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest position. Rathbones Group PLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $306,719,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MA. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Mastercard by 1.2% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 79,431,340 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $45,181,341,000 after purchasing an additional 955,533 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Mastercard by 2.8% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,760,552 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $11,062,509,000 after buying an additional 542,841 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Mastercard by 55,868.1% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,421,148 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $7,541,880,000 after acquiring an additional 13,397,168 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the second quarter worth $6,725,317,000. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Mastercard by 25.6% in the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 6,372,404 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $3,580,909,000 after purchasing an additional 1,299,977 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently issued reports on MA shares. Evercore set a $610.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Friday, December 12th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $668.00 to $671.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Mastercard from $665.00 to $678.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Macquarie Infrastructure lifted their price objective on Mastercard from $660.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, HSBC upgraded Mastercard from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $670.61. Mastercard Stock Performance MA stock opened at $521.82 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $539.50 and a 200 day moving average price of $557.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Mastercard Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $465.59 and a fifty-two week high of $601.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $465.36 billion, a PE ratio of 31.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.83. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The credit services provider reported $4.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.24 by $0.52. The business had revenue of $8.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.80 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.65% and a return on equity of 203.92%. Mastercards revenue for the quarter was up 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $3.82 EPS. Analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current year. Mastercard Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 9th will be given a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 9th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.07%. More Mastercard News Here are the key news stories impacting Mastercard this week: About Mastercard (Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated is a global payments technology company that operates a network connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 200 countries and territories. The company facilitates electronic payments and transaction processing for credit, debit and prepaid card products carrying the Mastercard brand, while also providing a range of payment-related services to issuers, acquirers and merchants. Its technology and network enable authorization, clearing and settlement of payments and support a broad set of use cases including point-of-sale, e-commerce and mobile payments. Beyond core transaction processing, Mastercard offers a suite of value-added services such as fraud and risk management, identity and authentication tools, tokenization and digital wallet support, cross-border and commercial payment solutions, and data analytics and consulting services for merchants and financial partners. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rathbones Group PLC raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 23.6% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 339,938 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 64,939 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for approximately 1.1% of Rathbones Group PLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Rathbones Group PLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $259,373,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 80,959,089 shares of the companys stock worth $61,771,785,000 after acquiring an additional 551,659 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 78,621.2% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,552,336 shares of the companys stock worth $9,005,392,000 after buying an additional 11,537,661 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $8,827,714,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.0% during the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,359,653 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,178,010,000 after purchasing an additional 103,119 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 13.4% in the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,766,865 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,715,913,000 after buying an additional 564,736 shares in the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance Shares of LLY stock opened at $990.58 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $934.47 billion, a PE ratio of 43.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 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. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $623.78 and a 52 week high of $1,133.95. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $1,045.63 and a 200-day moving average price of $940.90. Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $7.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $19.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.85 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $5.32 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 42.6% on a year-over-year basis. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2026 guidance at 33.500-35.000 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share 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 paid a $1.73 dividend. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is currently 30.15%. Trending Headlines about Eli Lilly and Company Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week: Analyst Ratings Changes LLY has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Truist Financial reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday, February 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,150.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Berenberg Bank increased their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $950.00 to $1,050.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Argus lifted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $930.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $1,260.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $1,229.59. Read Our Latest Analysis on LLY About Eli Lilly and Company (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 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. BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday that no individual or force will be allowed to separate Taiwan from China. Wang described resolving the Taiwan question and realizing the complete reunification of China as a historic process that cannot be stopped. Taiwan has been an integral part of China since ancient times, and "never was, is not, and never will be a country," Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the national legislature. The Democratic Progressive Party authorities' obstinate pursuit of their separatist agenda is the root cause undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, said Wang. Noting that the one-China principle has overwhelming support in the international community, Wang said the firmer the international community stands against the "Taiwan independence" and upholds the one-China principle, the more assured peace and stability will be across the Taiwan Strait. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT Free Report) by 156.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 14,451 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 8,807 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLCs holdings in Textron were worth $1,221,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of TXT. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Textron by 13.3% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 14,522 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,049,000 after purchasing an additional 1,709 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC increased its stake in Textron by 6.3% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 21,397 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,546,000 after purchasing an additional 1,265 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its position in Textron by 18.0% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 4,814 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $348,000 after buying an additional 735 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in Textron during the second quarter worth about $453,000. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in Textron by 14.4% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 150,982 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $12,122,000 after buying an additional 19,009 shares during the last quarter. 86.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Textron alerts: Insider Activity In other news, EVP E Robert Lupone sold 28,056 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.84, for a total value of $2,773,055.04. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 103,991 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,278,470.44. This trade represents a 21.25% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, VP Mark S. Bamford sold 19,808 shares of Textron stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.96, for a total transaction of $1,940,391.68. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 7,872 shares in the company, valued at $771,141.12. The trade was a 71.56% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 304,473 shares of company stock valued at $29,976,723 over the last quarter. 1.70% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes TXT has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley set a $92.00 price target on Textron in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of Textron in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Textron from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Textron from $89.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Textron from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Textron has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $98.60. View Our Latest Report on Textron Textron Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:TXT opened at $95.01 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $94.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of $86.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.55 billion, a PE ratio of 18.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 1.97 and a quick ratio of 0.99. Textron Inc. has a 12 month low of $57.70 and a 12 month high of $101.57. Textron (NYSE:TXT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The aerospace company reported $1.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.74 by ($0.01). Textron had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 14.63%. The firm had revenue of $4.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.34 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. Textron has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.400-6.600 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Textron Inc. will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current year. Textron Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be given a dividend of $0.02 per share. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. Textrons payout ratio is 1.57%. Textron Profile (Free Report) Textron Inc is a global, multi-industry manufacturing company headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. The company designs, manufactures and services a diverse range of products for the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. Textron operates through four primary business segmentsTextron Aviation, Bell, Textron Systems and Industrialeach of which serves customers around the world. Textron Aviation is known for its Cessna and Beechcraft branded business jets and turboprop aircraft, offering models that range from light jets and turboprops to larger cabin aircraft designed for corporate and charter use. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TXT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Textron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Textron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIRUT, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 394, including 83 children and 42 women, while 1,130 others have been wounded, Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine said Sunday. Speaking at a press conference, Nasreddine said the wounded include 254 children and 274 women, adding that many of the strikes have hit residential neighborhoods and civilian facilities. He said several deadly incidents were recorded in the past 48 hours in southern and eastern Lebanon. In one strike in the Bekaa Valley, six members of the same family -- four children and their parents -- were killed, while other attacks in towns and villages left multiple casualties. Nasreddine also said that emergency and medical teams have been directly targeted while carrying out rescue operations. According to the Health Ministry, nine health workers have been killed and 16 others wounded, including paramedics from the Lebanese Red Cross, civil defense teams, and other emergency responders. He added that five hospitals have been partially damaged by the strikes, while several medical facilities have been forced to suspend operations due to security threats. 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. CI Investments Inc. decreased its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 10.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,063,601 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 129,442 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. makes up 1.2% of CI Investments Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest position. CI Investments Inc.s holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $335,492,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.5% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 61,129,271 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $17,646,506,000 after buying an additional 300,160 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the second quarter worth $10,295,209,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 28,813.7% in the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 16,785,584 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,866,309,000 after purchasing an additional 16,727,530 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 2.3% during the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 15,722,443 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,959,330,000 after buying an additional 347,033 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 4.2% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 14,332,418 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,155,111,000 after buying an additional 577,860 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.55% of the companys stock. Trending Headlines about JPMorgan Chase & Co. Here are the key news stories impacting JPMorgan Chase & Co. this week: Insider Buying and Selling Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth In other JPMorgan Chase & Co. news, CFO Jeremy Barnum sold 2,892 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $306.42, for a total transaction of $886,166.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 23,804 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,294,021.68. This represents a 10.83% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, COO Jennifer Piepszak sold 8,571 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $312.79, for a total value of $2,680,923.09. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 71,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,216,535.33. The trade was a 10.77% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing . Insiders sold a total of 71,596 shares of company stock worth $22,067,932 in the last 90 days. 0.47% of the stock is owned by company insiders. A number of brokerages have weighed in on JPM. Zacks Research cut JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Wolfe Research lowered JPMorgan Chase & Co. from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $330.00 price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. TD Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $340.00. Check Out Our Latest Report on JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co. Price Performance NYSE JPM opened at $289.59 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The businesss fifty day moving average is $310.42 and its 200 day moving average is $308.65. The company has a market capitalization of $781.03 billion, a PE ratio of 14.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.06. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a fifty-two week low of $202.16 and a fifty-two week high of $337.25. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $5.23 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.93 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $45.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $45.98 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 20.35% and a return on equity of 17.16%. The companys revenue was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.81 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 18.1 earnings per share for the current year. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 6th were issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.99%. About JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Free Report) JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) is a diversified global financial services firm headquartered in New York City. The company provides a wide range of banking and financial products and services to consumers, small businesses, corporations, governments and institutional investors worldwide. Its operations span retail banking, commercial lending, investment banking, asset management, payments and card services, and treasury and securities services. The firms principal business activities are organized across several core lines: Consumer & Community Banking, which offers deposit accounts, mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and branch and digital banking under the Chase brand; Corporate & Investment Banking, which provides capital markets, advisory, underwriting, trading and risk management services; Commercial Banking, delivering lending, treasury and capital solutions to middle-market and corporate clients; and Asset & Wealth Management, which offers investment management, private banking and retirement services to institutions and high-net-worth individuals. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JPM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Permian Resources (NYSE:PR Get Free Report) had its target price upped by research analysts at Citigroup from $17.00 to $21.00 in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a buy rating on the stock. Citigroups price target points to a potential upside of 11.23% from the stocks previous close. Get Permian Resources alerts: PR has been the topic of several other reports. Wall Street Zen raised Permian Resources from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on Permian Resources from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Permian Resources from $19.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Zacks Research raised shares of Permian Resources from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Finally, Benchmark cut shares of Permian Resources from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Permian Resources currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $19.69. Get Our Latest Research Report on Permian Resources Permian Resources Trading Up 0.2% Shares of NYSE:PR opened at $18.88 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.78. The stocks 50-day moving average is $15.99 and its 200-day moving average is $14.39. The company has a market cap of $15.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.10 and a beta of 0.66. Permian Resources has a 52-week low of $10.01 and a 52-week high of $19.38. Permian Resources (NYSE:PR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.28 by $0.09. Permian Resources had a return on equity of 10.83% and a net margin of 18.46%.The business had revenue of $1.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.32 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.36 EPS. The firms revenue was down 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Permian Resources will post 1.45 earnings per share for the current year. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, CEO James H. Walter sold 673,425 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.38, for a total value of $12,377,551.50. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 9,389,405 shares of the companys stock, valued at $172,577,263.90. The trade was a 6.69% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO William M. Hickey III sold 898,423 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.38, for a total value of $16,513,014.74. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 9,389,405 shares in the company, valued at $172,577,263.90. This trade represents a 8.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 3,965,093 shares of company stock worth $62,487,101 in the last 90 days. 6.44% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Permian Resources Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Permian Resources by 69.2% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 149,696 shares of the companys stock worth $2,060,000 after purchasing an additional 61,230 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Permian Resources by 18.5% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 5,452,127 shares of the companys stock worth $75,512,000 after purchasing an additional 852,347 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its holdings in Permian Resources by 7.8% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 1,209,457 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,751,000 after purchasing an additional 87,105 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Permian Resources by 6.5% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 898,087 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,232,000 after purchasing an additional 54,680 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arkadios Wealth Advisors acquired a new position in Permian Resources in the second quarter valued at about $156,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.84% of the companys stock. Key Headlines Impacting Permian Resources Here are the key news stories impacting Permian Resources this week: Permian Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Permian Resources (NYSE: PR) is an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition, development and optimization of oil and natural gas assets in the Permian Basin. The companys operations encompass all phases of upstream activity, including geological and geophysical analysis, drilling, completion and production. By employing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies, Permian Resources aims to efficiently unlock hydrocarbon reserves and deliver consistent production growth. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Permian Resources concentrates its asset portfolio in the Delaware and Midland sub-basins of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Permian Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Permian Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Permian Resources (NYSE:PR Free Report) had its target price increased by Piper Sandler from $20.00 to $24.00 in a research note published on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Get Permian Resources alerts: Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Permian Resources from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Permian Resources from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 15th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Permian Resources from $19.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday. Bank of America reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $16.00 price objective (down from $17.00) on shares of Permian Resources in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price objective on shares of Permian Resources from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $19.69. View Our Latest Analysis on Permian Resources Permian Resources Trading Up 0.2% NYSE:PR opened at $18.88 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $15.66 billion, a PE ratio of 15.10 and a beta of 0.66. The businesss 50 day moving average is $15.99 and its two-hundred day moving average is $14.39. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Permian Resources has a 52 week low of $10.01 and a 52 week high of $19.38. Permian Resources (NYSE:PR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.28 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $1.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.32 billion. Permian Resources had a return on equity of 10.83% and a net margin of 18.46%.The businesss quarterly revenue was down 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.36 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Permian Resources will post 1.45 EPS for the current year. Permian Resources Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be paid a $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 17th. This is a positive change from Permian Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.4%. Permian Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.00%. Insider Activity at Permian Resources In other news, EVP John Charles Bell sold 158,385 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.39, for a total transaction of $2,912,700.15. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 1,567,172 shares in the company, valued at approximately $28,820,293.08. This represents a 9.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO William M. Hickey III sold 898,423 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.38, for a total transaction of $16,513,014.74. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 9,389,405 shares in the company, valued at approximately $172,577,263.90. This trade represents a 8.73% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 3,965,093 shares of company stock valued at $62,487,101. Company insiders own 6.44% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Permian Resources Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ruffer LLP acquired a new position in Permian Resources during the third quarter worth about $2,608,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in Permian Resources by 8.3% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 18,453,672 shares of the companys stock worth $236,207,000 after acquiring an additional 1,421,059 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in Permian Resources by 20.3% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 11,043,274 shares of the companys stock valued at $150,409,000 after acquiring an additional 1,863,632 shares during the last quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH boosted its position in shares of Permian Resources by 101.0% during the 3rd quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 540,618 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,920,000 after purchasing an additional 271,668 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cresset Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Permian Resources by 599.2% during the 2nd quarter. Cresset Asset Management LLC now owns 174,508 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,377,000 after purchasing an additional 149,548 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.84% of the companys stock. Trending Headlines about Permian Resources Here are the key news stories impacting Permian Resources this week: About Permian Resources (Get Free Report) Permian Resources (NYSE: PR) is an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition, development and optimization of oil and natural gas assets in the Permian Basin. The companys operations encompass all phases of upstream activity, including geological and geophysical analysis, drilling, completion and production. By employing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies, Permian Resources aims to efficiently unlock hydrocarbon reserves and deliver consistent production growth. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Permian Resources concentrates its asset portfolio in the Delaware and Midland sub-basins of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Permian Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Permian Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Renasant (NYSE:RNST Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Sunday. Get Renasant alerts: Separately, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Renasant in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Renasant has a consensus rating of Buy. Get Our Latest Research Report on Renasant Renasant Stock Down 2.0% Shares of NYSE:RNST opened at $37.06 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average is $38.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.49 billion, a PE ratio of 17.48 and a beta of 0.97. Renasant has a 12-month low of $26.97 and a 12-month high of $42.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 0.91. Renasant (NYSE:RNST Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported $0.91 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by $0.11. Renasant had a net margin of 12.55% and a return on equity of 7.53%. The firm had revenue of $278.52 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $269.00 million. Renasant Company Profile (Get Free Report) Renasant Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Renasant Bank that provides a range of financial, wealth management, fiduciary, and insurance services to retail and commercial customers. It operates through three segments: Community Banks, Insurance, and Wealth Management. The Community Banks segment offers checking and savings accounts, business and personal loans, asset-based lending, and equipment leasing services, as well as safe deposit and night depository facilities. It also provides commercial, financial, and agricultural loans; equipment financing and leasing; real estate1-4 family mortgage; real estatecommercial mortgage; real estateconstruction loans for the construction of single family residential properties, multi-family properties, and commercial projects; installment loans to individuals; and interim construction loans, as well as automated teller machine (ATM), online and mobile banking, call center, and treasury management services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Renasant Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Renasant and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The first ever Derry Summit will take place on Thursday 26 March at Ulster Universitys Derry Campus, bringing together global thought leaders with local civic partners, community organisations and business owners to share, discuss and debate a future vision for the city. The event will bring together global and local experts to explore how organisations across the city can work collaboratively to build a more sustainable and inclusive Derry, while celebrating and strengthening its rich cultural identity. The Summit will provide a space for fresh thinking, collaboration and practical ideas about the citys future, connecting international and national expertise with local voices. The day will feature three high-profile keynote speakers whose work spans urban planning, culture and innovation: Professor Pierre Laconte , Belgian Urbanist, instrumental in the creation of Louvain-la-Neuve, guiding the project from initial concept through to delivery and shaping it into a model university town known for its integrated urban design, liveability and economic vitality. , Belgian Urbanist, instrumental in the creation of Louvain-la-Neuve, guiding the project from initial concept through to delivery and shaping it into a model university town known for its integrated urban design, liveability and economic vitality. Shona McCarthy , Chief Executive of the International Fund for Ireland and an internationally recognised cultural leader, who previously held senior roles at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where she helped shape the global profile of the worlds largest arts festival and led the Derry City of Culture. , Chief Executive of the International Fund for Ireland and an internationally recognised cultural leader, who previously held senior roles at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where she helped shape the global profile of the worlds largest arts festival and led the Derry City of Culture. Jennifer Neff, local entrepreneur and co-founder of Elemental Software, will offer insight into innovation, entrepreneurship and the potential for technology-led growth rooted in place and purpose. Professor Malachy ONeill, Director of Regional Engagement, Ulster University said: The first ever Derry Summit blends international and national expertise with local experts and voices to discuss how we can make Derry one of Irelands best cities. "The event provides an annual opportunity where ambition, planning and setting out a vision for our future is combined with honest conversations about where we are at present and where we need to be. Im delighted to launch the event here today with the Mayor, Sibley and the Economy Minister and thank the Department of the Economy for their support for the event. READ NEXT: Derry Couple honouring a grandfathers legacy with gluten-free stout Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald added: The Derry Summit represents an important opportunity to bring together global expertise and local ambition to help shape a shared vision for the citys future. "Through the ongoing expansion of Ulster Universitys Magee campus, we are already driving long-term economic, social, and educational transformation across the North West. I am pleased to support this event as part of that ambition, to strengthen both collaboration and regional engagement, which are essential to deliver a thriving, inclusive city with a growing university at its heart. Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Ruairi McHugh welcomed the first ever Derry Summit saying it marked a pivotal moment for the city. He said: Derry has always been a city of immense potential and ambition, and the Derry Summit is a fantastic opportunity to bring world class leaders to the Ulster University campus to sit alongside our own local entrepreneurs to lead the conversation on urban regeneration and technology-led growth. "This is a powerful alignment of civic, business and academic leadership and I would encourage our local stakeholders to take their seat at the table as we work in collaboration toward achieving the next chapter of our citys economic and cultural life." They will be joined by a panel of influential local voices, including representatives from Derry Chamber of Commerce, EY, and the Derry Task Force, to explore how strategic investment, partnership and leadership can accelerate Derrys future. Together, speakers and participants will explore themes including urban regeneration, economic opportunity, cultural leadership and social connection, with a focus on how Derry can harness global insight and local expertise to shape its next chapter. Attendance is free, but capacity is limited. Further information and registration are available at www.derrysummit.com. PICTURED ABOVE: DERRY SUMMIT. . . . . Group pictured at Ulster University's Derry Campus this week to launch the first-ever Derry Summit which will be held on Thursday, March 26. From left, Ruairi McHugh, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Sibley Berty, MW Advocates, Dr. Caoimhe Archibald, Economy Minister and Professor Malachy O'Neill, Director of Regional Engagement, Ulster University. The summit will bring together global thought leaders with local civic partners; community organisations and business owners to share; discuss and debate a future vision for the city. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography) A popular Louth pub is being used as a bus shelter amid further calls for increased shelters across the county. The comments were made by Mayor of Drogheda Cllr Michelle Hall who told the March meeting of the Drogheda Borough District that The Thatch Bar & Kitchen was being used to shelter bus users from the rain. Fine Gael councillor Ejiro O'Hare Stratton told the meeting she was on her knees begging for new bus shelters in the town. She said there is a "genuine need for bus shelters" in Drogheda and called for one to be installed at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital as well as one in the town centre. Cllr O'Hare Stratton warned that people coming to the hospital are leaving with pneumonia and having to come back the next day as a result. Read Next: Dundalk comes alive with dynamic multi-disciplinary scratch night Louth County Council had been allocated 500,000 by the National Transport Authority in 2025 for bus shelters yet none were installed. A senior engineer with Louth County Council previously told councillors this was down to issues with the design team, and that new designers had been appointed for 2026. A spokesperson for the council told the meeting that it was not was not up to the local authority to determine where bus shelters would go, rather it was up to Bus Eireann. "The location comes from Bus Eireann. They decide, they come to us with saying they want to put a pole there or a shelter here, and this needs to be fully accessible. They own the bus shelter and we are just doing the work for them," she said. Mayor Hall said councillors were not aware that is was Bus Eireann that were delaying matters and said elected members would "put pressure on them" to resolve the issue. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. TEHRAN, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday it has launched the 28th wave of its attacks against targets in the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Beersheba, as well as the Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan, using a new generation of its missiles. In a statement published on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said the missiles used in the attacks belong to its Aerospace Division, adding the infrastructure at the Al-Azraq airbase, which is "the biggest and most active base of the U.S. aggressive fighter jets," was targeted several times. It noted that the military targets in Tel Aviv and Beersheba were hit by the Kheibar missiles equipped with ultra-heavy warheads. In another statement earlier in the day, the IRGC said its Ground Force hit with its precision-guided missiles the positions of "separatist groups" near the country's northwestern border as well as a U.S. troops' base in Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. Meanwhile, the Iranian army said Sunday its air force and navy have launched drone attacks toward targets in the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, as well as U.S. bases and military centers in Camp Arifjan. 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. Film and Theatre Practice students Sophie and Ellie are looking towards their final show at Dundalk IT; Brain Friels Dancing at Lughnasa, which they are set to stage in An Tain Arts Centre in March. The aspiring actors and film makers share their experience at DkIT and a glimpse into their upcoming show. 20-year-old Sophie Staples, grew up in Malta and made the move to Ireland to study at DkIT. I had been to Ireland before, and I thought the people were really wonderful, and it would be fantastic to have that welcoming environment, particularly in the field of theatre where you work so closely together. It was the diversity of modules encompassing post-production and pre-production, performance on stage, and acting on camera that sold the course for Sophie. The appeal was similar for 21-year-old Ellie Nolan from Ratoath in Co. Meath. I had originally wanted to just study acting, but then I got into film as well, and exploring cinematography. I felt like it was better to have a variety of skills going into the industry, according to Ellie. The varied structure of the Film and Theatre course allows students the time and flexibility to explore their interests and develop their individual strengths. It makes more diverse theatre makers, according to lecturer Laura Bowler. We're not just training actors. We're training people who have a wide set of skills and can pitch in for multiple aspects of theatre and film. Theatre and performance have always been a huge part of Sophie and Ellies lives, both having been in stage schools and amateur performances since the age of 6. Being in this industry has always been something that I wanted to do, according to Sophie. In my late teens I realised it was something I wanted as more than a hobby. Ellie initially had reservations about diving into theatre as a career but confesses When I was 17 I decided, no, I was just going to go for it because I literally had no interest in anything else and it was all I could think about. Guest lectures, along with insights drawn from their lecturers own industry experience, are among the standout aspects of the course for Sophie. Our lecturers have done so many different things, and hearing them share these experiences reassures me that there are many unique paths within this industry. Read Next: Dundalk comes alive with dynamic multi-disciplinary Scratch Night For both students directing and film, and advanced acting have really stood out in their course, with live performances bringing the biggest thrill. Their skills will really be put to the test as they become the first DkIT Theatre and Film group to take their final performance to An Tain Arts Centre. Its so exciting and its going to be such a great atmosphere, as a bigger theatre it will be more intimidating but I know that will just give us even more drive according to Ellie, who hopes that the new performance space will entice a wider audience to the play. For the group, who are used to both rehearsing and performing in the DkIT MacAnna Theatre, the popular Dundalk theatre space brings a new challenge that they are approaching with vigour. Its a bit like were leaving home. We're really, really familiar with the MacAnna. So, we have to take all of our bags, pack them up, and bring them to someone else's house and abide by their rules and their timelines, which is a brilliant opportunity for learning, says Laura, who is co-directing the play alongside Eva Urban-Devereux. The renowned Irish play, Dancing at Lughnasa takes place in 1930s Donegal and explores the life of the Mundy sisters, including 26-year-old Christina and her young son Michael. Taking on the role, Sophie reflects Christina has a lot of inner battles, she is the youngest, she has a child out of wedlock, she adores her son but feels like she wants more. The play explores how Christina deals with the stigma and limitations that are placed on her and how she is somewhat protected from these by her sisters. Sisterhood is at the heart of the play, according to Ellie who plays Maggie. Im the funny sister, she laughs. Read Next: PHOTOS: Transition Year students to stage The Addams Family at Dundalk's St Louis School I think Friel is a great choice for this group, Eva and I are really excited about it, according to Laura. This generation have their own challenges, expectations of the world and struggles, and its such a great opportunity for them to step into the lives of these characters who lived so long ago in rural Ireland. We have such a diverse cast of wonderful people who have made Ireland their home and we think there is something at the heart of this play that speaks to everybody. While their upcoming production is at the forefront of their minds, Sophie and Ellie are coming near the end of their studies, and looking towards whats next. My main goal is to go into acting. Either on stage or camera, but I particularly love the adrenaline rush of a live performance. I now have so much experience behind the stage though that I can work there too until I get cast, Ellie jokes. For Sophie, the varied nature of her course has changed her outlook somewhat. I love acting and would love nothing more than to be in professional shows, but its no longer my ultimate goal, she says. I want to travel a bit after college and create art that is meaningful to me, to write or produce something new that hasnt been seen before. To learn more about the upcoming production visit: https://www.antain.ie/event/dancing-at-lughnasa/ Today, young artists from St Brigid's Special School, Louth were announced as the joint third-place winner in the Group category of RTEs This is Art! 2025 competition. Their winning artwork, St Brigids Cloak, was selected from thousands of entries submitted by young people across the island of Ireland. This years competition saw an extraordinary surge in participation, with entries almost doubling year-on-year reflecting the growing appetite for creative expression among young people nationwide. The group from St Brigid's Special School are among 77 young artists named winners across five age categories. The competition celebrates every young person who takes part. Each submission contributed to a vibrant and inspiring showcase of creativity from every corner of Ireland. Supported by Creative Ireland and the Shared Island Initiative, RTEs This is Art! continues its mission to champion and platform young creativity across the island of Ireland. The annual all-island competition invited young people aged 18 and under to respond to this years theme: This is Nature! Across five age categories, entrants submitted work in a wide range of mediums including drawing, painting, sculpture, decoupage and mixed media. 77 young artists will receive prizes this year. First-place winners across all categories will receive a bespoke award created by artist and judge Maser. Second and third-place winners - 28 entrants - will receive bursaries to further develop their artistic practice. In addition, the top 20 entrants in each category will receive personal commendations from the judging panel. This years judging panel - graffiti and street artist Maser, muralist and educator Joe Caslin, artist and fashion designer Helen Steele, Director of The Dock Mary Conlon, and ornithologist Sean Ronayne - met in Dublin last month to review the entries and select the winners. The judges were inspired by the depth of thought, imagination and confidence shown across the submissions, noting the powerful ways young people interpreted the theme of nature. Read Next: Significant achievements of four Louth students celebrated by Maynooth University Commenting on the winners' announcement, RTEs Suzanne Kelly, Head of Children's and Young People's Content, said: This Is Art! truly embodies our mission within Childrens & Young Peoples Content at RTE. It provides a platform for talented young people to showcase their creativity and, in doing so, inspires others across the country to express themselves through art. Its a privilege to be able to support young people in this way and to shine a light on the remarkable artists we have across the island of Ireland. We would encourage everyone to explore the digital gallery to experience the extraordinary entries from every corner of the country. If you havent already, visit the online gallery and see the talent for yourself. There were relieved family reunions at Dublin Airport after the Irish Governments first chartered flight from the Middle East touched down. The flight from Muscat in Oman landed just before 5am on Sunday, several hours after its scheduled midnight arrival. It made a stop in Cairo and was carrying around 194 people. The flight was chartered to bring stranded, vulnerable Irish citizens home amid escalating hostilities between Israel, the US and Iran. One passenger, Orlaith Byrne, said: We left Dubai 52 hours ago to make this journey, so yeah, its been a journey. Josephine Leonard added: Its been about 52 and a half hours, not all travel time but quite a bit of it. Rory OConnor said he and his family had been on holiday when the conflict started. We were only away for a weeks holiday but its a big deal when youre over there, lying down in bed and listening to bangs, its crazy, and you could feel the window shaking, he said. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said it had been a challenging journey. I am pleased to confirm the arrival into Dublin of a chartered repatriation flight from Oman. I want to welcome home all those who travelled on the flight we have chartered to assist those stranded in the Gulf region, she said. I know their return will be an enormous relief for themselves and for their families and friends. It was a challenging journey, in particular for those who travelled over land to Muscat, but I am glad that we have been able to directly facilitate the return of nearly 200 people, including a number of children and infants. Hundreds of Irish citizens returned recently from the region on commercial Emirates flights to Dublin. Another is due to land at 6.55pm on Sunday. Other Irish people have managed to get indirect flights to Ireland from Abu Dhabi or Dubai through London or Paris. Ms McEntee said around 1,500 people have returned home to Ireland in recent days. I would encourage all those still in the UAE and who want to leave to avail of commercial options where those are available, she said. The last week has been incredibly distressing for our citizens in the Gulf. The situation remains volatile, with further attacks on the UAE and other Gulf countries today, and on Iran. I would ask any Irish citizens in the Gulf to register their presence in order to give my Department the clearest information possible of the situation on the ground. More than 18,000 people have done so since last weekend. Any citizen in the Gulf seeking assistance is encouraged to call the Consular Crisis Team in Dublin directly. The Governments chartered flight, which reportedly cost 800 euro a seat, departed Muscat in Oman on Saturday. There are about 24,000 Irish citizens across the region who have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs. An estimated 14,000 Irish people are living in Dubai, a further 2,000 in Abu Dhabi and more than 2,000 in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia. On Friday, it was indicated that the consular crisis team had responded to more than 2,300 queries since last weekend. Passenger Update Sunday 8 March Disruption to flights between Dublin Airport and airports in the Middle East is continuing today (Sunday). Just 2 of todays 14 scheduled flights to the Middle East are due to operate 1 inbound and 1 outbound Emirates flight to and from Dubai pic.twitter.com/cMsXld7whH Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) March 8, 2026 On Sunday Dublin Airport said disruption to flights to and from the Middle East is continuing. Just two of todays 14 scheduled flights to the Middle East are due to operate one inbound and one outbound Emirates flight to and from Dubai this evening, it said. All other flights to Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi have been cancelled by airlines. Further disruption is likely in the days ahead. As always, passengers due to fly should contact their airline directly for the latest updates on the status of their flight. The GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco recently hosted the Lord Mayor of Cork, Fergal Dennehy, to sign an agreement to loan the original 'Rainbow flag' for an exhibition at Cork Public Museum later this year. This is the first international loan and exhibition of the original Rainbow Flag, designed by American artist and activist Gilbert Baker in 1978, outside of the United States. The flag is a fragment of one of the two rainbow flags first raised in San Franciscos pride parade, hand stitched and dyed by Mr Baker and a team of 30 volunteers, with eight colour stripes, two of which were later removed. Thought to have been lost for over 40 years, the fragment was rediscovered in late 2019. Mr Dennehy said: It is a privilege to announce that the original Gilbert Baker Rainbow Flag from 1978 will be exhibited internationally for the first time at Cork Public Museum. We look forward to launching a comprehensive programme of community engagement as befits this piece of world history, and international symbol of freedom, hope and love, he said, thanking the GLBT Historical Society, San Francisco City Hall, the Irish Consulate General and the San Francisco-Cork Sister City Committee. Museum curator Dan Breen said: The Cork Public Museum is delighted to be collaborating with the GLBT Historical Society to bring this unique icon of modern cultural and social history to Cork for the first time. Having Gilbert Bakers flag on public display at the museum sends a strong message that Cork Public Museum is a place for everyone, regardless of your age, gender or sexual orientation. The flags arrival will coincide with the opening of the museums first permanent LGBTQ+ exhibition, underlining the museums continued commitment to collect, preserve, display and make accessible to the public the histories and material heritage of those groups and communities traditionally marginalised from the story of Corks past. GLBT Historical Society executive director Roberto Ordenana said: As stewards of the original Rainbow Flag, created in 1978, we are entrusted with preserving its history and increasing greater awareness of its legacy. The Rainbow flags importance extends far beyond any one museum, city, or nationour shared history belongs to all of us, regardless of borders. "This international collaboration reaffirms our commitment to keeping LGBTQ+ history visible and accessible to all and sharing global solidarity during a moment when the most vulnerable among our LGBTQ community face increased attacks and erasure all around the world. Cork city Labour councillor John Maher told The Echo: This is fantastic news for Cork City. The original Pride flag coming to Cork on tour is a statement of love, hope and solidarity. This flag and these colours represent love, life, healing, the sun, serenity, art and magic, nature and spirit, something every person can relate to. Its important that we as a community celebrate and acknowledge our history and all those who went before us in harder times. We must continue the quest for full equality. An intoxicated man who was staggering in front of traffic and unable to speak pleaded guilty to public intoxication and possession of drugs. Garda court presenter Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Clonakilty District Court that Garda Joe Grimes responded to a call about an incident on the causeway at Rosscarbery, Co Cork, at 7pm on February 20, 2026. He found Christopher McCarthy, aged 40, of 27 Bridge Street, Skibbereen, Co Cork, staggering on the main N71 road in front of oncoming traffic. The court heard that McCarthy was clearly intoxicated, very unsteady on his feet, and unable to form coherent sentences when Garda Grimes spoke to him. McCarthy was arrested for being intoxicated in public, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, at 7.15pm for his own safety and the safety of others. When McCarthy was searched an amount of green herb was found in a tobacco pouch, later confirmed to be cannabis, valued at 106.20. The court was told that McCarthy made admissions that the drugs were his and for his own personal use. The court heard that McCarthy had 30 previous convictions, 25 since he became an adult, including 10 convictions for public intoxication but none for drugs offences. His last conviction related to a careless driving offence in 2022. McCarthy said most of his convictions were for incidents many years ago and he now worked as a scaffolder and rarely drank alcohol. He told Judge Joanne Carroll that he was out celebrating a friends birthday and had too much to drink. He also admitted buying the cannabis earlier that day but denied he had a drug addiction problem. Judge Carroll remanded McCarthy on continuing bail to April 4, 2026, by which time he was expected to make a 300 contribution to the court poor box. The judge warned McCarthy that if he did not make the contribution he would be convicted of both offences and fined 600. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. After 52 hours of travel, Cork GAA referee Shane Scanlon says he is relieved to be back on home soil, having been stranded in Dubai for almost a week due to air strikes across the Middle East. He was one of 194 passengers on the Irish Governments first chartered evacuation flight from the region travelling from Oman via Cairo which touched down in Dublin Airport shortly before 5am on Sunday. Newcestown native Mr Scanlon was in Dubai to officiate at the Middle East GAA hurling league finals, which took place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Recalling the 52-hour trip to Ireland, Mr Scanlon told The Echo that the travelling group encountered delays crossing the border from the UAE into Oman. On top of that, the plane bringing nearly 200 people back to Ireland had been delayed on the runway in Cairo in Egypt during a stopover for six hours, as a result of technical issues. Mr Scanlon, the son of well-known C103 GAA reporter Michael Scanlon, said he was pleased to be back home in Cork following a longer than planned trip to Dubai. I am absolutely delighted to be home. I can say that everyone on that plane was thrilled to be back home to see their family and friends, he told The Echo. Id say everyone was fairly tired when they got into Dublin airport. But it was great for a lot of families to meet up with their loved ones. It puts a bit of closure on what has been a very hectic week. While the weather might not be as good as it is in Dubai at the minute, it is great to be home , to have the bit of security and safe of mind that all will be well. Despite the long trip home, Mr Scanlon said that they were well looked after on the journey. Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee said: It was a challenging journey, in particular for those who travelled over land to Muscat. But I am glad that we have been able to directly facilitate the return of nearly 200 people, including a number of children and infants. The last week has been incredibly distressing for our citizens in the Gulf. The situation remains volatile, with further attacks on the UAE and other Gulf countries today, and on Iran. Ms McEntee added: I would ask any Irish citizens in the Gulf to register their presence in order to give my department the clearest information possible of the situation on the ground. More than 18,000 people have done so since last weekend. Any citizen in the Gulf seeking assistance is encouraged to call the consular crisis team in Dublin directly. Other Irish people have managed to get indirect flights to Ireland from Abu Dhabi or Dubai through London or Paris over the past week, since the US and Israel began an attack on Iran. An estimated 14,000 Irish people are living in Dubai, a further 2,000 in Abu Dhabi, and more than 2,000 in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, President Catherine Connolly said events in the Middle East are deliberate assaults on international law and must be called out without euphemism and without equivocation. By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association An Irish charity is helping empower Rwandan women to become voices of change in their communities. Rwanda has the highest percentage of female representation in its national parliament in the world, but many women still face issues such as gender-based violence, limited influence in household decision making, and a lack of access to financial independence. These challenges are exacerbated by the climate crisis, with communities at risk from extreme weather events like floods and landslides, while changing weather patterns can threaten crop yields for subsistence farmers or decrease job availability for insecure workers. A Rwanda Womens Network hub in the Rulindo district (Brian Lawless/PA) Rwandan women particularly pregnant women are disproportionately affected as they often work longer hours for less, face worse health outcomes and gender-based violence (GBV), and carry the burden of demanding farming tasks in their households. Irish charity Trocaire has partnered with Rwandan non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support programmes that champion women and their wider communities. One group, the Rwanda Womens Network (RWN), has established more than 24 womens spaces across the country since it was established after the genocide to support women overcome the traumas they experienced. Stella Maris Murekeyisoni, a project co-ordinator with RWN, told the Press Association: These are more than physical places, they are places of healing, belonging and also trust. Normally, the women we serve, when they come they are facing trauma, GBV, financial dependency, but when they come they find other women and can build trust and also solidarity. Rwanda is the focus country for Trocaires lenten box fundraising campaign for 2026. Stella Maris Murekeyisoni, a project co-ordinator with Rwanda Womens Network (Brian Lawless/PA) In the Rulindo district, about an hours drive north of the capital Kigali, an RWN hub caters for women who have sought help for reasons including support with teenage pregnancy, experiences with GBV, and financial dependency. Emilia Placide Mubyeyi, RWN field co-ordinator in Rulindo, said the Trocaire-supported centre is designed around buildings women confidence, their capacity to take part in decisions that affect their lives, and economic empowerment, as well as GBV awareness and prevention. She said: We help women to be mentally stable by healing their traumas, through having conversations like therapy stations, and other supports. The centre also has a playroom for women who take their children with them, and a safe space including a bed where they can sleep. The RWN uses a 13-session Masidama programme on womens empowerment which involves advice on financial stability and investing as well as training on agriculture work and other income generation. Asked about some of the success stories, Ms Murekeyisoni said some of the women could not even attend local community meetings before the programme but now all 190 who have completed the Masidama course in the Rulindo centre are attending and influencing decisions. Emilia Placide Mubyeyi is a field co-ordinator in Rulindo (Brian Lawless/PA) In collaboration with Rwandan women-led NGO Duterimbere, participants also get financial literacy training and access to savings and loans groups, which has helped the establishment of businesses. The Rulindo centre has seen success with the women their winning a competition for their business acumen. The hub has a small agricultural space for crops and livestock, a private consultation room for counselling, and a sewing room. Murore Marie Goretti, a 35-year-old mother-of-three, said she used to be a woman with self-stigma and lack of confidence, but added: I am now a facilitator training other women to be self-confident and to not be where I used to be: behind the doors in our homes and instead being part of the decision making. At a small store next to the main RWN building, Geraldine Uwimana said the Masidama curriculum helped her gain confidence and more financial self-dependence. She said: I learned that a woman cannot have a voice if she doesnt have money, thats the reason Im here. Programme participant Geraldine Uwimana in the store she helps to run (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms Uwimana is involved in running the shop and said: I learned necessary skills around running a business including record keeping and stock projections. Amid shelves of cereals, beans, rice, flour, hygiene products, cooking materials and stationery, she added: Before coming here, I used to be a housewife whereby I was just doing farming activities in my home and cooking for the family. But after joining this team, I become confident. I now get money. Wearing a green dress, she added: And before, I couldnt get clothes like this one without asking money from my husband, but currently myself, I go to the market and I buy such clothes without any help from my husband. Asked for her advice to other women in her previous situation, she said: I want you to be confident because you cannot sit there and hope and wait to get each and every thing from your husband. Because you are capable, you are able to get where I am, you just have to be confident enough and everything will be all right. Trocaires country director in Rwanda said the charitys approach is focused on making sure communities are empowered themselves and much more resilient by mitigating risks and ensuring incomes come from different sources. Trocaires country director in Rwanda Marleen Masclee (Brian Lawless/PA) Marleen Masclee said: We do that empowerment not only at the household level, but we lift it up at the community level. Ms Masclee said the work around social norms is also community up and not top down. We listen to the women, we listen to their fears, we listen to their challenges, and we work together with their husbands, with their families, in making sure that everyone has a dignified role within the family, and that families can prosper in a harmonious way instead of having violence in the household, instead of having womens voices being repressed. And we do that through enabling women to raise their voices, to be able to find the inner empowerment, to be able to speak out, but also for the husbands to be able to allow such a change happening. Because instead of it causing friction in a family, we want to do this carefully. We want to accompany the process so that, in the end, you have very strong family units that respect one another and that can really work together for the benefit of the families. Reflecting on her time at the RWN, Ms Goretti said: Its obvious, you can tell from looking at us we are proud of ourselves. Kenneth Fox Irish hauliers held crisis talks over the weekend and issued a stark warning to the Government that they will have no choice but to mount rolling protests blocking key arteries, routes and airports in the coming days. The warnings come as their industry faces collapse due to escalating fuel prices, on top of increased tolls, new charges at Dublin port and a host of other government-imposed taxes and charges. Hauliers have said the situation in the Middle East has highlighted Irelands dysfunctional market for fuel, where the government are taking over 65 per cent of the price of a litre of petrol and over 60 per cent of the price of a litre of diesel. Ireland is also one of a small number of member states in the EU that is charging a carbon tax of 18.74 cents per litre, which will rise to 26.8 cents by 2030. Hauliers accused the government of profiteering on the back of hard-pressed motorists, hauliers, and farmers whose livelihoods are being put at risk due to astronomical fuel prices that are rising on a daily basis. The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) is calling for a temporary suspension of the carbon tax, a move that is legally possible, and a removal of the M50 toll for all motorists and hauliers. Hauliers added that we need a comprehensive review of how we tax fuel in Ireland and why so much of the burden of climate change measures is being heaped on just one industry, transport. According to IRHA president, Ger Hyland, hauliers feel just as let down as farmers, builders and the general public by this Fianna Fail/Fine Gael government that is refusing to reduce some of the enormous windfall taxes that they are taking from motorists at the pumps. Hyland urged the government to put on the green jersey and resolve the crisis before ministers depart for global St Patricks Day celebrations. Hyland said the crisis has the potential to derail the Irish economic success story and precipitate a deeper cost-of-living crisis. When transport costs go up, groceries, clothes, building materials and everything in between go up in price. "We are on the cusp of serious and sustained protests by the transport industry in Ireland. "Crippling fuel costs are just the latest escalating cost to follow higher tolls, new charges at Dublin Port and a host of other taxes and charges that this government has imposed on small businesses across rural Ireland. Government are asleep at the wheel and not listening to the people who put them in power. Hyland called on motorists and the transport industry to unite and send a clear message to the Government. If our industry stopped for just 72 hours, supermarket shelves would empty, hospitals would struggle to operate, petrol stations would run out of fuel, and small businesses nationwide would be forced to close," Hyland said. When my mum, Mary Hopkins, founded Hopkins Communications in Cork in 1990, she did so at a time when very few women were leading in Irish or Cork businesses, let alone in communications or with PR agencies. She became a trailblazer not by declaration, but by example, building one of Munsters most respected independent agencies through instinct, integrity, and an unwavering belief in people. Six months after her passing, I still catch myself reaching for the phone. To tell her something funny. To ask her advice. To hear her laugh, a laugh that could fill a room before she even entered it, so contagious that we would often find ourselves laughing uncontrollably, with and at each other, for far longer than we should have. She was many things to many people, a founder, a leader, a mentor, a force of nature, but to me she was first and always my best friend, as well as my mum. As International Womens Day approached, and with this years theme #GiveToGain, I found myself thinking about what giving really looked like in her life. Because for mum, giving was never strategic or performative. It was instinctive. She gave opportunities quietly. She opened doors for women before they knew they were allowed to knock. She gave her time to young graduates finding their feet, to business owners who needed reassurance, to anyone who rang her looking for guidance. She had an extraordinary ability to see potential in people long before they saw it in themselves, and she never hesitated to back them. Her generosity extended far beyond business. One of the causes closest to her heart for 30-plus years was SHARE - Students Harness Aid for the Relief of the Elderly. As a family, we spent many Christmas Days delivering dinners, hampers and presents to centres across Cork. What mattered most to her were the conversations. Knowing the residents by name. Sitting down. Listening. Showing up. She built deep, genuine relationships with the people there and with Brother Stephen, who led the annual fundraising project. She put her heart and soul into that work, valuing people, not just causes. When she retired in 2017, she didnt necessarily slow down. She redirected her energy. Combining her love of the sea with her natural instinct for bringing people together, she became even more deeply involved in fundraising for RNLI Baltimore. She used every bit of her PR and events expertise to help build sell-out suppers and other events year after year, securing tens of thousands of euro in donations and prizes. The final event she worked on took place just two days before she passed away. Unable to attend, she sent my dad in her place. That night, she was mentioned from the stage, cheered and thanked. Chef Derry Clarke also took the time to ring her to say how much she was missed. Even in her absence, she filled the room. She also showed up in leadership. She was president of Network Cork and the Publicity Club, a driving force within Cork Chamber, and one of the first two women to attend the Chamber annual dinner among a sea of penguins (tuxedos)! She walked into that room with elegance, confidence, and a smile that had, as one Cork publican recently told me, the businessmen of Cork eating out of the palm of her hand. She was the first female president of the Rotary Club of Cork, and the Yellow Ribbon Tree of Remembrance on Patrick Street, which still stands each Christmas, was her idea. But above all, she showed up for her family. She was proud of her son Mark, and of the business she entrusted to him and to me. She loved his wife Eorann dearly and was deeply grateful for her two grandchildren, Jack and Anna, who brought her pure joy and mischief and who knew they were utterly loved by their Granny. Her love for my dad, Dave, her husband of almost 51 years, was steady, playful and enduring, shaped by oceans crossed and storms weathered together. And her loving bond with her twin sister Norma was life-long and profound. They were different in temperament, but united in loyalty and an unspoken understanding that only twins truly know. Since she passed, messages have arrived from Cork to Australia, from Sherkin to Singapore. The words repeat themselves. Trailblazer. A light. Generous. Glamorous. Fun. Fearless. Kind. At her funeral, alongside the attendance of the Taoiseachs Aide-de-Camp, she was honoured with a standing ovation, a moment that spoke not just of respect, but of love. Mum made the most of life. She gave endlessly of herself, and in doing so multiplied confidence, opportunity and joy for countless others. Her legacy lives on in us, her family, and in the people she lifted, the causes she championed, and the business she built. Giving was Mums superpower. And we are all richer for it. We miss her every day, and we are lucky knowing that her presence still fills the room. Even if she is not physically with us, she lives on in all of us, guiding us as we step into the next chapter of the business she built a chapter she was still helping to refine, right until the very end. (Photo: Vatican News)Pope Francis welcome at Jakarta Airport in September 2024. The precarious sensitivities in Indonesian Christian-Muslim relations were highlighted recently in West Kalimantan Province when a Christian leader was arrested on Feb. 18 for comments he made about Muhammad, Islam's prophet and his wives. Police from Saputra's native Aceh Province arrested Dedi Saputra, and he was detained at the Bengkayang Police Station and the Pontianak Regional Police Headquarters in West Kalimantan Province, Morning Star News reported on Feb. 27, quoting sources. Saputra had said in a video clip, "Muhammad, before becoming a prophet, had only one wife, but when he became a prophet, he had a dozen wives." Police arrested Saputra as he and his wife were on their way home from buying personal items and supplies for the church he serves in the Suka Maju village, in the Bengkayang Regency, according to news reports. The police were from Aceh Province, and he was detained at the Bengkayang Police Station and the Pontianak Regional Police Headquarters in West Kaliman Province before he was flown to Aceh Provincial Police Headquarters on Feb. 20, Aceh-based Serambinews.com reported. The arrest took place after authorities and Islamic organizations accused him of religious defamation and hate speech related to videos posted on his social media account. He was reportedly charged under Indonesia's Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE) and the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) for allegedly spreading religious hate speech. Saputra, a former Muslim, was arrested for allegedly insulting Muhammad via his TikTok account @tersadarkan5758, according to MetroTv.com. Uploaded late last year, the video has been viewed around 1.9 million times and sparked widespread reaction on social media. In a TikTok video edited and uploaded by Kenzie De Jann Weringkukly as the @tersadarkan5758 account was deleted, Weringkukly claims the video he uploaded was the cause of Saputra's arrest. In the video, Saputra answers a netizen's question about converting to another religion by stating, "Muhammad, before he became a prophet, had only one wife, but when he became a prophet, he had a dozen wives." STOPPED ON HIS MOTORCYLE During the arrest, police stopped the motorcycle Saputra and his wife, Etfy, were riding, preventing them from continuing their journey. Police took her to the church where her husband serves because she cannot drive, according to Komparatif.id. In a TikTok video uploaded by Anggu Perman, Saputra said police did not handcuff him and allowed him to return the church motorcycle to the church site. Responding to TVOneNews' Instagram post, the owner of Facebook account Ibaupaulo posted that such cases are what "prevents this country from progressing, because the state/government is still busy managing its citizens' faith...but forgets its responsibility to develop human resources and character." Another Facebook account, Rudal, accused the police of favoritism, posting, "There was an incident where someone insulted the crucifixion of a pagan genie, but why weren't they arresting him?" Deni Febrianus Nafi, director of the Ahavah Legal Aid Institute, was appointed attorney for the Saputra family, according to medialiterasi.com. Muhammad, the final Islamic prophet, is said to have had thirteen wives in total, according to Wikipedia. Indonesia has a popluation of around 238 milllion of whom about 88 percent are Muslims some eight perent Christians, Hindus, two percent and Buddhists one percent according to the World Factbook. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday that no individual or force will be allowed to separate Taiwan from China. Wang described resolving the Taiwan question and realizing the complete reunification of China as a historic process that cannot be stopped. 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." Prismatic is how one would describe Tisca Chopras persona and potential. Stage, satellite, screen and now the digital space its been a multi-medium run for the actor. Her elite talent was discernible even decades ago, when she appeared in the TV series Star Bestsellers. But it was playing Maya Awasthi, mother of a dyslexic child in Aamir Khans Taare Zameen Par in the millennium that brought Tisca mainstream recognition. Since then Anup Singhs Qissa, Vikram Bhatts Ankur Arora Murder Case, Vikranth Pawars series Dahan: Raakan Ka Rahasya and more have had her portray women trying to navigate their overwhelming realities... What remain prized are her achievements as writer/producer/actor in the short film Chutney, which won the Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and Best Film. Her teethy Vanita is a ghoulish payback to betrayal. As co-producer/co-writer/actor, the short film Chhuri delivered yet another empowering message never underestimate the power of a woman scorned! Mention must also be made of her directorial debut, the short Rubaru, about an actor who strives to gather the fragments of her career and confidence. Having been vociferous about gender dynamics, be it as a person and performer, Tisca reveres the defining characters played by her peers and predecessors. Here, she elaborates on a few characters that have impacted her sense and sensibilities IN TISCA CHOPRAS OWN WORDS: DAMINI (1993) DIRECTOR: RAJKUMAR SANTOSHI STORY: Damini (Meenakshi Seshadri) witnesses her housemaid being raped by her brother-in-law and his friends. She pledges to get justice for the browbeaten girl with the help of her husband (Rishi Kapoor) and lawyer Govind (Sunny Deol). WHY I LOVE IT: The film, Damini Lightning, was released in 1993, the same year I made my debut. At that time, Rajkumar Santoshi had just come off the massive success of Ghayal (1990). In many ways, he was ahead of his time, a feminist filmmaker, even before that became a thing. What struck me most about Damini was how well-written (Sutanu Gupta and Dilip Shukla) and impactful the character was. The film had great music (music directors Nadeem-Shravan, lyricist Sameer). But more importantly, it had a strong voice that resonated deeply. The journey of this young woman, transitioning from a humble background to a wealthy household while staying true to her values and ideals, was inspiring. One particular scene left a lasting impression on me. Theres a moment where Damini, (Meenakshi) on her way to court, is chased by goons wanting to kill her. She picks up a spade and defiantly challenges them to come closer. The sheer intensity and power that Meenakshi brought to that scene gave me goosebumps. BANDIT QUEEN (1994) DIRECTOR: SHEKHAR KAPUR STORY: The film focuses on the life of dacoit Phoolan Devi (Seema Biswas), who eventually went on to become a politician. It also highlights the sexual abuse she underwent as a member of the lower caste. WHY I LOVE IT: How can I not list Bandit Queen (based on the book Indias Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi by Mala Sen) as one of my top favourites? It received an Adult rating, which only heightened the curiosity around it. Beyond that, it truly pushed the envelope for Indian cinema on a global scale. It introduced us to incredible actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Gajraj Rao, Saurabh Shukla... But the one person who shone like a star was Seema Biswas as Phoolan Devi. Taking on a role like that required immense courage, especially in an industry that was and still is quick to put actors in a box. The unfiltered portrayal Seema brought to the screen was revolutionary. She wasnt just performing she was rebelling, breaking every conventional norm to stay true to the character. Watching her in Bandit Queen filled me with pride. And of course, Shekhar Kapur, is one of our finest filmmaking minds. Ive admired his ability to break free from genre constraints. Each of his films is distinct and a departure from his last. One scene that has stayed with me is when Phoolan returns to her husband Puttilals (Aditya Shrivastava) village, drags him out of the house and kills him in broad daylight in front of everyone making a statement that no man should marry a child. The sheer angst in the moment was so real, so electrifying, that it still shakes me. ASTITVA (2000) DIRECTOR: MAHESH MANJREKAR STORY: Aditi (Tabu) and Shrikants (Sachin Khedekar) 27-year-old marriage is over after it comes to light that Aditi is beneficiary to the property of late Malhar Kamat (Mohnish Bahl), implying a clandestine past. WHY I LOVE IT: Astitva is one of my favorite Tabu films. What sets Tabu apart is her sheer stability as a performer; theres a certain ease and lack of insecurity in the way she carries herself, both on and off screen. She never tries to prove a point or outshine anyone. She simply becomes the character shes playing. In Astitva, you would expect a woman in her situation to react with anger and frustration, especially in that confrontation scene with her husband played by Sachin Khedekar. But Tabu does something completely unexpected. She approaches the scene with remarkable stillness. She lets every word linger, every statement settle. As she speaks, youre not just listening; youre thinking, maybe even questioning. In that final take-down, shes no longer the woman they thought they knew. She lays herself bare, not in defense but in defiance unapologetic and heartbreakingly human. Its not just a confession; its a confrontation (where she exposes patriarchy, gender bias and male hypocrisy). When Aditi finally walks away, its not with anger but with clarity the kind that leaves the ingratitude of those left behind hanging in the air like smoke. A woman undone or perhaps finally done with it all. HIGHWAY (2014) DIRECTOR: IMTIAZ ALI STORY: Bride-to-be Veera Tripathi (Alia Bhatt) is abducted by criminal Mahabir Bhati (Randeep Hooda) and his men a day prior to her wedding. Far from being terrified of her abductor, Veera discovers love and liberation. WHY I LOVE IT: Highway is a masterful blend of human emotions and sensitivity, wrapped in compelling storytelling. It bravely tackles themes of child abuse and the Stockholm syndrome, while at its core its a journey of two damaged souls, Veera and Mahabir, who unknowingly become each others path to healing. Imtiaz Ali crafts this story with remarkable restraint, ensuring that every moment feels organic rather than scripted. To Alia Bhatt and his credit that they maintain control over the films tone and pace, making it an immersive experience. Highway is the kind of film that seamlessly blends craft with emotion while daring to explore something new. One of my favourite scenes is when Veera (Alia) tells Mahabir (Randeep) that she dreams of having her own home, nestled in the mountains far from her posh Delhi bungalow. In his unfiltered way, Mahabir simply gestures toward the vast landscape and says, Sab apne hee hain! That moment, so simple yet profound, encapsulates the essence of both freedom and belonging that Highway beautifully portrays. QUEEN (2014) DIRECTOR: VIKAS BAHL STORY: Rani Mehra (Kangana Ranaut), a reticent Punjabi girl from New Delhi takes off solo on her honeymoon to Paris and Amsterdam after her fiance, Vijay Dhingra (Rajkummar Rao), calls off their wedding. WHY I LOVE IT: Queen not only redefined the coming-of-age genre but also turned Kangana Ranaut into an overnight star. The premise itself was refreshingly unique: a woman, after a broken engagement, decides to go on her honeymoon alone. What a plot! The writing (Vikas Bahl, Chaitally Parmar and Parveez Shaikh) was impeccable, the songs (music Amit Trivedi) were perfectly placed and the supporting characters (including Lisa Haydon as Vijayalakshmi, a free-spirited woman of French-Spanish-Indian origin and Sabeeka Imam as pole dancer Roxette/Rukhsar) were so unabashedly carefree that you couldnt help but root for them. In an industry where most films play it safe, Queen dared to take the road less travelled. I l remember watching it with my mother. When Kanganas character walks away from Rajkummar Raos, my mother smiled and simply said, Achcha kiya! In that moment, I realised the true victory of the film it resonated across generations. Thats the mark of great storytelling. PINK (2016) DIRECTOR: ANIRUDDHA ROY CHOWDHURY STORY: After being molested, Minal (Taapsee Pannu) along with her friends tries to file an FIR against a politicians nephew (Angad Bedi as Rajveer Singh). When the powerful try pulling the strings, Deepak Sehgal (Amitabh Bachchan), a retired lawyer, steps in for the girls. WHY I LOVE IT: Pink is a slow-burn drama that leaves a lasting impact. The statement it made Ladki ki naa mein haan hoti hai? Nahi hoti hai. Naa matlab naa! was simple yet powerful. It challenged deep-rooted patriarchal norms and power dynamics in a way that was long overdue. This film was crucial for India because cinema emerges from society and in turn influences it. One of my favourite scenes from Pink is the courtroom confrontation where Amitabh Bachchans character, lawyer Deepak, asks Taapsee Pannus Minal if she gave consent. She firmly says, No! What follows is his monologue about how society labels women based on its flawed morality. That scene was incredibly powerful because it shattered the notion that ladki ki naa mein haan hoti hai. LAAPATAA LADIES (2024) DIRECTOR: KIRAN RAO STORY: Two brides (Nitanshi Goel as Phool Kumari and Pratibha Ranta as Jaya Tripathi Singh / Pushpa Rani) accidentally get interchanged during a train journey. How the protagonists rediscover themselves and their identities is conveyed in a humorous and humane way against a patriarchal backdrop. WHY I LOVE IT: Laapataa Ladies proved that beyond star power, a well-crafted film has the ability to draw audiences back to the theatres. And to think a film this strong struggled to find distribution! What makes Laapataa Ladies work is its ability to deliver a powerful message through humour. The storytelling is simple yet effective and the writing nuanced (original story Biplab Goswami, screenplay and dialogue by Sneha Desai and additional dialogue Divyanidhi Sharma). You can tell that time and effort were invested in crafting the narrativeit reflects in every frame. Kiran Rao has shown her heft as a filmmaker. Trust Aamir Khan (co-producer) to champion such meaningful stories and bring them to light. Vijay Anands Guide (1965) is a film that shattered the pride of men and the prejudice around women, wiping off decades of dust and discrimination. The gender-bender narrative was dicey given male sensibilities predominantly nurtured on misogyny. Glamour, grace, gumption thats how filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who cast Waheeda Rehman in his Rang De Basanti (2005) and Delhi-6 (2009), describes the legendary actor in his memoir Stranger In The Mirror. There couldnt be a better summation of her role as rebel Rosie in Navketan Films Guide as well. Waheeda plays the anti-heroine who turned iconic. A woman, who dares to walk out of a sham of a marriage. Bells on her toes and dreams in her eyes, she dances to destinys design. She chooses to live-in with mentor Raju (Dev Anand) rather than seek the sanction of marriage. Together they experience the highs of passion and fame. Till one day Rajus con ruptures the relationship. The estranged lovers do meet again... but by then their paths have altered. Here, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra revisits the tale of love and liberation, remorse and redemption... in his own words... GENIUS As a sweet accident of destiny, I moved from making ad films to feature films in the 2000s. My first feature film was Aks (2001) with Amitabh Bachchanji and Manoj Bajpayee. A pre-release screening was organised at Excelsior theatre in Mumbai. I was keen to invite only one person Goldie sir (late filmmaker Vijay Anand). I went over to his house and told him, Youre my inspiration. I want you to be my guest of honour. He sweetly obliged. So, I watched my first film with Goldie sir on one side and Amitji on the other. Its a moment Ill always cherish. Aks didnt do well at the box-office. To that Goldie sir simply said, Guide didnt go down well at the box-office either though everyone acknowledged it. I was amazed at his attitude. Even for me, the first concern has never been the box-office. Its to tell a story in the best way possible. There were great directors between the 50s 60s, including Guru Dutt (Pyaasa), Bimal Roy (Do Bigha Zameen and Madhumati), Raj Kapoor (Shree 420, Jagte Raho), K. Asif (Mughal-E-Azam), V Shantaram (Do Aankhen Barah Haath)... But it happens once in a while that someone comes and takes the industry by storm. Thats what Vijay Anand did with Guide. He reshaped Hindi cinema. He followed it with Teesri Manzil (1966), one of the greatest suspense thrillers. I believe it to be Shammi Kapoors best performance. How well Goldie sir balanced Shammijis persona with his character. Next was Jewel Thief (1967), a crazy blockbuster. Johny Mera Naam (1970) made history. Its Dev Anand saabs greatest hit ever. The art of storytelling was what Goldie sir pursued. The commerce followed. He had incredible music in all his films. He worked with music directors including SD Burman, RD Burman, Kalyanji Anandji...and lyricists Shailendra, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Rajendra Krishan... Their energies were different. But that didnt matter. You could sense Vijay Anands soul in his films. I can instantly recognise a Vijay Anand frame. Just as the artist signs his painting, Goldie sirs signature was evident in his body of work.Vijay Anand never compromised though the stakes are high in showbiz. A filmmaker works with high calibre artistes music directors, writers, lyricists, cameramen. As the captain of the ship, he guided them all. In fact, he taught us that you could combine commercial pulp with meaningful cinema. Thats his achievement. Great filmmakers across the globe have said that movie making is modern-day art form. Its a combination of several arts acting, photography, music writing, art direction, fashion... and above all human emotions, which you connect with the emotions of the audience. Guide has all of this. I cant think of any other novel (Guide was based on R K Narayans similarly titled Sahitya Akademi winning novel, while its English version was written by Pearl S Buck and directed by Tad Danielewski) being adapted so beautifully. Apparently, when Dev saab offered it to Goldie sir, it just took seven days for him to come back with his interpretation and how he was going to make the film. FEARLESS With the advent of the VHS, the first video cassette I acquired was that of Guide. The film had left me in sheer wonderment. Around me I saw a mans world. But in Guide, it was the woman (Waheeda Rehman as Rosie), who helmed the narrative. The man (Dev Anand as tourist guide Raju) followed it only to find a greater meaning, a greater purpose in life. What made the dicey subject work of rebellion work? On a philosophical level it was the directors fearlessness. Secondly, it was belief in his intuition. It was dubbed a death wish for Waheedaji to pick up Guide. She said, I was told that I wouldnt be offered any roles after Guide. Aapko sirf dancing aur vamp ka role milega. There was fearlessness on her part too. As a producer, Dev Anand was fearless to make the film with a debutant director. Goldie sir understood that the subject was against family values. Indian society was still so conservative. Especially, when it came to a woman breaking shackles. Todh ke bandhan baandhe payal... (I broke the bondage only to tie anklets)... sums up it all. Initially, Rosie wants a life of a normal woman. She wants to have babies. But her archaeologist husband Marco (Kishore Sahu) is impotent. Thats a naked truth, which she accepts. Yet he cheats on her. She walks out because he doesnt value her. That must have been inspiring for many women in that era. TRAGEDY The film is full of strong moments. Like when Rosie walks out on Marco. When Raju takes her out into the world and presents her talent... the rise and rise of Rosie begins. How he continues to remain in the shadow is again a great moment. The song Kya se kya hogaya, bewafa tere pyaar mein... is a seminal picturisation. The lover doesnt understand whats hit him. Its an open wound kind of situation. The audience can sense the pathos in their lives. Another moment that stands out is when towards the end when Raju undertakes the fast for the larger good and has a conversation with his alter ego. The spiritual ego speaks to guide Raju about merging with a higher reality. It shatters the myth of the invincible Indian hero. It was brave of Goldie sir to envision that.Guide works even though it doesnt have a happy ending. For me, separation is the purest form of love. The beginning of the end is when you give it a social status marriage! Which we ironically term happy ending. Guide is food for the soul. Here, the love sustains. Rosie sheds off her stardom, her finery, her jewellery... she walks barefoot to reach the man she loves. And, for Raju what better than dying in the arms of his beloved. Unfulfilled love has far greater value. In that pain he finds a higher meaning in life and also finds Rosie again. You have to see Rajus eyes in the last five minutes when he looks at Rosie. Theres so much respect and honour for this woman. In Rosies eyes, theres only love for this man. Love goes beyond life and death. You feel the sadness of separation. Tragedy is a powerful emotion. We grow with tragedy not happy endings. RECOGNITION The Hindi version of Guide was our official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 38th Academy Awards. But it did not receive a nomination. Had the world understood the Indian narrative at that point in time; Guide would have picked up the Oscar. I guess they had no understanding of Indian social culture or what women in South Asia go through. They saw it from the Western lens. Back home, Guide received nine nominations and won seven Filmfare Awards (Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Story for R.K.Naryan, Best Dialogue for Vijay Anand and Best Cinematography for Fali Mistry), the epitome of prestige and recognition. TIMELESS To sum it up, Guide is about the liberation of the female soul. Shailendras lyrics Koi na roko dil ki udaan ko, dil woh chala... aaj phir jeene tamanna hai, aaj phir marne ka irada... define the film. I am limitless. I will live on my own terms or Id rather die is what Rosie believes. The song Masakali (means pigeon in Hindi, it embodies the spirit of freedom) from my Delhi-6 is an ode to Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna... AR Rahman captured this mood for me in the song written by Prasoon Joshi. Where again the girl, Bittu Sharma (Sonam Kapoor), has dreams and wants to fly. But shes an old Delhi girl, bound by shackles, a Chandni Chowk girl, who wants to make it in showbiz. She wears salwar-kameez when she leaves home and changes into jeans at the metro station. So yes, Goldie sir did inspire me in the way I told my story. A true piece of art is rarely understood initially. Over time, it becomes precious. Good movies are for perpetuity. Not for a Friday. Thats the obligation the filmmaker has to cinema, to his cast and crew, his audience and to himself. Guide has given birth to a thousand Guides by different names. Vijay Anand has inspired all of us to look beyond the Friday butchering night. Tian Dan leaves home for work in Shanghai, east China, on March 4, 2026. Tian Dan, 37, is a delivery worker and mother of two. In 2021, Tian left her hometown in Hanzhong of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, to work as a delivery rider in Shanghai. In her early days on the job, she faced setbacks such as getting lost and falling off her motorbike. But with perseverance, she gradually grew and came to realize the value of her profession. In 2024, Tian signed up for the country's continuing education initiative, which is designed to help working individuals to pursue further education, and became one of the first batch of delivery riders to attend university for free. Today, she has graduated from junior college and enrolled to pursue a bachelor's degree. Recently, the 37-year-old was awarded China's 2025 March 8th Red-Banner Individual Holder, one of the highest honors given to the country's outstanding women by the All-China Women's Federation. After receiving the national honor, Tian is aware of greater responsibilities she should shoulder to help more riders in their work, life and development. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) Tian Dan poses for a photo with her graduation certificate at Southwest University of Science and Technology in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Sept. 18, 2025.(Xinhua) Tian Dan chats with her colleague in Shanghai, east China, on Feb. 28, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) Tian Dan tidies up before work at her home in Shanghai, east China, on March 4, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) Tian Dan (1st R) shares her story at a ceremony to mark the 116th anniversary of the International Women's Day in Shanghai, east China, on March 6, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) Tian Dan delivers food in Putuo District of Shanghai, east China, on Feb. 28, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) Tian Dan is pictured in Shanghai, east China, on Feb. 28, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) Tian Dan (R) chats with another food delivery rider at Pudong New Area in Shanghai, east China, on March 4, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Ying) Shilpa Shirodkars graph has alternated between troughs and triumphs. The jinxed tag being thrust on her even before her debut, the teen turned it around in a sensuous sweep. If Ramesh Sippys Bhrashtachar banked on her sightless vulnerability, Rakesh Roshans Kishen Kanhaiya cashed in on her copious curves. Hum, Khuda Gawah, Aankhen, Bewafa Sanam, Mrityudand Shilpa was the nymphet of the 90s till she gave it all up to marry UK-based banker Aparesh Ranjit. Leaving the trappings of stardom behind, she explored new worlds, new possibilities. While she became a professional hairdresser in New Zealand and later took up a corporate job as a credit controller, post the birth of daughter Anoushka (Ranjit) the family moved to London. Shilpa at 40 went on to do television shows Ek Mutthi Aasman, Silsila Pyar Ka It was post the pandemic in 2024 that Shilpa consumed by loneliness returned to India for good. If participating in Bigg Boss 18 rebooted her personality, doing films relit her love for the camera. Shes ecstatic celebrating her homecoming the emotional baggage behind her, the panorama ahead full of promises Shirodkars graph has alternated between troughs and triumphs. The jinxed tag being thrust on her even before her debut, the teen turned it around in a sensuous sweep. If Ramesh Sippys Bhrashtachar banked on her sightless vulnerability, Rakesh Roshans Kishen Kanhaiya cashed in on her copious curves. Hum, Khuda Gawah, Aankhen, Bewafa Sanam, Mrityudandwas the nymphet of the 90s till she gave it all up to marry UK-based banker Aparesh Ranjit. Leaving the trappings of stardom behind, she explored new worlds, new possibilities. While she became a professional hairdresser in New Zealand and later took up a corporate job as a credit controller, post the birth of daughter Anoushka (Ranjit) the family moved to London.What shook her drastically was the demise of her parents, dad Nitin Shirodkar and mom Vanita Shirodkar, between 2007- 2008. Tragically, both succumbed to cancer. Dubbing it as the darkest phase in her life, she returned to Mumbai in 2010 to be close to sister/actor Namrata Shirodkar. Anti-depression treatments and spiritual therapies later,at 40 went on to do television shows Ek Mutthi Aasman, Silsila Pyar Ka It was post the pandemic in 2024 thatconsumed by loneliness returned to India for good. If participating in Bigg Boss 18 rebooted her personality, doing films relit her love for the camera. Shes ecstatic celebrating her homecoming the emotional baggage behind her, the panorama ahead full of promises SHILPA SHIRODKARS STORY IN HER OWN WORDS: JINX VS JUBILEES Ramesh Sippys Bhrashtachar (1989) was my debut. But before that some of my projects got shelved. Supposed to be a big launch, Souten Ki Beti, didnt work out. The film I was supposed to do with Boney Kapoorji. That also didnt happen. I was dubbed jinxed but I had the support of an amazing family. My sister Namrata (Shirodkar, wife/actor of South superstar Mahesh Babu) and I wanted to make a name for ourselves. Then, Rikku Rakesh Nathji (producer and ex-manager of Madhuri Dixit), introduced me to Mithun Dada (Chakraborty). I owe a lot to Dada. He saw my pictures and spoke about me to Ramesh Sippyji. Thats how I was signed to play a blind girl in Bhrashtachar, which featured Dada and Rekhaji. The rape scene was sensitively shot (Anupam Kher plays a politician, who rapes Shilpa s character and has her killed). It was not sensational. I went on to do nine films with Dada (including Trinetra, Hitler, Swarg Yahan Narak Yahan, Jeevan Ki Shatranj, Rangbaaz between 1991 - 1996). Another significant film was Kishen Kanhaiya (1990). To be noticed in a Madhuri Dixit-Anil Kapoor film was an achievement for me. I was nervous about shooting the waterfall song Radha bina hai Kishen akela. The thought that I was working with Anil Kapoor and Gudduji (director Rakesh Roshan) on a huge project was as overwhelming. Dance master Kamalji was a strict professional. During the first scene itself, I slipped on the rocks and my foot was bruised. They put some spirit, made me feel comfortable and we continued shooting. There was no time to sulk. We completed the song in four days. Rakeshji had said, Your character will only bring you love. I trusted him. My fan mail increased significantly. The best part about being a part of a successful film is that youre recognised by the characters name. From Shilpa , I became the caring Radha for my fans, who addressed me so in letters. BIG ENCOUNTER I was indeed fortunate to have worked with Amitji (Bachchan) in Mukul Anands Hum (1991) and later Khuda Gawah (1992) I was his crazy fan. I adored him. He was my idol, my hero. Id no idea that one day Id be working with him. I met Amitji for the first time while shooting in Ooty for Hum. I was rehearsing a shot when there was a buzz. Suddenly, heads turned around as he walked in. I couldnt believe I was seeing the love of my life for the first time. He walked in wearing an electric blue trench coat and huge sunglasses the tallest man in the corridor. I froze. He came towards us. He shook hands with me saying, I am Amitabh Bachchan! My hands turned cold. Even now as I recall the moment I get goosebumps. He sat and watched the shooting. I was finding it difficult to do my steps. Mukulji told Amitji shes nervous. Amitji calmly said, Dont be nervous. Just do your work. Then on, I went about doing my work, giving retakes and not being embarrassed about it. I learnt the value of time and work from Amitji. Of being kind and humble even in that position. Through the 90s, I did a medley of films including Aankhen (Govinda), Bandish (Jackie Shroff), Do Matwale (Sanjay Dutt), Yodha (Sunny Deol), Gopi Kishan (Suniel Shetty), Bewafa Sanam (Krishan Kumar), Mrityudand (Ayub Khan) M.F.Husains Gaja Gamini in 2000 was one of my last films before I got married to Aparesh Ranjit (UK-based banker) in the same year. MARRIAGE & ME I was 27 when I met Aparesh. Within a day and a half of meeting him, I decided to settle down with him. His honesty was refreshing. He was not overwhelmed by who I was. He had no insecurities regarding me. He came across as a simple guy. I am a simple person too. I believed getting married was the right thing. Recently, we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Ive travelled the world with Aparesh. Weve lived in different countries. We started off with the Netherlands for a year. Then we lived in New Zealand for three years. There I did a hairdressing course from Winters Hairdressing Academy just to keep myself busy. I became a professional hairdresser. Later, I took up a corporate job and worked with Dun & Bradstreet as a credit controller for more than two years. I quit the job when I became pregnant. Our daughter, Anoushka (Ranjit) was born in 2003 in New Zealand. Then we moved to London. We stayed there for seven years. GRIEF-STRUCK Dad (Nitin Shirodkar) passed away in 2007 and Mom (Vanita Shirodkar) in 2008. It was shocking that they both passed away from the same illness cancer. It was the darkest phase in my life. My husband Aparesh, my sister Namrata, my daughter Anoushka all were there for me. But I still felt alone. I was so emotionally upset that Id blow everything out of proportion and make a big deal of it. I couldnt understand why I was doing that because basically Im a happy person. I knew something was not right. I was kept on antidepressants. In 2010 I wanted to leave London. My husband was doing extremely well there. But he realised that I needed to come back to India to heal myself. I needed to be closer to Namrata. I returned to India. We even started a production house. Here, I also got inclined towards spirituality. I started reading about life after death. I believed my parents were around me and watching over me. Choreographer Shiamak Davar, whos also spiritually inclined, helped me during the time I was grieving. He said, Dont run away from the pain. Eventually, youll learn to deal with it and the pain will become part of your life. In Mumbai, I also met an amazing hypnotherapist Vikram Reddy. The four sessions that I did with him gave me a new perspective. I started dealing with the triggers that disturbed me. It helped me go deep within me. I was able to deal with my sorrow. Thankfully, its all over and in the past. BACK TO WORK In 2013, I resumed work with the TV series Ek Mutthi Aasmaan. In fact, I turned 40 on the sets of Ek Mutthi... Silsila Pyar Ka (2016) and Savitri Devi College & Hospital (2017) are my other shows. It was a golden period because television is a women-centric space. To be getting that love and respect at my age is rare. I also featured in the film Guns of Banaras (the 2020 film re-launched Rakesh Rikku Naths son Karan Nath). After working for four years on television, my husband got an opportunity to go to Dubai. Anoushka was only 13 at that time. I needed to be with her. I moved to Dubai with my family. Post the pandemic, we moved back to London. When I turned 50, I told my husband I didnt want to be in London anymore because I felt lonely. Im a peoples person. I love people. I value their presence in my life. My husband understood me. Hes always been supportive. They say, Behind every successful man theres a woman. Id say behind every successful woman theres an understanding man.In 2024, I took a one-way ticket to India. I came back home. I was actually in Hyderabad with Namrata, when I got a call to participate in the show Bigg Boss 18. When I joined the house in October 2024, it was alleged that Namrata was upset. In fact, I signed the show while I was with her. Namrata and I are extremely close. She means everything to me. Theres nothing that we dont share or discuss. Shes taken over my parents position in my life. I dont know what Id have done without her. HOME AGAIN Anyway, I came out of the Bigg Boss house in January 2025. My world had changed. The house taught me patience. It taught me not to take decisions in anger. Because anything that is done or said in rage can never be reversed. Youll end up hurting someone, because youre hurting yourself. Also, Ive become more vocal. I say what needs to be said. Currently, Im shooting for Prerna Aroras Telugu film Jata Dhara. Ive also made my OTT debut with Shankar The Revolutionary Man, a biopic on the life of saint/philosopher Adi Shankaracharya. My husband is back in London pursuing his career. We keep meeting each other. Recently, we went for a vacation. Anoushka has graduated in International Relations and History. Shes currently pursuing a law degree in London. Emotionally and physically I havent felt better. People compliment me on my weight loss, which began in the Bigg Boss house itself. I guess the choices there are limited. Its about being careful about what you eat and how much you eat... In the real world we have so many options. Yeh bhi khayenge, woh bhi khayenge! Im lovin the new me. More than looking slim or pretty, its about being happy. I practise yoga. Im careful about what I eat. I didnt know I could look like this. So I want to maintain it. Many years ago I was rejected for Chaiya Chaiya (the song in the 1998 film Dil Se was choreographed by Farah Khan) because they found me fat. Its okay because they considered it from the projects point of view. I didnt have a thyroid disorder. I just loved to eat. Obviously, I felt bad losing it because more than the song, I wanted to work with Mani Ratnam sir.In retrospect, theres nothing that Id like to redo about my life. We should own it all however things might have been. Challenges shape you. This is the third time Ive got an opportunity to come back and do what I love. Im Gods favourite child. He gives me everything at the right time. Also Read: Exclusive: When Janhvi Kapoor Spoke About Expressing Her Opinions at Work There was a time, not too long ago, when the heroine of a Hindi film was largely defined by her resilience in the face of sorrow. She was the moral compass, the emotional anchor, and the one who waited at home while the men went out to save the world. For decades, the image of the strong Indian woman was immortalised by Nargis in the 1957 classic Mother India. She was the ultimate symbol of endurance, a woman who literally pulled the plough herself to keep her family alive, yet remained so morally upright that she sacrificed her own son for the sake of justice. It was a power born out of suffering and patience. By the late 80s, that resilience took a sharper, more aggressive turn with films like Khoon Bhari Maang. Here, Rekha played a woman who was pushed to the brink of death, only to return with a new face and a cold heart to seek revenge. While these were powerful roles, they were often reactive. The woman only fought back because she was pushed into a corner by tragedy. But as we celebrate Womens Day in 2026, something has fundamentally shifted. The Indian female hero is no longer just a version of a survivor. She is a pioneer and a powerhouse who takes charge long before tragedy strikes. The Original Rebels: Fearless Nadia and the First Ladies To call the current wave of female-led cinema a new trend would be a mistake. In reality, Indian cinema is rediscovering a pioneering spirit that was planted nearly a century ago. Long before the term female-centric existed, women were among the true architects of the industry. Take Fearless Nadia, for instance. In the 1930s, long before todays stars performed their own stunts, this Australian-Indian actress was the ultimate action icon. Her 1935 hit Hunterwali featured her as a masked, cloaked adventurer. She proved, nearly a hundred years ago, that audiences would flock to see a woman kick an outlaws teeth in. She wasnt just an actress, but also a personality who proved that grit has no gender. Then there was Sulochana (Ruby Myers). In the mid-1930s, she was one of the highest-paid stars in the country, often out-earning her male contemporaries. She was a visionary who opened her own production house, Rubi Pics, taking control of the business side of glamour a feat that earned her the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1973. And who could forget Devika Rani? Widely known as the First Lady of Indian Cinema, she brought international standards to Mumbai after training in Germany. Often compared to Greta Garbo, Devika Ranis films werent just romances; they were social critiques that challenged caste and community norms. She proved that a womans intellect and screen presence could be the primary reason for a films success. The Eras of the Icons: 70s to the 90s As the decades went by, the superstar tag became synonymous with women who defined cultural trends. In the 1970s, Hema Malini ruled the roost. While she was the Dream Girl, she was also Basanti, a talkative and brave tangewali who could hold her own in a male-dominated landscape. She was a rare star who could guarantee a hit based solely on her name. By the 1980s, the mantle passed to Sridevi. She was perhaps the first true female superstar of the modern era. From Mr. India to ChaalBaaz, Sridevi was the main attraction. Producers didnt just cast her for glamour; they cast her because she could do comedy, drama and dance better than anyone else. Even when she took a break in 1994, she left a void that felt impossible to fill. The 1990s belonged to Madhuri Dixit. With a mix of unmatched acting prowess and a smile that could stop traffic, Madhuri became the heartbeat of the nation. She wasnt just a romantic interest. In films like Anjaam and Mrityudand, she showed the fierce, vengeful and socially conscious side of the Indian woman. The Shift in the 2010s As we moved into the 2010s, the heroine started getting her hands dirty. We moved away from the glossy perfection of the 90s into a rawer and more grounded reality. During this period, Vidya Balan and Sridevi redefined the hero narrative. In the 2012 release Kahaani, Vidya Balan played a pregnant woman navigating Kolkata to find her missing husband, proving that a woman-led film didnt need a male superstar to become a blockbuster. At the same time, Sridevi made a grand return with English Vinglish. As Shashi, a quiet housewife reclaiming her self-worth, she showed that a womans fight for respect within her family is just as heroic as any action sequence. These films laid the groundwork for every female lead we see today. Think of Kangana Ranaut in Revolver Rani. This wasnt a likeable hero in the traditional sense. She was quirky, aggressive and politically powerful. It was a bold step towards showing that women on screen could be flawed, messy and even unheroic while still being the lead. Then came the brilliance of Sonam Kapoor in Neerja. This film changed the conversation because it wasnt about a fictional superhero; it was about the extraordinary bravery of a real woman. Neerja Bhanot didnt have special powers. She had a sense of duty. The film proved that a womans courage in a crisis was enough to drive massive commercial success. The Anti-Hero: Priyanka Chopra in 7 Khoon Maaf The transition from a good girl to a complex human found a milestone in Priyanka Chopra Jonas. In 2011, with Vishal Bhardwajs 7 Khoon Maaf, Priyanka did something incredibly brave. She played a woman who was neither a victim nor a saint. As Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes, she murdered her six husbands in a dark, poetic quest for love. Priyanka brought a haunting vulnerability to a character that could have easily been a villain. This role was a turning point for the Indian female hero. It told the audience that a woman can be dark, flawed and even dangerous, yet still remain the protagonist we root for. Priyankas Susanna paved the way for the grey female characters we see today. The Modern-Day Hero and the Multiverse Today, the evolution of leading ladies has reached a fever pitch. In films like Mrs., Sanya Malhotra fights for her identity within the walls of a kitchen. She doesnt need to pick up a gun to be a superhero; she just needs to reclaim her voice. On the other end of the spectrum, we have literal superpowers. With films like Lokah: Chapter 1, starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, we are finally seeing Indian women occupy the superhero space. By giving an Indian woman flight or mystical strength, filmmakers are telling young girls that their potential is limitless. We are moving away from the grounded reality of the home and literally aiming for the stars. The Alia Bhatt Factor You cannot talk about the modern landscape without mentioning Alia Bhatt. Over the last decade, she has curated a filmography that serves as a blueprint for this evolution. From the vulnerability of Highway to the sheer authority of Gangubai Kathiawadi and the survival grit of Jigra, she has proven that a woman can carry a 100-crore film on her shoulders. Her success has created a butterfly effect. Because such films make money, producers are now more willing to bet on other women. We are seeing a surge in talent like Radhika Madan, Bhumi Pednekar, Taapsee Pannu, Pratibha Ranta and others, all of whom are playing characters that are complex, messy and incredibly strong. What Lies Ahead? As we celebrate Womens Day in 2026, the landscape of Indian cinema looks brighter than ever. The Black Lady (the Filmfare trophy) has increasingly been finding its way into the hands of women who are writing, directing and producing their own stories. The future isnt just about female-centric films being a separate category. The goal is for a film led by a woman to simply be called a blockbuster, without the gender qualifier. We are almost there. The Indian woman on screen has officially taken charge of her own narrative, and she is ready to rule the roost. One thing is clear: female actors havent just joined the party. They have started it. Also Read: Sreeleela Receives A Special Gesture From Chiranjeevi On Womens Day Nayantharas second Hindi outing Nayanthara at the top of her game After making a powerful Bollywood debut with Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara seems to be keen on building her horizon in Hindi. Her role in Toxic, starring Yash, is a step in that direction. But thats not all; we have learnt that the actress is reportedly in talks for another Hindi film.According to sources, Nayanthara is gearing up for another big step in Hindi cinema. Word on the block is that the actress is currently in discussions with Mini Films for a breezy entertainer. Known for supporting content-driven films like Forensic and Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyaan, the production house wanted to bring out something ambitious and on a large-scale as their next venture. Given Nayantharas remarkable performances, star power and her two-decade-long experience, the makers believe she can headline the story, deliver an authentic performance, and bring their vision to the fore. The talks regarding the new film are at an advanced stage, and if all goes well, an official announcement is expected soon. When Mini Films pitched the story idea to Nayanthara, she didnt take much time to welcome it. While the actress liked her strong character design and the script, other modalities regarding her dates availability and logistics are being discussed, informs a source in the know.Fresh from her blockbuster success of her recent Telugu film, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad, starring Megastar Chiranjeevi, Nayanthara is on top of her game. In Telugu, she is also in talks to play the leading lady in a film that stars Nandamuri Balakrishna, which is directed by Gopichand Malineni. Nayanthara is also close to seal the deal for two more Tamil films that are expected to be announced soon. Her onscreen charm and strong performances continue to make the toast of the town. Palm Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2026) - Korean-inspired skincare brand SeoulCeuticals has launched the Ultra Snail + Volufiline Serum, becoming the first company to combine trending cosmetic ingredient Volufiline with Snail Mucin in a single serum formulated at the manufacturer-recommended 5% concentration. The new formula pairs the trending topical plumping ingredient with K-beauty's most trusted hydration staple. OVERVIEW Volufiline has emerged as one of the most talked-about skincare ingredients in 2025 and 2026, going viral on TikTok as a non-invasive topical option for consumers seeking plumper-looking skin. The ingredient is already available in standalone concentrates and peptide-paired formulas, but no brand had previously combined it with Snail Mucin, K-beauty's most recognized hydration ingredient. SeoulCeuticals' Ultra Snail + Volufiline Serum fills that gap. The four-ingredient formula pairs 5% Volufiline with Snail Mucin, Centella Asiatica, and Hyaluronic Acid to address volume, repair, barrier support, and hydration in a single step. SeoulCeuticals is the first skincare brand to combine Volufiline and Snail Mucin in a single serum. KEY RESULTS Each ingredient in the Ultra Snail + Volufiline Serum is supported by clinical research: Volufiline at 5% concentration produced a 2.2% increase in volume after 56 days in clinical testing conducted by SPINCONTROL on behalf of ingredient developer Sederma. Hyaluronic Acid demonstrated up to a 96% increase in skin hydration and up to a 40% decrease in wrinkle depth after 8 weeks in a 2014 clinical study. Snail Mucin showed significant improvement in fine lines, crow's feet, and skin luminance after 14 weeks of use in a 25-participant study referenced by the Mayo Clinic. Centella Asiatica is clinically confirmed to support anti-aging, skin barrier repair, and anti-inflammatory treatment, per published PubMed research. The global K-beauty market reached $118.28 billion in 2025, with North America accounting for approximately 25% of global market share. HOW IT WORKS Volufiline is a patented ingredient developed by Sederma, now part of Croda International. Its active compound, sarsasapogenin, is derived from the root of Anemarrhena asphodeloides, a plant native to China and Mongolia and known in traditional Chinese medicine as Zhi Mu. Sarsasapogenin is a phytosterol that works through a non-hormonal pathway, making it suitable for topical cosmetic use. Applied topically, sarsasapogenin activates the PPARgamma receptor pathway, the biological switch that governs fat cell maturation. It encourages immature fat cell precursors to develop into mature adipocytes and stimulates those cells to store more lipid, producing a visible volume effect beneath the skin's surface. Sederma's clinical testing used 5% Volufiline, exactly the concentration in SeoulCeuticals' formula. Snail Mucin provides a complementary layer of benefit. The ingredient is a complex mixture containing hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, glycoproteins, allantoin, and antimicrobial peptides. While Volufiline works at the level of the hypodermis, Snail Mucin supports hydration, cell regeneration, collagen stimulation, and wound healing at the skin's upper layers. Centella Asiatica rounds out the formula with four active triterpenoid compounds: asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and madecassoside. These compounds stimulate collagen synthesis, reduce inflammation, and reinforce the skin barrier. Hyaluronic Acid delivers surface hydration and contributes to the formula's lightweight plumping effect. "The K-beauty movement has consistently introduced the world to new skincare ingredients years before they become mainstream," said Craig Romero, Founder of SeoulCeuticals. "Snail mucin is a perfect example. What once felt unfamiliar has become a global skincare staple. We believe Volufiline represents another exciting step forward in ingredient innovation." ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SeoulCeuticals has published a detailed ingredient guide covering how Volufiline and Snail Mucin work together, the clinical research behind each ingredient, and a full breakdown of the four-ingredient formula. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286513 Source: Plentisoft Ahead of her performance at the Mahindra Percussion Festival, the tabla virtuoso reflects on women in percussion, community, and why rhythm should be collaborative rather than competitive in an exclusive interview with Firstposts Zinia Bandyopadhyay. On International Womens Day, conversations around representation in the arts feel especially urgent. Historically, rhythm traditions, particularly percussion, have often been viewed as male-dominated spaces, with lineage, mentorship, and stage opportunities largely passing through male networks. But artists like Swarupa Ananth, popularly known as Tablanaari, are working to change that narrative. A globally recognised percussionist trained under legendary gurus including Zakir Hussain, Swarupa has steadily built a reputation not only for her musical prowess but also for her efforts to foster community among women percussionists. Through Women Who Drum, she has been bringing together artists across generations and styles, creating a collaborative space that challenges the idea of competition in rhythm traditions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The artist will soon take the stage at the Mahindra Percussion Festival, where she will perform with a specially curated ensemble of percussionists from different musical backgrounds - Charu Hariharan, Nush Lewis, Shalini Mohan, and Amirthavarshini Manishankar. In this exclusive conversation with Firstposts Zinia Bandyopadhyay, Swarupa speaks about reclaiming rhythm, building solidarity among women musicians, and why percussion deserves to be heard as a narrative voice rather than mere accompaniment. Excerpts from the interview: Music, in the earliest of times, was always a womans turf. How and when do you feel that it changed into being something that became associated with men? I think the shift happened gradually, not dramatically. As music moved from intimate, community spaces into courts, institutions and formal lineages, access began to narrow. Women were always making music, but their relationship to the public stage and lineage changed. Games View All What gap did you see that made you start Women Who Drum, and what resistance did you encounter while building this community? I started Women Who Drum out of a quiet need, because I missed the feeling of belonging to a community. For a long time, being one of the few women in rhythm spaces felt like being a novelty. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I realised there are many mes out there. We just dont always know each other, or theres an invisible barrier that keeps us apart. When opportunities come in the form of special showcase slots, it can feel like there are only a few seats to fill and too many contenders. I wanted to break that mindset. I wanted to bring as many of us together as possible, not just to make music, but to bond and recognise that we speak the same language, have faced similar challenges, and share a vision for the future. I wanted to build something collaborative rather than competitive, where rhythm could exist without ego or hierarchy. For centuries, percussion traditions in India were largely passed down through male lineages. Do you feel women today are rewriting that history, or are we still in the early stages of that shift? We are definitely rewriting it, but we are still early. Visibility has improved, but lineage and authority take time to shift. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Whats changing now is not just presence on stage, but ownership of narrative. Women are not just performing- theyre curating, composing, and leading ensembles. Thats where real rewriting begins. You have trained under some of the biggest tabla maestros. What was the biggest life lesson you learnt from them? My gurus taught me humility before music. They showed me that being a good human being comes before being a great artist. Integrity and dedication to the art form were never negotiable, whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly. Never stop learning. They also taught me that practice isnt punishment; its about building a loving relationship with your instrument. And above all, listening comes before playing, to the music, to silence, and to yourself. What was your thought behind bringing together this ensemble for the Mahindra Percussion Festival? For this ensemble at the Mahindra Percussion Festival, I was very conscious that we all come from very different skill sets, musical backgrounds, schools of training, age groups and even different parts of the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That diversity wasnt accidental, it was essential. I wanted to create a space where rhythm wasnt about competition or speed, but about listening, texture and shared strength. Each artist brings a distinct voice, and together it becomes conversation rather than display. In your experience, what are the biggest barriers women percussionists still face today? The barriers are often subtle. being underestimated, being over-scrutinised, and being expected to prove stamina or authority. There are also practical realities: travel, safety, and long-term sustainability. But perhaps the biggest barrier is internal, building the confidence to occupy space without second-guessing ourselves. You work with multiple percussion traditions, from tabla to global instruments. How do you balance classical discipline with experimentation without losing the soul of the music? I am deeply rooted in classical training; that grounding gives me clarity and discipline. But experimentation keeps me fresh. It keeps my curiosity alive and my creative energy flowing. I genuinely enjoy exploring new sounds and traditions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the same time, I keep returning to my roots, because thats what anchors me and keeps the music honest. The Mahindra Percussion Festival brings together artists from different rhythmic traditions. What are you looking forward to the most while performing here? Im looking forward to performing in a space where percussion is not supporting something else, but is the main focus. That changes the way audiences listen. Im also excited to share the stage with artists from different rhythmic traditions that exchange always pushes you to be sharper and more present. Live rhythm has no safety net, and that unpredictability is what makes it alive. Do you think festivals like the Mahindra Percussion Festival are helping shift the perception of percussion from being seen as accompaniment to becoming a central storytelling tool? Yes, absolutely. Festivals like the Mahindra Percussion Festival create a context where percussion is not supporting something else it is the narrative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It becomes the protagonist of the story. When audiences sit through an entire evening of rhythm-led performances, perception naturally expands. They begin to hear storytelling where they once heard only beats. When young girls watch you perform or join Women Who Drum, what do you hope they take away? I hope they see possibility. That rhythm is not loudness; its intelligence, sensitivity, power and listening. I hope they understand that they dont have to change who they are to belong in this space. Theres room for their individuality here. They can bring their full selves, softness, strength, doubt, curiosity, and still belong. Dipali Das, a 59-year-old woman in southern Assams Barak Valley, obtained Indian citizenship after spending two years in a detention camp. Das, who was born on December 3, 1966, in Bangladeshs Dippur village, migrated to India in January 1986. But how did she get citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act? A Bangladesh-born Hindu woman has become the first declared foreigner who spent time in a detention camp to get Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Dipali Das, a 59-year-old woman in southern Assams Barak Valley obtained Indian citizenship after spending two years in a detention camp. The naturalisation certificate signed by Biswajit Pegu, Director of the Directorate of Census Operations, Assam, states that Das is entitled to all political and other rights, powers and privileges, and be subject to all obligations, duties and liabilities to which an Indian citizen is entitled or subject. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Prior to Das, four Bangladeshi nationals living in Assam have been granted Indian citizenship under the CAA. But what do we know about the case? And how does the CAA work? Lets take a closer look The Dipali Das case According to The Hindu, Das was born on December 3, 1966, in Bangladeshs Dippur village in the Sylhet district. In January 1987, at the age of 22, she wed Abhimanya Das from Parai village. She and Das had fled to India a year earlier to avoid religious persecution. She and her husband moved to Assams Cachar district. Das citizenship status came under the spotlight in 2013. This came after police ordered an inquiry against her and referred her to the Foreigners Tribunal. The police in the charge sheet dated July 2, 2013 stated that Das was a resident of Bangladeshs Baniachong and had entered India illegally after March 1971. According to the newspaper, the Foreigners Tribunal in Silchar declared Das, a mother of four, an illegal immigrant on February 5, 2019. The tribunal judgment declared that Das was an illegal migrant who entered India after March 25, 1971. She thus had no right to reside within the territory of India and was liable to be deported, the tribunal added. Das was then sent to the Silchar Detention Centre at Matia in western Assams Goalpara district. Das was kept here from May 10, 2019, to May 17, 2021. The FT also ordered the electoral registration officer to delete Das name from the voter rolls. Das was released from the detention centre on bail in 2021. She then applied for Indian citizenship under the CAA on February 12, 2025. Das was assisted by Dharmananda Deb, a Silchar-based lawyer, advocate Debosmita Shome and social worker Kamal Chakraborty. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The first hearing in Das case occurred on February 24, 2025, at the office of the Superintendent of Post Offices in Silchar, which is handling such applications. Two more hearings were held subsequently, after which all her documents were submitted online to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). She was called to the office of the Superintendent of Post Offices in Silchar for a final appearance on May 25, 2025 after the field verification by Home Ministry officials, and on March 6, she received her Indian citizenship certificate, Chakraborty said. Hindu refugees who migrated from Sindh province of Pakistan display their passports as they support the Citizenship Amendment Act in Ahmadabad, PTI Her four children, a son and three daughters, can now rely on their mothers citizenship certificate if their own citizenship is ever questioned in the future, since all the children were born in India, he added. The charge sheet later proved crucial in her application for Indian citizenship under the CAA because the applicant must provide documentary evidence showing migration from Bangladesh, Pakistan or Afghanistan," Deb said. In most cases, applicants fail to produce such documents, but in Dipalis case, the charge sheet submitted by the police officer in 2013 clearly mentioned that she was from Bangladesh. The authorities accepted this document as valid proof. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Her case is historic because no one else has been granted Indian citizenship after being declared a foreigner and spending months in a detention centre. Her case is significant for the implementation of the CAA, Deb told the newspaper. What is CAA? The CAA was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019. The law allows Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain and Parsi migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who entered India between March 25, 1971 and December 31, 2014 to apply for Indian citizenship. The Modi government at the time had said it was promulgating this law in order to protect Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis who had suffered religious persecution in the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh Pakistan and Afghanistan and had come to India prior to December 31, 2014. However, the CAA does not apply to Muslims. The Modi government at the time had said that Muslims cannot be considered a persecuted minority because Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh are all Islamic republics with a Muslim majority. Ahmedabad: Supporters of Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) display banner and placards during a march in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act, in Ahmedabad. The CAA also does not apply to those fleeing persecution in non-Muslim majority countries, for example the Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka. It also does not apply to Rohingya Muslim refugees from neighbouring Myanmar. The CAA tasks Foreigners Tribunals in Assam, which are quasi-judicial bodies, to find out whether a person is an Indian citizen or a foreigner based on this cut-off date. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is significant because the then Rajiv Gandhi government in 1985 had signed a pact with the All Assam Students Union which states that that illegal immigrants who entered India after March 25, 1971, must be deported. This came on the heels of the Assam Agitation, which lasted over a half decade. How does it work? People applying under the CAA are not guaranteed Indian citizenship. Instead, the law smooths the path for non-Muslim refugees who entered India on or before the 31 December 2014 cut-off date from Pakistan Afghanistan and Bangladesh to get Indian citizenship. It is also important to note that many parts of the northeast are exempted from the CAA. The tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and states of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur are exempted from the CAAs provisions. Under the CAA rules, one becomes eligible to apply for Indian citizenship after spending at least 12 months in the country preceding the date of application. Or, the applicant will be eligible to get Indian citizenship if he/she has spent not less than six years in the country out of eight years immediately preceding those 12 months. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A child holds a passport during a protest by Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan at AICC headquarters. PTI Those applying under the CAA will also have to provide an eligibility certificate issued by a locally reputed community institution confirming that he/she belongs to Hindu/Sikh/Buddhist/Jain/Parsi/Christian community and continues to be a member of the above-mentioned community. The applicants will also have to give a declaration that they irrevocably renounce the existing citizenship and that they want to make India as permanent home, according to the rules. The CAA rules also provide separate application for people belonging to these sub-categories a person of Indian-origin, a person who is married to an Indian citizen, minor child of an Indian citizen, a person having Indian parents, a person who or either of his parents was a citizen of independent India, a person who is registered as an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder and a person seeking citizenship by naturalisation. The rules also state that those applying for citizenship under CAA wont mandatorily have to provide a passport. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What was the response to the passing of the CAA? The passing of the CAA in 2019 was met by widespread protests across the country, including at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi and in Assam. Critics of law claimed it is discriminatory, divisive and communal in nature. Though the bill was passed by Parliament and receive presidential assent, the CAA was not notified till March 2024, days before the announcement of the schedule for Lok Sabha elections. Indians raise their tied hands and shout slogans during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in New Delhi in 2019. AP Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the CAA came into force. With this notification, PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji has delivered on another commitment and realised the promise of the makers of our Constitution to the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians living in those countries, Shah wrote on X. However, opponents of the law including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioned the timing of the move. With inputs from agencies Amid the war, Iran is in a huddle, electing its next supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israel air strikes. In the Islamic Republic, the supreme leader is the nerve centre of all power; he is the highest religious and political authority, and has the final say on foreign policy A man signs a temporary tribute wall for the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the residence of Iranian ambassador in Jakarta, Indonesia. AP Its been nine days of relentless fighting. After the United States and Israel launched a joint operation against Iran, a war has broken out across West Asia, with it slowly expanding beyond borders and its impact being felt across the globe. The developments in the Iran war have been continuous and incessant, making it hard to keep track of. However, for many across the world, the biggest development emerged when US President Donald Trump announced the death of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday (March 1), the second day of the war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This led to Iran vowing a forceful response across Israel and West Asia. The news of the 86-year-olds death spurred a mixed bag of reactions. While some celebrated the death of the supreme leader an Australian journalist even referred to him as a son of a b***h on air others mourned his loss, weeping tears and condemning the US-Israeli strikes. Now, the top clerics of the country have gathered to elect their new supreme leader, with Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei being considered the frontrunner. As this war deepens, in our special series, _Word of the Week_, we take a deep dive into Irans leadership structure with the supreme leader right at the top of it all. How Iran got its first supreme leader The origin of the supreme leader in Iran comes from Irans particular form of governance. It is neither a democracy nor a theocracy. Following the Iranian Revolution of 1979, it was noted that a just government was possible if religious scholars sat atop it to ensure consistency with Islamic law. This led to the creation of an Islamic government led by clergy, known as velayat-e-faqih (rule of the jurisprudent), and established the Supreme Leaders overarching power. Today, the supreme leader, who serves for life, is the highest religious and political authority in the Islamic Republic. He is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and oversees other key institutions such as the judicial branch and state media. He also supervises the Guardian Council, which has the power to vet electoral candidates and veto parliamentary legislation. In this capacity, the supreme leader has the final say on foreign policy and different areas of domestic policy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Additionally, the supreme leaders sphere of power is extended through his representatives, an estimated 2,000 of whom are sprinkled throughout all sectors of the government and who serve as the leaders clerical field operatives. In some respect, the Iranian leaders representatives are more powerful than the presidents ministers and have the authority to intervene in any matter of state on the supreme leaders behalf. Interestingly, while many may interchangeably use the titles ayatollah and supreme leader, it is incorrect. The formal title of Irans supreme leader, rahbar, translates as leader, while the title of ayatollah belongs to a great number of clerics among the Twelver Shiah. Iran and its 2 historical supreme leaders Throughout its history, Iran has had two supreme leaders. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who ruled between 1979 and 1989, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who succeeded him. When Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi fled Iran in 1979, Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile in France. There was a national referendum, and Khomeini won a landslide victory. He declared an Islamic Republic and was appointed Irans political and religious leader for life. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini waves to a crowd of supporters gathered at the Behechte Zahra Cemetery in Tehran during his visit on the day of his return from France after 15 years of exile, as the insurrection against the Shahs regime spreads all over the country. File image/AFP Khomeini inspired numerous Islamist movements across the Muslim world. His model of governance and his advocacy for resistance against perceived oppression resonated with groups seeking to establish Islamic states. His emphasis on anti-imperialism and opposition to Western influence became rallying points for various Islamist and revolutionary movements globally. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Under Khomeneis leadership, the country went to war against Iraq, defending itself from Saddam Husseins invasion, leading to an eight-year conflict and the death of hundreds of thousands of Iranians. Also, Iran adopted a staunchly anti-Western stance, particularly against the United States, which Khomeini dubbed the Great Satan. This rhetoric and the subsequent events, such as the US Embassy hostage crisis, led to decades of strained relations with Western countries. Similarly, Khomeinis relationship with Israel, which he dubbed the Little Satan, was one of intense animosity and opposition, rooted in ideological, political, and religious beliefs. Female mourners hold a portrait of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as they stand in a crowd gathering around the late Iranian spiritual leaders coffin encased in a glass box at Mossala Square in north-eastern Tehran on June 5, 1989, following his death on June 4, 1989. File image/AFP After several years of declining health, Khomeini died on June 3, 1989, after suffering five heart attacks in just a matter of days he was 89. Ali Khamenei succeeded him as supreme leader. For many, it was Khamenei, who shaped the military and paramilitary apparatus that forms both Irans defence against its enemies and provides it with influence well beyond its borders. He also took forward Irans hatred of the West he referred to the US and Israel as a cancerous tumour. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During his tenure, Khamenei saw it all; he witnessed presidents come and go. He also fended off dissent and protests, the most recent being in January. It was only on Saturday (February 28) that a joint airstrike by the US and Israel brought an end to his tenure, when they were able to successfully target his compound after years of planning. This photograph shows a large billboard of Irans slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reading in Persian His God is still alive in Tehran. AFP A selection of a new supreme leader The death of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has raised questions about Irans future. It has also shone a spotlight on how the new supreme leader will be chosen. According to the Iranian constitution, a council was formed to assume leadership duties and govern the country. The council is made up of Irans sitting president, the head of the countrys judiciary, and a member of the Guardian Council chosen by Irans Expediency Council, which advises the supreme leader and settles disputes with parliament. Irans reformist President, Masoud Pezeshkian, and hardline judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, are its members who will step in and temporarily assume all the duties of leadership. Members of the senior clerical Experts Assembly will now select the countrys new supreme leader. File image/Reuters While this council will rule Iran in the interim, an 88-member panel called the Assembly of Experts must, as soon as possible, pick a new supreme leader under Iranian law. The panel consists entirely of Shiite clerics who are popularly elected every eight years and whose candidacies are approved by the Guardian Council, Irans constitutional watchdog. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Many have pointed out that, as the panel is formed with the opinion of the supreme leader, the process is far from free and fair. And with Khameneis death and a war that looks to be expanding, the Assembly of Experts has met, with reports saying that they have picked one of Khameneis sons, Mojtaba, a 56-year-old Shiite cleric, as the next supreme leader, though he has never held government office. While it hasnt been publicly declared, many expect this decision could cause a backlash. Firstly, many Iranians want to do away with clerical rule. Also, some may see it as un-Islamic and in line with creating a new, religious dynasty. With inputs from agencies Are dreams connected to your sleeping position? Perhaps yes, a study published in Sleep and Hypnosis discovered that left-side sleepers experience more nightmares, while right-side sleepers enjoy calmer sleep A 2004 study published in Sleep and Hypnosis found that sleeping on the left side is connected to more nightmares. Image courtesy: Pixabay There is so much written and researched about dreams. Yet, there is a lot that is unknown. They are a reflection of your memories, your subconscious and your everyday. There are times when you wake up feeling happy, and there are times when you wake up with dread after nightmares. But can you control that? Some researchers believe theres a sneaky factor that heavily influences how we slumber: the position we sleep in. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It turns out that your sleeping position may influence how your mind drifts and what you dream. Heres what to know all about the study that analyses the sleep position and its affect in your dreams Crazy nightmares for left-side sleepers? Published in the journal Sleep and Hypnosis back in 2004, the study found that people who sleep on their left side are likely to experience more nightmares, while right-side sleepers have fewer nightmares but slightly lower sleep quality. The 2004 study focused on 63 volunteers who were asked to sleep on either the left or the right side. They were also asked to complete a sleep quality survey after waking up, which included questions about their dreams and nightmares, how vivid they were, and how participants felt in the morning. Researchers believe theres another sneaky factor that heavily influences how we slumber, the position we sleep in. Image courtesy: Pixabay The researchers found that participants who slept on their left side were far more likely to have nightmares. Around 40.9 per cent of volunteers reported disturbing dreams, compared to just 14.6 per cent of those who slept on their right side. The right-sided group was more likely to recall dreams with feelings of safety or relief. The researchers also observed that right-side sleepers dreams were filled with positive emotions, including happiness, joy, excitement, hope, peace, relaxation, longing, relief, safety, and love compared to their left-side-sleeping counterparts. However, they also sometimes reported poorer sleep quality. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Our preliminary observations indicate that dreaming and sleep quality are associated with underlying brain functions and may be affected by body posture. It will be of interest to determine whether the patients with dreaming disturbances such as depressive disorder, nightmare disorder, and narcolepsy are able to limit symptoms, the study stated, as quoted by the Economic Times. Some health experts have seemed to dismiss the claims that sleeping position can affect dreams. Image courtesy: Pixabay Future research also needs to show how individuals who are skilful in controlling their dreams by hypnotic manipulations or lucid dreaming change their dream process by intentionally changing their posture, it added, according to Science Alert. What study said about belly sleepers? In 2012, researchers at Hong Shue Yan University studied how sleeping positions affect dreams and found that those who sleep on their stomachs had the most unusual or, as they put it, strangest dreams. The study was more detailed than the 2004 one as it involved 670 participants. They discovered that those who slept on their stomachs experienced intense, disturbing dreams. These dreams generally include terrifying situations like being suffocated or unable to breathe, being locked up, tied up or unable to move. Lisa Billars, MD, chief of neurology and sleep medicine at Kaiser Permanente in Atlanta, US, suspected that seeing scary dreams could be because sleeping on the stomach puts pressure on areas of the body that are sexually stimulating. That feeling of stimulation is likely the origin of the erotic dream content," she said as quoted by Everyday Health. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What experts say about back-side sleepers? According to Billars, back sleepers are said to be plagued with more nightmares, and this could be a response to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a sleep-related breathing disorder characterised by repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night, Mayo Clinic explains. Researchers say the right-sided group was more likely to recall dreams with feelings of safety or relief. Image courtesy: Pixabay For individuals with known or unknown OSA, it is common for the degree of apnea to be worse during supine (back) sleep compared to lateral (side) or prone (stomach) sleeping positions, Everyday Health quoted Dr Billars as saying. In people with OSA, the airway collapses or nearly collapses, and this results in a decrease in oxygen and increased carbon dioxide levels in the body. Experts also suggest that people who sleep on their backs find it hard to recall their dreams, which may be linked to OSA and the interrupted sleep they often experience throughout the night. However, others have seemed to dismiss the claims that sleeping position can affect dreams. Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine in California and a medical reviewer for Everyday Health, rebutted the findings, saying, Sleeping position should not affect dream content, and any research on this supports a very weak, if not absent, correlation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Moving past the tensions of the Justin Trudeau era, Carneys India visit marks the end of a challenging period and the beginning of a more ambitious partnership Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Carneys February-March 2026 visit to India, which marked a reset in bilateral ties and outlined a roadmap for deeper economic, strategic, and Indo-Pacific cooperation. Image: X Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, figured among the world leaders, such as the prime minister of Great Britain, the president of the EU Commission, the president of the EU Council, the president of France, the president of Brazil, and the president of Finland, who visited India in the past five months. Carneys visit (February 27-March 2) has already been judged as a notable success in starting a reset in the bilateral relationship, thus closing a dark chapter of the recent past. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His discussions in Mumbai and Delhi produced a forward-looking roadmap that envisages the conclusion of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of 2026 and includes a uranium deal valued at CAD 2.6 billion, the launch of a defence dialogue as well as a dialogue between the finance ministers, and the operationalisation of a multi-layered dialogue mechanism to address an array of security cooperation issues. However, the multilateral aspects of this visit merit closer scrutiny, as they suggest that the India-Canada partnership is guided not only by bilateral considerations but also by a largely shared approach to regional and global issues and challenges. To pinpoint the convergences and divergences in this sphere is to evaluate the potential of this relationship in the long term. Two middle powers? Many Western scholars love to portray India as a middle power, with some Indian scholars joining hands. This group discounts Indias size, population, economy, military power, and soft power stemming from its rich civilisational heritage. Prime Minister Carney does not agree with them. He has described India as a country whose global ambitions go beyond those of a middle power, indicating his governments recognition of New Delhis status as the capital of an emerging great power. During a TV interview in Mumbai on March 1, he said, I wont call India a middle power happy for Canada to take that label. Indias trajectory and ambition are totally different. Elsewhere, Carney depicted India and Canada as natural partners. The joint statement, signed by the two leaders, explains its rationale. It identifies four key factors that shape this relationship: shared democratic values, deep people-to-people connections, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a joint commitment to the rule of law. It is interesting to note that the global turbulence and tensions triggered by Trump 2.0 have created enormous pressure on both Canada and India to rediscover their mutual importance and embark on a path to revitalise their relations. Thus, Carney chose to rise above the narrow domestic political considerations that had led his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, to damage the relationship. PM Carney noted that his visit marks the end of a challenging period, and more importantly, the beginning of a new, more ambitious partnership between the two confident and complementary nations. Perhaps some of the previous constraints persist, but the present leadership appears determined to overcome them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Through an Indo-Pacific Lens The vast geographic distance between Canada and India can be bridged through a realistic political re-imagination, with the two nations viewed as part of the larger Indo-Pacific region. This notion gained popularity in the first decade of the 21st century. As the second decade began, even Canada discovered its potential as an Indo-Pacific player. The war in Ukraine diverted global attention from the Indo-Pacific vision, but Canada is now drawn to it again. Canadas Indo-Pacific Strategy was announced in November 2022. It stressed that, as a Pacific country, Canada shares 25,000 kilometres of Pacific coastline, robust trading relationships with economies across the region, deep people-to-people ties, and a rich history of cultural heritage. The strategy outlined five interconnected strategic objectives: (1) promote peace, resilience, and security; (2) expand trade, investment, and supply chain resilience; (3) invest in and connect people; (4) build a sustainable and green future; and (5) position Canada as an active and engaged partner to the Indo-Pacific. The Canadian governments official paper stressed: The rising influence of the Indo-Pacific region is a once-in-a-generation global shift that requires a generational Canadian response. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Carney Visits Outcomes The Indo-Pacific strategy is clearly guiding the Canadian foreign policy. Following his visit to China in January 2026, he undertook a three-nation tour covering India, Australia, and Japan. The clubbing of the three members of the Quad has its own implications. Observers may justifiably wonder if this heralds Canadas interest in joining the forum. Among the visits specific outcomes on the multilateral side, the following four may be noted. First, both Canada and India reaffirmed the strategic and economic importance of the region and expressed their commitment to a free, open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific. They spelt out the areas where practical cooperation will benefit them and the region as a whole. Second, they noted the growing convergence between Indias vision for the Indian Ocean region and Canadas Indo-Pacific strategy. Accordingly, New Delhi has decided to support Canadas bid to join the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as a dialogue partner. Third, the two prime ministers welcomed progress under the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership and agreed to sign a trilateral MOU to facilitate future work in this domain. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fourth, Canadas decision to pursue membership in the International Solar Alliance and to join the Global Biofuels Alliance as a full member will deepen multilateral cooperation on clean energy and further strengthen the strategic energy partnership between India and Canada. Differences on West Asia Complementarities should not close our eyes to the differences. Canada and India are not on the same page on the US-Israel war against Iran. Canada approaches this issue as a reluctant alliance partner, which is located far away from the scene of hostilities. On the other hand, India is already facing the heat of the conflict in multiple ways. Hence, it is not surprising that New Delhi, walking the diplomatic tightrope, has been calling for a quick cessation of hostilities and resolution of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy. Notably, Canada places the blame on Iran, with PM Carney stating that Canada cannot rule out military participation in the escalating conflict. While in Australia, he observed, We will stand by our allies when it makes sense. But he disassociated his government from actions by the US and Israel, where Ottawa was not consulted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Conclusion From bilateral and multilateral angles, the Canadian PMs visit to India achieved most of the policy planners goals on both sides. Yet they are acutely conscious of the dark shadows of the recent past that bedevilled the relationship. The pressing need, therefore, is to maintain vigilance and avoid complacency. (Rajiv Bhatia is a Distinguished Fellow at Gateway House, Mumbai, and a former High Commissioner to Kenya and South Africa, and Ambassador to Myanmar and Mexico. He also served as the Consul General in Toronto. He is the author of three books on Indian foreign policy, and is a regular columnist on geopolitical affairs. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) Once the sacred site linked to the legend of Prahlad and the origins of Holi, Multans Prahladpuri Temple today stands as a forgotten reminder of the citys erased Hindu past Whenever a person searches for the city of Multan, the default image that appears is of a tomb, that of a 14th-century Sufi called Shah Rukn-e-Alam. This is an elegant Tughlak-era structure, but the entire image of this tomb is merely a facade obscuring the ancient past of a city that was once a bastion of the Sanatana dharma. The Multan of today was once called Moolasthana, and long before it became Multan, it was besieged by Alexander. Centuries later, it was captured by Muhammad bin Qasim in the first Islamic foray into the subcontinent. From Ghaznavid rule to the Delhi Sultanate to the Mughals, the identity of Moolasthana was obliterated entirely, and Multan came into being. By the reign of Iltutmish, in the early 13th century, Hindu rule had been reduced to a memory, and the citys demographics were changing. With political and military power firmly in Islamic hands, the ancient Sun Temple of Multan was desecrated and eventually destroyed to a point where even its exact location is debatable. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But one temple and its legends endured. The Prahladpuri Temple was dedicated to Narasimha, the man-lion avatar of Vishnu. As per Hindu lore, Prahlad was the son of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. When Prahlad refused to abandon his devotion to Vishnu, his father subjected him to severe persecution. With his devotee under threat, Lord Vishnu stepped out of a pillar in his man-lion incarnation and destroyed the demon king. This legend is associated with the ritual of Holika Dahan, which takes place on the eve of Holi. The Prahladpuri Temple commemorated this event. While the exact origin of this shrine is shrouded in obscurity, what is known is that it was destroyed in the wave of invasions and then rebuilt, and this took place more than once. In 1810, despite the city being under Afghan rule, the growing influence and power of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Punjab emboldened Multans Hindus to raise the height of the Prahladpuri Temple. This led to communal tensions rising again in the city. On his seventh attempt, in 1818, Maharaja Ranjit Singhs army captured Multan, bringing the city out of Islamic rule for the first time in centuries. A period of tranquillity remained till 1848. With the Sikh empire at an end, forces of the British East India Company laid siege to Multan Fort. It was a long siege, lasting almost nine months. British painting depicting the siege of Multan by Henry Martens. Source: Wikipedia Eventually, the British brought in heavy artillery. On December 30, 1848, the main gunpowder-storage magazine of the fort was hit. The resultant explosion is said to have been one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, also damaging the Prahladpuri shrine. Casualties among the defenders were significant, but they continued resistance for a few weeks more. The following August, heavy rains and rising rivers swept away the rubble of the fort. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite the protection of the Sikhs having been lost, it appears that the incredible believers of Multan rebuilt a shrine at the old site. This is despite being surrounded and heavily outnumbered by a majority community that was hostile to the temples existence. The scenario continued until 1947, when Partition ensured that whatever remained of the Hindu population also departed. And with them went the principal idol of Narasimha. Brought to independent India, it found sacred space in a Haridwar shrine where it remains to this date. The building of the shrine stayed where it was built. Until December 1992! After the fall of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, reciprocal assaults on temples followed, and Multan witnessed the final fall of the Prahladpuri Temple. The place lies in ruins today, and the citys current population retains no memory of its past. The site which may have given birth to the festival of Holi is now sans any colour. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The state of the Prahladpuri Temple in Multan, destroyed and reduced to rubble after the 1992 riots. Source: Wikipedia To those who think Multan is an isolated case, there are numerous such places in the subcontinent that have witnessed a systematic erasure of their Hindu, Jain and Buddhist heritage. And not all these places lie in other countries now. Such examples abound in Kashmir. Here, the exodus of Pandits in 1990 was not an isolated event but the latest in a series of forced exits seen over centuries. And the thinning out of their population allowed the other community to pretend that the Pandits never existed. As a result, the Shankaracharya Hill, home to a 9th-century Hindu temple, was renamed Takht-i-Sulaiman. The Hari Parbat began to be called Koh-i-Maran, meaning Hill of Serpents. Anantnag, which translates into Land of countless springs, was renamed Islamabad by a 17th-century Mughal governor, and this made-up name is popular among the current locals. Varahamula became Baramulla. The same pattern of erasing history is seen at the Sun Temple at Martand, which was built in the 8th century CE by Kashmirs legendary ruler Lalitaditya. Destroyed by the Islamic ruler Sikander Shah Miri (reign 1389-1413), the site began to be called Shaitan-ki-gufa, meaning a dwelling place of evil spirits. No surprise that local Muslims regard the place with total disrespect now. It is to the eternal shame of successive Indian governments that none have shown the will to rebuild the shrine. If we are unwilling and incapable of reconstructing such places even on Indian soil, the idea of reviving sites in Pakistan is a laughable one. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The destroyed Sun Temple at Martand, Kashmir Artistic impression of the Sun Temple at Martand, Kashmir. Source: Wikipedia The rationale for the destruction of temples goes beyond religion. In ancient times, temples were the focal point of a community. They were a source of education, tradition and culture, and the grandest shrines were usually associated with the ruling class of a city or kingdom. Destroying them was a blow to the fabric of the community, breaking their morale and paving the way for either forcing a chunk of the population out or converting them. Seeing what has happened at Multan and Kashmir, the strategy has succeeded. The lost Hindu heritage of Multan is therefore not merely about vanished structures but about memory, faith and the enduring imprint of ancient traditions on a city whose spiritual landscape has been forcibly altered over time. Can it change for the better once more? It will need conflict and political will to ensure that the Prahladpuri Temple celebrates Holi once more. (The author is a heritage explorer with a penchant for seeking obscure sites. A brand consultant by profession, he tweets @HiddenHeritage. 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 JERUSALEM, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday morning said in a statement that it had struck F-14 fighter jets at Isfahan airport in central Iran. The statement added that, in a broad wave of intelligence-led strikes, the Israeli air force on Saturday targeted compounds where the jets were stored. Detection and defense systems were also struck, it added. This strike follows the Israeli air force's destruction of 16 aircraft belonging to Iran's elite Quds Force at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport on Friday. The election result reflects deep frustration with decades of political instability, corruption, nepotism and youth unemployment. The message is clear perform or perish Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader Balendra Shah (centre) 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 Kathmandus former mayor, Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, has secured a landslide victory over former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in his own constituency, marking a major shift away from traditional old guard parties. According to the vote count released by the Election Commission of Nepal, Shah received 68,348 votes, far surpassing Oli, who garnered 18,734 votes in Jhapa-5. Shahs Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is on the brink of a landslide victory in the countrys general election the first since deadly Gen Z-led protests last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The election result reflects deep frustration with decades of political instability, corruption, nepotism and youth unemployment. After years of Nepals politics being dominated by a triumvirate of parties, voters have rung the bell for change. Nepali voters arent just switching parties. They are replacing an old guard tainted by allegations of corruption and political impunity. India has welcomed the successful conduct of the March 5 election. The Indian government has expressed willingness to work with the new government. For India, a stable Nepal is crucial for securing its open border and accelerating investments in various sectors. Balen Shahs rise signifies a shift away from traditional pro-India and pro-China labels to dignified bilateral relations with Nepals close neighbours. Last year, youths protested on streets against the ban on social media sites as well as bigger issues of corruption and nepotism among Nepals political elite. The protests plunged the country into a whirlwind of violence that left 76 people dead and many injured. Sushila Karki took the reins of an interim government on September 12 after a four-day power vacuum that left parliament, courts and government buildings in flames. As prime minister of the interim government, Sushila Karki has been widely credited for her leadership in conducting an election amid security challenges. Security forces also played a vital role in conducting the election peacefully. Nepal police, whose morals were low during the Gen Z protests, performed very well to ensure security in the country. The role of Nepal Police Chief Dan Bahadur Karki was very commendable in coordinating safety and security during the election. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nepal, perched between giant neighbours China and India, has struggled with political instability for decades. Since 2008, the country has seen 14 different governments, not one of which has completed a full five-year term. Corruption has permeated every level of politics, holding the economy, the country, and the average Nepali worker back for years. Nepals younger generations have been hit hardest. Youth unemployment is around 20 per cent, forcing thousands of young people to toil abroad as migrants. The real test for Shah and the Rastriya Swatantra Party will be in governance. Their campaign tapped into demands for anti-corruption drives and better service delivery. As former mayor, Shah earned a reputation by bringing down commercial and residential buildings that were built without proper permits. He widened the pavements of Kathmandus major cities, and his administration managed garbage collection efficiently, implementing several measures to improve cleanliness, including daily road cleaning and maintenance. If the RSP ends up leading the next government with Balen Shah as the Prime Minister, as it looks likely, he should scale that up nationally. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The new government should prioritise practical steps like investing in education and skills training to keep young talent at home and accelerating infrastructure projects that can boost tourism and energy exports. The new government should build constructive relations with neighbours. The upcoming government should focus on solving disputes with neighbours through dialogues and diplomacy. It should maintain dignified bilateral relationships with its neighbours. It can also play crucial roles in taking forward the developmental partnership with neighbours. India has long been a major partner in Nepals development. New Delhi should engage with the new government and focus on sustainable partnerships that can enhance security and development. The new government that focuses on mutual benefits could unlock more cooperation in trade, water resources, and connectivity. Technology integration, another area Shah has emphasised, could help modernise everything from tax collection to public services, making government more transparent and responsive. The party must also address the aspirations of rural areas and diverse ethnic groups. Job creation through private sector encouragement and sustainable development of natural resources should top the agenda. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Governing a country as complex as Nepal is no easy task, especially for a relatively new party with limited national experience. There will be economic pressures, coalition dynamics if needed, and the regional influences to navigate carefully. Yet, Nepali voters have shown they are looking for a change and stability. The message from these elections is clear perform or perish. For Nepal, this landslide offers a genuine opportunity to break free from the cycle of disappointment. India is watching closely as it hopes for a stable government in the politically fragile Himalayan nation, and this is an opportunity to drive the country towards stability. (The writer is a columnist. His articles have appeared in various publications like The Independent, The Globe and Mail, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, etc. 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 If the United States can launch a war based on projected capability and ideological distrust, why should others not invoke similar reasoning? US President Donald Trump justified the strikes on Iran by arguing that Tehran was preparing to 'attack first', framing the military action as a response to an imminent threat from a hostile regime with potential nuclear capability. File image/AFP On March 4, a United States submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena roughly 40 nautical miles off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 sailors onboard. The attack is remarkable not simply because a warship was destroyed, but because of where it happened. Until now, the confrontation between the United States, Israel and Iran had largely been confined to the Middle East. With the sinking of the Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka, the conflict it seems has effectively spilled into the Indian Ocean, thousands of kilometres from the original theatre of escalation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The vessel was returning home after participating in naval exercises with India when it was struck by torpedoes fired from a US submarine. The Pentagon later confirmed the strike, marking the first time an American submarine has sunk an enemy warship since World War II. The United States and Israel had launched a major military operation on February 28, inside Iran, dubbed Operation Lions Roar, targeting strategic sites in Tehran and other cities under the pretext of neutralising an imminent threat posed by its nuclear and ballistic missiles programmes. More than 20 of Irans 31 provinces were reportedly impacted by US and Israeli strikes. The US military claims they have hit nearly 2,000 targets inside Iran. Within 24 hours of the start of the war, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was dead. The Middle East once again stood on the edge of a geopolitical rupture. Israel has threatened to eliminate any successor Iran would put in Khameneis place. Let there be no confusion, this is not an ode to Khamenei. Iran under Khamenei was a state built on repression, morality policing, and mass executions. Its security forces killed thousands during waves of anti-government protests that started in December 2025. The Mullah regime in Iran has always been repressive. Reports claimed that nearly 7,000 people had been killed by Iranian authorities in a brutal crackdown on protesters. These numbers can go as high as 32,000 according to some reports as estimates vary widely because of a near-total internet blackout inside Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For many inside Iran, this felt like oxygen. Some even called it the beginning of the end of the Mullah Regime in Iran; and its 1989 moment. But the heart of the problem is the modus operandi. The Politics of Imminence The logic behind the strikes was articulated bluntly in Washington. The United States launched strikes on Iran not because it attacked it; it acted on imminent threat. The issue, according to the US, was what Iran might eventually be capable of doing. As Marco Rubio argued: Imagine a year from now or a year and a half from now the capabilities they would have to inflict damage on us. Its an unacceptable risk, especially in the hands of a regime thats run by radical clerics. The ayatollah is a radicalwas a radical cleric. That entire regime is led by radical clerics who dont make geopolitical decisions; they make decisions on the basis of theologytheir view of theology, which is an apocalyptic one. That has to be taken very seriously as well. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Once again, the vocabulary of imminence has done the work of war. The question before us is simple: is perceived threat sufficient to launch a full-scale war? This language matters. Why? Because it sets a precedent, and a seemingly wrong one. Moreover, we cant set aside the context that both nations were in indirect negotiation moderated by Oman. For all the scepticism about its nuclear intentions, Tehran did signal willingness to discuss nuclear limits, but refused to place its missile program on the table. Iran framed its ballistic missiles as deterrence, sovereign issue and within the international norm. Washington however, saw those as threats. Donald Trump said he had legitimate reason to believe Iran was going to attack first. The justification was imminence. The argument: a hostile regime, armed with potential nuclear capability. As in earlier episodes of American interventionism, the strike on Iran was anchored less in demonstrable immediacy than in projected danger. The coordinated strikes by the US and Israel on Iran were framed as pre-emptive: a necessary act to neutralise an imminent threat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Hypocrisy of the Rules-Based Order Consider how the West frames similar actions when carried out by its ideological adversaries. The invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin is widely and rightly described across Western capitals as naked aggression, a violation of sovereignty justified by dubious claims of security threats and pre-emption. Now imagine if a comparable logic were invoked by China against Taiwan. If Beijing were to pursue regime change or military occupation citing a perceived threat to its national security, the reaction from Washington and European capitals would be swift and unequivocal: it would be called expansionism, coercion and a breach of international law. Yet when the language of imminence travels in the opposite direction towards the West, the framing often shifts, from intervention to necessity. That contrast is what raises the uncomfortable question at the heart of this conflict: are the rules of sovereignty universal, or do they bend depending on who is invoking them? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When powerful states frame perceived future danger as justification for unilateral military action, they embark on the same playbook used in the Iraq War of 2003. Disputed claims about weapons of mass destruction were invoked to legitimise a major invasion without multilateral authorisation; the war did not have Security Council authorisation either. And similar to justifications offered for interventionist tactics in Venezuela. In each case, the existence of an objectionable regime became grounds for breaching sovereignty. None of this absolves the Iranian regime of its brutality. Tehrans repression of its own citizens, its ideological militancy, and its destabilising regional ambitions are well documented. The international system, however, has long rested on a fragile but important principle: sovereignty. It is meant to restrain the powerful as much as it protects the weak. Has Rules-Based Order Become Optional? At the Munich Security Conference, Marco Rubio outlined a worldview that is increasingly shaping Washingtons posture. The West, he argued, must reclaim its vitality. The so-called global order must no longer override national interest. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He spoke of Western expansion, the glory of missionaries, explorers, vast empires, and of anti-colonial uprisings as accelerants of its decline. It was a speech that framed the international system less as a set of universal rules based on goodwill than as a civilisational contest, one in which the West must rediscover the will to act decisively to reclaim its interests. Rubio lamented the contracting of the great Western empires in the aftermath of the Second World War. He decried what he described as godless communist revolutions and anti-colonial uprisings movements. The heart of the argument is that if the United States can launch a war based on projected capability and ideological distrust, why should others not invoke similar reasoning? What prevents another state from declaring that its rivals military buildup, alliances or technological advances constitute an imminent threat that must be neutralised today? Once the doctrine of imminence becomes elastic, defined by interpretation rather than by attack, the line between defence and aggression grows dangerously thin. And history suggests that doctrines rarely remain confined to their original authors. They travel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD (Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.) Norwegian police reported on Sunday an explosion near the US embassy in the capital Oslo, but said there were no casualties. Norwegian police reported on Sunday an explosion near the US embassy in the capital Oslo, but said there were no casualties. The explosion occurred around 1 am local time (0000 GMT), the Oslo police department said in a statement, adding they had no information about the blasts cause or who was behind it. The police said it was in contact with the embassy about the incident and that a large number of resources were on site. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US embassies have been placed on high alert in the Middle East over American military operations in Iran and several have faced attacks as Tehran hits back at industrial and diplomatic targets. But police gave no indication the incident near the embassy in Oslo was connected to the conflict. Remember Ahmedabad plane crash? The final probe report is still awaited. Did the Boeing 787 Dreamliner have faulty fuel switches? Were the FAA and Boeing aware of the issue? Attorney Mike Andrews, representing the crash victims, speaks to Firstposts Shiksha Dev on this and more in an exclusive interview Thirty-two seconds. 260 lives lost. June 12, 2025. The crash of Air India flight AI171 turned a routine journey into one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in recent years, placing Boeings 787 Dreamliner under intense global scrutiny. As investigators continue to piece together what went wrong, questions are mounting over the aircrafts systems and the possibility of deeper technical issues. Mike Andrews, a senior aviation attorney at the US law firm Beasley Allen, is representing over 100 victims of the London-bound plane. 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Andrews has raised concerns about long-standing issues with the 787 Dreamliners fuel switches, citing a 2018 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness bulletin. A person walks past debris at the crash site after an Air India aircraft, bound for Londons Gatwick Airport, crashed during take-off from an airport in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. Reuters The lawyer asserts both Boeing and the FAA were aware of problems with the fuel switches years before the AI171 crash. He also flags concerns about the aircrafts complex systems and the possibility of other issues that could affect the fuel system. In an interview with Firstpost, Andrews also pushes back against the pilot-error narrative that has emerged in parts of the public discourse following some media reports citing unnamed sources claiming to know whats in the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureaus (AAIB) final probe findings, which are yet to be published. He argues that there appears to be a rush to blame the pilots and says such reports seem to point fingers at the deceased crew without sufficient context. Speculation surrounding a tragedy of this scale, he says, is improper. Edited excerpts: Firstpost: Its been eight months since a Boeing mishap happened in India. The final report is still awaited. What your investigation has found as you build up your case in the court of law, and what are the most significant probe areas? Andrews: We are eight months post-crash, and the preliminary report raised a number of questions that I and others have struggled to answer. It appeared to put immediate fault on the pilots without further context. Some highly decontextualised snippets of conversation from that report appeared to have been used to blame the pilot. We know that the investigation appears to be ongoing today. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We hear various hearings that have come out of Indias Supreme Court. We know that the AAIB and investigators have been given three weeks to provide the court with a thorough protocol so that everyone understands exactly what process theyre following. 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 active and ongoing, and they have not reached any conclusions yet. So, its difficult for us, as well as for the families, to really understand where the investigation currently stands in India. Firstpost: AAIB has cautioned experts against speculating on any conclusions based on its preliminary report. There have been speculations surrounding fuel switches and a possible human error. Did your investigation find any concern regarding the design, reliability, or operation of the fuel switches of the 787 or any possible human error? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Andrews: Our investigation is ongoing. What we do know is that in 2018, Boeing and the FAA were aware of problems with these fuel switches. We know that there has been at least one other incident recently in which it was alleged that a fuel switch failed to remain in the run position and would easily transition to cut off. Thats concerning to us. Andrews has raised concerns about long-standing issues with the Boeing 787 Dreamliners fuel switches. Image courtesy: X Were not aware whether the subject fuel switches on AI171 were replaced in accordance with an airworthiness bulletin. It wasnt a directive. It wasnt mandatory, but were not sure whether it was replaced per the directive or the airworthiness bulletin. In addition, we know that the preliminary report appeared to point the finger at the pilots, which is very concerning. We have said from day one in our investigation that speculation is improper. We need more information; there needs to be a thorough, transparent investigation so that the families can have the answers they deserve. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Firstpost: While aviation experts point to 787 fuel switches, saying they are designed to prevent inadvertent movement, there have been concerns about the locking mechanism. How do you view these apprehensions? Andrews: We know, based on an airworthiness bulletin that was issued by the FAA and Boeing, the switch design initially had problems. It had issues staying in the run position and could inadvertently transition into cut-off. This tells us they were aware of a problem years before this crash, and, based on their own documents, theres an issue there. Now, whether that played a role in this crash remains to be seen. Firstpost: Boeing whistleblowers have raised and spoken about design flaws. Boeing has assured that its planes have safety mechanisms. How do you read such contrasting narratives? Andrews: Primarily, information that comes from Boeing or other manufacturers is by nature self-serving and is going to be put out to support their product and their narrative. What we know from whistleblowers and from experience in other crashes is that Boeing aircraft sometimes suffer quality problems. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For example, the 737 MAX cases were widely reported in the media. Whistleblowers have raised concerns about quality, management, design, and control issues with Boeing aircraft. Hence, our concern is whether or not the same culture that led to the 737 failures may have spilled over to the AI171. Firstpost: You represented the victims families in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash, a case that led Boeing to acknowledge issues with the aircraft. Given your experience, take us through the details of the AI171 crash and how it compares with earlier crashes in terms of similarities and differences. Andrews: I think the most stark and immediate comparison between those two crashes is the immediate rush to blame the pilots rather than waiting for a thorough and sifting investigation to determine the technical problems. People stand next to a condolence banner as they wait for the body of Sumeet Sabharwal, the captain who died when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed during take-off from an airport on June 12, 2025. File image/Reuters The rush to blame the pilots in the 737 crash was immediate, and there had been a prior crash just a few months before that. The very same thing happened, and so in AI171, we see an immediate rush to blame the pilots without releasing the information. On board AI171, there are at least two recording systems. One is the cockpit voice recorder, and the other is the flight data recorder, both installed to provide an objective record of what has happened. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These systems record everything thats happening during the crash; therefore, we have called for the release of that data from the very beginning. We know that during our last trip in India in December, AAIB investigators were travelling to Washington to meet with the NTSB to go through that data yet again, and our question has been, 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 it is a pilot fault. Firstpost: How do you assess AAIBs investigation so far? Several commentators also raised questions when the preliminary report was released. How do you view the reactions to it? Andrews: I think the reactions to the report are all very well-founded and appropriate. I think that in a case where youve got this magnitude of loss of life, certainly in aviation, which affects everyone, the families as well as the flying public deserve the truth. And a rushed report that blames the pilots for a decontextualised conversation without providing all the information is inappropriate. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We have called upon the AAIB and Air India to release the data so that we know what happened and our investigators can review it. We can conduct an independent analysis by experts who have made this their entire career. Firstpost: You have made multiple trips to Ahmedabad and also visited the crash site. You met the families of the victims. Why was it important for you to do that, and what did you gather from those visits? Andrews: Its very important. Each of these families has a personal connection and loss to this crash. We treat each family individually with respect. Its important to sit down with them face-to-face because we were meeting with families who wanted to talk to us. Mike Andrews, a senior aviation attorney at the US law firm Beasley Allen, visited the crash site in Ahmedabad and met with the families of the victims of the AI171 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. Not only did we go to the crash site initially, but we were also there for a candlelight vigil with the families to honour and respect those who lost their lives. We have additional trips planned to come back and sit down with families to update them on the process. We have been very concerned about reports of releases provided to victims families, encouraging them to sign and give up their rights. That is inappropriate. There have been releases provided to victims families, offering them a very small amount of compensation in exchange for giving up their rights, with the promise that they will not sue or seek accountability. Thats wrong, particularly given that this investigation is ongoing and no final report has been released yet. So again, its important for us to continue working with the families to help them understand their rights. It is very much a process that requires patience. Irans Assembly of Experts nears majority consensus on choosing Ayatollah Ali Khameneis successor after his assassination, but IDF warns it will target any appointee or potential replacement. A woman gestures while holding an image of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the day of an anti-Israeli and U.S. rally, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 6, 2026- Reuters Following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the clerical body responsible for appointing Irans top authority is reportedly nearing a final decision. However, as the transition of power begins, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have issued a direct threat against anyone stepping into the role. Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri, a member of the 88-member Assembly of Experts, said on Sunday that a majority agreement had been formed on the next leader, though certain procedural issues still need to be addressed. Irans Mehr news agency quoted him as saying that some obstacles remain in finalising the process. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The development comes a day after another senior cleric in the Assembly of Experts indicated that members of the body could convene within one day to select Irans next supreme leader. Under Irans constitution, the Assembly of Experts holds the authority to appoint the countrys supreme leader. The clerical body consists of 88 members who are responsible for overseeing and selecting the highest religious and political authority in the Islamic Republic. The succession process began after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led Iran for 37 years, was killed in a United States-Israeli strike on Tehran on February 28. The strike occurred at the start of a conflict that has since spread across much of the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a warning that it would continue to target anyone who could potentially succeed Khamenei. According to local media reports, the Israeli military posted a message in Farsi on social media stating that Israel would pursue any individual involved in appointing or becoming Irans next supreme leader. The Jerusalem Post cited the message as saying: The hand of the State of Israel will continue to pursue every successor and every person who seeks to appoint a successor. The momentum toward a transition was further reinforced on Wednesday this week, when Irans leadership council informed state media that a successor would be appointed at the earliest opportunity. In a video shared by the Tasnim News Agency, an official told state television that no problem has arisen in the field of leadership. He confirmed that the leadership council is currently running the country, adding, STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Praise be to God, we have come closer, but the situation is one of war. The official contrasted the current crisis with the transition following Ayatollah Khomeinis death, noting that the immediate appointment seen then was possible because the environment was not a war situation. He emphasised that the Assembly of Experts is now striving despite the ongoing hostilities. Amid these deliberations, the Iranian Government, via its Consulate General in Mumbai, dismissed reports emerging from Israeli media suggesting that Mojtaba Khamenei had been named as his late fathers successor. In a post on X, the consulate stated: Reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Irans Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied. While Israeli media claimed Mojtaba Khamenei had been chosen, no independent confirmation has surfaced from official Iranian state media. As the political transition unfolds, Irans state media has reported that citizens will bid farewell to the late Supreme Leader in a ceremony scheduled for tonight at Tehrans Imam Khomeini prayer ground. The ceremony is expected to last for three days, with the final funeral procession to be announced once it is finalised. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The regional conflict has escalated significantly for over a week following the US and Israeli strikes that killed Ayatollah Khamenei and other key figures. In retaliation, Tehran has launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases and Israeli assets across the region. With inputs from agencies Irans security chief Ali Larijani has warned that the United States will pay the price for the killing of Irans Supreme Leader. However, Trump dismissed the threat, saying he couldnt care less. This photograph shows a large billboard of Iran's slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reading in Persian "His God is still alive" in Tehran. AFP Irans security chief Ali Larijani has vowed revenge for the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warning US President Donald Trump that he would pay the price as the US-Iran-Israel war in the Middle East intensifies. Speaking to Iranian state television on Saturday, Larijani, who previously served as a top adviser to Khamenei, said Tehran would avenge the blood of our leader. Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli strike on February 28, triggering a sharp escalation in regional tensions. Larijani warned that Iran would not leave Trump alone and accused the US President of miscalculating Tehrans response. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump got a taste of what happened in Venezuela and thought he could quickly do the same in Iran. Now hes stuck, Larijani said. We will not leave him alone. He must pay the price for what he did. He killed our leader and martyred more than 1,000 of our people. This is not a simple matter, he added. Reiterating his warning in a post on X, Larijani said Iran would not relent until it had retaliated. We wont leave him alone until we reciprocate what he did, he wrote. Larijani has emerged as one of Irans most prominent leaders following Khameneis killing during the opening phase of the war. Trump dismisses Iranian threat Trump brushed aside Larijanis remarks, saying he did not even know who the Iranian official was. I have no idea what hes talking about, who he is. I couldnt care less, Trump told CBS News, adding that Larijani had already been defeated. The US President also dismissed criticism from Iranian leaders, describing them as weak and increasingly diminished in the region. Trump reiterated that American military operations would continue and insisted that Iran must accept an unconditional surrender. Iran sends mixed message to neighbours Earlier on Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian released a video message apologising to neighbouring countries for Tehrans retaliatory strikes after the outbreak of the war. He said Iran would avoid targeting Persian Gulf states unless they were attacked first. However, Pezeshkian later clarified that Iran had not targeted neighbouring countries. In a follow-up social media post, he said Iran had instead targeted US military bases, facilities and installations in the region. Trump later mocked Iran over the remarks, calling the country the loser of the Middle East after Tehran signalled it would avoid striking Gulf states unless provoked. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD War enters ninth day Trumps remarks came more than a week after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran that killed Khamenei and triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. Despite the escalation, Pezeshkian suggested diplomatic efforts may still be possible. He said several countries had begun mediation efforts to end the war with the United States and Israel, though he did not name them. Several regional powers, including Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and Oman, have offered to mediate since the US and Israeli strikes began last weekend. Even so, military operations in the region showed no signs of slowing. The Israel Defense Forces said it was entering a new stage of its campaign against Iran and suggested more strikes could follow. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth signalled further escalation, saying American military action against Iran was just getting started and that attacks would surge dramatically in the coming days. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Irans 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Irans 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 Khameneis family, Iranian political and military leaders and numerous civilians. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russias 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. Putin said he was in constant contact with the leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council member states. Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russias 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. At the Raisina Dialogue 2026, US President Donald Trumps proxies sought to cap Indias ambitions and warn Europe of civilisational decay, but they were met with a wall of resistance sharp replies, irreverent laughter, and deep booing from an audience that made it clear the Maga movement has little takers outside its American echo chambers. Carla Sands (first guest from left in red), the Chair of the Foreign Policy Initiative at the America First Policy Institute, garnered laughter and booing from the audience at a session at Raisina Dialogue 2026 at Delhi on March 06, 2026. (Photo: Firstpost) At the Raisina Dialogue 2026, US President Donald Trumps proxies sought to cap Indias ambitions and warn Europe of civilisational decay, but they were met with a wall of resistance sharp replies, irreverent laughter, and deep booing from an audience that made it clear the Maga movement has little currency outside its American echo chambers. In the curtain-raiser on the first day, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau declared that Trump would not allow India to grow beyond limits set by him. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India should understand that were not going to make the same mistakes that we made with China 20 years ago in terms of saying, Oh, you know, were going to let you be able to develop all these markets and then, you know, the next thing we know is youre beating us in a lot of commercial things, said Landau. Over dinner that day, a participant balked at Landaus audacity to make such a statement about his host. Another compared the speech to Vice President JD Vances tirade against Europe at last years Munich Security Conference. The speech was yet another confirmation that the United States is not a trusted partner anymore under President Trump, according to Prof Sriparna Pathak of the Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA), OP Jindal Global University. Its clear that any cooperation with the United States is on a case-by-case basis on subjects where Indian and American interests narrowly converge. There is no longer a broader IndiaUS alignment. Mr Landau behaved like an ex who unleashed their frustration on everyone else around them after a break-up, Pathak told Firstpost. A third participant, requesting anonymity, said that even as Landau said good things about India, any praise was meaningless, as the main takeaway from his speech was that they would only tolerate Indias rise as long as it remained within Trumps comfort zone. While the conference did not react overly to Landau out of diplomatic niceties, guests and audience members did not hold back when another proxy, Carla Sands, lectured Europe about purported civilisational decay, peddled falsehoods about the Russian war on Ukraine, and whitewashed Trumps regime-change juggernaut as a democratising mission. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pathak referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars statement the next day and said Landaus message had not gone unnoticed, neither among the participants nor at the highest levels of government. She said the Maga movement would not have expected the pushback. At a later session, without naming Landau, Jaishankar said the rise of India will be determined by India and that it would be 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, said Jaishankar, in an apparent response to Landaus remark. The pushback Maga didnt expect At another session, Sands, a former diplomat who currently serves as the Chair of the Foreign Policy Initiative at the America First Policy Institute, received booing from the audience and sharp responses from fellow panellists. As Sands lectured Europe for ceasing to be a democratic region, losing its Christian civilisation, and suppressing free speech, Firstpost Managing Editor Palki Sharma, who was moderating the session, asked where she would place Americas Gulf Arab allies in her democratic versus non-democratic world order. As Sands was at a loss for words, the audience erupted in cheers at the intervention. When Sands sought to recover, the audience booed her the first of many rounds of booing she received during the session. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an apparent bid to save herself, Sands doubled down and pivoted to Europes purported demographic crisis, saying Trump had been begging Europe to address the issue. When she claimed that the UK is more draconian than the Soviet Union in terms of free speech, the audience broke into laughter, and Sands took her time to recompose herself before resuming not before lashing out at the audience and saying you can laugh all you want. In his rejoinder, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt said that even as Sands declared Europe a civilisation facing extinction, the continent remained quite attractive to newcomers, indicating its continued promise. I dont know the last time you saw anyone knocking on the door to enter Russia as an alien, or China, or Iran, or North Korea. People are not clamouring to go there, Bildt added. In a segment that received applause, Bildt noted that Sands and others in the America First movement never highlight the demographic crisis in China, Russia, or Hungary, where there are no woke governments Hungary has had Europes most notable far-right leader, Viktor Orban, in power since 2010. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, Bildt pointed out, Hungary has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe but the country never figures in Sands or Magas criticism. In her criticism of previous administrations, Sands repeated Trumps falsehood that former President Joe Biden was responsible for the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the audience again erupted into laughter. Pathak said that the fact that the Raisina Dialogue organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) featured a diverse set of speakers, including personalities from the Maga movement, spoke of Indias democratic credentials and its emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy. Using prestigious conferences to appease the hardliner base at home shows that domestic posturing matters much more to Maga figures than sincere diplomacy, Pathak further said. Saudi Arabia has warned Iran that continued attacks on Gulf states and energy facilities could trigger retaliation, even as Riyadh pushes for diplomacy to ease the escalating regional conflict Saudi Arabia has told Tehran that while it favours a diplomatic settlement to Irans 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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 kingdoms 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 Irans nuclear programme. 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. Irans 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 Lebanons 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. Pezeshkian said Irans 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 Irans actions, he said. To what extent Pezeshkians 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. The command said Irans 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. 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 Irans Revolutionary Guards in the past week. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) As the tensions in West Asia continue to escalate, US President Donald Trump told reporters on Saturday that he believes the deadly strikes on a girls primary school in southern Iran last weekend were done by Iran As the tensions in West Asia continue to escalate, US President Donald Trump told reporters on Saturday that he believes the deadly strikes on a girls primary school in southern Iran last weekend were done by Iran. However, the American leader did not cite any evidence to support his proclamation. In my opinion, based on what Ive seen, that was done by IranWe think it was done by Iran, because theyre very inaccurate with their munitions, they have no accuracy whatsoever, it was done by Iran, Trump said aboard Air Force One. The remarks from the American leader came right after he attended the dignified transfer of six US soldiers who were killed in an Iranian strike in Kuwait on March 1. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When a reporter asked if Trumps assessment was accurate, the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the Pentagon was investigating, adding that the only side that targets civilians is Iran. Meanwhile, the Iranian state media and health officials have reported that the strike on February 28, the first day of the war, killed dozens of people, including schoolgirls ages 7 to 12. At that time, the Iranian officials blamed the US and Israel for the strike. Who did the strike? Two sources, one of which is an Israeli source, told CBS News that Israel was not operating in the area of the strike. The Israeli source told the American news outlet that the Jewish nation was not behind the strike and said that the Israeli Air Force was not operating near the school. Meanwhile, a person familiar with the probe told CBS News on Friday that US investigators believe that Americans may have been responsible. In a separate statement, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said that the investigation is ongoing into the incident. There are no conclusions at this time, and it is both irresponsible and false for anyone to claim otherwise, Kelly said Friday. As we have said, unlike the terrorist Iranian regime, the United States does not target civilians. The tragic blast occurred in Minab, a city in the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan. Footage filmed from the parking lot showed plumes of black smoke billowing from a damaged building adorned with murals featuring drawings of crayons, children and an apple. The building was located in proximity to two sites controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iranian state media has said more than 170 people were killed in the explosion. China earmarks over 100 bln yuan for childcare subsidies Xinhua) 11:07, March 08, 2026 BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China has earmarked more than 100 billion yuan (about 14.5 billion U.S. dollars) for childcare subsidies, the country's top health official said on Saturday, as part of its efforts to build a more birth-friendly society. The nationwide subsidy program, which was introduced in 2025, provides 300 yuan per month for each child under the age of three. Fiscal authorities at all levels nationwide have allocated the funds for the subsidies, including more than 90 billion yuan from the central government, Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, said at a press conference held on the sidelines of the annual session of the top legislature. More than 33 million eligible children have been covered by the program so far, Lei said, adding that the payments help families raise their children and support their healthy development. "A birth-friendly society" is a key aspect of the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which is currently under review at the ongoing legislative session. It requires refining the policies and incentives for boosting birth rates; effectively reducing the costs of childbirth, parenting and education; striving to stabilize the number of newborns; and promoting long-term balanced population development. "The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a critical stage for China's population development," said He Dan, head of the China Population and Development Research Center under the National Health Commission, adding that the country will take systematic measures, from planning and funding to policy formulation, to effectively boost people's willingness to have children. Beyond direct subsidies, multiple measures are underway to promote the country's population development. "In the past year alone, 890,000 slots of public-interest nurseries were added, bringing the total to 6.6 million," Lei said, citing the expansion as an important policy support. Meanwhile, maternity leave in China has been generally extended to over 158 days, along with spousal paternity leave and parental leave, making new mothers feel increasingly supported. The draft outline calls for expanding the coverage of maternity insurance, fully implementing maternity leave policies and strengthening childcare services, according to Liu Dechun, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission. It also aims to raise the enrollment rate of children under three by six percentage points, supporting the integration of childcare and kindergarten services as well as diversified public-interest childcare programs, Liu said at another press conference on Saturday. "Building a fertility-friendly society is a systematic task," said Yang Fan, associate dean at the School of Population and Health, Renmin University of China, noting that the key during the 15th Five-Year Plan period is to turn fragmented policies into an integrated system, creating support that covers the full life cycle. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Zhong Wenxing) TOKYO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Japanese media have voiced growing concern over the government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and its attempt to relax export rules for lethal arms, warning that such a move could undermine the pacifist principles rooted in Japan's constitution and heighten regional tensions. On Friday, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party submitted a proposal to Takaichi to lift the ban on exporting weapons with lethal capabilities, a move the prime minister indicated she supports. The Japanese government will refer to this recommendation and is expected to revise the operational guidelines of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology as early as this spring. In an editorial published Saturday, Tokyo Shimbun warned that Japan had banned arms exports after World War II, but the policy has been gradually eroded in recent years. The latest proposal suggests the removal of export restrictions on lethal weapons. "Japan's security policy would undergo a major transformation, turning the country into one that profits from arms exports," the editorial said, questioning whether the Japanese public truly supports such a shift. It added that the move could hollow out the pacifist ideals embedded in the country's constitution. Another editorial published Saturday by Nishinippon Shimbun questioned whether Japan is drifting away from its long-held path as a pacifist nation. The newspaper warned that decisions on arms exports would be left solely to the government without parliamentary involvement, calling the arrangement very dangerous. Meanwhile, Asahi Shimbun wrote in a recent editorial that easing arms export restrictions could fuel international conflicts and further aggravate tensions in the region. The current rules laid out in the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology limit Japan's defense equipment exports to five noncombat purposes, namely rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping. Since late 2025, the Takaichi administration has shown signs of seeking to loosen restrictions on weapons exports, a move that has sparked strong concern and criticism within Japan. As the tensions with Iran continue to escalate, US President Donald Trump rejected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers offer to deploy an aircraft carrier to West Asia. As the tensions with Iran continue to escalate, US President Donald Trump rejected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers offer to deploy an aircraft carrier to West Asia. In his Saturday rant on his social media platform TruthSocial, Trump said that he does not need the UK to deploy aircraft. The statement came right after the UKs Ministry of Defence announced that two flagship aircraft carriers, the HMS Prince of Wales, have been placed on high readiness. 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, Trump wrote in his post. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thats OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we dont need them any longer But we will remember. We dont need people who join Wars after weve already won! he further said. It is pertinent to note that Trumps reference to the UK as a once great ally signals a deepening rift between the two countries that has emerged since Trump decided to strike The chaos in West Asia The chaos in West Asia reached an all-time high over the past week as the US and Israel continue to hammer Iran and part of the war they launched on February 28. The conflict eventually sparked fears across the West Asia that a retaliatory strike from Tehran would target US allies across the region. Already, an estimated 1,332 people have been killed in Iran, and the US has confirmed the deaths of six of its service members. More deaths have been reported in countries like Lebanon, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq. In light of the situation, the British government increased its involvement in the war with Iran. The UK Defence Ministry, for instance, said on Saturday that the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer had allowed the US to use its military bases for what it termed limited defensive purposes. It is pertinent to note that the base in question includes RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the Diego Garcia site in the Chagos Islands, located in the Indian Ocean. Initially, there had been reports that Starmer had blocked the US use of the bases. In the immediate aftermath of the initial US-Israeli strike, Starmer appeared to blanche at the prospect of joining the war. Later, he and the leaders of France and Germany issued a joint statement, underscoring that any actions they might take would be defensive in nature. We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially through enabling necessary and proportionate defensive action to destroy Irans capability to fire missiles and drones at their source, the joint statement read. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We have agreed to work together with the US and allies in the region on this matter. However, Starmer had to push down on domestic backlash both for and against joining the war. On Monday, he told the UK Parliament, We are not joining the US and Israeli offensive strikes, citing the need to protect Britains national interest and British lives. Overall, the war in Iran remains largely unpopular in the UK. Donald Trump said Irans next leader is not going to last long if he does not receive approval from the United States as Tehran moves closer to naming a successor. US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Irans next supreme leader is not going to last long if Tehran does not get his approval first. Hes going to have to get approval from us, Trump told ABC News. If he doesnt get approval from us hes not going to last long. His comments came as the Iranian clerical body responsible for choosing the successor to slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei was reported to have voted and would soon announce a name. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran was preparing to reveal its new supreme leader on Sunday, after US-Israeli air strikes destroyed fuel dumps and triggered fires that choked much of Tehran in a thick blanket of smoke. The clerical body tasked with choosing a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed just over a week ago in the strikes that triggered the war in the Middle East has reached a decision, but not yet named the new leader. The vote to appoint the leader has taken place and the leader has been chosen, said Ahmad Alamolhoda, a member of the Assembly of Experts, as quoted by Irans Mehr news agency. Alamolhoda said the secretariat of the body would announce the name later. Other assembly members confirmed a decision was made, with one suggesting the son of the late leader would take the post. Israel, meanwhile, issued a stark warning that its forces would not hesitate to target the new chief and members of the Assembly of Experts that met to confirm him. Its reach was underlined by two new operations overnight strikes against fuel dumps in and around Tehran, and an attack on a hotel in the heart of Lebanons capital Beirut that targeted suspected Iranian commanders. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the war extended into its ninth day, Irans Revolutionary Guards said they had enough supplies to continue their aerial drone and missile war over the Middle East for up to six months. As the US-Iran conflict escalates, President Trumps core supporters remain loyal to the aerial bombing campaign but issue a stern warning against ground troops and nation-building. One week into an unpopular US war with Iran, President Donald Trump has justified the bombing campaign with shifting rationales, predicted strikes lasting weeks, warned of impending American casualties and brushed off worries over skyrocketing oil and gas prices. While these developments unsettle many Americans, interviews with Trump voters reveal solid backing for the president, at least temporarily. Even his staunchest fans, however, signal alarm at any major U.S. ground troop commitment in Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Reuters spoke to eight Americans who voted for Trump in the 2024 election, part of a group of 20 voters the news agency has interviewed monthly since February to track their views on major political developments. Their responses reveal cautious approval of the current strategy but deep reservations about a broader war. This mirrors a Reuters-Ipsos poll of 1,282 adults: nearly two-thirds of 2024 Trump voters approved the strikes (9% disapproved, 27% unsure), though overall U.S. support sat at just 25%. Sustained energy spikes or base erosion could jeopardize Republican midterm prospects in November, threatening congressional control. Support for aerial dominance amid economic strain For many of Trumps most ardent followers, the current bombing campaign is a long-overdue response to decades of tension. According to a recent Reuters-Ipsos poll of 1,282 adults, nearly two-thirds of Trumps 2024 voters approve of the strikes. Supporters like Jon Webber, a retail worker from Indiana, view the action as a necessary step to cripple the regime after years of previous administrations kicking the can down the road. However, this support is not without its costs. Gasoline prices have spiked between 20 and 50 cents per gallon in many regions, a factor that could threaten Republican control of Congress in the upcoming November midterms. While voters like Webber expect the economic pain to be short-lived, others express growing concern: The Trust Factor: Voters like Houston-based Loretta Torres trust the Presidents proactive stance but fear the war could spin out of control or trigger domestic terrorism. The Economic Gamble: Three of the eight voters interviewed by Reuters remained sceptical, worried that the conflict is needlessly endangering U.S. citizens and the economy. The red line: No boots on the ground If there is a breaking point for the Presidents base, it is the prospect of a ground invasion. Every Trump voter interviewed by Reuters expressed a firm opposition to a substantial deployment of U.S. ground forces or nation-building efforts. This sentiment represents a direct clash with the Presidents recent rhetoric; Trump told the New York Post he has not ruled out sending troops, even as he cautions the public to expect more U.S. casualties. No nation-building, that doesnt work, said Chad Hill, a supervisor at an Ohio nuclear plant. Hill noted that while a limited detachment might be necessary to fully dismantle missile capabilities, a large-scale occupation would be a red flag. Similarly, Gerald Dunn of New Yorks Hudson Valley argued that any ground presence should be limited and strictly contingent on an invitation from a new Iranian government. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Confusion and ground war fears mount Voters grappled with the administrations rationale shifts, like Secretary of State Marco Rubios pre-emptive strike claim versus Trumps hunch-driven leadership. Dallas trucker Herman Sims, 66, found reports didnt make any sense but backed strikes for U.S. protection. Gas hikes and a protesters injury at a Senate hearing troubled him: We should not be fighting a war for someone else. Wisconsin student Will Brown, 20, called explanations wishy-washy: Bombing them is fine, but boots on the ground and troops dying, that I simply cant approve of. He noted Trumps openness to ground forces. Virginia Beach retiree Don Jernigan, 75, questioned troop risks: If threats were so imminent, strike from afar. He warned strikes invite retaliation: If we kill their brothers theyre going to come over here. With inputs from agencies The West Asia conflict is intensifying a week after US-Israeli strikes on Iran, with rising casualties, drone interceptions across Gulf states, and international military and aviation responses This video grab taken from UGC images posted on social media on March 7 and 8, 2026 shows fire erupting at an oil depot in Iran's capital Tehran.- AFP A week after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, the conflict is continuing to escalate across West Asia, with rising casualties and widening regional tensions. 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, according to reports. Several Gulf countries have also reported incoming missiles and drones amid the growing conflict. Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates said they had detected aerial threats within their territories. Qatars government said its air defence systems intercepted nine of 10 Iranian drones launched toward the country on Friday. Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting multiple drones near its capital, Riyadh, as regional air defence systems were put on high alert. Meanwhile, Kuwait has begun cutting production at some oil fields after running out of space to store crude, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The United Kingdom has also signalled its support for regional allies. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and pledged military assistance if required, including fighter jets, helicopters and a destroyer to help defend Saudi Arabia. Additional UK Typhoon fighter jets are also expected to arrive in Qatar to assist with defensive air patrols. Aviation operations across the region have been disrupted due to widespread airspace closures and flight cancellations. Qatars Hamad International Airport has partially resumed air navigation through designated emergency routes. Qatar Airways has also announced special repatriation flights to five European cities London, Paris, Madrid, Rome and Frankfurt to help stranded passengers leave the region. Stay with us for all the latest updates. Live Updates In an exclusive interview with Firstposts Bhagyasree Sengupta, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin emphasised that Ukraine is fighting for its existence and shared what the roadblocks are to the ongoing peace efforts The raging Russia-Ukraine war has entered its fifth year with little to no sign of a ceasefire despite constant attempts to reach a peace deal. The conflict, which started on February 24, 2022, has not only left Ukraine fighting for its sovereignty but also rattled the world. In the span of these four years, two American Presidents (Former US President Joe Biden and current US President Donald Trump) attempted to initiate peace efforts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, the two sides have remained adamant on a crucial issue: Territorial integrity. While the Russians have been demanding that Ukrainians cede the territories Moscow occupied during the invasion, Ukraine has maintained that it will not let go of its territorial sovereignty, warning that other Eastern European nations bordering Russia might see the same fate. Meanwhile, the ongoing Iran war has also taken away the attention and resources Ukraine needed to deal with the mighty Russia. In an exclusive interview with Firstposts Bhagyasree Sengupta, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin emphasised that Ukraine is fighting for its existence. The conversation came on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2026. Klimkin spoke to Firstpost just weeks after he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where they discussed the foreign policy strategy of the war-torn nation. Watch the full interview here: (Edited excerpt) Q1. The Russia-Ukraine war entered its fifth year; however, there is no sign of a ceasefire between the two sides. What do you think are the roadblocks to the peace efforts? Klimkin: One fundamental point is on the Russian side, and its not about compromises. Its about the intention to destroy Ukraine as such. They dont recognise that we, myself, my relatives, my language, my history, the history of my fellow Ukrainians as a nation, our statehood, all exist. They believe its a kind of Russian and its important to pretend in the sense of their narrative about the Russian world. Its not about us attacking them; its about them destroying us. So you can do reasonable compromises, but you cant give up on yourself. You cant give up on your existence, and its the sole fundamental problem why we dont have peace. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Q2. You served as Ukraines foreign minister till 2019, before the country went to war against Russia. How was it tackling Russia at that time? Klimkin: Extremely difficult because if you talk to them, they dont talk to you in a kind of honest way. Its not about trying to negotiate something. Its not about sorting out different issues. Its about pushing you; they tend to believe Ukraine does not exist, cant have the right to exist. The war is about us, about people. Its about our land, its about our territory, but its also about our sovereignty because what Russia wants is to fundamentally restrain our sovereignty, domestic policy, foreign policy, territory and our capability to defend ourselves, to limit our capabilities, our army, and if we dont, we wont exist the next day. So fundamentally, its not about compromises. Its not our unwillingness to make even difficult compromises; we cant say we dont want to exist because its about us. We cant reject ourselves, and they can simply say you dont exist. Its what weve been fighting for. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Q3. Last month, you met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the foreign policy strategy of Ukraine at this stage of the conflict. Could you share with us some insight from the conversation? Klimkin: Well, I would be unwilling. Let me be absolutely frank. There were several very important but in the same way sensitive issues discussed. We spoke about the European Union and our way into the European Union, our best strategy in the sense of future accession negotiations. We spoke about how to deal with the current US reality. We spoke about how to deal with big players, including India, actually. So there were several critically important issues, but in the sense of insights, in the sense of my judgement I shared with the President and in the sense of the judgement the President shared with me, I would probably refrain from going into the substance. What I can say is that it was a good and deep conversation about our challenges, how to approach them, and my point is that you cant give up. If you want, its not just my diplomatic credentials or political ones; its also my personal ones. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If its about your existence, you have to raise the stakes, and I believe the President is following the same logic. His optics are different because he has more information coming to him, but to give up is definitely not our answer. Q4. At the Raisina Dialogue, the European delegation expressed the importance of integrating Ukraine into Nato. Do you see Ukraine and even Europes ambition coming true? Klimkin: One point which is really kind of consensus now is that Ukraine has to become part of the European Union. And there is not only political commitment, but also legal commitment that Ukraine should become part of the European Union. On NATO, its unfortunately more controversial. There is no basic consensus about it. Some countries believe its what we have to do, and some countries are kind of cautious. I believe that in the future, there is no way around integrating the whole West. And I believe Ukraine belongs to the West. Because of our mentality, because of our history. So there is no way around integrating Ukraine into the Western security architecture. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And I believe Ukraine belongs to the West. Because of our mentality, because of our history. So there is no way around integrating Ukraine into the Western security architecture. Q5. We have a new conflict brewing in West Asia with the US and Israel fighting against Iran. In these circumstances, how is Ukraine attempting to garner the worlds attention? Klimkin: Yes, there is a distraction. We have to recognise it. Whether this distraction is something which is negative for us, not yet, because smart people, smart politicians, smart military guys also hear from my conversations, understand that if you focus just on something and neglect everything else, you cant manage security. Because if you do something here and put all your attention and focus there and basically neglect everything else, you are done. Because in this world, security is about everything. So, what I feel also here from my Indian counterparts is that this understanding that indeed Iran is important is about Indians living in this country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Its about oil, its about trade. But security is not something you can limit to one geographical region. And its what Ive been getting from very different people around the world. Two people were held in custody after authorities found suspicious devices outside the Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Far-right influencer Jake Lang holds a goat on a leash during a protest organized by 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, in New York on March 7, 2026. AFP Two people were held in custody after authorities found suspicious devices outside the Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Chaos broke out outside the residence of the NYC Mayor Zoharan Mamdani as an anti-Islam demonstration took over the area Saturday morning. The arrests were confirmed by the New York Police Department. According to Newsweek, the demonstration was organised by Jake Lang, a conservative influencer pardoned for charges tied to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. The visuals from the scene showed smoke and what appeared to be an unexploded homemade device. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mamdani himself is yet to comment on the protests. It is pertient to note that the incident raises urgent concerns about the safety of elected officials and the potential for political demonstrations to escalate into violence. Why it matters Last year, Mamdani became New York Citys first Muslim Mayor. Before and after assuming the role, he has been targeted. However, this time the demonstrations were held during the holy month observed by Muslims worldwide amplifying the symbolic weight of the threat. Officers were seen at the scene to get a hold of the situation, which was scheduled to take place near East End Avenue and 88th Street, in the vicinity of the 19th Precinct, when they were alerted to two suspicious devices at approximately 11:40 a.m., the NYPD told Newsweek. No injuries or property damage were reported. Lang, the organiser of the protest, is a conservative influencer and self-described right-wing provocateur who was pardoned for charges stemming from the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. He had promoted the demonstration outside the mayors residence and, ahead of the rally, promised to burn a Quran at the site. However, he did not appear to follow through on his proclamation. It is not immediately clear if Mamdani and NYC First Lady Rama Duwaji were home at the time of the incident. It is important to note that Lang has held similar demonstrations in recent months. In January, he organised an anti-immigration rally in Minneapolis in the days following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, 37, who was killed by a federal immigration officer. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Saturday, March 7, 2026, at approximately 1140 hours, officers were on scene for a scheduled demonstration in the vicinity of East End Avenue and 88th Street, within the confines of the 19 Precinct, when they were alerted to two suspicious devices at the location, NYPD said in an official statement. No injuries or property damage have been reported at this time. Two persons of interest were taken into custody, and the investigation remains ongoing, the statement further reads. With two persons of interest in custody, the NYPD investigation is ongoing. Retired US Navy Captain Brent Sadler says the American submarine strike that sank Irans warship IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka is legally defensible under international law. Speaking to Firstpost at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, he argued that Iranian naval assets became legitimate targets once hostilities began (Left) An explosion on what the US Department of Defense says is an Iranian warship, at the sea, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released on March 4, 2026 by US Department of Defence; (right) Brent Sadler, a retired United States Navy Captain, 26 years as a nuclear submarine officer, now Senior Research Fellow, Naval Warfare and Advanced Technology, Allison Centre for National Security, Heritage Foundation, United States of America. On March 4, 2026, the Indian Ocean witnessed the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by a United States submarine. The Wednesday strike was the first time an American submarine had used a torpedo to sink an enemy vessel since World War II in 1945. Questions are being asked on whether the strike was in compliance with international law and naval warfare norms as the confrontation in West Asia widens. So on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue on Saturday, Brent Sadler, a retired United States Navy Captain and nuclear submarine officer with 26 years of service, now a Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, sat down with Firstposts Anmol Singla to dissect the legality and strategy behind the strike. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Quiet Death off the coast of Galle The IRIS Dena, the pride of the Iranian Navys domestically produced fleet, was in the middle of a routine transit. It had just completed its participation in Indias International Fleet Review 2026 in Visakhapatnam a 74-nation maritime display aimed at fostering bridges of friendship." On its way home, while sailing approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka, the vessel was struck by a single Mark 48 heavyweight torpedo. The Pentagon later released infrared footage of the event, which US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth described as a quiet death." An explosion on what the US Department of Defense says is an Iranian warship, at the sea, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released on March 4, 2026. US Department of Defence The explosion fractured the frigates keel, sending a geyser of seawater hundreds of feet into the air. Of the estimated 180 crew members on board, early reports from the Sri Lankan Navy suggested at least 87 sailors perished. The incident has sent shockwaves, especially in New Delhi, as the Dena had been a "guest" of the Indian Navy only days earlier. Was the strike legal? The military has very clear rules of engagement, Sadler began, addressing the widely reported comments from the White House suggesting a total absence of military restraint. One of the objectives that were given from the Pentagon, which came from the White House and President Trump, is to sink the Iranian Navy. Make sure it is not a threat to the transit of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. So, the Iranian Navy in its entirety is targeted, he told Firstpost. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Roughly one-fifth of the worlds seaborne oil exports pass through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea. The strike took place within Sri Lankas Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but outside its 12-mile territorial waters. This distinction is at the heart of the international outcry. Critics argue that targeting a ship transiting through a third partys EEZ violates the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). When pressed on whether such a global green-light to sink an entire nations navy aligns with international law, Sadler offered a pragmatic distinction. Its national policy, Sadler said. There is international law and theres domestic law. A lot of times people start to conflate the two, but they are very different. In international law that is the UN Conventions and the Charter, there is no stipulation that says a nation cannot pursue its national interest for defensive purposes. Sadlers argument rests on a specific interpretation of Article 51 of the UN Charter, which recognises the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD You can argue against it, but that is the position, and the UN law, the Charter, supports the US position, Sadler continued. You can disagree, but thats the law. Its really hard to make an argument that sticks on a legal basis, based just on the words of the Charter. In the eyes of the Trump administration and its Department of War (renamed from the Department of Defense last year), the IRIS Dena was not just a ship in transit; it was a mobile piece of an enemy states infrastructure. Sink me now or sink me later A point of major contention is the timing. Why strike the Dena in the Indian Ocean, far from the flashpoints of the Persian Gulf? Sadler dismisses the idea that the ships lack of immediate offensive posture rendered it a non-threat. The conflict started the morning of Saturday, a week ago today [February 28, 2026], Sadler explained. The ship had finished its fleet review, its exercises, which, by the way, when it was doing exercises with the Indian Navy, one of the exercises was anti-submarine warfare and live fire. But it was finished. The war starts three days later. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the cold mathematics of naval warfare, the Dena was a fair target the moment hostilities commenced. Sadler pointed out that the ship was in international waters outside the 12-mile limit meaning its presence in an EEZ provided no legal sanctuary from a belligerent power. The ships path would have eventually brought it into the proximity of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, currently operating in the region. It was a sink me now or sink me later, Sadler remarked. You dont want to take the risk of an Iranian warship getting close to an aircraft carrier thats engaged in combat you dont take that risk in war. If you see an enemy, you sink it. The reference to the USS Abraham Lincoln, currently operating in the Arabian Sea, does put a spotlight on the strategic anxiety. A lone frigate, even if outclassed, could provide intelligence or launch a suicide strike if allowed to get too close to a carrier. For the US Navy, the directive is clear: eliminate the variable before it enters the equation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The human toll & ethics of the deep Perhaps the most harrowing aspect of the Denas sinking is the aftermath. Submarine warfare is notoriously impersonal and unforgiving. Unlike a surface battle where victors might linger to pick up survivors, a submarines primary defence is its invisibility. Surfacing to conduct a rescue in a combat zone is often considered a suicidal move for a sub commander. Theres a rich historical record on submarine warfare. It goes back all the way to the First World War, Sadler noted. Submarines do not have the capacity to actually provide care or feeding. And the other part of it is it puts the submarine at undue risk. He drew a sharp distinction between the different branches of service, stating that In the Navy, and to an extent also the Air Force, its platform or ship versus ship. Its not personal The common enemy is the ocean at the end of the day. I would say everyone did the right thing. And those sailors were rescued fairly quickly, Sadler said, praising the response of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard. Acting on a dawn distress call, Sri Lankan vessels managed to rescue 32 sailors so far. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, the onus for the tragedy, according to Sadler, does not rest on the neutral parties who are now cleaning up the oil slicks and recovering bodies. Theres no onus. The onus is on the Iranians. Theres no obligation for Sri Lanka or India to do anything. What happens to the second Iranian ship? The sinking of the Dena has left another Iranian vessel a logistics ship in a diplomatic and tactical limbo. Sadler points to the Hague Convention of 1907 as the rulebook for what happens when a warship of a belligerent enters a neutral port. He referenced the famous 1939 case of the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee, which was cornered in Montevideo, Uruguay, during the early days of World War II. In accordance with the Geneva Convention [Hague XIII] in 1907, neutral powers can allow a ship belligerent to come into its port for no more than 24 hours. Then it has to send it out, Sadler explained. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, there is a second option one that might save the lives of the remaining Iranian sailors while satisfying US objectives. Theres another loophole. And probably the Sri Lankans and the Iranians, I think and I hope they take this, is that they basically embargo the ship. It stays in port. It becomes property of Sri Lanka. The Iranian sailors are now basically kept in custody by the authorities. If the ship chooses to leave and hop between ports in the Maldives or Sri Lanka to reset the 24-hour clock, Sadler warns that the outcome is almost certain. Every time they do that, theyre a potential target. And theres a US submarine out there. And that ship is not going to have a chance against a submarine If she does go to sea, I think everyone understands that she runs the risk of being targeted. The Presidents [US President Donald Trump] objectives remain the same: Sink the Iranian Navy so that its never a threat. Sri Lanka has indeed escorted the second Iranian vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, to harbour and transferred more than 200 Iranian sailors to a naval base near Colombo. At the same time, India allowed another Iranian warship, the IRIS Lavan, to dock in Kochi for humanitarian reasons, housing its crew at naval facilities. Also Watch: 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. The bodies of the six servicemen killed during the ongoing war in Iran returned to the United States at the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Saturday. The solemn ceremony was attended by US President Donald Trump US President Donald Trump salutes as special envoy Steve Witkoff, First Lady Melania Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi put hands on their heart while members of a US Army team carry a flagged-drapped transfer case containing the remains of Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens during a dignified transfer solemn event at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware, on March 7, 2026. AFP The bodies of the six servicemen killed during the ongoing war in Iran returned to the United States at the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Saturday. US President Donald Trump witnessed the return of the bodies of the first American service members killed in the conflict triggered by the US and Israel. Trump stood solemnly at attention on the tarmac of the air base, a white USA cap on his head. Interestingly, the cap was similar to the one he wore the night he launched the war from a temporary situation room at Mar-a-Lago. Many pointed out how the Trump administration is witnessing the human consequences of his decision, exactly one week later. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the Saturday ceremony, one by one, six silver cases draped in star-spangled flags emerged from the hull of a hulking, gunmetal grey C-17 military cargo plane. The cases carried soldiers who hailed from Iowa, Florida, California, Minnesota and Nebraska. An Iranian drone killed these military personnel while they were deployed at Port Shuaiba, in Kuwait. Who were they? The soldiers whose bodies returned in the Saturday ceremony were Maj. Jeffrey R. OBrien, Capt. Cody A. Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens and Sgt. Declan J. Coady. The youngest among them was just 20 years old. At the ceremony, the cases containing their bodies were carried out a short way across the tarmac and loaded delicately into vans. The commander in chief held his hand up to his head in a salute while he watched the cases go by. US Vice President JD Vance was also present at the ceremony, along with his defence secretary and chief of staff, as well as many other top members of his government. The fallen service members families were situated across the tarmac, shielded from view of the cameras. According to The New York Times, Trump spent about an hour with them in private beforehand. During his first term in the White House, Trump witnessed the return of fallen service members to Dover in flag-draped coffins. However, back then, he was honouring Americans who died in wars that he inherited from other presidents. This time, he will have to face the consequences of his own action as the bodies of the soldiers return from the war he launched, which is also far from over. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten discussed joint arms production during his visit to Kyiv on Sunday, and he stressed Ukraines unique experience in defending against Iranian made drones used by Russia. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky answers AFP journalists' questions during an interview in Kyiv on February 20, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.- AFP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that he held talks in Kyiv with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten on expanding joint weapons production, while underscoring Ukraines extensive experience in defending against Iranian-made drones deployed by Russia. Posting on X, Zelenskyy said the discussions focused on strengthening defence cooperation between Ukraine and the Netherlands, including investments and potential production levels for jointly manufactured weapons. It is important that we are producing weapons together with the Netherlands and we will certainly continue and expand this joint work, Zelenskyy wrote. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ukraine has been actively pursuing defence manufacturing partnerships with European allies in recent months as it seeks to boost domestic production capacity. As part of that effort, several facilities have already been launched to manufacture drones in cooperation with international partners. 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 that the expertise it has built during four years of Russias full-scale invasion could be invaluable to partners own long-term security. Zelenskyy said that Kyiv has unique experience in combating drones, which Iran actively uses in its attacks on Middle Eastern countries. He said that Ukraine is ready to sell the interceptor drones that are not used by the Ukrainian military, and the first group of Ukrainian military instructors will head to the Middle East on Monday. They are coming with the means to help, Zelenskyy noted, adding that Ukraine would provide the expertise and experience in defending against Shahed model drones and cruise missiles. Ukrainian manufacturers of cheap interceptor drones designed to knock out enemy unmanned aerial vehicles have said they have the capacity to export in large volumes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Kremenchug Metal Products Plant convenes shareholders' meeting on March 30 JSC Kremenchug Metal Products Plant will hold a remote general meeting of shareholders on March 30, 2026, through the Ukrainian depository system. The agenda includes the approval of annual results and reports, consideration of management reports, decisions on the distribution of profits or coverage of losses, as well as organizational issues. JSC Kremenchug Metal Products Plant is a manufacturer of metal products in Kremenchug. JERUSALEM, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel partially resumed its outbound flights at the Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday for the first time since the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran began on Feb. 28. The flights will be operated by Israeli airlines with a limited capacity of 70 passengers each, according to a statement from the Israeli Ministry of Transport and Road Safety. Fifteen percent of the seats are reserved for humanitarian and security personnel, tourists, and diplomats, said the statement, adding that Israeli passengers are required to sign a commitment not to return to the country for at least 30 days. Land crossings at the Egyptian and Jordanian borders continue to operate as usual and in accordance with security approvals, the ministry noted. Inbound flights to the Israeli airport had resumed on Thursday, also on a limited basis by Israeli airlines only. Meanwhile, Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have begun to facilitate the return of about 4,000 Israelis who were stranded in Dubai due to the suspension of flights in the region. Thousands of Israelis, most of them tourists, will return to Israel on Emirati airline flights, at the expense of the UAE, Israel's state-owned Kan News reported. Rivneelevatorbud to hold remote meeting on March 30 PJSC Rivneelevatorbud will hold a remote general meeting of shareholders on March 30, 2026, through the Ukrainian depository system. The agenda includes, in particular, the approval of annual reports, review of management reports, distribution of profits or coverage of losses, as well as organizational issues. PJSC Rivneelevatorbud is a construction and installation company (Rivne region) specializing in agricultural infrastructure and industrial construction. This photo taken on March 7, 2026 shows flowers at a flower market in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Str/Xinhua) People buy flowers at a flower market in Almaty, Kazakhstan, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Str/Xinhua) A woman receives flowers at a flower market in Almaty, Kazakhstan, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Str/Xinhua) A woman selects flowers at a flower market in Almaty, Kazakhstan, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Str/Xinhua) A man presents flowers to a woman at a flower market in Almaty, Kazakhstan, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Str/Xinhua) A flower vendor works at a market in Vientiane, Laos, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) People shop for flowers at a market in Vientiane, Laos, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) A boy shops for flowers at a stall in Vladivostok, Russia, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Photo by Andrey Matveenko/Xinhua) Pedestrians holding flowers walk on the street in Vladivostok, Russia, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Photo by Andrey Matveenko/Xinhua) A woman shows a bunch of flowers in Vladivostok, Russia, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Photo by Andrey Matveenko/Xinhua) A child shows a bunch of flowers in Vladivostok, Russia, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Photo by Andrey Matveenko/Xinhua) A woman walks with bunches of flowers in Baku, Azerbaijan, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng) People buy flowers at a shop in Baku, Azerbaijan, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng) Pedestrians walk past a flower stall in Baku, Azerbaijan, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng) A woman shops for flowers in Baku, Azerbaijan, March 7, 2026. Sunday marks International Women's Day. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng) 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. Photos by Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel Construction is underway on March 3 on a new roof at the Veterans Art Center. After the previous company contracted to do the work on the roof in early 2025 stole the $20,000 they were being paid, Full Curl Roofing stepped in a offered to repair the roof for free. A potato porcupine made from a potato, sunflower seeds and googly eyes greets patrons at the Grand Junction Texas Roadhouse on Tuesday afternoon. People eating at the restaurant were provided materials to make their own porcupines. This was in conjunction with the Big Idaho Potato Truck Tour, which stopped in Grand Junction on Tuesday. Exercise Cobra Gold ends for Washington Guard, Thailand Partners By Spc. Marco Mayorquin, Washington National Guard March 6, 2026 RAYONG, Thailand -- The joint annual military Exercise Cobra Gold 2026, held in Thailand, has successfully concluded after two weeks of intensive training, humanitarian efforts and cultural exchanges. The United States and Thailand co-hosted the 45th annual Exercise Cobra Gold, bringing about 8,000 troops from 30 nations together to participate in military training and humanitarian civic assistance projects from Feb. 24 to March 6. Cobra Gold allows allies to strengthen their partnership by working together and demonstrates the U.S. commitment to regional security in the Indo-Pacific. "The region's security is dependent upon and determined by all of us," said Gen. Ukris Boontanondha, chief of Defense Forces Thailand. Cobra Gold is the largest joint exercise in mainland Asia. It is a testament to the enduring U.S.-Thai alliance and a powerful platform for building partner military capabilities. The exercise exemplifies the U.S. commitment to advancing improvements in multinational speed of crisis response, mission effectiveness and combat capability. "The U.S.-Thai alliance is one of America's oldest and most enduring defense partnerships," said U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Sean K. O'Neil during the opening ceremony. Washington National Guard and Thailand are partners in the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. O'Neil highlighted the partnership, saying, "Cobra Gold would not be possible without our Thai allies." This annual exercise, co-sponsored by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, brought together a robust multinational force to address shared goals and security commitments. Some of the partner nations were Thailand, the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Singapore. "What makes Cobra Gold 2026 unique is its the 45th iteration," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Prendergast, commander of the 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard. "It's great to bring all these multinational players in to build partnership, readiness and regional stability." Cobra Gold 2026 included more than 15 training events with the goal of strengthening the partnership between the U.S. and Thailand, while also improving regional security by investing in readiness, posture and advanced capabilities to increase combined deterrence in contested environments. The Cyber Exercise, or CYBEREX, was part of Cobra Gold that brought together more than 150 cyber personnel from eight participating nations, all working together against a fictitious enemy seeking to disrupt computer systems and gain the upper hand in combat. A scenario simulated during CYBEREX involved coordinated cyberattacks shutting down an air defense radar and an electrical grid within moments. An air traffic control tower was overwhelmed in a distributed denial-of-service attack. Logistics were interrupted, the flow of information was staunched and a cruise missile slipped past and hit its target. The opposing force for the exercise was made up of participants from all partner nations. They employed a curated set of recent, common exploits and attack types to replicate what cyber personnel may face in a real-world scenario. "Tactical Cyber Operations have operational-level impact. It's really important to translate tactical cyber operations into the operational level," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Paul Lucero, assistant director of operations, with 262d Cyberspace Operations Squadron, 252d Cyberspace Operations Group, 194th Wing, Washington Air National Guard. "If not, it's cyber doing it for the sake of cyber, not to support the commanders' mission." Lucero said this year's theme for the CYBEREX was integration, translation and realism. "It's no longer a matter of if you will be breached," Lucero said. "It is when." U.S. Army National Guard Capt. Antonio Montez, an aviation liaison officer at Cobra Gold 2026, said the exercise presents an opportunity for U.S. service members to work jointly with national forces, leveraging each other's assets and expertise to overcome whatever problems arise. "The benefit of being a Guardsman is that we have these long-standing relationships with a lot of the Thai military already from the state partnership exchanges," Montez said. "Having these relationships already has us working with a good flow, and we can better overcome these problems that we encounter." Prendergast also enjoyed the engagement with the Royal Thai Armed Forces partners. "They are welcoming, they want to build readiness and partnership. It's just great to be with them on all the different events, from the [command post exercise] to the marine strike, to the amphibious landing, to the counter amphibious landing, our Thai partners have truly been wonderful to work with," Prendergast said. Exercise Cobra Gold 2026 reinforced the U.S.-Thailand alliance and demonstrated the collective commitment of 30 nations to a free and open Indo-Pacific through enhanced interoperability, rapid crisis response and shared humanitarian values. The enduring partnerships and friendships forged on the training fields and in the communities will continue to strengthen regional security and readiness for years to come. Even as units return home in the coming days, military planners already are looking to Cobra Gold 2027 to continue building on this regionally important exercise. As Boontanondha said during the opening ceremony, "Cobra Gold 26 is more than just training, it's forging everlasting friendships." Contributing to this report: Sgt. Matthew Sprowl and Spc. Christopher Chavero NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Estonian Defence Forces practiced repelling unmanned aerial vehicles in Rutja together with Allied forces Republic of Estonia - Defence Forces 6. March 2026, 16:14 On Thursday, March 5, exercise Digital Shield 2.0 was conducted in Rutja, Estonia, during which units of the Estonian Defence Forces, the United States Army, and other allied forces practiced repelling unmanned aerial vehicles. During the exercise, Estonian and Allied sensors and command centres were linked to a real-time unified data network in order to identify threats more quickly and respond to them in a coordinated manner. "During the exercise, we tested a concept for ensuring effective protection against the threat of unmanned aerial vehicles using centralised command and control software, which can be used to control interceptor drones and missiles," said Major Tonis Parn, commander of the Air Surveillance Wing of the Estonian Air Force. "The goal is to integrate all counter-drone defence systems arriving in the near future into a single, centrally controlled system." An important element of the exercise was testing high-tech solutions developed by the Estonian and international defence industries that are compatible with the capabilities of Allies, primarily the United States, but also the Estonian Defence Forces. During the exercise, data collected by sensors was gathered at command centres, from where it was forwarded to units operating weapon systems CV90 and Piorun for the destruction of targets. The Alta Ares, TYTAN, and Origin Blaze interceptor drones and the IonStrike missile system were also tested as new solutions. When countering threats coming from the air, speed and interoperability between different systems, and reliable data exchange are crucial for ensuring the timely detection, identification, and destruction of hostile unmanned aerial vehicles. The exercise provided an opportunity to practice potential threat scenarios in conditions that were as realistic as possible. The data exchange environment that was tested is similar to the Delta system used in Ukraine. "Digital Shield 2.0 showcases the strength of Allied innovation and cooperation, ensuring our forces can detect, decide, and act faster than any adversary," said Brigadier General Curtis W. King, Commanding General of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, U.S. Army Europe. "By rigorously testing these capabilities in real-world scenarios, we are reinforcing defence and deterrence along Europe's eastern flank with unmatched speed, security, and resilience." Consolidating data collected by different sensors improves situational awareness of units. Sharing surveillance data between Allies improves target detection, speeds up decision-making, and enables coordinated responses, which in turn increases the readiness of units and strengthens defence. Last November, exercise Digital Shield 1.0 held in Estonia practiced the rapid integration of sensors and control chains into a dispersed network capable of ensuring data flow even in the event of communication disruptions. This year's exercise Digital Shield 2.0 relied on previous tests, involving the armed forces of all three Baltic states and the sharing of information between them, new systems, and live-fire exercises with various weapon systems near Rutja. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy prime ministers, foreign ministers of Poland and United Arab Emirates meet to discuss situation in Middle East Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland 07.03.2026 On 7 March, Deputy Prime Minister Radosaw Sikorski and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met in Warsaw to talk about their assessment of the consequences of the latest events in the Middle East for Poland and the United Arab Emirates. The heads of diplomacy of Poland and the UAE discussed in detail the progress so far and the next steps with respect to the evacuation of Polish nationals from the United Arab Emirates, including scheduling of as many flights to Poland as possible. The diplomats spoke about the current security situation and the prospects for its development, as well as its effects on the Middle Eastern and European countries. Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski presented Poland's position on military action in the region and thanked his counterpart for the assistance provided so far to our citizens by the Emirati society and authorities. He also expressed his full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the region that are not parties to the conflict which have been targeted by Iranian drone and missile strikes in the past week. Furthermore, the heads of Polish and Emirati foreign ministries talked about energy security in connection with the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and certain aspects of bilateral cooperation. At the same time, the ministers called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and its swiftest possible deescalation. The foreign ministers stressed that further chaos in the region carries a serious risk of irreversible consequences on a global scale. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China denounces Australia's provocative operations in Yellow Sea Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source Xinhuanet EditorZhang Jinwen Time2026-03-07 02:02:19 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spanish Government strongly condemns massive attacks against Lebanon Spain - Ministry of Foreign Affairs PRESS STATEMENT 025 7 MAR 26 The Spanish Government strongly condemns the massive attacks against Lebanon and extends its condolences and solidarity to the families of the civilian victims, the number of which continues to rise. Spain reiterates its commitment to the security and stability of Lebanon, which are vital for the entire region, and urges Israel to comply with its obligations under international law. All parties must fully comply with Security Council resolution 1701, as well as with the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024. Similarly, the Government reiterates its support for the mandate of UNIFIL and demands that it be respected, condemning Israeli attacks on UNIFIL positions. Spain urges Israel to respect the peacekeeping forces, including the Spanish contingent, deployed in Lebanon in accordance with the mandate of resolution 1701. Spain reiterates its call for respect for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its support for the measures taken by President Aoun's Government to ensure the State's monopoly on the use of force throughout Lebanese territory, the strengthening of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and their effective redeployment in the south of the country. -NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TEHRAN, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that Iranians would not allow the "enemies" to seize even a single inch of the country's territory, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Pezeshkian made the remarks during a meeting with Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi in Tehran while outlining Iran's position on the ongoing U.S. and Israeli attacks. Referring to his remarks on Saturday in which he apologized to neighboring countries and said attacks against them would stop, Pezeshkian said the "enemies" had misinterpreted his comments and were seeking to sow discord between Iran and its neighbors. He stressed that Iran has repeatedly emphasized its "good and brotherly" relations with neighboring countries, adding that if the United States or Israel launch attacks on Iran from the territory of other states, Iran would inevitably respond, but such a response would not mean Iran has disputes with those countries or their people. "We are concerned about the dear peoples who have been affected by the regional tensions, and we apologize to them," Pezeshkian said. He added that despite the current challenges facing the country, Iranians would stand against their enemies and "will not allow them to seize even a single inch of our country's soil." On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military commanders and civilians. Iran later launched multiple waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. bases in the Middle East. The conflict has had broader regional repercussions, raising concerns about disruptions to oil exports and global energy markets. In a post on social media platform X on Sunday, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the continuation of the war could severely disrupt oil production and exports in the West Asia region. He also criticized remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that oil prices would not surge sharply, saying the rise in prices had already contradicted those claims. Ghalibaf added that if the war continues, oil exports and production in the region could be severely affected, warning that not only U.S. interests but also those of other countries could be harmed by what he called the "delusions" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Russia Ready to Help Stop Bloodshed in Middle East - Foreign Ministry Sputnik News 20260307 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia is ready to actively assist in finding ways to stop the bloodshed in the Middle East and reaching solutions based on a balance of interests, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated on Saturday. "Russia is ready to actively assist in finding ways to immediately stop the bloodshed in the region, provide necessary support for resuming the political-diplomatic process, and finding solutions based on international law, mutual respect, and a balance of interests," the statement from Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova read. The ministry expressed Russia's serious concern over the extremely dangerous development of the situation in the Middle East region, which was caused by the completely unprovoked illegal armed aggression of the US and Israel against Iran under absolutely far-fetched pretexts. "Acting in a violation of the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law, these countries are attempting to overthrow the legitimate government in a sovereign and independent UN member state for refusing to submit to the collective West," Zakharova stated. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Considers Deploying US Troops in Iran - Reports Sputnik News 20260307 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump has privately expressed interest in deploying troops to Iran and discussed the matter with his aides, NBC News reported, citing officials and other sources. The report said Trump discussed the idea with his aides and Republican officials. The discussions reportedly focus on sending a small contingent of troops for "specific strategic purposes," rather than a large-scale ground invasion. According to the report, Trump has also outlined a scenario in which "the US and a new Iranian regime cooperate on oil production similar to how the US and Venezuela are." The officials said Trump has not given any orders related to ground troops. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. The attack killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran responded by striking Israeli territory and US military bases across the Middle East. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Western Hemisphere Presidents US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 7, 2026 The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with President Bukele of El Salvador, President Chaves and President-Elect Fernandez of Costa Rica, President Mulino of Panama, President Paz of Bolivia, President Asfura of Honduras, and President-Elect Kast of Chile on the margins of President Trump's Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Florida. The Secretary commended our partners for joining us in a shared commitment to disrupt cartel networks that operate across borders and their destabilizing effects on governments in our hemisphere. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States on Recent Developments in the Middle East - Istanbul, 7 March 2026 Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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. 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 deteriorate the regional situation and risk expending the geography of tensions. 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 platforms aimed 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 07 March 2026 - Day 1473 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 French Ministere des Armees et des Anciens combattants reported that territorial gains remain stable. It also reported that, over the last 24 hours, the Russian Armed Forces have targeted the oblasts of Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Mykolaiv. The Russian Armed Forces have targeted civilian infrastructure: energy, residential, and rail. A concentration of effort has been observed in the Zaporizhzhia sector (21 airstrikes, 241 artillery strikes, and 358 micro-drones). In total, 149 drones (including 100 Geran-2 drones) have targeted Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense has claimed the interception of 129 drones, for an interception rate of 87%. In the night of March 3 to 4, the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck a Russian Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate in the port of Novorossiysk and a chemical plant in Kirovo-Chepetsk in Kirov Oblast (900km east of Moscow). Russian air defense has claimed the interception of 76 drones. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, 113 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of this day. The defense forces continue to stop the Russian enemy, destroy personnel and deplete the invaders' combat potential by creating a systematic fire effect. The Russian opponent made one rocket strike with the use of 29 rockets and 58 aviation strikes - dropped 170 controlled air bombs. In addition, used 6562 kamikaze drones and carried out 2471 shelling of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops. In the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, the Russian enemy carried out 115 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, including three - with the use of the RSV. Zavdav three air strikes with the use of eight KAB. In the South-Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces four times attacked the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of the settlements Grafskie, Vilcha, Zybine and Picne. There are two offensive actions of the opponent. In the Kupians komu direction, the Russian enemy attacked four times in the areas of Pi any, Kurilivka, Kivsharivka and Novoosinovogo. One attack is in progress. In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled four Russian attacks in the areas of the Middle, New Peace and Drobishevogo. One assault action in progress. In the Slavic direction, the Russian opponent tried 12 times to advance towards Platonivka, Rai-Oleksandrivka, Kalenikivka, Dronivka, Zakitny, Riznikivka and Pazeno. Three attempts to improve their position by the Russian occupiers are still ongoing. In the kramators komu direction the Russian agressor once attacked in the area of minkivki. In the Konstantinivsky direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders near the settlements of Konstantinovka, Pleshiyivka, Cherbinivka, Illinivka, Rusynoy Yar, Sofiyivka, Novopavlivka 15 times. One assault action of the enemy is underway. The enemy committed 19 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. Russian troops tried to advance in the areas of settlements New Donbas, Rodinske, Novooleksandrivka, Kotline, Udaachne, Novomikolaivka, Novopidgorodne, Nikanorivka, Shevchenko, Pokrovsk and Grishine. According to preliminary calculations, today 39 Russian occupants were eliminated and 23 wounded in this direction; two units of vehicles were destroyed, nine shelters were damaged, 5 units of vehicles and 3 Russian artsystems. Destroyed or suppressed 141 BPLA of different types. In the Oleksandrivsky direction, the Russian occupiers tried to improve their position three times, attacking in the areas of Verbovoye and Novogrigorivka. 11 Russian attacks took place in the Gulyajpils komu direction: in the area of Dobropillya, Zaliznychnny, Varvarivka, Peaceful and Green. Two attacks are underway. The Russian enemy did not carry out attacks in the Orihiv direction. In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Russian enemy's assault actions have not been recorded. In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the previous night, in response to terrorist attacks launched by the Kiev regime against civilian facilities on the territory of Russia, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a mass strike by long-range ground-, air-, and sea-based precision weaponry and attack unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, power infrastructure objects used by the AFU, and military airfields. The goal of the strike was achieved. All the assigned targets were engaged. Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Khoten, Novodmitrovka, Miropolye, Grabovskoye, and Novaya Sech (Sumy region). In Kharkov region, losses were inflicted on units of three mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade of the AFU, and one national guard brigade near Volchanskiye Khutora, Peschannoye, Granov, and Staritsa (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to more than 200 troops and ten motor vehicles. One Israeli-made RADA RPS-42 radar station, two electronic warfare stations, four ammunition depots, and one materiel depot were destroyed. The Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and one national guard brigade near Lozovoye, Yatskovka, Svyatogorsk, Krasny Liman, Rubtsy (Donetsk People's Republic), Borovaya, and Novoosinovo (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to more than 180 troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier and one HMMWV armoured fighting vehicle, 16 motor vehicles, and two field artillery guns. One electronic warfare station, one Netherland-made Robin IRIS radar station, and three ammunition depots were destroyed. The Yuzhnaya Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. Losses were inflicted on formations of three mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, one assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and one marine brigade near Druzhkovka, Novoselovka, Kondratovka, Kaleniki, Ilyinovka, Kramatorsk, Nikiforovka, Golubovka, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 200 troops, one tank, one Italian-made Puma armoured personnel carrier, one armoured fighting vehicle, 14 motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns. One Israeli-made RADA RPS-42 radar station, one U.S.-made TPS-80 counter-fire radar, six ammunition and materiel depots were destroyed. The Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, one airmobile brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and three territorial defence brigades near Annovka, Zolotoy Kolodez, Toretskoye, Sergeyevka, Belitskoye, Grishino (Donetsk People's Republic), Novopodgorodnoye, Novonikolayevka, and Novopavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region). The AFU losses amounted to more than 335 troops and nine armoured fighting vehicles. Four motor vehicles and one artillery gun were destroyed. The Vostok Group of Forces continued to advance into the depths of the enemy's defences. Over the past 24 hours, four attacks by AFU units using armoured fighting vehicles were repelled near Gai, Dobropasovo, and Velikomikhaylovka in Dnepropetrovsk region. As a result, the AFU losses amounted to up to 40 troops, three armoured personnel carriers, namely, U.S.-made M113, Stryker, and M1117 armoured personnel carriers, one infantry fighting vehicle, and two armoured fighting vehicles. Losses were inflicted on formations of one mechanised brigade, one air assault brigade, one assault brigade, two assault regiments of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Starokasyanovskoye, Zarechnoye, Kolomiytsy, Novoskelevatoye (Dnepropetrovsk region), Komsomolskoye, Verkhnaya Tersa, and Vozdvizhevka (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to more than 360 troops, eight armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade and one mountain assault brigade of the AFU near Grigorovka and Dimitrovo (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 60 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, 14 motor vehicles, and four electronic warfare stations. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of Russian Groups of Forces destroyed one Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Forces, struck transport infrastructure objects used by the AFU as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 149 areas. Air defence units shot down three guided aerial bombs and 200 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation the enemy has lost: 670 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 120,160 unmanned aerial vehicles, 651 anti-aircraft missile systems, 28,083 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,681 MLRS combat vehicles, 33,677 field artillery guns and mortars,56,060 units of support military vehicles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem at the Shield of the Americas Summit Working Lunch US Department of State Remarks Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump National Doral Miami Miami, Florida March 7, 2026 SECRETARY RUBIO: I want to welcome everybody. Bienvenido. Thank you for coming and being a part of this very important initiative. It's a critical initiative. Obviously, we start with a strong focus on security, but there is so much more here. And as you've seen from - so much more we can work together on, and as you've seen from the cabinet members that are here today. Again, on behalf of the President - he is currently on his way to Dover Air Force Base to receive, sadly, the remains of the six Americans who lost their lives in the operation against Iranian terrorism. And so he apologizes for not being able to join us for this lunch, but he knew you would understand. But he is very excited about this initiative, and I am personally very excited to be part of this with each of you today. It's a top priority for us, and while there are clearly a focus on the security of the hemisphere, as you can see from the representation in our Cabinet, from Trade to Commerce to Energy to Treasury. And there is also a focus very strongly on the opportunities we have to work together economically, but you can't have economic progress without security. And as evidence of the President's strong commitment to this initiative, so that this is not just going to be something where we meet one time and have conversations and we meet once a year and put out a paper, we wanted it to be an issue of action. He has appointed Secretary Noem as the special envoy dedicated to this relationship. And you will see a lot of her; 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. So, I want to turn it over to our envoy, who will be doing this, and she'll be running our program. And again, thank you really, truly, for joining us in this what I think is a very historic gathering of allies and friends, as I said in my comments earlier today. Secretary Noem. SECRETARY NOEM: Well, thank you, Secretary Rubio. I appreciate all of you being here today and for making this a priority. First of all, I offer thanks to our President, who had the vision to bring all of you, as world leaders, here to have the conversation on not just protecting your countries, but also protecting your neighbors and the Shield of Americas becoming a real vision. This is intended to be a group that works together to make sure that we're each defending our own sovereignty, we're each defending our own security and economic prosperity, but then also continuing to build on these relationships to ensure that we can do that in a way that's effective, defeating the enemies that we have amongst us in the cartel organizations, which our country has designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. But then also by adding that security element, we have an opportunity then to have economic prosperity that blesses all of our people. So, I do want to thank the President for creating this and for giving me the honor and the opportunity to serve as a special envoy to this region, to the Western Hemisphere. This Shield of Americas will be a powerful example to the rest of the world about what's possible. There is nothing like this happening today anywhere else in the world, and the way that we cooperate on our shared ideals of freedom and of democracy and safety and security will be a shining light to all of those who wish to be more like all of us. So, my background is I'm a farmer and a rancher that served in government, in Congress, as governor, and then as Secretary of Homeland Security. In the last year as Secretary of Homeland Security, we have focused on securing our border. We have transformed our country from one that was being invaded by enemies, millions of them that were coming in unvetted, that we didn't know who was there and who wished to harm us. We've secured that border. We've focused on removing public safety threats. And over three million people have been deported or removed from our country in the last year. Secure borders has changed everything for our country. It's allowed us an opportunity to focus on business and investment relationships with other countries and has ended the crisis that our country was going through in the years previous to President Trump's leadership. So that is something that we recognize, that now that America is secure and our borders are secure, that we want to focus on our neighbors and to help our neighbors with their borders and challenges that they have, so that they may have the security that we enjoy. I've looked forward to meeting many of you. Many of you I've met throughout the last year and spent time with. I know President Bukele was probably, I think, the first world leader I had the chance to visit with. We partnered on security in El Salvador and appreciate the way he's brought peace to El Salvador and prosperity is following. That's been a great example. Also went to Chile and spent some time and enjoyed that as well. We focused on - under the Department of Homeland Security, we have cybersecurity operations and experts, and we worked there with embedding some cybersecurity experts and have that opportunity to continue to build on that if that's some of the challenges that you may have. I spent some time in Argentina with President Milei as well and appreciated his focus on economic prosperity and how we could work together on that. And of course, Ecuador has been very strong partners with all of us. We've worked on not just security and fighting cartels but also making sure the drug trafficking is being addressed and we can build those relationships. I've been in many of your other countries working with your presidents and leaders and hope to continue to build on that so that we could have candid conversations about what to do in the future. 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. Those adversaries that wish to change our way of life and our values that are outside of our hemisphere, we want to ensure that we're continuing to keep them out of our hemisphere and focus on building alliances amongst ourselves and our strengths. We have worked and are proud of the Department of War with the conference that many of you just attended the last few days, and we'll continue to do that. We want our hemisphere to be safer, to be more sovereign, and to be more prosperous, and looking forward to working with you on all of that. The first objective will be not just on sovereignty but also migration control, that we will work on economic prosperity. We'll have and - reverse these harmful foreign influences that have come into many of our businesses, our technologies, and we've seen infiltrate different areas of our way of life. That will be my objective every day. I will, when the press leaves, give you all my 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, that this will be a Western Hemisphere that is better, safer, more prosperous, and more free because of the leadership that all of you provide. So, thank you to Secretary Rubio for hosting this and having the vision to bring us all together. I think this will be something that for years to come will bring more security to our nations. SECRETARY RUBIO: All right. Well, thank you. We'll ask our friends - and not friends - to leave. All right. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address COMMITMENT TO COUNTERING CARTEL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY Presidential Actions Proclamations March 7, 2026 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION The United States, under my leadership, has demonstrated a sustained commitment towards achieving the dismantlement of cartels and foreign terrorists operating in the Western Hemisphere. My Administration has designated a number of cartels and transnational gangs as foreign terrorist organizations and has since dedicated unprecedented resources towards their destruction. These international entities control territories and commerce, extort political and judicial systems, wield arms and field military capabilities, and use assassinations and terrorism to achieve their ends. In furtherance of our efforts, the Secretary of War established the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, a pledge from military leaders and representatives from 17 countries demonstrating that the region is ready to operationalize hard power to defeat these threats to our security and civilization. We will address these grave dangers by use of any necessary resources and legally available authorities, together with our partner nations. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim as follows: (1) Criminal cartels and foreign terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere should be demolished to the fullest extent possible consistent with applicable law. (2) The United States and its allies should coordinate to deprive these organizations of any control of territory and access to financing or resources necessary to conduct their campaigns of violence. (3) The United States will train and mobilize partner nation militaries to achieve the most effective fighting force necessary to dismantle cartels and their ability to export violence and pursue influence through organized intimidation. (4) The United States and its allies should keep external threats at bay, including malign foreign influences from outside the Western Hemisphere. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth. DONALD J. TRUMP NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'We firmly oppose, will resolutely fight against it': deputy to 14th NPC from Xinjiang responds to certain sanctions citing so-called 'forced labor' Global Times By Chen Qingqing Published: Mar 07, 2026 12:40 AM "Using the so-called allegations of 'forced labor' under the pretext of human rights, some disregarded facts, acted recklessly, and flagrantly trampled on international law and international trade rules. They engaged in political manipulation and economic bullying, attempting to use Xinjiang-related issues to contain China and hinder China's development. We firmly oppose this and will resolutely fight against it," Wang Kuiran, deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and Secretary General of the people's government of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said at the ongoing "two sessions." The comments were made in response to a question about whether legislation introduced by certain countries to sanction certain Xinjiang-related enterprises and individuals would affect the region's development and how the local government plans to respond during a plenary meeting of the Xinjiang delegation to the fourth session of the 14th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. History has repeatedly shown that China has always moved forward by overcoming obstacles and has grown stronger through tackling difficult challenges. At the early stage of being sanctioned, some export-oriented enterprises faced blocked exports, suffered profit losses, and saw reduced employment, leading to certain difficulties and problems, he said. However, people know that our development has never depended on anyone's charity, nor do we fear any unreasonable suppression, Wang made the remarks during the meeting on Friday. This reflects the resolve, integrity, and confidence that is deeply rooted in the history of the Chinese people - qualities that have forged our resilience to grow stronger under pressure, he said. In recent years, a number of Western countries, led by the US, have imposed sanctions on businesses and individuals related to Xinjiang on the account of "genocide" and "forced labor" - lies and absurd fallacies they have concocted to interfere in China's internal affairs, according to a white paper titled "CPC Guidelines for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era: Practice and Achievements" released in September 2025. China has promulgated relevant laws, regulations, and departmental rules, such as the Foreign Relations Law, the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, the Provisions on the Application of the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, and the Provisions on the Unreliable Entity List, taking countermeasures against the unjustified sanctions involving Xinjiang imposed by a mere handful of countries, the white paper said. The Standing Committee of the People's Congress of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has adopted a resolution opposing a series of US sanctions on Xinjiang and supporting the development of sanctioned enterprises and related industries, fighting back against unilateral sanctions by the US, the white paper noted. In addition, the government has provided a range of services for sanctioned businesses, supported them in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law, given a boost to relevant industries, and created new employment opportunities for people affected by the sanctions. Last year, Xinjiang's yarn output increased by more than 20 percent, fabric production rose by 36 percent, investment across the entire industry grew by 35 percent, and the value added of large-scale industrial enterprises increased by 23.6 percent, Wang said. At the same time, 46,800 new jobs were created. Not long ago, we also studied and formulated a medium- and long-term development plan for Xinjiang's textile and garment industry, laying a solid foundation for our next steps and continued efforts, Wang added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China-Russia relations remain 'as steady as rock' despite test of winds, rains: Chinese FM Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 08, 2026 10:13 AM China-Russia relations remain "as steady as rock" despite test of winds and rains, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. He answered questions of journalists from home and abroad on China's foreign policy and external relations, the Xinhua News Agency reported. According to the livestream of the press conference, Wang made the remarks when responding to a question raised by Russia's Sputnik News Agency. The question noted that China has repeatedly stated its opposition to any deliberate infringement on the sovereignty and security of other countries. In the face of a complex international situation, how can China and Russia - two major powers - counter attempts to reshape international law and global trade rules, the reporter asked. Wang said that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era, as well as the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. Amid an international landscape fraught with turbulence and transformation, China-Russia relations have remained "as steady as rock" despite test of winds and rains." Why has this level of resilience been achieved? Wang said it is primarily because the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination was built from the very beginning on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. This reflects the essence of a new type of international relations and points the way forward for a new model of major-country relations, he said. Strategically, China and Russia maintain independence and autonomy, the Chinese Foreign Minister said. "We always respect each other's core interests, refrain from imposing our own will or agenda on the other side, and adhere to the principles of non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of any third party." Wang also noted that politically, there is a high degree of mutual trust between China and Russia. "Standing back-to-back" is the essential feature of our relationship. We are not afraid of any external instigation or pressure, and we possess strong strategic resilience," Wang elaborated, Xinhua reported. In action, China and Russia maintain close coordination. On major international and regional affairs, we share the greatest strategic consensus and the closest strategic collaboration - including on the very issue you just raised: defending international rules and order, Wang noted. The post-World War II international order has withstood 80 years of trials and challenges and has now arrived at another critical juncture. Last year, the heads of state of China and Russia attended each other's commemorations of the victory in the anti-fascist war. The two sides issued three important joint statements on deepening comprehensive strategic coordination, consolidating global strategic stability, and upholding the authority of international law, Wang remarked at the Sunday conference. Together, we sent a clear message to the world: We are firmly committed to upholding the correct historical view of World War II, safeguarding the outcomes of the World War II victory, and opposing unilateral hegemonic acts. Eighty years ago, China and Russia made our contributions to the establishment of the postwar order. Today, 80 years later, we will inject "China-Russia energy" into ushering in a multipolar world, Wang noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China-India mutual trust and cooperation benefit common development, while division and confrontation do not help Asia's rejuvenation: Chinese FM in response to Indian reporter's question Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 08, 2026 01:02 PM China and India are important neighbors and both belong to the Global South, sharing deep cultural ties and extensive common interests, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China. He answered questions from journalists from home and abroad on China's foreign policy and external relations, Xinhua News Agency reported. Wang made the remarks in response to a question regarding the current state of China-India relations, the progress in their improvement and the future trajectory given that relations between the two countries have returned to a normal track and India is serving as the chair of BRICS this year. Wang said that in August last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tianjin, which, following their meeting in Kazan, further elevated China-India relations. The two sides have conscientiously implemented the important consensus reached by their leaders. Exchanges at various levels have been strengthened, bilateral trade has reached a new high, and people-to-people exchanges have become increasingly active, bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries. China and India are important neighbors and both belong to the Global South, sharing deep cultural ties and extensive common interests, Wang said. Mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries are conducive to common development, while division and confrontation do not help Asia's rejuvenation. The two sides should follow the direction set by the leaders of the two countries, remove disruptions and meet each other halfway, Wang said, outlining four perspectives. First, both sides should uphold a correct strategic perception and implement the positioning of being partners rather than rivals, regarding each other as opportunities rather than threats. Second, we should maintain the direction of good-neighborliness and friendship and jointly safeguard peace and stability in border areas. Third, we should focus on development as the greatest common denominator and promote more visible outcomes in practical cooperation. Fourth, we should demonstrate responsibility and support each other in successively assuming the rotating chair of BRICS this year and next year, so as to bring new hope to the vast number of Global South countries through more substantive BRICS cooperation, Wang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) Sze Wing-wai, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Zhang Endi, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks on behalf of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Shao Hong presides over the third plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Yang Mingjie, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Chen Xingying, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks on behalf of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Lian Yimin, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Ho Ion Sang, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Xu Xinrong, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Wu Weishan, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Wang Jinnan, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks on behalf of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Tian Qinxin, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Wen Shugang, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Ilzat Ahmatjan, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Pan Jianwei, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), speaks on behalf of the Central Committee of Jiusan Society at the third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Ye) The third 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 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the third plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the third plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the third plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li He) Journalists interview a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) ahead of the third plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li He) A China that has grown strong and its 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to reverse verdict on aggression: Chinese FM Wang Yi on relations with Japan Global Times By Global TImes Published: Mar 08, 2026 12:17 PM A China that has grown strong and its 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or reverse the verdict on aggression ever again,Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, responding a question regarding China's relations with Japan. Future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan's choice, the Chinese Foreign Minister remarked when responding a question raised by a Japan's Kyodo News Agency reporter on Sunday. The question mentioned that in last November, China had lodged a strong protest against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan. At present, China-Japan relations face challenges, and cooperation in various areas has also been affected. The Kyodo reporter also claimed that since the Japanese government claimed that it always keeps the window for dialogue open since Takaichi won the election in February and then inquired what expectations the China has for the development of China-Japan relations. Future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan's choice, Wang said. Last year marked the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. In this special year, what Japan ought to have done was to deeply reflect on the wrong path it once took - including its record of aggression and colonization in Taiwan. Yet, Japan's current leader has publicly claimed that a "Taiwan contingency" could constitute a so-called "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, thereby justifying the exercise of so-called collective self-defense rights. As everyone knows, the exercise of self-defense rights presupposes an armed attack on one's own country, Wang said. Wang continued with a series of questions, saying that "let me ask: Taiwan affairs are China's internal affairs - by what right does Japan interfere? If something happens in China's Taiwan region, by what authority can Japan exercise self-defense rights? Does the so-called collective self-defense right mean hollowing out Japan's pacifist constitution, which renounces the right to wage war? When we recall that Japanese militarism once used the pretext of a 'situation threatening survival' to launch invasion abroad, it cannot but arouse high vigilance and deep concern among the Chinese people and the peoples of Asia: Where is Japan heading?" This year is yet another 80th anniversary - the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Tokyo trials. Eighty years ago, judges from 11 countries, after two and a half years of proceedings, used a mountain of irrefutable evidence to expose the heinous crimes of Japanese militarism. The Tokyo trials ruled on human conscience and delivered historical justice, Wang said, adding that today, 80 years later, history has once again given Japan an opportunity for sincere self-reflection. Taking history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of nations; forgetting the past means betraying the future, he said. Wang urged that broad masses of the Japanese people will keep their eyes open and not allow anyone today to overreach and repeat past mistakes. A China that has grown strong and its 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or reverse the verdict on aggression ever again, Wang warned. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM responds to how US-Israel joint military strikes against Iran could impact Trump's possible China visit Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 08, 2026 11:38 AM China and the US are both major countries. Neither can change the other, but they can change the way they get along, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. He answered questions of journalists from home and abroad on China's foreign policy and external relations, Xinhua News Agency reported. In response to a question regarding how US-Israel joint military strikes against Iran could impact Trump's possible China visit, and China's expectation for the visit and development of bilateral relations, Wang said that China and the US should uphold mutual respect, hold the bottom line of peaceful coexistence, and strive for the prospect of win-win cooperation, which serves the interests of the two peoples and meets the expectations of the international community. The two heads of state have set an example by maintaining good exchanges at the highest level, providing important strategic guarantees for the improvement and development of China-US relations and enabling the bilateral ties to achieve overall stability despite twists and turns, Wang said. This year is a "big year" for China-US relations, and the agenda for high-level exchanges is already on the table. What needs to be done now is for both sides to make thorough preparations, foster a favorable environment, manage existing differences and remove unnecessary distractions, Wang noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Enlarged Plenary Meetings of Pyongyang Municipal and Provincial Committees of WPK Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, March 7 (KCNA) -- Enlarged plenary meetings of Pyongyang municipal and provincial committees of the Workers' Party of Korea were held on March 5 and 6 to implement the decisions of the Ninth Congress of the WPK and the First Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the WPK. Members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and members of the Political Bureau and leading officials of the WPK Central Committee guided the plenary meetings. Present there were members and alternate members of the provincial Party committees and, as observers, officials of the Party and power organs and administrative and economic organs in the relevant regions. The plenary meetings discussed and decided the ways and practical issues for making more sure progress in the economic development of the provinces and the improvement of the people's living standards while further consolidating the successes and experience of the past five years. They stressed that the long-term plans and tasks set forth at the Ninth Congress of the WPK and the First Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the WPK are the most scientific and revolutionary struggle strategies and grand action programmes to hasten the comprehensive rejuvenation of the DPRK and provide the people across the country with more improved and civilized, new life and well-being as much as possible and at an early date by their own strength, wisdom and strenuous efforts. They set forth the tasks and ways for the provincial Party committees to direct their main efforts to establishing the unified leadership system of the Party Central Committee more thoroughly and push ahead with the implementation of the Party's decisions. They indicated the ways for bringing about a clear result in attaining this year's goal, invariably holding aloft the idea of believing in the people as in Heaven, single-minded unity and self-reliance as the banner of struggle and advance. The plenary meetings stressed the need to apply the principles and requirements of the five-point Party-building programme in the new era to the Party work and activities and implement them perfectly. At the plenary meetings, speakers expressed the determination to conduct the work of their regions and units in a scientific, foresighted and profitable way and prove their Party spirit, revolutionary spirit and popular character with clear-cut results. There were sectional consultative meetings to confirm the future goals of struggle on the basis of the idea and important tasks set forth at the Ninth Congress of the WPK and implement them thoroughly. At the plenary meetings, decisions were adopted with the unanimous approval amid the participants' high political enthusiasm. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry: We highly appreciate the statement of the United States Department of State condemning the drone attacks carried out by Iran against Azerbaijan Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 07.03.2026 [23:06] Baku, March 7, AZERTAC "We highly appreciate the statement of the United States Department of State condemning the drone attacks carried out by Iran against the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and expressing solidarity with our country," says a commentary by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. "Through this statement, the U.S. side has demonstrated to the whole world its support for its partners. The position expressed by the United States fully corresponds to the letter and spirit of the Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America, signed on February 10 this year. On such a tense period, many countries have demonstrated their support and solidarity with Azerbaijan. We are grateful to each and every one of them. Obviously, the support shown by the United States, the most powerful country in the world, carries particular significance. We express our gratitude to the United States for the demonstrated principled position," the Foreign Ministry stressed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Azerbaijani, Turkish FMs strongly condemn attacks on both countries Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 07.03.2026 [22:53] Baku, March 7, AZERTAC On March 7, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Istanbul on the sidelines of the informal meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The meeting focused on the security situation in the Middle East, the rising escalation in the region, and its potential effects on regional stability. The FMs strongly condemned the missile launch from Iran targeting Turkiye and the drone attacks targeting Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. It was noted that such actions not only contradict the norms and principles of international law but also contribute to rising tension in the region, further complicating the security situation. Jeyhun Bayramov expressed gratitude for the statements made by the Turkish side, including the President of Turkiye, expressing support for Azerbaijan immediately after the attacks. Azerbaijani minister noted that Azerbaijan highly appreciates the temporary organization of flights via Igdr Airport to ensure the safety of air routes operating between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. The FMs also exchanged views on cooperation and coordination based on the strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, as well as on upcoming high-level visits and contacts. The meeting also covered other regional and international issues of mutual interest. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Council of Foreign Ministers of Organization of Turkic States issues joint statement on recent developments in Middle East Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC) 07.03.2026 [22:18] Baku, March 7, AZERTAC "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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spanish PM: U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran "extraordinary mistake" People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:48, March 07, 2026 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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address True Promise 4: Iran and resistance axis ops. against US-Israeli assets on Mar. 7 Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 9:22 PM Press TV Website Staff Iranian armed forces and resistance groups across the region continue to carry out retaliatory military operations against the United States and the Israeli regime. On Saturday, March 7, 2026, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army conducted multiple operations as part of Operation True Promise 4, which was launched immediately after the US-Israeli coalition carried out an unprovoked act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iranian armed forces have so far carried out 23 waves of missile and drone strikes with advanced weaponry targeting Israeli military facilities in the occupied territories, as well as US occupation bases and assets scattered across the West Asia region. The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have also joined the front against the external aggressors, inflicting heavy blows on them. Hezbollah's operations are both in response to the assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and the relentless ceasefire violations by the Israeli regime, especially in southern Lebanese towns. Below is a list of operations carried out by the Iranian armed forces, as well as resistance movements in Lebanon and Iraq, against the United States and the Zionist regime on Saturday, March 7. Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) IRGC carried out the 25th Wave of Operation "True Promise 4" on Saturday. The 25th wave of the retaliatory operation was launched with the sacred code name "Ya Ali Ibn Abi Talib." The operation targeted military and logistical support centers of the American-Zionist enemy in the occupied territories and countries in the region. Precision and strategic missiles, including Fattah and Emad, were used in the successful operation. IRGC forces also carried out a strike on the oil Tanker "Prima" with a suicide drone after it ignored repeated warnings from the IRGC Navy regarding restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. IRGC said in a statement that the Strait of Hormuz has remained under Iranian control for eight consecutive days following the unprovoked US aggression and the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and top-ranking commanders. According to the statement, oil tankers and commercial vessels linked to hostile countries will not be permitted to pass through the strait. The IRGC Navy's drone unit also carried out a mass drone attack on Al-Dhafra Air Base. The base is considered one of the largest US command and control centers in the Persian Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz. The attack successfully struck several targets, including the US air warfare center, satellite communications facilities, early-warning radar systems, and fire-control radar installations. IRGC Navy announced that on Saturday afternoon, an oil tanker with the trade name "Louise P," flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was struck by a suicide drone in the middle of the Persian Gulf as one of the assets of the American regime. IRGC Public Relations announced the 26th wave of Operation True Promise 4 with the sacred code "Ya Haydar-e Karrar". In the 27th wave, targets from the north to the south of the occupied territories were accurately struck using new-generation Emad, Ghadr, and multiple-warhead Kheibar missiles. IRGC's drone units also successfully targeted the American military deployment headquarters in "Marina," on the outskirts of the "Warner Brothers" company buildings. Additionally, the IRGC Navy struck the unmanned surface vehicle (USV) command unit of the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and the logistical-military warehouses of the American regime in Salman Port. Iranian Army The Iranian Army announced that it has shot down 13 advanced enemy drones in the past 24 hours. The destroyed drones included MQ-9, Hermes, and Orbiter models. They were intercepted by the Army and IRGC missile and artillery systems under the command of the Joint Air Defense Headquarters. Interceptions occurred across several regions, including the northwest, west, south, Isfahan, Kerman, and the capital, Tehran. The army statement also noted that since the start of the US-Israeli aggression last Saturday, Iranian air defense systems have shot down 82 drones. The Iranian Navy also launched an intense wave of drone attacks targeting US military positions, including Minhad Air Base (UAE), Abu Dhabi military facilities, and Camp Arifjan (Kuwait). The attacks also targeted the strategic "Sdot Micha" radar systems belonging to the Israeli regime in the occupied territories. Khatim Al-Anbiya Headquarters The headquarters of the Iranian armed forces announced that over 220 American soldiers have been killed and wounded in Iranian operations in the past 24 hours. 21 killed and several others wounded in an attack on the Fifth Fleet of the US Navy. Over 200 killed and wounded at the American Al-Dhafra base. Hezbollah The Lebanese resistance movement said it carried out a fresh rocket attack against Israeli occupation forces near Al-Khiam, hitting them successfully. In response to continued Israeli aggression against multiple Lebanese cities and towns, including Beirut's southern suburb, Hezbollah fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in multiple places, including Tallet al-Hamames and Khallat al-Asafir. Both these sites are situated on the southern outskirts of Al-Khiam. Hezbollah also targeted an evacuation area near the town of Nabichit in response to an Israeli airdrop operation in the Bekaa region with multiple rocket barrages. Hezbollah also targeted the newly established "Blat" Israeli military site in southern Lebanon. The attack was carried out using missile weapons. The movement also targeted the headquarters of the Northern Command of the Israeli army base named "Dado," situated northeast of Safad, with a rocket barrage. Hezbollah also targeted the "Tiven" base of the Israeli occupation, east of the occupied city of Akka, with a missile barrage. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, Hezbollah fighters targeted a gathering of vehicles at the Fatima Gate on the Lebanese-Palestinian border in the town of Kafr Kila with missile weapons. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, Hezbollah fighters also targeted the "Ein Zeitim" base northwest of the occupied city of Safad with a rocket salvo. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, Hezbollah fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the southern edges of the city of Khiam with a suicide drone. In response to the Israeli aggression that affected dozens of Lebanese cities and towns, including the southern suburb of Beirut, Hezbollah fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the newly established site in Al-Hamames hill, south of the city of Al-Khiam, with an attack drone. The Lebanese resistance movement fighters also targeted the Haifa refinery with a squadron of suicide drones. Hezbollah fighters also targeted the "Alta" military industries company northeast of the occupied city of Haifa with a swarm of attack drones. Hezbollah fighters targeted the "Tel Hashomer" base (the headquarters of the General Staff southeast of "Tel Aviv"), which is 120 km from the Lebanese border, with a highly advanced missile. Islamic Resistance in Iraq The Iraqi resistance groups launched a drone strike on a vital target belonging to the US occupation forces in Sulaymaniyah. The operation was carried out in retribution for the blood of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei and the martyrdom of several Iraqi resistance fighters. They also carried out a drone strike in Duhok, targeting a vital American target. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC: Hundreds of US, Israeli targets struck in first week of Op. True Promise 4 Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 9:01 PM The spokesperson for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran's Armed Forces have carried out extensive missile and drone strikes during the first week of Operation True Promise 4 in response to the Israeli-American aggression. Speaking on Saturday, Brigadier General Ali-Mohammad Naeini said the reprisal struck hundreds of American- and Israeli-linked targets and shifted the regional balance of power. The spokesman described the attacks as part of a coordinated, multi-domain campaign conducted through sustained missile and drone strikes across the region. "The Armed Forces, during the first week of the battle, altered the balance of power in the region by implementing a multilayered offensive strategy." 'Massive missile, drone reprisal destroyed 200 American, Israeli targets' According to Naeini, the scale of the operations involved a high tempo combining missiles and unmanned aerial systems. "Statistics indicate that 600 missile operations, including various ballistic and cruise missiles using solid and liquid fuel, and 2,600 drone operations have been carried out," he stated. He said the attacks focused on key facilities connected to US military infrastructure and Israeli strategic sites. "In these attacks, more than 200 sensitive locations at US military bases and critical facilities of the Zionist regime were targeted and destroyed with high precision." Naeini highlighted the intensity of the early stages of the campaign. "A noteworthy point is that the volume of the fire launched in just the first three days was equal to the total volume of firepower deployed throughout the entire 12-day war." He was referring to Iran's reprisal campaign following a previous round of Israeli-American aggression last June. US-linked targets across the region Naeini said a significant portion of the operations focused on American military infrastructure and assets in the region. He stated that several major US military facilities were repeatedly targeted with heavy missile and drone fire. "The headquarters of the United States Fifth Fleet and the strategic alUdeid Airbase, along with the al-Dhafra Airbase and Sheikh Isa Airbase, were repeatedly subjected to heavy missile and drone fire." The United States Fifth Fleet and the Sheikh Isa Airbase are located in Bahrain, while al-Udeid and al-Dhafra are situated in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates respectively. '17 vessels belonging to US, Israel, allies targeted' Naeini also said maritime assets linked to the United States and its allies were hit during the campaign. "The heavy operational wave this afternoon delivered crushing blows to the front of global arrogance. So far, 17 vessels belonging to the United States, the Zionist regime, and their allies have been hit." Advanced radar systems destroyed The spokesman also described an operation targeting high-value US-linked surveillance and missile-defense infrastructure. "The Armed Forces, in a precise and highly advanced operation, succeeded in paralyzing the defensive and intelligence infrastructure of the United States and the Zionist regime in the region." He said several advanced radar systems forming part of the regional air-defense network were destroyed. Among them, he cited a strategic radar known as the "Desert Eye" at alUdeid, valued at $1 billion. a THAAD radar deployed at the Muwaffaq Salti Airbase in Jordan, valued at $500 million, and another advanced radar valued at $800 million According to Naeini, the destruction of these systems severely weakened regional monitoring and interception capabilities. "With the destruction of these key radars and THAAD systems, a large portion of the US monitoring, interception, and air-defense network in the region has been disabled, effectively bringing down the security umbrella that had been built at enormous cost over many years." He added that the loss of these systems created a strategic blind spot. "This radar blindness means that the region's airspace is now open for the next waves of Iran's powerful attacks." Israeli targets inside occupied territories The spokesman said the campaign also focused heavily on strategic sites inside the occupied territories. According to the official, key bureaucratic and military command centers were targeted, including the Israeli army's general staff headquarters and the ministry of war. He said a number of critical installations were also hit with precision strikes. "Vital points such as the Ben Gurion airport, Ramat David airbase, the warship anchorage in [the occupied port of] Haifa, and military-industrial complexes in Beit Shemesh and Ashdod were struck with precision." 'Settlers' lives turned into nightmare' Naeini said the continued attacks had imposed heavy psychological pressure on the illegal Israeli settlers. "This relentless operational pressure has turned life in the occupied territories into a permanent nightmare of [having to constantly flee into] shelters and [persistently blaring] sirens." 'Enemy to be pushed to brink of collapse' He said the Islamic Republic's retaliation would continue to intensify. "This offensive trend will continue with increasing intensity and will push the enemy's defensive structures to the brink of total collapse." Summing up the situation, Naeini said the developments of the past week had contradicted the expectations of Iran's adversaries. "In the past week, we have witnessed several strategic failures by the enemy," he said, adding that Washington and Tel Aviv had mistakenly believed the confrontation would end quickly. "The enemy believed the war would end within three days and that a regional and international coalition would form against Iran, but it instead faced a massive popular response," he said, pointing to the millions-strong rallies that have ensued initiation of the foreign aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran to keep striking enemy targets in region used in acts of aggression: Judiciary chief Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 6:21 PM Iran's judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei says the armed forces will continue to carry out powerful attacks on US and Israeli military bases and assets in the region that are being used in acts of aggression against the Islamic Republic. "At present, evidence [obtained] by Iran's armed forces shows that the geography of some regional countries is overtly and covertly controlled by the enemy and those sites are used against our country," Mohseni-Ejei said on Saturday. "Serious attacks on these targets will continue and this strategy is currently being implemented. The government and other pillars of the [Islamic] establishment are in agreement," he added. Mohseni-Ejei, who is one of three decision makers in the Interim Leadership Council, reiterated that Iran has always respected and maintained good neighborly ties with the neighboring countries and rushed to help them in many crises. "However, this is a basic issue and a fixed principle: Iran will never harm anyone that has not attacked us," he emphasized. As per international documents and law, the right of legitimate self-defense for a country which is attacked is legitimate, the judiciary chief pointed out. His remarks came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that Tehran has not attacked friendly or neighboring countries, but has only targeted US military bases, facilities, and military facilities in the region. In a post on his X account, Pezeshkian said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran always emphasizes the preservation and continuity of friendly ties with regional governments based on good neighborliness and mutual respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity." Pezeshkian, who is also a member of the Interim Leadership Council, added, "This does not negate Iran's inherent right to defend itself against military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel)." Tensions are high in the region following unprovoked US and Israeli aggression against Iran on February 28, with Iran conducting extensive retaliatory attacks on US and Israeli assets across the region with missiles and drones. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KUWAIT CITY, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait's armed forces said on Sunday that they had intercepted multiple missile and drone attacks targeting the country, while a drone strike hit fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense said drones targeted fuel tanks at the airport in what it described as a direct attack on the country's vital infrastructure, triggering a fire at the storage facility. Firefighting teams were immediately dispatched to the site and are working to contain the blaze and prevent further damage, the ministry said, adding that efforts are underway to ensure the continued operation of the airport. The ministry said Kuwaiti air defense systems also detected three hostile ballistic missiles that had entered the country's airspace and successfully intercepted and destroyed them. According to the ministry, the armed forces further intercepted a wave of drones that penetrated Kuwaiti airspace at dawn. Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces announced in a press release that military units were continuing to respond to additional missile and drone threats, noting that air defense systems remain on high alert to counter ongoing attacks. It added that explosions heard in several areas were the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile projectiles. In a separate statement, Kuwait's Ministry of Interior said that two officers from the country's land border security forces were killed early Sunday while performing their duty. The ministry did not disclose any further details about the circumstances of their deaths. Iran's army said on Saturday that its navy had launched a wave of drone attacks targeting Israel, as well as U.S. military bases in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The announcement came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on Feb. 28, to which Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli and U.S. assets across the Middle East. No security possible in region while US maintains military presence: Qalibaf Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 5:48 PM Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has warned regional countries that they will experience persistent insecurity as long as they host US military bases. "As long as American bases are in the region, countries will not experience security," Qalibaf posted on X on Saturday. "The defense policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran are consistent, based on the guidelines of our martyred Imam," he added. The US and the Israeli regime launched a joint military assault on Iran on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders. Since then, they have attacked military sites and civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, in terror strikes across the nation, killing more than 1,200 people. Iranian armed forces have launched waves of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against US military bases in regional countries that Washington has used to launch attacks against the Islamic Republic. Authorities in Tehran have said Iran's retaliatory attacks have only targeted US and Israeli assets in the region and that the Islamic Republic respects the sovereignty of neighboring countries. Spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zolfaghari reiterated on Saturday that any location or site from which an act of aggression is launched against Iran will be "a legitimate target." Zolfaghari added that countries that have not allowed their airspace or facilities to be used by the US or the Israeli regime have not been, and will not be, targeted. However, he added that "all bases identified as the origin of aggression against Iran will continue to face heavy strikes on land, sea, and air." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian armed forces 'await' US Navy deployment to Strait of Hormuz: Official Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 5:26 PM The Iranian armed forces are eagerly awaiting the arrival of US forces that Washington has claimed would be deployed to escort oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, a military official said. Spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zolfaghari warned Saturday that the Americans should recall the 1987 fire aboard the supertanker Bridgeton and the recent attacks on oil tankers. "This also relates to your ships - although you may intend to deploy them as floating assets, it's not inconceivable that they could sink vertically at the bottom of the Persian Gulf," he added. On February 28, the United States and the Israeli regime started their unprovoked military assault on Iran. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was assassinated in the first wave of terrorist attacks. Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the criminal aggression by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US bases in regional countries. Iran has repeatedly emphasized that it only targets American assets and bases in the region and does not seek conflict with Arab countries. Zolfaghari noted that Iran respects the interests and national sovereignty of neighboring countries and has not violated them to date. He declared that any location deemed a source of aggression against Iran will be a legitimate target and that Iran will never back down against the United States or the Israeli regime. Zolfaghari added that countries that have not allowed their airspace or facilities to be used by the US or the Israeli regime have not been, and will not be, targeted. However, he added that "all bases identified as the origin of aggression against Iran will continue to face heavy strikes on land, sea, and air." Zolfaghari underlined that Iran "struck and destroyed them to serve as a warning to anyone who attacks our nation. From now on, any facility or equipment rebuilt in the name of the enemy will be repeatedly pulverized." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US intelligence says 'regime change' not possible in Iran even with broader war Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 5:03 PM A classified assessment by the National Intelligence Council has concluded that even a large-scale military offensive against Iran would be unlikely to topple the country's political and security establishment. The Washington Post, citing US officials familiar with the matter, reported on Saturday that the assessment suggests that the Islamic Republic's system of governance is resilient enough to withstand even significant military pressure. The report's findings raise questions about the feasibility of the strategy advocated by US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly said he intends to "clean out" Iran's leadership structure. According to officials cited in the report, the intelligence analysis examined potential outcomes of both limited strikes targeting senior leaders and broader attacks aimed at crippling Iran's leadership and state institutions. In both scenarios, analysts concluded that the country's political and military institutions would preserve continuity of power. The report determined that even with the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the country's ruling system would continue to function through established succession mechanisms. These procedures include the appointment of a new leader by the powerful Assembly of Experts, a body responsible for overseeing leadership transitions. Intelligence analysts also concluded that the prospect of Iran's fragmented opposition taking power after a military strike was "unlikely," according to people familiar with the classified findings. The assessment comes as the US-Israeli aggression against Iran enters its second week and expands across multiple regions. Despite the intelligence community's caution, the Trump administration has publicly emphasized its military objectives. Trump has also suggested that Washington could influence Iran's future political leadership. However, Iranian officials have rejected any notion of outside involvement in determining the country's leadership. Iran's Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, dismissed the idea that the US could influence the succession process, stating that Iran's political future would be decided solely by the Iranian people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC targets US-operated oil tanker with suicide drone Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 4:43 PM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy said Saturday its forces fired a kamikaze drone against the US-operated Louise p oil tanker in the Persian Gulf waters, and the unmanned aircraft struck the designated target precisely. Earlier, the IRGC Navy had declared that all assets of the child-killing Zionist regime and the terrorist United States are deemed legitimate targets in retaliation for the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against Iran. Earlier in the day, the IRGC announced the launch of fresh waves of massive missile and drone strikes targeting regional US bases and Israeli assets in the occupied territories. The IRGC's public relations department said later that the 25th wave of the retaliatory operation was carried out, involving the firing of precision-strike Fattah and Emad missiles. According to the IRGC statement, military and logistics installations of enemies were targeted. The IRGC later announced that it had targeted the al-Juffair base with a volley of solid- and liquid-fuel precision-strike missiles. The US and Israel launched the new barbaric aggression on Iran on February 28, some eight months after they carried out unprovoked attacks on the country and its nuclear facilities. The attacks led to the martyrdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and hundreds of Iranian civilians, including women and children, as well as military commanders. Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the strikes by launching barrages of missiles and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on US bases in regional countries. Iranian officials have said that only US and Israeli assets and interests are being targeted and that the Islamic Republic has no enmity toward the host countries and respects their sovereignty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US worried over dwindling ammunition stocks in war against Iran: Report Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 2:53 PM American officials worry about the rapid depletion of the US military's advanced weaponry amid the ongoing military aggression on Iran. American officials and analysts are expressing serious worry about the rapid depletion of the US military's stocks of advanced weaponry amid the ongoing military aggression against Iran. Just days after the aggression began, US military leaders warned that the American armed forces have already expended thousands of sophisticated missiles and hundreds of costly interceptors, according to The Washington Post. The report suggested the US may soon have to prioritize targets as its inventory shrinks. American worries over dwindling ammunition are now affecting allies such as Israel and Persian Gulf states. CNN reports that a Persian Gulf ally's missile interceptor stock is exhausted and urgently needs replenishment. Dwindling US arms could weaken support for Ukraine and Taiwan, diminishing deterrence against Russia and China, experts warn. Despite President Donald Trump downplaying the issue and claiming "unlimited" supplies on his Truth Social, BBC News said the White House is considering invoking the Defense Production Act to boost munitions output. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates US Patriot missile stocks (1,600) are rapidly depleting, risking a protracted, attritional conflict reminiscent of the Ukraine war, and may force a strategic reassessment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian Army says 82 American and Israeli drones shot down since war began Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 2:30 PM The Iranian Army said in a Saturday statement that the integrated network of air defense systems operated by the Joint Air Defense Command had downed 13 more advanced drones over the past 24 hours. The statement said the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) included the MQ-9, Hermes, and Orbiter. It said missile and artillery systems of the Ground Force and Air Defense units of the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) had contributed to the downing of the UAVs. The drones were shot down in the northwestern, western, and southern regions of Iran, as well as in areas in and around the cities of Isfahan, Kerman, and Tehran. "Since the beginning of the aggression by the American-Zionist enemy, the number of drones shot down by the defense systems of the Army and the IRGC has reached 82," the statement said. The statement comes as reports published in domestic media suggest Iranian armed forces have also managed to down several foreign jets trying to enter the country's airspace from neighboring Kuwait. The United States has blamed the downing on friendly fire from Kuwaiti armed forces. Iran has carried out extensive retaliatory attacks on Israel and US with missiles and drones, successfully hitting targets in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military assets in regional countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Any point of aggression against Iran 'a legitimate target': Armed forces spokesman Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 2:15 PM A senior spokesperson for Iran's armed forces says any location identified as a source of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran will be a legitimate target. Major General Abolfazl Shekarchi said on Saturday that the armed forces are determined to respond to enemy threats a week after the United States and the Israeli regime launched a surprise military aggression against the country. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was assassinated in the first wave of terrorist strikes on Tehran on February 28. Hundreds of people, including senior military officials, have since been killed in attacks across the country. Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the criminal aggression by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US bases in regional countries. Shekarchi emphasized that the armed forces have kept this promise and have targeted all bases used by the US to launch strikes against Iranian territory. Referring to Iran's strategy toward its neighbors, he said, "Our effort has always been to ensure that neighboring countries are not harmed, and we remain committed to this principle." "The security of all Muslim nations is the security of the Islamic Republic, and we respect the national sovereignty of each country," he added. He reiterated that countries that "do not allow their airspace, land, or facilities to be used by the enemy will not be targeted at all and their security will be preserved." However, he added that any country that lets its airspace or territory be used by the enemy against Iran will be considered a target. Earlier on Saturday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said a decision made by the Leader's interim council was conveyed to the armed forces, prohibiting attacks on neighboring countries "unless those countries launch an attack on us." Shekarchi underlined that Iran has not and will not back down against the United States and Israel. "These matters should lead regional nations to unite handinhand to expel the Americanswho are the main source of insecurity in Islamic landsfrom the region," he further said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 220 US forces killed or wounded in Iranian retaliatory strikes in past 24 hours Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 1:56 PM An Iranian Army spokesman says 220 American soldiers and commanders have been killed or wounded and significant damage has been inflicted on American assets in the region in retaliatory attacks by the Iranian Armed Forces over the past 24 hours. The spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zolfaghari, said on Saturday that 21 American service members were killed and a number of others injured during Iranian attacks on the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. He added that some 200 American personnel were also killed and wounded during strikes against the US military base in Al Dhafra Air Base. The Armed Forces also targeted an oil tanker owned by the United States in the northern part of the Persian Gulf, he noted. The US and Israel waged a fresh round of unlawful military aggression on Iran on February 28, some eight months after they carried out unprovoked attacks on the country and its nuclear facilities. The attacks led to the martyrdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and hundreds of Iranian civilians, including women and children, as well as military commanders. 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. Iranian officials have said that only US and Israeli assets and interests are being targeted and that the Islamic Republic has no enmity toward the host countries and respects their sovereignty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran conducted no attack on neighbors, respects their sovereignty, interests: Army headquarters Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 12:54 PM Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters says Iranian Armed Forces respect the national interests and sovereignty of neighboring countries and have not carried out any act of aggression against them. In a statement on Saturday, it said the declaration follows remarks by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. However, it added all military bases and interests belonging to the criminal United States and the Israeli regime on land, at sea, and in air across the region will be considered legitimate targets of powerful strikes by Iran's Armed Forces. The US and Israel launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28, some eight months after they carried out military strikes on the countryboth while Tehran was in the midst of diplomatic talks with Washington. 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. On Friday, Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned that the Iranian Armed Forces will strongly hit any base being used by the US and Israel to carry out strikes against Iran. Zolfaghari said on Saturday that 21 American soldiers were killed and a number of others injured in Iran's retaliatory attacks on the Fifth Fleet of the US Navy in the region. He added that some 200 American personnel have also been killed and wounded during strikes against the US military base in Al Dhafra Air Base. The Armed Forces have targeted an oil tanker owned by the United States in the northern part of the Persian Gulf, he noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC navy drone unit launches massive attack on key US air base Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 11:02 AM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy's drone squadron has launched a largescale strike on the strategic US air base Al Dhafra in the UAE, hitting key facilities used by American forces in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz region. The IRGC public relations office announced that early Saturday the drone unit carried out a coordinated assault that successfully struck the Al Dhafra air base, one of the region's biggest heliports and a command hub for the United States' terrorist operations. The targets hit included the American airwarfare center, satellite communication facilities, earlywarning radars, and firecontrol radars. The statement emphasized that the operation demonstrated the IRGC's capability to neutralize critical enemy assets in the Persian Gulf area. On February 28, the United States and the Israeli regime launched their unprovoked military assault on Iran, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and top Iranian military commanders. Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the criminal aggression by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US bases in regional countries. Iran has repeatedly emphasized that it only targets American positions and bases in the region and does not seek conflict with Arab countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address by Ndumiso Mlilio JOHANNESBURG, March 8 (Xinhua) -- As China kicks off the first year of its 15th Five-Year Plan, the focus is shifting from rapid growth to building industrial depth and institutional strength, a move that is set to consolidate global supply chains and create new opportunities for Africa and the wider Global South, said Tebogo Lefifi, a scholar at University of Cape Town. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Lefifi, who has been researching on China's investments in Africa for years, shared her insights on how China's high-quality development and commitment to multilateralism will reshape the global economic landscape. Five-year plans have long been central to how China steers its development as they provide a common roadmap for policy, investment and planning decisions across sectors and regions in the country. The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) marks a strategic pivot toward consolidation and the reduction of vulnerabilities in strategic sectors, she said. "This cycle is about resilience, industrial depth and institutional reinforcement," Lefifi said. She expressed particular interest in the "legal architecture," including competition law and data governance, that will support priority sectors such as semiconductors, AI-driven industrial systems and energy storage. Commenting on the rise of "new quality productive forces," Lefifi said that China is signaling a move from scale to sophistication. "There is an industrial saying in China that third-tier companies make products, second-tier companies make technology, and first-tier companies make standards," she said. "What we are seeing now is a deliberate effort to move into that first tier." This creates immense opportunities for global enterprises to integrate into China's upgrading ecosystems, she said. Highlighting China's focus on the stability and security of global critical mineral supply chains, she said "China's demand for lithium, copper and cobalt will continue to shape global markets. For African producers, the key question is how partnerships are structured." African countries need to pursue value addition and technological participation to fully benefit from China's development, she noted. As African countries pursue modernization in an era of rising protectionism, Lefifi sees China's commitment to "high-standard opening up" as a vital stabilizer. "China positions itself as supporting continued integration," she said, noting that it remains essential for global supply chains. Opening measures in finance, services and green sectors help maintain global stability during periods of uncertainty. Lefifi praised China's contributions to global economic governance, particularly through its emphasis on multilateralism and infrastructure partnerships. "One of China's most tangible contributions has been expanding development finance," she said. "In Africa, this has meant faster access to power generation, transport corridors and digital infrastructure." China's developmental model, prioritizing infrastructure and industrial capacity, has offered the Global South a new set of practical tools for modernization, she said. "China has expanded the practical tools available for development and contributed to a more diversified global economic landscape." Pezeshkian: Enemies will take dream of Iran's surrender to grave Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 10:20 AM Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian says the enemies will take the dream of Iran's surrender to the grave, lauding the nation for their perseverance in the face of US-Israeli atrocities. Speaking in a televised message on Saturday, Pezeshkian offered his condolences over the martyrdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, military commanders, and innocent students in a recent US-Israeli aggression. The regimes in Washington and Tel Aviv launched their unprovoked military assault on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and top military commanders. Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the criminal aggression by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US bases in regional countries. Pezeshkian declared that enemies who hope Iran will capitulate "will take that dream to the grave," saying Iran remains bound to international law, human rights and principled conductstandards the aggressors ignore. Pezeshkian emphasized that every Iranian, regardless of faith or background, by being present contributes to defending the country's territorial integrity and creates a sense of disillusionment among our enemies. He urged all Iranians to set aside internal, stand together, and defend the homeland with full strength, promising to lead the country out of the crisis. He reiterated that Iran has never planned, nor will ever plan, an invasion of any neighbor. "We have repeatedly said that they are our brothers. We aim to work handinhand with our dear brothers and neighbors in the region to establish lasting peace and stability, and we hope this goal will be achieved," he noted. Pezeshkian said a decision made yesterday by the Interim Leadership Council was conveyed to the armed forces, prohibiting attacks on neighboring countries "unless those countries launch an attack on us." He added that he believes that such issues should be settled through diplomatic channels, warning that armed conflict would only create further problems with neighboring states. Pezeshkian warned regional groups and outside powers not to become "puppets of imperialism," urging that any internal disputes be resolved peacefully rather than being exploited by Israel or the United States. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US confirms Iran destroyed $300m radar system in Jordan Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 9:59 AM The US confirmed that Iran has destroyed a key $300 million radar system used by US THAAD missile defense systems at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Satellite photos show that an RTX Corp. AN/TPY-2 radar and support equipment was destroyed in the opening days of the war, CNN reported earlier, citing commercial satellite imagery. The destruction of the equipment was later confirmed by a US official. The destruction of the radar is considered a huge blow to air and missile defense coverage in the region, the report says. The loss of the radar will require missile interception duties to fall onto Patriot systems, for which PAC-3 missiles are already in short supply, prompting concerns about stockpiles of advanced interceptors running low, experts warn. The US has eight THAAD systems globally, including in South Korea and Guam. The batteries cost about $1 billion each, with the radar comprising about $300 million of that, 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. The Army's current "eight-battery force is still below the force structure requirements of nine set back in 2012, so there aren't exactly any spare TPY-2 lying around," he said. Earlier in the war, an AN/FPS-132 radar in Qatar a fixed installation unlike the mobile THAAD system was damaged during an Iranian attack, according to research from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, California. That system is an early warning radar, designed to spot threats at extreme distances but without the precision needed to launch weapons at them. The United States and Israel launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28 by assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and high-ranking military commanders despite indirect Tehran-Washington negotiations on Iran's peaceful nuclear program. Within the framework of their legitimate self-defense right, Iranian Armed Forces immediately launched waves of missile and drone strikes against US interests in the region and Israeli assets in the occupied lands. Air and missile defense systems in the Persian Gulf region have been stressed and overwhelmed by Iranian retaliatory attacks of drones and ballistic missiles. It has prompted fears that stockpiles of advanced interceptors such as THAAD and PAC-3 will soon run dangerously low NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Navy announces wave of fresh drone strikes on US bases, strategic Israeli sites Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 8:37 AM The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy has announced that its kamikaze drones conducted large-scale attacks targeting US military bases in the region as well as strategic sites in the Israeli-occupied territories. The naval force said in a statement on Saturday that US military camps and installations in the Minhad district of the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi, the al-Udairi camp in Kuwait, and sophisticated carbon-based radar facilities at Sdot Micha airbase in the occupied lands were pummeled in a high-volume operation in recent hours. The statement noted that the operation was in retaliation for the sinking of Iranian Dena destroyer by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean, and will continue to make the enemies rue the day. On Friday, the Iranian Army said various types of kamikaze drones operated by its Ground Force could hit US forces' bases in Kuwait in a massive operation. The United States and Israel launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28 by assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and high-ranking military commanders despite indirect Tehran-Washington negotiations on Iran's peaceful nuclear program. Within the framework of their legitimate self-defense right, Iranian Armed Forces immediately launched waves of missile and drone strikes against US interests in the region and Israeli assets in the occupied lands. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pezeshkian reaffirms Iran's commitment to defend sovereignty, pursue lasting peace Iran Press TV Saturday, 07 March 2026 8:23 AM Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed Iran's commitment to defend its sovereignty while pursuing lasting peace amid US-Israeli aggression against the country. In a phone call with his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin, Pezeshkian discussed recent regional developments, condemning aggressive actions by the United States and Israel. The regimes in Washington and Tel Aviv started their unprovoked military assault on February 28. Following the aggression, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was assassinated. Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the criminal aggression by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US bases in regional countries. Pezeshkian denounced the "unlawful assassination" of Ayatollah Khamenei, calling it a breach of international law, and slammed "blind, ruthless powers" for trying to impose their will on nations. "The oppressors, using blind and reckless force, try to impose their will on nations, but the massive, heroic support of the Iranian people for their system and country shows that these attacks only strengthen the nation's resolve to defend its homeland," he added. He reminded Putin of earlier warnings that Israeli statements denying any intention to attack Iran were false, noting that "today it is evident to all that deceit and malice are their nature, and amid talks of negotiations they have attacked us again." The Iranian president urged Russia to use its international influence to support Iran's legitimate rights against these aggressions. Pezeshkian also explained that any targeting of US military bases is purely defensive and is aimed at protecting Iran and its people, stressing that regional security must be ensured by the countries of the region, not by foreign forces. Rejecting rumors of an attack on Azerbaijan, he reiterated that Iran has never intended, nor will it ever intend, to attack neighboring states. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has never intended, and will never intend, to invade its neighbors; our path is a strong defense of territorial integrity and lasting peace," he said. Pezeshkian expressed hope that independent countries and international organizations, by cooperating, will compel hegemonic powers to obey the law and respect the rights of nations. Putin, for his part, expressed condolences for the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei and conveyed deep solidarity with Iran. He also emphasized the importance of regional stability, citing his ongoing contacts with Persian Gulf Cooperation Council leaders. Both sides agreed to maintain and strengthen diplomatic and security coordination between Tehran and Moscow through various channels. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With Top Brass Dead, Iran Deploys Decentralized 'Mosaic' Strategy To Boost Defenses By Frud Bezhan March 07, 2026 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-Israeliaerial 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc- israel-us-war/33697690.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 After A Week Of War, Israel Sees Progress But Long Road Ahead By Ray Furlong March 07, 2026 TEL AVIV -- Hidden away on a small street in a central district of town, the ruins of war come as something of a surprise. On nearby streets, hipsters fill outdoor cafes, Lime scooters clutter the sidewalks, and children play in parks. But turn a corner and you'll see blackened walls, smashed windows, and rubble-strewn cars. This is almost the only site in Tel Aviv that bears the scars of war, following an Iranian strike on the first night of the conflict. As such, it bears witness to the destructive power of Tehran's ballistic missiles. But the lack of other such sites underlines Israel's ability to shoot them down. It's an aspect of the war so far that is having a profound impact on how Israel approaches what comes next. "The Israeli point of view is that, well, things are going back to normal here, more or less. We just have a few sirens a day. I mean, we are used to it. We can tolerate it," former lawmaker Ksenia Svetlova told RFE/RL. The implication? For Israel, the long game is an easy choice. "The Iranians right now are running low on ballistic missiles and specifically on launchers, but they still have drones. The drones cannot hurt Israel much. We know how to intercept them," said Svetlova, now executive director of an NGO called ROPES -- the Regional Organization for Peace, Economics, and Security. There is indeed an air of routine rather than alarm as people here make their way down to underground shelters whenever alerts sound on their phone apps. Israel's capacity to intercept incoming drones and missiles is measurable by the civilian casualty toll, with 12 fatalities after a week of conflict. Meanwhile,Israeli and US forces have decapitated the Iranian leadership and appear to have massively downgraded Tehran's military capabilities. "We are striking the enemy, its leadership, its oppressive regime, and different targets," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 6, while visiting Beersheba, where some 20 people were injured in an Iranian strike earlier in the week. The bullish tone in his remarks on the progress of the war matched the iconography of resolve that lines the streets here: Israeli and US flags can be seen everywhere, as can billboards depicting a Roaring Lion -- this country's military codename for the operation called Epic Fury by Washington. Netanyahu has long called for regime change in Iran, as well as the destruction of its nuclear and missile programs. He has said the aim of this operation is "to crush the regime of terror completely." Opinion polls show Israelis overwhelmingly support the war. Longstanding Netanyahu critics do, too. Veteran opposition politician Avigdor Libermantold RFE/RL the war was going "very well" but that the "final result" was the key issue. This, he said, had to be "to topple this regime." Liberman, who has served as ministers of defense, foreign affairs, and finance in various governments over the years, said he was confident this could be achieved but did not explain how. The "worst case" would be Iran descending into "chaos" he said. "It's really a huge question because what we saw in Libya, Iraq, Syria, it's real turmoil. But from all alternatives...the worst alternative is if [the clerical authorities] will continue to rule Iran," he said. But reserve Major General Yaakov Amidror, a former national-security adviser for Netanyahu who clashed with him over policy on the West Bank, suggested the talk of regime change may not be serious. "The goal of the war is a very strong agreement" between Israel and the United States, he told an event held by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JSIS) this week. "First, to eliminate totally any ability which is connected either to the missiles or to the nuclear project. Any guy who was there, any building which was connected, any place which was connected, any capability which is needed, everything should be totally destroyed.... I think that both sides understand regime change is something that cannot be guaranteed," he said. Given this, he added, the main aim was simply to cause as much damage as possible. "What should be ensured by the operation, by the war, is that any regime, this one or another one, will be very, very weak," Amidror said. The Israeli government has also not explained in detail how regime change could be achieved. There has been speculation in recent days about Iraqi Kurdish militias crossing the border and sparking an uprising. Svetlova, who as a Knesset legislator was closely engaged in relations with Kurdish groups, said they would be "skeptical" of the idea, at least in the short term. Which brings us back to the long game. On March 6, US President Donald Trump gave a timeframe of four to six weeks to achieve Iran's "unconditional surrender." The Israeli government hopes "that the war will, first of all, last long enough" to sufficiently degrade Iran's defense and security capabilities, Svetlova said. "In the end of the day, there will be maybe a beginning of civil war in Iran, between the various minority militias, the Basij [militia] 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 one.... I think that's the hope." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel- war-strikes-what-comes-next/33697815.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 Israeli NGO Head Ksenia Svetlova: Iran Still 'Firing Like Crazy' By Ray Furlong March 07, 2026 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 Trump...was 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 that...they 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 minorities...the 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-ksenia-svetlova- iran-missiles/33697850.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 Iran War Ripples Across Middle East, Caucasus With New Attacks By RFE/RL March 07, 2026 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 Iran's 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 Azerbaijan's 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 Lloyd's 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 country's 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 kingdom's 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-iran-plot-oil- pipeline-energy-attack-middle-east/33698209.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 'Looking At' Potential Candidates To Lead Iran, As Tehran's Assembly Of Experts Expected To Convene By RFE/RL March 07, 2026 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 Iran's 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-war-khamenei- successor-candidates-assembly/33698371.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 'Wars are ominous instruments, not to be used without due cause,' Chinese Foreign Minister uses ancient Chinese saying to comment on US-Israel military operation against Iran Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 08, 2026 11:32 AM Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. At the press conference, Wang Yi briefed his take on how China views the current situation in Iran and the propositions for resolving the Iran issue as the US and Israel recently launched a military operation against Iran. Wang said that this is an issue of great concern to all parties and a focal point of the current international landscape. China has consistently upheld an objective and fair stance, repeatedly articulating its principled position, which can be summed up in one sentence: cease fire and halt hostilities. The Chinese foreign minister then quoted an ancient Chinese saying: "Wars are ominous instruments, not to be used without due cause." In the face of the Middle East engulfed in conflict, he emphasized, "this is a war that should never have started and one that benefits no party involved." The history of the Middle East has repeatedly taught the world that the use of force is not a solution to problems, and that armed confrontation will only breed new hatred and new crises, Wang said. During the meeting, the Chinese foreign minister once again calls for an immediate cessation of military operations, prevention of the situation from escalating in a spiral, and avoidance of the spillover and spread of the flames of war. Wang emphasized five fundamental principles that China believes should be adhered in the proper and appropriate handling of issues related to Iran and the Middle East. First is to respect national sovereignty. Sovereignty is the cornerstone of the current international order. We maintain that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Iran and all countries in the Gulf region must be respected and shall not be violated, Wang said. Second is to avoid the wanton use of force. Might does not equal right, and the world cannot revert to the law of the jungle. The reckless use of force does not prove one's strength, and ordinary people must not become innocent victims of war. Third is the commitment to non-interference in internal affairs. The people of the Middle East are the true masters of this region, and the affairs of the Middle East should be independently decided by the countries in the region. Instigating color revolutions or seeking regime change finds no favor with the people, he said. Fourth is the political settlement of hotspot issues. Wang said that China has always believed in prioritizing peace. All parties should return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, resolve differences through equal-footed dialogue, and work toward achieving common security. In stating the fifth principle, Wang said major countries should play a constructive role and use their strength with good faith. There is another ancient Chinese adage: "When benevolence and justice are not practiced, the dynamics of offense and defense can reverse." Major countries should uphold fairness, follow the right path, and contribute more positive energy to peace and development in the Middle East. As a sincere friend and strategic partner of Middle Eastern countries, Wang said that China is willing to work with them to implement the Global Security Initiative, to restore order to the Middle East, tranquility to its people, and peace to the world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ISLAMABAD, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces killed 13 terrorists in a series of intelligence-based operations conducted across the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Sunday. Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistan army, said that the operations were carried out on Friday and Saturday as part of the country's ongoing counter-terrorism campaign. During an intelligence-based operation in Bajaur district, security forces engaged a hideout and killed five terrorists after an intense exchange of fire, the statement said. In two other encounters in Bannu district and Dera Ismail Khan district, three terrorists belonging to a banned outfit were killed, said the military, adding that five terrorists were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber district and South Waziristan district. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorists, who, according to the statement, had been involved in multiple militant activities in the region. The military said the operations were being conducted as Pakistan continues to address emerging security challenges along its border with Afghanistan. Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to continuing the nationwide counter-terrorism drive to eliminate militant threats from the country, the military added. IRGC missile attacks target US base in Kuwait, separatist positions Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 March 2026 5:38 AM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the missile units of its ground forces have precisely hit the US terrorist base in Kuwait's Arifjan as well as separatist positions in Iran's northwestern areas. The IRGC said in a statement on Sunday that the US base was hit by precision guided missiles. The missile units also accurately struck the separatist positions at two northwestern points in Iran. On February 28, the United States and the Israeli regime launched their unprovoked military assault on Iran, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and top military commanders. Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the criminal aggression by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US bases in regional countries.Iran has repeatedly emphasized that it only targets American positions and bases in the region and does not seek conflict with Arab countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran conducts missile strike on US base after attack on desalination facility Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 March 2026 2:14 AM The spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran's highest operational command unit, says Iranian forces carried out a missile strike against a US military installation following an attack on a desalination facility in southern Islamic Republic. Speaking on Saturday, Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari said the response followed aggression originating from the Naval Support Activity Bahrain, which is a United States Navy base that serves as the home to US Naval Forces Central Command and United States Fifth Fleet. "In response to the aggression by American terrorists from the Juffair base against the Qeshm desalination facility, that American base was immediately struck by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) using precision solid-fuel missiles," he noted. The official described the strike as a direct response to the attack on the facility located on Qeshm Island. Impact of earlier strikes on enemy radar The spokesman also referred to earlier stages of Iranian reprisal against renewed Israeli-American aggression targeting the Islamic Republic, saying previous retaliatory strikes had degraded enemy surveillance systems. "Given that the enemy's radar systems were destroyed during previous waves, the destruction of targets has now become much easier." Continued drone operations Zolfaqari further indicated that aerial operations using unmanned systems would continue. "Drone attacks by the self-sacrificing forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army's Ground Force against the American-Zionist enemy will continue on a sustained basis." The retaliation is being carried out under the codename Operation True Promise 4. The operation began momentarily after the launch of the unlawful foreign aggression last Saturday. It has seen the IRGC hit sensitive and strategic targets throughout the occupied territories as well as the United States' regional interests with hundreds of ballistic missiles and attack drones. Among others, prominent targets have featured hostile objects in the city of Tel Aviv, the holy occupied city of al-Quds, and the occupied city of Be'er Sheva, which serves as the Israeli regime's technology hub, as well as the US's Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and an American destroyer in the Indian Ocean. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC announces 27th wave of Operation True Promise 4 targeting American, Israeli positions Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 March 2026 12:00 AM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced carrying out the 27th wave of Operation True Promise 4, its ongoing set of retaliatory strikes against fresh unprovoked US-Israeli aggression towards the Islamic Republic. The Corps made the announcement in a statement on Saturday, describing the latest phase as coordinated drone and missile strikes against American and Israeli targets. According to the statement, the strikes included missile counteroffensives against Israeli military objectives in the northern part of the occupied territories. The IRGC said the targets were struck using newly developed solid-fuel missiles deployed by its Aerospace Division. "In this strategic and multidimensional operation, Zionist military targets in [the occupied city of] Haifa were struck by the IRGC's Aerospace Division's new solid-fuel Kheibar-Shekan missiles, which possess terminal guidance capability up to the point of impact," the statement read. Drone units target American military interests The IRGC also reported deployment of unmanned aerial systems against a location where American forces are stationed. The statement said drone units "successfully targeted the location where American forces are stationed in 'Marina,' in the vicinity of the buildings of the 'Warner Brothers' company." IRGC Navy targets Fifth Fleet facilities Meanwhile, the Corps said its naval forces had conducted strikes against facilities connected to the United States' Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. "Additionally, the IRGC Navy struck the command unit of the Fifth Fleet's unmanned surface vessel unit and the military support hangars of American terrorist forces at Salman Port [in the Persian Gulf kingdom]," the statement said. Israel using settlers as 'human shields' The statement also featured information about the situation in the occupied territories amid the Corps' unrelenting reprisal. "Field monitoring by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps indicates that the Zionist regime is attempting to create a human shield to protect its military personnel by confining residents of the occupied territories to northern and central areas," it said. The IRGC further said the strikes had triggered widespread emergency alerts. "Following Iran's smart attacks, conditions in the region and the occupied territories have turned into a state of 'siren after siren,'" the statement read. Armed Forces 'lying in wait' The IRGC concluded its statement by saying Iranian forces remained prepared for further developments. "Units of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic are lying in wait for American forces with precision and planning." True Promise 4 began momentarily after the launch of the unlawful foreign aggression last Saturday. The operation has seen the Corps hit sensitive and strategic targets throughout the occupied territories as well as the United States' regional interests with hundreds of ballistic missiles and attack drones. Among others, prominent targets have featured hostile objects in the city of Tel Aviv, the holy occupied city of al-Quds, and the occupied city of Be'er Sheva, which serves as the Israeli regime's technology hub, as well as the US's Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and an American destroyer in the Indian Ocean. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cracks In Iranian Leadership? Apology, Then More Regional Attacks By RFE/RL March 08, 2026 Iran could be moving closer to electing a new supreme leader even as some cracks appeared to be developing among the surviving rulers in Tehran, while the United States and Israel vowed to hit Iran harder than ever as the war passed the one-week mark. After Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said he wanted to "personally apologize to neighboring countries" that had been hit by Iranian missiles and drones, powerful national security chief Ali Larijani and others on March 7 defiantly lashed out and Tehran struck again at US Arab allies in the region. Separately, Iranian state media late on March 7 quoted hard-line Ayatollah Hossein Mozafari, a member of the Assembly of Experts --- which will elect the country's next ruler -- as saying the body could meet in the next 24 hours to make a decision. US President Donald Trump indicated he is not interested in further negotiations with Iran after several rounds of talks that did not reach a breakthrough. "At some point, I don't think there will be anybody left maybe to say, 'We surrender,'" Trump said. Trump warned in a social media post that more Iranian officials would become targets in the war. "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," he said. He also reiterated that he is demanding a role in selecting Iran's successor leadership saying the next ruler 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. Kurdish Ground Offensive? Trump also said he does not want ethnic Kurds to launch an attack on the Iranian regime. The remarks came after conflicting reports as to whether Trump was encouraging a ground offensive by Iranian Kurdish exiles based in Iraq. "We're not looking to the Kurds going in," he told reporters aboard Air Force One. "We're very friendly with the Kurds, as you know, but we don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is." "I don't want to see the Kurds get hurt and killed. They're willing to go in, but I've told them I don't want them going in. The war's complicated enough without getting the Kurds involved," he said. On March 5, Trump had told Reuters he would be "all for" an offensive by Iranian Kurdish fighters in support of the US-Israeli effort. Officials of one exile group on March 7 said an Iranian Kurdish base in Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdish region had been hit by air strikes, likely by drones. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said they had targeted "separatist groups" in the region. The reports could not immediately be verified. Personally Apologize' Pezeshkian, amid rising anger from Gulf nations and others -- such as Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Turkey -- said in a video message that he would like to "personally apologize to neighboring countries that were affected by Iran's 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. However, hours later the IRGC Navy launched a drone attack on the US al-Dhafra air base in the UAE, according to the Tasnim news agency, a semiofficial news agency associated with the IRGC. Hard-line cleric Hamid Rasai, a lawmaker, blasted Pezeshkian for his apology, writing on X that "your stance was unprofessional, weak, and unacceptable." Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei also rejected Pezeshkian's remarks, saying that "intense attacks on these [regional] targets will continue." Loud explosions were heard in Dubai, Doha, and Bahrain's Manama, with attacks also reported in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, where the national oil company announced a "precautionary" cut to production. UAE President Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a TV address that the Emirates were in "a period of war" but "will emerge stronger" from the crisis. Many of the Gulf Arab states host US military bases and other facilities that have become the focus of many Iranian missile and drone attacks. Elsewhere, Katyusha rockets struck near the US embassy in Baghdad -- likely fired by Iran-allied militias in Iraq. It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties or damages. Reuters quoted a senior Iraqi security official as saying the C-RAM defense system brought down one of the rockets and that none landed inside the embassy. The official said there were no American casualties. Larijani Fires Back Iranian security chief Larijani, meanwhile, claimed that the United States and Israel were seeking the breakup of the country. "Their issue was...the fundamental disintegration of Iran," Larijani said in a recorded interview on state TV. "I think the most important problem the Americans have is that they do not understand the context of West Asia, especially Iran," Larijani said. "Their perception was that it would be like Venezuela -- they would strike, take control and it would be over -- but now they are trapped." Netanyahu Vows To 'Eradicate' Regime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue its war with Iran "with all our force" and asserted that his country and US forces had achieved near-total dominance of the skies over Tehran. "We have a systematic plan to eradicate the Iranian regime and achieve many other objectives," Netanyahu said in a TV address. "Citizens [of Israel], you are telling me, the government, and our heroic soldiers to continue until victory, and I thank you. I can assure you that we will continue with all our force," Netanyahu said. "We will continue to act with all our might until we achieve all our goals," he said and claimed Israel was "changing the face of the Middle East." Israel also intensified its offensive against Iran-allied Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Reuters, dpa, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-oil-tehran- pezeshkian-larijani-supreme-leader/33698403.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 Chinese FM questions Japan: Taiwan affairs are China's internal affairs, by what right does Japan interfere? Global Times By 2026/3/8 12:21:21 Published: Mar 08, 2026 12:23 PM A China that has grown strong and its 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or reverse the verdict on aggression ever again,Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, responding a question regarding China's relations with Japan. Future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan's choice, the Chinese Foreign Minister remarked when responding a question raised by a Japan's Kyodo News Agency reporter on Sunday. The question mentioned that in last November, China had lodged a strong protest against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan. At present, China-Japan relations face challenges, and cooperation in various areas has also been affected. The Kyodo reporter also claimed that since the Japanese government claimed that it always keeps the window for dialogue open since Takaichi won the election in February and then inquired what expectations the China has for the development of China-Japan relations. Future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan's choice, Wang said. Last year marked the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. In this special year, what Japan ought to have done was to deeply reflect on the wrong path it once took - including its record of aggression and colonization in Taiwan. Yet, Japan's current leader has publicly claimed that a "Taiwan contingency" could constitute a so-called "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, thereby justifying the exercise of so-called collective self-defense rights. As everyone knows, the exercise of self-defense rights presupposes an armed attack on one's own country, Wang said. Wang continued with a series of questions, saying that "let me ask: Taiwan affairs are China's internal affairs - by what right does Japan interfere? If something happens in China's Taiwan region, by what authority can Japan exercise self-defense rights? Does the so-called collective self-defense right mean hollowing out Japan's pacifist constitution, which renounces the right to wage war? When we recall that Japanese militarism once used the pretext of a 'situation threatening survival' to launch invasion abroad, it cannot but arouse high vigilance and deep concern among the Chinese people and the peoples of Asia: Where is Japan heading?" This year is yet another 80th anniversary - the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Tokyo trials. Eighty years ago, judges from 11 countries, after two and a half years of proceedings, used a mountain of irrefutable evidence to expose the heinous crimes of Japanese militarism. The Tokyo trials ruled on human conscience and delivered historical justice, Wang said, adding that today, 80 years later, history has once again given Japan an opportunity for sincere self-reflection. Taking history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of nations; forgetting the past means betraying the future, he said. Wang urged that broad masses of the Japanese people will keep their eyes open and not allow anyone today to overreach and repeat past mistakes. A China that has grown strong and its 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or reverse the verdict on aggression ever again, Wang warned. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We will never allow any individual or force to separate Taiwan from China: FM on whether China has timetable and roadmap for national reunification Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 08, 2026 01:24 PM The island of Taiwan has been Chinese territory since ancient times and is absolutely impossible to become any "country" in the past, present or future. We will never allow any individual or force to separate Taiwan from China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during the press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. Wang made the remarks in response to an inquiry about how China assesses the risk of accidental military conflict in the Taiwan Straits and whether China has established a timetable or roadmap for the reunification of the motherland, given that Taiwan's Lai Ching-teauthorities have repeatedly claimed that Taiwan is a "sovereign country" and that the Taiwan question is not China's internal affair, while tensions surrounding the Taiwan Straits continue to escalate and military exercises by the People's Liberation Army are occurring increasingly close to the island. Taiwan island's return to China is an outcome of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and also a result of the victory of World War II. A series of international legal documents - including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 - have firmly established Taiwan's status. Any attempt to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" in the international arena is doomed to fail, Wang said. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities stubbornly insist on a separatist stance advocating "Taiwan independence," which is the root cause of instability and disruption to peace in the Taiwan Straits. Facts have repeatedly shown that the clearer the international community's opposition to "Taiwan independence" separatism and the firmer its commitment to the one-China principle, the more secure peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits will be, Wang noted. The Taiwan question is China's internal affair and lies at the very core of China's core interests. This red line must not be crossed or trampled upon. The international community has formed an overwhelming consensus on upholding the one-China principle. An increasing number of countries stand together with China, not only reaffirming their adherence to the one-China principle and recognizing Taiwan island as part of China's territory, but also explicitly opposing all separatist activities of "Taiwan independence" and supporting China's cause of national reunification. This fully demonstrates that opposing "Taiwan independence" and promoting reunification align with the trend of the times and meet the expectations of the international community, he said. The historical process of resolving the Taiwan question and achieving the complete reunification of the motherland is unstoppable. Those who follow the trend will prosper; those who resist it will perish, he warned. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No individual or force allowed to separate Taiwan from China: Chinese FM People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:26, March 08, 2026 BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday that no individual or force will be allowed to separate Taiwan from China. Wang described resolving the Taiwan question and realizing the complete reunification of China as a historic process that cannot be stopped. Taiwan has been an integral part of China since ancient times, and "never was, is not, and never will be a country," Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the national legislature. The Democratic Progressive Party authorities' obstinate pursuit of their separatist agenda is the root cause undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, said Wang. Noting that the one-China principle has overwhelming support in the international community, Wang said the firmer the international community stands against the "Taiwan independence" and upholds the one-China principle, the more assured peace and stability will be across the Taiwan Strait. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM call with President Erdogan of Turkiye: 7 March 2026 Press release The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, this morning. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 7 March 2026 The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, this morning. The Prime Minister began by reiterating his strong condemnation of Iran's ballistic missile attack on NATO Ally, Turkiye. It was vital Iran ceased its aggression, the leaders agreed. The Prime Minister updated on the UK's increased capability that had been deployed to further boost regional defences and stabilisation. The leaders also discussed deepening defence and security cooperation between the UK and Turkiye in light of the increased regional instability. Both agreed their teams should continue the work towards a new bilateral defence and security agreement ahead of the NATO summit in Turkiye in July. They looked forward to speaking again soon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hungary to Decide Fate of Money Seized From Ukrainians Once Ownership Is Clear - Orban Sputnik News 20260307 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hungary will keep the money confiscated from Ukrainians until its ownership is cleared up, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday. "We will decide the fate of this confiscated money when we find out what it is... [Until then, it will] lie quietly here," Orban said at a campaign event in Debrecen. On Thursday, the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) said that it had detained seven Ukrainian citizens on suspicion of money laundering, including a former Ukrainian special services general responsible for transporting $40 million, 35 million euros ($40.7 million), and nine kilograms of gold from Austria to Ukraine. Hungary demanded an explanation from Ukraine. The prime minister told the rally that a pro-Ukrainian party had been created in Hungary from scratch in the run-up to April's parliamentary elections. He suggested that the effort required a significant amount of funding. "We do not know whether this money was being taken out or brought in here. The truth is, we just want to know what the Ukrainians were doing with this huge sum of money in Hungary. We really want to know. What is happening seems suspicious to me," Orban said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Forces Deliver Retaliatory Strike Against Ukraine's Military-Industrial Complex Enterprises Sputnik News 20260307 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian troops launched a retaliatory strike overnight on military enterprises used by Ukrainian militants, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "A massive strike was carried out with long-range precision weapons launched from ground, air, and sea, as well as strike unmanned aerial vehicles, on enterprises of Ukraine's military-industrial complex," the ministry said in a statement. Russian soldiers also struck Ukrainian energy facilities and military airfields, the ministry added. Russia's Vostok battlegroup has eliminated over 360 Ukrainian soldiers has eliminated over 360 Ukrainian soldiers Ukraine has also lost over 335 soldiers in battles with the Tsentr battlegroup, over 180 soldiers in battles with Russia's Zapad battlegroup, over 200 soldiers in battles with the Sever battlegroup, up to 200 in battles with the Yug battlegroup and up to 40 in battles with the Dnepr battlegroup Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BANGKOK, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The first group of Thai nationals, totaling 62 people, left Iran and reached Turkiye on Saturday, with another group scheduled to travel on March 10, according to Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So far, 215 Thai nationals have returned to Thailand, Panidone Pachimsawat, deputy spokesperson of the ministry, told a press briefing on Saturday at the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East. He said that the Royal Thai Embassy in Tehran will temporarily relocate its operations to Van, Turkey, from March 10, and will remain in close contact and help Thai nationals wishing to leave Iran, as well as those still living in the country. The ministry has coordinated with the relevant parties, including Iran, the United States and Israel, to ensure that Thai nationals can be evacuated smoothly and safely, he said, confirming that no Thai nationals have been reported injured or killed. Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 07 March 2026 18:11 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: I had a friendly conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas. I informed my colleague that last night Russia carried out yet another brutal attack against Ukraine, continuing to kill our children in their sleep. I also drew attention to Russia's ongoing aggression and its attempts to lure citizens of African countries into its criminal war. Building on the recent opening of Ukraine's embassy in Maputo, we discussed the potential of Ukraine-Mozambique relations and ways to strengthen our bilateral cooperation in a systematic and diversified manner, including through exchanges of visits. I expressed Ukraine's solidarity with the people of Mozambique following the devastating floods and reaffirmed our readiness to continue our support. In this regard, I highlighted Ukraine's contribution to global food security, including supplies to countries in Africa and in particular to Mozambique through the Grain from Ukraine and Food from Ukraine initiatives. We agreed to continue strengthening Ukraine-Mozambique relations and enhancing our coordination within international organizations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 100 occupiers surrendered this winter thanks to UAV-operating units Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 7 March, 2026, 5:33 PM EET This winter, over 100 russian occupiers surrendered thanks to the actions of UAV-operating units of Ukraine's Defence Forces. This was announced by Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov. "Each such prisoner is another opportunity to bring our defenders home," he emphasized. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine highlights the most notable cases of occupiers being taken prisoner with the help of UAVs. How russian occupiers surrender with the help of Ukrainian UAVs December 2025. Drone operators from the "Phoenix" unit of the "Volia" Battalion spotted a house with signs in its windows asking to be taken prisoner. A UAV operator then relayed instructions on how to surrender and what to do next. Service members from the "Shkval" special unit of the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade later joined the operation and detained the russian soldier. January 2026. An FPV drone operated by the "Rubizh" Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine detected a dugout where four occupiers were hiding. The russians chose to save their lives and began coming out, following instructions from Ukrainian service members broadcast through a loudspeaker mounted on the drone. Despite attempts by the enemy to eliminate their own soldiers, all four russians were captured alive. February 2026. In the North Slobozhanskyi sector, service members of the 158th Separate Mechanized Brigade captured five russian occupiers using a drone and a loudspeaker. In the same month, two occupiers were walking to surrender under the escort of a drone from the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo. russian forces struck them with a drone, killing one of the occupiers. The other managed to reach Ukrainian positions and was taken prisoner. To recap, this winter the Defence Forces eliminated 92,475 russian troops. Of these, 88,898 occupiers were eliminated by drones, while the rest were confirmed through video evidence of artillery strikes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President of Ukraine and the President of France Discussed Ukraine's Defense Needs and the Situation in the Middle East and the Gulf Region President of Ukraine 7 March 2026 - 16:50 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with President of France Emmanuel Macron. The leaders discussed all the key issues currently important for the security of Ukraine, France, and all of Europe. In particular, they addressed the situation in Ukraine and the main needs of Ukraine's defense. Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed his counterpart about the consequences of Russia's massive strike last night, as well as about developments on the frontline. The President stressed that Ukrainian warriors have achieved tangible results over the winter and have held all key defense lines. The Head of State emphasized the importance of implementing the joint European agreements on EUR 90 billion in support for Ukraine over the next two years, as well as a new sanctions package against Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron also spoke about developments in the Middle East and the Gulf region - the situation around Iran and its prospects. The President of France supported Ukraine's efforts to strengthen security in the region: Ukrainians have the most experience in defending against "shaheds," and Ukraine's experience could become one of the foundations of renewed and more effective collective security with all partners. The leaders also discussed preparations for joint diplomatic formats in the coming weeks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Explosion at US embassy in Oslo may have been terrorism, Norway police say Next article: Explosion at US embassy in Oslo may have been terrorism, Norway police say Featured Ablakwa urges Commonwealth to condemn attack on Ghanaian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon Pacome Emmanuel Damalie International News Mar - 08 - 2026 , 15:31 4 minutes read The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on the Commonwealth of Nations to condemn recent attacks on United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon and urged member states to work towards removing tariffs and trade barriers within the bloc. Speaking at the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in London on Sunday, March 8, 2026, Mr Ablakwa warned that attacks on UN peacekeepers could undermine global peacekeeping operations and the principles of multilateral cooperation. His comments follow an attack on the Ghana Battalion (GHANBATT) headquarters, known as Camp Obeng, in southern Lebanon last Friday evening during an exchange of fire between the Israel Defence Forces and Hezbollah. The Minister described the attack on the Ghanaian base, which left three Ghanaian soldiers in critical condition, as an assault on the principles of the UN Charter and called for a full investigation. On our way in, our peacekeepers in Lebanon were attacked. As we speak, three of them have undergone multiple surgeries. An attack on UN peacekeepers is an attack on multilateralism. It is an attack on every principle that the UN Charter exists to defend. So, we urge the Commonwealth to roundly condemn this attack and to demand immediate investigations so that peacekeepers will know that the sacrifices they made, leaving their families, their children, staying in harm's way to maintain global peace and stability, means something to us and that we will not countenance such untoward and unwarranted attacks. We have demanded investigations and we hope that the United Nations will act promptly, he said. Meanwhile, the government of Ghana has petitioned the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to initiate investigations into the attack and ensure accountability for those responsible for the assault on Camp Obeng. Tariff barriers Mr Ablakwa also urged the Commonwealth to pursue the removal of tariffs and trade barriers among its member states to enhance economic cooperation within the bloc. According to him, eliminating trade barriers among the Commonwealths 56 independent countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific could create a vast market of about 2.7 billion people and deepen economic collaboration. The Minister said such a move would also allow member states to leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is hosted in Accra. We hope to share our thoughts, particularly in offering the Commonwealth as a different multilateral organisation that does not believe in tariff wars, but will remove tariffs and trade barriers and ensure that we are able to enhance our fortunes as we pursue economic diplomacy, particularly as Ghana hosts the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, he said. He, however, commended the Commonwealth for outlining reform initiatives aimed at strengthening the organisation and benefiting member states. UN resolution The Minister also called on Commonwealth countries to support a resolution to be tabled at the United Nations General Assembly seeking to recognise the transatlantic slave trade, slavery, colonisation and apartheid as the greatest crimes against humanity. The resolution, which is expected to be presented at the UN on March 25 this year by President John Dramani Mahama, also calls for reparations and reparative justice for African countries and members of the Commonwealth. Mr Ablakwa appealed to member states to rally behind the initiative ahead of the vote scheduled for March 25, describing it as a critical step towards global acknowledgement of historical injustices and the pursuit of reparative justice. He said the initiative had already received backing from the African Union and expressed confidence that Commonwealth countries would lend their support. We know that we can count on the Commonwealth for reparative justice and restitution in this matter, he said. The proposed resolution forms part of broader international efforts to acknowledge the enduring consequences of more than 400 years of the transatlantic slave trade, during which over 15 million African men, women and children were forcibly taken to North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe to work on plantations and in other industries. Historical records indicate that an estimated two million enslaved people died during the transatlantic journey. Meanwhile, March 25 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. About 30,000 SHS graduates may get chance to re-sit WASSCE maths Education Minister Next article: About 30,000 SHS graduates may get chance to re-sit WASSCE maths Education Minister Featured Empowering women is a strategic investment Vice President marks International Womens Day Diana Mensah Mar - 08 - 2026 , 12:26 2 minutes read The Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has extended warm wishes to women and girls across Ghana and around the world as the country joined the global community to mark International Women's Day 2026. In a message shared on her social media platforms to commemorate the occasion, the Vice President praised the resilience, achievements and vital contributions of women to national development. She urged citizens to celebrate the progress made while sustaining efforts to expand opportunities for women and girls. On this International Womens Day 2026, I send heartfelt greetings to all women and girls across Ghana and around the world, she said. Let us be proud of the resilience, achievements, and essential contributions women continue to make to our nations progress. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the theme for this years observance, Giving to Gain, reflects the countrys growing commitment to gender inclusion and the empowerment of women. According to her, the governments deliberate effort to ensure that women constitute at least 30 per cent of appointments to public office demonstrates the importance of inclusive leadership in national development. The intentional effort to ensure women make up at least 30 per cent of government appointments recognizes a simple truth about national development: when women serve as ministers, lead key public institutions, and help shape policy at the highest levels, the country benefits from a broader range of talent and perspective, she said. The Vice President stressed that the principle of empowering women should not be limited to government institutions but must extend across all sectors of society. She said expanding opportunities for women in business, academia, civil society, the creative industries and faith-based leadership would strengthen the countrys social and economic fabric. In business, academia, civil society, the creative industries, faith leadership, and other sectors, expanding opportunities for women enhances our national life and increases the pool of leadership that we rely on, she said. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang emphasised that promoting womens participation is not merely symbolic but a strategic investment in the countrys future. Empowering women is not just a favour; it is a strategic investment in better governance and a more confident Ghana, she added. She encouraged continued support for gender equality and the advancement of women in Ghana and beyond. BEIRUT, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 10 others, media reports said on Sunday. Featured Injured Ghanaian peacekeeper undergoes surgery after missile strike on UN base in Lebanon Mohammed Ali Mar - 08 - 2026 , 10:21 3 minutes read A Ghanaian soldier who sustained serious injuries to both legs and the hip during a missile strike on a United Nations peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon has undergone surgery in Beirut and is in stable condition, Deputy Minister of Defence Mr Ernest Brogya Genfi has said. In a Facebook post on Saturday, March 7, 2026, Mr Genfi said the soldier was evacuated to the Lebanese capital where doctors carried out the operation on Saturday morning. He is stable and recuperating, the deputy minister stated. Mr Genfi also stated that four other Ghanaian soldiers who sustained minor injuries during the attack are stable and receiving treatment. This brings the total number of injured Ghanaian peacekeepers to five. In an earlier statement issued on March 6, 2026, UNIFIL said three peacekeepers were injured inside their base at Al Qawzah in southwestern Lebanon. The Ghana Armed Forces had earlier reported that two soldiers sustained serious injuries while another suffered psychological trauma. Mr Genfis latest update increases the confirmed number of injured personnel, though he did not explain the difference in the figures. The Ghanaian Battalion Headquarters serving under UNIFIL was struck by two missiles between 5:45 p.m. and 5:52 p.m. local time on March 6, 2026, the same day Ghana marked its 69th Independence Day. The attack took place during heavy shelling and air strikes near the UNIFIL position at Al Qawzah. The strike caused extensive damage to the camp. The Officers Mess building caught fire and was destroyed. Personnel from the Irish Defence Forces serving with the 127th Infantry Battalion responded to the incident and assisted with firefighting and the evacuation of casualties. Lebanons President, General Joseph Aoun, condemned what he described as Israeli attacks on Lebanon, stating that they had reached the point of a direct assault on UNIFIL. The Israel Defence Forces had not issued an immediate response at the time. UNIFIL said it would investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack. The mission said any assault on peacekeepers carrying out duties mandated by the United Nations Security Council is unacceptable and may constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law. Mr Genfi also disclosed that 15 officers lost all their personal belongings after fire destroyed their accommodation at the camp. He said Ghana has lodged a formal complaint at the United Nations Headquarters and reminded parties involved in the conflict of their duty to respect the safety of peacekeepers operating in the area. Mr Genfi added that Frances Minister Delegate to the Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, Mrs Alice Rufo, telephoned him to convey solidarity following the incident. According to him, Mrs Rufo said France had also raised concerns at the United Nations because French peacekeepers are deployed under the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. French President Mr Emmanuel Macron had earlier condemned the attack on UNIFIL and said the mission continues to play an important role in maintaining stability in the area. Featured NPA: Ghana builds fuel buffer offshore while gold prices support cedi stability Mohammed Ali Mar - 08 - 2026 , 12:40 4 minutes read Ghana is holding significant volumes of petroleum products in waters off Lome in neighbouring Togo, as authorities monitor the potential impact of tensions in the Middle East on global crude oil prices. At the same time, rising international gold prices are providing additional foreign exchange support for the Bank of Ghana, helping to cushion the economy against possible increases in fuel import costs. The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, disclosed this during a panel discussion on The Key Points on Saturday, March 7, 2026. He provided details of Ghanas current petroleum supply position following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East the previous week. Currently, we are looking at almost 500,000 metric tonnes in Lome waters, Mr Tameklo said. He explained that large vessels operated by international trading firms, including Trafigura, Glencore and BP, often anchor in Lome because the port can accommodate deeper draft vessels. Smaller vessels then lift consignments of between 30,000 and 40,000 metric tonnes for onward delivery to Ghana. Mr Tameklo said the stocks held offshore at Lome are in addition to petroleum cargo already stationed at the anchorage near Tema. According to him, Ghana currently has about four vessels at Tema carrying between 37,000 and 42,000 metric tonnes each. Combined, the cargo amounts to nearly 120,000 metric tonnes, which he said is roughly equivalent to about 50 million litres of petroleum products. If you have even four vessels and totally gives you almost 120,000 metric tonnes, thats substantial, Mr Tameklo said. He said the NPA had also assessed a scenario in which no new imports arrive for several days while authorities monitor developments in the international market. When we did a projection some five days, seven days. It could even be more, but these are just rough estimates, Mr Tameklo said, describing the present stock levels as among the highest cover recorded in recent years. On domestic refining, Mr Tameklo said the Sentuo Oil Refinery was currently supplying about 30 per cent of Ghanas petroleum requirements. Sentuo is helping us with 30 per cent of our domestic needs. Thirty per cent. So it has changed the dynamics now, he said. He added that the Tema Oil Refinery was also operational and that together the two facilities could account for close to 40 per cent of national demand, with the remaining 60 per cent supplied through imports. We have a 60 per cent shortfall which we are making up from foreign, he said. Mr Tameklo explained that about 80 per cent of Ghanas petroleum imports come from European refineries, mainly through Rotterdam in the Netherlands, while roughly 20 per cent is sourced from the Arabian Gulf region, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait. He noted that the current geopolitical tensions could pose challenges to supply routes through Europe, although rising crude oil prices driven by developments in the Middle East would affect Ghanas import costs regardless of where refined products are sourced. Mr Tameklo said the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria had also become an important supplier within the West African region. The presence of Dangote has changed the dynamics greatly, Mr Tameklo said. He noted that the refinery is producing about 650,000 barrels per day and exporting part of its output within the region. According to him, the NPA has engaged the refinerys management and received assurances regarding crude supply availability over the next six months, including the option of emergency cargo deliveries if necessary. We have had much earlier engagement with him to see the best way in these circumstances. If it has to even do with emergency cargo deployments, we can always look at that, Mr Tameklo said. Mr Tameklo also pointed to rising gold prices as another factor supporting the countrys external position. We are looking at gold doing 5,300, he said. The more gold into the system, it helps also the exchange rates. So the flip side is that it gives BOG buffer to work the exchange rate and keep it a bit more stable for us. He clarified that he was not referring to a gold-for-oil arrangement. Rather, he explained that higher export earnings from gold strengthen the Bank of Ghanas ability to manage the exchange rate and limit the impact of rising crude import costs on domestic fuel prices. Mr Tameklo added that the NPA had also obtained forward supply assurances from the Sentuo refinery regarding crude imports for the next six months. Last year we engaged them and we got that. This year they have given us firm assurances of that reliability of crude, he said. He said the global energy outlook remains uncertain and that authorities are closely monitoring developments. The situation is still volatile. The situation is still fluid and we are keeping our eyes on this, Mr Tameklo said, adding that officials receive daily updates on the situation. Next article: Injured Ghanaian peacekeeper undergoes surgery after missile strike on UN base in Lebanon About 30,000 SHS graduates may get chance to re-sit WASSCE maths Education Minister Previous article: About 30,000 SHS graduates may get chance to re-sit WASSCE maths Education Minister Featured President Mahama embarks on 4-day working visit to South Korea GraphicOnline Mar - 08 - 2026 , 10:32 2 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama is set to depart Accra on Sunday for a four-day working visit to the Republic of Korea, with discussions expected to centre on diplomatic engagement, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange. The trip, scheduled to run from March 10-14, 2026, will see the Ghanaian leader hold high-level talks with his Korean counterpart, President Lee Jae Myung, as well as the Speaker of the Korean National Assembly, Woo Won-shik. These meetings are anticipated to provide a platform for strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations, with potential areas of collaboration expected to feature prominently on the agenda. In a statement issued Sunday, the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, outlined a packed itinerary that blends diplomatic protocol with industrial and academic engagements. Among the highlights is a ship-naming ceremony at the prestigious Hyundai Shipyard in Ulsan, a facility renowned globally for its maritime engineering prowess. President Mahama is also scheduled to address a conferment ceremony at Yonsei University, one of South Korea's most distinguished institutions of higher learning. The visit will also include moments of cultural connection, with the President expected to host an evening with Ghanaians residing, studying, and working in South Korea. The gathering will provide an opportunity for the diaspora community to engage directly with the Ghanaian leader and discuss issues affecting their lives abroad. Rounding off the official engagements will be a dinner meeting with chief executives and business owners, a session likely to focus on investment opportunities and the strengthening of trade relations between the two countries. The presidential delegation is expected to return to Accra following the conclusion of the visit, with officials expressing optimism that the trip will yield tangible outcomes in Ghana's pursuit of enhanced international partnerships. Attorney General Douglas Moylans latest billboard campaign gets into the Easter season messaging, reminding criminals to repent, reform and respect. Moylan also said the Office of the Attorney General, by Easter, will roll out the so-called Redemption Project that provides second chances for those who committed crimes. The AGs office, in a media release, said Moylan believes in second chances and redemption only for those worthy and capable of reforming their destructive ways, and making amends to the victim. Just wanting redemption wont cut it, the AGs office statement said. Easter fast approaches on Sunday, April 5th. This months billboard reminds us that we are not only one nation of laws, but those laws come from our shared, fundamental religious beliefs across all religions. The latest billboard depicts a likeness of Moses at the left top corner holding a stone tablet and two giant scrolls showing the biblical Ten Commandments. Separate, smaller signs on the ground, in front of the billboard, are Department of Corrections arrest photos of individuals. Each one carries either one of the Ten Commandments, such as Thou shalt not kill or the AGs offices own messaging, Thou shalt not take meth. Redemption Project As Guams chief law enforcement officer, and with our growing personnel numbers, I am now able to begin implementing by Easter the AG Moylan Redemption Project intended to afford certain of our fallen brothers and sisters a chance for redemption and joining once again our Guam community, Moylan said in a statement. Moylan said repent, reform and ultimately respecting others are the three pillars of the Redemption Project, details of which will be announced later. The AG said the program eligibility criteria will require the following to prove their true desire to reform their life: the criminal defendants hard work community service making amends with the crime victim. Moylans billboard messages have been drawing strong reactions from the public, sparking debate on addressing criminality on Guam. They included: